Taunton Barr

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Busy Monday, before sunup things bustled around the barn. Mechanic summoned Winston to one side. 'We have a message from Beaker he's been trying to contact you. Wants an urgent meeting today.'

  'Expected, but inconvenient, have the chopper put down at Wincanton.'

  'I don't like it sir.'

  'Every saint has a past, every sinner has a future.'

  'We have another problem sir, the double wishes to return to Australia.'

  Winston sighed. 'Mmm, well she was whisked away at short notice, I spoke to her last night.'

  'She didn't mention that sir.'

  Winston shrugged her shoulders. 'Just doing as she has been instructed, tell nobody anything.'

  'Makes things difficult here.'

  'Flaxmead's double does not necessarily have to have Lindy with him, we can use a strapper, will be obvious that she has left the country, then no one will be looking for her. Need to focus on the positive side of difficult situations. Lindy is used to laying low. I know the double well, she will return in less than a week mark my words.'

  'They'll be all over her in Australia.'

  'I spoke to Prendergast last night, he will do whatever he can to keep track of her. I was very busy till late that's why Beaker had no luck trying to contact me, another thing that can play our way, we have Beaker put down at Wincanton Ashby will be assured we trust him with inside information.'

  Mechanic looked around. 'How many going to the track this morning.'

  'Thirty.'

  'Blimey, oh, I got those Ashby colours to the three jockeys you requested, they looked a bit puzzled. Tell you the truth sir so am I like.'

  'With three of his colours galloping about the place at Wincanton, he'll get more calls about it than we do.'

  Mechanic raised his eyebrows. 'What if he sends someone to check.'

  'He has, Beaker will be dropping in.'

  'Oh yeah, eh, still not with you sir.'

  'I'm attempting to turn Ashby's allies against him. If they think he has horses training here for him they may just come out of the trench, can't shoot at someone unless you draw them from cover.'

  'That' a long shot sir, Ashby can easily back check through his trainers.'

  'Huh, Ashby has no idea of the name of most of his horses let alone where they are or whom is riding them, Ashby is really our biggest ally because he's an idiot. A smart man would find a horse that runs faster than others and train it to win. Ashby is hardly a smart man, he's kept in his position because others are smart and hide behind him.'

  'Oh I planted the tracking devices and microphone on the ear like.'

  'You sure it's her.'

  'Not so sure as have an absolute gut feeling could be no one else. Initial dialogue sent by the microphone when she got in her car last night was a relief. Not to the fact we are wrong but unfortunately correct like. She called someone named Brett, gave all the current form after the weekends races, talked about which horses had come up lame.'

  'Brett Hafflinger, bookie, would pay dearly for such information. Anything else.'

  'She mentioned a name, Reichmann.'

  'Reichmann, are you sure.'

  'Yes plain as day like, lucky she called while still here the bugs only good for a few hundred yards like.'

  'Going by what you have told me I need to know if this name is mentioned again as it happens, the Reichmann I am thinking of I thought to be dead and he is a very dangerous man.'

  Mechanic pouted and held his head to one side. 'Yes, now I know.'

  Winston put his hand on mechanic's shoulder. 'Well done man, so you were right.'

  'Beginning to seem a bit obvious to me like, handed to us.'

  'Mmm, things are seldom as they seem, people out there far smarter than Ashby. Keep me informed please.'

  'Will do sir.'

  Winston was about to walk away but hesitated. 'Get someone to take the management role, you can't possibly tackle all this plus run the place, short notice but things change everyday. Do you have another person similar to the one that took the workshop position.'

  'I don't trust many people sir, person I'm thinking of is a lady.'

  'Well you have to work with her, I would like you to make more decisions without having to consult me should it be necessary.'

  'I am having trouble with myself over that very point like.'

  'I have the same problem, questioning yourself is imperative. You told me just about daily you had trouble while renovating your Jaguar's, yet you have a room full of trophies, keep me informed mechanic. On return from Wincanton I shall be able to tell you if Flaxmead goes to the national, I thought we were on the downward but the name Reichmann brings alarm bells to mind.'

  Mechanic walked briskly away and suddenly confronted by Kalika, hands on hips and wearing a distinguished frown. 'Something's not right.'

  'Please explain.'

  'This is a ridiculous adventure, thirty horses going to a track miles away when we have better facilities here.'

  'Do you see any fences on our facility Kalika.'

  'No I refuse to have them.'

  Winston shrugged his shoulders. 'Then we go to Wincanton.'

  'Move this lot twice a week, what a nightmare.'

  Winston chuckled and raised his eyebrows. 'We can't run a chaser if we don't have fences.'

