Harvesaidwithhumour,"WecouldputPatontheextraWatermeadruns,whenshe"sbetter,andyourtemporaryreplacementcoulddoanybeforethat."
"Goodthinking!"IstifledtoobroadasmileandmadeanoteforIsobeltoallocateNigelchieflytoMarigoldEnglish,whosepulseshemightracetogoodeffect.
Intime,apolicecarcreptcarefullythroughthegates,bringingCIDinvestigators,anofficialdoctorandaphotographer.HarveandIwentouttothebarn,whereSandywa.s.showingJoggertohisplain-clothescolleaguesandBruceFarwaywastalkingimportantlytohispolicecounterpart.Theofficialphotographertookbrightflashofficialphotographsfromthesameanglesasmyown.
AstatementfromHarveaboutfindingthebodywastakendownandreadouttohiminthecuriouslystiltedEnglishsuchproceedingsseemedtoincur.Harvesignedtheresulteventhoughthewordsweren"thisown,andFarway,SandyandIconfirmedthatthebodywasaswe"dfoundit,andthatnothinghadbeenaddedorsubtractedfromthescene.
Sandy"scolleagueswereimpersonal,withouthumour.Allfatalaccidentshadtobethoroughlyinvestigated,theysaid,andtherewouldbefurtherquestions,nodoubt,onthemorrow.
Thesameblackhea.r.s.ethathadcollectedKevinKeithOgden,oroneverylikeit,arrivedinthefarmyard,andpresentlyanotherfinishedlifeleftmylandundercanvasandstrapsinametalcoffin.
Thepolice,unsmiling,followed.Farway,SandyandIwatchedthemgo,I,atleast,withrelief.
"Allverysad,"Farwaysaidwithacertainbriskness,notcaringonewayortheother.
"Alocalcharacter,"Sandysaid,nodding.
Notmuchofanepitaph,Ithought.Isaid,"Sandy,whenyoudroveJoggerhomelastnight,wasitinyourcarorhis?"
"Lastnight?Mycar.Thatoldwreckofavanwillstillbeatthepub."
"Thatoldwreckisactuallymine,"Itoldhim."I"llcollect.i.tlater.Doyoustillhavethekeys?"
Theywereinhishouse,itseemed,forsafekeeping.IsaidIwouldpickthemupshortlyandwithasighofreliefhelefttosalvagetheremainsofhisSundayoff.
BruceFarwayfollowed,notwastingonmeanyoftheslightlyfawningregardhe"dlavishedonMichaelorthepolicedoctor,merelynoddingacoolfarewell.Harvewalkedbacktohisownhouseforhislong-postponedlunchandIwanderedroundinthebarn,staringintothenowemptypitandcheckingthatnothinginthetoolstorewasoutofplace.
Thetoolstorewasas.p.a.cioustwentyfeetbyten,windowless.Iunlockedthewidedoor,switchedonthelightandstoodlookingatJogger"sdomain;atthepairofheavy-dutyhydraulicjacks,thevastarrayofspannersandwrenches,thelabelledboxesofspareparts,therollsofcable,thechains,cansofoil,drumsofgrease,asetofsixnewMichelintyreswaitingforinstallation.Thefloorwasfilthyb.u.t.thetoolswereclean,oftenthewaywithJogger.AsfarasIcouldsee,nothinghaddisturbedthegeneraltidinesshemiraculouslymaintainedinthestoreroom.Thevanincontrastwouldcontainahopelesslookingjumblefromwhichhewouldneverthelesspluckjustthepliersheneeded.
Iswitchedoffthelight,lockedthestore,andwalkedoutbesidethelongworkbenchinthebarn,ast.u.r.dyshelfwhichborenothingatthatmomentbutasmallandalargevice,bothboltedon.Therewerenotoolsanywherelyingabout.Nothingamancouldtripover,howeverdrunk.
MoroselyIleftthebarn,turningoffthelightsbutasusualnotlockingthedoortotheyard.Enoughwasenough,I"dalwaysthought.Wekeptthetoolslockedawayandtherewasthepadlockontheoutergate.Securitycouldbecomean.o.bsession,andanywayI"dbeenguardingagainstthieves,notagainstsmugglers.
