Driving Force Part 15

'Thanks.'Oneshortword;adictionaryfullofmeaning.

'Seeyou,'Isaid.

WhenItoldLizzietheproblemsheaskedtocomewithme,andafterAzizhadphonedagain,roundwewent.

ThescrubbyCentaurCarepaddockhadbeenovergrazedtothepointwherethedarkearthshowedbetweenthestragglingtuftsofgra.s.s.Theroughlyhard-toppedparkingareahadweedsgrowingthroughcracksandthesmallconcreteofficewa.s.streakedwithrustyrainmarks.Behindit,thestableslookedasif.a.goodbreezewouldflattenthem.Lizziegazedatthismagnificentspreadspeechlesslyaswepulledupbesidetheelderlygreenpaintofthefrontdoor.

We'dbeentherebarelyaminutebeforeAzizturnedinslowlyfromtheroadandbroughtthenine-boxtoanexceedinglygentlehalt.IwalkedacrosstohiswindowasTigwoodandLornadisembarkedfromthepa.s.sengerseatsontheotherside.

Azizopenedthewindowandsaid,'They'reallstillalive,Ihope.'

ThereweresoundsoftherampsbeingunboltedonthefarsideandIhurriedroundthefrontandtoldbothTigwoodandLornatostop.

Don'tbesilly,'Tigwoodsaid.'Ofcoursewemustunloadthem.'

I'dbehappiertoseethemfirst,'Itoldhimreasonably.

Whateverfor?'

Oldhorsesmightlikefiveminutesrestatthispoint.There'snomadhurry,isthere?'

'It'lls...o...b..dark,'hepointedout.

'Allthesame,John,I'lljustrubtheirnoses.'

Iopenedthereargrooms'doorwithoutwaitingforanyfurtherobjectionsandheavedmyselfuptohorselevel.Threepatientoldsetsofeyesgazedatme,tirednessshowingintheangleofthenecksandinthelethargicallyturningears.

Inthes.p.a.ceinfrontoftheirheads,whereoftenanattendanttravelled,stoodanuntouchedbaleofhayandtherowofplasticwatercontainers,allfull.

Ijumpeddownfromthatcompartmentandopenedthecentregrooms'door,climbingupagainintothes.p.a.cebetweenthemiddlethreestallsandthefrontthree.Inthemiddlethreestallsstoodanothershakytrio,theirheadshanginglowwithfatigue.Iwriggledforwardthroughtheemptythirdofthefrontstallsandinspectedtherestoftheload,ahorsesofeeblethat.i.tlookedasifthepart.i.tionsthemselveswereallthatwereholdinghimonhisfeet,andapatheticponywithacresofhairlessskinanditseyesshut.

IdescendedtogroundlevelandtoldTigwoodandLornathatIwantedthevetroundtoseethembeforetheywereunloaded.Iwantedanauthoritativeopinion,Isaid,thatmyfirmhaddeliveredtheminasgoodaconditionaspossible.

'It'snoneofyourbusiness,'Tigwoodsaidfuriously.'Andit'saninsulttoCentaurCare.'

'Look,John,'Isaidplacatingly,'iftheownersofthosehorsescareenoughaboutthemtogivethemgoodhomesintheiroldage,they'llcertainlypayforavettomakesurethey'vecometonoharmfromthejourney.They'reniceoldhorsesb.u.t.they'reverytiredandIshouldthinkyoushouldbegratefultohavehelpwiththeirwell-being.'

'John,'Lornasaid,I'msureFreddie'sright.Idothinkweshould.TheywerealotfeeblerthanIexpected.'

'Didtheydrinkbeforetheysetoff?'Iasked.

Lornalookedatmeworriedly.'Doyouthinkthey'rethirsty?'shesaid.'Azizwasdrivingsodreadfullyslowly.'

'Hm.'Throughtheopenpa.s.sengerdoorIaskedAziztohandmethephoneandwithoutmoreadogotthroughtothelocalveterinarysurgeon,explainingwhatIwanted.'Fiveminuteslook-see,that'sprobablyall.Butrightnow,ifyoucould.'

