Blood Sport Part 6

'Didtheygetalltheothersback?'

'Yeah.ButChrysalishasasgoodasdisappearedoffthefaceoftheearth.'

'Howdoyouknowthehi-jackersmeanttotaketheliquortruck?'

'Theonlythingtheyleftinthecabofthehorsevanwasascrewed-upsc.r.a.pofpaper.Itwasanoteofthetimetheliquorcompany'struckmadeitsdailyrunalongthatroute.'

'Fingerprints?'

'Gloves.Evenforwritingthenote.'

Walthadtalkedhimselfdry.Irefuelledhisgla.s.sandfeltlikesleep.

'Whatdoyouthink?'hesaid.

Ishrugged.'ItwasChrysalistheyreallywanted.Thetimetablenotewastheblind.'

'Butwhy?Whyshouldanyonewanttostealastallion?That'swhat'sgotusallfloored.Idon'tknowmuchabouthorses,I'mafalseclaimsmanreally.Ijustgotpitchedintothisbetweencripplecases,ifyougetme.ButevenIknowthat.i.t'sthestallion'snamethatbringsinthestudfee.Saysomeone'sstolenChrysalis,what'sthepoint?Theycan'tadvertisehimforstud,soheisn'tworthadime.Wefiguredsomeonemightbenuttyenoughtowanthimalltothemselves,likesomeworldfamouspainting,butyoucanhideapaintingquietlyinacellar,whichyoucan'tdowithahorse.Thewholethingdon'tmakesense.'

Ihadmyownviewsonthat,butIsaidonly,'WhathappenedtoAllyx?'

'Ionlyknowaboutthatfromthefiles.Igotthecaseoutandlookeditupthismorning.AllyxwasaFrenchhorse,apparentlyoneofthebestyoungsiresinEurope.Hewasninewhenhecameoverhere,andalreadyhisgethadwonalistofracesaslongasyourarm.DaveTellerwasheadofthesyndicatewhichboughthim;that'swhyhewasinsuredwithus,aswedoalltheTellerestatework.AllyxwasdeliveredsafelytotheTellerstudfarm.Notroubleintransitthattime.Buthewasthereonlyfourdays.Thentherewasafireinthestablesonenightandtheytookallthehorsesoutofthebarnandturnedthemlooseintoasmallcorral.'

'Andwhentheycametofetchthem-nohorses?'

Henodded.'Therewasabrokenrailoverthefarside,whichnooneknewabout.Allthehorseshadgotthroughit,includingAllyx.Theycaughtalltheothers,thoughsomewerefreefordays.NosigneverofAllyx.ThecompanyhadtofacethatheprobablygotintothefoothillsoftheAppalachianMountainsandmaybebrokehisneck,andintheendtheyhadtopayup.'

'Whataboutthatfire?'

'Therewasapparentlynothingsuspiciousabout.i.tatthetime.Oneofourverybestmenfoundnoevidenceofafirebeingset.Still,stablesfirescanbestartedsoeasily...acigaretteb.u.t.tinapileofstrawleavesnotrace.Thisonedidn'tdomuchdamagebeforetheyput.i.tout.Noquestionofkerosene,forinstance.Thewholechainofeventswasagreedtobeaccidental.'

Ismiledthinly.

'WhataboutShowman?'

Waltshookhishead.'Idon'tknowhowhegotloose.b.u.t.theyfoundhim.Dead,ofcourse.He'dbeendeadsometime,Ithink.'

'Where?'

'Oh,intheAppalachians.Hecamefromthatarea,sameastheothers.b.u.t.thenLexingtonhasmorestudfarmsthananywhereelseintheStates,sothere'snosignificanceinthatreally.'

'YouwentdowntoLexingtonlastweek?'

Henodded.'FlewthereWednesday,whenMrsTellercalledus'

'MrsDaveTeller?'

'Uhhuh.'SomethingmovedobscurelyinWalt'sface.Dave'swifehadmadeanimpression.'She'sEnglish,likeyou.'

