Driving Force Part 4

'Iwouldn'thavedoneitonmyown.'

'That'sb.l.o.o.d.yunfair,'Daveprotestedfuriously.

'Bothofyoushutup,'Isaid.'Cleanthebox.'

Seething,theybothwentoutandthroughthewindowIwatchedtherigidityoftheirangerastheymarchedtowardsthetask.UndoubtedlythepickingupofthehitchhikerhadbeenDave'sdoing,butIfoundIcouldforgivehisirresponsibilitymoreeasilythanBrett'sself-righteousness.TheyhadbothforsurepocketedKevinKeithOgden'smoney,althoughnothingwouldgetthemtosayhowmuch.

Joggersaid,pointingatthecashbox,'Whatdoyouwantmetodowiththat?'

'Oh...justleaveithere.Andthanks.'

'Where'sBrettofftointhatboxtoday?'heasked,followingmygazethroughthewindow.

'Nowhere.He'sleavingthefirm.I'llbedrivingitmyself.'

'Straightup?ThenI'lldoyouafavour.'

Iswitchedmyattentiontohisgrubby,lined,fifty-three-year-oldface,thewilyexteriorofanoldsoldierwhokneweveryskivingtrickofthetradebutlivedbyhisowncodeofstricthonestyinsomerespects,notablyforanythingthatmovedonwheels.

'You'vegotastrongactiveuncoveredmagnetunderthatbox,'heinformedme.'Ifyou'renotcareful,it'llpickupironbarsandsuchandyoucouldcatchthemonsomethingorbackontothemandmaybepierceafueltankorworse.'

Imovedmyheadinappreciation.'What'sbesttodo?'

'I'llsticksomethingoverit,ifyoulike.'

'Thanks,Jogger.'

Heheardtherealgrat.i.tudeinmyvoiceandnoddedbriefly.'What'vewebeencarrying,eh?'heasked.'Carpets?'

Iwasmystified.'Carpets?'

'Andrugs.Drugs.'

'Oh.'Iunderstoodbelatedly.'Ihopenot.'Iponderedbriefly.'Keepittoyourselffornow,Jogger,w.i.l.l.you?UntilIget.i.tsortedout.'

Hesaidhewould,apromiseeasilygiventhatmightlastintothethirdpintthateveninginthepub,butnofurther.

Atclosequartershesmelledofoilanddust,thoseconstantcompanions,andalsoofstalesmokeandageneralearthiness.Ifounditlessobjectionablethantheoverpoweringlysweetaftershaveandclashingmedicinalmouthwashofoneoftheotherdrivers,whoseodourpervadedhiswholehorseboxevenoverridingthescentofhorses.

Asfaraspossible,eachdriverdroveoneparticularhorseboxallthetime,makingithisown.I'dfoundtheyallpreferreditlikethat,andtheyalsolookedafterthevehiclesbetterthatway,keptthemcleaner,understoodtheiridiosyncrasiesandgenerallytreatedthemwithprideastheirpersonalproperty.Eachdriverkeptthekeysofhisownboxinhispossessionandcouldpersonalisehisowncabifhecaredto.Severalofthemwholikedtosleeponboardhadriggedcurtainsforthewindows.Pat,nowsickwithflu,carriedfreshflowersandaningeniousfoldingchangingroominhers.IcouldalmostinfalliblyhavetoldwhichboxIwasinsimplybythecab.

Brett'scabwasconsistentwithhowlittleofhimselfhe'dcommittedtothejob;devoidofanythingpersonal.Iwouldbegladtoseethebackofhimeventhoughitcompoundedthedrivershortage.

Sayinghe'dfetchsomethingforthemagnetandthathe'dbettergetonwiththingsifhewasgoingtoSurreywiththebroodmares,Joggerjoggledhiswaybacktohisvan,loadedtheslideranddroveoff.Davehoseddowntheoutsideofthehorseboxandcleanedthewindowswithasqueegee.Brettsweptinternaldebriscarelesslyoutthroughthegrooms'doorsontothetarmac.

Theinsideplanofthe35-footlonghorseboxmadeprovisionforthreesetsofthreestalls,withs.p.a.cesbetweenthesets.Thehorses'headsprotrudedforwardsintotheses.p.a.ces,whereoftensatanattendanttravellingnearthem.

Thewidthoftheboxallowedforthreestallsonlyifthehorsestravellingwereofaveragebuild.Heavilymuscledhorses,likeoldersteeplechasers,neededmoreroomandcouldtravelonlytwosidebyside.Thesameforbroodmares.Whenwetookmareswithfoals,thethreestallsacrossconvertedtoonesinglelargeone.Soninetwo-year-oldsorthreemareswithfoalscouldbeaccommodated.