Hepromisedtherightnowandwasasgoodashisword,alongtimefriendwhoknewIwouldn'tcallhimoutfornothing.HemadethesamebriefinspectionasIhadandattheendgavemeahollow-eyedlook,meaningmorethanhesaid.

'Well?'JohnTigwooddemanded,andlistenedcrosslytotheverdict.

'They'remildlydehydratedandprobablyhungry.Thin,too,thoughthey'vebeenadequatelylookedafteringeneral.They'llneedgoodhayandwaterandalotofrest.I'llstaywhileyouunload,Ithink.'

Duringthewaitforhisarrival,I'dintroducedLizzietoTigwoodandLorna.Theypaidherscantattention,havingthoughtsonlyforthehorses,andLizzieherselfwascontentjusttowatchandlisten.

IloweredtherearrampfinallyandJohnTigwooduntiedthefirstofthepa.s.sengersandledhimtotheground,theoldlegsslippingandunsteady,hoovesclattering,eyesfrightened.Hereachedfirmfootingandstoodstill,quivering.

'Lorna,'Isaid,'howoldarethey?'

Sheproducedalistandhandedittomemutely.Thenames,ages,andownersofthehorseswerethere,someofthemsofamiliarastoraisemyinterestsharply.

'ButIrodetwoofthem!'Iexclaimed.'Someoftheseweregreathorses.'

'Surelyyourealisedthat?'Lornasaidtartly.

'No,Ididn't.Whichiswhich?'

'Theyhavelabelsontheirheadcollars.'

IwenttothehorseTigwoodwasholdingwhilethevetlookeditoverandreadthename,Peterman.Ifondledtheoldnoseandthoughtoftheraceswe'dwonandlosttogethertwelveandmoreyea.r.s.earlier,dayswhentheshakyframehadbeentautandpowerful,aproudhead-tossingprince,astarinhistime.Attwenty-one,hisageonthelist,hewastheequivalentofroughlyninety,inhumanterms.

'He'sfine,'thevetsaid.'Justtired.'

Tigwoodgavemean'Itoldyouso'lookoftriumphandledmyoldfriendofftowardsthestables.

He'stheyoungest,'Iremarked,readingthelist.

ThedaylightfadedastheunloadingprogressedandIswitchedonallthehorsebox'slights,insideandout,togivepa.s.sableillumination.thevetgaveaprovisionalthumbsuptoallofthetravellers.e.xceptthelasttwofromtheforwardmoststalls,bothofwhichhadhimshakinghishead.

Theagedponywasworst.Thepoorcreaturecouldhardlystand,letalonewalkdowntheramp.

'Advancedlaminitis,'thevetsaid.'Besttoputhimdown.'

'Certainlynot,'Tigwoodp.r.o.nouncedindignantly.'He'samuchlovedpet.Ipromisedacomfortablehome,andthat'swhathe'llget.Hisowner'sfifteen.Shemademepromise.'

IthoughtofMichaelWatermead'sremarkabouthisownchildren:'theydon'tunderstandtheneedfordeath'.Tigwoodunderstooditallright,butkeepinglifegoingatanycostwaswherebothhisincomeandhisfanaticismseemedtolie.

'Atleastletmedresshisalopecia,'thevetsuggested,referringtothehairloss,andTigwoodresentfullysaid,'Tomorrow,then,'andliterallypushedthepoorlittlebeastuntilhehadtototterdowntheramporfalldownaltogether.

'It'sdisgusting,'Lizziesaidunderherbreath.

Lornaheardandsnappedather,'It'sthepeoplewhokillhorsesjustbecausethey'reoldwh.o.a.redisgusting.'Shewasbusystiflingherowndoubts,Isaw.'Oldhorseshavearighttolife.CentaurCareisawonderfulinst.i.tution.'

'Yes,'Lizziesaiddryly.

Lornagaveheranunfriendlystarewhichshethentransferredtome.

'Youdon'tappreciateJohn'swork,'sheaccused.'Anddon'tgivemeallthatc.r.a.paboutputtinganimalsoutoftheirmisery.Youcan'tbesurethey'remiserable.'

