Taunton Barr

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Was very early, the sun had just shown itself, Winston was putting a tie on in the conservatory using a mirror the reflection of one of the windows, a slight wisp of the heating system fan could be heard, the silence was suddenly shattered when the door slammed cracking the glass a pain falling out tinkling on the patio slate. It was Kalika. 'I went to run the foal, they are digging up the track, they can't even mark out a right angle.'

  'If you count it will be the sixth fence.'

  'Well you better get them to straighten it up and get rid of all the dirt they are stacking up one side.'

  'Beacher's Brook.'

  'So we are going to have a creek running through the middle of the track.'

  'It runs at an angle and has over two metres of drop off.' Winston continued to adjust his tie from his reflection.

  'Similar to that appalling thing that horses are killed on at Aintree.'

  'Jockey's say its like falling off the end of the earth, and yes it's identical to that very spot you refer too.'

  'How do you expect us to run the herd with all that going on, you could have at least told me.'

  'Would have made a difference would it.'

  'Well yes.'

  'I feel it would have just changed the timing of your tantrum.'

  'Oh, oh, really, you are becoming impossible.'

  'All the work will be finished by mid this afternoon, could you use the grass shoulder around the edge of the track, it was designed like that so if work needed to be done on the track we could still run horses, was your fathers idea.'

  'Well I suppose I'll have to won't I.' She opened the door and stormed out her boots crushing glass as she caught it between her soles and the slate, she again slammed the door breaking more glass and stormed off toward the barn.'

  Mechanic came in surveying the damage. 'I'll call a glazier like.'

  Winston was putting on his suit jacket at the table. 'Replace both doors with solid one's, no view out of them anyway.'

  'Miss Palmer not very happy.'

  'She's having trouble aligning her goals and how to achieve them, loosing your father and your scruples all in the same week would be difficult.'

  Mechanic grimaced stepping across the broken grass. 'Some good news and some bad news sir.'

  Winston chuckled. 'Thanks for the heads up.'

  'The three journalists you invited are attending this morning.'

  'Excellent.'

  'We have a request to attend from thirty seven others.'

  Winston suddenly looked at mechanic in serous mode. 'What an earth, the one's I invited have no idea what to expect.'

  'I have it on good authority this morning that someone at Wincanton put two and two together like.'

  Winston sat down with one elbow on the table and rubbed his forehead with his hand. 'Deny access to all but whom I requested.'

  'I have an email containing a horse registration from Beaker sir, the horse is listed as Taunton Barr, twelve year old black stallion, the ID chip listed is that of Flaxmead's.'

  'Well what was the bad news.'

  'Kalika sacked the ear this morning.'

  'Good grief, she's never done such a thing before.'

  'Not a good look at this particular time sir, you want for I should call her back.'

  'No, lord preserve, Kalika must have had a good reason.'

  'I have no idea sir.'

  'Leave it mechanic, concentrate on having the contractors off the track by lunch time, or hold the glazier.'

  Mechanic looked away and laughed. 'Sir, there's allot of people out there sir, security are freaking out.'

  'External surveillance has been bolstered to cope.'

  'As you requested sir.'

  Winston looked directly at mechanic. 'I wish for one day that my friends call me Winston, not sir because they are frightened of power and money.'

  'You know I would have trouble with that like, was the army sir. If I died tomorrow sir I have achieved all I wished, most with your help.'

  'You would have done that anyway just not here.'

  'Sorry sir but I don't agree with you.'

  'Your attitude is appreciated and rather humbling mechanic, I would appreciate my given name being used in conversation, gives a different air about things in public.'

  Mechanic hesitated. 'I'll try my best Winston, never thought of it that way. Another thing, the double was picked up at the airport before Prendergast could find her.'

  'Her family.'

  'No, bloke called Theo Delores.'

  Winston's face cringed with disapproval. 'You sure.'

  'That's the information forwarded by Prendergast like, is there reason he would lie.'

  'Leave it with me, concentrate on things at hand this morning, the guards are armed.'

  'Not comfortable with that actually Winston.'

  Winston again sighed and rubbed his forehead, he lent back in his chair. He put both hands on his head flattening his hair then rubbed both upper legs with his palms. 'There are some nasty people out there mechanic, stick with the plan for this day anyway.'

  'Can we keep them well in the background.'

  'No, you have mentioned Reichmann, Delores, not saying they mean anything but those whom ignore the past are destined to repeat it. They flank Flaxmead and press correspondence must reflect that position even if it is never repeated.' Winston stood up. 'We'll get one shot at this mechanic, because that's all I'll allow Lindy and Flaxmead to go through.'

