BLINDFOLD

by Lyndon Stacey

  `Back in a minute,' he said, climbing to his feet with an effort and leaving the haven of the lighted building. Tim barely glanced up. Outside, surprised by the wobbly weakness of his legs, Gideon headed for where he'd left Pippa's car, answering a firefighter's call of, `All right, mate?' with a wave of his hand. He supposed `all right' was a relative term; his throat and chest burned deeply and he was constantly fighting the need to cough.

  The small crowd of onlookers by the gate had dispersed, uninterested now the drama was over. The two fire engines from the field were packed up and lumbering away down the lane, blue lights off. Only the one in the yard remained, and one police car. Close by, he could see Hanley deep in conversation with one of the police officers but made no move to approach them.

  Pippa's runabout seemed mercifully undamaged, although one window was partially open and when Gideon reached through it, the seat on which his mobile phone lay felt suspiciously damp.

  He got through to the Priory almost immediately and Pippa answered.

  'Gideon! Where are you? I thought you'd be back ages ago. Rachel was convinced you must have run into that psychopathic ex-husband of hers, and she's been picturing you lying in a ditch on some deserted country road.'

  `No. Nothing like that,' he assured her. `I haven't seen hide nor hair of him. I'm at the Sanctuary - you know, where my sister's been helping out. They've had a bit of a calamity and I shall probably be here most of the night, so do you think Rachel could possibly bunk down with you? She won't want to be on her own in the Gatehouse.'

  `No problem,' Pippa said instantly, as he'd expected she would. `But what's happened? Is everyone all right?'

  Gideon explained briefly and finished by asking to speak to Giles.

  Ten minutes or so later, when Gideon made his way back to the others, he found Tim sitting almost exactly as he'd left him, except that he'd put his empty mug on to the floor beside him and was resting his chin on his hands. The blank gaze was unchanged and he looked worn out and desperately depressed. Naomi, in the other chair, was curled up asleep, and he'd passed Rose in the yard, dispensing tea to the thirsty firefighters.

  `Tim?' he said softly.

  He blinked and looked up.

  `How many donkeys are there altogether?'

  He could see the effort as Tim tried to concentrate. `Er, thirteen, I think. Yes, thirteen. They won't have gone far, though I suppose we ought to go and look for there. Naomi got some of them into the barn field, so the others will be around, they're practically inseparable.'

  `No, it's okay. There were seven in the barn field and three hanging around outside, which I let in. And there are three in the field down by the gate. I nearly ran those over on the way in.'

  Tim sighed. `God knows what we're going to do with them now, though. Some of them are pretty ancient. They belonged to an old lady who had to go into hospital. The thing is, they need shelter and we haven't got any now, except the old barn, and that's full of hay.' He ran his filthy fingers through his hair. `Oh, God, what a mess!'

  `Well, I think I've found them temporary accommodation, if they can travel, that is,' Gideon said. `And any other of the animals.'

  Tim's reaction was subdued. `Thanks, but I'm afraid we'll have to try and manage here. There's no way I can afford to pay rent for them all. God knows how long it'll be before we're back on our feet again.'

  Gideon shook his head. `There's no question of rent. My friend Giles has offered to have them at Home Farm, about half a mile from the Priory. You'll have to supply whatever feed they need and the stables might need a bit of a spring clean, but there's grass and water for free, if you want it.'

  `If I want it?' Tim echoed. `Where's the catch? There has to be one.

  `Not that I know of. Unless I phone to cancel, a horsebox will be here in the morning. So it's up to you.'

  `Thanks. That's brilliant,' Tim said, his eyes at last registering a spark of renewed optimism. `I owe you one.'

  Gideon shook his head and smiled, then wished he hadn't, as his cracked lips protested.

  Having completed her mercy mission, Rose returned to her cottage and George, with heartfelt thanks ringing in her ears. Tim and Gideon spread a blanket over Naorni and left her sleeping in the chair for want of a more comfortable place to offer her, and because, as Tim rightly said, if they did wake her up to move her, she would no doubt insist on helping them with the animals.