Ithought.i.tquiteeasytobesurewhentheywere,butIwasnotgoingtoargue,andbesides,I'dknownmanyoldhorseslivehealthilyandhappilyintotheirmiddletwenties.Myfather,thetrainer,hadlookedafter-hisfavouritehorsesuntiltheydiedinthefields,feedingthemoatsallwintertokeepthemwell-fleshedandwarm.Theyhadalllookedbetterthanthethincrowdoftoday.

Isaid,'It'snicetoseeoldPetermanagainandI'msuretheownerswillappreciateyourpersonalattention.'

'AndJohn's!'

'AndJohn's,'Isaid.

WeallthreewatchedTigwoodleadtheponytowardsthepaddock,thesorehoovesflinchingateveryslowstep,theheadbobbinglowwithpain.Thefifteen-year-oldowner,Ithought,wasfulloflovebuthadnomercy,acruelcombination.

Lornatossedherfairhair,admittingnocriticism.Thevetshookhishead,Lizziewentonlookingdisgusted,Azizshrugged.He'dbroughtthembackalive:hisinvolvementendedthere.

Tigwoodlettheponylooseinthepaddockandreturnedtoopenhisofficedoor.Wealltroopedinbehindhim,fillingafunctionals.p.a.ceaboutfifteenfeetsquare,litbyfluorescentstripsandlinedwithfilingcabinets.Thebrowncompositionflooringwa.s.softenedbytwolargepatternedrugs,andframedphotographsofoldhorsesinsunlitfieldscrowdedthewalls.Tigwoodcrossedtoapairofmetaldesksstandingsidebyside,oneholdingacomputerandprinter,andtheotherthenormalimpedimentaofthepre-computerage.Arowofcollectingtinsstoodononeofthefilingcabinetsandatea-makingmachineonanother.Bookshelvesconspicuouslydisplayedpublicationsonthemedicalproblemsandcareof.a.gedthoroughbreds.Therewerethreecomfortablelookingwool-coveredarmchairsandsomedecentbluecurtainsatthetwowindows.Ifanyofthehorses'ownerseverturneduponthedoorstep,thesetupwouldgivethemessagethathereeverypennywasdevotedtothecause,whileatthesametimedueregardwaspaidtotheluxurylevelnormaltoracehorseowners.

Givehimhisdue,Ithought,Tigwoodhadgot.i.tright;inside,atanyrate.

Hedemanded,andthevetwrote,abriefstatementtotheeffectthatsixhorses(namesattached)hadtravelledwithoutincidentfromYorkshireandhadarrivedingoodcondition.Onehorse(nameattached)showedsignsofexhaustionandrequiredspecialcare.Oneponywithlaminitisneededveterinaryattention.AllhadbeentransportedbyCroftRacewaysandentrustedtoCentaurCare.

Satisfied,Tigwoodmadeaphotocopyandhandedittomewithasmirk,saying,'You'vemadealotoffussaboutnothing,Freddie.Youcanpaythevet'sbill,I'mnotgoingto.'

Ishrugged.I'dcalledforthehelpandreceivedit,andIdidn'tmindpaying.Thestatement,infact,hadinsulatedmefromanyaccusationofnegligenceTigwoodmightthinkofmakingoncehereceivedmyaccount.IsaidIwasverygladthehorseshadbeenallright,b.u.t.that.i.twasnicetobesure,wasn't.i.t?

Withvaryingemotionswealllefttheofficeagain,thevetdrivingoffwithawaveandTigwoodandLornaclimbingbackintothehorseboxfortheruntothefarmyard,wherethey'dbothlefttheircarsthatmorning.LizzieandIfollowedthebox,Lizzieaskingwhetherithadn'tallbeenastorminateacup.

'Didn'tyourdriverover-react?'shesaid.

'Maybe.Buthe'snewtoday.Andtherecan'tbemuchwrongwithhisdrivingifhegotthemallhereontheirfeet.'

LornaandTigwoodleftthefarmyardseparatelyinindividualshadesofhuff.

Azizsaidawkwardly,'Sorryforallthat.'Nowhiteteeth.Shinyeyesdowncast.

'Don'tbesorry,'Irea.s.suredhim.'Youdidright.'

LizzieandIlefthimrefillinghisfueltanksandwenthome,decidingtopausetherebrieflyandgoouttoeat.

