Driving Force Part 28

'IthinkitwastwomenwhodroppedmeintotheSouthamptonDocks.Onewasmale,certainly.Andtheycarriedmeeasily.b.u.t.thepersonwh.o.a.rrangedthetransportofthevirusmediumwasfemale.'

'Orfalsetto?'

'Whatwouldbethepoint?Andnoteasytodo.'Ipaused.'Whatwedon'tknow,'Isaid,'iswhetherKevinKeithwa.s.supposedtotakethevirusmediumwithhimwhenhegotoffatChieveley,orwhetherhewa.s.supposedtoleaveitinthecabsothat.i.twouldarriveinPixhill.Arrivehereatthefarmyard,thatis.Alsowedon'tknowwhethertherewasinfactanyvirusinthetubesonthewayhere,orwhethersomeoneinthisgeneralareahadorderedthemediumforfutureuse.'

'OhJeez.'

IfishedinapocketandgaveherafoldedpieceofpaperbearingthetranscriptofJogger'sphonecall.

'GetPatrickVenables'c.o.c.kneyfriendstounscrambleit,'Isuggested.

'Whatc.o.c.kneyfriends?'

'He'sboundtoknowtheLondonbrotherhood.'

'Suchfaith.Allright.'Shereadthewordsaloud.'Takeabutcher'satthemnuns...yeG.o.ds.'

'Doesitmeananythingtoyou?'

'Polandhadthesamefiveonahorselastsummer...It'sallrubbish.'Sheputthepaperinherhandbag.'NoonecamenearusontheFrenchtrip,'shesaid.'Nooneanywhereshowedtheslightestinterestintheundersideofthehorsebox.Nigelsaidhedidn'tlikedrivingPhil'ssuper-sixbecauseithasheaviersteeringthanhisown.Heapprovesoftheone-manone-boxarrangementandhelikesdrivingforsometrainersmorethanothers.HewouldliketodrivefortheWatermeadsmoreoften,butLewisisjealousifhedoes.Lewisdrives...o...b..njyUshertoo,butNigeldoesn'tlikeBenjyUsher'sways.HesaysHarvetoldhimhe'llbedrivingforanewtrainer,aMrsEnglish,andhe'sheardshe'sadragon.'

'Mm.'Ismiled.'She'llgetonwellwithNigel,allthesame.He'llchatherup.She'sdemanding,buthe'stireless.Bytheendofthesummershewon'twantanyoneelse.'

'Yougoinforquitealotofappliedpsychology,'sheobserved,'pairingthedriverstothejobs.'

'Happierdriversworkbetter.It'sobvious.Happiertrainersdon'temploymyrivals.'

'Soit'sallforprofit?'

'And...um...noharminall-roundcontentment,isthere?'

'Idosee,'shesaid,halfmocking,'whyeveryonelikesyou.'

Isighed.'Noteveryone,byalongshot.'Istoodupoffthedesk,pleasedtotalktoherbutwiththingstogetonwith.'You'renotonthedrivingcharttoday,areyou?YoucouldtakeadayoffaftertheFrenchtrip.'

'Idon'twantto.I'llspendthemorninghere,lookingaroundingeneralandavailableifyougetalast-minutedrivingjob.'

'Fine.Good.Well,Isobel'sarrived.'We'dbothseenhercardrivein.'ComeandlistenwhileItrytofindoutwhoknewthatDavewouldbegoingtoNewmarketthedayhepickedupKevinKeith.'

Hereyeswidenedincomprehension.'LikeIsaidbefore,'shesaid,'youdon'tneedmehere.'

'Ilikeyouhere.'

'Asawitness,Patricksaid.I'mtheinsuranceyouapparentlywanted.Yourvindicator.Hesaidyouwerethatsubtle,andIdidn'treallybelievehim.'

'Devious,heprobablymeant.'

'Heapprovedoftheidea,anyway.That'swhyI'mhere.'

Ithoughtheralmosttoofrankandwonderedwhatherbosswouldhavesaid.WewentalongtoIsobel'soffice,whereIsaidthankyouforthevisitors'list,andIsobelbrought.i.tontothescreen.Shegavemeaflashingsmileofthanksformymessageattheend,butshookherheadwhenIaskedherifshecouldrememberwhichactualdayeachofthepeopleonthelisthadbeentoheroffice.

