Driving Force Part 10

'Promptandperfect,'shesaidcheerfully.'CroftRaceways'motto.'

'Er...promptandpa.s.sablewilldo.'

Itooktheday'snewspapersalongtomyownofficeandflickedthroughthem.TherewasnevermuchhardracingnewsonMondays.Joggerwasn'tmentioned.Theleadstoryinonepaperwasabouttheequinefluplaguingseveralracingstablesinthenorth,virtuallyputtingwholeyardsoutofactionformonths.Therewa.s.speculationthatthevirusmightspreadtoNewmarket.Trainers,thewritersaid,wereunwillingtosharetransportwithhorsesfromotherstablesincaseofinfection.

Hoorayforthat.Iwasallforseparatejourneys.Justaslong,ofcourse,asPixhillitselfstayedfree.Itwasbadenoughhavingdrivershomesick,b.u.t.theequineversionofflucouldhangaroundmuchlonger,severelydepletingthenumberofrunnersneedingmyservices.

Equineflu,aninfectionoftheupperrespiratorytract,thepapersaid,hadbeenknowninthepastas'thecough'.Therewasnocureb.u.t.time.Sowhatelsewasnew?

Iturnedtoanotherpaper.Thisone,stillonthegloomanddoomtrail,discussedtheprevioussummer'soutbreakofdebilitatingfeveranddiarrhoeainhorsesinmainlandEurope.Noonehadsatisfactorilyidentifiedthecauseandtrainersfearedtheremightberecurrence.

Dieselpricesmightriseagain,Iread.Ihated'might'stories;non-stories.Like'Doctorswarn',Iput'might'storiesbottomofmylist.Anxietyraisers,allofthem.Doctorsshouldwarnagainst'Doctorswarn'.

Itwasa'might'sortofmorning.SunnyDriftermightnotruninthenextday'sChampionHurdle.TheremightbeanincreaseinbettingtaxintheBudget.MichaelWatermeadmightrunthebrilliantIrkabAlhawainawarm-upracebeforethe2,000Guineas.

MarigoldEnglish,Ireadopen-eyed,reportedthatshehadsuccessfullycompletedhermovetoPixhill,'OwingtoFreddieCroft'spersonalservices,thetransferwentsmoothlyinallrespects.'Bullyfortheoldtrout,Ithought,andphonedheronthespottothankher.

'Youdidagoodjob,'shesaid,pleased.

Bynine-thirtythephonewasringingalmostcontinuouslyasitalwaysdidonMondays,thetrainersmakingtransportplansfortheweekahead.

Isobelansweredeverything,comingalongtomydooratonepointandsaying,'There'ssomeoneenquiringforBrett'sjob.Hesoundsallright.WhatshallIdo?'

'Askhimifhecancomeforaninterviewthismorning.'

Shewentawayandreturnedtosaythathewould.Tenminuteslaterwehadanotherapplicant,andthenanother.Wewouldhavealineofthemroundthefarmyardifitwenton.

Istartedtheinterviewsataboutteno'clock.Fourmenhadalreadyarrivedandafifthappearedwithinanhour.Allofthemhadthenecessarylicences,allhadexperience,allsaidthey'dworkedinracingbefore.Thefifthonesaidhewasalsoamechanic.

Mostdriversweremechanicstosomeextent.ThisonegavemeareferencefromaMercedesgarageinLondon.

HisnamewasAzizNader.Age,twenty-eight.Hehadcurlyblackhair,oliveskin,s.h.i.+ningblackeyes.Confidentandoutgoinginmanner,hewaslookingforajobbutnotofferingsubservience.HespokewithaCanadianaccentbutdidn'tlookasifheshould.

'Wheredoyoucomefrom?'Isaidneutrally.

'Lebanon.'Hepausedasecondandamplifiedhisanswer.'MyparentsareLebaneseb.u.t.theywenttoCanadawhenthetroublestarted.IwasraisedinQuebecmostlyandI'mstillaCanadiancitizen,butwe'vebeenhereeightyearsnow.I'vearesident'sworkpermit,ifthat'swhat'sworryingyou.'

