Ifrowned.'Whatwouldithold?'

'Searchme.Halfadozenfootb.a.l.l.s,maybe.It'semptynow,though.Itmusthavehadascrew-oncap.Thescrew-thread'sthere,b.u.t.thecapismissing.'

Phil'sboxwasasuper-six,aswerehalfofthefleet.Asuper-sixcarriedsixhorsesincomfort,hadanextra-s.p.a.ciouscab,agenerousgenerallayout,andcouldaccommodateaseventhhorsestandingcrosswaysatapinch.Ilikeddrivingthembetterthanthelongernine-boxes.Halfadozenfootb.a.l.l.sinatubeontheundersidesoundedmacabreaswellasdownrightimprobable.

'Pat'sbox,'Joggersaid,pointing,'that'stheoneDavedrovewithbroodmares,remember?'Hebrokeoff,recallinghisownfrightfulday.'Don'tneveraskmetodriven.o.broodmaresnomore.'

'Er,no,Jogger.WhataboutPat'sbox?'

Pat'sbox,smaller,tookfourhorses.Fiveofthefleetwerethatsize,handy,lessthirsty,therunabouts.IntheFlatracingseason,Pat'sboxwasretainedfulltimebyanotherPixhilltrainerwithaphobiaaboutsharingjourneyswithothertrainers'horses.Pat'sboxwentoftentoFrance,thoughnotwithherdriving.

'Underthere,'Joggersaid,'isanothertube,thesamesize.It'sempty.Ithasascrew-oncap,too,andthecapisthere,onthatone.'

'Beenthereawhile?'Iasked.'Dirty?''Natch.'I'llmaybetakealookinthemorning.AndJogger,keepittoyourself,w.i.l.l.you?Ifyouspreaditaroundtheboozeryou'llfrightenoffwhoeverstuckthethingsthere,andwe'llneverhaveachanceoffindingoutwhat'sgoingon.'

Hecouldseethepointofthat.Hesaidhe'dbea.s.silentasthewash(washandshave;grave)andagainIwonderedifhisreticencewouldoutlasttheevening'spints.

OnSat.u.r.daymorningearly,Idroveoneofthefour-boxestoSalisburyPlain,collectedMarigold'soddmenthorsesanddeliveredthemtoherbynine,realisingalongthewaythatI'dforgottentotakewithmeherlads'lunchcarrierbag.WhenImentionedittoher,sheenquiredloudlyofheremployeesaboutownershipbutreceivednoclaims.

'Throwitaway,'shecounselled.'I'msendinghorsestoDoncaster.Youcantakethem,Ihope?'

Doncasterraces,twelvedaysahead,representedtheprestigiousopeningoftheFlatseason.Ia.s.suredherI'dbedelightedtotakeanythingshewanted.

'Inaboxontheirown,'sheadded.'Idon'twantthempickingupotherstables'germs.Myhorsesneversharetransport.'

'Fine,'Isaid.

'Good.'Shebroughtforthasmile,moreamatterofeyesthanoflips:asgoodapledgea.s.shakinghandsonacontract.

HomeagainIdrankcoffee,atecornflakes,talkedtoHarve,talkedtoJogger('Didn'tsayad.i.c.kybirddowntheboozer.')andcheckedtheday'slist,againjugglingthedearthofdriversandpressingDaveandJoggeragainintobehind-the-wheelservice.

Ratheragainsthiswill,IredraftedPhilintothenine-boxandtookhissuper-sixmyself,pickingupjumpersfromthreedifferentstablesanddeliveringthemandtheirladstoSandownracecoursefortheafternoon'ssport.

OverSandown'sfencesI'driddenmorewinnersthanIcouldremember,itstestingcoursesoimprintedinmysubconsciousthatIcouldprobablyhaveriddenitblindfoldandhadcertainlynavigateditsintricaciesfamiliarlyincountlessdreams.Ofallcourses,itevokedinmethestrongestnostalgiaforthecloseworldI'dlost,theintimatebody-to-bodyblendingwithanon-humanpowerhouse,themind-into-mindflowingofcourageandintent.Onecouldspeaktostrangersofrace-ridingasbeinga'joblikeanyother'b.u.t.theslightestintrospectiongavethatthelie.Racingonhorsesoverjumpsatthirtyormoremilesanhourwas,tomeatleast,aspiritualexaltationneverachievedorevenenvisionedinanyotherway.Toeachhisreligion,Isupposed.Bighorsesoverbigfenceshadbeenmine.

