Less than two hours later Ballard was in hospital.
Six weeks later Ballard was still bed-ridden and bored. His broken leg was a long time in healing, not so much because of the broken bone but because the muscles had been torn and needed time to knit together. He had been flown to London on a stretcher, whereupon his mother had swooped on him and carried him to her home. Normally, when in London, he lived in his own small mews flat, but even he saw the force of her arguments and succumbed to her ministrations. So he was bedridden and bored in his mothers house and hating every minute of it.
One morning, after a gloom-laden visit from his doctor who prophesied further weeks of bed-rest, he heard voices raised in argument coming from the floor below. The lighter tones were those of his mother but he could not identify the deeper voice. The distant voices rose and fell in cadences of antagonism, continuing for a quarter of an hour, and then became louder as the running fight ascended the stairs.
The door opened and his mother came into the room, lips pursed and stormy in the brow. Your grandfather insists on seeing you, she said curtly. I told him youre not well but he still insists hes as unreasonable as ever. My advice is not to listen to him, Ian. But, of course, its up to you youve always done as you pleased.
Theres nothing wrong with me besides a bad leg. He regarded his mother and wished, not for the first time, that she would show more sign of dress sense and not be so dowdy. Does he give me any option?
He says if you dont want to see him hell go away.
Does he, by God? He must have been touched by an angels wing. Im almost inclined to test this improbability. Sending Ben Ballard from a closed door was fit for inclusion in the Guinness Book of Records. Ian sighed. Youd better show him in.
I wish you wouldnt.
Bring him in, Mother; theres nothing wrong with me.
Youre as pig-headed as he is, she grumbled, but went to the door.
Ian had not seen old Ben for a year and a half and he was shocked at the transformation in the man. His grandfather had always been dynamic and bristling with energy but now he looked every day of his eighty-seven years. He came into the room slowly, leaning heavily upon a blackthorn stick; his cheeks were hollow and his eyes sunk deep into his head so that his normally saturnine expression was rendered skull-like. But there was still a faint crackle of authority as he turned his head and said snappily, Get me a chair, Harriet.
A small snort escaped her but she placed a chair next to the bed and stood by it. Ben lowered himself into it creakily, planted the stick between his knees and leaned on it with both hands. He surveyed Ian, his eyes sweeping the length of the bed from head to foot and then back to the head. A sardonic grin appeared. A playboy, hey! One of the jet-set! I suppose you were at Gstaad.
Ian refused to be drawn: he knew the old mans methods. Nothing so grand.
Ben grinned widely like a shark. Dont tell me you went on a package tour. One of his fingers lifted to point to the leg. It trembled slightly. Is it bad, boy?
It could have been worse it could have been taken off.
Must you say such things? Harriets voice was pained.
Ben chuckled softly, and then his voice hardened. So you went skiing and you couldnt even do that right. Was it on company time?
No, said Ian equably. And you know it. It was my first holiday for nearly three years.
Humph! But youre lying in that bed on company time.
Ians mother was outraged. Youre heartless!
Shut up, Harriet, said the old man without turning his head. And go away. Dont forget to close the door behind you.
Ill not be bullied in my own home.
Youll do as I say, woman. I have to talk business with this man.
Ian Ballard caught his mothers eye and nodded slightly. She made a spitting sound and stormed out of the room. The door slammed behind her. Your manners havent improved, Ian said flatly.
Bens shoulders shook as he wheezed with laughter. Thats why I like you, boy; no one else would have said that to my face.
Its been said often enough behind your back.
What do I care about whats said? Its what a man does that matters. Bens hands tightened momentarily upon his stick. I didnt mean what I said about you lying in bed on company time because youre not. We couldnt wait until youre up and about. Youve been replaced.
What do I care about whats said? Its what a man does that matters. Bens hands tightened momentarily upon his stick. I didnt mean what I said about you lying in bed on company time because youre not. We couldnt wait until youre up and about. Youve been replaced.
Fired!
In a manner of speaking. Therell be a job for you when youre fit enough. I think its a better job, but I doubt if you will.
That depends on what it is, said Ian cautiously.
Nearly four years ago we opened a mine in New Zealand gold. Now that the price of gold has gone up its beginning to pay its way and the prospects are good. The managing director is an old idiot called Fisher who was brought in for local reasons, but hes retiring next month. The stick thumped on the floor. The man is senile at sixty-five can you imagine that?
