The Danger. Part 12

"Everytime,"Isaid.

Hesaidgoodbyewithdeservedsatisfaction,andIaddedanoteofwhathe'dsaid tomyreport.

ByThursdaymorningIwasbackinLambourn,chieflyforthelistsofmusic,and IfoundIhadarrivedjustasastringofPopsy'shorsesweresettingoutfor exercise.OverherjeansandshirtPopsyworeanotherpaddedwaistcoat,bright pinkthistime,seemingnottonoticethat.i.twasawarmdayinJuly;andher fluffygray-whitehairhaloedherbigheadlikeaprivatec.u.muluscloud.

Shewasonherfeetinthestableyardsurroundedbyscrunchingskittering quadrupeds,andshebeckonedtome,whenshesawme,withahugesweepofthe arm.Tryingnottolooknervousandobviouslynotsucceeding,Idodgedafew all-too-mobilehalf-tonsofmuscleandmadeittoherside.

Thegreeneyeslookedatmeslantwise,smiling."Notusedtothem,areyou?"

"Er..."Isaid."No."

"Wanttoseethemonthegallops?"

"Yes,please."Ilookedroundattheriders,hopingtoseeAlessiaamongthem, butwithoutresult.

Theapparentlydisorganizedthrongsuddenlymovedofftowardstheroadinone orderlyline,andPopsyjerkedherheadformetofollowherintothekitchen; andatthetableinthere,coffeecupinhand,satAlessia.

Shestilllookedpale,butperhapsnowonlyincontrasttotheoutdoorhealthof Popsy,andshestilllookedthin,withoutstrength.Hersmilewhenshesawme startedintheeyesandthencurvedtothepinklipstick;anuncomplicated welcomeoffriendship.

"Andrew'scomingupontheDownstoseetheschooling,"Popsysaid.

"Great."

"You'renotriding?"IaskedAlessia.

"No...I...anyway,Popsy'shorsesarejumpers."

Popsymadeafaceasiftosaythatwasn'tasatisfactoryreasonfornotriding them,butpa.s.sednoothercomment.SheandItalkedforawhileaboutthingsin generalandAlessiasaidnotmuch.

WeallthreesatonthefrontseatofadustyLandRoverwhilePopsydrovewith morevervethancautionoutofLambournandalongasideroadandfinallyupa b.u.mpytracktoopenstretchesofgra.s.sland.

Awayonthehorizontherollingterrainmeltedintobluehaze,andunderour feet,aswesteppedfromtheLandRover,thecloseturfhadbeenmowntotwo inches.Exceptforabirdcallortwointhedistancetherewasagentle envelopingsilence,whichwasinitselfextraordinary.Nodroneofairplanes,no clamorofvoices,nohumoffarawaytraffic.Justwideairandwarmsunlightand thefaintrustlefromone'sownclothes.

"Youlikeit,don'tyou?"observedPopsy,watchingmyface.

Inodded.

"YoushouldbeuphereinJanuarywiththewindhowlingacross.Thoughmindyou, it'sbeautifulevenwhenyou'refreezing."

Shescannedanearbyvalleywithahandshadinghereyes."Thehorseswillbe comingupfromthereatahalf-speedcanter,"shesaid."They'llpa.s.sushere.

Thenwe'llfollowthemupintheLandRovertotheschoolingfences."

Inoddedagain,notreckoningI'dknowahalf-speedcanterfromaslowwaltz, butinfactwhentherowofhorsesappearedlikeblackdotsfromthevalleyI soonsawwhatspeedshemeant.Shewatchedwithconcentrationthroughlarge binocularsasthedotsbecameshapesandtheshapesflyinghorses,loweringthe gla.s.sesonlywhenthestringoftenwentpastus,stillonebehindtheotherso thatshehadaclearviewofeach.Shepursedhermouthbutseemedotherwisenot toodispleased,andweweresooncareeringalongintheirwake,jerkingtoa stopoverthebrowofthehillanddisembarkingtofindthehorsescirclingwith tossingheadsandpuffingbreath.