NowadaysatSandownIfeltexcommunicated;nodoubtablasphemy,butadeeptruthnevertheless.

ImetPatrickVenablesoutsidetheweighing-room,ashe'dpromised.

Theheadofracing'sSecurityService,atallthinmanwithsuitablyhawk-likeeyes,hadinhistime,oneunderstood,been'somethingincounter-espionage',nodetailseversupplied.Racecoursewitssaidhe'dbeensiredbyalie-detectoroutofaleech,inthatonecouldn'tfoolhimorshakehimoff.

Likeothersinhis...o...b..forehim,heranthecomparativelysmallSecuritysectionwithbriskefficiencyandwaslargelyresponsibleforthereasonablyhoneststateofracing,sniffingoutnewscamsalmostbeforetheywereinvented.

Hegreetedmewiththeusualskin-deepfriendliness,nevertobemistakenfortrust.Lookingathiswatchhesaid,'Fiveminutes,Freddie.Isthatenough?'

Condenseit,hemeant,and,facedwithhisdeadlineandobviouslackoftime,Ibegantoretreatfromaskinghisadvice.

'Well,itdoesn'tmatterreally,'Isaidlamely.

Myhesitancy,insteadofreleasinghim,seemedtoswitchonhisattention.Hetoldmetofollowhimintotheweighing-roomandledmethroughtoasmallinnerofficecontainingatable,twochairsandverylittleelse.

Heclosedthedoor.'Sitdown,'hesaid,'andfireaway.'

ItoldhimaboutthethreecontainersJoggerhadsofarfoundundertheboxes.'Idon'tknowhowlongthey'vebeenthereorwhattheycontained.Mymechanicsayshecan'tswearhewon'tfindmore,asthey'reprettywellcamouflaged.'Ipausedbriefly.

Hasanyoneelsecomeacrossanythinglikethis?'

Heshookhishead.'NotthatIknowof.Haveyoutoldthepolice?'

'No.'

'Whynot?'

'Curiosity,Isuppose.Iwanttofindoutwho'sbeenusingme,andwhatfor.'

Hepondered,studyingmyface.'You'reusingmeasinsurance,'hesaideventually,'incaseoneofyourboxesiscaughtsmuggling.'

Ididn'tdenyit.'I'dliketocatchthemmyself,though.'

'Mm.'Hepursedhismouth.'I'dhavetoadviseyounotto.'

Iprotested,'Ican'tjustdonothing.'

'Letmethinkabout.i.t.'

'Thankyou,'Isaid.

'Isuppose,'hefrowned,'thishasn'tanythingtodowiththemanwhodiedinoneofyourboxes?Iheardaboutthat.'

'Idon'treallyknow,'Itoldhimaboutthemaskedsearcher.'Idon'tknowwhathewaslookingfor.Ifitwasthedeadman'sbelongings,hewouldn'thavehadanysuccessbecausethepolicehadthemall.b.u.t.thenIwonderedifhe'dbeenleavinganything.Andhehaddirtanddustonhisclothes,whichwaswhyIwonderedifhe'dbeenontheground,andwhyIaskedmymechanictoseeifhe'dstuckanythingontheboxunderneath.'

'Andyouthinkhehad?'

'No.Thecontainerundertherehadbeeninplaceforsometime.Itwasfilthy,withlayersofgrime.'

ItoldhimthattheboxIhaddriventoSandownthatdayhadacapacioustubestuckabovethefueltank.'Youcan'tseeitatalleasilyevenifyou'relookingforit,upfromunderneath,'Iexplained.'Horseboxesareallcoachbuiltsothatthesidesarenearerthegroundthanthecha.s.sis.Foraerodynamicsandgoodlooks.Iexpectyouknowthat.MinearebuiltinLambourn.They'reverygood.Anyway,thesideshideandshieldtheundersidemechanisms,sameascars.Bombscanbehiddenthere.'

'Idounderstand,'hea.s.suredme.'Arebombswhatyoufear?'

'Isupposedrugsaremorelikely.'

PatrickVenableslookedathiswatchandstoodup.'Havetogo,'hesaid.'Comebacktotheweighing-roomafterthelastrace.'

Mynodof.a.greementwasmadetohisdepartingback.Iwonderedwhathewouldmakeofit;shrugitoffortakealook.Sometimeduringtheafternoonhewoulddecide,butintellinghimI'dcometomyownconclusion,thatIreallydidneedandmeantofindoutwhatwasgoingon,withorwithouthishelp.