Ian Ballard was cautious when the Greeks came bearing gifts. So?
So do you want the job?
There had to be a catch. I might. When do I have to be out there?
As soon as possible. I suggest you go by sea. You can rest your leg as well on board a ship as here.
Would I have sole responsibility?
The managing director is responsible to the Board you know that.
Yes, and I know the Ballard set-up. The Board dances on strings pulled from London. I have no wish to be office boy to my revered uncles. I dont know why you let them get away with what theyre doing.
The old mans hands whitened as he clutched the knob on top of the blackthorn. You know I have no say in Ballard Holdings any more. When I set up the Trust I relinquished control. What your uncles do is their business now.
And yet you have a managing directorship in your gift?
Ben offered his sharklike grin. Your uncles are not the only ones who can pull strings from time to time. Mind you, I cant do it too often.
Ian thought about it. Where is the mine?
South Island. Bens voice was studiedly casual. Place called Hukahoronui.
No! It was torn from Ian involuntarily.
Whats the matter? Scared to go back? Bens upper lip drew back showing his teeth. If you are then youre no good blood of mine.
Ian took a deep breath. Do you know what it means? To go back? You know how I loathe the place.
So you were unhappy there that was a long time ago. Ben leaned forward, bearing down heavily on the stick. If you turn down this offer youll never be happy again I can guarantee it. And it wont be because of anything Ill do, for therell be no recriminations on my part. Its what youll have to live with inside yourself thatll do the trick. For the rest of your life youll wonder about it.
Ian stared at him. Youre an old devil.
The old man chuckled deep in his throat. Thats as may be. Young Ian, now listen you to me. I had four sons and three of them arent worth the powder to blow em to hell. Theyre conniving, theyre unscrupulous and theyre crooked, and theyre making Ballard Holdings into a stink in the City of London. Ben drew himself up. God knows I was no angel in my time. I was rough and tough, I drove a hard bargain and maybe I cut a corner when it was needed, but that was in the nature of the times. But nobody ever accused Ben Ballard of being dishonest and nobody ever knew me to go back on my word. With me it was a word and a handshake, and that was recognized in the City as an iron-clad contract. But nobody will take your uncles words not any more. Anyone dealing with them must hire a regiment of lawyers to scrutinize the fine print.
He shrugged. But there it is. They run Ballard Holdings now. Im an old man and theyve taken over. Its in the nature of things, Ian. His voice became milder. But I had a fourth son and I hoped for a lot from him, but he was ruined by a woman, just as she damned near ruined you before I had the wit to jerk you out of that valley in New Zealand.
Ians voice was tight. Lets leave my mother out of this.
Ben held up his hand placatingly. I like your loyalty, Ian, even though I think its misplaced. Youre not a bad son of your father just as he wasnt a bad son of mine not really. The trouble was I handled the matter badly at the time. He looked blindly into the past, then shook his head irritably. But thats gone by. Its enough that I got you out of Hukahoronui. Did I do right there?
Ians voice was low. Ive never thanked you for that. Ive never thanked you for that or for anything else.
Oh, you got your degree and you went to the Johannesburg School of Mines and from there to Colorado; and after that the Harvard Business School. You have a good brain and I didnt like to see it wasted. He chuckled. Bread cast on the waters, boy; bread cast on the waters. He leaned forward. You see, lad; Ive come for repayment.
Ian felt his throat constrict. What do you mean?
Youll please an old man by taking this job in Hukahoronui. Mind, you dont have to take it youre a free agent. But Id be pleased if you did.
Do I have to make up my mind now?
Bens voice was sardonic. Do you want to talk it over with your mother?
Youve never liked her, have you?
She was a whining, puling schoolmarm, afraid of the world, who dragged a good man down to her crawling level. Now shes a whining, puling woman, old before her time because shes always been afraid of the world and of living, and shes trying to do the same to another man. Ben was harsh. Why do you think I call you boy and lad when youre a grown man of thirty-five? Because thats all you are yet. For Christs sake, make a decision of your own for once in your life.
Ian was silent. At last he said, All right, Ill go to Hukahoronui.
Alone without her?
Alone.
Ben did not appear to be elated; he merely nodded his head gravely. He said, Theres quite a town there now. I doubt if youd recognize it, its grown so much. I was there a couple of years ago before my damned doctor said I shouldnt travel any more. The place even has a mayor. The first mayors name was John Peterson. Quite a power in the community the Petersons are.