Goldengirl

‘You haven’t heard? You know there’s a rest day Tuesday. No track. NBC has just announced they are running a half-hour primetime special on Goldine. GOLD TOMORROW. Something like that — there could be a query in the title. I guess it’s a curtain-raiser for the Finals Wednesday, mainly clips of the action so far, but they have an interview lined up with Serafin. What worries me, Jack, is how that old man will come across. You follow me?’

‘I do.’ Dryden had followed, overtaken and raced ahead. It looked worse from there. ‘Thanks for the tip, Barney. I’ll try and find out what’s happening.’

He replaced the phone, his head reeling. GOLD TOMORROW? He needed to find out what was happening all right. The program could be the curtain-raiser Barney imagined, but with a title like that it could just as easily be Esselstyn’s hatchet job.

Monday’s program included the First Round and Quarter-Finals of the 200 metres, and the Semi-Finals of the 400 metres. At ten-fifty in the morning, when the 200 metres got under way, the Stadium was less than half full. As expected, the top-flight girls treated it as a workout, burning the first 150 metres and coasting the rest. There was no Olympic Record from Krüll, as there had been in Round One of the 100. She hit the stretch in line with the Russian third string and ran alongside her, twice turning to urge her on, and deliberately easing five metres from the line to let her cross first. As she returned to collect her warm-ups, with photographers in tow recording every step, she left no doubt in anyone’s mind that her confidence was buoyantly back.

Goldine’s heat followed. She qualified in a faster race, declining to dispute first place with two African girls. After it, she dodged the press by removing her spikes and making barefoot for the competitors’ exit. A U.S. official collected her clothes.

Earlier, Dryden had visited the Hotel Rossiya. Locating Serafin was not easy with a guest list six thousand strong. He visited each of the three blocks before tracking him to one of the restaurants.

Serafin looked tired. He attempted no explanation of his presence in Moscow. ‘I didn’t expect to see you here,’ he told Dryden. ‘You should be careful. People recognize me since I’ve been on television.’

‘That’s what I want to see you about. This program scheduled for tomorrow night.’

‘GOLD TOMORROW? I’m taking part,’ said Serafin. ‘It’s going out live to America. I have to be at the TV Center at five o’clock Wednesday morning. Ungodly hour.’

‘Have they told you what to expect?’

‘Yes. I insisted on a proper interview, not the insulting treatment I’ve had all week in the commentary box, where they push a microphone against your face and snatch it away before you have a chance to finish a sentence.’

‘They haven’t discussed the subject of the interview?’

‘Goldengirl. What else? As she won’t condescend to appear on the program herself, I’m the star guest.’

‘What will you tell them?’

Serafin gave a thin smile over his coffee cup. ‘Afraid of what I’ll say?’

‘Afraid of what a hostile interviewer might get you to say,’ said Dryden. ‘A TV interview can be a grueling experience.’

‘I’m not new to it,’ Serafin pointed out. ‘I’ve been on Science Forum.’

‘This may not be so cozy,’ said Dryden. He told Serafin everything he knew about Esselstyn.

At the end, Serafin was unmoved. ‘I can’t see the producer having any truck with a man like that,’ he said. ‘Just let them try taking up my time with impertinent questions. I’ve been pushed aside all week. It won’t happen this time.’

When he got to the Stadium, Dryden went looking for Klugman. He spotted him in the section reserved for team officials. Klugman came out looking worried.

‘Anything wrong?’

‘I hope not,’ said Dryden. ‘Has a character named Esselstyn been bothering you? Short, curly hair, dark, around thirty. Fancy dresser.’

‘What did you say his name was? Could be the creep that tried to buy me a drink Sunday,’ said Klugman. ‘Something about going on TV. I told him what to do with his TV show.’

‘You didn’t discuss Goldine’s training with him?’

‘What kind of goof do you take me for?’ said Klugman, flushing.

‘Sorry. I needed to know. Esselstyn is dangerous,’ Dryden explained. He brought Klugman up to date. ‘I believe they tried to get Goldine for this program.’