"Everytime,"Isaid.
Hesaidgoodbyewithdeservedsatisfaction,andIaddedanoteofwhathe"dsaid tomyreport.
ByThursdaymorningIwasbackinLambourn,chieflyforthelistsofmusic,and IfoundIhadarrivedjustasastringofPopsy"shorsesweresettingoutfor exercise.OverherjeansandshirtPopsyworeanotherpaddedwaistcoat,bright pinkthistime,seemingnottonoticethat.i.twasawarmdayinJuly;andher fluffygray-whitehairhaloedherbigheadlikeaprivatec.u.muluscloud.
Shewasonherfeetinthestableyardsurroundedbyscrunchingskittering quadrupeds,andshebeckonedtome,whenshesawme,withahugesweepofthe arm.Tryingnottolooknervousandobviouslynotsucceeding,Idodgedafew all-too-mobilehalf-tonsofmuscleandmadeittoherside.
Thegreeneyeslookedatmeslantwise,smiling."Notusedtothem,areyou?"
"Er..."Isaid."No."
"Wanttoseethemonthegallops?"
"Yes,please."Ilookedroundattheriders,hopingtoseeAlessiaamongthem, butwithoutresult.
Theapparentlydisorganizedthrongsuddenlymovedofftowardstheroadinone orderlyline,andPopsyjerkedherheadformetofollowherintothekitchen; andatthetableinthere,coffeecupinhand,satAlessia.
Shestilllookedpale,butperhapsnowonlyincontrasttotheoutdoorhealthof Popsy,andshestilllookedthin,withoutstrength.Hersmilewhenshesawme startedintheeyesandthencurvedtothepinklipstick;anuncomplicated welcomeoffriendship.
"Andrew"scomingupontheDownstoseetheschooling,"Popsysaid.
"Great."
"You"renotriding?"IaskedAlessia.
"No...I...anyway,Popsy"shorsesarejumpers."
Popsymadeafaceasiftosaythatwasn"tasatisfactoryreasonfornotriding them,butpa.s.sednoothercomment.SheandItalkedforawhileaboutthingsin generalandAlessiasaidnotmuch.
WeallthreesatonthefrontseatofadustyLandRoverwhilePopsydrovewith morevervethancautionoutofLambournandalongasideroadandfinallyupa b.u.mpytracktoopenstretchesofgra.s.sland.
Awayonthehorizontherollingterrainmeltedintobluehaze,andunderour feet,aswesteppedfromtheLandRover,thecloseturfhadbeenmowntotwo inches.Exceptforabirdcallortwointhedistancetherewasagentle envelopingsilence,whichwasinitselfextraordinary.Nodroneofairplanes,no clamorofvoices,nohumoffarawaytraffic.Justwideairandwarmsunlightand thefaintrustlefromone"sownclothes.
"Youlikeit,don"tyou?"observedPopsy,watchingmyface.
Inodded.
"YoushouldbeuphereinJanuarywiththewindhowlingacross.Thoughmindyou, it"sbeautifulevenwhenyou"refreezing."
Shescannedanearbyvalleywithahandshadinghereyes."Thehorseswillbe comingupfromthereatahalf-speedcanter,"shesaid."They"llpa.s.sushere.
Thenwe"llfollowthemupintheLandRovertotheschoolingfences."
Inoddedagain,notreckoningI"dknowahalf-speedcanterfromaslowwaltz, butinfactwhentherowofhorsesappearedlikeblackdotsfromthevalleyI soonsawwhatspeedshemeant.Shewatchedwithconcentrationthroughlarge binocularsasthedotsbecameshapesandtheshapesflyinghorses,loweringthe gla.s.sesonlywhenthestringoftenwentpastus,stillonebehindtheotherso thatshehadaclearviewofeach.Shepursedhermouthbutseemedotherwisenot toodispleased,andweweresooncareeringalongintheirwake,jerkingtoa stopoverthebrowofthehillanddisembarkingtofindthehorsescirclingwith tossingheadsandpuffingbreath.
