df.theedge-第42部分

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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