‘It’s a gamble, in other words,’ said Sternberg.
‘It is for us,’ said Cobb. ‘They risk nothing in this kind of deal except the possibility of Dryden pushing them to an inflated fee. The risk is mainly on our side. If Goldengirl succeeds, we collect. Otherwise, no deal. Correct, Mr. Dryden?’
‘It’s been my understanding from the start that this is all or nothing,’ answered Dryden.
‘I confirm it,’ said Serafin at once. ‘The strength of our position is that we know those three gold medals are within her capability. We are not interested in silver or bronze. If you can use the fact to obtain more favorable terms, Mr. Dryden, you have our support. I must say that your suggestions so far sound eminently sensible. The more publicity Goldengirl can get this week, the better are your chances of being taken seriously by the companies you approach. There is one thing I was coming to, gentlemen, that I may as well tell you now, because it bears on something Mr. Dryden has suggested. After the Trials, Goldengirl is going to train in seclusion, but not in the Sierra Nevada retreat. I have made arrangements for her to complete her training elsewhere in America. She will continue to have the services of everyone who has helped her up to now, and the exclusive use of a track and gym vacated for the summer by a women’s physical education college. In the interests of security, I would prefer not to divulge its location. It’s not that I don’t have confidence in your discretion, gentlemen; simply that I don’t believe in burdening colleagues with confidential information they don’t need to know.’
Some glances were exchanged across the table at this, but nobody made an issue of it.
‘What happens to the Sierra training camp?’ asked Valenti.
‘A good question.’ Serafin looked at his watch. ‘Two hours ago, work began on dismantling it. By the end of the week there will be nothing left there. The chance of that mythical wise-guy reporter from the Los Angeles Times pinpointing the site is almost nil, Mr. Valenti, and if he did, all he would find would be ashes. We are covering our traces, in other words. But the comment I wanted to make on Mr. Dryden’s suggestions was that I can certainly arrange for Goldengirl — I tend to use that name, if nobody objects — to spend a day in Los Angeles on a public-relations exercise. I like the idea, and so, I think, will she.’
Dryden thanked him. So far, the proposals had met with better support than he could have hoped for, but the difficult part remained. ‘If you all agree on the timing of the campaign, let’s talk about its character, the character we want Goldine herself to present to the world, because that’s going to govern the way I pitch my campaign. There are some fixed points already: she’s tall, blond, pretty, a natural athlete who comes from nowhere to make the U.S. Olympic team in three events. That’s all good copy for the press, but she can’t go on being a mystery blonde. We have to fill in the story. I wouldn’t suggest we fabricate things; they’d soon be wise to that.’
‘We tell ’em what we want ’em to know,’ said Valenti.
‘Right.’
‘How’s this for starters, then? Her mother dies trying to save her from drowning off Huntington Beach. No father, so she’s orphaned at three. Doc Serafin adopts her, spots her potential, and from there it’s a straight rags-to-riches theme. Great copy!’
‘Riches are out,’ said Sternberg, who seemed to relish pouring scorn on Valenti’s suggestions. ‘The Olympics are for amateurs — remember?’
‘Okay. For “riches” read “fame,”’ said Valenti with a shrug.
‘If you’re suggesting the story is strong enough already, I think you’re right,’ said Dryden. ‘It’s more a question of what we leave out than what we add. Dr. Serafin has just told us the training camp is being demolished. That’s obviously one thing we don’t want anyone knowing about. Another is the backup.’
‘No one’s going to argue with that,’ said Sternberg. ‘We all know the press would do a hatchet job on Goldengirl if they got on to the camp or the consortium.’
‘I think I see where this is leading,’ Cobb said to Dryden. ‘After the San Diego meet, she was billed as the mystery blonde nobody had heard of who showed world-class form and then disappeared again. That was fine for San Diego. It’s a good start for Eugene. Have you seen the papers, gentlemen? She isn’t headline news, but more than one gives her a mention.’ He took a paper from his case. ‘This is the San Francisco Examiner Chronicle. I quote: “Spice is added to the women’s sprints by the entry of Goldine Serafin, who posted outstanding times in all three events in a single afternoon in San Diego last month. Track nuts, unable to trace previous performances in first-class track by this Bakersfield blonde, are keen to get a look at Miss Serafin.” She’s still the mystery runner, you see. But the point about mysteries is that people want them solved. Once Goldengirl runs here and proves how good she is, everyone will want to know how she kept her form secret so long, and why. I agree we must cut the training camp from the story, but we need to put something in its place.’
‘What’s wrong with saying she’s just one hell of a runner who never took up the sport till now?’ demanded Valenti. ‘Maybe you or I could win the Olympics, but we never tried. America is full of undiscovered runners. Track’s a minority sport.’
Cobb shook his head. ‘It’s going to be obvious to anyone that Goldengirl is coached. She didn’t learn the rocket start in Dr. Serafin’s backyard. And she has to be superfit to get through — how many races is it she’s running here?’
‘Twelve,’ said Dryden. Cobb was emerging as an unexpected ally. It would be interesting to see how Serafin received this line of argument. He extended it a little himself. ‘I think what we’re coming around to is admitting that Goldine has had expert coaching, and trained extremely hard for the trials. Is there any reason why we shouldn’t tell the press about Klugman?’
There was a pause. Serafin took off his glasses and wiped them. He looked ten years older without them. ‘It’s not a point I had fully considered,’ he said. ‘I thought it advisable in the interests of security to keep Klugman’s name out of it.’
‘But why?’ asked Cobb. ‘We’re not trying to prove she’s Superwoman, are we? There’s nothing to be ashamed of in having a coach.’
‘I must say I have reservations about this,’ said Serafin. ‘My idea has always been that we would attribute her success to natural ability.’
‘So we hired Klugman to bring out the ability,’ said Sternberg. ‘Every jock needs a coach. I don’t see where the conflict is.’
‘You think Klugman is a risk?’ asked Valenti, adding suspiciously, ‘What is it with Klugman? Does he have a police record?’
‘No, no,’ said Serafin, obviously sensing the current of opinion against him. ‘I’ve nothing against Klugman. Perhaps you are right, Mr. Cobb. I was being unrealistic. We may as well admit that he has helped her.’
‘That seems to be agreed, then,’ said Dryden. ‘I think the spotlight will be centered steadily on Goldine. Once she has said Klugman is her coach, there won’t be a lot of interest in him. He’ll need to be briefed, of course, but that can be taken care of. The other question Mr. Cobb raised was possibly more important. How do we explain her meteoric rise to world class?’
Serafin quickly answered, ‘I’m sorry if I seem to be repeating myself, but the only explanation is that she is an outstanding natural athlete who first took to the sport seriously this year. It couldn’t happen in any other event but the sprints, and you must take my word for that as a physiologist. Sprinting is an inborn ability. Some of America’s most brilliant sprinters over the years spent more time on football than track technique. If the press want to know why Goldengirl avoided competition, it was because she didn’t consider herself ready for it before June. Believe me, she will give satisfactory answers to questions of this kind.’