Blood Sport Part 27

TheejectionslothadbeenonthesideofthegunawayfromWalt,b.u.t.thecasessometimesshotoutstraightupwardsinsteadofsideways,andIbegantowonderiftheeighthcouldpossiblyhavetravelledfarenoughovertobeunderneathhim.Ididn'twanttodisturbhim:butIhadtofindthelittlebra.s.sthimbleThen,whenI'ddecidedIhadnochoice,Isawit.Bentanddusty,partlyflattened,nolongers.h.i.+ning.IpickeditupfromthespotwhereIhadbeenhalf-lyinginthepathofMatt'scar.Hehadrunoverit.

AfterthatIattendedtothegrounditself.Tyremarksdidn'tshowontheroughdustysurface,b.u.t.thehoofprintsdidtosomeextent.Ifetchedabroomoftwigsfromthebarnandsweptthemout.

Thegaragewasnext.Ipunchedthroughintothecartheremainingcornerofthewindscreenwithitssignificantbullethole,andIpickedupeveryoneofthecigarettestubswhichtoldwhereandhowlongMatthadwaited.Theywentintoatrashcanstandingafewyardsalongfromthehousedoor.

Matthadn'tlockedthehousewhenhewentout.Iwentintolookforoneessentialpieceofinformation;theaddressoftheplace,andthenameofitsowner.Thetorchlightsweptoverthethreadbarecoversandelderlyfurniture,andinonedrawerofalargedresserIfoundwhatthefarmerusedforanoffice.ThejumbleofbillsandlettersgavemewhatIwanted.WilburBellman,FarValleyFarm,Kingman.Onthescratchpadbesidethetelephone,Matthadwrittenabonus.Inheavyblackballpointwerethesimplewords:'Insurance.9p.m.'

BeforeleavingIgavethebigdilapidatedliving-roomafinalcircuitwiththetorchandthebeamflickeredoveraphotographinacardboardfolderstandingonashelf.Somethingaboutthefaceinitstruckmeasfamiliar,andIswungthetorchbackforasecondandcloserlook.

Thepatientpa.s.sivefaceofKiddosmiledout,asuntroubledasithadbeenwhenhetoldWaltandmeaboutOffen'smares.Loopyunformedwritingstraggledoverthelowerhalfofthepicture.'ToMaandPa,fromyourlovingson.'

IfOffenhadsenthisstudgroomtoMiamitojoinhisparents,Kiddo'sloyaltytohisemployerwasacertainty.IalmostadmiredOffen'stechniqueinfurnis.h.i.+nghimselfinonethrowwithan.o.bscurehideoutforthehorsesandanon-talkingemployee.

AfterthehousethereremainedonlyWalt.Nothingtodob.u.t.tosaygood-bye.

Iwentdownonmykneesbesidehiminthedust,b.u.t.thesilentformwasalreadysubtlynotWalt.Deathshowed.Itookoffonegloveandtouchedhishand:stillwarminthewarmair,butwithoutthefirmnessoflife.

TherewasnopointinsayingtohimwhatIfelt.Ifhisspiritwa.s.stillhoveringsomewherearound,hewouldknow.

Ilefthimlyingthereinthedark,andwentbacktoSam.

Hetookoneslowlookatmyfaceandsaidinanappalledvoice,'You'renotleavinghimthere?'

Inodded,andclimbedupbesidehim.

'Butyoucan't...'

Isimplynoddedagain,andgesturedtohimtostartupanddriveaway.Hediditwithaviciousnessthatmusthaverockedthestallionsontheirfeet,andwewentbacktoKingmanwithoutspeaking.HisrevulsionatwhatIhaddonereachedmeinalmosttangiblewaves.

Ididn'tcare.IfeltonlyonegrimengulfingacheforthemanI'dleftbehind.

CHAPTEREIGHTEEN.

Lynnieputherbrownhandtentativelyonmineandsaid.'Gene...what'sthematter?'

'Nothing,'Isaid.'YoulookworsethanyoudidwhenyoucamebackwithChrysalis.Muchworse.'

Thefooddoesn'tagreewithme.'

Shesnortedandtookherhandaway.Weweresittingontheseaterrace,waitingforEunicetocomedownfordinner,withthesungallopingthelastlaptoduskandthedaiquiristinklingwithcivilisedice.

'IsWaltbackyet?'Lynniesaid.'No.'

'He'safunnyman,isn'the?'shesaid.'Allmoodsandglumlooks,andthensuddenlyhesmiles,andyourealisehowniceheis.Ilikehim.'AfterapauseIsaid,'SodoI.'

'Howwa.s.sanFrancisco?'sheasked.'Foggy.'

'What'sthematter?'

'Nothing.'

Shesighedandshookherhead.

Eunicearrivedinacloudofyellowchiffonandclankedhergoldbraceleta.s.shestretchedforherdrink.Shewascheerfulandglowing;almosttoomuchtobear.

'Well,yousonofab.i.t.c.h,whendidyoucrawlin?'

'Thisafternoon,'Isaid.

'Sowhat'snew?'

'I'vegivenuptryingtofindthehorses.'