Notagainstmurder.
Ishiedpainfullyawayfromthatword.Icouldn"tbelieveit.Didn"twanttobelieveit.
Murdercouldn"thappen.NottoJogger.Notbecauseofanemptycashboxandtwoemptytubes.Notbecausehe"dshothismouthoffdownattheboozer.
Ihadasenseofjumpingtoover-dramaticconclusions.Itwouldbebesttowaitforthepost-mortemfindings.
IsatintheofficethinkingofJogger:notofthemannerofhisdeath,butofthemanhehadbeen.
Aloner,anoldsoldier,adriverofarmytruckswhoseonlyactiveservicewarzonehadbeentheNorthernIrishborder.Healmostneverspokeofit,thoughhismatesinatruckaheadofhimhadbeenblownapartbyabomb.
I"dacquiredhisservicesasafixtureorfittingalongwiththefarmyardandthehorseboxes,thetransactionapparentlytohisliking:andI"dcountedmyselfluckytohavehimanddidn"tnowknowwhereIwouldfindanyoneelseas.e.xpert,undemandingandcommitted.
Imournedhimalsosimply,withoutselfinterest.Grievedforhimasaman.Inhisownwayhe"dbeenawholeperson,notneedingwhatothersmightthinkhelacked.Nooneshouldimposetheirownperceptionoffulfilmentonanyoneelse.
Alittlelater,whentheafternoonfadedtodark,IwalkeddowntoSandy"shouseandcollectedthekeysofJogger"svan.Sandygavethemtomewithoutquestion:Isignedforthemmerely,a.s.sandyknewthevanbelongedtome.Itdidn"tseemtooccurtohimthatperhapsacoupleofkeysontheringwereJogger"sown.Continuingon,IwalkedtothepubthatJoggerfavouredanddulyfoundthevaninthecarparkthere.Atfirstsighttherewasnothingwrongwithit.Onsecondsight,Ifoundthatthetworeardoorswereslightlyajar,andinside,wherethereshouldhavebeenthesliderandajumbleoftoolsinabigredplasticcrate,therewasnothingbutrustydustonthebaremetalfloor.
Isighed.AwholepubfulofpeoplehadseenSandytakeJoggerhome,leavingavanfulofeasypickingsbehindhim.IsupposedIshouldbepleasedthatthevanitselfhadn"tgonetoo,andthat.i.tstillhadwheels,tyres,petrolandanengine.
IdroveittheshortdistancetoJogger"squarters,whichIsofarknewonlyexternallyasaricketylookinggaragewithanupperstorey.
Insomedistantpast,theplacehadbeenachauffeur"slodging,althoughthehouseithadservedhadlonggone.Keepingmeuptodateondevelopments,formonthsandmonthsJoggerhadconductedarunningbattlewithgoodsoulsonthelocalcouncilwhowantedtodeclarethebuildingunfitforhabitation,Joggermaintainingthathishomewasasitalwayshadbeenandthat.i.twasthecouncilwhoseideashadchanged.Ithoughtthatonecouldprobablydefendevenacaveonthoseterms,butJogger"sstrongandquasi-logicalindignationhadtodatewonhimtheday.
Ilaboriouslyopenedoneoftheoldcreakingwoodenfrontgaragedoors,leavingthevanoutsideandlettingenoughstreet-lampintoshowmetheemptys.p.a.ceinside.ThewaytoJogger"sroom,he"dsaid,layacrossthegarageandupsomenarrowstairsbythebackwall,andupthereIcametoaflimsydoorthatopenedeasilywhenItriedthehandle.Noneedforkeys.IfoundalightswitchandsteppedforthefirsttimeintoJogger"sprivateworld,feelingboththat.i.twasaterribleintrusionandalsothathewouldhavewantedsomeonetocareenoughtogothere,toseeitforhimonelasttimeandmakesuretherewasnodesecration.
