couldn’t really gallop on with only one hand.
“He can either go carefully and risk time faults, or risk knocking them down,” said Billy. “Knowing Rupe, I bet he chooses the latter.”
Rupert did. He came thundering down to the first fence.
“Oh, steady,” said Malise in anguish.
“Too fast,” gasped Fen. “Oh, God help him.”
Rupert was over the first fence, meeting it absolutely perfectly.
“We’ll have to jump off for the bronze,” shouted Billy excitedly.
Rupert was somehow over the two treacherous uprights of the double.
“We’ve got the silver,” yelled Billy. “Come on, Rupe, come on.”
Rocky gathered himself together, took a mighty leap, and sailed through the air, over the triple and into the history books. Pandemonium broke out in the commentary box. Billy was hugging Dudley, both yelling at once. Dizzy burst into tears.
“I’m awfully sorry, ma’am,” said Fen, realizing she was hugging Princess Anne. Suddenly she heard a hoarse strangulated sound behind her; it was Ivor, cheering like an old mule.
“We got the gold!” screamed Fen, jumping up and down. “We got the gold!”
As Rupert rode out of the arena at a walk, the whole stadium rose to their feet to applaud him. The cheers went on for a full five minutes. Naturally disappointed the home team hadn’t made it, the crowd were prepared to honor such a display of courage.
Rupert rode up to Malise. His face was expressionless.
“What price fairies now?” he said.
Malise grinned up at him. “On the day, my fairies came good. Bloody marvelous.” Then, surprised at Rupert’s lack of excitement, “You went clear you know. We’ve got the gold.”
Rupert shook his head. A loudspeaker confirmed his victory. He stayed absolutely calm. He didn’t smile or give Rocky great slaps of joy on the neck which was his normal practice. His hand didn’t even tremble. He slid off the horse, gave him a quick pat, and leant his head for a second against the red-gold satin neck. Everyone swarmed round him, cheering and yelling.
“Great, Rupe, terrific, you showed them.”
Rupert broke away from them and stumbled towards the tunnel. Everyone followed him, cheering. Malise fought his way back to Rupert’s side.
“Leave him alone,” he snarled at the pack, suddenly losing his temper. “Can’t you understand the strain he’s been under?”
“It’s all right,” he said gently to Rupert.
Rupert turned, his eyes streaming. “A moron, a schoolgirl, and a cuckold,” he said. “We took on the whole bloody world.”
“And beat them,” said Malise.
Halfway down the tunnel Rupert slumped against the wall, shutting his eyes, battling to stop the tears.
“I’m sorry,” he mumbled. “Been a bit of a strain the last few days. Too much dope, not much sleep. Oh, Christ.”
“Look,” said Malise, patting Rupert’s good shoulder, “over the years I’ve seldom seen eye to eye with you. But I have to hand it to you today. Without doubt you produced the finest and bravest display of riding I’ve ever seen. You made the other riders look like gymkhana kids. No one in that stadium or watching it on television will ever forget it.”
Rupert sniffed and wiped away the tears with the back of his hand.
“Think Jake would’ve beaten me?”
“My dear boy, today no one could have beaten you.”
Rupert stretched out his good hand and grabbed Malise’s arm.
“I’ve always given you a hard time,” he said shakily, “but I guess you’re the best, too.”
Odd, thought Malise, how the moments of greatest happiness come from the people you least expect.
Suddenly Rupert brightened perceptibly. “I put a monkey on our winning,” he said. “I must have made a fortune.”
Chestnut, dappled gray, and dark bay, they walked proudly into the arena, ears pricked, eyes bright, knowing they were the best in the world. On their backs rode Rupert and Ivor in their red coats, with Fen in black in the center. And realizing once again they were riding one man short, the magnanimous crowd cheered them to the top of the stadium. Everywhere, Union Jacks seemed to be waving.
‘And straight against that great array
“Mummy,” said Georgina Hamilton in Scotland, “you really must allow me to meet Rupert. I mean, he may be old and frightfully wicked, but he is phenomenally attractive. And they always say it’s best to start with an older man.”
Tabitha, who’d been allowed to stay up, bounced on Amanda’s knee.
“Daddy jump,” she said. “Daddy jump well.”
“He did indeed, darling,” said Amanda. She turned to Rollo, trying to keep her elation within bounds. “If that doesn’t get Rupert a safe seat, nothing will.”
“He is stunning,” said Georgina. “Oh, promise you’ll introduce me.”
It’s a good thing, thought Amanda, that Georgina is going back to boarding school next week.
“Want Mummy. When will I see Mummy?” said Marcus for the hundredth time that day.
“I’m so proud of her,” said Tory. “She rode so wonderfully well. It’s so awful that such a marvelous victory should be blighted by the other thing. Jakey must be heartbroken not to be part of it.”
“He couldn’t come back into that,” said Dino. “I guess he didn’t want to rock any more boats. If he’s coming back, I figure it’ll be later.”
* * *
Malise followed them with his military walk, marching on air. The crowd once again gave an extra cheer in appreciation of Dizzy and Sarah in their Union Jack shorts.
As she stood on the highest middle step of the podium, Fen was still smaller than Carol Kennedy.
“Dino will be very proud of you,” he said, kissing her.
“You’d have pulled it off if he hadn’t dropped out,” said Fen.
Carol shrugged: “You’d have pulled it off more easily if you’d had Jake.”
“We might not have,” said Fen. “We were more of a team than ever before.”
The president’s wife came forward in a pale blue dress and Fen bowed her head as the pink, blue, and green ribbon was hung round her neck. As though it were in braille, she put her hand up to touch the gold, tracing the lady with her sheaf of corn on one side, the athlete borne aloft on the other.
“We got a gold,” she said incredulously.
“Team gold’s the best,” said Rupert.
They watched the British flag slide up the white pole. A breath of wind stretched it out. Never had the National Anthem sounded so beautiful.
“God save,” began Fen, then found she couldn’t go on. Tears splashed onto her high cheekbones. Rupert put his hand on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.
When the music stopped she turned back to him, burying her face in his shoulder.
“What shall we do this evening?” he said.
“You ought to go to bed,” said Fen.
“How about a really marvelous fuck?” said Rupert.
Fen burst out laughing.
“I’ve always wanted you,” said Rupert, kissing her.
“Hey, lay off,” howled Dino, hurling a cushion at the television set.
* * *