"Seethosefencesoverthere?"saidPopsy,pointingtoisolatedtimberand brushwoodobstacleslookinglikerefugeesfromaracecourse."Thoseare schoolingfences.Toteachthehorseshowtojump."Shepeeredintomyface,and Inodded."Thesetonthisside,they"rehurdles.Thefaronesare...er...fences.
Forsteeplechasers."Inoddedagain."Fromthestartoftheschoolinggroundup toheretherearesixhurdles-andsixfences-soyoucangiveahorseagood workoutifyouwantto,b.u.t.todayI"msendingmylotoverthesetopfouronly, asthey"renotfullyfit."
Sheleftusabruptlyandstrodeovertoherexcitedfour-leggedfamily,and Alessiawithaffectionsaid,"She"sagoodtrainer.Shecanseewhenahorse isn"tfeelingright,evenifthere"snothingobviouslywrong.Whenshewalks intotheyardallthehorsesinstantlyknowshe"sthere...Youseealltheheads comeout,likeachorus."
Popsywasdispatchingthreeofthehorsestowardsthelowerendoftheschooling ground."Thosethreewillcomeupoverthehurdles,"Alessiasaid."Thenthose riderswillchangeontothreemorehorsesandstartagain."
Iwa.s.surprised."Don"talloftheridersjump?"Iasked.
"Mostofthemdon"tridewellenoughtoteach.Ofthosethreedoingthe schooling,twoareprofessionaljockeysandthethirdisPopsy"sbestlad."
Popsystoodbesideus,binocularsready,asthethreehorsescameupoverthe hurdles.Exceptforaratatatatatthehurdlesthemselvesitwasallveryquiet, mostly,Irealized,becausetherewasn.o.broadcastcommentaryasontelevision, butpartlyalsobecauseoftheDopplereffect.Thehorsesseemedtobemaking farmorenoiseoncetheywerepastandgoingaway.
PopsymutteredunintelligiblyunderherbreathandAlessiasaid"Borodinojumped well"inthesortofencouragingvoicewhichmeanttheothertwohadn"t.
Weallwaitedwhilethethreeschoolingriderschangedhorsesandsetoff.a.gain downtheinclinetothestartingpoint,andIfeltAlessiasuddenlystirbeside meandtakeabottomlessbreath,movingfromthereintoasmall,restless, aimlesscircle.Popsyglancedatherbutsaidnothing,andafterawhileAlessia stoppedhercirclingandsaid,"Tomorrow..."
"Today,hereandnow,"Popsyinterruptedfirmly,andyelledtoacertainBobto comeovertoheratonce.
Bobprovedtobeamiddle-agedladridingachestnutwhichpeeledofffromthe groupandambledoverinwhatlookedtomeasloppywalk.
"Hopoff,w.i.l.l.you,"Popsysaid,andwhenBobcompliedshesaidtoAlessia, "O.K.,justwalkroundabit.You"venohelmet,soIdon"twantyoubreakingthe speedlimit,andbesidesoldPaperbaghereisn"tasfitastheothers."
ShemadeacradleforAlessia"skneeandthrewhercasuallyupintothesaddle, wheretheladyjockeylandedwithallthethumpofafeather.Herfeetslidinto thestirrupsandherhandsgatheredthereins,andshelookeddownatmefora secondasifbemusedatthespeedwithwhichthingswerehappening.Thenasif impelledshewheeledhermountandtrottedaway,followingtheotherthree horsesdowntheschoolingground.
"Atlast,"Popsysaid."AndI"dbeguntothinksheneverwould."
"She"sabravegirl."
"Oh,yes."Shenodded."Oneofthebest."
"Shehadanappallingtime."
Popsygavemefivesecondsofthedirectgreeneyes."SoIgather,"shesaid, "fromherrefusaltotalkabout.i.t.Let.i.tallhangout,Itoldher,butshe justshookherheadandblinkedacoupleoftearsaway,sothesepastfewdays I"vestoppedtryingtojollyheralong,itwasobviouslydoingnogood."She raisedthebinocularstowatchherthreehorsescomingupoverthehurdlesand thenswungthembackdownthehill,focusingonAlessia.