"Seethosefencesoverthere?"saidPopsy,pointingtoisolatedtimberand brushwoodobstacleslookinglikerefugeesfromaracecourse."Thoseare schoolingfences.Toteachthehorseshowtojump."Shepeeredintomyface,and Inodded."Thesetonthisside,they'rehurdles.Thefaronesare...er...fences.

Forsteeplechasers."Inoddedagain."Fromthestartoftheschoolinggroundup toheretherearesixhurdles-andsixfences-soyoucangiveahorseagood workoutifyouwantto,b.u.t.todayI'msendingmylotoverthesetopfouronly, asthey'renotfullyfit."

Sheleftusabruptlyandstrodeovertoherexcitedfour-leggedfamily,and Alessiawithaffectionsaid,"She'sagoodtrainer.Shecanseewhenahorse isn'tfeelingright,evenifthere'snothingobviouslywrong.Whenshewalks intotheyardallthehorsesinstantlyknowshe'sthere...Youseealltheheads comeout,likeachorus."

Popsywasdispatchingthreeofthehorsestowardsthelowerendoftheschooling ground."Thosethreewillcomeupoverthehurdles,"Alessiasaid."Thenthose riderswillchangeontothreemorehorsesandstartagain."

Iwa.s.surprised."Don'talloftheridersjump?"Iasked.

"Mostofthemdon'tridewellenoughtoteach.Ofthosethreedoingthe schooling,twoareprofessionaljockeysandthethirdisPopsy'sbestlad."

Popsystoodbesideus,binocularsready,asthethreehorsescameupoverthe hurdles.Exceptforaratatatatatthehurdlesthemselvesitwasallveryquiet, mostly,Irealized,becausetherewasn.o.broadcastcommentaryasontelevision, butpartlyalsobecauseoftheDopplereffect.Thehorsesseemedtobemaking farmorenoiseoncetheywerepastandgoingaway.

PopsymutteredunintelligiblyunderherbreathandAlessiasaid"Borodinojumped well"inthesortofencouragingvoicewhichmeanttheothertwohadn't.

Weallwaitedwhilethethreeschoolingriderschangedhorsesandsetoff.a.gain downtheinclinetothestartingpoint,andIfeltAlessiasuddenlystirbeside meandtakeabottomlessbreath,movingfromthereintoasmall,restless, aimlesscircle.Popsyglancedatherbutsaidnothing,andafterawhileAlessia stoppedhercirclingandsaid,"Tomorrow..."

"Today,hereandnow,"Popsyinterruptedfirmly,andyelledtoacertainBobto comeovertoheratonce.

Bobprovedtobeamiddle-agedladridingachestnutwhichpeeledofffromthe groupandambledoverinwhatlookedtomeasloppywalk.

"Hopoff,w.i.l.l.you,"Popsysaid,andwhenBobcompliedshesaidtoAlessia, "O.K.,justwalkroundabit.You'venohelmet,soIdon'twantyoubreakingthe speedlimit,andbesidesoldPaperbaghereisn'tasfitastheothers."

ShemadeacradleforAlessia'skneeandthrewhercasuallyupintothesaddle, wheretheladyjockeylandedwithallthethumpofafeather.Herfeetslidinto thestirrupsandherhandsgatheredthereins,andshelookeddownatmefora secondasifbemusedatthespeedwithwhichthingswerehappening.Thenasif impelledshewheeledhermountandtrottedaway,followingtheotherthree horsesdowntheschoolingground.

"Atlast,"Popsysaid."AndI'dbeguntothinksheneverwould."

"She'sabravegirl."

"Oh,yes."Shenodded."Oneofthebest."

"Shehadanappallingtime."

Popsygavemefivesecondsofthedirectgreeneyes."SoIgather,"shesaid, "fromherrefusaltotalkabout.i.t.Let.i.tallhangout,Itoldher,butshe justshookherheadandblinkedacoupleoftearsaway,sothesepastfewdays I'vestoppedtryingtojollyheralong,itwasobviouslydoingnogood."She raisedthebinocularstowatchherthreehorsescomingupoverthehurdlesand thenswungthembackdownthehill,focusingonAlessia.

