the shares in the Trust. He drew on his cheroot. I'm going to use this
to force a full investigation of the company's affairs. I'm going to
have Alexander under the microscope and we'll have a close look at all
his pimples and warts. Teacher chuckled and picked up the telephone at
the first ring, Teacher/ he chuckled, and then laughed out loud,
nodding, Yes, and Yes! again. He hung up and turned to Nicholas, his
face bright red with mirth, fat and round as the setting sun.
I have a disappointment for you, Mr. Berg. He guffawed.
An hour ago a transfer was made to the credit of Ocean Salvage in
Bermuda by Christy Marine. How much? Every penny, Mr. Berg. In full
and final payment. Six million and some odd dollars in the legal
currency of the United States of America. Nicholas stared at him,
uncertain as to which of his emotions prevailed - relief at having the
money, or disappointment at being prevented from tearing Duncan
Alexander to shreds.
He's a high roller and very fast on his feet/ said Teacher.
It wouldn't pay to underestimate a man like Duncan Alexander. No, it
would not/ Nicholas agreed quietly, knowing that he had done so more
than once and each time it had cost him dearly.
I wonder if your clerk could find out from British Airways when the next
flight leaves for Bermuda? You are leaving so soon? Will it be in
order to mark my brief and send it direct to Bach Wackie in Bermuda?
Teacher asked delicately.
Bernard Wackie in person was waiting for Nicholas beyond the customs
barrier. He was tall and lean and alert, burned by the sun dark as a
stick of chew tobacco, and dressed in open-neck shirt and cotton
trousers.
Nicholas, it's good to see you. His handshake was hard and dry and
cool. He was under sixty and over forty, it was impossible to get
nearer to his age, I'm taking you directly to the office, there is too
much to discuss. I don't want to waste time. And he took Nicholas arm
and hurried him through burning sunlight into the shivery cold of the
Rolls air-conditioning.
The car was too big for the island's narrow winding roads. Here
ownership of automobiles was restricted to one per family unit, but
Bernard made the most of his rights.
He was one of those men whose combination of energy and brilliance made
it impossible for him to live in England and to subject himself to the
punitive taxes of envy.
It's hard to be a winner, in a society dedicated to the glorification of
the losers/ he had told Nicholas, and had moved his whole operation to
this taxless haven.
To a lesser man it would have been suicide, but Bernard had taken over
the top floor of the Bank of Bermuda building, with a magnificent view
across Hamilton Harbour, and had fitted out with a marine operations
room and a communications system the equal of NATO Command.
From where he offered a service so efficient, so personally involved, so
orientated to every single facet of ship ownership and operation, that
not only had his old clients followed him, but others had come flocking.