  'So this is all for my benefit.'

  'There are thirty fences in the grand national, I profess to suggest this is for the horse we will be using.'

  Kalika stamped her foot on the ground, her riding boot sent a resounding echo around the barn complex. 'Shit.....I...'

  'Would you get in the float, go to Wincanton, put Lindy in the saddle of Flaxmead and launch him around the track.'

  'All this underhanded crap is really starting to....'

  'Annoy me as well. This morning is very important, I am saddled with making the decision on Flaxmead's path to the national. Let's not let emotion's cloud our judgement. Your angry because you take a path so abhorrent to your nature you have a fight within yourself, anger is a far more useable emotion than despair, use it wisely.'

  Kalika drew a big breath and took her hands from her hips. 'I hate this morning.'

  'How's Lindy.'

  'Raring to go.'

  'And Flaxmead.'

  'Pumped, he knows.' Winston just gazed at her with a gentle smile, he watched her storm away toward the float.'

  Wincanton race course is a rectangular configuration, the fences are close together, it is premium grade track surrounding a golf course just north of the town of Wincanton in Summerset UK. Races are run in a clockwise direction, the turf is premium grade and the going medium unless wet. Using the finishing line as the starting point for a single circuit, the nine fences on the steeplechase course are laid out in the following circuit pattern: After the turn out of the home straight, the water jump is located in isolation on the top side of the course. Upon turning into the back straight, runners jump the first plain fence, then the first open ditch, another plain fence, and the second open ditch. On the top side of the course, there is a single but tricky plain fence. After turning back into the home straight, runners have to jump three more plain fences before the short run in to the winning post. The sun was just begging to rise and some of Blake's entourage had taken to the course, cantering and galloping using the outer rail of the course the only area without fences. Kalika had calmed somewhat as she gave Lindy a hand step into the saddle, Flaxmead immediately pulled away from her grip on the bridle, he reared up, Lindy shouted at him but he took no heed. The floats were parked adjacent to the outer rail in the stable complex, Lindy swore at him as he jumped the rail and shot off toward the first fence through several horses cantering along beside the outer rail. One reared up in fright and lost it's rider, Lindy attempted to steer him clear of the fences to warm up but he flatly refused to change line. He completely cleared the first fence, he shook his head slightly when he landed and powered on, Lindy attempted to take control but he r
efused to yield.

  Winston stood at the rail with his arm's folded, Kalika was next to him with her back to the track looking down and kicking the ground. Winston watched like a hawk, down the back straight at last Flaxmead responded to Lindy's requests, she edged him to the outside edge of the fences short of the outer track rail and held the line until the next turn where she cut across the face of the track in a gradual arc from the last fence to clip the inner rail with her boot then back to the outer fence line. Flaxmead held pace, Lindy felt he was lost having never run the course before but with subtle tugs of the reins and loud instructions he navigated a full lap in the exact line Lindy thought best. The second lap he notched up and upon crossing the line Lindy was unable to pull him up, she thought the distance was wrong and he was used to running seven kilometres around a golf course. He fears were bolstered when he suddenly jumped the inner fence and ran down the centre of the adjacent golf fairway. She screamed at him; 'What the hell are you doing.' She had a think looking back behind her as he powered on, he wasn't doing anything he had not done for the last three years. She nestled back down behind his ears and began to steer him clear of pending sand bunkers, he took no notice and clean jumped them. He ran four fairways flat out before she could take control and muster him toward the gate that led across the track to the stable compound. The entire place had come to a standstill, including the groundsman riding a lawn mower on the golf course. He pulled the lawn mower up beside the float as they took the saddle from Flaxmead's back, he approached them keeping his distance and shouting concerned by the aggressive antics of the horse. A well dressed senior gent in golf regalia with a refined plum in mouth accent.

  'I say, you pair, the management will hear of this, damn horse damaged the turf on several greens. You will never be permitted here again if I have my way. I want your names and will take the registration numbers of your vehicles.' Blake walked up quietly behind him.

  He held out a card as he spoke. 'Identification as requested.'

  The man turned snatching the card from his hand, he studied it. 'Winston Bla.... humph, I'm terribly sorry sir didn't know whom I was dealing with.'

  'I didn't know you had to be someone here to be dealt with in a civil manner.'

  'As I said my good man didn't know it was you, never actually seen you before but heard all about you.'

  'I do believe under the stipulations I made when hiring this establishment, firstly this area was off limits to the grounds staff and all damage to the grounds were covered by the exorbitant fee to hire the place.'

  'Look sorry old man I do apologise.'

