while Zak shrugged her shoulders, patted Abe on the shoulder and went into the med. room with the woman.
Abe looked round, saw Joe and came towards him.
'What's going on?' asked Joe.
'AAA's drug-testing team,' said Abe, avoiding looking at Endor.
'Shoot. Were you expecting them?'
They do random tests. And naturally they're at all the big medal meetings, so the winners can expect to get a going-over. But I didn't think they'd come along to something like this, inaugural meeting, nothing at stake but a town's reputation.'
'She did break the world record, perhaps that's it,' suggested Joe.
'No. I think there's more to it. From what one of them let slip, they had some kind of tip-off. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you, Endor? Trying for one last smear before you go?'
He thrust his face close to the agent's, no longer attempting to conceal his dislike.
'Now why the hell should I do that, Abe?' enquired Endor. 'Zak's clear, ain't she? You must know that, you're her coach. And if she's clear, what would be the point? Of course, if there's something to hide ...'
Joe moved in quickly as Abe bunched his fists.
'Better get back there, Abe,' he said quietly. 'I'll look after Mr. Endor.'
With one last hating glance, the coach moved away.
Joe turned to Endor.
'I really don't like what I'm thinking,' he said.
'And what's that, Joe?'
'You couldn't be so low, could you? Oh shoot, now I see you close up, I believe you could!'
'Could what, Joe? You lot are all the same, you seem to talk English, only a lot of the time us poor natives can't understand a sodding word you're saying.'
'I'm talking about fixing for Zak to take in some kind of banned drug, then tipping off the inspection team so she'll test positive. If that happens she'll be disqualified and anyone betting on her not winning will cash in. But there's more than that, isn't there? I bet you were almost pleased to have to fall back on Plan B. This way not only do you get your money, you get your revenge. She'll be finished forever, won't she? And probably Abe with her. That's why you've given me your tickets to the mayor's reception, isn't it? You reckon it's going to be the biggest wake this town has ever seen. Endor, you're so low, you make dung beetles walk proud!'
The agent shook his head in a bewilderment belied by the pleasure in his eyes.
There you go again, Joe. Talking in tongues. If it turns out that Yank has been feeding poor little Zak funny pills to make her run faster, then there'll be nobody more sorry than me. In fact, I may be so sorry that I'll have to sell my story to the papers to let the world know I don't think it's all her fault. Joe, you don't look so well.'
Joe had staggered slightly and was leaning up against the wall.
Think I've been overdoing it,' he said. 'Not much sleep last night, got a bang on my head, all this excitement.'
'Shall I get a St. John's man to look at you?' enquired Endor solicitously.
'No,' said Joe. 'Just need a pick-me-up. Wonder if this stuff will do all that Zak says it does.'
He reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a bottle of Bloo-Joo.
Endor stood very still, his eyes fixed on the bright blue liquid.
'Yes,' said Joe. 'I thought, Zak says she always has a swig before a race, last thing she takes. Maybe it's not just any bottle which does her so much good, it's that particular bottle. So I did a naughty thing. I helped myself from her bag. What do you think, Mr. Endor. Something special in that bottle, maybe?'
Endor's hand snaked out and twisted the bottle out of Joe's grip.
'Hey, man, what are you doing? Shoot, some poor sod's going to have to mop up that mess.'
The agent had unscrewed the top from the bottle and was pouring its contents on to the floor.
'Sixsmith, you're dead meat, you'd better believe it. I don't know if you're more or less stupid than you look, but I do know you're dead meat.'
Joe's eyes opened wide as if at some stupendous revelation.
'Shoot! You're not telling me you really did spike Zak's
Bloo-Joo so that when she was tested she'd respond positive and get disqualified and banned for life? In that case I'm so very, very glad.'
'What?' Endor's fury turned to puzzlement. 'You're glad? What have you got to be glad about?'
'Glad that I handed the bottle I really took from Zak's bag over to the police for fingerprinting and analysis,' said Joe. There's Superintendent Woodbine and his friends now. I think they'd like a word with you. Hey, man, where do you think you're going?'
Endor foolishly made a run for it but, as the corridor led directly out into the tunnel, all that happened was that the crowd was hugely entertained by the last track event of the afternoon which consisted of several men in uniform pursuing a man in a mohair suit. It was no contest. Mohair was out of breath after twenty yards and the first of his pursuers brought him crashing to the ground right across the finishing line.
'Should have drunk up his Bloo-Joo,' said Joe Sixsmith.