"Handslikesilk,"Popsysaid."G.o.dknowswhereshegot.i.tfrom,nooneelsein thefamilyknowsaspavinfromasplint."
"She"llbebetternow,"Isaid,smiling,"butdon"texpect..."
"Instantfullrecovery?"sheasked,asIpaused.
Inodded."It"slikeconvalescence.Gradual."
Popsyloweredthegla.s.sesandglancedatmebriefly."Shetoldmeaboutyour job.Whatyou"vedoneforherfather.Shesaysshefeelssafewithyou."She paused."I"veneverheardofajoblikeyours.Ididn"tknowpeoplelikeyou existed."
"Therearequiteafewofus...roundtheworld."
"Whatdoyoucallyourself,ifpeopleask?"
"Safetyconsultant,usually.Orinsuranceconsultant.DependshowIfeel."
Shesmiled."Theybothsounddullandworthy."
"Yes...er...that"stheaim."
WewatchedAlessiacomebackupthehill,canteringnow,butslowly,and standinginthestirrups.ThoughofcourseI"dseenthemdoit,I"dnever consciouslynotedbeforethenthatthatwashowjockeysrode,notsittinginthe saddleb.u.t.tippedrightforwardsotheirweightcouldbecarriedoverthe horse"sshoulder,notonthelowerspine.AlessiastoppedbesideBob,whotook holdofthehorse"sreins,andshedismountedbyliftingherrightlegforward overthehorse"sneckanddroppinglightly,feettogether,totheground:a movementasgracefulandspringyasballet.
Adifferentdimension,Ithought.Theexpertiseoftheprofessional.Amazingto thenon-able,likeseeinganartistdrawing.
Shepattedthehorse"sneck,thankedBobandcameovertous,slightinshirt andjeans,smiling.
"Thanks,"shesaidtoPopsy.
"Tomorrow?"Popsysaid."Withthestring?"
Alessianodded,rubbingthebacksofherthighs."I"masunfitasmarsh-mallow."
Withcalmnessshewatchedthefinaltrioofhorsesschool,andthenPopsydrove usagainerraticallybacktoherhouse,whilethehorseswalked,tocooldown.
OvercoffeeinthekitchenAlessiarewrotethelistsofthemusicshe"dlistened tosooften,ajobsherepeatedoutofgenerosity,anddisliked.
"IcouldhumalltheothertunesthatIdon"tknowthet.i.tlesof,"shesaid.
"ButfranklyIdon"twanttohearthemeveragain."Shepushedthelistacross: Verdi,asbefore,andmoderngentlesongslike"Yesterday"and"Sendinthe Clowns,"moreBritishandAmericaninoriginthanItalian.
"Ididthinkofsomethingelse,"shesaidhesitantly."Idreamedit,thenight beforelast.Youknowhowmuddledthingsareindreams...IwasdreamingIwas walkingouttoarace.Ihadsilkson,pinkandgreenchecks,andIknowIwas supposedtobegoingtoride,butIcouldn"tfindtheparadering,andIasked people,b.u.t.theydidn"tknow,theywereallcatchingtrainsorsomethingand thensomeonesaid,"AtleastanhourtoViralto"andIwokeup.Iwa.s.sweating andmyheartwasthumping,but.i.thadn"tbeenanightmare,notabadoneanyway.
ThenIthoughtthatI"dactuallyheardsomeonesay"atleastanhourtoViralto"
atthatminute,andIwasafraidtherewa.s.someoneintheroom...Itwashorrible, really."Sheputahandonherforehead,asiftheclamminessstillstoodthere.
"Butofcourse,whenIwokeupproperly,thereIwasinPopsy"ssparebedroom, perfectlysafe.Butmyheartwa.s.stillthumping."Shepaused,thensaid,"I thinkImusthaveheardoneofthemsaythat,whenIwasalmostasleep."
"Thisdream,"Iaskedslowly,considering,"WasitinEnglish...orItalian?"