  'You would apologise to a lesser trainer, one with one horse in a small float battling on a shoestring budget.'

  'Well I am...'

  'An arsehole and I will treat you as one until such time as you convince me you are not.'

  The man looked at him in stern resolve. 'Indeed, that horse is bloody dangerous.'

  'Chasing is a dangerous sport, he meets the challenge with equal aptitude.'

  'Humph, excuse me.'

  'Currently no.' The man looked down, turned and walked away.

  Kalika was rubbing Flaxmead down, Lindy had stashed her saddle in the float, Winston approached Flaxmead and stroked his nose. 'That was some show old man.' Flaxmead grunted and muzzled his hand. Lindy come over here, she followed him clear of ears. 'What was that all about.'

  'He must run everyday, he was busting to get out.'

  'The lap round the golf course.'

  'He's been running round a golf course for three years.'

  'He flew round the track what do you think.'

  'He held pace when he wasn't sure but other than that this course is a lot easier than he's been used to.'

  'Do we go.'

  'What do you think.'

  'Damn right we do.'

  'You get him on the line, they won't see which way he went.'

  'So be it, take over from Kalika and send her here.' Lindy strode away not long after Kalika confronted Winston.

  'So, looks like you will get your own way.'

  'Walk with me.' He led her onto the track turf, they walked along the inner rail as horses cantered past on the outer. 'I came to this circuit when I first returned, with your father, Gail was with us rest their souls. She was very much like you, detested steeplechasing. Your father said there was only one horse that could bring down the establishment on this one, and it just ran around this track, then tore up a gold course for good measure. Your father would be in fits of laughter. I used to love to hear him laugh, peoples laughter is more fulfilling than anything I have ever done, yet I don't hear you laugh.'

  She stopped walking and folded her arms avoiding eye contact. 'Well damn it Winston I hate this place.'

  'Not as much as your father.'

  'Well... it was pretty funny when he ran the golf course, what did that man on the mower say.'

  'He thinks you should be someone before you can wreck something, that's why we're here.'

  'He thought it was okay when he found out who you are.'

  'Yes.'

  'You don't like that.'

  'Remember when your father just broke horses in for a few pounds, was people like the man on the mower that stopped him from using his talents. Please don't stop Flaxmead from using his.'

  'You'd withdraw if I disapproved.'

  'In an instant.'

  Kalika looked across at Flaxmead being loaded into the float, she couldn't picture it as the last time. She swallowed hard. 'Not so easy when things fall on your own shoulders.'

  'Agreed.'

  'I want fences at Flax Burton.'

  'Tomorrow morning.'

  'You anticipated this.'

  'Easy to stop such things, time consuming to start them. There's a trial here next week, Flaxmead is entered, from then on thing will get much harder in some areas and easier in others.'

  'He'll be there in April.'

  A helicopter banked toward the track and began to set down on grass adjacent to the stable area. Winston studied the aircraft as it came in. 'Beaker, just in time.'

  'Why is he here.'

  'He's about to find out the blood line of Taunton Barr.'

  'Is that wise.'

  'We shall find out who Beaker really is and so will he. Wind things up here and get the float on the road.' They split up and Winston made his way to his vehicle, he gathered some papers he had prepared and walked toward the chopper, Beaker had alighted and looked around lost, he noticed Winston and walked toward him. They shook hands.

  'Strange place for a meeting Winston, last place I'd expect to find you.'

  Winston handed Beaker the papers, he studied them. 'I think you'll find the information in order, completing the registration for the name Taunton Barr.'

  Flaxmead's float trundled by kicking up dust as Beaker studied the print. 'He looked up at Blake with a look of revelation. 'Are you sure, this is the horse Fl...'

  'For one of my horses, can't be a horse called Flaxmead, Ashby has the name in the UK, another horse has the name but it's Australian and has not run for some time.'

  Beaker looked back down pulling the paperwork out straight with his fingers. 'That's a good point, in anticipation the moratorium was issued for a foal, this horse is twelve years old.'

  'The letter of moratorium mentioned no horse, only a name.'

  Beaker nodded with raised eyebrows. 'I do believe your right.'

  'Can you have that processed by nine tomorrow morning.'

  'Bit short but yes, why.'

  'Because that's the time of a press conference at Flax Burton tomorrow morning. Wouldn't like to tell any lies.'

  Beaker blinked profusely, he fiddled with the paper looking up and down. 'Just so I know what I'm dealing with, would this registration number bring up an Australian registered horse, big one, black with a record as long as your arm including Royal Ascot and the Melbourne Cup.'

