package. They cascaded into the Ras's ample lap, glittering golden and
bright in the lantern light, and he cooed with pleasure, scooping a
handful of the coins. Even the Count, with his own vast personal
fortune, was impressed by the contents of the chest.
'By Peter and the Virgin,' he muttered.
'English sovereigns,' the agent affirmed. 'But not a high price for a
land the size of France.' The Ras giggled and tossed a handful of
coins to his nearest followers, and they fought and squabbled over the
coins on their hands and knees. Then the Ras looked up at the Count
and patted the cushions, grinning happily, motioning him to be
seated,
and the Count responded gratefully. The long walk up the valley and
his fevered emotions had weakened his legs. He sank down on the
cushions and listened to the long list of further demands that the Ras
had prepared.
'He wants modern rifles, and machine guns,' translated the agent.
'What is our position?' asked the Count.
'Of course we cannot give them to him. In a month's time, or a year,
he may be an enemy not an ally. You cannot be certain with these
Gallas.'
'Say the correct thing.'
'He wants your assurance that the female agent provocateur and the two
white brigands in the Harari camp are delivered to him for justice as
soon as they are captured.'
'There is no reason against this?'
'Indeed, it will save us trouble and embarrassment.'
'What will he do with them they are responsible for the torture and
massacre of some of my brave lads?' The Count was recovering his
confidence, and the sense of outrage returned to him.
'I have eye-witness accounts of the terrible atrocities committed on
helpless prisoners of war.
The wanton shooting of bound prisoners justice must be done.
They must meet retribution.' The agent grinned without mirth. 'I
assure you, my dear Count, that in the hands of Ras Kullah they will
meet a fate far more terrible than you would imagine in your worst
nightmares,' and he turned back to the Ras and said in Amharic, 'You
have our word on it. They are yours to do with as you see fit.' The
Ras smiled, like a fat golden cat, and the tip of his tongue ran across
his swollen purple lips, from one corner of his mouth to the other.
By this time, the Count had recovered his breath, and realized that
contrary to all his expectations the Ras was friendly and that he was
not in imminent danger of having his throat slit and his personal parts
forcibly removed, the Count regained much of his aplomb.
'Tell the Ras that I want from him, in exchange, a full account of the
enemy's strength the number of men, guns and armoured vehicles that are
guarding the approaches to the gorge. I want to know the enemy's order
of battle, the exact location of all his earthworks and strong points
and particularly I want to be informed of the positions occupied by the
Ras's own Gallas at the present time. I want also the names and ranks
of all foreigners serving with the enemy-' He went on ticking off the