Theseversatilearrangementswereeasilyachievedbymanycleverly-designedswingingpart.i.tions,allofthemofwood,coveredwithsoftpadding,toavoidinjuriesandbruising.Weloadedthehorsesandboltedthestallsasneededaroundthem.

Thefloorsofthestallswereofthickblackrubbertostopthehorsesslidingabout,andsometimeswesprinkledthesurfacewithshavingstocatchthedroppings,especiallyonlongjourneys.Ateachdestination,theattendantsorthedriverwouldsweepthestallscleanofthemuck:thenine-horseboxhadthereforearrivedhomereasonablyclea.n.a.lready,havingcomebackemptyfromNewmarket.

Anarrowcupboardattherearofeachboxcontainedbrooms,ashovel,hose,squeegeesandmop.Wetookalsoabucketortwo,teedsometimesforthehorses,andseveralplasticcontainersofdrinkingwater.Thelockerundertheattendants'benchseat-whereOgdenhaddied-housedsparetackintheformofheadcollars,ropes,straps,ahorseblanketortwoandafirstaidkit.Behindthedriver'sseatlayanefficientfire-extinguisher;andthatwasaboutallwecarriedexceptfortheattendants'ownbelongingsuponth.e.s.h.elfwiththemattress.Theladsmostlytookwiththemcleantidyclothestochangeintoforleadingtheirchargesroundtheparadering,changingbackintoworkingthingsforthereturnhome.

Dayafterday,alloverthecountry,fleetsofhorseboxeslikemineferriedalltherunnerstotheraces,mostdaysaboutahundredrunnerstoeachmeeting,onbaddays,downto,perhaps,thirty.MostoftherunnersthatweretrainedinPixhilltravelled,luckily,inmyboxesandasatleasttwenty-fivetrainerswereinbusinessinthedistrict,Iwasmakingmoney,ifnotafortune.

Forallsteeplechasejockeysintheirearlythirtiestheurgentquestionarose,whatnext?Onelifelaybehind,unfilledtimelayahead.I'dbeendrivinghorseboxesbytheageofeighteenformyfather,whohadownedhisowntransport;drivingsomeofhishorsestotheraces,lookingafterthem,ridingtheminamateurraces,drivinghome.Bytwenty,turningprofessional,I'dbeenretainedbyatopstable,andfortwelveyearsafterthatI'dfinishedeachseasonaroundsecondtosixthinthejockeys'list,ridingupwardsof400jumpracesayear.Fewjumpjockeyslastedlongerthanthatnearthetopowingtothephysicalbatteringoffalls,andatthirty-twotimeandinjurieshadcaughtupwithme,asthey'dbeenboundtodointheend.

Fromjockeytofull-timehorsetransporterhadbeenajoltingchangeofoutlookinsomeways,butfamiliarterritoryinothers.Threeyearsintothenewlife,itseemedasifithadbeeninevitableallalong.

ImadeupBrett'spaypacketwithcashfrommysafeaspromisedandtypedtheinformationintothecomputer,sothatalongintheofficeRosecouldincorporateitintotheP45.Onewayandanothershehadn'thadmuchpracticeatP45S,astheturnoverindrivershadprovedsmall.

Brett'senvelopeinhand,IwentouttothehorseboxwhereheandDavewerenowstandingonthetarmacglaringateachother.Havingremovedthehosefromtheoutsidetapbeyondthewoodpile,Davestoodwithitsgreenflabbyplasticloopsoverhisarm,apparentlychildishlyarguingthat.i.twasBrett'sjobtoput.i.tawayinitscupboard.

Givemestrength,Ithought,andaskedDavenicelytoput.i.tawayhimself.WithbadgraceheclimbedwithitintotheboxandBrett.w.a.tchedhimspitefully.

'That'snottheonlytimeDave'spickedupahitchhiker,'hesaid.

Ilistenedbutdidn'treply.

Brettsaid,'It'shimyououghttosack,notme.'

'Ididn'tsackyou.'

'Asgoodas.'

HissharpyoungfacelackedanysortofhumourandIfeltsorryforhimthatheshouldgothroughlifemakinghimselfdisliked.Thereseemedtobenowayofchanginghim;hewouldgowhiningtothegrave.

'You'llhavetoleaveaforwardingaddresswithIsobel,'Isaidconversationally.'Youmightbecalledonfortheinquestonyesterday'spa.s.senger.'

'It'sDavethey'llwant.'

'Allthesame,leaveanaddress.'

