"Firstthing,"Iconfirmed.
"Allrightthen."Hepausedforachangeofsubject."Any...er...morenewsofyourmechanic,poorfellow?"
"Thepolicewereaskingaccident-typequestions."
"Toobadhefell."
"Rotten."
"LetmeknowifIcandoanything."
"Thanks,Michael."
"Maudiesendsherlove."
Iputthereceiverdownwithasigh,wishingMaudiemeant.i.t,andafteramoment"sthoughtgotthroughtothestudfarmthatwas.e.xpectingthedeliveryfromIreland.
"Yourfourmareswithfoals,"Isaidsoothingly,"areontheferryrightnowb.u.t.theywon"tgettoFishguarduntileleventonightandifwebringthemstraightontoyouthey"llbewithyousometimeafterthree.Isthatallrightwithyou?"
"Fine.We"llbeupallnightanyway,withmaresfoaling."
Jobsdone,Istooduptiredly,pickedupthecarrier,lockedtheouterofficedoor,leavingthecanteenopenforthedrivers,andwentouttoshiftgearsintheFourtrak,myworkhorsebuggy.Isometimesfelt,climbingbehindthatpracticalwheel,asiftheJaguarXJSpersonawasleavingmealtogether;butsomewherebelowthebusinessmanthejockeystillhadapulse,andInowsawthat.i.twasessentialtokeephimalive,nottolethimslipaway,tobestillwillingforhimtoriskhisneckdaily,evenifhenolongerdid.
Idrovehome,ate,wenttobed.
IwouldunleashtheJaguarmoreoften,Ithought.
Soonaftersix-thirtyinthemorningIwasup,dressedandbreakfasted,anddrivingalonginthestrengtheningdaylighttothefarmyardtoseewhatwaswhat.
TheboxfromFrancewithMichaelWatermead"stwo-year-oldsstoodquietlyinitsaccustomedplace,itscarG.o.dozinginthestable,itsdrivernowhereabout.Therewasafoldednotefromhim,however,tuckedunderthewindscreenwiper.Iopeneditandread,"CansomeoneelsetakethemtoWatermead"s?I"mbushed,I"moutothours,andIthinkI"vegotflu.Sorry,Freddie."Itwa.s.signed"Lewis"anddated2:30a.m.,Tuesday.
d.a.m.ntheflu,Ithoughtforcefully.d.a.m.nallinvisibleenemies,infact.
IunlockedtheouterofficedoorandwentalongtomyownroomtofetchtheduplicatekeysofLewis"sbox,decidingthat.i.twaseasiertodriveitalongtoMichael"syardmyselfratherthanwaitforanotherdrivertobeready.Accordingly,Iunlockedthehorsebox,loadedthepatientuntroubledguestsfrommystableandtookthemthescantmiletotheirdestination.
Michaelwasalreadyoutinhisyard,lookingpointedlyathiswatch,whichstoodnearertoseventhantheappointedsix-thirty.
WhenIclimbeddownfromthecabhisdispleasurelessenedalittlebutnotaltogether.Hewas,forhim,inacomprehensivelybadmood.
"Freddie!Where"sLewis?"hesaid.
"Lewiscamebackwithflu,"Isaidruefully.
"Dammit!"Michaeldidsomearithmetic."WhataboutDoncaster?Thisflutakessolong."
"I"llgiveyouagooddriver,"Ipromised.
"It"snotthesame.Lewisishelpfulwithsaddlingandsoon.Someofthoselazyb.u.g.g.e.rsgettotheracesandsleepintheircabsuntilit"stimetogohome.ThatBrettwasoneofthose.Icouldn"tstandhim."
Makingsympatheticnoises,Iloweredtherampforaccesstothetwo-year-oldsanduntiedthenearestonetoleadhimout.
"Ithoughttheb.l.o.o.d.yFrenchweresendingaladwiththem,"Michaelgrumbled,hisfairheadback,hismildvoiceplaintive.
Inanyoneelse,thedispleasurelevelwouldhavecomeroaringoutinfull-blownanger.InJerichoRich,forexample,intemperateman.
"LewistoldusyesterdayonthephonethattheFrenchladwentbackhomefromCalais,"Iexplained."Heapparentlythoughthewouldbesea-sickonthecrossing.Lewisa.s.suredmehecouldmanageonhisown,sowedecidednottoloseevenmoretimeinfindingasubst.i.tuteattendant.Wheredoyouwantmetoputthisfellow?"
Thetwo-year-oldwa.s.skitteringaroundplayfullyattheendofhisrope.Michael"sheadlad,halfrunning,cametotakehimintocustodyandleadhimawaytohisnewhome.