  'They seem to revel in it like.'

  'Yes, I suppose your nerves can take it if mine can.'

  'I've never seen this horse run over jumps, but my gut says it's all over bar the shouting, he scares the crap out of me sometimes.'

  Winston chuckled away, the gave a big sigh. 'If he wasn't born to it I would have stopped this long ago, Lindys the same, if you have any ideas when this is all over I'm all ears.'

  Mechanic shook his head. 'Those girls have an iron will, would be a surer bet for me if I married my old drill sergeant.'

  'Seriously mechanic you hit a hot spot there, without her father Kalika has no male authority. She knows I worship the ground they both walk on but I can't replace her father for her or Lindy.'

  'I'm well out of order if I gave advice there like, I sometimes play dangerous sports like disagreeing with my wife but very seldom like if you get my drift.'

  Winston laughed out loud. 'We need get to it, I have a lot to cover with correspondence here this morning before the press conference. Ten o'clock on the dot.'

  'Was nine.'

  'Will be conveniently late, gives more time for the journalists to nose around then ask questions you may want to answer.'

  'Ten it is then.' Mechanic headed for the barn and Winston got his head down.

  Mechanic was drawn to raised voices within the barn office complex, he peered through the window that overlooked the few stables within that part of the complex, he was careful to avoid being seen using one eye for a few seconds to confirm it was Lindy and Kalika. They stood toe to toe Lindy let out a tirade. 'It's hard for everyone Kalika, you can't run horses around the training track just part of one day just how you like it, and everyone's wrong.'

  'I'm wondering if this is all really worth it.'

  'Well why don't you go home and stay there.'

  'You bitch, you don't know your place.'

  'My place is clear as clear, now get out of my way so I can get on with it.'

  'Horses will run when I say so.'

  Lindy punched Kalika square in the face, she went down after hitting the wall and landed on her rear end, she looked stunned. She wiped a trickle of blood from her nose then looked up at Lindy, she slowly got to her feet after Lindy offered her hand and she took it. She mumbled. 'What's happening to me.'

  'You're turning on yourself and everyone else in the process.'

  Mechanic knocked on the door, Kalika turned away Lindy responded. 'Come in.'

  Mechanic put his head in the door. 'We have staff
waiting for instructions and horses need to be run, the civil workers need your opinion on the track Lindy for the civil works to match the training program, you know more about Aintree than anyone.'

  Lindy looked at Kalika with a scowl, Kalika avoided eye contact, Lindy walked toward the door. 'Yes I'm on my way, excuse me.'

  Mechanic remained at the door. 'You need some assistance Kalika.'

  Kalika did not look round, she adjusted the belt on her riding pants. 'No, I need to pull myself together.'

  'Not unusual to battle with the hardest times of your life like.'

  'Thank you mechanic, 'I'll be running the foal, be out right behind you.'

  Mechanic left the door open and walked away.

  Winston looked at this watch and time had caught up with him, it was almost ten. He viewed himself in the window reflection and went to the bathroom to freshen up before attending the barn for the press conference. Mechanic caught him just prior to entering the barn. 'Quite a few problems at the gate, some of the journos have travelled quite a way and not happy like, when they were refused entry.'

  'Mmm, the three invites.'

  'Have been in the barn for an hour, they walked to the side of the track for a while and did ask some questions but no answers from anyone as you requested. They have all been making lots of notes.'

  'Is Lindy ready.'

  'Yes, you should know Lindy and Kalika had quite a tiff early this morning.'

  Winston raised his eyebrows and tipped his head to one side. 'How much of a tiff.'

  'I do believe Lindy gave Kalika one up the bracket like.'

  'Good lord are you sure.'

  'She's hiding her face and haven't seen her since she started to run the foal, she was talking to the crews doing the civil work on the track Lindy was with her at one stage.'

  'Things are about to get very public and difficult, not a good time for such things but these things never are. Well let's get on with it.' They walked around the corner of the barn door and up the aisle of stables, three people were looking into a horse stall and walked toward Winston as soon as they saw him. Two males and a female. The female was freelance journalist Lee Hayford, she had covered Flaxmead's career from the very first meeting ten years back. Hayford knew Lindy Cumberland well, Winston noted she had never written a word that was not fact. The other two were young pretentious artists of deception from media mogul's that once controlled Fleet Street. Since this bastion of paper power had fallen, the controllers of these puppets were hard to find, in some cases Winston found impossible. He intended they be the perpetrators of their own doom, the bait was too much for the younger of the two, Grant Balderdash, when within audible array without so much as a how do you do he spoke. 'Big place must cost a lot of money to operate, all your money is it,' he peered down at his notes. 'Err... Mr Blake.' Dressed in a shinny multi colour thread suit, collar length black hair and orange shirt his face glowing with his age of twenty two.