Hegrunted,acceptedhispaypacketwithoutthanksanddroveoff,Davecomingtoearthagainbymysideandlookingafterhimbalefully.

'Whatdidhesay?'heasked.

'Thatyou'dpickedupotherhitchhikers.'

Davelookedfurious.'Hewould.'

'Don'tdoit,Dave.'

HelistenedtotheweightIputintothewordsand,unsuccessfullytryingtojoke,said,'Isthatsomesortofthreat?'

'Awarning.'

'Itdon'tseemfairtoleavepeoplestandingbytheroadside.'

'Itmaynotseemfairtoyou,'Isaid,'butjustgrityourteethanddoit.'

'Well...OK.'Hegavemeahalf-heartedgrinandpromisednottogiveanyliftsonhiswaybackfromleavingthebroodmaresinGloucestershirethatafternoon.

'I'mserious,Dave.'

Hesighed.'Yeah.Iknowit.'

Heretrievedhisrustybikefromthewoodpileandsqueakedawaydownthedrive,wobblingasideforJoggerwhowasreturninginhisvan.

Joggerhadbroughtwithhimabook-sizedpieceofwoodwithacl.u.s.terofnailsdrivenintoit.Thenail-headswouldsticktothemagnet,hesaid,butnotsofirmlythathewouldn'tbeabletogetthewholethingoffatthenextoverhaul.Thewoodwouldpreventthemagnetfrompickingupanythingelse.

Itookhiswordforit,andwatchedhimrollexpertlyunderthecha.s.siswithoutusingtheslider,takingonlysecondstoputtheinsulatingwoodinplace.Hewasuponhisfeetgivingmeasidewaysyellowsmileinaninstant.

'Thatdidn'ttakelong,'Isaidthoughtfully.

'Ifyouknowwheretolook,it'sapieceofcake.'

Harvearrivedatthatmoment,crossingwithJogger'sdeparture.WewalkedtogethertothehouseandIshowedhimthegrime-ladencashbox,explainingwhereJoggerhadfoundit.HelookedaspuzzledasIfelt.

'Butwhat'sitfor?'hesaid.

'Joggerthinkswe'vebeenentertainingdrugsunawares.'

'What?'

'Smugglingcocaine,perhaps?'

'No.'Harvewasadamant.'Noonecoulddothatwithoutusknowing.'

RuefullyIsaid,'Maybeoneofusdoesknow.'

Harvedidn'tagree.Ourdriversweresaints,heimplied.

Itoldhimaboutthenightvisitor,who'dcomeinblackdisguiseandenteredthehorsebox.

'Hehadakeytothegrooms'door,'Isaid.'Hemusthavedone.There'snodamagetothelocks.'

'Yes,'Harvesaid,thinking,'butyouknowthosegroom-doorkeysdon'topenjustonebox.Imean,IknowforacertaintythatmyownboxhasthesamekeyasBrett's,here.Quitealotofthemareduplicated.'

Inodded.Theignitionkeyswereindividuallyspecialandcouldn'tbecopied,b.u.t.thegrooms'doorlockscamefromadifferentsmallerrange,andseveraloftheboxeshadkeysthatfittedothers.

'Whatwashedoinginsidethecab?'Harveasked,'ifthisthing...thishidingplace...wasunderneath?'

'Idon'tknow.Hehaddirtonhisclothes.Maybehe'dalreadylookedunderneathandfoundthehidingplaceempty.'

'Whatareyougoingtodoabout.i.t?'Harvesaid.'TellSandySmith?'

'Maybe.Sometime.Idon'twanttorunusintotroubleifIdon'thaveto.'

Harvewashappywiththat.'Wedon'twanttheCustomstohearofit,'hesaid,nodding.'They'dholdusupforhours,everycrossing.They'dtreat.i.ta.s.specificinformationreceived,Iwouldn'twonder.'

Hispleasantfacewasonlylightlyanxious;andtheunwelcomediscovery,Isupposed,didn'tmerittheinstantpushingofpanicb.u.t.tons.

'OK,'Isaid,'let'sgeton.I'llcomealongtothefarmforfuelandstarttheshuttle.'

IlockedthehousewhileHarveyleft,thenfollowedalongtothefarmyard,lessthanamileaway,nearertotheheartofPixhill.

Harve,hiswifeandfourtow-headedchildrenlivednextdoortothefarmyardinwhathadbeentheoldfarmhouse.TheoldfarmbarnwasnowJogger'sdomain,aworkshopwithinspectionpitandeveryaidtomechanicalperfectionthathecouldcajolemeintobuying.

