Driving Force Part 20

'IthinkSandySmith'sright.Smas.h.i.+ngupmythingswasout-of-controlvandalism,doneonthepleasureprinciple.IthinkIwalkedintothefarmyardwhenIwasn'texpected,andtherestwasembroidery.Infantileglee.Slychildis.h.i.+mpulsetohurt.'

'Somechild,bythesoundofthings.'

'Animmatureadult,then.'

'Orapsychotic.'

'Abetterwordforit.'

Shefinishedhercoffee.'Isupposewe'dbettergetonifwe'retocatchthatferry.Realistically,isanythinG.o.ddlikelytohappenonthistrip?'

'Idon'tknow.DidItellyouexactlywherethecontaineris,underyourlorry?'

'Notexactly,no.'

'It'sametaltubefixedforeandaftinas.p.a.cethatrunsbeneaththefloorboardsandabovethefueltanks.Thats.p.a.ceisoutsidethemainlongitudinalstrutsofthecha.s.sis,buthiddenbythecoachworksides.Youcan'tseethes.p.a.cefromtheoutsideorfromunderneath,butifyouknowthetube'sthere,it'seasilyaccessible.Youcanscrewtheendofitonandoffwithouttrouble,Joggersaid.'

'Imightgounderandtakealook.'

Ratherherthanme.'Nigelwasgoingtomakeanewsliderforrollingunderneath,'Isaid.

'Yes,hemadeit.Hewa.s.showingittoHarve.'

'Ifyouwanttolook,usetheslider.TellHarveandNigelItoldyouthere'sadieselinspectionsortofgla.s.sbowlscrewedonunderneath,onthefuellinebetweenthetanksandengine.Youcancheckbythatthatthediesel'sclean.Ifitis,thebowlwilllookclear.Anydirtinthedieseldropsintothebowlandonecanunscrewitandcleanitout.Wehadafilthylotoffueldeliveredonce.Theinspectionglobewasblackwithmuck.Anyway,tellHarveyouwanttoseeit.'

'Ihadaninspectionarrangementinmyownbox.'

'Sorry,Iforgot.'

Shesmiled.I'lltakealook.'

Shewentoutanddidso.HarveandNigelthoughtherfussy,shesaid,comingbackandbrus.h.i.+ngoffdust.'Andyoucouldsmuggleanythinginthattube,'sheadded.'I'llkeepaneyeonit.'Shelookedatthetelephone.'AquickwordwithPatrick,doyoumind?'

'Goahead.'

ShephonedhimathomebecauseoftheearlyhourandtoldhimHarve'sversionofthenight'sevents,checkingeachstatementwithmewithhereyebrows.Inoddedafewtimes.Thegistwasright;theomissionshadbeenmyown.

'Patrick,'shesaidtome,'wantstoknowwhat.i.twasyouwalkedinon.'

'WhenIfindout,I'lltellhim.'

'Hesaystobecareful.'

'Mm.'

Harverappedonthewindow,pointingathiswatch.

'Gottogo,'Ninasaid.'ByePatrick.ByeFreddie.I'monmyway.'

Iwa.s.sorrytoseeherdepart.ExceptforSandyandLizzie,shewastheonlypersonaroundthatIfoundItrusted.Suspicionwasanasty,unaccustomedcompanion.

Nigeldroveoutofthefarmyard.FromthecabNinawavedbacktomeasIwatchedfromthewindow.

ReckoningthatallgoodhorsepeoplebythattimewouldbeupandaboutIphonedJerichoRich'sdaughterandtoldherthathertransportwasrollingandsheshouldhavehernewhorsewithherbythenextevening,soonaftereighto'clock,ifthatwouldsuither.

'Sosoon?Whatservice!'sheexclaimed.'Didyousendthatgroom-Dave,isit?-thatmyfathersuggested?'

'NotDave,butsomeoneasgood.'

'Oh,well,great.Thankyou.'

'Apleasure,'Isaid,meaningit.Andthat'swhat.i.twas:apleasuretogetaneatjobdoneandmorethansatisfycustomers.

Anothermore-than-satisfiedcustomeratthatmomentdroveintothefarmyardinajeepfromwhicheverycomforthadbeenstrippedbytimeandhardusage.MarigoldEnglish,againinbasicclothesandwoollyhat,jumpedoutofhervehiclealmostbeforeithadstoppedrollingandlookedaboutherforsignsoflife.

Iwentouttomeether.

'MorningMarigold.Howareyousettlingin?'

'h.e.l.loFreddie.FeelasifI'velivedhereforcenturies.'Hersmilecameandwent.Hervoice,asalways,wasgearedtothedeaf.'I'monmywayuptotheDownsbut.i.thoughtI'djustcallinforabriefword.Iphonedyourhousebutsomefemalesaidyouwerehere.'

'Mysister,'Isaid.