Iwentoutsideandspentagooddealoftheafternooninconversation,usefulsometimes...o...b..sinessbutafarcryfromtheurgencyofrace-riding,changingcolours,weighingoutandin,hurrying,racing,changingcolours...Oh,well.Onthegoodside,Inolongerstarvedtoremainartificiallythin,nolongerbrokemybonesandhidlargebruises,nolongerfearedlosingbigraces,goodowners,mynerveormyjob.IwasnowfreeinawayI'dneverbeenandreflectedthatifIstillhadtopleaseownersandtrainers,thentoprosperalmosteveryonehadtopleasesomeone;performers,thepayingpublic,presidentsandprimeministers,theirpopulation.

OnafternoonslikethatatSandownI'dfoundIbehavedlikeallmydrivers,thatistosayItookespecialnoteofthoseparticularrunnersthatI'dbroughttothecourse.Awinnerliftedthespiritsofeverydriver:ahorsekilled,asoccasionallyhappened,sentthemhomeindepression.Theundoubtedifillogicalfeelingsofproprietorshiphadanoticeableeffectonhowcheerfully,fastandthoroughlytheboxesgotservicedontheirreturn.

AstwoofthehorsesIhadferriedthatdaybelongedtoatrainerI'driddenforintermittentlyinthepast,itwasnaturalthatI'denduptalkingtohimandhiswife.

BenjyUsherandDotappearedtobequarrellingasusualwhenheshotoutanarmandgrabbedmysleeveasIpa.s.sed.

'Freddie,'hedemanded,'tellthiswomanwhichyearFredArchershothimself.Shesays1890.Isaythat'srubbish.'

IglancedatDot'snormalmixedexpressionofresignationandanxiety.Yearsoflivingwithanirasciblemanhadcarvedpermanentfaciallinesthatevenherinfrequentsmilescouldbarelyoverride,yetalthoughthey'dbeenfigurativelyspittingateachotherforaslongasI'dknownthem,thepairwerestillgrimlytogether.

Theywerebothunusuallygoodlooking,whichonlymadeitodder.Bothwerewelldressed,intheirforties,sociallypractisedandintelligent.Fifteenyea.r.s.earlierIwouldn'thavegiventheirunionfiveminutes,whichjustshowshowlittleanoutsidercanseeofamarriage.

'Well?'Benjychallenged.'

Idontknow,'Isaiddiplomatically,thoughIdidknowactuallythat.i.thadbeenin1886,whenthebrilliantchampionjockeywastwenyy-nine,andhadwon2,749races,travellingeverywherebytrain.

'You'reuseless,'Benjysaid,andDotlookedrelieved.

Benjychangedthesubject,mercurialalways.'Didmyhorsesgethereallright?'

'Yes,theydidindeed.'

'Myladtellsmeyoudrovethemyourself.'

Inodded.'Threeofmydrivershaveflu.'

Manytrainerscameoutintotheirstableyardstoseetheirrunnersloadsafelyintothetransport,butBenjyseldomdid.Hisideaofsupervisionwastoyelloutofthewindowifhesawanythingtodispleasehim,whichIunderstoodwasoften.Benjy'sturnoverofstable-ladswashigherthanmost.Benjy'sheadtravellinglad,whoshouldhaveaccompaniedtherunnerstoSandown,hadwalkedoutonthepreviousday.

BenjyaskedifIknewofthatawkwardfact.Yes,I'dbeentold,Isaid.

'Thendomeafavour.Saddlemyrunnersandcomeintotheringwithus.'

Mosttrainersinthecirc.u.mstanceswouldhavesaddledtheirownrunners,butnotBenjy.Hescarcelylikedtouchingthem,I'dobserved.IguessedthequestionaboutFredArcherhadbeenonlyapretext;grabbingmeonthewinghadbeenthepurpose.

ItoldhimI'dbegladtosaddlethehorses.Nottoofarfromthetruth.

'Good,'hesaid,satisfied.

AccordinglyIdidtheworkwhileheandDotchattedtothefirstrunner'sowner,andthesameforthesecondrunnerlaterintheafternoon.Thefirstranrespectablywithoutearningmedalsandthesecondwonhisrace.Asalwaysinthewinner'sunsaddlingenclosureonsuchoccasions,Benjy'shandsomefacereddenedandsweatedasifwitho.r.g.a.s.micpleasure.Theownerspettedtheirhorse.DottoldmeseriouslyIwouldhavemadeagoodheadlad.

Ismiled.

'Ohdear.'

