full weight now, and his efforts made even the most gruelling manual
labour seem insignificant.
As Jake lifted the entire carburettor assembly off the engine block and
stowed it into the carpet-bag, there was one last piercing shriek and
the Bentley came to an abrupt rest while a ringing silence fell over
the palm grove.
Jake Barton crept silently away through the undergrowth leaving his
partner stunned and entangled in a mesh of lanky limbs and expensive
French underwear.
'I want you to believe that in my weakened condition it was a long walk
home. At the same time, I had to try and convince the lady that we
were not betrothed.'
'We'll get you a citation,' Jake promised him,
and emerged from the engine housing of the armoured car.
'With disregard for his own personal safety Major Gareth Swales held
the pass, stan ned the breach, battered down the gates-'
'Terribly amusing,' growled Gareth. 'But, just like you, I have a
reputation to maintain. It would embarrass me in certain circles if
this got out,
old son. Mum's the word, what?'
'You have my word of honour,' Jake told him seriously, and stooped over
the crank handle. She fired at the first turn and settled to a steady
rhythm to which Jake listened for a few moments before he grinned.
'Listen to her, the bloody little beauty,' and he turned to
Gareth. 'Wasn't it worth it just to hear that sweet burbling song?'
Gareth rolled his eyes in agonized memory and Jake went on. 'Four of
them. Four lovely, well-behaved ladies. What more could you ask out
of life?'
'Five,'said Gareth promptly, and Jake scowled.
'We'd put my name on the fifth one,' he wheedled. 'I'd sign a
statement to protect your reputation.' But the expression on Jake's
face was sufficient answer.
'No?' Gareth sighed. 'I predict that your sentimental,
oldfashioned outlook is going to get us both into a lot of trouble.'
'We can split up now.'
'Wouldn't dream of it, old son. Actually, it would have been dicey
peddling a dead one to those Ethiops. They've got these dirty great
swords, and it's not only your head that they lop off or so I hear. No,
we'll settle for just the four, then.' May
22nd the Dunnottar Castle anchored in the Dares Salaam roads and was
immediately surrounded by a swarm of barges and lighters. She was the
flagship of the Union Castle Line, outward bound from Southampton to
Cape Town, Durban, Lourenco Marques, Dares Salaam and Jibuti.
Two suites and ten double cabins of the first class accommodation were
taken up by Lij Mikhael Wasan Sagud and his entourage. The Lij was a
scion of the royal house of Ethiopia that traced its line back to
King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. He was a trusted member of the
Emperor's inner circle and, under his father, the deputy governor of a
piece of mountain and desert country in the northern provinces the size
of Scotland and Wales combined.
