he explained, "Charles very rarely goes to the races. Hedoesn't much care for it, do you see? But as the course isso very close…"Carthy-Todd's aversion to race meetings was to my mindcompletely understandable. He wished to remain unse<strong>en</strong>,anonymous, unrecognizable, just as he'd be<strong>en</strong> all along.Charles would choose which meetings he w<strong>en</strong>t to verycarefully indeed. He would never, I imagined, turn upwithout checking with the Duke whether he was going tobe there too.We walked back 'to the racecourse, the Duke and Carthy-Todd in front, young Matthew and me behind. Young Matthewslowed down a little and said to me in a quiet voice,"I say, Matt, have you noticed something strange aboutMr. Carthy-Todd?"I glanced at his face. He was half anxious, half puzzled,wanting reassurance."What do you think is strange?""I've never se<strong>en</strong> anyone before with eyes like that."Obrátil se ke mně. "Charles zřídka chodí na dostihy,nebaví ho to. Ale když to má tady tak blízko…"Bylo mi zcela jasné, proč pan Carthy Todd o dostihynestojí. Přál si zůstat neznámý, neviditelný, anonymníjako až dosud. Jistě si velmi pečlivě vybíral, na kterédostihy jít může a na které ne, a jistě si ještě pečlivějiověřoval, bude-li tam vévoda.Šli jsme zpátky k závodišti, vévoda a Carthy Toddvpředu, malý Matthew a já za nimi. Matt zvolnil krok a tišese mě zeptal: "Prosím vás, Matte, nezdálo se vám napanu Carthy Toddovi něco divného?"Podíval jsem se na chlapce. Tvářil se rozpačitě austaraně, chtěl, abych ho uklidnil."Tobě se zdálo něco divného?""Já jsem ještě nikdy neviděl člověka s tak divnýmaočima."Děti jsou vynikající pozorovatelé. Matt si ihned povšimltoho, co já viděl j<strong>en</strong>om proto, že jsem to očekával.Childr<strong>en</strong> were incredibly observant. Matthew had se<strong>en</strong>naturally what I had known to look for."I shouldn't m<strong>en</strong>tion it to him. He might not care for it." "Já bych se o tom před panem Carthy Toddemnezmiňoval. Myslím, že by nebyl rád.""I suppose not." He paused. "I don't frightfully like him." "Asi ne," odmlčel se. "Mně se moc nelíbí.""Can see that.""Do you?""No,"! said.He nodded in satisfaction."I didn't think you would. I don't know why Uncle's soke<strong>en</strong> on him. Uncle," he added dispassionately, "doesn'tunderstand about people. He thinks everyone is as nice ashe is. Which they're not.""How soon can you become his business manager?"He laughed."I know all about trustees. I've got them. Can't have thisand can't do that, that's all they ever say, Mother says.""Does your Uncle have trustees?""No, he hasn't. Mother's always beefing on about Uncl<strong>en</strong>ot being fit to control all that lucre and one day he'll investthe lot in a South Sea Bubble. I asked Uncle about itand he just laughed. He told me he has a stockbroker whosees to everything and Uncle just goes on getting richerand wh<strong>en</strong> he wants some money for something he justtells the stockbroker and he sells some shares and s<strong>en</strong>dsit along. Simple. Mother fusses over nothing. Uncle won'tget into much trouble about money because he knowsthat he doesn't know about it, if you see what I mean?""I wouldn't like him to give too much to Mr. Carthy-Todd," I said.He gave me a flashing look of understanding."So that's what I felt… Do you think it would do any goodif I sort of tried to Put Uncle off him a bit?""Couldn't do much harm.""I'll have a go," he said. "But he's fantastically ke<strong>en</strong> onhim." He thought deeply and came up with a grin. "I mustsay," he said, "that he has awfully good chocolate orangepeel."Annie Villars was upset about K<strong>en</strong>ny Bayst."I w<strong>en</strong>t to see him for a few mom<strong>en</strong>ts this morning. He'sbrok<strong>en</strong> both legs and his face was cut by flying glass. Hewon't be riding again before next season, he says. Luckilyhe's insured with the <strong>Race</strong>goers Fund. S<strong>en</strong>t them a t<strong>en</strong>ner,he told me, so he's hoping to collect two thousandpounds at least. Marvellous thing, that Fund.""Did you join?""I certainly did. After that bomb. Didn't know it wasRupert, th<strong>en</strong>, of course. Still, better to do things at oncerather than put them off, don't you agree?""To vidím.""Vám se líbí?""Ne."Spokoj<strong>en</strong>ě přikývl."Já jsem si hned myslel, že se vám nebude líbit. Nevím,proč na něho strýc tak drží. Strýček se vůbec v lidechnevyzná," vykládal klidně, "on si myslí, že jsou všichnihodní tak jako on, j<strong>en</strong>že to oni nejsou.""Kdy budeš moct vzít jeho záležitosti do ruky ty?" zeptaljsem se.Dal se do smíchu."Já už o opatrovnících všechno vím, já je mám. To jepořád: 'To smíte, to nesmíte', k ničemu jinému nejsou,aspoň to říká maminka.""Má tvůj strýček taky opatrovníky?""Ne, nemá. Maminka sice pořád hubuje, že strýčeknemůže sám spravovat tolik