The Way to Dusty Death

Harlow remained thoughtful for some seconds, apparently lost in deep thought, then clasped Mary’s hands with his free one. He said: ‘Mary, I love you. Hang on, will you? Back in a couple of minutes.’

One minute later Harlow was in MacAlpine’s room. Dunnet was there and he had the appearance of a man who was with difficulty keeping his anger under control. MacAlpine was clearly highly distressed. He shook his head many times.

He said: ‘Not at any price. Not under any circumstances. No, no, no. It’s just not on. One day the world champion, the next trundling a lumbering transporter all over the place. Why, man, you’d be the laughing stock of Europe.’

‘Maybe.’ Harlow’s voice was quiet, without bitterness. ‘But not half as much a laughing stock as I’d be if people knew the real reason for my retiral, Mr. MacAlpine.’

‘Mr. MacAlpine? Mr. MacAlpine? I’m always James to you, my boy. Always have been:’-

‘Not any more, sir. You could explain about my so-called double vision, say that I’ve been retained as a specialist adviser. What more natural? Besides, you do need a transporter driver.

MacAlpine shook his head in slow and complete’ finality. ‘Johnny Harlow will never drive any transporter of mine and that’s the end of it.’

MacAlpine covered his face with his hands. Harlow. looked at Dunnet who jerked his head towards the door. Harlow nodded and left the room.

Dunnet let some seconds pass in silence, then he said, picking his words carefully and without emotion: ‘And that’s the end of me. I’ll say goodbye to you, then, James MacAlpine. I’ve enjoyed every minute of my assignment. Except for the last minute.’

MacAlpine removed his hands, slowly lifted his head and stared at Dunnet in wonderment. He said: ‘What on earth do you mean?’

‘I mean this. Isn’t it obvious? I value my health too much to stay around and feel sick every time I think of what you’ve done. That boy lives for motor racing, it’s the only thing he knows and now he has n& place left in the world to go. And I would remind you, James MacAlpine, that in the space of four short years the Coronado has been hauled up from the depths of near obscurity and made into the most successful and respected Grand Prix racing car in the world through one thing and one thing only — the incomparable driving genius of that boy to whom you have just shown the door. Not you, James, not you. Johnny Harlow made Coronado. But you can’t afford to be associated with failure, he’s no use to you any more so you drop him into the discard. I hope you sleep well tonight, Mr. MacAlpine. You should do. You have every reason to be proud of yourself.’

Dunnet turned to leave. MacAlpine, with tears in his eyes, spoke softly. ‘Alexis.’

Dunnet turned.

MacAlpine said: ‘If you ever speak to me like that again I’ll break your blasted neck. I’m tired, I’m dead tired, and I want to sleep before dinner. Go tell him he can have any bloody job he likes on the Coronado-mine, if he so cares.’

Dunnet said: I’ve been bloody rude. Please accept my apologies. And thank you very much, James.’

MacAlpine smiled faintly. ‘Not Mr. MacAlpine?’

‘I said thank you, James’.’

Both men smiled at each other. Dunnet left, closing the door with a quiet hand, went down in to the lobby where Harlow and Mary were seated side by side, untouched drinks before them. The aura of profound despondency that overhung their table was almost palpable. Dunnet picked up a drink from the bar, joined Harlow and Mary, smiled broadly, lifted his glass and said: ‘Cheers.

Here’s to the fastest transporter driver in Europe.’

Harlow left his drink untouched. He said: ‘Alexis, I’m in one of my less humorous moods this evening.’

Dunnet said cheerfully: ‘Mr. James MacAlpine has had a sudden and complete change of mind and heart. His final words were ‘Go and tell him he can have any blasted job he likes on the Coronado-mine, if he so cares.’’ Harlow shook his head. Dunnet went on: ‘God’s sake, Johnny, I’m not having you on.’

Harlow shook his head again. ‘I’m not doubting you, Alexis. I’m just flabbergasted. How on earth did you manage-well, perhaps it’s just as well you don’t tell me.’ He smiled faintly. ‘I don’t think I really want Mr. MacAlpine’s job.’

‘Oh, Johnny!’ There were tears in her eyes but not tears of sorrow, not in that radiant face. She rose, flung her arms around his neck and kissed him on the cheek.

Harlow, though slightly startled, was not noticeably embarrassed.

That’s my girl,’ Dunnet said approvingly. ‘A last long farewell to the fastest lorry driver in Europe.’

She stared at him. ‘What on earth do you mean?’

The transporter leaves for Marseilles tonight. Someone has to drive it there. This is a job usually reserved for the transporter driver.’

Harlow said: ‘My God! I’d rather overlooked that part of it. Now?’

‘As ever was. There appears to be a considerable degree of urgency. I think you’d better see James now.’

Harlow nodded, rose and left for his room where he changed into dark trousers, navy roll-neck sweater and leather jacket. He went to see MacAlpine and found him stretched out on his bed looking ill and pale and little short of positively haggard.

MacAlpine said: I have to admit, Johnny, that the reason for my decision is based largely on self-interest. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, good mechanics though they are, couldn’t drive a wheel- barrow. Jacobson has already left for Marseilles to make loading arrangements for the morning. It’s asking a lot, I know, but I must have number four, the new X car and the spare engine at the Vignolles test track by noon tomorrow — we have the track for two days only. A lot of driving, I know, and you’ll have only a few hours’ sleep, if that. You’ll have to start loading in Marseilles by 6 a.m.’

Tine. Now what shall I do with my own car?’

‘Ah! The only transporter driver in Europe with his own Ferrari. Alexis will take my Aston while I, personally, will drive your rusty old bucket of bolts to Vignolles tomorrow. Then you’ll have to take it to our Marseilles garage and leave it there. For keeps, I’m afraid.’

‘I understand, Mr. MacAlpine.’

‘Mr. MacAlpine, Mr. MacAlpine. Are you sure this is what you want to do, Johnny?’

‘Never surer, sir.’

Harlow went down to the lounge to find that Mary and Dunnet were no longer there. He went upstairs again, found Dunnet in his room and asked: ‘Where’s Mary?’

‘Gone for a walk.’

‘Bloody chilly evening to go for a walk.’

‘I don’t think she’s in any condition to feel the cold,’ Dunnet said drily. ‘Euphoria, I believe they call it. Seen the old boy?’

‘Yes. The old boy, as you call him, really is becoming an old boy. He’s put on five years in the last six months.’

‘More like ten years. Understandable with his wife vanishing just like that. Maybe if you’d lost someone to whom you’ve been married for twenty-five years —’

‘He’s lost more than that.’

‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘I don’t even know myself. His nerve, his self-confidence, his drive, his will to fight and — win.’

Harlow smiled. ‘Some time this week we’ll give him those lost ten years back again.’

‘You’re the most incredibly arrogant, self-confident bastard I’ve ever known,’ Dunnet said admiringly. When Harlow made no reply, he shrugged and sighed. ‘Well, to be a world champion I suppose you have to have some little belief in yourself. And now what?’

‘Off. On my way out I’ll pick up from the hotel safe this little bauble that I’m going to deliver to our friend in the rue St Pierre — seems a damned sight safer than trying to walk to the Post Office. How about having a drink in the bar and seeing if anyone’s interested in me?’

‘Why should they be? They have the right cassette — or think they have, which amounts to the same thing.’

‘That’s as maybe. But it’s just possible that the un- godly might change their minds