Blood Sport Part 9

'You'veeaten?'Hewavedvaguelyatacollectionofchocolatesandgrapes.

'IhadbreakfastoverIreland,at2o'clock.'

Helaughed,easedhimselfonthepillows,andstretchedoutahandforacigarette.

'How'smywife?'

'Verywell.'

Helithiscigaretteandflickedshutthelighter.

'Whatwa.s.shedoing,whenyoucalled?'Hisapprehensionwasprettywellconcealed.

'Sunbathing.Swimming.There'saheatwavecoasttocoast.'

Acoupleofmusclesrelaxedinhisforearmandheinhaleddeeply.'Shegaveyouadrink...Ihope?'

'Sure.Andaswim.AndIstayedtodinner.'

Helookedatmedirectlyforsometimewithoutspeaking.Thenhesaidmerely'Agoodone?'

'Very,thankyou.AndIsawyourhorses.ChubLodovskishowedmeround.'

Hetalkedmuchmorenaturallyaboutthehorses:noproblemsthere.

'Ihearyou'removingtoCalifornia,'Isaid,afterawhile.

Thetensenessinstantlycameback;thesmallgive-awaytighteningofeye,neckandrespiratorymusclesthatIlookedforeverydayinmyjob,andcouldn'tbeblindtoinmyfriends.

'Yes,'hesaid,tappingoffash.'Eunicelovestheocean,and.i.n.kentuckywe'reasfarfromitascanbe...andofcourse,thehorsebreedingbusinessinCaliforniaiseverybitasprofitable.Wewilldoverywelloutthere,I'venodoubt.'

Eunicewouldtakeherproblemsrightalongwithher,Ithought:thoughwithabitoflucktheywouldrecedeforayearortwo.PerhapsTellerconsideredtheupheavalworthit.

'What'sthenewplacelike?'Iasked.

'It'sgoodland,prettywellirrigated.AndthestableandgenerallayoutareasgoodasMidway.Bettereven,insomerespects.It'sDavisL.Davis'soldplace.'

Ilookedblank,andheexplained.'Madehismoneyoutofroadsidehamburgerstands.Well,hediedearlythisyear,andlastmonththeyheldadispersalsaleofhisbroodmaresandstallions,todivideuphisestateforinheritance.Iputinabidforthefarmtohis.e.xecutorsbeforeIcameoverherethistime,andtheywrotemeaweekorsobacktosaythey'reacceptingit.Thecontractsareinhandrightnow,butIdon'tforeseeanydifficulties.I'msuregladtohavegot.i.tsettledatlast.'

'Atlast?'

'BeenlookingforafarminsouthernCaliforniaforoverayearnow,b.u.t.thereweretoomanysnagstomostofthem.EuniceandItookatripoverinMarchofthisyear,andwesawtheDavisfarmthen,andlikedit.So...'Hewaggledhisfingerstofinishthesentence.

ThedooropenedandKeeblecamein,mildspectaclesreflectingthepallidlightfromthewindow,eyesblinkingrapidly,andtheusualpatchofbristlegrowinggreywherehehadshortsightedlymissedwiththerazor.Hesaidh.e.l.losallroundandsettledhimselfcomfortablyintothesparearmchair.

'Well,how'sitwiththeStates?'hesaid:andItoldthemeverythingWalthadtoldme.Theythought.i.toverforawhileinsilence.

'Sowhatdoyouthinknow?'Keeblesaid.

IglanceddoubtfullyatTeller,buthetappedashoffhiscigaretteandremarkedsimply,'SimsaysyouwereconvincedIwaspushedintotheriveronpurpose.Iguesswhathe'saskingyouis,haveyouchangedyourmind?'

'No,Ihaven't.'

KeebleandTellerlookedateachother.ThenTellersaid,sighing,'We'vecomeupwithoneortwothingswhichmakesitalmostcertainyouareright.'

Keeblenodded.'IwenttoDave'shotelinLondontocollecthisluggageandpayhisbill,andexplainedwherehewasifanyonewantedhim.TheyoungmanatthereceptiondeskaskedmeiftheladyjournalistfromStudandStablehadfoundDaveallrightonSat.u.r.day.Shehad,hesaid,beenmostinsistent,owingtoadeadlineonthemagazine,andhehadgivenhermyaddressandtelephonenumber,whichDavehadleftwithhimincasehewaswantedhurriedlyinconnectionwithChrysalis.'

