"Hurry.""I'll get you some help, too," she said. She turned lightlyon her heel and half walked, half ran towards the paddock.I leant the bottom of my spine against a shiny grey Jaguarand wondered how difficult it would be to prev<strong>en</strong>tCarthy-Todd from planting his bomb. That tin… it wassmall <strong>en</strong>ough to fit into a binocular case… probably id<strong>en</strong>ticalwith the one which had destroyed the Cherokee. Iwould have sweated at the thought of so much confinedexplosive power if I hadn't be<strong>en</strong> sweating clammily already.Why didn't they come? My mouth was drier… The daywas airless… I moved restlessly against the car. After I'dtold the Duke, he'd have to go off somewhere and staysafely out of sight until the Board of Trade had dealt withCarthy-Todd…I dispassionately watched the blood drip from my fingerson to the grass. I could feel that all the back of my coatwas soaked. Couldn't afford a new one, either. Have toget it cleaned, and have the slit invisibly m<strong>en</strong>ded. Getmyself m<strong>en</strong>ded, too, as best I could. Harley wouldn't keepthe job for me. He'd have to get someone else in myplace. The Board of Trade doctors wouldn't let me flyagain for weeks and weeks. If you gave a pint of blood asa donor, they grounded you for over a month… I'd lostmore than a pint involuntarily, by the looks of things…though a pint would make a pretty good mess, if youspilled it.I lifted my lolling head up with a jerk. Got to stay awakeuntil they came. Got to explain to the Duke…Things were beginning to fuzz round the edges. I lickedmy dry lips. Didn't do much good. Didn't have any moisturein my tongue either.I finally saw them, and it seemed a long way off, comingthrough the gate from the paddock. Not just Midge andthe Duke, but two others as well. Young Matthew, jiggingalong in front. And Nancy.Chanter had receded into the unimportant past. I didn'tgive him a thought. Everything was as it had be<strong>en</strong> before,the day she flew to Haydock. Familiar, fri<strong>en</strong>dly, trusting.The girl I hadn't wanted to get involved with, who hadmelted a load of ice like an acetyl<strong>en</strong>e torch.Across the sea of cars Midge pointed in my direction andthey began to come towards me, crossing through therows. Wh<strong>en</strong> they were only tw<strong>en</strong>ty or so yards away, onthe far side of the row in front of me, they unaccountablystopped.Come on, I thought. For God's sake come on. They didn'tmove.With an effort I pushed myself upright from the Jaguarand took the few steps past its bonnet, going towardsthem. On my left, six cars along, was parked what wasevid<strong>en</strong>tly the Duke's Rolls. On the bonnet stood a brightred and gold tin. Matthew was pointing, wanting to crossover and fetch it, and Midge was saying urg<strong>en</strong>tly, "No,come on, Matt said to come quickly, and he's bleeding…"Matthew gave her a concerned look and th<strong>en</strong> nodded, butat the last second temptation was too much and he ranover and picked up the tin and started back to join them.Bright red and gold tin. Containing sticks of orange peeldipped in chocolate. It had be<strong>en</strong> on the desk. And afterwards…not on the desk. Something missing. Red and goldtin.Missing from Carthy-Todd's desk.My heart bumped. I shouted, and my voice came outhopelessly weak."Matthew, throw it to me."He looked up doubtfully. The others began to walk 'through the rows of cars towards him. They would reachhim before I could. They would be standing all together,"Prosím tě, už běž.""Já ti někoho pošlu," zavolala přes ram<strong>en</strong>o a utkalasměrem k padoku.Opřel jsem se bokem o lesklého šedivého jaguára.Přemýšlel jsem o tom, že bude obtížné bombu najít. Taplechovka… plechovka byla malá, vešla by se do pouzdraod dalekohledu… byla asi stejná jako ta v letadle. Bylo byse mi málem udělalo nanic, když jsem si vzpomněl, kolik vní musí být ničivé síly… bylo mi už ale nanic tak jako tak.Proč pořád nejdou? Měl jsem hrozné sucho v ústech…bylo strašně dusno… neklidně jsem se zavrtěl. Najdou-livévodu, musím mu říct, aby se někam uklidil a zůstalukliz<strong>en</strong>ý, dokud si ministerstvo neporadí s panem CarthyToddem…Nezúčastněně jsem se díval, jak mi do trávy z rukyukapává krev. Cítil jsem, že mám celá záda sakapromoč<strong>en</strong>á. Nové sako si nemůžu dovolit, bude muset dočistírny, díru si budu muset nechat zacelit. Mě budou takymuset zacelit. Harley mi asi místo držet nebude, budu simuset najít něco jiného. Doktoři z ministerstva mi určitěnedovolí lítat celé měsíce. Když se někdo dá k dispozicijako