Goldengirl

‘In the name of the Lord?’ said Serafin. ‘That’s something we didn’t consider, Sammy.’

Klugman laughed. ‘If Dryden’s as good as you say, the Lord would have to pay a bundle for exclusive rights.’

Fourteen

Dryden arrived in Eugene as scheduled on Thursday, July 10, making the 800-mile trip north along the Pacific Coast by air taxi. Mahlon Sweet Field seethed with pinch-fit people carrying trade-marked sports bags, Adidas nudging Puma as they converged on the taxi stand. Bystanders debated which of the bag carriers were hammer-throwers, which high-jumpers. Now that the University of Oregon track was established as a venue for national track and field, jock-spotting in July was a local pastime.

The Hotel Jacaranda, where Serafin had booked rooms for everyone, was a four-story modern building north of town on the Coburg Road, away from the University, where most competitors were accommodated. It stood in nine acres of landscaped grounds, with tennis courts, nine-hole golf and two heated pools. The room Dryden was shown into was in the forty-dollar class; he wasn’t surprised there were no athletes staying there. ‘I’ve known big-name golfers come,’ the receptionist told him. ‘Track people, no.’

He took a slow shower. No sense in hurrying downstairs and catching Valenti or Sternberg at the bar. He wanted a clear head for the afternoon. His plans for selling Goldengirl were scheduled for a thorough going over. He had dug a little into the business histories of the consortium. Valenti he had confirmed as a go-getting executive who had more than doubled his share of the pharmaceutical industry in the last ten years. Oliver Sternberg had wrapped up the wrestling game less overtly; the back-room deal with the meet director in San Diego typified his business style.

The real surprise was Michael Cobb. The Old World exterior masked a dynamo. The Galsgear label, currently selling every garment the factories could produce, was about to be superseded by a new Cobb line. Defying the dogma of brand loyalty, he had made a policy of limiting each promotion to a two-year run, launching the replacement at the sales peak. The results had transformed the trade. In the last five years he had moved into shoes, lingerie and men’s casuals.

Add Serafin, and the line-up justified the groundwork Dryden had got through for this presentation. People like these weren’t going to be sidetracked by the newspeak of marketing; they wanted firm proposals, and they would dissect them point by point.

When he did go down, he was pleased to see Dick Armitage in the elevator. In thinking of the consortium, he never included Dick. Nice to know there was one he could rely on for support.

When they reached the restaurant, the others were already seated at a table for four. After the necessary courtesies, it was easy to move to one of the small tables overlooking the patio.

‘That’s really too bad,’ Armitage said with a broad grin. ‘I guess we’ll have to sit alone and talk tennis instead of track. Before you say one word about Wimbledon, Jack, I’m sorry. But I did take him to five sets this time, and I had a match point on my service. It’s moving my way. I’ll nail him in Forest Hills next month. See if I don’t.’

‘Forest Hills? When is that?’ asked Dryden vacantly.

‘Last week in August.’

‘Of course. I seem to have a mental block about the middle of August. Will you be going to Moscow for the Games?’

‘I’d like to,’ said Armitage. ‘Oh boy, just wouldn’t I? Goldengirl should be the sensation of all time. While I was in London they staged an international track meet with East Germany. I couldn’t get there, of course, but I saw some on TV. The Germans have this girl Ursula Krüll, who is faster than Stecher ever was. She left everyone standing in the sprints. The way the sportscaster was talking, you’d think they might as well hand her the gold medals now. Cute-looking for a Red, but oh, so confident. You could see it all in the way her ass moved. Know what I mean? God, yes, I’d like to see how she moves after she’s raced with Goldengirl, but I won’t, Jack. There’s no way I could take out the week before Forest Hills, even for this. You’ll be there, of course?’

‘Probably.’

‘You’re not sure?’

‘There’s something to be said for staying in America, teeing up some merchandising,’ said Dryden. ‘Still, I suppose by that stage of the game I can bring someone else in at this end. I could be useful with the PR side of things in Moscow. That’s what I tell myself, anyhow. If I’m honest, I want to be around in case of hitches. Your consortium is a volatile group, Dick. You didn’t see the panic in San Diego when Goldengirl misjudged one of the heats.’

‘I heard about it,’ said Armitage. ‘Didn’t Olly Sternberg fix things?’

‘That’s right. Very neatly.’

‘He’s a useful guy to have around if you’re down to the wire. That poundage is deceiving. He can move fast in a crisis.’