Ilookedathimthoughtfully.'Whatlanguagedoyouspeakwithyourparents?'

'Arabic.'

'And...um...howaboutFrench?'

Hesmiledwithwhiteteethandspoketomerapidlyinthatlanguage.TheFrenchIknewwasracecoursestuff;hewastoofastforme.

InthesummerIs.h.i.+ppedmanyhorsesforArabclients,mostofwhoseemployeesfumbledalonginhopelesslytongue-tiedornonexistentEnglish.Adriverwhocouldconversewiththem,andcouldalsofeelathomeinFrance,seemedtoogoodtobetrue.

'Howgoodareyouwithhorses?'Iasked.

Heseemeduncertain.'Ithoughtyouwantedadriver-mechanic.'

Nooneafterallwasperfect.'Horseboxdriversarebetteriftheycanhandlehorses.'

'I'd...er...learn.'

Itwasn'taseasyashethought,but.i.tdidn'trulehimout.

'I'vetoldeveryoneI'llgowiththemonatestdrivebeforedecidingwhogetsthejob,'Isaid.'Youcamelast,canyouwait?'

'Allday,'hesaid.

Thetestdriveswereimportantbecausethecargohadtogosteadilyonitsfeet.Twooftheapplicantswerejerkywithbrakesandgears,onewasveryslow,thefourthIwouldhaveengagedifhe'dbeentheonlyremainingchoice.

Ifound,asIclimbedintothesuper-sixcabbesideAziz,thatIalreadyintendedtogivehimthejobonthestrengthofhislanguagesandhismechanicalexperience,justaslongashewashalf-wayproficientatdriving.Heprovedinfactnotdazzlingbutatleastsmoothandcareful,andmymindwasmadeuplongbeforewereturnedtothefarmyard.

'Whencanyoustart?'Iasked,ashebrakedtoahalt.

'Tomorrow.'Hegavemeanotherflas.h.i.+ngsmile,alleyesandteeth,andsaidhewouldworkhard.

IthankedtheotherapplicantswhowerewaitinghopefullyandgotthemtogivetheirnamestoIsobel,incase.Theywentawaydisappointed.IsobelandRosemetAzizwithfascinationandavisibleincreaseinfemininity,andNigel,itwasplain,hadfoundstrongcompet.i.tion.

Threemonths'trial,subjecttohisreferencesbeingOK,Isuggested,offeringappropriatepayandconditions.Rosesaidshewouldputhimintohercomputer,askingforhisaddress.Hewouldrentaroominthevillage,hesaid,andletherknowlater.RosetentativelytoldhimwhereBretthadstayed:theroommightstillbeavailable.Azizthankedher,listenedtoherdirections,anddroveoffcheerfully,ashe'dcome,inaveryold,well-tendedsmall-sizedPeugeot.

Iwonderedhowmuchonecouldreallytellofapersonbythecartheydrove.Sunday'sNinamatchedherMercedes;Monday'sNina,heroldrunabout.Azizseemedtoostrongacharacterforhiswheels.I,ontheotherhand,ownedaJaguarXJS,lovedandleftoverfromthejockeydays.ItookitstilltoracemeetingsbutmovedaroundPixhillinaworkhorsefour-wheeldriveFourtrak.Perhapseveryone,Ithoughtinpa.s.sing,hadatwo-carpersonality,andwonderedwhatAzizwoulddrivefromchoice.

Tobeprudent,Icheckedhisreferences.TheLondongaragehe'dworkedforsaidheknewhis...o...b..thadleftsometimeago.Thetrainerwhoseprivatehorseboxhehaddrivenprovedtohavegoneoutofbusinessrecentlyinfinancialdifficulties.AzizNaderhadbeenasatisfactoryemployeebuteveryoneonthepayrollhadlosttheirjobs.

WhileIwasonthephonetwocarsarrivedtogether,not,asittranspired,intandembutbothonfact-findingmissions.Thefirstdisgorgedthepressintheshapeofaspindlyyoungmanwithalargenoseandaspiralnotebook;thesecond,theareabloodhoundsinplainclothes,differentmenfromthedaybefore.Iwentoutwithoutenthusiasmtogreetthem.Therewerenosmiles,nohandshakes,merelyminimalintroductions,badgesflappedinmyface.Nooneseemedintentonoverfriendlinessorengagingmybesthelptrustingly.Bothpressandpolicesubsequentlyaskedinvasiveandborderline-rudequestionswithvisiblescepticismatmyanswers.

