Читать книгу The Barkerville Mysteries 3-Book Bundle - Ann Walsh - Страница 14

I ran back to the main street, pushing through the crowd, trying to reach the officials at the starting line. “Excuse me, please, let me pass.”

“Good luck, sir...Ted.”

“Peter? What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you win the race. You and Joseph. Why are you so late?”

“I don’t have time to explain,” I said. “But we won’t be in the race.”

“Why? Where is Joseph?” Peter was now beside me, both of us trying to make our way politely through the street.

“I’ll tell you later. Excuse me, ma’am. My apologies, sir.”

“You will not get a refund of your entry fee,” Peter said, following me.

“I know that.”

We finally reached the starting line. The other contestants were ready, their legs bound. An official was calling my name. “Ted MacIntosh, come to the starting line with your partner at once. The Three-Legged Race is about to begin. Report immediately.”

There were five other sets of competitors, but at the end of the lineup there was an empty space with two pieces of cloth in front of it.

Peter was right. I wouldn’t get back the dollar entry fee. Even though I hadn’t paid it, now that I knew who had, I hated to see it lost. But if I won the race, then I could give Jenny back her dollar and...

“Peter! You’ll be my partner.”

“Me?”

“Yes. If you will.”

“I would enjoy that. Yes.”

“But your name isn’t Joseph. What if someone recognizes you?”

He stood still for a moment. “Joseph, Peter, Sing Kee, Kwok Leong—no one will recognize me, Ted. To most people one Chinese looks like every other one. Even those who know me as Peter will think I am Joseph if they are told that is my name.”

“Really?”

“Yes. To white people we all look the same.”

I didn’t have time to think about that, though I found it difficult to believe. “Then today you’ll be Joseph. He won’t complain at all if you borrow his name. Believe me, anyone can be Joseph.”