"Handslikesilk,"Popsysaid."G.o.dknowswhereshegot.i.tfrom,nooneelsein thefamilyknowsaspavinfromasplint."

"She'llbebetternow,"Isaid,smiling,"butdon'texpect..."

"Instantfullrecovery?"sheasked,asIpaused.

Inodded."It'slikeconvalescence.Gradual."

Popsyloweredthegla.s.sesandglancedatmebriefly."Shetoldmeaboutyour job.Whatyou'vedoneforherfather.Shesaysshefeelssafewithyou."She paused."I'veneverheardofajoblikeyours.Ididn'tknowpeoplelikeyou existed."

"Therearequiteafewofus...roundtheworld."

"Whatdoyoucallyourself,ifpeopleask?"

"Safetyconsultant,usually.Orinsuranceconsultant.DependshowIfeel."

Shesmiled."Theybothsounddullandworthy."

"Yes...er...that'stheaim."

WewatchedAlessiacomebackupthehill,canteringnow,butslowly,and standinginthestirrups.ThoughofcourseI'dseenthemdoit,I'dnever consciouslynotedbeforethenthatthatwashowjockeysrode,notsittinginthe saddleb.u.t.tippedrightforwardsotheirweightcouldbecarriedoverthe horse'sshoulder,notonthelowerspine.AlessiastoppedbesideBob,whotook holdofthehorse'sreins,andshedismountedbyliftingherrightlegforward overthehorse'sneckanddroppinglightly,feettogether,totheground:a movementasgracefulandspringyasballet.

Adifferentdimension,Ithought.Theexpertiseoftheprofessional.Amazingto thenon-able,likeseeinganartistdrawing.

Shepattedthehorse'sneck,thankedBobandcameovertous,slightinshirt andjeans,smiling.

"Thanks,"shesaidtoPopsy.

"Tomorrow?"Popsysaid."Withthestring?"

Alessianodded,rubbingthebacksofherthighs."I'masunfitasmarsh-mallow."

Withcalmnessshewatchedthefinaltrioofhorsesschool,andthenPopsydrove usagainerraticallybacktoherhouse,whilethehorseswalked,tocooldown.

OvercoffeeinthekitchenAlessiarewrotethelistsofthemusicshe'dlistened tosooften,ajobsherepeatedoutofgenerosity,anddisliked.

"IcouldhumalltheothertunesthatIdon'tknowthet.i.tlesof,"shesaid.

"ButfranklyIdon'twanttohearthemeveragain."Shepushedthelistacross: Verdi,asbefore,andmoderngentlesongslike"Yesterday"and"Sendinthe Clowns,"moreBritishandAmericaninoriginthanItalian.

"Ididthinkofsomethingelse,"shesaidhesitantly."Idreamedit,thenight beforelast.Youknowhowmuddledthingsareindreams...IwasdreamingIwas walkingouttoarace.Ihadsilkson,pinkandgreenchecks,andIknowIwas supposedtobegoingtoride,butIcouldn'tfindtheparadering,andIasked people,b.u.t.theydidn'tknow,theywereallcatchingtrainsorsomethingand thensomeonesaid,'AtleastanhourtoViralto'andIwokeup.Iwa.s.sweating andmyheartwasthumping,but.i.thadn'tbeenanightmare,notabadoneanyway.

ThenIthoughtthatI'dactuallyheardsomeonesay'atleastanhourtoViralto'

atthatminute,andIwasafraidtherewa.s.someoneintheroom...Itwashorrible, really."Sheputahandonherforehead,asiftheclamminessstillstoodthere.

"Butofcourse,whenIwokeupproperly,thereIwasinPopsy'ssparebedroom, perfectlysafe.Butmyheartwa.s.stillthumping."Shepaused,thensaid,"I thinkImusthaveheardoneofthemsaythat,whenIwasalmostasleep."

"Thisdream,"Iaskedslowly,considering,"WasitinEnglish...orItalian?"