'Canyouremember,'Iaskedneutrally,'whichofthemwereherethedaybeforeBrettandDavepickedupthehitchhiker?Thatwouldbeninedaysago,ontheWednesday.'

Sheshookherhead.'Icouldcallupthedrivers'listforthatday.'Sheturnedautomaticallytothecomputerandthenlookedstricken.'Oh...thatday'swipedout.'

'It'sallright.'I'dpiecedtogethervarioussc.r.a.psofthepencil-and-paperchartthathadbeenonthedeskinmysitting-room,andhadwrittenthemdowninalist.

'HarvetookthefirstloadofJerichoRich'shorsesfromMichaelWatermeadtoNewmarket,'Isaid.'WasanyonefromtheWatermeadyardhereintheofficethatday?WasJerichoRichhere?WasanyoneherefromNewmarket?AnyonewhocouldhavehadasightoftheThursdayschedule?Youusuallyhavethescheduleonthescreenalotofthetime.Whocouldhaveseenit?'

Shelookedbewildered.I'daskedthequestionstoofast.Iwentbackandaskedthemagainslowly.

'Oh,Isee.Well,obviouslyallthedriverscouldseewhowasgoingwhere.Imean,theyalwayscomeinforalook.'

'Andbesidethedrivers?'

Sheshookherhead.'It'ssolongago.Peopleareinandoutofhereallthetime.'Sheconsidered.'Theydidn'tneedtocomeherethemselvestoknowwhowasdoingthattrip.ItoldBetsywhenshecalledherethat.i.twasdownforBrettandshesaidbothMrRichandMrWatermeadwouldn'tbethrilledabout.i.tbecauseBrettwa.s.suchawhiner,andIsaid...well,Isaiddon'ttellthem,butIexpectshedid.'

Ireadthelistonherscreen.'WhataboutDrFarway?'

'Ohno,hecamethedayafter,whenthathitchhikerhaddied.HecameontheFriday.'

'And...er...JohnTigwood?'

'He'ssuchaborewiththosecollectingboxes.Sorry,Ishouldn'tsaythat.'

'Whynot?Heis.Whichdaydidhecome?'

'ThatmusthavebeenFridayaswell.Yes,SandySmithwasheretoo.Irememberthemalltalkingaboutthedeadman.'

'OK.WhataboutTessaWatermead?'

'ShemusthavecomebeforeFridaybecausethatwasthedayshewantedtogowithNigeltoNewmarketandhewouldn'ttakeher.'Isobelfrowned.'Tessa'softeninandout.Ithinkshegetsbored.Shewantsmetoteachherhowtodothisjob...doyoumindifIshowher?'

'Notaslonga.s.she'snotanuisancetoyou,orwastesyourtime.'

'Shedoesabit,'Isobelsaidfrankly.'Iaskedherwhyshedidn'tgotoasecretarialcollegeandlearnproperlyandshesaidshe'dthinkabout.i.t.'

'Well,'Isaid,'howaboutMrRich?'

'Friday.Whileyouweredoingtheshuttle.'

'Anyotherday?'

'Um...yes,ofcourse,hecameinontheTuesday,fussingabouthistransfer.Itoldyou,doyouremember?'

'Yes,vaguely.'

'Itoldhimyou'darrangeditforthreeconsecutivedays.Iwentthroughitallwithhim.'

'Mm.HowaboutLornaLipton,MrsWatermead'ssister?'

'Shewalksherdogpasthere.Well,youknowthat.She...er...dropsintoseeyou,nowandthen.ShecameinonthatFridaywhenyouweredoingtheshuttle.'

'Whataboutearlierintheweek?'

Isobelsaiddoubtfully,'Ican'trememberwhichdays.'

'Um,'Isaid,'doyourememberifanyoneaskedforDavethedaybeforehewenttoNewmarket?'

'What?'

Irepeatedthequestion.'Didanyonewanttospeaktohim?'

Herforeheadwrinkled.'Idon'trememberanyoneasking,butIcouldn'tswear.Imean...ohyes!MrRichwantedtoknowifDavewasgoingtoNewmarketwithhisfirstlotofhorsesbutIsaidno,wewereshortofdriversbecauseofthefluandhe'dhavetotakesomerunnerstoFolkestone.ItwasFolkestonewasn't.i.t?'Shelookeddespairinglyatthecomputer,feelinglostwithout.i.tsmemorybutdoingnottoobadlywithherown.'IexpectIdidtellhimDavewouldbegoingwiththeninetwo-year-oldsontheThursday,though.'