Therewerethreecall-backmessagesontheansweringmachine,twobusiness,andoneSandySmith.

Icalledhimbackfirstandlistenedtohimtellmethatthiswasoutofhours,like,andunofficial.

'Thanks,Sandy.'

'Well,theydidthepost-mortemonJoggeryesterdayinthemorgueofWinchesterHospital.Causeofdeath,brokenneck.Hehitthebackofhisheadatthebottomofhisskull,thetoptwovertebraeweredislocated,sameasinhanging,buthewasn'thanged,noropemarks.Anyway,theinquestopenstomorrowinWinchester.They'llonlywantidentification,whichI'mdoingmyselfasthere'snonextofkin,andDrFarway'sstatement,andthepolicephotos.Thenthecoronerwilladjourntheinquestforthreeweeksorsoforenquiries.Routineforallaccidents.Youwon'tbeneeded.'

'Thanksverymuchindeed,Sandy.'

'TheOgdeninquest'sfirstthingonThursday,sameplace,that'stosaythecoroner'scourt,whichisaroominthepolicestationinWinchester.Theverdictwillbenaturalcauses.Theywon'tadjournthatone.DrFarwaywillgivehisreport.MrsOgden'sidentifiedherhusband.SeemsOgdenhadhearttroubleonandoffbutwasbadattakingpills.Davehadbetterattend,thoughtheymightnotcallhim.I'llbetheretoo,ofcourse.'

'Great,Sandy.Thanksagain.'

'IdranktoJoggerlastnightinthepub,'hesaid.'Therewasquiteaturnout.Loadsofpeoplesigninghismemorial.You'llgetanastronomicalbill.'

'Allinagoodcause.'

'PooroldJogger.'

'Yes,'Isaid.

LizzieandIsettledfordinneronanoldcountryinntenmilesfromPixhillwherethespecialitywasduckroastedinahoneyglazetoacrispblackenedskinwithsucculenceinside.LaPotiniereitwasnot,butanoldfavouriteplaceofLizzie's,wholikedtheheavyoakbeams,theauthenticallycrookedwallsandthelow-to-dimlighting.

AsPixhillpeopleoftenatethere,IwasnotmuchsurprisedtoseeBenjyandDotUshersidebysideataboothtableacrosstheroomfromus.Impervioustotheirsurroundingstheywereinmid-quarrelasusual,thetwofacestightwithfurysixinchesapart.

'Wh.o.a.rethey?'Lizzieasked,followingmygaze.

'APixhillmillionairewhoplaysattrainingandhisinseparablewife.'

'Askasillyquestion...'

'Andyougetadeadaccurateanswer.'

'Really?'

'Ireckoniftheyeverstopfightingthatmarriagewillcollapsefromboredom.'

ItoldheraboutmydaywiththematSandownracesandaboutBenjy'soddhabitofnottouchinghorses.

'Andhe'satrainer?

'Ofsorts.Buthe'salsoacustomer,whichmakeshimOKbyme.'

Shestudiedmyfacewithelder-sisterindulgence.'Irememberyouoncesaying,'shesaid,'thatifyouroderacesonlyforpeopleyoulikedyou'dhavemissedwinningtheGoldCup.'

'Mm.Sametheory.I'llhireoutmyskillstoanyonefortheprospectofreward.'

'Itsoundslikeprost.i.tution.'

'Whatisn't?'

'Pureresearch,foronething.You'reanabsolutephilistine.'

'GoliathwasaPhilistine...agiantofaman.''Broughtdownbyaslingshot.'/P 'Sneaky.'

Lizziesmiledwithpleasure.'Imissyou,'shesaid.

'Metoo.TellmeaboutProfessorQuipp.'

IknewIshouldn'thavesaidthatabouteveryonerindingme.Younevermissatrick.'

'Well,goon.'

'He'snice.'Shesoundedfond,notdefensive.Agoodsign,giventhecharactersofsomeofthepastbeards.'He'sfiveyearsyoungerthanIamandheadoresskiing.WewenttoVald'Isereforaweek.'Lizziepositivelypurred.'Weracedeachotherdownmountains.'