  'It just may do that.'

  'You will have a lot of enemies
Winston but good luck.' Beaker looked around, he looked puzzled. 'Most of these horses are yours.'

  'Yes.'

  'You have your own track.'

  'It has no jumps.'

  'He ripped the place up yes.'

  The golf course as well, three of the greens in fact.'

  'Ha ha ha, I wish I could have seen that.'

  'Was rather amusing, but hardly a race tactic.'

  'Well I better head back to take care of this.'

  'Be prepared to find out who you really are Beaker, by the end of the week you will be a very powerful man.'

  'You have a place for me, when Ashby finds out about this.'

  'Ashby won't survive this, they can no longer leave an idiot at the helm.'

  'You think they will ask me.'

  'It's what I'd do.'

  'Thank you, thank you very much, I'm flattered.'

  'Will be the worst time of your life and the best time of your character.'

  'Mmm, beginning to see what you mean.'

  'Good luck Beaker, I've been wrong many times but good luck man.'

  'Indeed.'

  'There's a steeple trial here next week, if you want to see the start of the show be here.'

  'Would that not be a conflict of interest.'

  'You're in grave danger of becoming a good man Beaker. There again, you need not become what you already are.'

  'But I've done much wrong, Ashby and his cohorts have gained much on my account.'

  'You have done things socially unacceptable, not against the law. Nobody can be pleased all the time, first you must be comfortable with yourself.'

  'Wow that's a lot to think about.'

  'Half an hour back to London in the chopper, a man regularly confronted with death told me two minutes if forever in a war zone.'

  Beaker smiled and nodded, he walked away.

  A lone man stood at the track rail outside the jockey club bar enjoying an ale in the crisp morning sunshine, a trainer entered the club, bought a beer and noticed the loner by the track. He also noticed the action over at the stable area as horses were being loaded into floats, a few still cantering round the track. He joined the elderly gent on the rail in the sun. 'Nice morning.'

  'Absolutely spiffing man, just saw the maddest thing ol man.'

  'As in.'

  'I come here many mornings to watch the horses, live just across the way. First time ever I saw a horse run like the wind and clear every single jump twice.'

  'I train my horses here every week, that's impossible.'

  'Not only that man, damn thing jumped into the golf course and ripped up a few fairways and greens.'

  The trainer was wide eyed. 'Sure your not seeing things ol boy, that is Theakston Old Peculiar your drinking, bit early.'

  'Right in front of me man, had a little girl on it with long hair streaking out behind.'

  The trainer stood up. 'What colour was this horse.'

  'Black, bloody monster it was, never seen the likes.'

  He looked across at the floats some three hundred metres away, he recognised Blake's logo just visible at the distance. 'Blake, what the hells he doing here.'

  'Sorry not with you old boy.'

  'Any body else see this.' His voice was drowned out by the chopper as it gained height from take off above them. 'Anyone else see this.!'

  'Groundsman on the mower, he went and gave them a piece of his mind I imagine! Bloody noisy thing bugger off!!'

  The trainer slapped the man on the shoulder, skulled his drink on the way to the car park and hastily cranked up his vehicle. He accessed the road around the edge of the track passing the stable car parks and across the track onto the golf course. He found the groundsman merrily mowing away and parked in front of him so he had to stop. He climbed out and approached the mower, the operator turned off the mower. 'Ahh its you, thought that was your car, people all over the damn place here this morning.'

  'You see a big woman riding a small grey horse here this morning.'

  'Oh no man, monster of a black thing, bloody dangerous, ran all over the place wrecked some greens. Had a little girl with long hair on it, tell you what ol man she's far gamer than I.'

  'You spoke to the people involved.'

  'Yes Blake, Winston Blake.'

  'He was here.'

  'Yes, left in his car when the helicopter took off.'

  'You saw the horse run, the black one.'

  'Yes caught my eye, ran like the wind.'

  'It took the jumps.'

  'Didn't ever slow it down ol man. Girl was screaming at the thing but had a mind of its own, swear I've seen that horse before, cant think.'

  'Royal Ascot and Epsom, some years back.'

  'That's! where I've seen it, was that Australian horse, Flaxmead, that's it, came here and took the piss. Came back here only a few days back, was in the news, well bless my cotton sacks man, I was no more than a few yards from the thing. If only I'd bloody remembered. No wonder Blake was rather sharp with me.'

  'Jesus Christ I have to go.'

  'Something wrong ol boy.'

  'He ran backwards toward his car and shouted. 'Only the second coming of the lord.' He roared away tearing up turf as he left.

  'Good god, more work.'