Eunicesatupstraightwithajerk.'Forcryingoutloud!'

'I'llbestartinghomesoon.Tomorrowevening,Iexpect.'

'Oh,no,'Lynniesaid.

'Oh,yes,I'mafraidso.Theholidaysareover.'

'Theydon'tlookasifthey'vedoneyoumuchgood,'Euniceobserved.'Sonowhowdoyoudealwithit?'

'Withwhat?'

'Withflopping.Withnotmakingout.'

Isaidwryly,'Lookitsmackintheeyeanddareittobiteyou.'

'Itprobablywill,'saidEunicesardonically,'It'llchewmetob.l.o.o.d.ybits.'Shedrankthesecondquarterofherdrinkandlookedmethoughtfullyover.'Cometothinkofit,itseemstohavedonethattoyoualready.'

'MaybeI'lltakeupgolf.'

Shelaughed,moreinternallyrelaxedthanI'deverseenher.'Games,'shesaid,'areabore.'

WhentheywentintoeatIcouldn'tfaceit,anddroveoffinsteadtofetchthetaperecorderfromtherocksatOrpheusFarm.Theshortjourneyseemedtiresomelylong.IthadbeennearlyfourhundredandfiftymilesbacktoSantaBarbarafromKingman,andneitherbath,shave,nortwohoursflatonthebedseemedtohavehadanyeffect.

BackinmyroomatTheVacationerIlistenedtothewholeofthetape'sfour-hourplayingtime.Thefirstconversations,twoorthreebusinesscalls,werefromthepreviousmorning,afterWalthadputinanewreel.ThentherewasalmostanhourandahalfofaninterviewbetweenOffenandamanfromtheBloodstockRegistryOffice.Theyhadalreadybeenouttoseethehorses,andOffenwaspilingproofonproofthatthehorsesinhisbarnwereveritablyMoviemakerandCentigrade.AgroomwhohadcaredforCentigradeduringhisracingdayswasaskedintosignastatementhe'dmadethatherecognisedthehorseandwouldifnecessarysweartoitsident.i.tyinanyenquiry.

ThebloodstockmanapologisedconstantlythatanyoneshouldhavedoubtedOffen.Offenenjoyedthescene,thejokerumblinglikeanundertone.Afterthey'dgonehelaughedaloud.Ihopedhe'denjoyedit.Hewouldn'tbelaughingmuchforalongtimetocome.

NextonthetapewasapieceofOffengivinghishousemaninstructionsforreplenis.h.i.+ngthedrinkstocks,thenanhour'stelevisionprogramme.Andafterthat,Matttelephoned.

Icouldn'thearhisvoiceatall,onlyOffen'sreplies:b.u.t.theywereenough.

'h.e.l.lo,Matt.'...

'Slowdown,I'mnottakingthisin.Wheredidyousayyouwere?'

'WhatareyoudoingontheroadtoLasVegas?'

'Well,Icanseethehousemustbeinsured.'

'Youfoundwhatunderthegloveshelf?'

'Howdoyouknowit'sahomer.'

'Alltheseminutetransmittersareamysterytome.'

'Whocouldhaveput.i.tthere?'

'Idon'tfollowyou.Whatwasthataboutyellowpaint?'

'b.u.t.thepolicesaiditwasvandals.

'Allright,Matt,don'tshout.I'mdoingmybest.Nowlet'sgetthisclear.Youwerefumblingforapackofcigarettesandyoudislodgedthis...thing.Bug,whateveryousaid.Andyou'reworriednowthatHawkinsandPrenselaput.i.tinyourcar,andthattheyusedthatandtheyellowpainttofollowyou,sothattheyknowwhereyou'vebeenstaying,ormaybe.Isthatright?'

'Matt,Ithinkyou'reblowingthisthinguptoobig.'

'Butdidyouactuallyseeaplanefollowingyou?'

'Well,yes,sure,ifyouthinkyoushouldgoback,goback.Thehorsesarefarmoreimportantthantheinsuranceonthehouse.But.i.thinkyou'rewrong.HawkinsandPrenselahavebeenconcentratingonMoviemakerandCentigradehere,they'vestirreduptheDA.'sofficefromL.A.andthebloodstockregistry,andit'sbeenathreeringedcircushereforthelastcoupleofdays.Theywouldn'thavebeentryingtofindanyhorsesanywhereelse,becausethey'resurethey'rehereinthebarn.'

'Well,Idon'tknowwhocouldhaveplantedthebug.'

'Yeah.Allright.Goonback,then.'

'Callmeinthemorning.'

'Goodnight,Matt.'

Thereceiverwentdown,andforafewsecondsthereweretheindistinctnoisesofOffengoingovertheconversationagaininhismind,punctuatingitwith'umphs'andsmalldoubtfulgrunts.

IswitchedthetapeofftemporarilyandthoughtbitterlyaboutMattfindingthebug.Ihadn'thadachancetoremoveit:onmyfirstnightvisittothefarmthecarinthegaragehadbeentheonehe'dhiredwhilehisownwasbeingcleanedofpaint.ButneitherhadIlookeduponitasaverygreathazard,becausethelittlecapsuleswerelightandclungtightly.IthadbeenlonG.o.ddsagainsthimgropingforcigaretteswhiledrivinginthedark,anddislodgingit.Ihadn'ttakenitintoaccount.

