Inconsequence,Lewisdroveprestigioushorsestobigmeetings.TheWatermeadstableatthatmomenthoused'Cla.s.sic'contenders,withrepresentativerunnersinboththeGuineasandOaks;andallofthedrivershadalreadyputtheirmoneyontheWatermeadstarthree-year-oldcolt,IrkabAlhawawhich,ifallwentwell,LewiswouldbedrivingtoEpsom,inJune,fortheDerby.

Hewas,thatmorning,settingofftoFrancetocollecttwotwo-year-oldsthatanownerhadboughttobetrainedinMichael'syard.Ashewasgoingalone,withoutareliefdriver-agreedwithMichael-hewouldhavetotakereststopsonthewayandwouldn'tbebackuntilMondayevening.Hewouldsleepasusualinhiscab,whichhepreferred.

Icheckedwithhimthathehadtherightdoc.u.mentsandfoodandwaterforthetwo-year-olds,andwatchedhimsetoffcheerfullyontheerrand.

Harvehavinggonethroughtherestoftheday'sprogrammeagainwithme,Isetoffmyselftowardschillygale-sweptSalisburyPlaintogettogripswiththeyo-yoshuttlewhichcouldtakeuntileveningandgivemeaheadache.Theheadachewouldresultfromthevoiceandpersonalityofthetraineronthemove,aforcefulladyinherfiftieswiththeintonationandoccasionallythevocabularyofabarrack-roomparrot.Iwantedneverthelesstopleaseher,aimingforallherfuturebusiness.

ShestrodeacrosstotheboxwhenIpulledupinheryardandproducedthefirstsquawkoftheday.

'Thebosshimself!'sheproclaimedironically,seeingmyface.'Whythehonour?'

'Flu,'Isaidsuccinctly.'Morning,Marigold.'

Shepeeredbeyondmetotheemptypa.s.sengerseats.'Didn'tyoubringahandler?Yoursecretarysaidtherewouldbetwoofyou.'

'He'shadtodrivetoday.Sorry.'

Sheclickedhertongueinirritation.'Halfmyladshavegotthebug.It'sapest.'

Ijumpeddownfromthecabandloweredthetworampswhileshewatchedandgrumbled,awiryfigureinapaddedjacketandwoollyhat,hernosebluewithcold.ShewasmovingtoPixhill,she'dtoldtheracingpress,becauseitwaswarmerforthehorses.

She'dmadelistslayingouttheorderinwhichherstringwastotravel.HerdepletedforceofladsledthehorsesuptherampsintotheboxandIboltedthepart.i.tionsroundthemuntilthefirstninewereinstalled.

Marigold-MrsEnglish,astheladscalledher-encouragedtheloadingwithvariousraucousepithetsandanoverallairofimpatience.IcertainlycouldhavedonewithDave'sknackofimpartingconfidencetohorseswhileleadingthemupramps:Marigold'smethodtendedtofrightenthemupwardssothatIboltedseveralofthemquiveringandwild-eyedintotheirstalls.

ShehaddecidedtodriveherselfinhercartoPixhilltobereadyinthenewyardwhenIandthehorsesarrived.Fourofherladstravelledwithmeinthecab,allofthemapparentlyenthusiasticoverthemove,thenight-lifeofPixhillbeingseenashotlywickedwhencomparedwiththewindsofStonehenge.

HernewyardwasanoldyardinPixhill,nowmodernisedandenlarged.ItsfirstnineinhabitantsclattereddowntherampsandweredirectedloudlytotheirnewhomesbyMarigoldwithalist.Ishovelledthedroppingsontomucksackssuppliedbyherladsandputthewagonship-shapeforthesecondforay.

Pleased,MarigoldtoldmethatasIwasdoingtheworkmyselfshewouldn'tneedtotravelbackwardsandforwardsalldaytosuperviseandwouldentrustthenextloadingtomeentirely.Shegavemethelist.Ithankedher.Shelookedonmekindly.IthoughtwithsatisfactionthatIwouldgluehertomeasapermanentcustomerbynightfall.

WithsuchprofitablethoughtsIsetoffbacktoSalisburyPlainandhadmycomplacenceshatteredbyJoggeronthephone.

'HihoSilver,'hesaidcheerfully,'we'vegotanothercoupleofLoneRangers.'