p<strong>en</strong>ěz a že jednoho krásnéhodne všechno vrazí do nějakého nesmyslu… ale když jsemse na to strýčka ptal, tak se j<strong>en</strong>om smál. Že prý má mocdobrého makléře, který za něho všechno vyřizuje, a kdyžstrýc potřebuje na něco p<strong>en</strong>íze, tak t<strong>en</strong> makléř jednodušeprodá nějaké papíry a p<strong>en</strong>íze pošle. Je to prý úplnějednoduché. Maminka si dělá zbytečné starosti. Strýcžádnou hloupost s p<strong>en</strong>ězi nevyvede, protože ví, že se vnich nevyzná. Víte, jak to myslím?""No, já bych byl klidnější, kdyby nedával moc p<strong>en</strong>ěz panuCarthy Toddovi," podotkl jsem.S pochop<strong>en</strong>ím se na mě podíval."Právě, to mi vrtalo v hlavě… Myslíte, že by pomohlo,kdybych se pokusil ho od toho pána trochu odradit?""Určitě by to neuškodilo.""Tak já to zkusím," prohlásil. "J<strong>en</strong>že když na něho strýctak drží!" Hluboce se zamyslel a pak se ušklíbl. "Má alestrašně dobrou pomerančovou kůru v čokoládě."Annii Villarsové dělal starosti K<strong>en</strong>ny Bayst. Byla celánešťastná."Byla jsem se na něho dnes ráno podívat, má obě nohyzlom<strong>en</strong>é a obličej pořezaný od skla. Říká, že tuhle sezónuuž jezdit nebude. Naštěstí uzavřel tu novou pojistku,dvojnásobek. Říká, že zaplatil deset liber a že doufá, žedostane aspoň dva tisíce. To pojištění je výborná věc.""Taky jste se na to dala?""Jistě, hned po té explozi. Nevěděla jsem tehdy, že v tommá prsty Rupert. Takové věci je lepší udělat hned, to s<strong>en</strong>emá odkládat, nemyslíte?"102
"Were Kitch and the stable lads insured too, do youknow?"She nodded."They were all Kitch's own lads. He'd advised them all tojoin. Ev<strong>en</strong> offered to deduct the premium from theirwages bit by bit. Everyone in Newmarket is talking aboutit, saying how lucky it was. All the stable lads in the townwho hadn't already joined are s<strong>en</strong>ding their rivers along inthe next few days."I hesitated."Did you read about Rupert Tyderman in the SportingLife?"A twinge of regret twisted her face her mouth for the firsttime since I had known her took on a soft curve that wasnot consciously constructed."Poor Rupert… What an <strong>en</strong>d, to be murdered.""There isn't any doubt, th<strong>en</strong>?"She shook her head."Wh<strong>en</strong> I saw the report, I rang the local newspaper downat Kemble… that's where they found him. He was lying,they said, at the bottom of an embankm<strong>en</strong>t near a roadbridge over the railway. The local theory is that he couldhave be<strong>en</strong> brought there by car during the night, and notfall<strong>en</strong> from a train at all…" She shook her head in bewilderm<strong>en</strong>t."He had one' stab wound below his left shoulder-blade,and he had be<strong>en</strong> dead for hours wh<strong>en</strong> he wasfound."It took a good deal of lying-in-wait to catch the Dukewithout Carthy-Todd at his elbow, but I got him in the<strong>en</strong>d."I've left my wallet in the Accid<strong>en</strong>t Fund office," I said."Must have left it on the desk wh<strong>en</strong> I paid my premium…Do you think, sir, that you could let me have a key, if youhave one, so that I can slip along and fetch it?""My dear chap, of course."He produced a small bunch from his pocket and sortedout a bright new yale."Here you are. That's the one.""Very kind, sir. I won't be long."I took a step away and th<strong>en</strong> turned back, grinning, makinga joke."What happ<strong>en</strong>s, sir, if it's you who gets killed in a carcrash? What happ<strong>en</strong>s to the Fund th<strong>en</strong>?"He smiled back reassuringly in a patting-on-the-shoulderavuncular manner."All tak<strong>en</strong> care of, my dear chap. Some of the papers Isigned, they dealt with it. The Fund money would beguaranteed from a special arrangem<strong>en</strong>t with my estate.""Did Charles see to it?""Naturally. Of course. He understands these things, youknow."Betwe<strong>en</strong> the Duke and the main gate a voice behind mecrisply shouted."Matt."I stopped and turned.It was Colin, hurrying towards me, carrying the saddlefrom the loser he'd partnered in the first race. "Can't stopmore than a second," he said. "Got to change for th<strong>en</strong>ext. You wer<strong>en</strong>'t leaving, were you? Have you seeNancy?""No. I've be<strong>en</strong> looking. I thought… perhaps…" He shookhis head. "She's here. Up there, on the balcony, withMidge." I followed where he was looking, and there theywere, distant, high up, talking with their heads together,two girls of one whole."Do you know which is Nancy?" Colin asked.I said without hesitation, "The one on the left.""Most people can't tell."He looked at my expression and said with exasperation,"If you feel like that about her, why the bloody hell don'tyou let her know? She thinks she made it all up… she's"Nevíte prosím vás, jestli byli Kitch a ti stájníci takypojištění?"Přikývla."Byli. To byli Kitchovi stájníci, všem poradil, aby pojistkuuzavřeli, dokonce jim nabídl, že by jim mohl prémiepostupně strhávat z platu. Celý Newmarket si o tompovídá, všichni říkají, jaké to bylo štěstí v neštěstí: Všichnichlapci ve městě si už taky chystají pět liber na prémie,dají se všichni pojistit, co nejdřív."Chvilku jsem váhal."