  'Yes.' Winston pushed passed him and took Lee's hand gently kissing it and then looking directly at her with a smile. 'Lee how wonderful to see you, been some years.' Lee said nothing she wore a shimmering smile and a slight blush, her long blonde hair flowing over the shoulder straps of a pretty blue summer dress. The second male was the son of an aristocrat, educated at Cambridge he was less than impressed with his counterparts attempt to intimidate Blake. Levin Graceless wore a standard black suit, white shirt and black tie, he had a long thin face, short fair hair and was over six feet tall.

  'I say old boy, perhaps you should introduce your self old man, not the approach I feel is warranted by anyone of our genre.' He extended his hand to Blake. 'Levin sir, my father has told me so much about you, I am honoured.' Winston took his hand and shook it with a firm stance.'

  'By all means call me Winston.'

  Balderdash interrupted. 'Winston, just how....'

  Winston raised his voice. 'Mr Blake.'

  Lee Hayford stood behind them with a wide smile. 'Winston, to bring me here all the way from Australia, must be something big, may I be as so forward as to ask what.'

  'Mechanic.!' from the track side of the barn, through the door, mechanic walked in front of Flaxmead with Lindy on board, behind them was a security guard each side, they were obviously armed. TheY walked the fifty metres stopping just short of the gathered.

  Balderdash made an immediate comment. 'Big black horse, you have lots of them here.'

  Graceless was interested. 'I say, what a magnificent animal.'

  Winston watched Lee's face. 'May I present Taunton Barr, this horse will run in the grand national in April.' Lee dropped her head, raised her eyebrows and folded her arms. 'Taunton Barr is a twelve year old, he will be ridden by Lindy Cumberland.' Lee raised her pen. 'Lee you have a question already, I was hoping to finish before answering any questions.'

  'Pardon me for saying Winston but I have this feeling of deja vu.'

  'There is already a horse in this country with the name you are thinking of.'

  She nodded. 'Please continue.'

  'With the recent death of Roger Palmer, it was a goal of his to take a horse to the winning post of the grand national.'

  Levin was curious. 'Why.'

  Lee Hayford interrupted. 'To bring down the establishment and gain control of a race that he absolutely detested.'

  'During the course of being involved in something one can influence change Lee.'

  Balderdash again interrupted. 'The grand national pays one million pounds to the winner, would that not be your motivation.'

  'No.'

  'Must cost a fortune to run this place, surely you must need the money to keep going.'

  'No, we get by ourselves.'

  'Your winnings must be substantial then.'

  'Our prize money goes to charity.'

  'I don't understand.'

  'The only thing you've said that I believe.'

  'I don't know why you should invite me.'

  'I don't know why you came.'

  'I'm a journalist, I write about current affairs for the public.'

  'That's why you were invited.'

  'I know little about horse racing.'

  'Then we will get a fair appraisal of facts from different angles. Your appraisal will appear on the front page because it's controversial, Lee's will appear on the back page because it's factual and informative.'

  'You saying I'm into gutter journalism.'

  'I'm saying your an arse hole and will treat you as such until you convince me otherwise.'

  'How dare you.'

  Levin interrupted. 'Terribly sorry ol man but I agree with Winston, I have done a lot of homework on coming here and relish the opportunity to cover this story.'

  'I know nothing of any of this, can't understand why I was invited, I see no reason to stay if your not going to answer my questions.'

  Winston remained calm. 'Ask away.'

  'You laundering money here.'

  'Mechanic know of any money laundering on the premises.'

  'Err, only yesterday Winston, had to wash a five quid note I handled whilst working on one of my car engines, was very greasy but managed to clean it up before I used it at the chemist in town like.'

  Everyone bar Balderdash was laughing. 'This is ridiculous, unless you answer my questions seriously I see no reason to remain here.'

  'Without questions of relevance I see no reason for facts.'

  'This place is nothing more than a melting pot of money laundered via legitimate transactions via betting agencies and race fixtures backed up by the banking industry disguised as an operation as flamboyant as Robin Hood.'