Jogger"shomewasashe"dleft.i.t,amessuntouchedbywhoeverhadstolenthetools.He"dearnedgoodmoneyforyearsyethadevidentlychosentoliveasifpovertybreatheddownhisneck,hissaggingarmchaircoveredwithagrubbyoldtablecloth,thetablecoveredwithnewspaper,thefloorwithlinoleum.Thearmymightoncehavecoercedhimintospit-and-polishingeneral,butonlyinhisworkhadthattrainingprevailedoverwhatIguessedmighthavebeenthefamiliarmannerofhischildhood.Thiswasthewayhefeltcomfortable,thishisoldshoes.
Therewasnokitchen,merelyafewmugsandplatesontopofachestofdrawerswithtea,sugar,driedmilkandbiscuitsinpacketsalongside.TheonedrawerIopenedrevealedatangleofoldclothes.Thesuitandshirtheworefordrivingweredrapedonahangeronahookonthebackofthedoor.
Hisbed,amatterofjumbledkhaki-colouredblanketsonadivan,wasbyconventionalstandardsunmade.Impossibletotellwhetherornothe"dsleptthereduringthepastnight.
Irealisedthattheplacewasn"tascoldasthedayoutsideandcameacrossthefirstsignofluxury,asmallconvectionheatertakingtheedgeoffnature.Therewasalsoacolourtelevision,threecratesofbeer,ashiningelectrickettleandatelephone.Againstonewallleanedastackofmildlyp.o.r.nographicmagazines,representingonecopyaweekforacoupleofyears,andinas...o...b..xonashelfIcameacrosshisbirthcertificate,hisarmydischargepapersandthepa.s.s-bookofabuildingsociety,thetotalofhissavingsraisingmyeyebrowsandshowingexactlywhathe"ddonewithhispaypackets.
IlefthispaperswhereI"dfoundthemandlookedintoasketchybathroomwhichwaswhatIbythenexpected,hardlyspotlessbutnotdisgusting,basicwiththrowawayrazorsandagap-toothedcomb.
WalkingbackthroughhisroomIlefteverythingasitwas,includingtheheater.Thewholeplacestillsmelledofhim,ofoil,earthanddust.Whilehissmellremained,sowouldhe.Theworthycouncilwouldsweepitallawaysoonenough.
Ilockedhisdoor,closedtheoutergaragedooranddrovethevantothefarmyardwonderingwhyJoggerhadgonetothebarnwithoutkeysorhiswheels...andwhen...andhow...andwhowith?
Intheoffices,Jogger"slog-booklayonIsobel"sdesk,readyforhertotypethedetailsintothecomputer.ItookthebookwithmetomyownofficeandsatreadingwhatJoggerhadwritten.
Thebarebonesofthetriponly.Nocomments.Nofrills.He"dcollectedfournamedsteeplechasersfromaPixhillstableanddriventhemdowntheM4toChepstowraces.Timeofleavingbase,timeofpick-up,timeofarrival,timeofdeparturefromracecourse,timeofdeliverybackatstable,timeofreturntobase.Dieselintakerecordedinlitres.Odometerreadingsentered.Cleaningcompleted.Totalnumberofhoursworked.Numberofthosehoursspentbehindthewheel.
Nothingaboutaliensorlonerangers.
Depressed,Ireplacedthelog-bookonIsobel"sdeskandthoughtIcouldn"tdoanymoretherethatwasuseful.Fourofthefleetwerestillout,notcountingtheoneinFranceandtheoneinIreland,butHarvewouldseethemreturn.Iwouldhearsoonenoughifanythingwentwrong.Iyawned,lockedupandwenthome.
RevivedbytheproductofScotlandIsatinmyswivellingarmchairandrewoundthetapeoftheansweringmachineonmyprivateline.I"dtransferredthebusinesslinetoIsobelforreceivingandmakingbookingsforthefleet,butpersonalcallscameinonadifferentnumber.OnthatSunday,I"dswitchedtheprivateansweringmachineonwhenIwentupstairstoshower,left.i.tonwhileIpickedflowersandtookthemtothecemetery,left.i.tonofcoursefortheWatermeads"lunch,andithadbeenoneversince.Thetapewoundbusilyback.