Četla jste o Rupertu Tydermanovi ve Sportovnímživotě?"Poprvé, co jsem ji znal, jí rysy změkly a zjemnělyskutečným, neuč<strong>en</strong>ým smutkem."Chudák Rupert… taková hrozná smrt, vražda!""Je to tedy jisté?"Přikývla."Jakmile jsem si to přečetla v novinách, ihned jsemzavolala do redakce v Kemblu… tam ho našli. Ležel prýhod železničním náspem poblíž silničního mostu přes trať.Předpokládají, že ho někdo v noci přivezl autem, že vůbe<strong>cz</strong> vlaku nevypadl…" Potřásla nechápavě hlavou. "Mělbodnou ránu pod levou lopatkou, a když ho našli, tak prýuž musel být dlouho mrtvý."Dalo mi velkou práci vyčíhat vévodu bez Carthy Toda vzávěsu. Nakonec se mi to podařilo."Prosím vás, zapomněl jsem ve vaší kanceláři náprsnítašku, asi jsem ji položil na stůl, když jsem platil prémii.Nemáte prosím klič, nemohl byste mi ho na chvíli půjčit,já bych si tam teď pro to skočil," požádal jsem ho."Ale jistě, příteli, beze všeho."Sáhl do kapsy, vytáhl svazek klíčů a jed<strong>en</strong> oddělil.Mosazný, lesklý, zářil novotou."Tady ho máte, je to určitě t<strong>en</strong> správný.""Moc děkuju a za chvíli vám klič vrátím."Obrátil jsem se k odchodu, ale pak jsem se vrátil."Co by se stalo," zeptal jsem se s úsměvem, jakobyžertem, "kdybyste se při nějaké havárii zabil vy? Co by sestalo s tím pojištěním?"Shovívavě se usmál."Nebojte se, o všechno je postaráno. Podepsal jsem protakový případ nějaké listiny. Kdyby se mi něco stalo, takby byl pojišťovací fond krytý z mé pozůstalosti.""To zařizoval Charles?""Ovšem, samozřejmě, on se v těchto záležitostech vyzná,víte."Když jsem docházel k hlavní bráně, ozvalo se za mnouvolání."Matte!"Zastavil jsem se a otočil.Spěchal ke mně Colin, pod paží sedlo koně, na kterémprohrál první dostih. "Musím hned běžet," říkal, "jdu sepřevlíct na příští dostih. Doufám, že neodcházíš. Už jsividěl Nancy?""Ne, díval jsem se po ní. Myslel jsem… nevěděl jsem…"Potřásl hlavou. "Je tu. Tamhle nahoře na tribuně, je tam sMidge." Podíval jsem se, kam ukazuje. Byly tam obě, zdálky vypadaly úplně stejné, povídaly si, hlavydohromady."Poznáš, která z nich je Nancy?" zeptal se Colin."Ta vlevo," odpověděl jsem bez váhání."Většina lidí by je nerozeznala."Když viděl, jak jsem se zatvářil, ztratil se mnoutrpělivost. "Proboha, když to s tebou vypadá takhle, takproč jí to sakra ne řekneš? Má pocit, že si to všechno j<strong>en</strong>103
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Rat RaceDick Francis3
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"Your aeroplane is here, Major," I
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coming across the grass. Goldenberg
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under the Amber One airway, navigat
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job since I'd gone to learn flying
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"Put that way," I agreed, "it's a l
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a lot of tickets. Nancy looked as t
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The horses were led away and the gr
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Acey Jones."Aw, come on," he said t
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Tyderman and Goldenberg returned to
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"The pilot wants to land here and m
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Yes."And no bomb?"No.Did I know tha
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gross negligence, but they kept you
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The tall investigator and his silen
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The next day I took five jockeys an
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it a pat as it swung into its usual
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with Colin these days.""You don't a
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and that deadly insult did nothing
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CHAPTER SIX 6The pilot of the Polyp
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"that two men just had a go at beat
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and told myself to get on with it.
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oard before he decided not to come.
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"If Harley says so.""Harley will sa
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- Page 55 and 56: his career." He let half a minute s
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