"Promptandperfect,"shesaidcheerfully."CroftRaceways"motto."
"Er...promptandpa.s.sablewilldo."
Itooktheday"snewspapersalongtomyownofficeandflickedthroughthem.TherewasnevermuchhardracingnewsonMondays.Joggerwasn"tmentioned.Theleadstoryinonepaperwasabouttheequinefluplaguingseveralracingstablesinthenorth,virtuallyputtingwholeyardsoutofactionformonths.Therewa.s.speculationthatthevirusmightspreadtoNewmarket.Trainers,thewritersaid,wereunwillingtosharetransportwithhorsesfromotherstablesincaseofinfection.
Hoorayforthat.Iwasallforseparatejourneys.Justaslong,ofcourse,asPixhillitselfstayedfree.Itwasbadenoughhavingdrivershomesick,b.u.t.theequineversionofflucouldhangaroundmuchlonger,severelydepletingthenumberofrunnersneedingmyservices.
Equineflu,aninfectionoftheupperrespiratorytract,thepapersaid,hadbeenknowninthepastas"thecough".Therewasnocureb.u.t.time.Sowhatelsewasnew?
Iturnedtoanotherpaper.Thisone,stillonthegloomanddoomtrail,discussedtheprevioussummer"soutbreakofdebilitatingfeveranddiarrhoeainhorsesinmainlandEurope.Noonehadsatisfactorilyidentifiedthecauseandtrainersfearedtheremightberecurrence.
Dieselpricesmightriseagain,Iread.Ihated"might"stories;non-stories.Like"Doctorswarn",Iput"might"storiesbottomofmylist.Anxietyraisers,allofthem.Doctorsshouldwarnagainst"Doctorswarn".
Itwasa"might"sortofmorning.SunnyDriftermightnotruninthenextday"sChampionHurdle.TheremightbeanincreaseinbettingtaxintheBudget.MichaelWatermeadmightrunthebrilliantIrkabAlhawainawarm-upracebeforethe2,000Guineas.
MarigoldEnglish,Ireadopen-eyed,reportedthatshehadsuccessfullycompletedhermovetoPixhill,"OwingtoFreddieCroft"spersonalservices,thetransferwentsmoothlyinallrespects."Bullyfortheoldtrout,Ithought,andphonedheronthespottothankher.
"Youdidagoodjob,"shesaid,pleased.
Bynine-thirtythephonewasringingalmostcontinuouslyasitalwaysdidonMondays,thetrainersmakingtransportplansfortheweekahead.
Isobelansweredeverything,comingalongtomydooratonepointandsaying,"There"ssomeoneenquiringforBrett"sjob.Hesoundsallright.WhatshallIdo?"
"Askhimifhecancomeforaninterviewthismorning."
Shewentawayandreturnedtosaythathewould.Tenminuteslaterwehadanotherapplicant,andthenanother.Wewouldhavealineofthemroundthefarmyardifitwenton.
Istartedtheinterviewsataboutteno"clock.Fourmenhadalreadyarrivedandafifthappearedwithinanhour.Allofthemhadthenecessarylicences,allhadexperience,allsaidthey"dworkedinracingbefore.Thefifthonesaidhewasalsoamechanic.
Mostdriversweremechanicstosomeextent.ThisonegavemeareferencefromaMercedesgarageinLondon.
HisnamewasAzizNader.Age,twenty-eight.Hehadcurlyblackhair,oliveskin,shiningblackeyes.Confidentandoutgoinginmanner,hewaslookingforajobbutnotofferingsubservience.HespokewithaCanadianaccentbutdidn"tlookasifheshould.
"Wheredoyoucomefrom?"Isaidneutrally.
"Lebanon."Hepausedasecondandamplifiedhisanswer."MyparentsareLebaneseb.u.t.theywenttoCanadawhenthetroublestarted.IwasraisedinQuebecmostlyandI"mstillaCanadiancitizen,butwe"vebeenhereeightyearsnow.I"vearesident"sworkpermit,ifthat"swhat"sworryingyou."