Sometimeonhiswaybacktothefarmitmusthavestruckhimthattheinsuranceappointmentmightbephoney;thatifwehadtrickedhimintogoingtoLasVegasoncealready,wemightbetrickinghimagain.Ifwe'dgothimoutoftheway,itcouldonlybetotakethehorses.Sohe'dwait;inthedark,readytospring.

Hemusthavebeguntothink,whenhe'dsatoutthethreehoursittooktomendthegasket,thatUncleBarkwasrightandhewaswrong:butallthesamehe'dgoneonwaiting.And,intheend,wehadcome.

Iswitchedthetapeonagainfortherest.Thewholenighthadbeentelescopedintothefewsecondssilence,becausewhenOffenmadehisnextcallitwasclearlymorning.

'Yola,isthatyou?'

Afaintclackingreachedthebug.Yola's.h.i.+gherpitchedvoicedisturbedmoreair.

'HaveyouheardfromMatt?'

'No,hesaidhe'dcallmethismorning,andhehasn't.Ican'tgetanyanswerfromthefarm.'

'I'dforgottenthehensandthecalves.'

'Well,notreally.HecalledmelastnightbecausehehadsomecrazyideaHawkinshadtracedthehorses...'

AloudsquawkfromYola.

'Somethingaboutalisteningbugandyellowpaint.'

YolatalkedforsometimeandwhenOffenansweredhesoundedanxious.

'Yeah,Iknowhefoundthefirstonewhenwethoughtthatwasimpossible...doyoureallythinkMattmayberight?'

'Yola,that'srightout.Whydon'tyougoyourself?'

'Closetheranchthen.Sendthemallhome.'

'Look,ifyou'reright,ifMatt'sright...saywhenhewentbacklastnighttheD.A.'smenweresittingtherewaitingforhim?Saythey'resittingthererightnow,waitingformetoturnupandseewhyMattdoesn'tanswerhiscalls?No,Yola,I'mnotwalkingintothatfarmandfindIhavetoanswerquestionslikewhatIamdoingthere,andwhatarethosetwohorsesinthebarn,withMoviemakerandCentigrade'sregistrationstattooedinsidetheirlips?I'mnotgoing.'

'Mattmaybeoffonsomeplanofhisown.'

'No.I'llgivehimtoday.IfIhaven'theardfromhimbymorningI'll...well,I'llthinkofsomething.'

Yola'sfinalremarkwasloud,andIhearditclearly.Fullofanxiety,fullofanguish.

'Ifanything'shappenedtoMatt...'

Theendofthetaperanoffthereel,andIswitchedofftherecorder.ForYola,asforWalt'swife,lifewouldneverbethesameagain.

Iwenttobedandlayawake,feelingfeverishfromlackofsleep.Relaxedeverylimb,butmymindwouldhavenoneofit.Itwasfilledtoofull,asithadbeenallday,ofapictureofWaltstilllyingonhisbackinthefarmyard.Thesunhadrisenandblazedonhim,andsetagain.Hewouldhavenoshelteruntiltomorrow.Icouldn'tsleepuntilhehad.Itriedto,butIcouldn't.

OnmywaybacktoSantaBarbaraI'dstoppedforcoffeeandahandfulofchange,andI'dtelephonedtoPaulM.Zeissenintheb.u.t.tressLifeofficeonThirtyThirdStreet.Ithadbeennearlysixp.m.NewYorktime.Zeissenwaspreparingtogohomefortheweek-end.Iwasalittleworried,Itoldhim,aboutWalt.HehadgonetodosomelifeinsurancebusinessonafarminArizona,andIhadn'theardfromhimsince.ZeissenandItalkeditoverforafewminutesinunurgentcivilizedtones,andarrangedfinallythatifIhadn'theardfromWaltbymorning.b.u.t.tressLifewouldringtheArizonaStatePoliceinKingman,andaskthemasafavourtogoouttothefarm,justtocheck.

InthemorningIwouldringZeissenathishome.Bynoon,perhaps,theKingmanpolicewouldreachthefarm.Theywouldreadthestory:insurancesalesmanarrivesforappointment,getsoutofcar.MattClive,hurryingbacktomeethim,swingsintotheyard,seesadarkfiguretoolate,hits.h.i.+m,runsstraightonintowallbecausejudgmentsuspendedbyhorroratcollision.Matt,withwhiskyinsidehim,andabottleinthecar.Insidethehouse,the9p.m.insuranceappointmentwritteninMatt'shand.Andnothingelse.Nohorses.Nosuggestionofvisitors.Nosignthat.i.tcouldhavebeenanythingbutatragicallyunluckyaccident.

Matthadbeengoodataccidents.

SowasI.

IlayonmystomachonthebeachallmorningwhileLynniesatbesidemeandtrickledsandthroughherfingers.EunicehadgonetoSantaMonica,downthecoast.

'Areyoureallygoinghomethisevening?'Lynniesaid.

'Firsthop,yes.'