Ithankedherwithastrokedownherarmandwentonoutintotheyard,Ninafollowing.

'It'samaze,'shesaid.'Howdoyoukeepitallinyourhead?'

'Ican't.Ikeeplosingbits.'AndIstillkeptwantingtogotosleep,whichdidn'thelp.

Thefleetwa.s.steadilyleaving,thefarmyardlookingemptywithmostofitsherdofmonstersoutonthetrail.Onlythreeboxesremainedinseparatedslots,quiet,clean,gleaminginthesunshineand,intheirway,majestic.

'You'reproudofthem,'Ninaexclaimed,watchingmyface.

'I'dbetternotbe,orsomethingwillhappentothem.IlovedmyJag...oh,well,nevermind.'

Isobelcametotheofficedoorandlookedrelievedtoseemestillthere.ShehadBenjyUsher'ssecretaryonthephone,shesaid:couldwepleasesendanotherboximmediatelyasMrUsherhadforgottenhewasrunningapairintheseconddivisionofthenovicehurdleatLingfield,thelastraceoftheday?

'Shesayshecleanforgottheyweredeclared,'Isobelreported.'Thenjustnowheletoutayellandsaidtheymustbesentoffatonce.Shesaystheblacksmith'stherenow,puttingracingplatesonthemandswearingbluemurder.WhatshallItellher?She'swaitingtoknow.MrUsher'syellingatherelbow.Icanhearhim.LewishaslefttherewiththefirsttwoandMrUshersaysthere'snotimeforhimtogoback.Whatdoyouthink?'

'Saywe'llsendanotherboxatonce.'

'But...w.i.l.l.youdriveityourself?Everyoneelsehasgone.'

'I'lldoit,'Ninasaid.

'Oh,yes.Sorry...yes,ofcourse.'Isobelhurriedinsideandpresentlycameoutagaintoconfirmthejourney,pleasurablysaying'MrUsher'sfranticallytryingtoreachhissecondjockey.'

'FindagoodmapforNina,w.i.l.l.you?'Iaskedher.'Marktheracecourse.'ToNinaIsaid,I'llleadyoutoBenjy'sstable.Canyoumanagefromthere?'

'Sure.Whichhorsebox?'

Welookedattheremnants.'Pat's,'Isaid,pointingatafour-box,'theoneyoudrovethefirstday.There'salonerangerunderit,don'tforget,thoughIcan'tseethatmattering.'

I'llkeepalookoutanyway,'shesmiled.'Whatanincredibletrainer,forgettinghisrunners!'

'Notsoincredible,really.Trainersmakeshatteringmistakes,declaringthewronghorsesometimes,eveninbigraces,andforgettingothersaltogether.Benjy'seccentric,buthe'snottheonlylast-minutemerchantwedealwith.Manytrainerschangetheirmindsviolently,somewhentheclock'sbegunstriking.Makeslifemoreinteresting.'

'Aslongasyou'rehappy.'

Icheckedthemapwithher,markingtheroadclearly,madesureshehadtherightpaperworkandthendroveaheadofhertoBenjy'syard,nottheeasiestofplacestofind.

Hewasleaningoutofhisupstairswindowwhenwearrived,issuingastreamofinvectiveandinstructionstohislucklessladsandgreetingmepersonallywith,'Don'tletyourdrivergowithoutthejockeys'colours.'

Ninahelpedtheladsloadthetwoyoungupsethurdlerswhowerereactingwithtremblesandrollingeyestothegeneralscramble.Nina,Isaw,hadacalmingeffectaspowerfulandnaturalasDave's,sothatintheendthenervouscreatureswalkeddocilelyuptherampwithoutneedingblindfoldsorbruteforce.Benjystoppedcomplaining,Ninaandtheheadladclosedtheramp,thejockeys'colourswereputonboard,acoupleofscurryingladsclimbedintothepa.s.sengerseatstoaccompanytheirchargesandthecircuswasreadytoroll.