'Jogger...you'velostme.'

'Limpets,'hesaidhelpfully.'Barnacles.Stucktotheships'bottoms.'

'Whereareyou,exactly?'Iasked.

'Inyouroffice.'

'Istheresomeoneelsewithyou?'

'Nothingwrongwithyouruptake,isthere?DoyouwanttotalktoConstableSmith?He'sherenow.'

'Wait,'Isaid,'doyoumeanwhat.i.thinkyoumean?ForLoneRangers,doIunderstand...strangers?'

'Yougot.i.t.'

'Likethecashbox?'

'Like,butnottwins.'Joggerpaused,lettingmeheararumblefromSandySmith'sfamiliarvoice.'ConstableSmith,'Joggersaid,'wantstoknowwhenyou'llbeback.Hesaystherewasawarrantoutforthatstiff.'

CHAPTER3.

IspoketoSandy.

'Whatwarrant?Whatfor?'

'Fraud.Dudcheques.Skippinghotelswithoutpaying.Pettystuff,mostly,itseems.TheNottinghampolicewantedhim.'

'Toobad,'Isaid.

'Hadyoueverseenhimbefore,Freddie?'

'NotthatIknowof.'

'He'dwelshedonabookieortwo.'

Peoplewhofailedtopaybookmakersweren'tnecessarilymybestbuddies,asIpointedout.

'No,'Sandyagreed,'buthemusthavehadsomethingtodowithracingifheaskedforaliftinahorsebox.'

'Davesaidhewaspropositioningatankerdriverfirst.Maybehehadsomethingtodowithoil.'

'Oh,veryfunny.'

'Letmeknowtheresultofthepost-mortem,w.i.l.l.you?'

'Well,allright,butIdon'texpectI'llget.i.ttoday.'

'Anytime,'Isaid.'Comeinforadrink.'

Helikedtodothat,becausesometimesIwouldkeephimuptodatewithanylocalvillainyIdidn'tlikethelookof.Ontheotherhand,thevillainygoingonontheundersidesofmyboxesneededmoreunderstandingbefore,orifever,ItoldSandyabout.i.t.

IspoketoJoggeragainbriefly,askinghimtophonemewithoutfailwhenhereturnedfromSurrey.

'Won'thammerorbucket.'

WithasighIheardhimdisconnectandreachedMarigold'soldyardagainbeforeitclicked.Hammerandnailorbucketandpail.

Fail.

MostofthewayIthoughtinsteadofthelimpetsandwonderedwhattodoaboutthem.IthoughtImightusefullysetupanopportunityforadvicewithoutcommittingmyself,soIpulledthehorseboxintoaroadsideparkings.p.a.ce,fishedoutmydiaryforthenumberandgotthroughtotheSecuritysectionoftheJockeyClubinPortmanSquareinLondon,askingfortheheadman.

EveryoneprofessionallyengagedinracingknewPatrickVenablesbynameandmostofthembysight.Transgressorswishedtheydidn't.SuchsinsasI'dbeenguiltyofhavingluckilyescapedhisnotice,IcouldgotohimforhelpwhenIneededitandprobablybebelieved.

FortunatelyIfoundhiminhisoffice.IaskedhimifhewouldbyanychancebegoingtoSandownracesthenextday.

'Yes,butI'malsogoingthisafternoon,'hesaid.'Ifit'surgent,cometoday.'

Iexplainedaboutthefluandthedrivershortage.'ButIcandriveoneofmyboxestoSandowntomorrow,'Isaid.

'Right.Outsidetheweighing-room.'

'Thanksverymuch.'

Iresumedthejourney,loadedtheappointedhorses,drovethemandthetwoladstojoinMarigold.ShetoldmeloudlyIshouldhavebroughtmorethantwoladswithninehorsesandIexplainedthatherheadladhadsaidtwoonly,he'dhadanotheronegohomesickandhewasn'tfeelingtoowellhimself.

'Blasttheman,'shescreeched.

'Youcan'targuewithavirus,'Isaidpacifyingly.

'I'vegottogetallthehorsesoverheretoday,'sheyelled.

'Yes,well,wewill.'