"Oh."Hereyeswidened."IwasridinginEngland.Pinkandgreenchecks...oneof MikeNoland'shorses.IaskedthewaytotheparaderinginEnglish...theywere Englishpeople,b.u.t.thatvoicesaying'atleastanhourtoViralto,'thatwas Italian."Shefrowned."Howawfullyodd.ItranslateditintoEnglishinmy mind,whenIwokeup."

"DoyouoftengotoViralto?"Iasked.

"No.Idon'tevenknowwhereitis."

"I'lltellPucinelli,"Isaid,andshenoddedconsent.

"Hefoundthehouseyouwerekeptinmostofthetime,"Isaidneutrally.

"Didhe?"Ittroubledher."I...Idon'twant..."

"Youdon'twanttohearabout.i.t?"

"No."

"Allright."

Shesighedwithrelief."Younevermakemefacethings.I'mverygrateful.I feel...IstillfeelIcouldbepushedoveracliff...breakdown,Isuppose...iftoo muchisforcedonme.Andit'sabsolutelyridiculous-Ididn'tcryatall,not once,whenIwas...inthattent."

"That'sthoroughlynormal,andyou'redoingfine,"Isaid."Andyoulook fabulousonahorse."

Shelaughed."G.o.dknowswhyittookmesolong.ButupontheDowns...sucha gorgeousmorning...Ijustfelt..."Shepaused."Ilovehorses,youknow.Mostof them,anyway.They'relikefriends...b.u.t.theyliveinternallives,secret,with amazinginstincts.They'retelepathic...IsupposeI'mboringyou."

"No,"Isaidtruthfully,andthoughtthat.i.twashorses,notI,whowouldlead herfinallybacktofirmground.

ShecameouttothecarwithmewhenIleftandkissedmegoodbye,cheekto cheek,asifI'dknownherforyears.

Chaptereight.

VIRALTO?"Pucinellisaiddoubtfully."It'savillageoffoneoftheroadsinto themountains.Verysmall.Noroadsinthevillage,justalleywaysbetween houses.AreyousureshesaidViralto?"

"Yes,"Isaid."Isitoneofthosehilltopvillageswithhousesallstuck togetherwithredtiledroofsandblindingwhitewallswithoutwindows?Allon slopes,shutinandsecret?"

"Likethat,yes."

"Woulditbeanhour'sdrivefromBologna?FromthehousewhereAlessiawas kept?"

"Isupposeso...Ifyouknewtheway.Itisnotonamainroad."

"And...er...wouldithaveabakery?"

Afterthefaintestofpauseshesaidsmoothly,"Mymenwillbeupthereatonce, searchingthoroughly.ButAndrew...itwouldnotbeusualtotakeakidnapped personthere.Inthesevillageseveryoneknowseveryone.Thereisnoroomto hideastranger."

"TryViraltoonthekidnapperwhotoldyouaboutthefirsthouse,"Isaid.

"YoucanbesureIwill,"hesaidhappily."Hehasnowconfessedthathewasone ofthefourpeopleinmaskswhoabductedAlessia.Healsosometimessatinthe houseatnighttoguardher,buthesaysheneverspoketoher,shewasalways asleep."Hepaused."Ihaveaskedhimseveraltimeseverydayforthenameof themaninthedrawings.Hesaystheman'snameisGiuseppe.Hesaysthat'swhat hecalledhimandhedoesn'tknowanyothernameforhim.Thismaybetrue.

Maybenot.Ikeepasking.Perhapsonedayhewilltellmedifferent."

"Enrico,"Isaiddiffidently."Youareanexpertinvestigator.Ihesitateto makeasuggestion..."

AsmalllaughtraveledbywirefromBologna."Youdon'thesitateveryoften."

"Then...BeforeyougotoViralto,shallwegetPaoloCencitoofferarewardfor therecoveryofanyoftheransommoney?Thenyoucouldtakethatpromiseand alsothedrawingsof'Giuseppe'withyou...perhaps."

"IwillalsotakephotographsofourkidnappersandofAlessia,"hesaid.

"SignorCenciwillsurelyagreetothereward.But..."hepaused,"Viralto...was onlyawordinadream."

"Awordwhichcausedsweatingandanacceleratedheartbeat,"Isaid."It frightenedher."