MRS. T-J CRUISED TO THE FINISH, AWARE THAT FOR SOME extraordinary reason, Rebellion had crashed into the barrier. She stepped out of Jam & Jerusalem and accepted Derek’s congratulations, then turned immediately to where she had seen Jack Jr. leave the track. As she walked over, she realised there was no applause, nor was the WI theme tune playing, and nobody sang. In fact, it was eerily quiet.
“What’s going on here?” she said authoritatively, but John Thornbull raised his arms sideways, banning her approach. “Best stay where you are, Mrs. Tollervey-Jones,” he said. “We’re trying to clear a space.”
Then two policemen emerged from the crowd, and in no time had moved curious onlookers out of the way. An ambulance, already on duty in the village in case of need, came screaming down the track, and Mrs. T-J saw to her horror that three blanket-wrapped figures were then loaded on to stretchers and lifted quickly inside. The silence continued until the ambulance had left the village, and then a different kind of noise began. This time it was full of anxious voices and crying children. Some adults were crying unashamedly, too.
“Attention, please,” said a voice over the loudspeakers. “There has unfortunately been an accident on the track, but those involved have been taken to hospital, not thought to be seriously hurt. We are therefore happy to announce that the champion driver of the first Long Farnden grand prix is Mrs. Tollervey-Jones, well-known charity worker and magistrate!”
Somebody tentatively clapped, and slowly others joined in, until a decent reception was given to the worried-looking champion. She made an effort, waved and smiled, and accepted the silver cup, which she had given for the occasion, from her grinning son Robert.
“Well done, Ma,” he said, and kissed her cheek. As he did so, he whispered in her ear that in his opinion the casualties were more than seriously hurt. She nodded, and said that as soon as possible she would be in touch with the hospital to discover the truth.
AS SOON AS LOIS COULD MAKE HER WAY FROM THE SHOP TO THE place where she last saw Paula Hickson, little Frankie in her arms, she saw that she had gone. “Did Mrs. Hickson go with the ambulance?” she asked a stranger.
“Wouldn’t know,” he said. “There was a woman holding a baby, and she screamed and ran when that box went off the course. I think she went down to where it happened.”
Lois retraced her steps, and found Derek with his arms around Paula, and Josie holding the baby. “Douglas has gone to find a policeman to take her in to Tresham,” Derek said. “Only a police car could get through this crush.”
“I can take her,” Lois said. “I left my van outside the village, parked down by Gypsies’ Thicket. Come on, Paula, and you, Josie. It’ll be quicker than waiting for the police.”
“What about the twins?” Paula said.
Lois saw then that the two were standing behind their mother, looking terrified.
“They can come home with me,” said Gran. “Come on, loves, we’ll go and find some ice cream. Everywhere’s sold out, but I’ve got a secret horde in my freezer. We’ll see you later, Lois.”
The twins looked doubtfully at their mother, but she nodded and said they were to go along with Gran. “I’ll soon be back,” she said. Lois shepherded Paula and Josie, still holding Frankie, through the lingering crowds and down to where her van was parked.
PAULA HAD RALLIED A LITTLE, AND SAID WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO call the hospital on a mobile and find out if they were all… She dried up here, and Josie looked at her mother. “What d’you think?” she said.
“Probably best to wait, Paula,” Lois said. “Not far now, and you know what mobiles are. The signal will probably fail, and then we’ll get a muddled message, and it could be a really bad thing to do.”
“Okay,” Paula said, and took Frankie from Josie. “He should be in his safety seat,” she added, “but I expect if we get stopped I can say it’s an emergency.”
“We won’t be stopped,” said Lois. “I know a back way to the hospital. Only about five minutes and we’ll be there. Hold on, Paula.”
JACK HICKSON SR., BANDAGED UP LIKE THE INVISIBLE MAN, KNEW that Paula would be coming. He knew this absolutely, and had insisted on waiting in reception so that he could be with her from the moment she arrived.
“Are you all right, Mr. Hickson?” The young nurse looked at him anxiously. She had been told to not let him out of her sight, as he could easily be suffering from confusion with delayed concussion.
“As well as can be expected,” he said, patting her hand with a swathe of bandages wound round his arm and wrist.
“Let’s sit down, then,” she said. “You’ll still be able to spot your wife when she arrives.”