Ilookedathimthoughtfully."Whatlanguagedoyouspeakwithyourparents?"
"Arabic."
"And...um...howaboutFrench?"
Hesmiledwithwhiteteethandspoketomerapidlyinthatlanguage.TheFrenchIknewwasracecoursestuff;hewastoofastforme.
InthesummerIshippedmanyhorsesforArabclients,mostofwhoseemployeesfumbledalonginhopelesslytongue-tiedornonexistentEnglish.Adriverwhocouldconversewiththem,andcouldalsofeelathomeinFrance,seemedtoogoodtobetrue.
"Howgoodareyouwithhorses?"Iasked.
Heseemeduncertain."Ithoughtyouwantedadriver-mechanic."
Nooneafterallwasperfect."Horseboxdriversarebetteriftheycanhandlehorses."
"I"d...er...learn."
Itwasn"taseasyashethought,but.i.tdidn"trulehimout.
"I"vetoldeveryoneI"llgowiththemonatestdrivebeforedecidingwhogetsthejob,"Isaid."Youcamelast,canyouwait?"
"Allday,"hesaid.
Thetestdriveswereimportantbecausethecargohadtogosteadilyonitsfeet.Twooftheapplicantswerejerkywithbrakesandgears,onewasveryslow,thefourthIwouldhaveengagedifhe"dbeentheonlyremainingchoice.
Ifound,asIclimbedintothesuper-sixcabbesideAziz,thatIalreadyintendedtogivehimthejobonthestrengthofhislanguagesandhismechanicalexperience,justaslongashewashalf-wayproficientatdriving.Heprovedinfactnotdazzlingbutatleastsmoothandcareful,andmymindwasmadeuplongbeforewereturnedtothefarmyard.
"Whencanyoustart?"Iasked,ashebrakedtoahalt.
"Tomorrow."Hegavemeanotherflashingsmile,alleyesandteeth,andsaidhewouldworkhard.
IthankedtheotherapplicantswhowerewaitinghopefullyandgotthemtogivetheirnamestoIsobel,incase.Theywentawaydisappointed.IsobelandRosemetAzizwithfascinationandavisibleincreaseinfemininity,andNigel,itwasplain,hadfoundstrongcompet.i.tion.
Threemonths"trial,subjecttohisreferencesbeingOK,Isuggested,offeringappropriatepayandconditions.Rosesaidshewouldputhimintohercomputer,askingforhisaddress.Hewouldrentaroominthevillage,hesaid,andletherknowlater.RosetentativelytoldhimwhereBretthadstayed:theroommightstillbeavailable.Azizthankedher,listenedtoherdirections,anddroveoffcheerfully,ashe"dcome,inaveryold,well-tendedsmall-sizedPeugeot.
Iwonderedhowmuchonecouldreallytellofapersonbythecartheydrove.Sunday"sNinamatchedherMercedes;Monday"sNina,heroldrunabout.Azizseemedtoostrongacharacterforhiswheels.I,ontheotherhand,ownedaJaguarXJS,lovedandleftoverfromthejockeydays.ItookitstilltoracemeetingsbutmovedaroundPixhillinaworkhorsefour-wheeldriveFourtrak.Perhapseveryone,Ithoughtinpa.s.sing,hadatwo-carpersonality,andwonderedwhatAzizwoulddrivefromchoice.
Tobeprudent,Icheckedhisreferences.TheLondongaragehe"dworkedforsaidheknewhis...o...b..thadleftsometimeago.Thetrainerwhoseprivatehorseboxhehaddrivenprovedtohavegoneoutofbusinessrecentlyinfinancialdifficulties.AzizNaderhadbeenasatisfactoryemployeebuteveryoneonthepayrollhadlosttheirjobs.
WhileIwasonthephonetwocarsarrivedtogether,not,asittranspired,intandembutbothonfact-findingmissions.Thefirstdisgorgedthepressintheshapeofaspindlyyoungmanwithalargenoseandaspiralnotebook;thesecond,theareabloodhoundsinplainclothes,differentmenfromthedaybefore.Iwentoutwithoutenthusiasmtogreetthem.Therewerenosmiles,nohandshakes,merelyminimalintroductions,badgesflappedinmyface.Nooneseemedintentonoverfriendlinessorengagingmybesthelptrustingly.Bothpressandpolicesubsequentlyaskedinvasiveandborderline-rudequestionswithvisiblescepticismatmyanswers.
