Biggles Hunts Big Game Part 12

"I don't know," replied Ginger. "Would you mind looking at your watch and telling me the time? Someething seems to have gone wrong with mine." He pa.s.sed the torch.

He could see the glow on Bertie's watch, but several seconds pa.s.sed before he got a reply to his question. Then, in a curious voice, Bertie said: "Something seems to have gone wrong with mine, too."

"Is it going?"

"Yes."

"What's the time by it?"

" Quarter past twelve."

Ginger sprang to his feet. "Holy smoke! If it's that time why is it still dark? Something's happened -but I don't know what."

It did not take him long to discover the truth.

Automatically he made for the window by which they had entered. It was not there-at least, there was no cavity.

Incredulous, he looked again, holding his torch close. Then, and only then, did the explanation burst. upon him. The window frame was there, but the opening was filled, so that not a crack of light showed anywhere, by a metal blind.

He tried to move it, but it was as rigid as the door of a safe.

By this time Bertie had joined him. "You know, old boy, we ought to be kicked from here to Cairo for going to sleep and letting ourselves be bowled out like this," he remarked sadly.

"Our punishment for that folly is likely to be worse than kicking," Ginger told him bitterly. "You realize what's happened? The windows have been sealed off. We're shut in."

"Absolutely-like a brace of sardines in a petrol can."

"How did they do it without waking us up?"

[ill.u.s.tration]

173 "It must have been done by a remote switch. Anyone coming in would have seen us. The noise we heard was the metal blinds falling on the windows.

"But if it's after twelve, why has no one been in here?"

"Something serious must have happened at the lodge -that's the only explanation I can think of," returned Ginger moodily.

"But why shut us in? If they knew we were here they could have b.u.mped us off in their own time. They could have potted us through the bally window."

"There's only one answer to that," declared Ginger.

"They didn't know we were in here. I imagine there's a full strength search going on for me. Not knowing about the gap made by the fallen tree they wouldn't suppose I could get here even if I wanted to. If you asked my opinion I'd say something has gone wrong at the lodge and they've suspended operations until the thing has been cleared up. But what's the use of guessing? The one fact that sticks out a mile is, we're in a jam of no small dimensions. We'd better start trying to find a way out. You keep an eye on the door and be ready to deal with anyone who opens it." Ginger swayed suddenly and put a hand against the wall to steady himself. He looked at Bertie with startled eyes. "What the deuce was that? Did the whole place move or did I imagine it?"

"It moved, laddie. Must be a bally earthquake going on-as if we haven't got enough to think about!"

"The place might rock a bit if someone stepped on to the decking," suggested Ginger thoughtfully.

"Crocs, perhaps."

"Crocs my foot!" cried Ginger. "We're afloat! We're moving!" An idea struck him. "I've got it,"

174 he went on tersely. "What fools we are. We're in the part that's mounted on pontoons. It has been cast off. They're moving it to another berth."

"Why?"

"What's the use of asking me? It may be so that should anyone come here-well, the thing won't be here. It'll be somewhere else, some place where it can't be seen. Get the idea?"

"Not entirely," admitted Bertie frankly. "Sorry to be so slow in the uptake, old boy, but where can they take it on the lake where it couldn't be seen from the bank?"

Ginger looked down at the floor, which had taken on a slight list. He could hear water gurgling and bubbling under his feet. Suddenly the whole structure lurched.

The only possible explanation struck him with the force of a physical blow. He stared at Bertie with eyes wide with horror. "I know where they're going to put it," he said in a dry voice. "I understand now why the windows were sealed."

"You mean-you know where we're going?"

"I'm afraid so."

"Where?"

"To the bottom. They're sinking the whole caboodle. They've opened valves in the pontoons. That gurgling noise is water pouring into them."

There was silence for perhaps half a minute. Then Bertie picked up Ginger's rifle.

"What are you going to do with that?" asked Ginger in surprise.

"Punch some holes in this bally shutter," returned Bertie. "The metal can't be so thick as all that-if you see what I mean? Stand clear in case the bullet ricochets."

175 Ginger's voice rose high in dismay. "Are you out of your mind?"

"If I'm only going to let some dayhght in".

"You will also," said Ginger grimly, "let the water in."

"She may not have sunk as deep as that yet."