Ipressedtheplayb.u.t.tonandnearlyfelloutofthechair.
ThefirstvoicewasJogger"s,hoa.r.s.e,c.o.c.kney,unhurried,unafraid.
"Ihatethisb.l.o.o.d.ymachine,"hesaid."Wherehaveyougone,Freddie?Someone"shalf-inchedthevan.It"snotinthegaragehere,sometea-leaf"sb.l.o.o.d.ynickeditwhileIwaszizzing.You"dbettertellSandy-No...wait...hangabout..."Hisvoicestoppedforawhileandtheninsomeembarra.s.smentwenton,"Er,um,cancelthat,Freddie.Iknowwhereitis.It"sdowntheboozer.ForgetIsaidit,OK?"
Thelineclickedoff,b.u.t.thesecondcallwasalsofromJogger."Iremembered,like,aboutthevan.Sandy"sgotthekeys.I"llwalkalongtothefarmyardfirstforadeckoandthenI"llgetthekeys.Anyway,Iwanttotellyou,takeabutcher"satthemnuns.IfoundadeadoneinthepitlastAugust,anditwascrawlingandPolandhadthesamefiveonahorselastsummeranditdied.Whatdoyouthink?"
Hisvoicestopped,leavingmewiththeproblemthatIdidn"tknowwhathe"dbeentalkingabout.
Nunsinthepit!Dead,moreover,likehimself.PooroldJogger,pooroldexasperatingman.
Whycouldn"theeversaythingsstraightout?Hisrhymingslanghadn"tseriouslymatteredbeforethis,butnowitwasinfuriating.Half-inchedmeantpinched,atea-leafwasathief,abutcher"scamefrombutcher"shook,look.Allthosewerecommonparlance,partofthegenerallanguage.ButwhatwerenunsandcrawlingandPoland?
WhatIneeded,Idecided,wasarhymingdictionary,andinthemorningIwouldbuyone.
I"dswitchedmyprivate-lineansweringmachineonatabouteleveno"clockthatmorning.Joggerhadbeenalivethen.Tobe"prettycold"inthepitbythreeintheafternoon,hemusthavediednotlongafterhisphonecalls.Isatforawhilesimplylookingatthemachineasifinsomestupidwayitcouldbringmymechanicbacktolife.IfI"dbeenabletospeaktohimmyself,maybehewouldhavebeenstillalive.Icouldn"thearthephone"schirrupwhenIwasintheshowerorthroughthebuzzofmyelectricrazor.Perhapshe"dphonedthen,butIhadn"tnoticedthe"messagereceived"lightshining.Morelikelyhe"dtriedwhenI"dlefttopickandtaketheflowers.Imusthavemissedhimbyseconds.
Withuna.s.suageableregretIranthroughacoupleofothermessagesonthetapeandItoldoneortwopeopleaboutJogger.Thewholevillage,onewayoranother,wouldknowofitbybedtime.
Byseven-thirtythenextmorning,afteratroublednight"ssleep,IwasalongatthefarmyardtalkingtothetwodriverswhoweretakingrunnerstoSouthwell.Therewasa.n.a.ll-weathertrackupthere,justnorth-eastofNottingham,givinganunderfootsurfacewhichhadprovedpopularbecauseitdidn"tcrack,freezeorfloodliketurf.ItsonlydrawbackasfarasPixhilltrainerswereconcernedwasitsdistanceofahundredandfiftymilesfromhome:asfarasCroftRacewayswasconcerned,thedistancefilledthecoffers.Itwasaboutthefurthesttheboxeswentoutandbackinoneday,entailingearlystartsandlatereturns.Anythingmuchfurthermeantovernightstopsortwodriverstoworkinspells.
OnthatMonday,wehadsixboxesgoingtoracecourses,twotakingbroodmares,twoabroadandfourstandingidle,whichinviewofthepersistentflusituationwasjustaswell.