  The firefighters attached to the remaining engine turned their attention to what was left of the straw bedding, raking it out into the walkway between the sad remnants of the two stableblocks, and thoroughly sousing it.

  Tim had put most of the animals and birds in the fenced-off area of grass behind the surgery, some in transport carriers, some in boxes, and one or two rabbits loose. With the temperature rapidly falling, he decided it would be best to move them all into the surgery for the night, where they could at least be kept warm. One or two were exhibiting signs of severe stress, and he told Gideon he was quite prepared to find that they'd lost some by the morning.

  They had just finished settling the last of the birds into their makeshift homes when they were joined by Naomi, followed closely by the police officer who had handled Joey so skilfully.

  `The constable would like a word,' Naomi said, looking much better for her hour or two of sleep. She'd washed her face and tied her hair back and seemed ready for whatever was to come.

  `PC Logan,' the officer supplied, edging into the surgery, which was by this time decidedly cramped.

  In the light of the emergency gas lamp Gideon recognised him as the first officer he had seen at Chilminster, when he'd reported the low-flying helicopter. About the same age as Gideon, he wore his light brown hair cropped short under his peaked cap, and pale blue eyes regarded the world with a patient cynicism from a lean, uncompromising face. Although he was no taller than Naomi, there would never be any question of dismissing him as of no account; his easy self-confidence was completely unassumed. A good man to have on your side, Gideon thought, and a relentless adversary.

  `How're they doing?' Logan asked, gesturing at the multitude of cages. `Will it affect them badly?'

  `Most will be okay, I think,' Tim replied. `It's a bit early to say, for sure.'

  `Did you lose many?'

  `One or two. It spread so fast. Do they know how it started yet?' `As a matter of fact, that's what I wanted to see you about. Station Officer Hanley has notified the FIU and until they arrive I must ask you to stay away from the area of the fire, especially the house and the mobile home. At the moment it looks as if that's where it started.'

  `FIU?' Naomi repeated.

  `The Fire Investigation Unit.'

  `They think it's arson, then?' Tim asked. It was a possibility he had been talking over with Gideon while they worked.

  Logan shook his head. `I'm afraid I can't discuss it with you at the moment. Let's just say that the cause of the fire is not immediately obvious and it's Fire Brigade policy to investigate when that's the case. There may be a completely innocent explanation.' He paused, pursing his lips slightly. `I understand you've had a bit of trouble here . . .'

  `Yes, we have, but I never thought ... I mean, if it is arson will you be able to find out who did it?'

  `We'll do our best,' Logan promised. `But for now, if you feel up to answering a few questions ... ?'

  White-faced and strained, with bloodshot eyes and a nagging cough, Tim hardly looked eager to undergo a cross-examination, but he assented wearily and followed Logan back into the reception area.

  `Poor old Tim looks rough,' Gideon remarked to his sister, as the door shut behind the pair.

  `He's not the only one,' Naomi responded. `I've seen you looking better.'

  The sun rose cheerfully in a dazzling blue sky the next morning oblivious to the havoc below. During the night, the wind had dropped and along with it the temperature. When Gideon and Tim ventured out into the scene of devastation that the farmyard had become, there was ice on the puddles
in the lane and a white frost on the fields and hedges.

  The final fire engine and its attendant crew were ready to leave, having kept an eye on the blackened ruins throughout the night. The dour-faced leading firefighter officially took his leave of the two men, informing them that the long awaited FIU had recently arrived, having been detained at another incident the previous night.

  With the fire engine gone, the extent of the damage seemed suddenly to hit home. Somebody, presumably Logan or one of his colleagues, had cordoned off the main area of the blaze with fluorescent orange tape, and beyond it the blackened skeletal remains of the old brick stables were all that remained upright. The new wooden stables and the range of small animal and birdcages that had stood at the end of the rows were just so much debris lying amidst the icy pools.