'Andthat,'Iremarked,'is...o...b..yandgirlknewwheretofindyou.'

'Quite,'Keebleagreed.'Fromthehousetotheriverwasnodoubtasimplepieceoffollowing.Incidentally,IcheckedwithStudandStable.Theydidn'twantDave,andtheirdeadlineisthefirstofeachmonth.'

'Nice,'Isaid.

Keebletookanenvelopefromhispocketandfishedoutsomethreebythreeinchblackandwhitephotographs.'ThesearePeter'ssnaps,'hesaid.'Takealook.'

Itookthemfromhimandlooked.Theduckshadcomeoutsplendidly;betterthanoneofLynnie,whohadbeenmoving.Thepicniclunchwasthere,andtheFlyingLinnetinMarshLock,andoneofDaveTellerstandingonthebows,andarathergrimoneofmyselfstaringdownintothewater.Therewasoneofthefourmenfalleninaheapinthepuntatthehotelwherewe'dhadourmorningdrinks,andanother,takenwiththephotographer'sbacktotheriver,ofKeeble,Joan,Dave,Lynnieandmyselfsittingroundthelittletableunderthesunumbrella,withgla.s.sesinourhands.

Keeblewaitedwithoutblinking.WiththisinmindIstartedthroughthepileagain,andfoundwhathehadseen.Ilookedupathim.Henodded,andfromaninsidepocketproducedamagnifyinglens,whichhethrewovertome.Withthehelpofthat,thetwofigureswereclear.Agirlwithlonghairandwhitetrousers,ayoungmanwithpaletrousersandachecks.h.i.+rt,standingsidebysideinthebackgroundofthephotographofusalldrinkingatthepub.

'It'sthem,'Inodded.

'Yes,'Keebleagreed.'Theywerethereinthemorning.SoI'llgrantyoutheycouldhavefollowedusbycarfromHenley...youcanseetheriverfromseveralplacesalongthatroad...andalsothattheysawDavestandingonthebowswhenweleftHenleyandwhenweleftthepub.Andpossiblyalsowhenwearrivedatthepub,andatMarshLock.TheywouldknowtherewasagoodchanceofhimbeingthereagainwhenwecamebackthroughHarbour.'

Ismiled.'Andthefivefeetwhichwasmissingfromthepunt'smooringropehadbeenusedtotieitsecurelytotheDangerpostwhiletheywaitedforus.'

'Iagree,'Keeblesaid.'Wetookthatpuntrightoutofthewaterafteryou'dgoneonMonday,andwefoundthatthecleatforthesternropehadbeenunscrewedfromthestern,andscrewedonagainunderthewaterlineatthebowend.'

'Sobothmooringpointswereatoneend,'Tellersaid.'Thesaferopewasunderwaterallthetime,hiddenbythepunt.i.tselfandthegirl'sbodyandarms.And,ofcourse,weweren'tlookingforanythinglikethatatthetime,sowe'dneverhaveseenit.'

Keeblefinishedit.'Oncethey'dgotthevisibleropesafelyinJoan'shands,andwewerealllookinganxiouslyforyouandDavetosurface,thegirlhadonlytopullsomesortofquickreleaseknot,andthepuntwasfree.SoI'llagree,Gene,thatthatwasanaccidentwhichcouldbestaged,andwa.s.staged,andyouwererightandIwaswrong.Which,Iseemtoremembervaguely,hashappenedonceortwicebefore.'

Hesmiledatmewithirony,andIreflectedthattherewerefewsuperiorofficerswhowouldsaythatsortofthingsoutterlyungrudgingly.

AnurseclatteredinwithTeller'slunch,whichprovedtobechickensaladandtinnedmandarinoranges.Thepatientpouredtheorangesontothesaladandatethecombinedcoursewithresignation.

'Thefoodislousy,'hesaidmildly.'I'veforgottenwhatagoodsteaklookslike.'

Wewatchedhimeatwithoutenvy,andIaskedKeebleifhe'dhadanyresultswiththehandkerchief.

'Onlynegativeones.NoneoftheYogiBearconcessionistsinthiscountryimportedit.Theysay,fromthematerialandthesortofpaintusedforthebear,that.i.twasprobablymadeinj.a.pan.AndsomeofthemhaddoubtsitwasdonebytheHanna-Barberaartists.Notwellenoughdrawn,theysaid.'