IwasoutinthefarmyardwhenawomandrovethroughthegatesinasmallFordrunaboutthathadbeenalongtimeoutoftheshowroom.Shestoppedoutsidetheofficesandemergedfrombehindthewheelstretchingtoatallthinheightinjeans,paddedjacketanddarkhairsc.r.a.pedbackintoanuntidyponytail.Nomake-up,nonailvarnish,nopretenceatyouth.
Shewas,a.s.she"dsaidshe"dbe,almostunrecognisable.
Iwentacross."Nina?"Isaid.
Shesmiledbriskly.Tmearly,I"mafraid."
"Allthebetter.I"llintroduceyoutotheotherdrivers...butfirstI"dbettertellyouwhat"sfillingtheirminds."
ShelistenedtothefindingofJoggerwithafrownandimmediatelyasked,"HaveyoutoldPatrickVenablesaboutthis?"
"Notyet."
I"lldoit.I"llreachhimathome."
Itookherintomyofficeandlistenedtohermakethecall."Itcouldwellbeanaccident,"shetoldherboss."Freddiehopesso.Thelocalpolicehaveitinhand.Whatdoyouwantmetodo?"
Shelistenedforawhileandsaid"Yes"afewtimes,andthenhandedthereceivertome."Hewantstotalktoyou."
"FreddieCroft,"Isaid.
"Letmegetthisright.Thisdeadmanistheonewhofoundtheemptycontainersstucktoyourhorseboxes?"
"Yes.Mymechanic."
"Andbesidesyouandme,whoknewhe"dfoundthem?"
"EveryonewhoheardhimsayingsoinapubinPixhillonSat.u.r.daynightandunderstandsrhymingslang."HecursedwithfeelingandIexplainedaboutJogger"slinguistichabits."Thelocalpolicemanheardhimbut.i.tdidn"tmaketotalsensetohim.Itwouldhavemadetotalsense,though,toanyonewhoknewthecontainerswerethere.Lonerangersandaliensunderthelorries,Joggersaid.Bylonerangershemeantstrangers.Clearasdaylight."
"Iagree."PatrickVenablespaused."Whowasinthepub?"
"It"sapopularplace.I"llaskthelandlord.I"llgoinatlunchtimeandtellhimI"llstandapinttoeveryonewhowasthereonSat.u.r.daynight,onJogger"slastvisit.Inmemory,sortof."
Withhumourinhisvoice,hesaid,"Itcan"tdoanyharm.Apartfromthat,I"llputoutfeelerstowardsyourlocalpolicetoseewhatthey"rethinking.ThisJogger"sdeathmaybejustanunfortunatecoincidence."
"Ihopeso,indeed,"Isaidfervently.
HewantedtospeaktoNinaagainandshesaid"Yes"afewmoretimes,and"GoodbyePatrick"attheend.
"Hewantsmetophonehimlater,"shesaid."Andonsecondthoughts,headvisesyoutobecarefulinthepub."
ItoldheraboutJogger"slastmessageontheansweringmachine.
I"llwriteitdownforyouwhenIgohome,"Isaid,"but.i.t"sprettyincomprehensible.HeusedtomakeuphisownrhymesandI"veneverheardhimusethesebefore."
Shegazedatme."You"vehadmorepracticethanmost."
"Mm.Ithoughtofbuyingarhymingdictionary,thoughit"smoreamatterofguessing.Imean,whenhesaidcarpetshemeantdrugs.Carpetsandrugs.Youdon"thavetojustfindtherhyme,youhavetofindthewordthatgoeswiththerhyme,andthata.s.sociationarosesolelyinJogger"sownbrain."
"Andifhehadn"tdied,"shesaid,nodding,"youcouldsimplyhaveaskedhimwhathemeant."
"Yes.Hejustlikedtoplaygames,tochallengeme,Isuppose,inaquietsortofway.Butdon"tgetmewrong,hethoughtnaturallyinthatrhymingfashion.Itwasnosortofeffort.Itwouldcomeoutspontaneously.ThetroubleisthatIdon"tknowifwhathesaidyesterdaymorningwasofdesperateimportanceoronlyapa.s.singcomment.Idon"tknowifdesperateimportancewouldcomeoutinrhyme.Pa.s.singcommentsdidoften."