Icleanedoutthebox,smiledrea.s.suringly,shutuptherampsandmadethethirdlegoftheshuttle.Twenty-sevendeliveries,Ithought,seeingthethirdloadrattledowntherampsintotheirnewhome,andsupposedlytwomoretripstomake,thoughtheheadladhadominouslytoldmeMrsEnglishhadn'tcountedright,she'doverlookedherownhackandtwounbrokentwo-year-olds.

Theyardswereapproximatelythirtymilesapartandeachshuttle,withloadingandunloading,wastakingmmetwohours.Byduskatsevenintheeveningallb.u.t.theoddmentsweresafelysettledinandMarigoldforoncelookedtired.Herheadladhadgivenbesttothefluandgonehometobedandmyownmuscleswereaching.WhenIsuggestedfinishingthejobearlythenextmorning,theladyresignedlyagreed.Itentativelykissedhercheek,anintimacyIwouldnormallynothaveattempted,andtomyutterastonishmenthereyesfilledwithtears,instantlyrepudiatedwithashakeofherwoolly-hattedhead.

Ioffered,'It'sbeenalongday.'

'AdayI'velookedforwardto...andplanned...foryears.'

'ThenI'mgladitwentOK.'

Shewaslonely,Iperceived,surprised,thehardouterladyagallantwayofplayingthecardslifehaddealther.IknewmoreoverthatIhadindeedsecuredherfuturebusiness,andwashappyI'dhadtodotheshuttlemyself.

Leavinghertrudgingwithrevivingvoiceroundthenewstables,Idrovethenine-boxalongtothefarmyard,pulledupbythepumpsandwroteupthelogbooks,boththebox'sandmyown.I'dspokentoIsobelonthephoneseveraltimesduringtheday,hearingatonepointthatJerichoRichhadactuallyturnedupinherofficecheckingherrecords.Cheek,Ithought.I'dalsolearnedfromHarvethatalltheplannedworkhadbeencompletedwithouttroubleexceptthatoneofJogger'spairofbroodmareshadstartedtofoalonthewaytoSurreyandthatJogger,mechanic,hadunwillinglybecomemidwife.

Joggerinhisturnhadreportedtheincidenttomewithshockedindignationbecausethestudgroomatthedestinationhadrefusedtomovethemarefromthehorseboxuntilthefoalingwascomplete,delayingJogger'sreturntoPixhillbyacoupleofhours.Jogger,itappeared,hadneverseenafoalbornbefore:hehadfounditbotheye-openinganddisgusting.

'Didyouknowthemareeatsallthatstuff?Fairturnedmeup.'

'Don'tthinkabout.i.t,'Iadvisedhim.'Tellmewhichboxeshavesproutedlittlestrangers.'

'Eh?Oh...Phil'sandtheoneDave'sdriving,whichisPat'sboxusually.But,see,mostoftheothershadgoneoutbythetimeIfoundthose.Theremaybemore.'

Hesoundedcheerful,b.u.t.thenitwasn'thisbusinessatstake.BythetimeI'dcompletedthelogbooks,filledthetanksandmovedthenine-boxtothecornerwherewecustomarilycleanedthefleet,hehadstillnotreturned.

Underthestrongoutdoorlights,Ihoseddownthenine-boxandsqueegeedthewindows,notabigjobforonceastheweatherhadbeendryallday.Inthefarmyard,thecleaningwatercameoutlikeamistunderpressure,driventhroughapumpwithcompressedair:moreeffectiveandmoreeconomicalwithwaterthanaplainhose.

Theinteriortookmemoretime,asforty-fivehorsesandarelayofladshadlefttheirmarkdespitetheintermittentsweepingsout,andIwasdog-tiredmyselfbythetimeI'dmoppedthefloorswithdisinfectantandfastenedallthepart.i.tionsreadyforthemorrow.

Thefrontcabitselfwasamess,litteredwithscrewed-upsandwichwrappersandawashwiththeropes,reinsandotherparaphernaliausedandborrowedfromtheunderseatlocker.

Iopenedthelockerandreplacedallthegearinit.Eveninsidethelocker,theladshadlefttheirmeal-remains.Ipickedoutasmallpapercarrierandreplaceditwithacoupleofre-foldedhorserugs.Shuttingthelid,Inoticedagainthestainontheseatfromthepreviousnightandwonderedhowtogetridofit,shortofre-coveringthewholething.Certainlynoneoftheladsthathadsatonitthatdayhadcomplained,b.u.t.thentheyhadn'tknownaboutKevinKeithOgden'slastride.