"But when she does? "

"It'll be over all the quicker," replied Bertie, almost cheerfully. "I never was anything for the submarine service, old boy. No bally fear. I'm all for having some fresh air while it lasts-yes, by Jove!" He raised the rifle and took rough aim.

Ginger stepped back and put his hands over his ears.

Three shots filled the chamber with a roar like thunder.

Chapter 15.

Biggles Takes Charge 'As soon as Algy had departed on his long-distance errand Biggles turned to Tug and as concisely as posssible told him the result of the reconnaissance.

"We've got to get really cracking, and that means taking chances," he went on quickly. "I've got to get to Kudinga. At a pinch I could go down in Ginger's Beau which he told me in his message he had parked at Almaza. But if I do that I shan't for obvious reasons be able to land anywhere near the lodge. If I land some distance away I shall not only be faced wIth a long walk, but run the risk of not being able to get off again-even if I got down wIthout a crack-up.

Apart 175.

from that, from what you tell me it would be a tricky business to get close to the lodge without being spotted."

"It would," a.s.sented Tug.

"That's why I've decided to go down in your Pacemaker."

"But suppose I'm not sent to Kudinga?"

" We shall go there just the same," replied Biggles calmly. "With things happening there, though, it seems a fair guess that you will be sent back. It's likely that the urgent letter you brought up will call for a reply."

"Even so, how are you going to work it?" inquired Tug.

"I shall go down to the airport wearing a burnous over my ordinary clothes," explained Biggles. "With all sorts of people of the country about no one will notice me. I shall hang about as near as seems reasonably safe to the Stellar office, or the hangar. Now then. You go and report for orders. If nothing is said about going to Kudinga stroll outside and light a cigarette. If you are to go to Kudinga drop your handkerchief. If you are going down with an empty machine pick the handkerchief up. If by any chance you have to take a pa.s.senger, or pa.s.sengers, leave the handkerchief where it falls as if you hadn't noticed it. Have you got that clear?"

"Clear enough."

"Good. Now comes the question of getting me on board. If you're taking an empty machine it will be easy. Taxi down to the far end of the airfield and I'll get aboard there. Rev your engines once or twice as you go to create an impression that you're not quite satisfied, in case anybody should be watching you. That's your excuse for the long run. If you have to 177 take a pa.s.senger it's going to be a bit more difficult. Obviously, I couldn't get aboard after the machine leaves the tarmac. The best chance would be in the hangar when you go to get it out. I'll do the stowaway trick in the luggage compartment. It won't be comfortable travelling but we can't help that. I'm hoping you'll go down empty, in which case I shall be able to relax in the cabin while you do the work."

"What about when we get to Kudinga?"

"All you have to do is put the machine in the hangar and leave me there. The advantage of the plan is, it puts me right on the spot. You go to Kreeze and report. If you learn anything all you will have to do is step out and tell me what's cooking."

"Just now you talked about taking chances," observed Tug dubiously. "This sounds like sheer lunacy."

Biggles brushed aside the objection. "It shouldn't be as difficult as it may sound. You're in the clear, remember. You've served them well so far so they won't be watching you-at least, not as closely as they did at first."

"Suppose there are some aircraft hands in the hangar here? They'll see you get aboard."

"Turf them out. Give them something to do-anything you like, for a couple of minutes. That'll be all the time I shall need. The big risk will come when you taxi out to the office, when it may be decided to put some last minute luggage on board. It's to dodge that risk that I made the suggestion about you picking me up at the far end of the airfield, although that can only be done if you're flying solo. I'm not likely to enjoy sitting on the floor of the luggage compartment all the way to Kudinga, you may be sure."

178 Tug nodded. "Okay, chief, you know best."

"Sure you've got it all clear?"

"Clear enough."

"All right. You push along to the airfield now. I'll follow you down."

Tug went off.

Biggles gave him five minutes and then, putting on a fez, and throwing a native burnous over his shoulders, he walked down the road to the rendezvous, halting and squatting down, native fas.h.i.+on, in the deep shade on the western side of the Stellar hangar. Leaning back he settled down to watch.

He had not long to wait. Indeed, not more than two or three minutes had elapsed when Tug appeared, carryying a handkerchief loosely in his left hand. With him, engaged in conversation, were two men. One was the booking clerk.