HarvecameintotheofficeatthatmomentandIintroducedNinaasthenewtemporarydriver.Harvetriednottolookdubious,knowingIpreferredyoungerdriversbecauseoftheirrelativetireless-nessandseeingthepresentsubst.i.tuteashalfwaytogranny-hood.
WehavetogivePatatleasttwoweekstorecoverfromthissortorflu,"Ipointedout,havingdiscoveredfrompastexperiencethattooearlyareturntosuchaphysicaljobcausedfurtherdaysoffintheend."Nina"sveryexperiencedwithhorsesandwithdrivinghorseboxesandwe"llgivehergoodhelpwithdirections."
Helistenedtothefirmnessinmyvoiceandmadethebestofit.Iaskedhimtoshowherthecanteenandthenhowtofilloutatemporarylogandalsotoexplaintohertherefuellingandcleaningroutines.Shefollowedhimmeeklyoutoftheoffice,ashadowofyesterday"swomanandnothalfasinteresting.
Theday"sworkbegan.ThetwoSouthwellboxessetofftopickuptheirloadsandtheotherdriversbeganarriving,mostofthemmakingstraightfortheteaandtoastinthecanteen.Davecreakedalongonhisrustybicycle.Nigelcamerunning,keepingfit.AllofthemalreadyknewaboutJogger,asdidIsobelandRose,whodrovetoworkinsmallcars,collectingmilkandnewspapersontheway.
OutintheyardIhadaquickprivatewordwithNinabeforeshesetoffwithDavetocollectherhorsesforTaunton.
Isaid,"Theboxyou"redrivingisonewithanemptycontainerstuckonthebottom.You"dbetterknow,thoughIcan"tthinkitwillbeusedforanythingtoday."
"Thanks,"shesaiddryly,"I"llkeepalookout."
Iwatchedherstartupanddriveoff.Shecertainlymanagedthehorseboxcompetently,manoeuvringthroughthegateseasilyandturningeconomicallyintotheroad.Harve,watchingherdeparturewithhisheadononeside,couldfindnothingtocriticise.Hegavemeashrugandraisedeyebrows,judgementdeferred.
Halfanhourlater,whenshereturned,pausingoutsidethegate,DavejumpeddownfromthecabandwithagrinreportedtoHarveandmethat,"Theoldgirlcantwiddleahorseboxonapennyandthehorsesarepurringalloverher.Wheredidyoufindher?"
"SheappliedforBrett"sjob,"Isaid."Sodidfourothersbyphoneyesterday.I"vetwocomingforinterviewsthismorning.Theword"sflownaroundthatwe"reshortofadriver."
"Isn"tthisNinabirdstayingthen?"Daveasked,disappointed.
"We"llseehowitgoes."
ThesecondboxboundforTauntonrumbledpastNina,hooting,andshesetoffafterit,followinginconvoy.
"Coulddoworse,"Harvesaidgenerously."Sheseemssensiblesofar."
ItoldDavethatoncethepaperworkwasfixedhewouldbegoingtoFrancetocollectJerichoRich"sdaughter"snewshow-jumper.Philwoulddrive,andtheywouldstayovernight.Davelookedpleased,ashelikedsuchexcursions,butwhenhe"dambledoffHarvequeriedmychoiceofPhil.
"DoyoumeanPhilinhissuper-six?Justforoneshowjumper?"
Inodded."He"s.e.xperienced.It"sbesthegoes.It"savaluablehorseandIdon"twantanythinggoingwrongwithanyotherjourneytodowithJerichoRich.Philwillcomebackwithouthitchhikers,deadoralive."
Harvewinced,smiledandagreed.
Backintheoffice,IurgedIsobeltochasetheagentsfordoc.u.mentationforthattrip.Weusedtheservicesofspecialistsforoverseaspaperwork,astheyunderstoodtheneeds,workedfastandseldommadeerrors.