"Thanks."Oneshortword;adictionaryfullofmeaning.
"Seeyou,"Isaid.
WhenItoldLizzietheproblemsheaskedtocomewithme,andafterAzizhadphonedagain,roundwewent.
ThescrubbyCentaurCarepaddockhadbeenovergrazedtothepointwherethedarkearthshowedbetweenthestragglingtuftsofgra.s.s.Theroughlyhard-toppedparkingareahadweedsgrowingthroughcracksandthesmallconcreteofficewa.s.streakedwithrustyrainmarks.Behindit,thestableslookedasif.a.goodbreezewouldflattenthem.Lizziegazedatthismagnificentspreadspeechlesslyaswepulledupbesidetheelderlygreenpaintofthefrontdoor.
We"dbeentherebarelyaminutebeforeAzizturnedinslowlyfromtheroadandbroughtthenine-boxtoanexceedinglygentlehalt.IwalkedacrosstohiswindowasTigwoodandLornadisembarkedfromthepa.s.sengerseatsontheotherside.
Azizopenedthewindowandsaid,"They"reallstillalive,Ihope."
ThereweresoundsoftherampsbeingunboltedonthefarsideandIhurriedroundthefrontandtoldbothTigwoodandLornatostop.
Don"tbesilly,"Tigwoodsaid."Ofcoursewemustunloadthem."
I"dbehappiertoseethemfirst,"Itoldhimreasonably.
Whateverfor?"
Oldhorsesmightlikefiveminutesrestatthispoint.There"snomadhurry,isthere?"
"It"lls...o...b..dark,"hepointedout.
"Allthesame,John,I"lljustrubtheirnoses."
Iopenedthereargrooms"doorwithoutwaitingforanyfurtherobjectionsandheavedmyselfuptohorselevel.Threepatientoldsetsofeyesgazedatme,tirednessshowingintheangleofthenecksandinthelethargicallyturningears.
Inthes.p.a.ceinfrontoftheirheads,whereoftenanattendanttravelled,stoodanuntouchedbaleofhayandtherowofplasticwatercontainers,allfull.
Ijumpeddownfromthatcompartmentandopenedthecentregrooms"door,climbingupagainintothes.p.a.cebetweenthemiddlethreestallsandthefrontthree.Inthemiddlethreestallsstoodanothershakytrio,theirheadshanginglowwithfatigue.Iwriggledforwardthroughtheemptythirdofthefrontstallsandinspectedtherestoftheload,ahorsesofeeblethat.i.tlookedasifthepart.i.tionsthemselveswereallthatwereholdinghimonhisfeet,andapatheticponywithacresofhairlessskinanditseyesshut.
IdescendedtogroundlevelandtoldTigwoodandLornathatIwantedthevetroundtoseethembeforetheywereunloaded.Iwantedanauthoritativeopinion,Isaid,thatmyfirmhaddeliveredtheminasgoodaconditionaspossible.
"It"snoneofyourbusiness,"Tigwoodsaidfuriously."Andit"saninsulttoCentaurCare."
"Look,John,"Isaidplacatingly,"iftheownersofthosehorsescareenoughaboutthemtogivethemgoodhomesintheiroldage,they"llcertainlypayforavettomakesurethey"vecometonoharmfromthejourney.They"reniceoldhorsesb.u.t.they"reverytiredandIshouldthinkyoushouldbegratefultohavehelpwiththeirwell-being."
"John,"Lornasaid,I"msureFreddie"sright.Idothinkweshould.TheywerealotfeeblerthanIexpected."
"Didtheydrinkbeforetheysetoff?"Iasked.
Lornalookedatmeworriedly."Doyouthinkthey"rethirsty?"shesaid."Azizwasdrivingsodreadfullyslowly."
"Hm."Throughtheopenpa.s.sengerdoorIaskedAziztohandmethephoneandwithoutmoreadogotthroughtothelocalveterinarysurgeon,explainingwhatIwanted."Fiveminuteslook-see,that"sprobablyall.Butrightnow,ifyoucould."