  On the far side of the row of charred stumps that had been the hedge, the twisted shell of the mobile home promised no hope of salvage, and behind it the farmhouse stood with glassless windows staring blankly, like a familiar friend without their spectacles. The roof had been completely destroyed and soot coated all that could be seen of the inside and rose in fan-shapes from the window openings. The air was heavy with the acrid smell of smoke.

  As for himself, Gideon had come through his ordeal surprisingly well. His hands were worst affected, throbbing uncomfortably under the dressings. His eyes still smarted, and every now and then

  his breath caught in his sore throat, causing him to cough, but he knew he'd been incredibly lucky.

  He glanced across at Tim, whose lean, wiry frame drooped with a mixture of weariness and despair. As he watched, the vet's face became suddenly tight and bitter, and following the direction of his gaze he saw a helmeted figure come round the corner of the house, apparently intent upon inspecting the ground beneath his feet. He wore a fireman's protective jacket with FIU across the back in large, fluorescent lettering.

  `Do you know, last night Logan actually asked me if I had started the fire?' Tim said then, scowling with remembered anger. `What the hell does he think I've been working my guts out here for, these last months? I couldn't believe it!'

  `It's his job,' Gideon pointed out reasonably. `He doesn't know you and he spends his life around criminals. I expect he was just testing your reaction. This place is your dream; I know that, but he doesn't. You can't blame him for his suspicion, it's what he's paid to do, the same as those guys.' He nodded towards the farmhouse.

  `Yeah, I know.' Tim sighed. `It's just ... Well, it's hard, when you've come close to losing everything you've worked for and dreamed about, to be more or less accused of starting the fire yourselfl'

  `Mm. Well, if it's any comfort, I got the distinct impression that Logan had more or less crossed you off his list of suspects after he'd questioned you last night. He's pretty shrewd.'

  `Well, he'd have to, surely? I mean, I'd be a bit bloody stupid to set fire to the place and then almost get myself toasted rescuing the animals, wouldn't I?'

  'Yes, but I suppose he could argue that you hadn't realised how quickly it would spread. That you only meant to burn the farmhouse and underestimated the strength of the wind.'

  `Why would I want to do that?' Tim protested. `It's in the middle of being renovated!'

  `Perhaps it was taking longer than you expected. Perhaps you

  couldn't afford to pay the builders,' Gideon suggested. `It happens.'

  `Yeah, I guess so. But not this time. I presume he's gone off to question the builders now. He asked me when they left yesterday, and to tell the truth, I couldn't remember. They've been here so long now they're like part of the fixtures and fittings. I couldn't even tell him how many were here yesterday. They come and go as they need to. It's not always the same ones.'

  `You're very trusting,' Gideon observed.

  `Well, there's nothing of value to go missing; the building inspectors visit to oversee the structural work; and I've got a quote for the work, in writing, so it's up to them how long they take - within reason. Besides, Tom Morgan, the contractor, is a good sort. I trust him. So as far as this goes,' he gestured at the dismal scene before them, `if it wasn't an accident, then I guess we all know where to look.'

  `There's just the little matter of evidence,' Gideon said. `We'll have to hope our friends over there turn something up.'

  The door of the reception area opened and Naomi appeared. She had spent the remainder of the night on the narrow camp bed that Tim kept in the surgery for emergencies. He and Gideon had taken turns on a mattress compiled of chair cushions for the four or five remaining hours; one sleeping, one keeping an eye on the animals.

  Naomi looked heavy-eyed and depressed. She shivered and hugged herself as the icy air found its way through her denim jacket and jumper.

  `Brrr! I hate the cold.' Winding an arm through one of Tim's, she reached up to kiss him fondly on the cheek. `I think you'll have to shave off what's left of your beard and start again,' she told him. `It looks rather the worse for wear.'

  ,I know.' He rubbed the singed remains, ruefully. `And I can't even claim it on the insurance!'

  `How are the animals?' Naomi asked. `I gather poor old Ferdy didn't make it.'

  Tim shook his head. They'd found the pheasant dead in the early hours. `He was very sick even before last night, so I wasn't surprised. We seem to be short of two rabbits, as well. I can only think they got through the hedge somehow, if you put them all in the garden.'