ApartfromSandy,myexperienceswiththelargerpoliceworldhadbeenfewbutenoughtoshowmeoneshouldneversayawordtothemthatonedidn"thaveto,ontheprobabilityofbeingadjudgedguiltyofanyoldthingbeforeconclusivelyprovedinnocent,andverylikelyafter.Oneshouldalsonever,ever,onanyaccount,makejokes.NoteventoSandy.Thepolice,tomymind,hadonlythemselvestoblameforthepublic"sprevalentmistrustofthem,greatchapsthoughnodoubtmostofthemwere.Pouncing,however,cameasanaturalinstincttothemall:theywouldn"thavebeeneffectivewithout.i.t.NoonethatIknewof,particularlyifinnocent,caredtobeprey.
ThepressmanseemedtoseehisroleasbeingWashingtonPost-typeinvestigativejournalism.Thepolice,tomyquietamus.e.m.e.nt,sawhimasanuisancewhowoulddonoinvestigatingatalliftheycouldhelpit.Ilistenedtothemmatchverbalswordsuntiltheyoungmanretreateddiscomfitedtowaitinhismotorandtheforceproducednotebooksoftheirown.
"Now,sir,"theybegan,anopenerfullofmenaceifevertherewasone,"youwillhandoverthehousekeysofthemanfounddeadhereyesterday,ifyouplease."
IwouldhavegiventhemJogger"skeyswillingly.ThebrusquenessoftheirdemandreinforcedmyhoveringantagonismandensuredIdidn"thelpthemasImighthavedone,asIshouldhavedone,nodoubt.
Withoutaword,though,Iwentbacktotheoffice,findingthemfollowingmewithsharpsuspiciouseyesasifIwereplanningtodestroyevidence,givenhalfachance.IsobelandRosebothwatchedtheprocessionwithopenmouths.Ididn"tbotherwithintroductions.
Thetwoplain-clothesmendrewupbesidemydesk.Iopenedadrawer,broughtoutJogger"skeysandremovedhishousekeysfromthering.
TheytookthekeyswithoutcommentandaskedwhatJoggerhadbeendoinginthefarmyardonaSundaymorning.Irepliedthatallmyemployeescouldcomeandgointhefarmyardonanyerrandtheycaredto,Sundaysincluded,asitwasaworkday.
TheyaskedmeaboutJogger"sdrinkinghabits.Isaidhehadneverturnedupdrunkforwork.Apartfromthat,itwashisownaffair.
IfJoggerhadbeendrunkwhenhefellintothepit,Ithought,thepost-mortemwouldshowit.Speculationwaspointless,really.
TheelderofthetwopolicemennextaskedifanyonehadbeenpresentwithJoggerwhenhefell.NotthatIknewof,Isaid.HadI,personally,beenthere?No.HadIbeentothefarmyardonSat.u.r.daynightafterteno"clockoronSundaymorningatanytime?No.
Iaskedwhytheywereaskingsuchquestionsandwastoldthatallaccidentshadtobeinvestigated,ofcourse.Thecoronerwouldwantanswersattheinquest.Inpoliceexperience,hechillinglyadded"Peoplewithinformationcouldremainsilentsoasnottobecomeinvolved.Irefrainedfromaskingwhosefaulthethoughtthatmightbe.
Theinterviewproceededforseveralmoreminuteswithoutfruittoeitherside,asfarasIcouldsee.Theywatchedmekeenlywhiletellingmetheywouldbemakingenquiriesfrommyemployees.Inoddedneutrally,takingitforgranted.
TheyaskedforalistofalldriverswhohadbeenworkingonSat.u.r.dayorSunday.ItookthemalongtoIsobel"sofficeandaskedherforacomputerprint-outofthetimeseveryonehadleftandreturned.