ApartfromSandy,myexperienceswiththelargerpoliceworldhadbeenfewbutenoughtoshowmeoneshouldneversayawordtothemthatonedidn'thaveto,ontheprobabilityofbeingadjudgedguiltyofanyoldthingbeforeconclusivelyprovedinnocent,andverylikelyafter.Oneshouldalsonever,ever,onanyaccount,makejokes.NoteventoSandy.Thepolice,tomymind,hadonlythemselvestoblameforthepublic'sprevalentmistrustofthem,greatchapsthoughnodoubtmostofthemwere.Pouncing,however,cameasanaturalinstincttothemall:theywouldn'thavebeeneffectivewithout.i.t.NoonethatIknewof,particularlyifinnocent,caredtobeprey.

ThepressmanseemedtoseehisroleasbeingWas.h.i.+ngtonPost-typeinvestigativejournalism.Thepolice,tomyquietamus.e.m.e.nt,sawhimasanuisancewhowoulddonoinvestigatingatalliftheycouldhelpit.Ilistenedtothemmatchverbalswordsuntiltheyoungmanretreateddiscomfitedtowaitinhismotorandtheforceproducednotebooksoftheirown.

'Now,sir,'theybegan,anopenerfullofmenaceifevertherewasone,'youwillhandoverthehousekeysofthemanfounddeadhereyesterday,ifyouplease.'

IwouldhavegiventhemJogger'skeyswillingly.ThebrusquenessoftheirdemandreinforcedmyhoveringantagonismandensuredIdidn'thelpthemasImighthavedone,asIshouldhavedone,nodoubt.

Withoutaword,though,Iwentbacktotheoffice,findingthemfollowingmewithsharpsuspiciouseyesasifIwereplanningtodestroyevidence,givenhalfachance.IsobelandRosebothwatchedtheprocessionwithopenmouths.Ididn'tbotherwithintroductions.

Thetwoplain-clothesmendrewupbesidemydesk.Iopenedadrawer,broughtoutJogger'skeysandremovedhishousekeysfromthering.

TheytookthekeyswithoutcommentandaskedwhatJoggerhadbeendoinginthefarmyardonaSundaymorning.Irepliedthatallmyemployeescouldcomeandgointhefarmyardonanyerrandtheycaredto,Sundaysincluded,asitwasaworkday.

TheyaskedmeaboutJogger'sdrinkinghabits.Isaidhehadneverturnedupdrunkforwork.Apartfromthat,itwas.h.i.+sownaffair.

IfJoggerhadbeendrunkwhenhefellintothepit,Ithought,thepost-mortemwouldshowit.Speculationwaspointless,really.

TheelderofthetwopolicemennextaskedifanyonehadbeenpresentwithJoggerwhenhefell.NotthatIknewof,Isaid.HadI,personally,beenthere?No.HadIbeentothefarmyardonSat.u.r.daynightafterteno'clockoronSundaymorningatanytime?No.

Iaskedwhytheywereaskingsuchquestionsandwastoldthatallaccidentshadtobeinvestigated,ofcourse.Thecoronerwouldwantanswersattheinquest.Inpoliceexperience,hechillinglyadded'Peoplewithinformationcouldremainsilentsoasnottobecomeinvolved.Irefrainedfromaskingwhosefaulthethoughtthatmightbe.

Theinterviewproceededforseveralmoreminuteswithoutfruittoeitherside,asfarasIcouldsee.Theywatchedmekeenlywhiletellingmetheywouldbemakingenquiriesfrommyemployees.Inoddedneutrally,takingitforgranted.

TheyaskedforalistofalldriverswhohadbeenworkingonSat.u.r.dayorSunday.ItookthemalongtoIsobel'sofficeandaskedherforacomputerprint-outofthetimeseveryonehadleftandreturned.

Sheshookherheaddisgustedly.