'Oh,yes?Well,look,whatdoyouknowaboutthisJohnTigwoodandsomesortofancienthorseretirementscheme?Thefellowwantstoropemein.WhatdoIdo?Tellmefrankly.Noonecanoverhearyou.Give!'

Igaveittoherasfranklya.s.seemedprudent.'He'sadedicatedsortofmanwhopersuadesalotofpeopleroundheretogiveoldhorsesgoodhomes.MichaelWatermead'stakingtwoofthenewbatchwebroughttoPixhillyesterday.SoisBenjyUsher,unlessDotputsherconsiderablefootdown.There'snoharminit,ifyou'vegotroomandgra.s.s.'

'Wouldyousayyestohim,then?'

'It'saregularcharityinPixhill.'Ithoughtforamomentandsaid,'Actually,oneofthisnewlotisahorseIusedtoridelongago.Agreatperformer.Agreatbuddy.CouldyouaskJohnTigwoodtoletyouhavethatparticularhorse?Hisname'sPeterman.Ifyou'dfeedhimoatsregularlytokeephimhealthyandwarm,I'llpayforthem.'

'Sothere'sasoftheartinsidethere!'sheteasedme.

'Well...hewonracesforme.'

'OK,I'llphonethisTigwoodandofferthedeal.Peterman,didyousay?'

Inodded.'Don'tmentiontheoats.'

Shegavemeaslantedglanceoffriendlyamus.e.m.e.nt.'Oneofthesedaysyourgooddeedswillfindyouout.'

Shespedbacktothejeep,revveduptheengineandtoreanothermillimetreoffthetyretreads.Outofwheretheremightoncehavebeenawindowsheyelleda.s.sherolledforward,'MysecretarywillcontactyoursaboutDoncaster.'

Ishoutedthankswhichsheprobablydidn'thearabovethewhineofancientgears.IthoughtshewouldbegoodforPixhillandhopedshewouldprosper.

Variousdriverscametoworkandwentintothecanteen.Harve'saccountofmynocturnalexperienceshadthemallcomingoutdoorsagain,gaping,carryingcoffeemugsandinspectingmeasifIweresomehowunreal.

OneofthedriverswastheWatermeadfamily'sfavourite,Lewis,thewhizzwiththerabbits,supposedlynursinghiswoesinbed.

'Whathappenedtotheflu?'Iaskedhim.

Hesniffedandwithahoa.r.s.ethroatsaid,'Reckonit'sjustacoldafterall.Notemperature,see?'Hecoughedandsneezed,sprayinginfectionsregardless.

'It'sbetteryoudon'tscatteryourgermsanyway,'Isaid.'We'vetoomanysickdriversasitis.Takeanotherdayoff.'

'Straightup?'

'ComebackonFriday,workSat.u.r.daytoo.'

'OK,'hewheezednonchalantly.'I'llsitandwatchCheltenham.Thanks.'

Phil,obliging,phlegmatic,un.o.bservant,incuriousandunimaginativelyreliable,saidtome,'Isittrueyourhousegottrashed?'

''Fraidso.'

'AndthatJag?'

'Yeah.'

I'dkilltheb.u.g.g.e.r,'hesaid.

'Justgivemethechance.'

Theothersnodded,understandingthefeeling.Noone,intheircollectiveethos,noonemessedwiththeirbelongingswithoutreprisals./P 'Isuppose,'Isaid,'thatnoneofyoucamepastthefarmyardafterelevenlastnight?'

Noonehad,itseemed.

Lewissaid,'Didn'tyouseewhohadagoatyou?'

'Didn'tevenhearanyone.Askaround,w.i.l.l.you?'

Theysaidtheywould,dubiousandwilling.

Manyofthedriverslookedsuperficiallyalike,Ithought,surveyingthegroup.Allunderforty,noneofthemfat.Mostlydarkhaired,allwithgoodeyesight,noneveryshortoroversixfeet:thephysiquethatwentbestwiththejob.Incharacter...differentmatter.

Lewishadjoinedtheforcetwoyearsagowithringlets.Whentheotherdriverscalledhim'girlie',he'dgrownaslabofmoustacheandthrownhisfistsabouttosilencesarcastictongues.He'dthenproducedablondebimboinscarletstilettosandagainthrownhisfistsabouttosilencewolfwhistles.Duringthelastpastsummerhe'dcutthehairandshavedoffthemoustacheandthebimbohadbroughtforthasonoverwhichbothparentsdrooled.Lewiscouldn'twait,heoftensaid,toplayfootballwithhisinfant.Thecompleteinstantfather,transformed.

'Don'tsneezeonthebaby,'Itoldhim,and,alarmed,hesaid'Noway.'

Davecreakedinthroughthegatesonhisrustybicycle,cheekyandcheeryandasirresponsibleasever.Hisgrinandhisfrecklesgaveanimpressionofeternalyouth,thePeterPansyndrome.Dave'swifemotheredhimalongwiththeirtwodaughters,puttinguplarge-heartedlywithhispub-hauntinghabitsandhisbettingongreyhounds.