Whathadoncebeenacowshedwasnowasmallcanteenandasuiteofthreeofficeswithwindowslookingintothefarmyard,fromwhereonecouldwatchthehorseboxescomeandgo,eachtoandfromitsownallocatedparkings.p.a.ce.Asmallstableblockwithroomforthreehorseswa.s.sitedinthes.p.a.cebetweentheendofthestretchofofficesandthehighwallofthebarn.Wesometimeshousedourpa.s.sengerstheretemporarilyiftheywereduetoleaveorarriveinthemiddleofthenight.

Severaloftheday'ssortieshadalreadybegun.Theothernine-boxhadalreadylefttocollectthebroodmaresboundforIreland.ThetwoSouthwellboxes's.p.a.ceswereemptyalso.JoggerwasdrivingPhil'sboxovertothebarnforitsoverhaul.

Idrewtoahaltbythedieselpumpandtoppedupthetanks.

Normallywerefuelledonreturnintheeveningstoavoidwaterproblemsfromaircondensingovernightinquarter-fulltanks,atipI'dlearnedfromapilotfriend.Wealsohoseddowntheboxesatthatpointandcleanedtheinsideswithdisinfectantsotheywerefreshandreadytogointhemornings.

Brett,Inoticed,hadremovedtheremainsofhispicnic,buthissolutiontothestainonthebench-seathadbeennottocleanitoffb.u.t.tofoldthehorserugandlayitalongtheseattocoverit.Typical,Ithought.

Intheoffices,IsobelandRosewereconsultingtheirmachines,turninguptheheatersanddrinkingcoffeefromthecanteennextdoor.RosesaidshehadalreadygivenBretthisP45andtakenhismother'saddressandwasgladtoberidofhim.

Rose,plumplymiddle-aged,keptthefinancialrecords,seeingtothepaypackets,sendingoutbills,preparingchequesformysignature,keepingtrackofthepennies.Isobel,gentle,young,clearheaded,answeredthetelephone,tookthebookingsandchattedusefullywithmanytrainers'secretaries,harvestingadvancenoticeoftheirstables'requirements.

RoseandIsobelhadanofficeeach,inwhichtheyworkedfromeight-thirtytofour.Thethirdoffice,lessbusy-looking,lesspersonal,wastechnicallymyownbutwasusedjustasmuchbyHarve.Thedoc.u.mentationoftheboxeswaskeptinthere,andalsoduplicatesoftheignitionkeys,inalockeddrawer.

Inspiteoftheflu,inspiteofBrett,inspiteofKevinKeithOgden,thatFriday'sworkseemedtobegoingsmoothly.

ThedriverduetotransferJerichoRich'ssixfilliestoNewmarkethadalreadyarrivedinthefarmyard,asforsomeunspecifiedreasonMichaelWatermeadhadwantedthemtoleavehisstableearlierinthemorningthantheloadoftwo-year-oldsthedaybefore.

IexplainedtoNigel,thedriver,thatMichaelwouldn'tbesendinganyofhisownladstocareforthefillies('Jerichocanwhistleforfavours,b.l.o.o.d.yman')b.u.t.thatacarwithacoupleofladswouldbecomingoverfromthedestinationtrainerinNewmarket.

'TheydidthesameyesterdaywithBrettandthedaybeforewithHarve,soyoushouldn'thaveanytrouble,'Isaid.

Nigelnodded.

'Anddon'tpickupanycorpsesonthewayhome.'

Helaughed.Hewastwenty-four,insatiablyheteros.e.xual,foundlifeajokeandcouldcalloninexhaustiblestamina,hischiefvirtueinmyeyes.Anytimeweneededlongnight-drivingIsenthim,ifIcould.

Trainersoftenhadafavouriteamongthedrivers,aparticularmantheyknewandtrusted.InMichaelWatermead'scase,therewasadrivercalledLewis,atthatmomentwarminghishandsroundamugofteaandlisteningtoDave'sself-justifyingaccountofthelastrideofK.K.Ogden.

'Didn'thesayanything?'Lewisaskedinterestedly.'Justsnuffedit?'

'Makesyouthink,doesn't.i.t?'

Lewisagreedaboutthat,noddinghisclose-croppedhead.Inhistwenties,likethemajorityofthedrivers,hewaswilling,resourcefulandstrong,withatattooofadragonononeforearmandareputedpastasabiker.Therave-uphistoryhadraisedmydoubtstobeginwith,buthe'dprovedthoroughlyreliableatthewheelofhisglossysuper-sixbox,andMichael,whohadexactingstandards,hadtakentohimfirmly.