Taunton Barr

CHAPTER NINE

  Kalika had joined Winston in the conservatory next to the porch as it was a cool morning, She was followed in by mechanic. 'Winston.'

  'Hallelujah.'

  Mechanic chuckled. 'The guard reports a man with a telescope in a van in an irregular position studying the operation on the far side of the training track amid the woods like.'

  'The regulars were discouraged yesterday.'

  'Yes.'

  'What a load of rubbish this industry is, thank you mechanic leave him there, keep me informed should things change. Around midday a white Ford Fiesta with a thin small man with huge glasses will arrive at the gate, have them let him in.'

  'I'll get on the frog and toad and let em know like, oh that heightened rail along side the barn, we raised it to 2.49 metres as you asked sir.'

  'Thank you mechanic.' Mechanic scurried away.

  Kalika rolled her lips, her hair was still wet from having a shower and she threw it behind her back. 'He could be an astronomer.'

  Winston spread some butter on toast. 'Yes and I could be front man for the Rolling Stones.'

  Kalika chuckled. 'Lindy is in the strappers quarters with Kristy, they would like to come out.'

  He looked toward the barn. 'Poor kid, she was pretty happy in Glastonbury, she was achieving what your father wanted, we bury him tomorrow, will be a hard day. Soon as the double comes through the gate she can walk around freely.'

  'Tomorrow, I wish it never would come, hey wait a sec, 2.49 metres, that's the height a horse has to achieve to break the record for highest jump.'

  Winston sipped his tea. 'Very good.'

  '2.47 m. 8 ft 1.25in by Huaso ex-Faithful, ridden by Capt. Alberto Larraguibel Morales of Chile at Viña del Mar, Santiago, Chile on 5 February 1949, still stands.'

  'Officially yes, unofficially way off the mark.'

  'You telling me that Flaxmead has jumped 2.49.'

  'Daily.'

  She stood up walked to the window and looked over toward the raised fence. 'Then what are we scared of.'

  'We are scared of nothing the aristocracy is terrified, big difference.'

  She turned back to Winston and put her hands on her hips. 'Who is in this white Ford.'

  'Beaker.'

  'He called you.'

  'No.'

  'How do you know it'll be him.'

  Winston spread some more toast. 'Because they can't help themselves, they want to know why Flaxmead is here, probably some bullshit story about how elated they are the beast is in town and some minor discrepancies in the paperwork I put there on purpose.'

  'I would have thought Ashby would be the one.'

  Winston chuckled. 'Ashby's scared of his own shadow and very predictable.'

  'Think I'll join Kristy and Lindy for bacon and eggs.'

  'Then take Taunton onto the training track and keep the astronomer busy, be back here at midday.'

  'For lunch.'

  'Can be it's when Beaker will pull up here.'

  'How could you possibly know that.'

  'Beaker gets up at six thirty every morning, he showers, has a cup of tea, then breakfast in the cafe street level of his apartment and reads the paper. At seven thirty he drives to 75 High Holborn, getting to his office at eight sharp parking in the private car park below the fortress they call the TBHA. This morning he will leave at seven thirty but drive in the opposite direction to normal, he will go through Slough, Maidenhead, stop for fuel in Redding car and himself, Didcot, Swindon and on to Bristol, 180 kilometres as the crow flies, a few more by road. He will stop in Bristol briefly to study his notes and paperwork he is extremely thorough and roll up here midday, a time he knows I will be sitting right here having lunch.'

  'How can you be sure.'

  'He's been here three times and done that every time, he is a creature of habit and detests being disorganised.'

  'Well we shall see, 'Ill be here at midday.'

  'I have a lot to do before then but will be here all the time.'

  'How can you be busy in here.'

  'I'm an astronomer, as you mentioned astronomers gather information and we have quite a few astronomers about the place, we would not want to take our eye of Saturn or any other planet currently or indefinitely.'

  'If we were talking about astronomers in front of people they would have no idea what we were talking about.'

  'Mmm, many good idea's come from making a mistake.'

  Kalika scurried away.

  Winston was communicating non stop, he found the intensity tiring, phone calls, emails, monitoring and sending satellite messages just before midday he was interrupted by Kalika's return. He stood up as she stormed in her riding boots clicking crisply on the granite floor. 'What's for lunch.'

  'Sorry I've prepared nothing got wrapped up in other things.'

  'I'll pop into the kitchen, sandwiches and a cup of tea.'

  'Fine.'

  Kalika strode into the house, she could see the conservatory out of the adjoining kitchen window. Mechanic walked in as Winston stretched and drew deep breaths. 'The float has arrived from the airport sir, the vehicle you spoke of earlier is at the gate.'

  Winston looked at his watch, it was midday. 'Mmm, take the float into the main barn and close both entrances, let Lindy organise things Kalika will be here until the end of the meeting. Meeting wont take long no interruptions unless it's very important. Tell Lindy we will be having a meeting in the barn as soon as this visitor has left.'

  'Got it govner.' Mechanic left in haste.

