df.theedge-第42章
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g； could be seen entering the outermost stall。 Daffodil's pale blue and dark green were innermost。 Upper Gumtree； carrying orange and black； started dead centre of the eleven runners and came out of the stalls heading a formation like an arrow。
I was watching from high up； from the upper part of the grandstand； above the Clubhouse floor to which the owners had returned in a chattering flock to watch the race。 Through my binoculars…camera the colours down on the track in the chilly sunshine looked sharp and bright； the race easy on that account to read。
The arrow formation soon broke up into a ragged line； with Premiere on the outside； Pampering on the inner and Upper Gumtree still just in front。 The Youngs' pair； split by the draw； nevertheless came together and raced the whole way side by side like twins。 Flokati； in pink； made for the rails as if needing them to steer by； and four of the other runners boxed him in。
Going past the stands for the first time； the Unwins' Upper Gumtree still showed in front but with Premiere almost alongside； Pampering was on the inside tugging his jockey's arms out。 Doing their best for the glory of Canada； the whole field of eleven swept round the bend and went down the far side as if welded together； and it still seemed when they turned for home that that was how they might finish； in a knot。
They split apart in the straight； one group swinging wide； the red and white of Premiere spurting forward with the Youngs' pair at his quarters and Upper Gumtree swerving dramatically through a gap to take the rails well ahead of Pampering。
The crowd bounced up and down。 The money was on Premiere。 The yelling could have been heard in Montreal。 The Canadian racing authorities were again getting a rip…roaring brilliant finish to a Race Train Stakes。。。 and Mercer； putting his brave face on it； again came in second。
It was the Unwins； in the stratosphere of ecstasy； who led Upper Gumtree into the winners' circle。 The Unwins from Australia who were hugging and kissing everyone near enough （including the horse）。 The Unwins who had their photographs taken each side of their panting winner； now covered across the shoulders by a long； triumphant blanket of flowers。 The Unwins who received the trophy； the cheque and the speeches from the President of the racecourse and the top brass of the Jockey Club； whose memories of the day would be the sweetest。
Feeling pleased for them； I lowered the binoculars through which I'd been able to see even the tears on Mrs Unwin's cheeks； and there below me and in front of the grandstand was the man with the gaunt face looking up towards the Clubhouse windows。
Almost trembling with haste； I put the binoculars up again； found him； activated the automatic focus； pressed the button； heard the quiet click of the shutter： had him in the bag。
It had been my only chance。 Even before the film had wound on； he'd looked down and away； so that I could see only his forehead and his grey hair； and within two seconds； he'd walked towards the grandstand and out of my line of vision。
I had no idea how long he'd been standing there。 I'd been too diverted by the Unwins' rejoicings。 I went down from the upper grandstand as fast as I could； which was far too slowly because everyone else was doing the same thing。
Down on ground level again； I couldn't see gaunt…face anywhere。 The whole crowd was on the move： one could get no length of view。 The Race Train event had been the climax of the programme and although there was one more race on the card； no one seemed to be much interested。 A great many red and white rosettes； baseball caps； T…shirts and balloons were on their way out of the gates。
The Unwins' entourage was disappearing into the Clubhouse entrance； no doubt for more champagne and Press interviews； and probably all the other owners would be in there with them。 If gaunt…face had been looking up at the Clubroom windows in the hope of seeing Filmer…or of Filmer seeing him…maybe Filmer would e down to talk to him and maybe I could photograph them both together； which might one day prove useful。 If I simply waited； it might happen。
I simply waited。
Filmer did eventually e down； but with Daffodil。 They weren't approached by gaunt…face They climbed into their chauffeured car and were whisked away to heaven knew where； and I thought frustratedly about time and the little of it there was left in Winnipeg。 It was already nearly six o'clock； and I wouldn't be able to find a one…hour photo lab open anywhere that evening； and I had to return to the Sheraton to collect my bag； and be back on the train by seven…thirty or soon after。
I retreated to the men's room and took the film out of the binoculars…camera； and wrote a short note to go with it。 Then I twisted the film and note together into a paper towel and went out to try to find Bill Baudelaire； reckoning it might be all right to speak to him casually down on ground level since Filmer wasn't there to see。 I'd caught sight of him in the distance from time to time all afternoon； but now when I wanted him his red hair wasn't anywhere around。
Zak came up to me with Donna and offered me a lift back to the city in their bus； and at that exact moment I saw not Bill Baudelaire himself but someone who might go among the owners； where Tommy couldn't。
'When does the bus go？' I asked Zak rapidly； preparing to leave him。
'Twenty minutes。。。 out front。 It's got a banner on。'
'I'll e。。。 thanks。'
I covered a good deal of ground rapidly but not running and caught up with the shapely backview of a dark…haired girl in a red coat with a wide gold and white studded belt。
'Nancy？' I said from behind her。
She turned； surprised； and looked at me enquiringly。
'Er。。。' I said； 'yesterday you collected some thirst quenchers from me for Bill Baudelaire's daughter。'
'Oh； yes。' She recognized me belatedly。
'Do you happen to know where I could find him now？'
'He's up on the Clubhouse； drinking with the winners。'
'Could you。。。 could you possibly deliver something else to him？'
She wrinkled her freckled teenage nose。 'I just came down； for some fresh air。' She sighed。 'Oh； all right。 I guess he'd want me to； if you asked。 You seem to be OK with him。 What do you want me to give him this time？'
I passed over the paper…towel bundle。
'Instructions？' she asked。
'There's a note inside。'
'Real cloak and dagger goings…on。'
'Thanks； truly； and。。。 er。。。 give it to him quietly。'
'What's in it？' she asked。
'A film； with photos of today's events。'
She didn't know whether or not to be disappointed。
'Don't lose it；' I said。
She seemed to be more pleased with that； and flashing me a grin from over her shoulder went off towards the Clubhouse entrance。 I hoped she wouldn't make a big production out of the delivery upstairs； but just in case she did I thought I wouldn't go anywhere where she could see me and point me out to any of the owners； so I left through the front exit gates and found the actors' bus with its Mystery Race Train banner and faded inside into the reassembling troupe。
In general； the cast had backed Premiere （what else？） but were contented to have been interviewed on television at some length。 A lot of Winnipeg's race crowd； Zak said； had asked how they could get on the train。 'I must say；' he said； yawning； 'with all the publicity it's had； it's really caught on。'
In the publicity and the success； I thought； lay the danger。 The more the eyes of Canada and Australia and England were directed to the train； the more Filmer might want to discredit it。 Might。。。 might。 I was guarding a moving shadow； trying to prevent something that might not happen； searching for the intention so as to stop it occurring。
The bus letting me off a convenient corner in the city； I walked to the Sheraton and from a telephone there spoke to Mrs Baudelaire。
'Bill called me ten minutes ago from the track；' she said。 'He said you sent him a film and you didn't say where you wanted the pictures sent。'
'Is he calling you back？' I asked。
'Yes； I told him I'd be speaking to you soon。'
'Right； well； there's