"Oh."Hereyeswidened."IwasridinginEngland.Pinkandgreenchecks...oneof MikeNoland"shorses.IaskedthewaytotheparaderinginEnglish...theywere Englishpeople,b.u.t.thatvoicesaying"atleastanhourtoViralto,"thatwas Italian."Shefrowned."Howawfullyodd.ItranslateditintoEnglishinmy mind,whenIwokeup."
"DoyouoftengotoViralto?"Iasked.
"No.Idon"tevenknowwhereitis."
"I"lltellPucinelli,"Isaid,andshenoddedconsent.
"Hefoundthehouseyouwerekeptinmostofthetime,"Isaidneutrally.
"Didhe?"Ittroubledher."I...Idon"twant..."
"Youdon"twanttohearabout.i.t?"
"No."
"Allright."
Shesighedwithrelief."Younevermakemefacethings.I"mverygrateful.I feel...IstillfeelIcouldbepushedoveracliff...breakdown,Isuppose...iftoo muchisforcedonme.Andit"sabsolutelyridiculous-Ididn"tcryatall,not once,whenIwas...inthattent."
"That"sthoroughlynormal,andyou"redoingfine,"Isaid."Andyoulook fabulousonahorse."
Shelaughed."G.o.dknowswhyittookmesolong.ButupontheDowns...sucha gorgeousmorning...Ijustfelt..."Shepaused."Ilovehorses,youknow.Mostof them,anyway.They"relikefriends...b.u.t.theyliveinternallives,secret,with amazinginstincts.They"retelepathic...IsupposeI"mboringyou."
"No,"Isaidtruthfully,andthoughtthat.i.twashorses,notI,whowouldlead herfinallybacktofirmground.
ShecameouttothecarwithmewhenIleftandkissedmegoodbye,cheekto cheek,asifI"dknownherforyears.
Chaptereight.
VIRALTO?"Pucinellisaiddoubtfully."It"savillageoffoneoftheroadsinto themountains.Verysmall.Noroadsinthevillage,justalleywaysbetween houses.AreyousureshesaidViralto?"
"Yes,"Isaid."Isitoneofthosehilltopvillageswithhousesallstuck togetherwithredtiledroofsandblindingwhitewallswithoutwindows?Allon slopes,shutinandsecret?"
"Likethat,yes."
"Woulditbeanhour"sdrivefromBologna?FromthehousewhereAlessiawas kept?"
"Isupposeso...Ifyouknewtheway.Itisnotonamainroad."
"And...er...wouldithaveabakery?"
Afterthefaintestofpauseshesaidsmoothly,"Mymenwillbeupthereatonce, searchingthoroughly.ButAndrew...itwouldnotbeusualtotakeakidnapped personthere.Inthesevillageseveryoneknowseveryone.Thereisnoroomto hideastranger."
"TryViraltoonthekidnapperwhotoldyouaboutthefirsthouse,"Isaid.
"YoucanbesureIwill,"hesaidhappily."Hehasnowconfessedthathewasone ofthefourpeopleinmaskswhoabductedAlessia.Healsosometimessatinthe houseatnighttoguardher,buthesaysheneverspoketoher,shewasalways asleep."Hepaused."Ihaveaskedhimseveraltimeseverydayforthenameof themaninthedrawings.Hesaystheman"snameisGiuseppe.Hesaysthat"swhat hecalledhimandhedoesn"tknowanyothernameforhim.Thismaybetrue.
Maybenot.Ikeepasking.Perhapsonedayhewilltellmedifferent."
"Enrico,"Isaiddiffidently."Youareanexpertinvestigator.Ihesitateto makeasuggestion..."
AsmalllaughtraveledbywirefromBologna."Youdon"thesitateveryoften."
"Then...BeforeyougotoViralto,shallwegetPaoloCencitoofferarewardfor therecoveryofanyoftheransommoney?Thenyoucouldtakethatpromiseand alsothedrawingsof"Giuseppe"withyou...perhaps."
"IwillalsotakephotographsofourkidnappersandofAlessia,"hesaid.
"SignorCenciwillsurelyagreetothereward.But..."hepaused,"Viralto...was onlyawordinadream."
"Awordwhichcausedsweatingandanacceleratedheartbeat,"Isaid."It frightenedher."