'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.