The other was a short, fat, fussy little man, very well-dressed-too well-dressed Biggles thought-in a dark suit of European cut. A heavy black moustache was a conspicuous feature of his face. His complexion was so pale that at first, from a distance, Biggles took him to be a pure European; but as a result of a more prolonged scrutiny he changed his mind, and concluded that the smooth, olive-tinted skin was almost certainly that of a Eurasian, or at any rate a European with more than a trace of mid-eastern blood in his veins-a guess that was supported by the flash of a diamond tie-pin of a size so vulgar that no British visitor would be likely to wear it at such a time and place.

These details Biggles observed a lot faster than they can be written. His eyes returned to Tug, who, after casually blowing his nose, now allowed the handkerchief to fall at his feet. He did not pick it up, but after 179 nodding as if in acknowledgement of an order, leaving the handkerchief where it had fallen, he walked briskly towards the hangar, some fifty yards away from the office.

This, according to the arranged signals, told Biggles that he was going to Kudinga, and that he was taking a pa.s.senger.

The first part of the information was satisfactory but the second, not so good. However, he wasted neither time nor energy deploring what could not be prevented.

Tug went on along the tarmac towards the gaping doors of the hangar. Biggles knew that he must have seen him, but he gave no sign. A glance revealed the clerk and his over-dressed companion stlll standing at the door of the office, engaged in earnest conversation. Biggles hesitated, and even while he hesitated, to his intense satisfaction, they went [image]

inside. He was on his feet in a moment, and moved his position so that Tug would have to pa.s.s within a few yards of hlm.

Tug then appeared to notice him for the first tlme. "Hi! You!" he called in a peremptory voice, as if he took it for granted that Biggles was one of the company's employees. "What are you doing, loafing about there? Get inside and get busy." Then he added in a low voice, just loud enough for Biggles to hear, "It's White. I've got to fly him down to Kudinga. He's fed to the teeth about something. Talks as if he's a big shot." Then, raising his voice again, Tug said, "Come on there, get a move on." He strode on into the hangar. Blggles followed.

The reason for the play-acting on Tug's part was at once apparent, for there were three native hands inside the hangar who must have been watching his approach. Tug shouted at them and they went about their several 180 tasks. It took him only a few seconds to find them all jobs in the front part of the hangar. This of course was Biggles'

opportunity. He walked straight on down the full length of the Pacemaker that stood there, got quickly into the luggage compartment, which was aft of the main cabin, and settled himself as comfortably as circ.u.mstances permitted.

"Okay," said Tug, walking up. With one hand on the handle of the door, but with his eyes on the native staff, he spoke softly and quickly.

"I don't know what's happened, but there seems to be a flap on-something to do with Ginger and Bertie I fancy. They know you're in Cairo. All routine services are suspended. White may be the big boss judging from the way Louis- that's the booking clerk-runs round him. I reckon he's a Levantine in a big way of business. Fairly studded with diamonds, and reeks like a chemist's shop of scent and hair oil-makes you sick. Talks English all right, but with a funny sort of lisp that makes you wonder where he learnt it. First thing Louis said to me was, I had to take an important pa.s.senger to Kudinga right away. A minute later White turns up in a Rolls."

"Nothing said about anyone breaking into the office last night?"

"Not a word in front of me. Ivan, the chief pilot, is on his way here from Rome with another machine to collect a load of freight-the stuff you saw, I imagine and get it out of the way. White seems anxious to be rid of it."

"I'll bet he is," murmured Biggles drily. "How did you learn about this?"

"Heard Louis talking on the phone."

"I see. Good enough. You'd better push off now.

181 Is White going to sit with you or in the cabin?"

"I don't know-he hasn't said."

"No matter. If there should be any luggage to be put aboard handle it yourself or we've lost the trick."

"Okay." Tug slammed the door.

For the next ten minutes, at the end of which time the Pacemaker took off, events followed normal procedure. The machine was drawn up in front of the Stellar office for White to get aboard. White came out and said he would fly in front with Tug. He was followed by Louis carrying a suitcase. Looking at the case Tug asked him what he was going to do with it.

"Put it in the luggage compartment," was the answer.

"Whose bag is it?"

"Mr. White's."