dárce krve, nesmí lítat skoro dva měsíce… a já jistěztratil víc než dárce. Ačkoli, z takové krevní konzervy,kdyby se vylila, by taky byla velká louže.Hlava mi klesala. Rychle jsem se narovnal. Musím býtvzhůru, říkal jsem si… musím vydržet, dokud nepřijdou.Musím vysvětlit vévodovi…Začal jsem vidět rozmazaně. Olízl jsem si rty. Nepomohloto, jazyk jsem měl také suchý.Konečně jsem je v dálce zahlédl, procházeli právěbrankou z padoku, byli čtyři. Vévoda, Midge, vpředu běželmalý Matt… A Nancy.Chanter byl najednou úplně nedůležitý, ani jsem si naněho nevzpomněl. Všechno bylo tak jako předtím,příjemné, přátelské, plné upřímnosti. Dívka, s kterou jsemse nechtěl zaplést a která roztavila kvádr ledu jakoautog<strong>en</strong>em.Midge na mě ukázala přes střechy zaparkovaných vozů avšichni čtyři zamířili ke mně. Když ode mne byli už j<strong>en</strong>dvacet yardů za nejbližší řadou vozů, z nevysvětlitelnýchdůvodů se zastavili.Pojďte, říkal jsem v duchu, pospěšte si, proboha.Nehýbali se.Pracně jsem se odlepil od svého jaguára, obešel kapotu avyšel jim naproti. Přede mnou, šestý vůz vlevo, stálvévodův rolls. Na jeho kapotě ležela zlatočerv<strong>en</strong>áplechovka. Matt na ni ukazoval a chtěl pro ni jít. "Ne,nezdržuj se," říkala Midge, "Matt chtěl, abychom přišli conejdřív, krvácí…"Matthew se na ni ustraš<strong>en</strong>ě podíval, přikývl, ale vposlední chvíli ho pokuš<strong>en</strong>í přemohlo. Odběhl, sebralplechovku a vracel se k ostatním.Zlatočerv<strong>en</strong>á plechovka s pomerančovou kůrou včokoládě. Byla na psacím stole. Pak… pak zmizela. Něcotam chybělo. Chyběla zlatočerv<strong>en</strong>á plechovka.Zmizela z psacího stolu v kanceláři Carthy Todda!Srdce se mi rozbušilo. Snažil jsem se zavolat, alepodařilo se mi j<strong>en</strong> zasípět."Matte, hoď mi to."Nejistě se na mě podíval. Ostatní se k němu blížili meziřadami vozů. Dojdou k němu dřív než já. Budou všichnipohromadě, Nancy, Midge, vévoda a malý Matt, Matt,110
Nancy and Midge and the Duke and young Matthew, whoknew too that I'd be<strong>en</strong> in Carthy-Todd's office that day.I scanned the car park desperately, but he was there.He'd put the tin on the car and simply waited for them tocome out of the races. The last race was about to start…the horses had gone down to the post and at that mom<strong>en</strong>tthe loudspeakers were announcing 'They're under starter'sorders'… He knew it wouldn't be long before they came…He was standing over nearer the rails of the course withhis black head showing and the sun glinting on hisglasses. He had meant just to kill young Matthew and theDuke, but now there were Nancy and Midge as well… andhe didn't know he couldn't get away with it… didn't knowColin knew… and he was too far away for me to tell him…I couldn't shout… could barely talk."Matthew, throw me the tin." It was a whisper, nothingmore.I began to walk towards him, holding out my fight arm.Stumbled. Swayed. Fright<strong>en</strong>ed him.The others were closing on him.No more time. I took a breath. Straight<strong>en</strong>ed up."Matthew," I said loudly. "To save your life, throw methat tin. Throw it now. At once."He was upset, uncertain, worried.He threw the tin. It was taking Carthy-Todd several secondsto press the transmission buttons. He wasn't asadept at it as Rupert Tyderman. He wouldn't be able tosee that he had missed his opportunity with the Duke, andthat now there was only me. But whatever he did, he'dlost the game.The red-gold tin floated towards me like a blazing sunand seemed to take an eternity crossing the fifte<strong>en</strong> feetfrom Matthew. I stretched my fight arm forward to meet itand wh<strong>en</strong> it landed on my hand I flung it with a bowlingaction high into the air behind where I was standing, backas far as I could over the parked rows, because behindthem, at the rear, there was empty space. The bomb w<strong>en</strong>toff in the air.Three seconds out of my hand, six seconds out of Matthew's.Six seconds. As long a time as I had ever lived.The red and gold tin disintegrated into a cracking fireballlike the sun, and the blast of it knocked both young Matthewand me with a screeching jolt flat to the ground. Thewindows in most of the cars in the car park crashed intosplinters, and the two Fords just below the explosion werethrown about like toys. Nancy and Midge and the Duke,still sheltered betwe<strong>en</strong> two cars, rocked on their feet andclung to each other for support.Along in the stands, we heard later, no one took muchnotice. The race had started and the comm<strong>en</strong>tator's voicewas booming out, filling everyone's ears with