SmilingashaderuefullyIswepttherubbishintothesackI'dprovidedb.u.t.theladshadresolutelyignored,andstooditbesidethesmallcarrierwhichwouldhavegoneintothesackalso,exceptthat.i.tprovedheavierthanemptyandcontained,Ifound,athermosflaskandapacketofuneatensandwiches.Yawning,IthoughtIwouldget.i.tbacktoMarigold'sladsinthemorning,whetherornotIdidthelastshuttlemyself.

FinallyIdrovetheboxalongtoitsusualparkings.p.a.ce,lockedeverything,threwtherubbishsackintoourownskip,carriedthethermosflaskandbagintotheofficesandtypedmyday'srecordsintoIsobel'scomputer.Thatdone,Isatforawhilecallingtothescreentherequirementsforthenextday,tryingtoworkoutifwewouldhaveenoughdriversandhopingnooneelsewouldbeillbythemorning.

IphonedJoggertofindoutwherehewas.Tenminutesfromtheboozer,hesaid.Theboozer,Jogger'snaturalhome,wasthepubwherehedrankwithhiscronieseverynight.Tenminutestotheboozermeantmaybetwelvetothefarm.

'Don'tstopontheway,'Isaid.

WhileIwaitedforhimIranthroughthecomputernotesfortheday;everything,that'stosay,thathadbeenenteredbeforeIsobelandRosehadleftatfouro'clock.

Theonlyhiccup,averyminorone,seemedtohavebeenthatMichaelWatermead'sfillieshadsetoffanhourandahalflatetoNewmarket.

'Nigelreported,'thescreeninformedme,'ladsfromNewmarketdidn'tshowuntilten-thirty.Tessa'smessageyesterdayorderedboxforninea.m.Nigelsetoffwithfilliesateleven.ReportedarrivalNewmarketone-thirty.ReportedleavingNewmarkettwo-thirty.'

Nigelhadreturneduneventfully,Harvehadsaid,andhisboxstoodcleanandshipshapeinitsaccustomedplace.

TheTessainquestionwasMichael'sdaughter,sonoone'sheadwouldrolloverthemistake;mixupsovertimewerealltoocommon.Ifthatwastheworstthathadhappenedithadbeenanear-perfectwork-day.

Isobelslastsnippetofinformationread,'MrRichinpersoncalledattheoffice,checkingourrecordsonhistransfer.Isatisfiedhimonallpoints.'

Jogger'slightsswoopedinthroughthegatesandherolledalongtothepumps.Iwentouttomeethimandfoundhimstillshakenbytheconfrontationwiththeb.l.o.o.d.yrealitiesofbirth.Imyselfhadseenseveralfoalsandotheranimalsdeliveredbutnever,Iidlyreflected,anactualhumanbaby.WouldI,Iwondered,havefounditmoretraumatic?Myonlychild,adaughter,hadbeenborninmyabsencetoagirlwho'dpersuadedanothermanhewasthefather,andmarriedhimquickly.Isawthemallsometimes,alongwiththeirtwosubsequentchildren,butIfeltfewpaternallongingsandknewIwouldneverseektoprovethetruth.

Joggerfilledhistanks,movedtothecleaningareaandgrumbledhiswaythroughthemoppingout.InthebeliefthatifIinterruptedIwouldbeleftwithanincompletejob,Iwaiteduntilhe'dfinishedbeforeIaskedhimthevitalquestion.

'Whereexactlyaretheselimpetstrangers?'

'You'llneverseetheminthedark,'hesaid,sniffing.

'Jogger...'

'Yeah,well,youcan'thardlyseetheminbroaddaylight-'hewipedhisnoseonthebackofhishand,'unlessyouwanttogetunderonthesliderwithatorch?'

'No.'

'Didn'tthinkso.'

'Justtellmeaboutthem.'

Hewalkedalongtherowwithme,pointing.

'Phil'sbox.Ihaditoverthepit.There'satubecontainerstuckontopoftherearfueltank,inthats.p.a.ceabovethetankbutunderthebox'sfloor.It'shiddenbythesideofthehorsebox,andyoucan'tseeiteitherfromthefrontorthebackoftheboxifyou'relookingcasuallyunderthecha.s.sis.b.l.o.o.d.yneatjob.'