Sheshookherheaddisgustedly.
"Look,Freddie,"shesaid,"I"msosorry,butIcan"tgetathingoutofthecomputertoday.WhenI"vesorteditout,I"lldotherecordsstraightaway."Shepickedupapileoflog-books."Theinformationisallinhere,it"sjustamatteroftypingit."
"Sure,"Isaid,easily."Canyoujustwritedownthenames,forastart?Usingold-fashionedpencilandpaper?"
Obliginglyshewrotethenamesfromthelog-bookcoversandhandedthelisttothepolicemanwhotookitstolidly.Whenthey"dgoneIsobelmadeafaceafterthem."Theymighthavesaidthanks,evenifIdidb.a.l.l.supthecomputer."
"Yes,theymight."
ThespindlypressmancameoutofhiscarlikearabbitfromhisholeoncethepolicecarhaddrivenawayandIspentthenexttenminutesa.s.suringhimthatJoggerhadbeenagreatmechanic,hislosswouldbesorelyfelt,thepolicehadbeeninvestigatingtheaccident,wewouldhavetowaittheresultoftheirenquiries,andsoonandsoon,awholelotofplat.i.tudesb.u.t.thetruthasfarasitwent.Hedroveawayfinallyindissatisfaction,butIcouldn"thelpthat.
AquicklookatmywatchshowedI"ddriftedthroughmuchoflunchtimewithoutrememberingmyintentionoforganisingtheJoggermemorialpintsinthepub,soIscooteddownthereatoncetotalktothelandlord.
He,comfortablyfatwithabeerbellyofhisown,presidedoverano-frillshousegearedtothepsychologicalcomfortofthosemadeuneasybytoomuchluxury.Hepleasedaclienteleofbothstableworkersandausterelocalintellects,talkingeasilywithbothgroups.
"OldJoggerwasharmless,"hep.r.o.nounced."Gotp.i.s.sedregularonSat.u.r.days.NotthefirsttimeSandy"sdrivenhimhome.Sandy"sagoodfellow,I"llsaythatforhim.WhatcanIdoforyou?"
Makealist,Isaid,ofeveryonewhohadbeeninthepubwithJoggeronhislastnightandgiveeachofthemtwoorthreepintsinhismemory.
"Verydecentofyou,Freddie,"hesaid,andbeganhislistthereandthen,startingoffwithSandySmithandaddingDaveandNigelandtwoothersofmydriversandproceedingtoladsfromalmosteverystableinPixhill,includinganewbunchfromMarigoldEnglish"syard,individualnamesunknown."They"daskedinthevillageforthebestpub,"hetoldmecomplacently,"andweresteeredheretome."
"Quiteright,"Isaid."Gettheirnamesandwe"llmakeasortofmemorialscrollandframeitandhangithereonyourwallforabit."
Thelandlordbecameenthusiastic."We"lldooldJoggerproud,"hesaid."He"dbetickledpink."
"Um,"Isaidthoughtfully,"Isupposehedidn"tleaveanyfamouslastwords?"
"Sameagain!"thelandlordsaid,smilingbroadly."Sameagain"werehisfavouritewords."He"dbeenramblingonaboutaliensunderyourlorries,Iaskyou,butbythetimeheleft,"sameagain"wasaboutallhecouldmanage.Butalwaysthegentleman,thatJogger,neveranytroublewhenhe"dhadaskinful,neverfightingdrunklikethatDave."
"Dave?"Iaskedinastonishment."DoyoumeanmyDave?"
"Sure.He"lltakeaswingatanyone,givenenoughaleonboard.Heneverconnects,mindyou,hecan"tseestraightbythen.Istopservinghimthen,ofcourse,andtellhimtogohome.Sandytakeshimhometoo,sometimes,whenhe"stoofargoneeventobalanceonthatbike.Agoodlad,Sandy.Prettygoodforacopper."
"Yes,"Isaid,andgavehimacashadvanceforthememorialpints,promisingtherestafterthelisthadbeendrawnupandeveryoneserved.
Howabout.i.tifwegettheirownsignatures,then?Makeitmorepersonal.Starttonight,shallI?"