the newsthat Colin Ross was lying handy and going nicely on thefavourite half a mile from home.Young Matthew picked himself smartly up and said inamazem<strong>en</strong>t, "What was that?"Midge completed the four bare steps to his side and heldhis hand."It was a bomb," she said in awe."Like. Matt said, it was a bomb."I was trying to get myself up off the grass. Ev<strong>en</strong> thoughthe Duke was for the pres<strong>en</strong>t safe, the Fund money wasnot. Might as well try for set and match… On my knees, Isaid to Matthew, "Can you see Carthy-Todd anywhere? Itwas his tin… his bomb…""Carthy-Todd?" repeated the Duke vaguely. "It can't be.Impossible. He wouldn't do a thing like that.""He just did," I said. I was having no success in gettingup any further. Had nothing much left. A strong arm slidunder my right armpit, helping me. A soft calm voice saidin my ear, "You look as if you'd be better staying down."který taky věděl, že jsem byl t<strong>en</strong> d<strong>en</strong> v kanceláři CarthyTodda.Zoufale jsem se rozhlédl po parkovišti. Nikde nikdo.Carthy Todd jednoduše položil plechovku na kapotu vozua čekal, až se vévoda s Mattem vrátí. Právě začínalposlední dostih… Koně se řadili na startu a tlampačehlasitě oznamovaly, že dostih bude zaháj<strong>en</strong>… Musel vědět,že se vrátí co nevidět… Zahlédl jsem ho… stál u hraz<strong>en</strong>í,brýle se mu leskly ve slunci… Chtěl zabít j<strong>en</strong> vévodu aMatta, teď tu byla i Nancy a Midge… nevěděl, že je tomarné, že Colin ví… byl příliš daleko, nemohl jsem naněho zavolat… nemohl jsem mu to říct… nemohl jsemskoro ani mluvit."Matte, hoď mi to," zašeptal jsem bezmocně.Vykročil jsem k němu, pravou ruku napřaž<strong>en</strong>ou.Zapotácel jsem se… to ho postrašilo.Ostatní se blížili.Nezbývala už ani vteřina. Nadýchl jsem se a narovnal se."Matte," zavolal jsem nahlas, "jde o život, ihned mi tohoď, ihned!"Byl zmat<strong>en</strong>ý, nejistý a rozpačitý. Konečně hodil.Carthy Toddovi trvalo několik vteřin, než vyslal příslušnýsignál. Nebyl v tom tak zběhlý jako major Tyderman.Nepoznal, že už svoji příležitost promeškal, že už vévodunemůže dostat, j<strong>en</strong>om mě. Prohrál.Zlatočerv<strong>en</strong>á plechovka letěla vzduchem jako zářícíslunce. Zdálo se mi, že letí celou věčnost. Napřáhl jsem poní ruku a jakmile jsem ji zachytil, odhodil jsem ji vší silouza sebe, dozadu, za poslední zaparkované vozy, kde nikdonebyl.Explodovala ve vzduchu, tři vteřiny poté, co jsem se jídotkl, šest vteřin poté, co ji hodil Matthew. J<strong>en</strong> o šestvteřin. Byly to nejdelší vteřiny, které jsem v životě prožil.Zlatočerv<strong>en</strong>á plechovka se rozpadla a vybuchla doohnivého víru. Tlaková vlna srazila Matta i mě na zem aroztříštila okna většiny vozů na parkovišti na miliónydrobných střepinek. Dva fordy, které stály bezprostředněpod ohniskem výbuchu, se roztančily jako hračky. Nancy,Midge a vévoda, chráněni dvěma vozy, se zapotáceli apřidržovali se jed<strong>en</strong> druhého.Později jsem se dozvěděl, že na tribunách si publikumničeho nevšimlo, dostih už odstartovali a tlampače v tuchvíli hlasitě hřímaly a oznamovaly, že půl mile před cílemvede bezpečně na špici Colin Ross, který jede favorita. Vohlušujícím křiku jásajícího publika a řvoucích tlampačůnikdo nic neslyšel.Matt se rychle zvedl ze země a vyjev<strong>en</strong>ě se ptal: "Co tobylo?"Midge k nám doběhla a vzala malého Matta za ruku."Byla to bomba," řekla s úžasem."Matt měl pravdu, byla to bomba."Snažil jsem se vstát. Vévoda byl v bezpečí, ale zbývaloještě zachránit ty p<strong>en</strong>íze… musím to dokončit, když užjsem se do toho dal… V kleče jsem se zeptal maléhoMatta: "Vidíš někde pana Carthy Todda? To byla jehoplechovka… jeho bomba…""Carthy Todd?" ptal se vévoda zmat<strong>en</strong>ě. "To n<strong>en</strong>í možné,to je vylouč<strong>en</strong>é. T<strong>en</strong> by takovou věc neudělal.""Ale udělal to," odpověděl jsem. Nepodařilo se mi vstát.Už jsem neměl žádnou sílu. Něčí silná ruka mě vzala zapaži a pomohla mi. Něčí měkký, klidný hlas na měpromluvil: "Podle toho, jak vypadáš, by ti asi bylo líp na111
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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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you any money?"prachy?""Enough not
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"What is it?""The remains," he said
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his career." He let half a minute s
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"All right," I said. "Thanks.""Than
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