'I'llG.o.downtheretomorrow,'Isaid.Iwatchedhimwaveranddecidenottotellmeabouther.Instead,helookedathiswatch,putdownhisgla.s.sfirmly,andstoodup.

'Mustbeoff,'hesaid.'It'souranniversary,andmywife'sfixedsomethingspecial.'

'Givehermyapologiesforkeepingyou.'

'That'sallright.Itfittedinfine.IgohomefromGrand Central,rightdownstairs.Aquarterofanhourtotraintime.'

Iwalkedwithhimtothedoor.

'Walt...wouldyoubefreetocomedowntoLexingtoninthemorning?'Ashehesitated,Iadded,There'snopointinmycoveringallthegroundtwice.I'dappreciatehavingyoualong.'

'Begladto,Gene,'hesaidtoopolitely,andIthoughttoh.e.l.lwithyouWalt,toh.e.l.lwitheverythingonearth,includingme,butI'mstuckwiththishorsenonsenseforthenextthreeweeks,andifIsaygotoLexington,yougo.Ihidtheviolentmomentofirritationinturningfromhimtoopenthedoor,andIunderstoodhisreluctanceanyway,aswholikestobedraggeddowntodothesamepieceofworktwice,especiallyunderthecriticaleyeofanimportedlimeybusybody?Heshookmyhand.'I'llcallyouinthemorning,'hesaid,hisfeelingsunderbettercontrolthanmine.'Seventhirty?'

'Allright.'Heloosenedhisjawmusclesintowhatlookedlikegoingtobeasmilebutdidn'tquitemakeit,sketchedasalutewiththethick-toppedfingers,andambledunhurriedlyawaydownthepa.s.sage.

Ihaddinnerinthehotelrestaurant.Asteak.NevereatsteakwestofNebraska,theyusedtosay.Thebeefwasbredontheprairieandwalkedeastwardstothemarkets:whenitgottoNebraskaithitthecornbeltandonlyafterthatwasitfatenoughtokill.NewYorksteaksweremostlysuperb,butIdidn'tsupposethey'dwalkedinthroughtheNewJerseyTunnel.Longdistancehaulagetookcareofthat...andwhoeverhadremovedAllyxandChrysalishadhadahaulageproblemtoo.Youcouldn'trideastallionalongstatehighways.Foronething,theynolongertookkindlytoasaddleafteryearsatstud,eveniftheyhadbeenreasonabletohandleinthefirstplace.

NightclubsattractmelikewetMondaysinManchester,andapathykeptmefromevenreadingthelistofshows.Iwentstraightupstairsafterdinnertocatchuponalotoflostsleepandwokeagaininfuriatinglyattwo,deadtiredandwitharestlessbrain.

Fromhabit,theLugerlayundermypillow.Itwasanotherlongnight.

CHAPTERFIVE.

Weflewdowninthemorning,Walt'spuffedeyesshowingthattheanniversaryhadbeendulycelebrated,andminefeelingasifthey'dbeenrolledingrit.

Thetwodrivers,reachedbytelephone,metusbyappointmentintheentrancehallofamotelnearthecentreofLexington,whereWalthadstayedonhisprevioustrip.Hebookedroomsforusboth,andwetookthedriversuptohis,whichprovedamileshortofBiltmorestandardsbuthotoncleanlinessandKleenex.

Waltswitchedontheair-conditioning,shuffledchairsaround,andpromisedbeerlater.Thedrivers,verymuchonthedefensive,wentsullenlythroughthedisastroustaleagain,awarebeyondanydoubtthattheyshouldneverhaveleftthehorsesunwatchedandweremorethanlikelytolosetheirjobs.NothingtheysaidaddedmuchtowhatWalthadalreadytoldme.

'Doyouknoweachotherwell?'Iasked.

Thethinbirdlikeonesaidtheydid.

'Andthegrooms.Doyouknowthem?Anddotheyknoweachother?'

'Seenthemaround,'saidtheheavyone.'Thelazysoandso's.'

Thethinonesaid,'OneofthemcamefromtheMidwayFarm.'

