" A farmer's wife told me how her husband had bought some unlabelled fungicide , " she said .sx " It was from a supplier in Bury St Edmunds - I had been talking to her about the problems with our cows .sx The fungicide had got into their cattle's water and several died with respiratory problems .sx .. that was why I was taken to hospital , I think .sx " .sx " How's that , Grace ?sx " .sx " I tried to buy some Resolution , that's what it was , " she explained .sx " The supplier said I had to keep quiet about it as it hadn't got a product licence yet .sx Then I did something really silly .sx I asked if Shearing had bought any .sx He denied knowing who Shearing was .sx Then of course said he didn't have any Resolution for sale .sx He'd never had it for sale .sx " .sx " Did he call the police ?sx " .sx " No , I think it must have been Shearing - after I went there and accused him of murdering Rose .sx I think I hit him .sx I completely lost control - God , I wanted to kill him .sx I remember that .sx I just couldn't calm down .sx The more I was restrained the worse it was .sx I attacked the police as well .sx " .sx " Good for you !sx " he said .sx He wanted to embrace her , but was uncertain of the response he'd get .sx " Why don't I go talk to this supplier ?sx " .sx The farm supplier's vast warehouse was stacked to the roof with everything from rolls of plastic pipe to half-ton sacks of fertilizer , plus every kind of pesticide .sx There was no shortage of customers , and he had to wait to get help .sx It gave him time to check out some of the drums .sx " Is Charlie around ?sx " he asked when the counterhand finally got to him .sx " I need twenty ten-litre drums of Resolution .sx Walter Shearing said to see Charlie .sx " .sx Charlie , who ran the office , said , " It's getting to be a serious problem finding a fungicide that stays effective these days .sx I suppose Mr Shearing told you we shouldn't be putting it on sale yet .sx " .sx " Yes he did .sx I have to be careful .sx No problem ?sx " .sx As they headed toward the back of the store , Charlie said , " Where is your farm ?sx " .sx Whatever it was that had aroused this man's suspicion , Jak wasn't ready for the question and didn't give the right answer ; so he didn't get to make his illicit purchase .sx The only move left to them now was to approach Shearing .sx He was less than pleased to see them .sx " Get out of here .sx Get out before I throw you out , " he ordered , driving them from his farm office .sx " And take that mad woman with you .sx .. she's persecuting me .sx " .sx " Call the cops , " Jak challenged , not knowing how he'd handle it if Shearing did just that .sx " Let's have them take a real close look at what unlicensed chemicals you've been using .sx " .sx Shearing stepped back and looked at Grace , then quickly looked away .sx " Yes , we were spraying Resolution , " he said .sx " It's perfectly safe , I can assure you .sx The Ministry is about to grant its product licence .sx I know that for a fact .sx " .sx " Supposing there's a hitch because they find it's causing fatal respiratory problems ?sx " .sx " Fungal growth in cereals becomes resistant to pesticides so quickly , " he explained , " we need new products to stay on top of the problem .sx Resolution is effective .sx Aggrow Chemicals are three hundred per cent confident of its licence coming through .sx " .sx " Nine years ago the Environmental Protection Agency stopped American chemical selling it Stateside .sx That's why they're pushing it everyplace else .sx Take a look at what it's doing to farm workers down in Mexico and Chile .sx Sure it stopped fungal growth , end everybody it gets on .sx " .sx A hard set came over Shearing's face .sx " The Pesticide Advisory Committee here is passing it .sx Their scrutiny is very thorough .sx They wouldn't let it through if it weren't safe .sx " .sx " That committee's made up of people with a vested interest in the agricultural industry , " Grace said shimmering with conviction .sx " Take my advice , Mrs Chance , " Shearing said , clearly resenting her accusations , " accept Aggrow's compensation and let the matter drop .sx " .sx That was his last word on the subject .sx " I have no intention of letting the matter drop , " Grace stated .sx She looked at Jak .sx He nodded .sx Confirming that .sx Right then he'd have walked through fire for her .sx " From what I can see , Grace , the way ahead of us won't be easy , " he warned as they drove back to London .sx " But we will go on - we must .sx We can get those details now .sx " .sx " Sure we can .sx " He didn't speculate about how the opposition might feel about that .sx In the parking lot under the hotel , he waited a few moments , searching around for signs of that familiar car .sx " Is there something wrong ?sx " Grace asked .sx " I figure you'd better know someone's been following us , Grace .sx They may be here .sx " .sx " The police ?sx " .sx He shook his head .sx " Maybe I'm just getting paranoid .sx " .sx " Shall I collect the key ?sx " she offered .sx Up in his bedroom , she said , " Two men called earlier to see you .sx The woman on the reception desk didn't know who they were .sx If it's not the police , surely that means someone thinks we really are on to something .sx " .sx He watched her pace the room , tossing her thick red hair back over her shoulder .sx She was excited , and probably a little scared .sx He was scared , but excited also .sx He wanted to make love to her more than anything right then , but that scared him too .sx " Who are they ?sx " she said .sx " Why stick around to find out ?sx We'll hightail it to Washington , talk to the lawyer , fight these guys on firmer ground .sx You'll like Rory , he's great .sx " .sx " Washington ?sx " Grace said , apparently flustered .sx " I can't .sx .. I haven't .sx .. I mean I can't just go and leave everything .sx " .sx " What are you leaving , Grace ?sx Rose is dead , Colin's gone , the farm's gone - those assholes are closing in on us .sx " .sx Tears suddenly welled up in