  Winston shook his head. 'No.'

  'Well this is pointless.'

  'Can you table one fact that would support your claims.'

  'Look everyone knows what's going on here.'

  'Name one.' Balderdash was silent. 'Mechanic escort Mr Balderdash to the gate, contact the organisation he works with and inform them he is no longer welcome here.' Balderda
sh stormed out followed by mechanic.

  Lee Hayford was giggling under her breath. 'Really Winston, that poor boy had no chance, you planned that.'

  'We have a very angry young man.'

  'He came here angry.'

  'Anger is a far more useful emotion than misery.'

  'I've heard that before.'

  Levin spoke. 'I have a few questions if I may Winston, I've not struck that journalist before I must apologise for his behaviour.'

  'Why apologise for something I encouraged.'

  'Emm, has this horse won a steeplechase before.'

  'No.'

  Levin looked puzzled. 'But you claim it will win the national.'

  'Yes.'

  'On what grounds do you make these claims.'

  Lindy had walked Flaxmead out of the barn through the track side door. 'Come this way,' They walked to the door overlooking the track. Flaxmead suddenly appeared from the left of the door being galloped across the courtyard and cleared the high part of the outer track fence, he then reared up, ran at the fence and cleared it again, he thundered off around the extreme outside of the track rail. They walked forwards for further view, Levin watched with a look of pure concentration.

  'The things you have just seen are facts not claims.'

  'Could I be so brazen as to suggest that is a horse called Flaxmead.'

  'The horses name is Taunton Barr, there is a horse in the UK with the name Flaxmead.'

  Lee interrupted. 'Couldn't run out of sight on a sunny day.'

  'I do believe that horse is part of the Ashby stable.'

  Winston unfolded a document he retrieved from his suit coat pocket, he opened it out and handed it to Levin. 'This horses name is Taunton Barr as you can see.'

  Levin studied the document. 'Well this is in order.' He handed it to Lee.

  Lee studied it then looked sternly at Winston. 'I know that ID chip number off by heart Winston.'

  'Would appear it is that of a horse called Taunton Barr.'

  Levin was beaming with delight. 'Do you really think he can win it.'

  Lee interrupted. 'I would say do you really think he could loose, how high is that extended track fence.'

  'Two point four nine metres.'

  'So I just saw a horse jump higher than the highest recorded jump ever made and that was by an equestrian.'

  'Yes, they are the facts at hand.'

  'It's now thundering around the track looking awfully like Flaxmead and enjoying every minute of it.'

  'Why do it this way Winston, you could defeat the establishments rorting of the name with a letter.'

  'When you play lumberjacks, you have to handle your end of the log. At no time would I drop my end due to politics.'

  'You really think he can win it.'

  'Yes.'

  'But he's done everything.'

  'Some would say the sky is the limit, when there are footprints on the moon. We see the sky everyday, the opportunity to put footprints on the moon are rare, mostly thwarted by lack of money and politics. When they come we should embrace them.'

  'When's he's first run.'

  'Trial next week, Wincanton.'

  'Word is he ran there recently.'

  'True.'

  'How did he go.'

  'He was unsure of the track.'

  'Word is someone got a watch on him and thought something was wrong with his watch.'

  'Was a lot of horses there, could be mistaken identity.'

  'Could be facts as well.'

  'Indeed.'

  'Next week you won't be able to hide it.'

  'Not been trying too, we have to make sure some horses are protected from the more misguided members of the human race.'

  'I'm disappointed to see armed guards flanking this horse.'

  Winston sent a clear message to Lee. 'So am I, perhaps we can work on that together.'

  Lee raised her eyebrows and looked sideways. 'I remember the run at Royal Ascot, to support this in open media is dangerous on anyone's behalf, I may need protection.'

  'How do you know you don't already have it.'

  Levin had been making notes he looked up rather concerned. 'Not sure what you mean Lee, you suggesting writing positive comment on this venture could endanger your place in journalism.'

  'That's exactly what I'm suggesting, this horse is going to turn the place upside down.'

  'You sure about that.'

  'Positive.'

  'You speculate that strongly.'

  'No speculation, I've seen him do it before.'

  'But this horse hasn't run a race.'

  Winston interrupted. 'You asked if the horse had run a steeplechase, you asked nothing about flat racing.'

  Levin was shaking his head with self concern. 'I really need do more research, what races has this horse won.'

  'The Melbourne Cup, Epsom and Royal Ascot derby just to mention some you may be familiar with.'