'Look,Freddie,'shesaid,'I'msosorry,butIcan'tgetathingoutofthecomputertoday.WhenI'vesorteditout,I'lldotherecordsstraightaway.'Shepickedupapileoflog-books.'Theinformationisallinhere,it'sjustamatteroftypingit.'

'Sure,'Isaid,easily.'Canyoujustwritedownthenames,forastart?Usingold-fas.h.i.+onedpencilandpaper?'

Obliginglyshewrotethenamesfromthelog-bookcoversandhandedthelisttothepolicemanwhotookitstolidly.Whenthey'dgoneIsobelmadeafaceafterthem.'Theymighthavesaidthanks,evenifIdidb.a.l.l.supthecomputer.'

'Yes,theymight.'

ThespindlypressmancameoutofhiscarlikearabbitfromhisholeoncethepolicecarhaddrivenawayandIspentthenexttenminutesa.s.suringhimthatJoggerhadbeenagreatmechanic,hislosswouldbesorelyfelt,thepolicehadbeeninvestigatingtheaccident,wewouldhavetowaittheresultoftheirenquiries,andsoonandsoon,awholelotofplat.i.tudesb.u.t.thetruthasfarasitwent.Hedroveawayfinallyindissatisfaction,butIcouldn'thelpthat.

AquicklookatmywatchshowedI'ddriftedthroughmuchoflunchtimewithoutrememberingmyintentionoforganisingtheJoggermemorialpintsinthepub,soIscooteddownthereatoncetotalktothelandlord.

He,comfortablyfatwithabeerbellyofhisown,presidedoverano-frillshousegearedtothepsychologicalcomfortofthosemadeuneasybytoomuchluxury.Hepleasedaclienteleofbothstableworkersandausterelocalintellects,talkingeasilywithbothgroups.

'OldJoggerwasharmless,'hep.r.o.nounced.'Gotp.i.s.sedregularonSat.u.r.days.NotthefirsttimeSandy'sdrivenhimhome.Sandy'sagoodfellow,I'llsaythatforhim.WhatcanIdoforyou?'

Makealist,Isaid,ofeveryonewhohadbeeninthepubwithJoggeronhislastnightandgiveeachofthemtwoorthreepintsinhismemory.

'Verydecentofyou,Freddie,'hesaid,andbeganhislistthereandthen,startingoffwithSandySmithandaddingDaveandNigelandtwoothersofmydriversandproceedingtoladsfromalmosteverystableinPixhill,includinganewbunchfromMarigoldEnglish'syard,individualnamesunknown.'They'daskedinthevillageforthebestpub,'hetoldmecomplacently,'andweresteeredheretome.'

'Quiteright,'Isaid.'Gettheirnamesandwe'llmakeasortofmemorialscrollandframeitandhangithereonyourwallforabit.'

Thelandlordbecameenthusiastic.'We'lldooldJoggerproud,'hesaid.'He'dbetickledpink.'

'Um,'Isaidthoughtfully,'Isupposehedidn'tleaveanyfamouslastwords?'

'Sameagain!'thelandlordsaid,smilingbroadly.'Sameagain'werehisfavouritewords.'He'dbeenramblingonaboutaliensunderyourlorries,Iaskyou,butbythetimeheleft,'sameagain'wasaboutallhecouldmanage.Butalwaysthegentleman,thatJogger,neveranytroublewhenhe'dhadaskinful,neverfightingdrunklikethatDave.'

'Dave?'Iaskedinastonishment.'DoyoumeanmyDave?'

'Sure.He'lltakeaswingatanyone,givenenoughaleonboard.Heneverconnects,mindyou,hecan'tseestraightbythen.Istopservinghimthen,ofcourse,andtellhimtogohome.Sandytakes.h.i.+mhometoo,sometimes,whenhe'stoofargoneeventobalanceonthatbike.Agoodlad,Sandy.Prettygoodforacopper.'

'Yes,'Isaid,andgavehimacashadvanceforthememorialpints,promisingtherestafterthelisthadbeendrawnupandeveryoneserved.

Howabout.i.tifwegettheirownsignatures,then?Makeitmorepersonal.Starttonight,shallI?'