Hepromisedtherightnowandwasasgoodashisword,alongtimefriendwhoknewIwouldn"tcallhimoutfornothing.HemadethesamebriefinspectionasIhadandattheendgavemeahollow-eyedlook,meaningmorethanhesaid.
"Well?"JohnTigwooddemanded,andlistenedcrosslytotheverdict.
"They"remildlydehydratedandprobablyhungry.Thin,too,thoughthey"vebeenadequatelylookedafteringeneral.They"llneedgoodhayandwaterandalotofrest.I"llstaywhileyouunload,Ithink."
Duringthewaitforhisarrival,I"dintroducedLizzietoTigwoodandLorna.Theypaidherscantattention,havingthoughtsonlyforthehorses,andLizzieherselfwascontentjusttowatchandlisten.
IloweredtherearrampfinallyandJohnTigwooduntiedthefirstofthepa.s.sengersandledhimtotheground,theoldlegsslippingandunsteady,hoovesclattering,eyesfrightened.Hereachedfirmfootingandstoodstill,quivering.
"Lorna,"Isaid,"howoldarethey?"
Sheproducedalistandhandedittomemutely.Thenames,ages,andownersofthehorseswerethere,someofthemsofamiliarastoraisemyinterestsharply.
"ButIrodetwoofthem!"Iexclaimed."Someoftheseweregreathorses."
"Surelyyourealisedthat?"Lornasaidtartly.
"No,Ididn"t.Whichiswhich?"
"Theyhavelabelsontheirheadcollars."
IwenttothehorseTigwoodwasholdingwhilethevetlookeditoverandreadthename,Peterman.Ifondledtheoldnoseandthoughtoftheraceswe"dwonandlosttogethertwelveandmoreyea.r.s.earlier,dayswhentheshakyframehadbeentautandpowerful,aproudhead-tossingprince,astarinhistime.Attwenty-one,hisageonthelist,hewastheequivalentofroughlyninety,inhumanterms.
"He"sfine,"thevetsaid."Justtired."
Tigwoodgavemean"Itoldyouso"lookoftriumphandledmyoldfriendofftowardsthestables.
He"stheyoungest,"Iremarked,readingthelist.
ThedaylightfadedastheunloadingprogressedandIswitchedonallthehorsebox"slights,insideandout,togivepa.s.sableillumination.thevetgaveaprovisionalthumbsuptoallofthetravellers.e.xceptthelasttwofromtheforwardmoststalls,bothofwhichhadhimshakinghishead.
Theagedponywasworst.Thepoorcreaturecouldhardlystand,letalonewalkdowntheramp.
"Advancedlaminitis,"thevetsaid."Besttoputhimdown."
"Certainlynot,"Tigwoodp.r.o.nouncedindignantly."He"samuchlovedpet.Ipromisedacomfortablehome,andthat"swhathe"llget.Hisowner"sfifteen.Shemademepromise."
IthoughtofMichaelWatermead"sremarkabouthisownchildren:"theydon"tunderstandtheneedfordeath".Tigwoodunderstooditallright,butkeepinglifegoingatanycostwaswherebothhisincomeandhisfanaticismseemedtolie.
"Atleastletmedresshisalopecia,"thevetsuggested,referringtothehairloss,andTigwoodresentfullysaid,"Tomorrow,then,"andliterallypushedthepoorlittlebeastuntilhehadtototterdowntheramporfalldownaltogether.
"It"sdisgusting,"Lizziesaidunderherbreath.
Lornaheardandsnappedather,"It"sthepeoplewhokillhorsesjustbecausethey"reoldwh.o.a.redisgusting."Shewasbusystiflingherowndoubts,Isaw."Oldhorseshavearighttolife.CentaurCareisawonderfulinst.i.tution."
"Yes,"Lizziesaiddryly.
Lornagaveheranunfriendlystarewhichshethentransferredtome.
"Youdon"tappreciateJohn"swork,"sheaccused."Anddon"tgivemeallthatc.r.a.paboutputtinganimalsoutoftheirmisery.Youcan"tbesurethey"remiserable."