'I'lltakeitbacktotheStatesandtrythere,'Isaid.'Afterall,boyandgirlwerealmostcertainlyAmerican.'

Tellerraisedhiseyebrowswithhismouthfull.

'Theboyshouted"Canyouhelpus,sir,"andthat"sir"comesagreatdealmorecommonlyfromAmericans,thanfromtheEnglish.Also,theboatmansaidtheiraccentwas"sameasonthetelly"andthere'sasmuchAmericanasEnglishonourtelevision.'

'Thesameargumentmightapplytopublicschoolboys,'Keeblesaidcasually.'b.u.t.theywereAmericans,Iagree.'

'Soallweneedtoknownow,apartfromwhowerethey,'IsaidtoTeller,'iswhytheywantedyoudead.'

Noonehadanyconstructiveideasonthatpoint.Tellerdrankhiscoffeeandamaidinagreenoverallcametotakethetray.

'You'reguardingagainstthemhavinganothergo?'IsaidtoKeeble,watchingthemaid'sbackdisappearthroughthedoor.

Keeblefollowedmyeyes.'Allprecautions,'henodded.'Theworks.IgottheRadnor-HalleyAgency.OnlythebestforDave!'

'Theywon'tletmeopenanypackages,'Tellercomplained.'Ithinktheytakethemoutside,dunktheminabucket,andwaitforthetickingtostart.AndtheonlychocolatesIhavewereboughtbySimpersonally.You'dneverbelievethehalfofwhatgoesoninhere.'

Ilaughed.'It'swhenyougetoutofhereyou'llnoticeit.'

'He'llstayhere'I'lllyou'vewrappeditup,'remarkedKeeble;andhewasn'tjoking.

Istared.'I'minanti-infiltration,remember?NottheC.I.D.'

'Ohsure.b.u.t.thesamemotivation,1imagine.Justletyourhunterinstinctsloose...andtelluswhatyouplantodonext.'

Istooduprestlesslyandwenttothewindow.Stillraining.Twonursesranfromonebuildingtoanother,clutchingcapesaroundthemandskittingmudupthebacksoftheirstockings.Usefulpeople,nurses.Neededpeople.Constructive,compa.s.sionate,toughpeople...

'Well?'saidKeeble,behindme.

Iturnedroundandleanedagainstthewall.'How'stheexchequer?'

Telleranswered,'Look,Gene,I'veenoughtolaunchaminors.p.a.ceprogramme.AndasIsaidbefore,ifitweren'tforyouIwouldn'tbehereatall.Sospendwhatyouneedto,andI'llpickupthechits.'

'Right...thenIthinkitwouldbebesttolettheRadnor-Halleyagencydealwithanythingwhichcropsuphere...Isupposetheydidthehandkerchiefenquiry?'

Keeblenodded.

'AndI'llgobacktotheStatestomorrow.Ican'tbelievetheattemptedmurderisn'ttiedinwiththehorsetheft,sothespringboardforeverythingmustbeinAmerica.UnlesssomeIrishfanaticdisapprovesofyouskimmingoffthecreamofBritishbloodstock!'

'IsChrysalisIrish,then?'Keebleaskedseriously.

'Irishbreddam,'Isaid.'That'sall.HissirewasPurpleEmperor,intheReadStudatNewmarket.'

'Howdoyouknow?'Tellerasked,surprised.

'Ilookeditup,'Isaidbriefly.'Alsohismarkings.Andthatisimportant.'Ipaused.'WhoevertookAllyxandChrysalisknewalotabouthorses.Allyxwasoneofsixstallionslooseinapaddockatnight.Chrysaliswasoneoffivehorsesinahorsebox.Yeteachtimetherighthorsewa.s.singledoutforremoval.Wehavetobelieveitwastherighthorse,notjustchance,becauseeachtimeitwasbyfarthemostvaluableoneofthecollectionwhichdisappeared.Well...Chrysalisisadarkbaywithnodistinguis.h.i.+ngmarks.Nosocks,n.o.blaze,nostar.Onecolourallover.AndAllyxwas.e.xactlythesame.Thereareliterallythousandsofhorseslikethat.'

Thetwomendidn'tstir.

Iwenton,'ThismeansthatifweeverdofindChrysalis,therewillbeanenormousproblemofidentification.Englishhorseshavenotattooednumbers,likeAmerican.'

'Christ,'Tellersaid.

