Lilian Jackson Braun - Cat 12 Who Knew A Cardinal

"I dunno. They took him in the ambulance. Can you let me have five bucks against my allowance?"

"You'll have to clear it with your mother."

There were only five entries in the last race, in which amateur riders were acceptable, and Kip as official bookmaker suggested going partners on the bets.

zFiona said, "I can't bet. I'm rooting for Robbie."

"So am I," said Qwilleran.

"We will, too," said the Bushlands.

The pool was called off, and the Bushland and MacDiarmid crowd swarmed down the hill to the infield fence, the better to cheer for Son of Cardinal. As the horses were led from the paddock, Robin Stucker looked pathetically young and thin in his red and gold silks.

"Oh, God! Oh, God! Let him win!" Fiona was saying softly.

They were off! And for the first time Qwilleran felt moved to cheer. They took the first hurdle and thundered up the slope, disappearing behind the distant trees. Before they came into view again, there was a shout of alarm from the spectators on the backstretch.

"Oh, no!" Fiona whimpered. "Oh, no! Somebody's down!"

The emergency vehicles rushed to the scene, and a crackling announcement came from the tower: "Number Four down on the third hurdle!"

Qwilleran's group groaned with relief. Robin was Number Three.

As the four horses finished the first lap, Robin's rooters were in full voice, cheering him over the next hurdle and up the slope to the hidden backstretch. When the field came into view again, Son of Cardinal was running a close second.

Other fans were. yelling, "Go, Spunky!" or, "Go Midnight!" But the crew from G-12 and G-ll was howling, "Go, Robbie!....Ride `im, Rob!... Keep it up! You're gaining!" Son of Cardinal took the hurdle smoothly and pelted up the slope. "Attaboy, Rob! Three to go!" There were moments of suspense as the horses covered the backstretch. "Here they come! He's ahead!... Go, Robbie!...

Fiona burst into tears. Vicki hugged her, and the others clustered around with congratulations.

"Let's have a drink to celebrate!" Bushy announced. "And it'll give the traffic time to thin out."

"If you don't mind," Fiona said, "I'll just walk over to the stables to see Robbie. Steve can drive me back to town."

"Okay," Vicki said, "but be all dressed and ready to go at seven-thirty. We'll pick you up."

The MacDiarmids collected their horde of youngsters and said goodbye. "When are you coming down again, Qwill?" asked Kip. "I'd like to show you my type collection."

On the way home in the van Qwilleran asked, "Does Robin's win have any importance other than the $5,000 purse?"

"It should increase the value of the horse and give Robin a boost up the ladder," Bushy said. "Also it should sweeten the deal for the Ambertons when they sell the farm."

"Are they selling? Why are they selling?"

"The way I hear it, Amberton wants to move to a warmer climate. He's pushing sixty and has arthritis pretty bad. His wife doesn't want to sell. She's the one who edits the Stablechat newsletter."

"Lisa is quite a bit younger than her husband," Vicki put in, "and she's interested in Steve O'Hare as well as the newsletter."

"That's unfounded gossip, Vicki," her husband reproved her.

"Steve is a womanizer," she explained to Qwilleran. "I hate that word, but that's what he is."

When they reached the turreted mansion on Main Street, Qwilleran could hear Koko howling.

Bushy said, "I hear the welcoming committee."

Qwilleran pounded his moustache with a fist. "That's not Koko's usual cry! Something's wrong!"

The three of them jumped out of the van, Bushy and Qwilleran dashing up the steps and into the foyer, with Vicki close behind. Koko was in the foyer, howling in that frenzied tone that ended in a falsetto shriek. Yum Yum was not in sight.

Bushy started up the stairs three at a time. Vicki ran to the intercom. "Grummy!" she shouted. "Are you all right? We're coming up!" Then she, too, bolted up the stairs.

Koko bounded to the elevator at the rear of the foyer, and Qwilleran followed. Touching the signal panel, he could hear a mechanical door closing. Then the car started to descend, activating a red light on the panel. Koko was quiet now, watching the elevator door.

The Bushlands had reached the third floor, and their voices echoed down the open stairwell. "She's not here!" Vicki screamed in panic.

Slowly the car descended, and slowly the door opened on the main floor. There they were - both of them: Grummy slumped on the needlepoint bench, and Yum Yum crouched at her feet, looking worried.

-10-

Vicki was hysterical. Bushy was yelling into two phones at once. Qwilleran quietly picked up both cats and carried them upstairs. From the window he could see the paramedics arriving, then the doctor's car, and finally the black wagon from the funeral home. When all was quiet, he went downstairs.

"Is there anything I can do?" he asked.

Vicki was walking back and forth and moaning. "Poor Grummy! The excitement was too much for her."

"She lived a long life, enjoying it to the very end," Qwilleran said, "and she went quickly. That's a blessing."