Ithought.i.tquiteeasytobesurewhentheywere,butIwasnotgoingtoargue,andbesides,I"dknownmanyoldhorseslivehealthilyandhappilyintotheirmiddletwenties.Myfather,thetrainer,hadlookedafter-hisfavouritehorsesuntiltheydiedinthefields,feedingthemoatsallwintertokeepthemwell-fleshedandwarm.Theyhadalllookedbetterthanthethincrowdoftoday.
Isaid,"It"snicetoseeoldPetermanagainandI"msuretheownerswillappreciateyourpersonalattention."
"AndJohn"s!"
"AndJohn"s,"Isaid.
WeallthreewatchedTigwoodleadtheponytowardsthepaddock,thesorehoovesflinchingateveryslowstep,theheadbobbinglowwithpain.Thefifteen-year-oldowner,Ithought,wasfulloflovebuthadnomercy,acruelcombination.
Lornatossedherfairhair,admittingnocriticism.Thevetshookhishead,Lizziewentonlookingdisgusted,Azizshrugged.He"dbroughtthembackalive:hisinvolvementendedthere.
Tigwoodlettheponylooseinthepaddockandreturnedtoopenhisofficedoor.Wealltroopedinbehindhim,fillingafunctionals.p.a.ceaboutfifteenfeetsquare,litbyfluorescentstripsandlinedwithfilingcabinets.Thebrowncompositionflooringwa.s.softenedbytwolargepatternedrugs,andframedphotographsofoldhorsesinsunlitfieldscrowdedthewalls.Tigwoodcrossedtoapairofmetaldesksstandingsidebyside,oneholdingacomputerandprinter,andtheotherthenormalimpedimentaofthepre-computerage.Arowofcollectingtinsstoodononeofthefilingcabinetsandatea-makingmachineonanother.Bookshelvesconspicuouslydisplayedpublicationsonthemedicalproblemsandcareof.a.gedthoroughbreds.Therewerethreecomfortablelookingwool-coveredarmchairsandsomedecentbluecurtainsatthetwowindows.Ifanyofthehorses"ownerseverturneduponthedoorstep,thesetupwouldgivethemessagethathereeverypennywasdevotedtothecause,whileatthesametimedueregardwaspaidtotheluxurylevelnormaltoracehorseowners.
Givehimhisdue,Ithought,Tigwoodhadgot.i.tright;inside,atanyrate.
Hedemanded,andthevetwrote,abriefstatementtotheeffectthatsixhorses(namesattached)hadtravelledwithoutincidentfromYorkshireandhadarrivedingoodcondition.Onehorse(nameattached)showedsignsofexhaustionandrequiredspecialcare.Oneponywithlaminitisneededveterinaryattention.AllhadbeentransportedbyCroftRacewaysandentrustedtoCentaurCare.
Satisfied,Tigwoodmadeaphotocopyandhandedittomewithasmirk,saying,"You"vemadealotoffussaboutnothing,Freddie.Youcanpaythevet"sbill,I"mnotgoingto."
Ishrugged.I"dcalledforthehelpandreceivedit,andIdidn"tmindpaying.Thestatement,infact,hadinsulatedmefromanyaccusationofnegligenceTigwoodmightthinkofmakingoncehereceivedmyaccount.IsaidIwasverygladthehorseshadbeenallright,b.u.t.that.i.twasnicetobesure,wasn"t.i.t?
Withvaryingemotionswealllefttheofficeagain,thevetdrivingoffwithawaveandTigwoodandLornaclimbingbackintothehorseboxfortheruntothefarmyard,wherethey"dbothlefttheircarsthatmorning.LizzieandIfollowedthebox,Lizzieaskingwhetherithadn"tallbeenastorminateacup.
"Didn"tyourdriverover-react?"shesaid.
"Maybe.Buthe"snewtoday.Andtherecan"tbemuchwrongwithhisdrivingifhegotthemallhereontheirfeet."
LornaandTigwoodleftthefarmyardseparatelyinindividualshadesofhuff.
Azizsaidawkwardly,"Sorryforallthat."Nowhiteteeth.Shinyeyesdowncast.
"Don"tbesorry,"Irea.s.suredhim."Youdidright."