Grace's eyes .sx Instinctively he put his arms around her and held her close and she sobbed against his chest .sx He had wanted to hold her in his arms for a long while .sx Even in these circumstances he took pleasure in the contact .sx " I can't go .sx I haven't got my passport or anything .sx " .sx " That's taken care of .sx All we got to do is get out of here .sx " .sx He had Grace walk out with their baggage , while he rang the front desk for a five o'clock wake-up call to get an eight a.m. flight .sx He hung out the 'do not disturb' sign and slipped away , himself .sx He planned on taking a cab to the airport and telling Hertz to collect the car at the hotel .sx Grace grew increasingly anxious as she waited in her seat on the plane , thinking maybe she had misunderstood him over the flight details - despite her ticket being a the reservation desk .sx Was this the right thing to do ?sx She didn't want to return to that hospital .sx Anything was better than that .sx Maybe Jak was getting a different flight .sx But she was almost certain that wasn't what he had said .sx The plane was only a third full , but the passengers settled ready for departure .sx This was one occasion when she hoped there'd be some sort of delay .sx She glanced at the empty set next to her as if expecting Jak to miraculously appear , and wondered about getting off herself .sx Then again about what she was doing here anyway ?sx How could she simply go to America ?sx It was madness .sx Perhaps she was mad after all .sx But she knew that staying would mean having to return to the psychiatric unit and being given more drugs .sx If Jak had been detained at the check-in desk it would only be a matter of time before they came for her .sx Then she would have to suffer the indignity of being led off the plane like a criminal .sx She had to get off herself .sx Now .sx Soon it would be too late ; cabin staff were making their final checks to see if seat belts were fastened and luggage was properly stowed .sx Any minute they would close the door and start the safety procedure prior to take off .sx Did that happen before the door was closed ?sx She couldn't remember .sx She tried to get out of her seat as the stewardess came along the aisle .sx In panic she struggled against the seat belt .sx " Can you remain seated , please , we're about to depart .sx " .sx " I have to get off .sx " She saw the door being closed .sx " I can't go .sx " .sx Finally she freed the belt and was up out of her seat .sx The stewardess took fright at her agitation and as she watched her hurrying back to speak to the flight attendant , she thought perhaps they would call the airport security .sx The flight attendant picked up the phone by the door .sx This was it .sx They talked in urgent whispers as she approached .sx The attention of the entire cabin was on her now .sx The situation was getting out of control and she could feel her skin prickle with embarrassment .sx " If you're quick , " she heard the flight attendant say into the phone , eyeing her uneasily .sx " We have a passenger disembarking .sx " He replaced the phone .sx " Did you check any baggage , mam ?sx " .sx She didn't manage to answer a s the doors swung open and she saw Jak running awkwardly along the approach tunnel under the weight of Safeway bags .sx " Are you getting off , mam ?sx " the flight attendant said .sx Tears streamed down her face as Jak caught hold of her with one of his laden arms and steered her along to their seats .sx She had never been more pleased to see anyone .sx " Boy , that was close , " he said to a stewardess .sx The woman smiled tightly and glanced quickly away from Grace .sx 13 .sx ANTICIPATING EVERY DETAIL ON A deal this far ahead , when any error could cost him everything , was part of the excitement of business .sx It got him up at five o'clock each morning .sx Nothing was random or left to chance .sx Even the Soviet Union getting turned on its head he could handle , figuring it would be years before their command economy could be turned into a true market economy .sx But any miscalculation could rupture his plan .sx Such as that Cambridge professor who had stumbled upon their wheat seed , Prairie Red .sx The farmer who had accidentally planted the seed could also prove dangerous if he decided the compensation he had received wasn't sufficient .sx Caddy was a long way from concluding his wheat deal , and might not come close unless such problems were taken care of .sx He decided to send Shapiro to England to deal with the farmer ; the scientist , being wholly dependent on project funding , would be less of a problem .sx Unless he somehow got lucky and made the right connections .sx ... If he then talked to the wrong people and the Russians failed to plant the 300,000 tons of seed they'd agreed to buy .sx .. The new contract Hirshorn was negotiating with the Seamen's Union would be a stone tied to their ankles as they tried to swim clear .sx .. He didn't know what was prompting these doubts .sx He glanced at his assistant who was getting more coffee , noticing his suit .sx It was immaculate .sx Clearly Shapiro paid more for his suits than he ever had done on his government salary .sx Coming back to a comfortable armchair in the office , Shapiro said , " You know we don't need to give the Seamen a thing , Caddy .sx " .sx It was late .sx He had returned to work after dinner .sx He often did .sx On those occasions his assistant got a sandwich from the machine in the cafeteria .sx " We'll give them close to what they're asking , Pat .sx But we'll make it look like a real fight .sx I don't want the union seeing what's at stake .sx " .sx Hirshorn owned twenty-eight ocean-going bulk carriers of over twenty thousand tons , all of which still flew under the American flag .sx Patriotism was costly , but the flag waasa a matter of pride to him .sx On a given day these ships were hauling Chilean wine to California to blend with the local higher priced wines , or Californian soya beans to the Far East , or Greek bauxite into Houston .sx