Withthesecondimportsafelyunloaded,Michael"sirritationsubsidedintohisnormalbonhomieandhesuggestedacupofcoffeebeforeIwentonmyway.Wewalkedtogetherintohishouse,intothebrightwarmwelcomingkitchenwherefrequentvisitorssatunceremoniouslyroundalongpinetableandhelpedthemselvestojuicesandtoast.
Maudiewasthereinjeansandsweat-shirt,blondhairstilltousledfromsleep,facebareofmake-up.Shereceivedmyh.e.l.lokissabsentmindedlyandaskedforLewis.
"Flu,"Michaelsaidsuccinctly.
"Buthehelpsthechildrenwiththerabbits!Botherandd.a.m.n.IsupposeI"llhavetodoitmyself."
"Dowhat?"Iincautiouslyasked.
"Cleanouttherunandthehutches."
"Becareful,"Michaelteased,"orshe"llhaveyoumuckingoutthewretchedbunnies.Letthechildrendoit,Maudie.They"requiteoldenough."
"They"llbedressedforschool,"sheobjected,andindeedhertwoyoungerchildren,boyandgirlintidygrey,camebouncinginwithgleefulappet.i.tesandgoodmorninghugsfortheirfather.Theywerefollowed,tomyseveresurprise,bymyowndaughter,Cinders.
Sheworethesamegreyclothes.IgatheredfromthechatterthatshewenttothesameschoolandhadstayedwiththeWatermeadsovernight.Hugo,Ireflected,couldn"thavereckonedonmycomingtobreakfast.
Shesaid"Hi"tomenonchalantlya.s.someoneshe"dmetinpa.s.singatlunchtwodaysago,a.s.someonewhoknewherparents.Herattentionrevertedatoncetotheotherchildrenwithwhomshegiggled,atease.
Itriednottowatchher,butIwasasconsciousofherasifI"dgrownnewantennae.Shesatoppositeme,darkhaired,neatandvivacious,secureandloved.Notmine.Nevermine.Iatetoastandwishedthingsweredifferent.
Maudie"sdaughtersaid,"IfLewishasflu,who"sdoingtherabbits?"
WhynotEd?"Maudiesaid,suggestingherelderson.
Mother!Youknowhewon"t.He"sadeadlossasabrother.Lewislovesthebunnies.Hestrokesthem,strokestheirfur.Theyhopalloverhishands.There"snooneasgoodwiththemasLewis.IwishLewiswasmybrother."
MichaelraisedhiseyebrowsatMaudie,neitherofthemrelishingthepromotionofLewistoson.
"Who"sLewis?"Cindersasked.
"OneofFreddie"sdrivers,"thechildrentoldher,explainingthefleetofboxes,explainingtheyweremine.
"Oh,"shesaid,lackingmuchinterest.
Michaelsaidhewouldgetoneofthestable-ladstocleanthehutchesthatafternoonandMaudiechivviedthethreechildrenlikeaflockofsparrowstofinishtheirbreakfast,bundleupincoatsandscrambleouttothecarforhertodrivethemmilestoreachschoolbyeight-thirty.
Thekitchenseemedquietandemptyafterthey"dgone.Ifinishedmycoffeeandrosetomyfeet,thankingMichaelforthecompany.
"Anytime,"hesaidamiably.
MyglancefellononeofJohnTigwood"subiquitousroundcollectingtinsstandingonthewindowsill.
"Ohyes,"Isaid,remembering."OneofmyboxesisfetchingaloadofancientsteeplechasersfromYorkshiretoday.JohnTigwoodsaysyou"retakingtwooftheminyourbottompaddock.WhatshallIdoaboutthem?Doyouwantthewholelottocomeherefirst?Imean,whichtwodoyouwant?"
Notsurprisinglyhelookedfaintlyexasperated."Lornatalkedmeintoitagain.Letherandthatwretchedlittlemansortthemoutatthatawfullittleplace.Butseeifyoucanbringmetwoherethataren"tonthepointofexpiring.ItoldTigwoodtotakethelasttwototheknackerstoputthemoutoftheirmisery.It"salotofsentimentalrubbish,keepingthosepoortotteringwrecksontheirfeet,butofcourseIcan"tsaythatinfrontofthechildren.Theydon"tunderstandtheneedfordeath."
HecameoutintothestableyardtodriveuptotheDownstowatchhishorsescompletetheirmorningexercise,andonanimpulseaskedifIwouldliketogowithhim,asIrkabAlhawawouldbeuptheredoingfastwork.
Iacceptedatonce,intenselypleasedatwhatIknewtobeacomplimentandagift.Hedroveusinhishigh-wheelbasedShogunandpulledupatavantagepointneartheendofhisuplandall-weatherexercisetrack.Fromthere,wehadaclearviewofhorsesgallopinguphilltowardsusthreeabreast,andacloserlookastheysweptpastus,topullupahundredyardsfurtheron.