  `But I didn't,' Naomi said, remembering. `I put the first two in Gideon's car. Oh, my God! They must still be there! I meant to move them after we had our cup of tea but I fell asleep and then just clean forgot. The poor little sods!'

  `This might seem a silly question,' Gideon ventured cautiously, `but is it standard emergency procedure to house rabbits in cars?' Naomi had started towards Pippa's runabout, which stood with frosted windows near the gateway to the lane.

  `I was panicking,' she explained. `The fire was spreading so fast. I had to put them somewhere safe for the time being and there it was.'

  She reached the car and paused to try and rub the side window free from ice. `I hope they're okay. I can't see them.'

  The rabbits were eventually run to ground snuggled under a dog blanket on the floor behind the front seats. They were huddled together for warmth and seemed unconcerned by their odd surroundings but were, nonetheless, quite pleased to be transferred to more appropriate accommodation.

  The animals accounted for, the three of them made their way in Pippa's car to the nearest pub, and breakfast in front of a roaring fire. Though, as Gideon remarked, it was only a scant few hours since he would have sworn that he never wanted to see another fire as long as he lived.

  It was a busy day, one way and another, and quite late in the evening when Gideon finally turned Pippa's car towards the hospital to visit Jez.

  Pippa herself had turned up at the Sanctuary shortly after ten o'clock driving her horsebox in which to transport the donkeys to their temporary home on the Graylings estate. The donkeys, however, had other ideas, and it took the four of them almost two hours to load the stubborn beasts into the lorry.

  Pippa complained that Gideon's supposed powers of communication and persuasion were not being a great deal of help, whereupon he replied, quite straight-faced, that he had never learned to speak donkey. The truth was, in fact, that with one or two exceptions, the donkeys weren't particularly apprehensive, merely obstinate, and no amount of communication would have made any difference at all. They had made up their minds.

  The breakthrough came when they identified the ringleader, who went by the highly imaginative name of Murphy, and having almost bodily picked him up and carried him into the horsebox, found the others much more readily coaxed up the ramp. In fact, the last two, temfied that they'd be left behind, charged in by themselves, almost pulling Tim over in the process.

  Deciding that at least one of them should stay at the Sanctuary, Tim sent Naomi off in the wake of the horsebox to see the donkeys safely installed in their
new quarters. Gideon followed shortly after in Pippa's car, stopping briefly at the Callows' tiny cottage to thank them both for what they had done.

  Rose was anxious to ply him with coffee and a full fried breakfast despite the lateness of the hour but he declined, stressing the importance of his being present when the donkeys were unloaded. He thanked them both warmly, well aware that he owed his well-being, if not his life, to George.

  He, a gaunt eighty-something with pale rheumy eyes and a pronounced tremor in his hands, positively glowed under the praise, and Gideon guessed that it had probably been a long time since he'd felt of much use to anyone.

  Rose told Gideon how pleased they had both been to see Mr Reynolds doing something with the farm. George had apparently been gardener at the Grange before the war, when the farm had been part of the estate. Then, at the outbreak of war, the military had taken both properties over and the whole area was declared out of bounds.

  `They was coming and going at all hours. All very hush-hush. There was rumours of spies, code-cracking, a secret bunker and all, so I heard,' George told him. `Some folk even said they was interrogating POW's there. Said you could hear the screams on a quiet night. I don't know about that. I never heard anything. Anyway, they put wire up and I wasn't allowed anywhere near the place. Fair broke my heart it did, seeing that beautiful garden go wild, but then I was called up and I had other things to worry about, didn't I?'

  Gideon agreed that he probably had, and eventually took his leave, promising to visit the pair again when things were a bit less hectic. They seemed pathetically pleased and he realised they were probably very lonely, living as they did, miles from the nearest town.

  The installation of the donkeys at the Priory's Home Farm had gone smoothly enough. Pippa backed the lorry up to the doorway of the barn that had been made ready for them, and they more or less installed themselves, bustling down the ramp to explore the interior with obvious and rather comical delight.