ThatwasDaveTeller's.'HecamespeciallyforChrysalis.It'shimoughttobeblamedforthewholething.'

'Didtheboysknoweachother,beforethetrip?'

'Sure,'saidtheheavyone.'Waytheytalkedtheybothbeeninthehorsegamealltheirlives.'

Waltsniffedandnodded.He'dcheckedallthis,hisresignedfacesaid.Routine.

TothedriversIsaid,'Iwantyoutothinkback,andmakealistofallthecarsandtrucksyoucanrememberseeingontheroad,allthewayfromKennedytotheplaceyoulostthehorses.'

TheylookedaghastandasifIwerecrazy.

'Look,'Isaid,'onthoseturnpikesyousometimesseethesamecarsoverandover.Theonesgoingyourway,thatis.Youseethematthereststops,andmaybeyoustartofffirst,andthentheypa.s.syou,andthenyouseethemagainmaybestoppedatanotherdinerwhileyougoontothenextone,andthentheycomepastyouagain.Right?'

Theynodded.

'Somaybeyoustillremembersomeofthecarsandtrucksyousawonthattrip?Especiallyanyyousawonbothdays.'

Theystaredatme.Theheavyonesaid,'It'simpossible.Itwasaweekago.'

'Iknow.Try,anyway.Thinkitover.Seeifyoucanrememberanyatall,betweenyou.Thenwritethemdownandleavethelisthereforus,sometimethisevening.'

Itookoutmywalletandtriedtwentydolla.r.s.eachforsize.Itwentdownwellenough.Theysaidtheywouldtry.

'Don'tinventanything,'Isaid.I'dratherpayfornothingtha.n.a.lotofhogwash.'

Theynoddedandwent,withthebeerpostponedtotheirreturn.

'Whatareyoulookingfor?'Waltsaidcuriously.

'Anotherhorsevan,Isuppose.'

Hethought.i.tover.'Theycouldjusthaveplannedtorendezvouswheretheemptyvanwasfound.Theydidn'tneedtobeseenontheroad.'

'Idon'tthinktheycanhavebeensurewhentheywouldbeabletodothehi-jacking.Theywouldn'tknowwherethedriverswouldstopformeals.NogoodfixingarendezvousinKentuckyiftheopportunitycameearlier,upnearWheeling.'

'Theywouldn'twanttodrivetoofarwithahottruck,'Waltagreed.'Infact,itwastwenty-fivemiles,mostlybackroads.Theymadestraightforthehills,whereitwouldtakelongesttorounduploosehorses.'

'Anytracks?'

'Notyretracksofanyuse.Thenearestroadwasgravel,dryanddustythistimeofyear.Therewerethetracksofthevangoingofftheroadroundbehindahillock,butontheroaditselftheywerejustajumble.Everycarwhichpa.s.sedraisedacloudofdustandwipedoutalltrackswhichweretherebefore.'

Igrunted.'Hoofprints?'

'Dozensofthose.Inalldirections.'

'Backontothegravelroad?'

Heshookhisheadresignedly.'Impossibletotell.Noneontopofthevan'styretracks,anyway.Butwetookalotofsoilsamples,ontheoutsidechancesomethingwouldturnuplater.'

'Youdiditprettythoroughly.'

Thesmilealmostcame.'Amillionandahalf,'hesaidbriefly,'isalotofinsurance.'

MidwayFarmhadprosperityprintedonitsgateposts,andIwentthroughthemalone,asWalthadsaidhefelttheonsetofamigraineheadache.

Amiddle-agedHungarianwomanopenedthedoortomeandinhaltingEnglishaskedmemybusiness.DiagnosingheraccentfromlongpracticeIrepliedinherownlanguage,asitwa.s.simpler,andpresently,havingconsultedinthedrawing-room,sheshowedmeinthere.

Dave'swifestoodinthecentreofaquarteracreofdeepgreencarpet,surroundedbydeepgreenwalls,whitepaint,andtomatoredupholstery.Sheflickedmycardwithonethumbandsaid,'You'rethemanwhofishedDaveoutoftheriver.'