  Kalika came out of the kitchen plate in one hand cup and saucer in the other. 'The floats here, I must go and help out.'

  'No, I need you here.'

  The white little ford pulled up in front of the porch, Beaker got out and stood on the porch looking around, a folder under his arm. Winston went to the adjoining doorway. 'Beaker.'

  'Ah Winston, how nice to see you.' He walked into the conservatory after shaking hands, Winston gestured toward a chair at the table, it's back was toward the window but Beaker choose the opposite chair, they sat down. Kalika came back out of the kitchen and placed some more trinkets on the table.

  'You know Kalika.'

  Beaker stood and greeted her. 'Yes, I think we have meet before.'

  'Cup of tea.'

  'That would be lovely.'

  'How do you have it.'

  Winston interrupted. 'Weak, touch of cream, one sugar.' He smiled awkwardly at Beaker as he sat back down.

  'Yes, that will be fine.'

  Kalika went back to the kitchen. 'And to what do we owe this pleasure.'

  'Em yes,' Beaker opened his folder on the table. 'I have some paperwork that unfortunately has some omissions.'

  'Omissions, you insinuate we have done something intentionally. Omissions is if my memory serves me rightly, someone or something has been left out or excluded. The action of excluding someone or something, or a failure to fulfil a legal or moral obligation.'

  'Perhaps that's the wrong choice of word, sorry.'

  'And perhaps it's the correct one, whenever we see you Beaker it generally means trouble for us.'

  'No please don't get me wrong, we are somewhat surprised that Flaxmead is being brought into the country.'

  'We are somewhat shocked, reeling and devastated by the death of Roger Palmer, Roger had a dream, an organisation to raise money for homeless horses. Is it not fitting that the horse he fostered to stardom be used to do just that and arrive on time in respect to Rogers very private funeral tomorrow.'

  Beaker sat wide mouthed stuck for words. 'Emmm, no.'

  'Is there anything else you wish to attend to before you leave.'

  'This application for the name Taunton Barr and the registration of the horses details, they are incomplete.'

  'We are unsure of the horses details, we have all the relevant tests done, and tracing the DNA bloodline should find out soon enough.'

  'I don't think the board will condone this until the facts are available, the name will
probably denied until this information is forthcoming.'

  'The the board will spend three years in the Old Bailey with a very public profile in a stoush about bullshit, you would be aware of the case between Hildebrand and board about the very same thing. The facts are crystal clear, you can have a name allotted long before the paperwork is finalised because it has been used to stall things in the past. We let it slide last time because you did, if you want a president regarding the point mentioned then so be it.'

  'Look I don't think it's that important, em could you just sign the papers you missed a couple of places.'

  'Certainly,' Winston took a pen from his top shirt pocket, put the papers in front of him and signed, he handed them back with a smile. 'Now people don't drive all the way from London just to express concern of arriving horses or clerical errors, what did you want.'

  'Em, rather awkward, not really my choice to pry, I have superiors.'

  Winston got up and walked to the window looking across at the holding stalls in front of the barn. 'Ashby, he's really something isn't he. Really shows the blatant irresponsibility of the board. See that little horse in the stalls, he's scared of it, can jump a six foot fence it's six months old. It can't even challenge him with it's talents for six years but he sends you to immediately foil its prospects.' Winston folded his arms and turned around.

  'So it is the Grand National, that talent could be destined for no other race.'

  'We have an Olympic show jumping champion Beaker.'

  'Yes I thought of that, Kalika has retired and you've done everything possible in that arena. There is one thing you haven't won, the national.'

  'You're not like them Beaker, I don't know what your name is and I have tried to find out, during the course of that I found you are nothing like them.'

  'It's easy for you, you have power and influence, I just have myself and a few people like minded, I have to be involved to change things.'

  'Easy, peoples lives have been taken and we have been attacked, persecuted, railroaded, treated with contempt and belligerence, In comparison the banking industry is a noble practice, never thought I would utter such words.'

  'If you just played along and became part of the furniture would be plain sailing.

  'If I did that I'd have a job, find something you love doing Beaker and you'll never work again.'

  'You are dealing with rich, powerful and ruthless people.'

  'Indeed, tomorrow at exactly nine am I will call you, nine exactly. An above boards call, I suggest you answer the phone, you have plenty of time to think about it.'

  'The call will be monitored.'

  'That's why I'll make it. I bid you good day Beaker.'

  Beaker gathered his things and walked slowly to the door, he turned. 'The three million dollars, we are able to do so much with it, thank you very much.'

  'I don't know what you're talking about, whoever you are.'

  'Humph,' Beaker chuckled under his breath with a smile turned and left.

  Kalika came out and stood behind Winston as they watched him leave. 'That was nasty, was that really necessary.'

  'He has to convey things to Ashby, tis Ashby we are dealing with.'

  'You think you got through to him.'

  'Nine tomorrow morning we shall find out. Gather in the strappers muster room at the barn with Lindy, I'll bring mechanic, ten minutes.'