LizzieandIlefthimrefillinghisfueltanksandwenthome,decidingtopausetherebrieflyandgoouttoeat.
Therewerethreecall-backmessagesontheansweringmachine,twobusiness,andoneSandySmith.
Icalledhimbackfirstandlistenedtohimtellmethatthiswasoutofhours,like,andunofficial.
"Thanks,Sandy."
"Well,theydidthepost-mortemonJoggeryesterdayinthemorgueofWinchesterHospital.Causeofdeath,brokenneck.Hehitthebackofhisheadatthebottomofhisskull,thetoptwovertebraeweredislocated,sameasinhanging,buthewasn"thanged,noropemarks.Anyway,theinquestopenstomorrowinWinchester.They"llonlywantidentification,whichI"mdoingmyselfasthere"snonextofkin,andDrFarway"sstatement,andthepolicephotos.Thenthecoronerwilladjourntheinquestforthreeweeksorsoforenquiries.Routineforallaccidents.Youwon"tbeneeded."
"Thanksverymuchindeed,Sandy."
"TheOgdeninquest"sfirstthingonThursday,sameplace,that"stosaythecoroner"scourt,whichisaroominthepolicestationinWinchester.Theverdictwillbenaturalcauses.Theywon"tadjournthatone.DrFarwaywillgivehisreport.MrsOgden"sidentifiedherhusband.SeemsOgdenhadhearttroubleonandoffbutwasbadattakingpills.Davehadbetterattend,thoughtheymightnotcallhim.I"llbetheretoo,ofcourse."
"Great,Sandy.Thanksagain."
"IdranktoJoggerlastnightinthepub,"hesaid."Therewasquiteaturnout.Loadsofpeoplesigninghismemorial.You"llgetanastronomicalbill."
"Allinagoodcause."
"PooroldJogger."
"Yes,"Isaid.
LizzieandIsettledfordinneronanoldcountryinntenmilesfromPixhillwherethespecialitywasduckroastedinahoneyglazetoacrispblackenedskinwithsucculenceinside.LaPotiniereitwasnot,butanoldfavouriteplaceofLizzie"s,wholikedtheheavyoakbeams,theauthenticallycrookedwallsandthelow-to-dimlighting.
AsPixhillpeopleoftenatethere,IwasnotmuchsurprisedtoseeBenjyandDotUshersidebysideataboothtableacrosstheroomfromus.Impervioustotheirsurroundingstheywereinmid-quarrelasusual,thetwofacestightwithfurysixinchesapart.
"Wh.o.a.rethey?"Lizzieasked,followingmygaze.
"APixhillmillionairewhoplaysattrainingandhisinseparablewife."
"Askasillyquestion..."
"Andyougetadeadaccurateanswer."
"Really?"
"Ireckoniftheyeverstopfightingthatmarriagewillcollapsefromboredom."
ItoldheraboutmydaywiththematSandownracesandaboutBenjy"soddhabitofnottouchinghorses.
"Andhe"satrainer?
"Ofsorts.Buthe"salsoacustomer,whichmakeshimOKbyme."
Shestudiedmyfacewithelder-sisterindulgence."Irememberyouoncesaying,"shesaid,"thatifyouroderacesonlyforpeopleyoulikedyou"dhavemissedwinningtheGoldCup."
"Mm.Sametheory.I"llhireoutmyskillstoanyonefortheprospectofreward."
"Itsoundslikeprost.i.tution."
"Whatisn"t?"
"Pureresearch,foronething.You"reanabsolutephilistine."
"GoliathwasaPhilistine...agiantofaman.""Broughtdownbyaslingshot."/P "Sneaky."
Lizziesmiledwithpleasure."Imissyou,"shesaid.
"Metoo.TellmeaboutProfessorQuipp."
IknewIshouldn"thavesaidthatabouteveryonerindingme.Younevermissatrick."
"Well,goon."
"He"snice."Shesoundedfond,notdefensive.Agoodsign,giventhecharactersofsomeofthepastbeards."He"sfiveyearsyoungerthanIamandheadoresskiing.WewenttoVald"Isereforaweek."Lizziepositivelypurred."Weracedeachotherdownmountains."