Azizarrivedalso,darkeyesandwhiteteetha-flas.h.i.+ng.Harvedetailedtheday'sjobs,checkingwithalist,makingsureeachdriverknewexactlywheretogo,whichhorsestocollectandwhentheyhadtoarrive.

IleftthemalltellingDaveandAzizofmynight'sadventures,hearingmistakescreepingintotheretellingbutnotbotheringtointerruptandputthemright.

'PortsmouthDocks,'Philwaserroneouslysaying,withDaveunderstandinglynodding.AlthoughweneverusedSouthamptonforhorseswedidoccasionallys.h.i.+pthembyferryfromPortsmouthtoLeHavre.ThedriversallknewPortsmouthDocks,eventhoughIpreferredtosendhorsesbytheDover-Calaisroute,becausethesea-crossingwa.s.shorter.Manyhorsessufferedfromsea-sicknessonlongcrossings,madealltheworsethroughbeingunabletovomit.Ahorsehaddiedonceofsea-sicknessinoneofmyboxes,whichmademeespeciallyawareofthedanger.

'PortsmouthDocks.'Thedriverswereallnodding.Portsmouth,justalongthecoastfromSouthampton,soundedmorefamiliar.'Bull-dozedhisJaguar...''Brokeallthegla.s.sinthehouse...'

Downtheboozer,asJoggerwouldhavesaid,they'dhavemedroppedoverthesideofthePortsmouth-LeHavreferrybynightfall,withmycarthroughthewindowinthesitting-room.

IsobelandRosearrivedandcomplainedagainaboutthedefunctstateofthecomputer.Ithoughtoftheevenmoredefunctstateoftheterminalinmysitting-roomandwithaneffortrememberedthatthiswasthedayappointedforthemantofixit.IsobelandRosetooktheshroudsoffthesupersededmechanicaltypewritersandlookedpatheticallymartyred.

Iphonedthecentralagencythatkeptmycreditcardnumbersandaskedthemtogetbusyputtingastoponmyaccounts,andIgotthroughtotheinsurancecompanywhosaidtheywouldsendaform.Wouldtheybesendingaman,Iasked,orofcourseawoman,whowouldverifythewrite-offoftheJaguarandsomuchelseofmyproperty?Theysaidacopyofapolicereportwouldprobablybeenough.

AfterthatIsatandlistenedtomyheadachingwhileHarvefinishedgettingtheday'sworkorganised.Azizcameintotheofficewithhis...o...b..erationofvitalityandaskediftherewereanypersonalerrandshecouldrunforme.Iconsidereditthoughtfulofhim,particularlyas.h.i.+smannerwascasualand,asfarasIcouldsee,notself-serving.

'Harvesaysthereisn'tadrivingjobformetoday,'hesaid.'Hesaidtoaskifyouwantedmetodomaintenance,asyou'velostyourmechanic.Hesaidtwooftheboxesneedoilchanges.'

'Itwouldbehelpful.'Ipickedthetoolstorekeysoutofthedeskandhandedthemtohim.'You'llfindallyouneedinthere.GetachecklistfromIsobelandreturnittoherwhenyou'vefilleditinandsignedit.'

'Right.'

'AndAziz...'Myachingheadcameupwithatherapeuticidea.'WouldyouminddrivingmyFourtraktoHeathrow,totakemysistertocatchtheshuttletoEdinburgh?'

'Begladto,'hesaidwillingly.

'Eleveno'clockatmyhouse.'

'Onthedot,'heagreed.

WithAzizdrivingLewis'sboxalongtothebarnforitsoilchangeandwiththeothersthinningoutastheyleftontheday'smissions,IdrovehometosaygoodbyetoLizzieandbegherforgivenessforsendingherwithAziz.

You'remoreconcussedthanyouwanttosay,'sheaccusedme.'Youshouldbeinbed,resting.'

'Oh,sure.'

Sheshookherheadinolder-sisterlydisapprovalandrubbedherhanddownmybackinthegestureshe'dalwaysusedtoshowaffectionfortwolittlebrotherswho'dthoughtkissingwa.s.sissy.

'Lookafteryourself,'shesaid.

'Mm.Youtoo.'

Thephonerang:Isobel'sagitatedvoice.'Thecomputerman'shere,'shesaid.'Hesayssomeone'skilledoffourmachinewithavirus.'

CHAPTER8.

Thecomputerman,perhapstwenty,withlonglightbrownhairthroughwhichheranhisfingersinartisticaffectationeveryfewseconds,hadgivenuptryingtoresuscitateourhardwarebythetimeIgotbacktotheoffice.

'Whatvirus?'Iasked,comingtoahaltbyIsobel'sdeskandfeelingoverlybeleaguered.Wehadflu,wehadaliens,wehadbodies,wehadvandals,wehadconcussion.Avirusinthecomputercouldtakethecameltoitsknees.

'Allourrecords,'Isobelmourned.