'Yes,'Isaid,surprised.

'Hetelephonedtomeyesterday,'sheexplained.'HesaysIamtotrustyouentirely.'

Shewasaslimsmall-bonedcreaturewiththeroundedtightlittlebottomwhichcomesfromridinghorsesagreatdealinearlygirlhood.Herjawlinewasdelicatelysquare,nosenarrow,eyeswideandbright.Greyspeckledthemouse-brownspringyhair,andifshewaswearingcosmeticsonewouldhaveneededtobenearerthanIwastobecertainofit.Decisivea.s.suranceshowedfromeverycrispgesture,andfromhertoneIgatheredthattakingherhusband'swordforthingswasnotherhabit.

'Sitdown,'shesaid,pointingtoatomatochair.'Drink?'Itwastwoo'clockonahotafternoon.'Scotch,'shesaidwithoutwaitingforananswer,makingitastatement,notachoice.

Iwatchedhersplashthepalegoldenliquidontoicecubesintwotallgla.s.ses,andaddatokendropofwater.Shecameacrossandheldoutoneofthemwithagracefulsun-tannedarm.Aheavygoldchainbraceletloadedwithfobsandcharmsclinkedfromherwrist,andintomynostrilsfloatedatraceof'Joy'.

Itastedthewhisky.HedgesandButler'sRoyal,Ithought.Toofineandlightforanythingelse.Theflavourfromonesiplastedalongtimeonmytongue.

'EvasaysyouspeakHungarian,'shesaid,movingaway,pickingupherowngla.s.s,andtakinganadultswallow.

'Mm,yes.'

'Shewasmostimpressed.'

'IcameaboutChrysalis,'Ibegan.

'Doyouspeakanyotherlanguages?'HervoiceveeredmoretoAmericanthanEnglishandhadtheabrupt,inconsequentiallurchoftwodrinkstoomany;but.i.tdidn'tshowinherface.

'German,'Isaid,raisingadutifulsocialsmile.

ThewayI'dbeentaughtlanguages,ittookaweekforasmattering,threemonthsforfluency,andtwoyearstobringonetothepointofrecognisingtypicalspeechandthoughtpatternswhenoneheardthemtranslatedbackintoperfectEnglish.Inoneperiodofsevenyears,inmytwenties,I'dbeencrammedwithGerman,Hungarian,andfiveSlavoniclanguages,fromRussianandCzechtoSerbo-Croat.Noneofthemwaslikelytocomeinhandyforfindingstallions,andinanycasetheywerealmostoutofdate.ThenewboyswerelearningSwahili,Arabic,andChinese.

'AndFrench,Isuppose?'shesaid.

'Alittle,'Iagreed.

'Enoughforthenecessitiesoflife,Iexpect.'Herexpressionandemphasisgavethewordnecessitiesaprecisemeaning,whichwasn'tfoodanddrink.

'Absolutely,'Iagreed,acknowledgingherdefinition.

Shelaughed.Nothingfrailorfine-bonedaboutthat.

'Chrysalis,'shesaid,'isarightb.l.o.o.d.ynuisance.Hewouldn'thavebeenmychoiceinthefirstplace;thatPurpleEmperorstrainisa.s.softasanoldman'spencilandhe'spa.s.singiton,theyalwaysdo.MothwontheDerbyinashockinglybadyearandifanythinghadgivenhimhalfaracehe'dhavefoldedlikeawetsheet.'Shetookadeepswallow.'Doyouknowthefirstb.l.o.o.d.ythingabouthorses?'

'Whatisthefirstb.l.o.o.d.ythingabouthorses?'

Shegavemeastartledstarewhichturnedintoanincredulouslaugh.'Thefirstb.l.o.o.d.ythingabouthorsesisthattheymakeb.l.o.o.d.yfoolsofmen.'

Ismiledbackspontaneously,amusedbythecontrastbetweenherrobustnessofthoughtandlanguageandherdelicacyofframe.