'Well,Iwould,'Isaid.

TherewasalwayssomethingIdidn'tunderstandaboutDot;somedeepreserveinhernature.Iknewhern.o.betterafterfifteenyearsthanIhadatthebeginning.

Benjy'soddtrainingmethodsweredue,oneunderstood,tohisnothavingtomaketrainingpay.Benjy'sinheritedmulti-millions,moreover,hadbeendeployedinacquiringgoodhorsesoverseaswhichweretrainedtherebyothertrainersandwhichwonbettereventsinFranceandItalythanBenjy'shorsesinEngland.Benjy,likemanyowners,preferredthehigherprize-moneyofmainlandEurope,buthechosestilltoliveinPixhillandtotrainforotherpeopleasahobbyandtousemyhorseboxesforhistransport,afactguaranteedtoearnmyapprobation.

HeandDottookmeforadrink:doubleginsforthem,tonicforme.TheonethingIcouldn'taffordtolosewasmydrivinglicence.

Benjysaid,'I'veacoltinItalythat'spulledatendon.Iwanthimbackheretohealandrest.Caretofetchhim?'

'Verymuchso.'

'Good.I'lltellyouwhen.'Hepattedmyshoulder.'Youdoagoodjobwiththoseboxes.Wecantrustyou,can'twe,Dot?'

Dotnodded.

'Well...thanks,'Isaid.

Onewayandanothertheafternoonpa.s.sedquicklyandafterthelastraceIwaitedforPatrickVenablesoutsidetheweighing-room.Hecameeventuallyatahalf-trot,stillpressedfortime.

'Freddie,'hesaid,'youtoldmeyesterdayyouwereshortofdrivers.Isthatstillthecase?'

'Threehaveflu,andone'sleftforgood.'

'Er,um.ThenIsuggestIsendyouareplacement;onewhocanlookintoyourproblem.'

Iwasn'timmediatelyenthusiastic.'He'dhavetoknowthejob,'Isaiddubiously.

'It'sashe.Andyou'llfindshedoes.I'vearrangedforhertogotoPixhilltomorrowmorning.Showheryouroperationandlethertakeitfromthere.'

Ithankedhimunconvincingly.Hesmiledfaintlyandtoldmetogiveheratry.'Nothinglostifnothingcomesofit.'

Iwasn'tsosure,butI'daskedhishelpandcouldseenowayofbackingout.Hehurriedoffwithalastpieceofinformation.'Igaveheryouraddress.'

He'dgonebeforeIthoughttoaskhername,but.i.thardlymattered,Isupposed.IhopedshewouldhavethedecencytoarrivebeforeIwenttoMaudieWatermead'slunch.

HernamewasNinaYoung.Shesweptupthedriveontomytarmacatninea.m.,catchingmeunshavenandreadingnewspapersinatowellingrobe,coffeeandcornflakestohand.

Iwenttothedoortoanswerherring,notrealisingatoncewhoshewas.

She'dbeendrivingascarletMercedesand,althoughnotyoung,sheworeslenderskin-tightjeans,awhiteshirtwithromanticallylargesleeves,anembroideredAfghanwaistcoat,heavygoldchainsandanexpensivescent.Hershiningdarkhairhadanexpertcut.Herhighcheekbones,longneckandcalmeyesremindedmeofn.o.bleancestorportraits,bonestructurethreehundredyearsold.Myideaofaworkingbox-driver,shewasnot.

'PatrickVenablessaidtocomeearly,'shesaid,offeringanail-varnishedhand.ThevoicewasRoedean-Benenden-StMary's,Calne,thesocialpoiselearnedinthecradle.Frommymalechauvinistpointofview,theonlydrawbackwasherage,nearmid-fortiesataguess.

'Comein,'Iinvited,standingbackandthinkingshewasgoodforthesceneryifnotforthematterinhand.

'FreddieCroft,'shesaid,asifseeingacardboardcut-outcometolife.'Themanhimself.'

'Well,yes,'Iagreed.'Likesomecoffee?'

'No,thankyou.DoIdetectafaintairofexasperation?'

'Notintheleast.'Iledthewayintothesittingroom,andindicatedanychairshechosetositon.

Shechoseadeeparmchair,crossingthelonglegstoshowfineanklesabovebuckledleathershoes.Fromashoulderbagofequalpedigree,sheproducedasmallfolderwhichshewavedinmygeneraldirection.

'DrivinglicencewithLargeGoodsVehiclequalification,'shea.s.suredme.'TherealMcCoy.'