Vet in Harness Read online

bull in the vain hope that I might frighten him back whence he came; and

  the only thing that kept me there was the knowledge that every inch he

  scrambled out was taking me further from Mr$ Hodgson's glorious supper.

  I stood my ground until the snorting, bellowing creature was two thirds

  over, hanging grotesquely with the top of the door digging deep into his

  abdomen, then with a final plunge he was into the yard and I ran for

  cover. But the bull was not bent on mischief; he took one look at the

  open gate into the field and thundered through it like an express train.

  From behind a stack of milk churns I watched sadly as he curveted

  joyously over the grass, revelling in his new found freedom. Bucking and

  kicking, tail in the air he headed for the far horizon where the wide

  pasture dipped to a beck which wandered along the floor of a shallow

  depression. And as he disappeared over the brow of the hill the last

  hope of my spareribs went with him.

  "It'll tek us an hour to catch that bugger,' grunted Ernest gloomily.

  I looked at my watch. Half past six. The bitter injustice of the whole

  thing overwhelmed me and I set up a wail of lamentation.

  "Yes, dammit, and I've got an appointment in Darrowby at seven o'clock!'

  I stamped over the cobbles for a moment or two then swung round on old

  Ted. "I'll never make it now ... I'll have to ring my wife .. . have you

  got a phone?'

  Ted's drawl was lazier than ever. "Nay, we 'aven't got no phone. Ah

  don't believe in them things.' He fished out a tobacco tin from his

  pocket, unscrewed the lid and produced a battered timepiece which he

  scrutinised without haste. "Any road, there's nowt to stop ye bein' back

  i' Darrowby by seven.'

  "But .. . but .. . that's impossible .. . and I can't keep these people

  waiting .. . I must get to a phone.'

  "Doan't get s'flustered, young man.' The old man's long face creased

  into a soothing smile. "Ah tell ye you won't be late.'

  I waved my arms around. "But he's just said it'll take an hour to catch

  that bull!'

  "Fiddlesticks! Ernest allus talks like that ... miserable Ah'll get bull

  in i' five minutes.'

  "Five minutes! That's ridiculous! I'll .. . I'll drive down the road to

  the nearest phone box while you're catching him.'

  "You'll do nowt of t'sort, lad.' Ted pointed to a stone water trough

  against the wall. "Go and sit thissen down and think of summat else .

  .. ah'll only be five minutes.'

  Wearily I sank on to the rough surface and buried my face in my hands.

  When I looked up the old man was coming out of the byre and in front of

  him ambled a venerable cow. By the number of rings on the long curving

  horns she must have been well into her teens; the gaunt pelvic bones

  stood out like a hatstand and underneath her a pendulous udder almost

  touched the ground.

  "Get out there awd lass,' Ted said and the old cow trotted into the

  field, her udder swinging gently at each step. I watched her until she

  had disappeared over the hill, then turned to see Ted throwing cattle

  cake into a bucket.

  He strolled through the gate and as I gazed uncomprehendingly he began

  to beat the bucket with a stick. At the same time he raised his voice in

  a reedy tenor and called out across the long stretch of green.

  "Cush, cush!' he cried. "Cush, pet, cush!'

  Almost immediately the cow reappeared over the brow and just behind her

  the bull. I looked with wonder as Ted banged on his bucket and the cow

  broke into a stiff gallop with my patient close by her side. When she

  reached the old man she plunged her head in among the cake while the

  bull, though he was as big as she, pushed his nose underneath her and

  seized one of her teats in his great mouth. It was an absurd sight but

  she didn't seem to mind as the big animal, almost on his knees, sucked

  away placidly.

  In fact it was like a soothing potion because when the cow was led

  inside he followed; and he made no complaint as I slipped the ring in

  his nose and fastened it with the screw which mercifully had survived

  inside Herbert's cap.

  "Quarter to seven!' I panted happily as I jumped into the driving seat.

  "I'll get there in time now.' I could see Helen and me standing on the

  Hodgson's step and the door opening and the heavenly scent of the

  spareribs and onions drifting out from the kitchen.

  I looked again at the scarecrow figure with that hat brim drooping over

  the calm eyes. "You did a wonderful job there, Mr Buckle. I wouldn't

  have believed it if I hadn't seen it. It was amazing how that bull

  followed the cow in like that.'

  The old man smiled and I had a sudden surging impression of the wisdom

  in that quiet mind.

  "There's nowt amazint about it, lad, it's most nat'ral thing in "'world.

  That's is mother ~

  Chapter Thirty-two.

  I slowed down and gazed along the farm lane. That was Tristan's car

  parked against the byre and inside, behind that green door, he was

  calving a cow. Because Tristan's student days were over. He was a fully

  fledged veterinary surgeon now and the great world of animal doctoring

  with all its realities stretched ahead.

  Not for long, though, because like many others he was bound for the army

  and would leave soon after myself. But it wouldn't be so bad for Tristan

  because at least he would be doing his own job. When Siegfried and I had

  volunteered for service there had been no need for our profession in the

  army so we had gone into RAF aircrew which was the only branch open to

  our 'reserved occupation'. But when it came to Tristan's turn the

  fighting had escalated in the far east and they were crying out for vets

  to doctor the horses, mules, cattle, camels.

  The timing suggested that the Gods were looking after him as usual. In

  fact I think the Gods love people like Tristan who sway effortlessly

  before the winds of fate and spring back with a smile, looking on life

  always with blithe optimism. Anyway it seemed natural and inevitable

  that whereas Siegfried and I as second class aircraftmen pounded the

  parade ground for weary hours Captain Tristan Farnon sailed off to the

  war in style.

  But in the meantime I was glad of his help. After my departure he would

  run things with the aid of an assistant, then, when he left, the

  practice would be in the hands of two strangers till we returned. It

  seemed strange but everything was impermanent at that time.

  I drew up and looked thoughtfully at the car. This was Mark Dowson's

  place and when I had rung the surgery from out in the country Helen told

  me about this calving. I didn't want to butt in and fuss but I couldn't

  help wondering how Tristan was getting on, because Mr Dowson was a dour,

  taciturn character who wouldn't hesitate to come down on a young man if

  things went wrong.

  Still, I hadn't anything to worry about because since he qualified

  Tristan was doing fine. The farmers had always liked him during his

  sporadic visits as a student but now that he was on the job regularly

  the good reports were coming in thick and fast.