Greatidea,'Isaid,'butputtheirfullnamesbesidethesignatures,soeveryonewillknowwhowashere.'

'Willdo.'

Iboughtahome-madeCornishpastyfromhimforatake-awaylunchandlefthimashebegantoseekoutasheetofpaperworthyoftherollofhonour.

DuringtheafternoonIwentthroughthelatestprint-outoftheaccountswithRoseandthenwithIsobel'sinputdrewupmyownsortofpencil-and-paperchartfortheweek.WhileIsobelwa.s.stillinmyofficeIinadvertentlykickedthecarrierleftbyMarigoldEnglish'slads,and,pickingitup,IaskedIsobeltothrowitaway.

Shetookitoutoftheofficebutinafewminutescameback,undecided.

'There'squiteagoodthermosflaskinthatcarrier.Ithought.i.twastoogoodtothrowawaysoItookitintothecanteenincaseoneofthedriverswouldlikeit.And...well...wouldyoucomeandlook?'

Sheseemedpuzzledenoughformetofollowheralongtothecanteentoseewhatwasonhermind.She'dtakenoutthepacketofsandwichesandlaidthemonthedraining-boardofthesinkthere,andshe'dunscrewedtheflaskandremovedthetopfromthevacuumbottleinside.She'spouredmostofthecontentsawayintothesink,andfoundmoreintheflaskthanliquid.

Ilookedwhereshepointed,thoughtherewasnomissingwhatwasworryingher.Lyinginthesinkwerefourgla.s.scontainers,eachasmalltubethreeandahalfincheslong,morethanacentimetreindiameter,amberincolourwithablackstopperfastenedonwithwhatlookedlikewaterproofadhesivetape.

'TheyfelloutwhenIpoured,'Isobelsaid.'Whatarethey?'

'I'venoidea.'

Thetubeswerecoveredwiththeopaquemilkyliquidthathadbeenintheflask.Ipickeduptheflaskandlookedintoitand,findingsomeoftheliquidstillinside,poureditintoacanteenmug.

Twomoretubesfellintothemug.

Theliquidwascoldandsmelledfaintlyofmilkycoffee.

'Don'tdrinkit!'IsobelexclaimedinalarmasIraisedthemugtomynose.

'Justsmellingit,'Isaid.

'It'scoffee,isn't.i.t?'

'I'dthinkso.'

Itookapaperplatefromthestackalwaysreadytohandandputthefourtubesfromthesinkontoit.ThenontoacanteentrayIputtheplate,themug,thethermos,itsscrew-ontopandthepacketofsandwiches,andwiththecarrieritselfundermyarmtookthewholelotalongtomydeskinmyoffice,Isobelfollowing.

'Whatevercantheybe?'sheaskedforaboutthefourthtime,andallIcouldsaywasthatIwouldfindout.

Withapapertowel,Iclearedthemilkyresidueoffoneofthetubes.Therewereafewnumbersetchedintothegla.s.swhichatfirstraisedexpectations,butalltheyannouncedwasthecontainer'scapacity,10cc.

Iheldthetubeuptothelightandtippeditupanddown.Itscontentswereliquidandtransparentbutmovedmoresluggishlythanwater.

'Aren'tyougoingtoopenit?'Isobelasked,agog.

Ishookmyhead.'Notjustnow.'Iputthetubebackontheplateandpushedthetrayawayasifitweren'timportant.'Let'sgetbacktoworkandI'lldecideaboutthisstufflater.'

ThetraytoonesideandwithIsobelgraduallylosinginterestinit,wefinishedmypreliminarypencil-and-paperchartandIsobelwentbacktoherofficetobringituptodateinthecomputer.

Shewasbackinmydoorwaywithinfiveminutes,lookingveryfrustrated,dressedforgoinghomeattheendofhers.h.i.+ft.

'What'sthematter?'Iasked.

'Thecomputeristotallyontheblink.Ican'tdoathingwithit,norcanRose.Canyougetthatmantofixit?'

'OK,'Isaid,stretchingahandtothephonebook.'Thanksforeverythingandseeyouinthemorning.'