I"dspentinnumerablemorningsmostofmyliferidingtraining-gallops.Istilldidit,giventhechance.Therewasn"tgoingtobeanychanceIwouldexerciseWatermeadhorses,though,a.s.steeplechasejockeysofmysize,whetherretiredornot,tendedtobetooheavyandtoostrongforyoungflat-racers.
"How"sIrkabcomingalong?"Iaskedtentatively.
"Doingjustgreat."
Michael"svoicewasfullofsatisfaction,theanxietyoftrainingahorsefanciedtowintheDerbyhoveringwellbelowsweat-levelsoearlyintheyear.ComeJunehe"dbeinsomniac.
Wewatchedthreeorfourtriosofhisstringcomepastusinaprearrangedorder,andMichaelsaid,"Irkabwillbeinthenextthree,onthissidenearesttous.You"llseethewhiteblazedownhisnose."
"Great."
Thethreehorsescameintosight,movingeasily,fastshadowsonthebrowntrack.IrkabAlhawa,withhisawkwardArabname,hadbeenalate-developingtwo-year-old,notrevealingtheextentofhisathleticabilityuntiltheMiddleParkStakesinOctoberthepreviousyear.LewishaddrivenhimtoNewmarketthatautumndayasmerelyanotherWatermeadrunnerandhadreturnedwitharevelationthathadattractednewsmentoPixhilllikeaflockofstarlings.
ThepromiseoftheMiddleParkhadbeenconfirmedtwoweekslaterbyascintillatingsix-lengthvictoryintheDewhurstStakes,thefinaltoptwo-year-oldeventoftheseason,slaughteringthebestthatNewmarketcouldmusteronitsownturf,withtheresultthatduringthepeacefulinactivewinterIrkabAlhawahadbecomealmostacult,theodd-soundingsyllablespartofhismystique.ThepresshadtranslatedthewordsintoEnglishas"RidetheWind",whichhadcaughtthepublic"simagination,thoughsomewhereI"dheardthatthatrenderingwasn"tquiteright.Nevermind;IrkabAlhawawasgoodnewsforMichael,forPixhill,forLewis,andnotleastforFreddieCroft.
Thebrownsensationwiththenarrowwhiteblaze,recognisableafaroff,swepteffortlesslyupthetracktowardsusinthesmoothcoordinationofmuscleandma.s.sthatwasnature"sgifttotheluckyfew,horsesandhumans,inwhomgraceofmovementequalledspeed.
Ifelt,asalwaysinthepresenceofgreathorses,anoddsortofenvy:nottobeontheirbacks,b.u.t.tobethem,ridingthewind.Inrationaltermsitwasnonsense,butaftersomanyyearsofclosenesswiththemarvellouscreaturestheywereinawayextensionsofmyself,alwayshoveringinthebackofconsciousness.
NoteveryonehadrejoicedwithMichaelovertheemergenceofaprodigyinhisstable.Humannaturebeingwhat.i.twas,acertainportionoftheracingworldwouldhavebeenhappytohearthatillhadbefallenthehorse.Michaelshruggeditoff."Therewillalwaysbespiteandenvy.Lookhowsomepoliticiansencourageit!It"snotmyproblemifpeoplegrudgeandb.i.t.c.h,it"stheirs."Michael,easygoingandcivilised,couldn"tunderstandtheforceofunprovokedhate.
IrkabAlhawagallopedpastus,majesticallystrong.Michaelturnedtomewithaglimmeringsmileandsawheneededtomakenocomment.Forahorselikethat,commentwasinadequate,ba.n.a.l.
Wedrovebacktothestables.Ithankedhim.Henodded,andinanoddway,becauseofthatgallop,we"dcomeclosertoapositivefriendship,notjustfriendlybusinessrelations.
ItookLewis"ssuper-sixbacktothefarmyard,itsdailybustleembracingme,bringingmyfeetbacktoearth.
Azizhadreportedforwork,hisvitalityandflashingsmilehavingalreadyproducedasortofglazeinHarve"slessshinyeyes.Harvegreetedmyarrivalwithreliefandtoldmehe"dbeentryingtoexplaintoAziz,disappointedwithhisfirsta.s.signment,thatajobwasajobwasajob.
"There"sawholelotofnoglamourinthisbusiness,"Ia.s.suredAziz."Somedaysyoutakeseventerminalhas-beens.Oneday,maybe,aDerbywinner.Gettingthecargoaliveandwelltojourney"sendisallthatmatters."
"OK.".
"Anddorememberthatallhorsesdozeoffanddreamwhileyou"redrivingataconstantspeedonthemotorway,butwhenyouleavethemotorwayandslowdownandcometoaroundaboutthey"llwakeupandnotknowwheretheyareandjudderabouttryingtostayontheirfeet.Allhorsesarelikethatb.u.t.theseveryoldoneswillbeshakyontheirpinstostartwith,sobeextracarefuloryou"llcomebackwithallseventhrashingaboutonthefloorand,eveniftheysurvive,attheveryleastwewillnotgetpaidforourefforts."