Greatidea,"Isaid,"butputtheirfullnamesbesidethesignatures,soeveryonewillknowwhowashere."
"Willdo."
Iboughtahome-madeCornishpastyfromhimforatake-awaylunchandlefthimashebegantoseekoutasheetofpaperworthyoftherollofhonour.
DuringtheafternoonIwentthroughthelatestprint-outoftheaccountswithRoseandthenwithIsobel"sinputdrewupmyownsortofpencil-and-paperchartfortheweek.WhileIsobelwa.s.stillinmyofficeIinadvertentlykickedthecarrierleftbyMarigoldEnglish"slads,and,pickingitup,IaskedIsobeltothrowitaway.
Shetookitoutoftheofficebutinafewminutescameback,undecided.
"There"squiteagoodthermosflaskinthatcarrier.Ithought.i.twastoogoodtothrowawaysoItookitintothecanteenincaseoneofthedriverswouldlikeit.And...well...wouldyoucomeandlook?"
Sheseemedpuzzledenoughformetofollowheralongtothecanteentoseewhatwasonhermind.She"dtakenoutthepacketofsandwichesandlaidthemonthedraining-boardofthesinkthere,andshe"dunscrewedtheflaskandremovedthetopfromthevacuumbottleinside.She"spouredmostofthecontentsawayintothesink,andfoundmoreintheflaskthanliquid.
Ilookedwhereshepointed,thoughtherewasnomissingwhatwasworryingher.Lyinginthesinkwerefourgla.s.scontainers,eachasmalltubethreeandahalfincheslong,morethanacentimetreindiameter,amberincolourwithablackstopperfastenedonwithwhatlookedlikewaterproofadhesivetape.
"TheyfelloutwhenIpoured,"Isobelsaid."Whatarethey?"
"I"venoidea."
Thetubeswerecoveredwiththeopaquemilkyliquidthathadbeenintheflask.Ipickeduptheflaskandlookedintoitand,findingsomeoftheliquidstillinside,poureditintoacanteenmug.
Twomoretubesfellintothemug.
Theliquidwascoldandsmelledfaintlyofmilkycoffee.
"Don"tdrinkit!"IsobelexclaimedinalarmasIraisedthemugtomynose.
"Justsmellingit,"Isaid.
"It"scoffee,isn"t.i.t?"
"I"dthinkso."
Itookapaperplatefromthestackalwaysreadytohandandputthefourtubesfromthesinkontoit.ThenontoacanteentrayIputtheplate,themug,thethermos,itsscrew-ontopandthepacketofsandwiches,andwiththecarrieritselfundermyarmtookthewholelotalongtomydeskinmyoffice,Isobelfollowing.
"Whatevercantheybe?"sheaskedforaboutthefourthtime,andallIcouldsaywasthatIwouldfindout.
Withapapertowel,Iclearedthemilkyresidueoffoneofthetubes.Therewereafewnumbersetchedintothegla.s.swhichatfirstraisedexpectations,butalltheyannouncedwasthecontainer"scapacity,10cc.
Iheldthetubeuptothelightandtippeditupanddown.Itscontentswereliquidandtransparentbutmovedmoresluggishlythanwater.
"Aren"tyougoingtoopenit?"Isobelasked,agog.
Ishookmyhead."Notjustnow."Iputthetubebackontheplateandpushedthetrayawayasifitweren"timportant."Let"sgetbacktoworkandI"lldecideaboutthisstufflater."
ThetraytoonesideandwithIsobelgraduallylosinginterestinit,wefinishedmypreliminarypencil-and-paperchartandIsobelwentbacktoherofficetobringituptodateinthecomputer.
Shewasbackinmydoorwaywithinfiveminutes,lookingveryfrustrated,dressedforgoinghomeattheendofhershift.
"What"sthematter?"Iasked.
"Thecomputeristotallyontheblink.Ican"tdoathingwithit,norcanRose.Canyougetthatmantofixit?"
"OK,"Isaid,stretchingahandtothephonebook."Thanksforeverythingandseeyouinthemorning."