  'I'm not up with long term facts like Lee.'

  Lee smiled. 'Your far younger and not around at the time, we lack young interest in journalistic sport, Winston must think your worthy of education.'

  Levin looked at Winston. 'I say ol man jolly good show and a super spiffing thanks on that. Would I be able to attend Wincanton next week.'

  'Absolutely.'

  'I'm sorry about Balderdash, beastly and ghastly way to approach things but quite a few of them about.'

  'He will be far handier than you could ever imagine.'

  Levin raised one eyebrow. 'Not really sure what you mean.'

  'Good, any more questions.'

  'No, I think I can write a frightfully glowing article based on my experience.'

  'Excellent, shame Lee will not see it that way.'

  'You sense condemnation, good lord.'

  'Lee thinks that horse has done enough and should be taking kiddies for a ride in some buttercup meadow.' Flaxmead thundered past only metres away turf and grass landing on Lee's head and shoulders. 'Would appear the horse is in contention of her beliefs.'

  Lee was shacking her head at the mirth but wore a smile. 'I called Ashby this morning and had to leave a message, he actually rang me back. I mentioned I was coming here and got the usual Blake likes war and war is what he'll get vibe.'

  'War, mmm, hope I'm not the first casualty.'

  Levin chimed in. 'I say, what an angle, the hapless untried outsider showing his form, threatened with a war on the turf. Bloody jolly good show what, this could be my first front page.' Levin shook Winston's hand, he glowed with enthusiasm. 'I must go and get this going, thanks awfully old chap.' He strode off toward his vehicle.

  Lee walked to the rail and watched the work being done on the track, Winston walked up behind her. 'You don't like it do you.'

  'Becher's Brook, I hate it.'

  'That's why you're here.'

  'I can only write facts, my opinion of them is really irrelevant.'

  'Indeed.'

  'Sometimes the facts are so disturbing, my opinion gets the better of me.'

  'Just remember the name is Taunton Barr.'

  'Barr is a little place near Taunton, rumour has it you have been seen there of late and acquired a foal, description matches the foal that Kalika Palmer is washing down on the wash pad.'

  'True.'

  'About a year and a half ago, I saw someone that looks exactly the same as Lindy Cumberland, she was in Glastonbury, in a shop. She had a child with her, I thought no more of it. Whilst visiting a property there on the same day next to a golf course part of your operation I swear I saw Flaxmead running loose on the course, his stride is unique. The golf course looks to have jumps disguised among the fairways.' There was silence. 'Makes no difference now does it.'

  'No.'

  'I should pay more attention to my gut feeling and senses.'

  'You need to know anything else.'

  'No, things look pretty obvious. Who's child is it, she's over at the wash bay with Kalika.'

  'It's Kalika's half sister.'
<
br />   Lee put her hand on her chest. 'Oh my god.' She hunted for breath. She turned around walking off toward her car. She didn't look at Winston, she mumbled as she passed him. 'I need to go home and think about this before I write a word.'

  'He's more than a horse Lee, the poverty of our time is unlike that of any other. It is not as poverty was before, the result of natural scarcity, but a set of priorities imposed upon the rest of the world by governance that has no relevance to equality. Consequently the modern masses are not pitied but written off as rubbish to be disposed of. As we look to the sky only a footprint on a distant star will lift the masses and bring down the aristocracy to a more relevant level.'

  She stopped and looked around at Winston. 'They can't really stop you can they.'

  'Oh yes they can.'

  Lee looked down shaking her head, then back up at Winston with a face of determination. 'Even Flaxmead will be looked upon as aristocracy, are we being hypocritical.'

  'Let's not forget where he came from, I paid five hundred pounds for him could have got him for a hundred. He was hunted, chased, attempts made to demoralise, demonise, poison, kill him and a host of other things that never came to light. A horse was given his name so he could not return, he's the ultimate battler, he still attempts to put his hoof on a star far beyond the sky. Without him I would have lost will, faith and determination. Without him I'd be dead, for reverence has never been given it has to be earned. Can you think of a value held higher by the masses than a winner from the ranks of the vanquished. They wanted him killed because he was too good, the very thing they claim to hold in relevance, he is back to make sure they understand the importance of determination, effort and admiration, earned under the hardest of conditions.'

  'Jogging my memory has certainly rubbed a nerve, if I've forgotten those things perhaps others have as well, excuse me I'm rather torn and need to get on with it.' Lee walked away toward her car.