Azizlistenedtothishomilyatfirstwithadisbelievinggrinandlatterlywiththoughtfulattention.Heshould,though,havebeennoddingthroughout.
Isaidslowly,"Youhavebeendrivingracehorses,haven"tyou?"
"Yes,"herepliedinstantly."Ofcourse.Butlocal,roundNewmarket.AndtoYarmouthraces.Nomotorways,really."
Harvefrownedbutdidn"tpursueit,andquestionmarksroselikeap.r.i.c.klyhawthornhedgeinmyownmind.ItwastruetherewerefewifanylongmotorwaysinEastAnglia,but.i.tpa.s.sedcredibilitythataNewmarketstablewouldneverhavesentrunnersfurtherafield.
ImighthaveaskedAzizafewsearchingquestionsbutatthatmomentMaudie"ssister,Lorna,sweptthroughthegatesinherexpensivecrimsonRangeRover,thearistocratofsafaricars,builttowithstandrawAfricanveldtandthesmoothroadsofPixhill.
Lorna,concernedandintense,hoppeddownfrombehindthewheelandstrodeacrosstogivemeapeckonthecheek.Blonde,blue-eyed,long-legged,richlydivorcedandthirty,lovelyLornalookedmefirmlyintheeyeandtoldmeIwasapigtochargeforfetchingthepensioners.
"Um,"Isaid,"isJohnTigwoodchargingthepensioners"owners?"
"That"sentirelydifferent."
"No,that"sgettingitbothways,ortryingto."
"CentaurCareneedsthemoney."
IsmiledausefullyblandsmileandintroducedAzizastheday"sdriver.Lornablinked.Aziz,shakingherhand,gaveherawhiteblindingsmileandaflashofdarkeyes.LornaforgotaboutmymeannessandtoldAzizanimatedlythattheyweregoingonawonderfulErrandofMercyandthat.i.twasaPrivilegetobeinvolvedinSavingOldFriends.
"Yes,Iagree,"Azizsaid.
Hegavemetheghostofasidewaysgrinasifdaringmetodenouncehishypocrisy.Azizwasarogue,Ithought,butroguesweregoodforthespirits,uptoapoint.
JohnTigwoodchosethatmomenttogiveusthebenefitofhiscompany,whichIcouldcertainlyhavedonewithout.Thepottylittlepipsqueak,asHarvehadcalledhim,emergedfromacoffee-colouredvanemblazonedalloverwith"CentaurCareforAgedHorses"int.i.taniumwhiteletters,andstrodeinourdirectionwiththrustingimportantsteps.Heworegreycorduroytrousers,anopen-neckedshirtandaheavy-knitsweaterandwascarryingananorak.
"Goodmorning,Freddie."
Hisvoicetriedhard,b.u.t.theself-importantfruitinesscouldn"tdisguisethelackofsubstancebeneath.Tigwoodwasessentiallyaninadequatemaninventingaroleforhimself:not,Isupposed,anunusualphenomenonorevenonenecessarilyreprehensible.Whatelsecouldhedo?Slinkalong,wringingUriahHeephands?
I"dalwaystakentheCentaurCarecharitytobealong-establishedfacetofthelocalcommunity.ThatTuesdaymorningIwonderedwhetherTigwoodhimselfhadset.i.tup,andwhetherhelivedoffthecollectingboxes,andwhether,ifhedid,shouldPixhillobject?Therewerealwaysoldhorsesarounddozinginsunshine.Suchacausehadtobeworthy,ifcompa.s.sionmeantanything.
"Morning,Lorna,"thecharitymansaid.
"John,dear."Lornapeckedhisthincheeksomewhereabovethespa.r.s.ebeardthatstraggledroundhispointedchin.Eventhebeard,Ithought,tryingtostiflemyimpatience,wasinadequate.Soinawaywashisthinneckwiththesharplarynx,neitherofwhichhecouldhelp.
"WhatcanIdoforyou,John?"Iasked,welcominghim.
"ThoughtI"dgowithLorna,"heannounced."Sevenhorses...twopairsofhandswillbebetterthanone.Isthisourdriver?"
LornagaveaquickglanceatAziz,notsurethatshewantedJohnwithherafterall,b.u.t.thepottylittlepipsqueakhadmadeuphismind,hadcomedressedforthejourneyandwouldstickobstinatelytohisplan,itwasclear.
"Hownice,"Lornasaidinsincerely.
"You"vealongwaytogo,"Itoldthemingeneral,"youmayaswellgetstarted."
"Yes,yes,"Tigwoodsaid,takingbustlingcharge."Comealong,driver."
"HisnameisAziz,"Iremarkedmildly.