Ninagavemealaughthroughthewindow.'Theysaythere'sanewheadtravellingladinLewis'sboxaheadofus,andhedoesn'tknowtheseothertwohorsesarecoming.Hehastodeclarethem,andsaddlethem.Whatato-do.'

'PhoneIsobelandaskhertotellLewis,'Isaid.

'Yes,boss.'

ShewentonherwayingoodhumourandIfoundmyselfregrettingherstaywouldbetemporary.Highlycompetentandgoodcompany,NinaYoung.

Benjywithdrewandclosedhiswindowlikeoneofthecharacters.e.xitinginJeffreyBernardisUnwell.Ihalfexpectedhimtoreappearonhisdoorstepbutwhenhedidn'tIdriftedoffintheFourtraktogohome.

AshortwayalongtheroadIslowedbeforepa.s.singamanleadingahorse,hardlyanunusualsightinPixhill.Thehorsewa.s.swingingfromsidetosidewithhisattendantyankingdownagainandagainontheleadingreininasharpmannerguaranteedtoproducemoreskittering,notless.Ipa.s.sedthepairwithcaution,stoppedahead,andwalkedbacktomeetthem.

'CanIhelpyou?'Iasked.

'No,youcan't.'Hewasbrusque,ifnotdownrightrude.Young,belligerent,surly.

IrealisedwithminorshockthatthebadlybehavedhorsewasmyoldfriendPeterman,hisnameplainonhisheadcollar.

'Wouldyoulikemetoleadhim?'Iasked.'Iknowhim.'

'No,Iwouldn't.It'snoneofyoureffingbusiness.'

Ishrugged,wentbacktotheFourtrakandsat.w.a.tchingtheerraticandpotentiallydangerousprogressalongtheroad.Whenhepa.s.sedme,thegroomraisedtwofingersinmydirectionwithajerk.

Afool,Ithoughthim.Iwatchedhimturnrightagoodwayahead,takingtheroadtowardsMarigoldEnglish'syard.Ifollowedslowlytotheturning,stoppingonthemainroadbut.w.a.tchinguntilhorseandmanturnedoffthesideroadandinthroughMarigold'sgates.Atleast,Ithought,oldPetermanhadreachedhisnewhomesafely,andIwouldcheckwithMarigoldtomakesurehewasallright.

Outsidemyownhouse,whenIreachedit,thereseemedtohavesproutedawell-filledcarpark.Cl.u.s.teredaroundtheJaguarandtheRobinson22.werecarsinalldirectionswiththeirdriversinchattinggroups.These,onmyarrival,attemptedtointroducethemselvesallatonce.

'Hey,'Iprotested,'whogotherefirst?'

Thesimpleorderofprecedenceidentifiedthecrowdintovariousinsurancea.s.sessors,air-accidentinspectors,atransportfirmsurveyingthepossibilityofshippingthehelicoptertoScotland,asalesmanhopingIwouldorderanewJaguarandthemantoopenthesafe.

Itookthelastonep.r.o.ntointothehouse,eventhoughhewasapparentlythelatestonthescene.Helookedatthehatchetjob,scratchedhishead,askediftherewasanythingfragileinside(yes,Isaid,computerdisks)andsaidhethought.i.tacaseforadrill.

'Drillaway,'Isaid.

Therestofthemenoutsidehadsproutednotebooksandwerediscussingthemechanicsofbricks-on-sticksonaccelerators.Bynomeansimpossible,theyagreed.Verydicey,butpossible.Thehelicopter-shipperaskedquestionsaboutfuelinthetanks.Notmuchthere,Itoldhim.MysisterhadsaidshewouldhavetorefuelatOxford.Full,thetankandauxiliarytankheldabout130litres,she'dsaid,butshe'dflownfromCarlisleonthat.Theshipperbegandiscussingtechnicalwaystodisa.s.semblethetri-hingerotor,andlostme.

Theair-accidentinspectorproducedaletterfromLizziewhichheaskedmetoreadandconfirm.Neitherofushadseenthecollision,shewrote.Iconfirmedit.

Insurancea.s.sessors,hersandmine,saidthey'dneverseenanythinglikeit,notrightoutsidesomeone'sbackdoor,thatwas.They'dstudiedSandy'sreport.Theyaskedmetosignvariousforms.Isigned.