'Iwouldn'tknowhimifhecameupandatesugaroutofmyhand.Wouldyou?'Heshookhishead.Iwenton,'TheonlypeopleatalllikelytobeabletopickhimoutforuswithanycertaintyarethosewhohandledhiminEngland.Andthat'swherewehitaverybigsnag.ThestudgroomatRead'sdiedofaheartattacktwomonthsagoandthenewmancouldn'tbesureofknowingChrysalisagain.Readhimselfistooshortsighted,apparently,tobeofanyhelp.Thismeanswehavetogobacknearlyfiveyears,totheseasonwhenChrysalislastraced.Tohisowneratthattime,andhistrainer.ThoughtheonlyoneI'dpinanyfaithonwouldbetheladwholookedafterhim.Andit'sthelad,Ithink,whowe'llneedtotaketotheStates,ifwefindahorsewhichmightbeChrysalis.'

'Wecouldeasilyfindoutwhotheladis,'Keeblenodded,'andshunthimover.'

'HisnameisSamKitchens,andhe'llbeatAscotatthismoment,asoneofhishorsesisrunninginthefour-thirty.It'sGoldCupdaytoday.'Ismiledfaintly.'IthoughtImightjustdriftalongtotheraceswhenIleavehere.'

'Justtellme,'Tellersaidinasmallvoice,'howandwhenyoufoundoutallthis?'Hespreadhisfingers.'Ionlyask.'

'IspentanhourthismorningattheBritishBloodstockAgency...Iwaspracticallycampedontheirdoorstepatnineo'clock.AndthenIdidsometelephoning.That'sall.'

'Whendoyousleep,fella?'

'Betweenmeals.Verybadfortheappet.i.te.'

'He'smad,'TellersaidtoKeeble.

'Yougetusedtoit,'Keeblea.s.suredhim.'Thefirsteightyearsaretheworst.'

'Andthisistheguyyou'dtrustyourdaughterto?'

'Hm',saidKeeble.'Wehaven'tmentionedthat.'

'What?'Isaidsuspiciously.

'We'd...er...likeyoutotakeLynniebackwithyou,totheStates,'Tellersaid.'She'sgoingtovisitwithEuniceforawhile.'

IglancedatKeebleandsawthatheknewwhatIwasinevitablythinking:thatEunice'sspecialneedforcompanywasmorecompellingthantherestofLynnie'sfinis.h.i.+ng-schoolterm.

'I'dbegladto,'Isaidtothembothwithformality.'Onas...o...b..atviaNewZealand,ifyoulike.'

'She'stooyoungforyou,'saidKeeble,withoutanxiety.

'Sheisindeed.'Ipushedmyselfawayfromthewallandstoodupright.'WherewillIcollecther?'

Keeblehandedmeanenvelope.'Airticketsforyouboth.She'llbeattheVictoriaAirTerminalat8.30tomorrowmorning.Isthatallright?'

Itooktheticketsandnodded.'CanIhavethehandkerchief?'

Heobliginglyproducedit,inanotherenvelope.Iputthatandtheairticketsaway,andpickedupPeter'ssnaps.HoldingthenegativesuptothelightIsingledoutthedrinkinggroupandput.i.tinmywallet.

'I'llget.i.tblownuptomorrowinNewYork,'Isaid.'Thenit'llonlybeamatterofsiftingthroughtwohundredmillioninhabitants.'

DrizzlewaswiltingthefluffyhatswhenIgottoAscot,b.u.t.theturflookedgreenerforit,andthehorsesglossier.IspottedthetrainerIwantedandwalkedacrosstowherehewastalkingtoalargewomaninacreasedpinkdressunderadrippingpink.u.mbrella.Hecaughtsightofmeoverhershoulder,andIwatchedtheinitialmemory-jogpa.s.sthroughmind-searchtorecognition.Hesmiledwarmlyathissuccess.

'GeneHawkins.'

Thelargewomanturnedround,sawshedidn'tknowme,decidedshe'didn'twantto,anddeparted.

'MrArkwright.'Weshookhands,andIthoughthowlittleagehadchangedhim.Stilltheupright,brisk,grey-headedneighbourfrommyfather'sdaysinYorks.h.i.+re.

'Comeandhaveadrink,'hesaid,'Andlet'sgetoutofthisrain.'Thereweremistybeadsofwaterfuzzinghistallgreyhat.'Thoughit'smuchbetterthanitwasanhourago,isn't.i.t?'

'I'veonlyjustcome.'