will be bare by the time we are mean finished. Let's hope and pray that
you are not pulling our legs, Taita.'
He gave the passwords to the respective bank account ants and instructed
them to make transfers into his holding accounts, ready to draw on
immediately.
There were two more calls he had to make before they left for York. The
fate of all their plans hung on them, and the contacts that he had for
both of them were at the best tenuous, and at the worst chimerical.
The first number was engaged. He rang it five times more, and on each
occasion got- the irritating high-pitched busy tone in his ear. He tried
one last time and was answered by a reassuring west country accent.
'Good afternoon. British Embassy. How may I help you?, Nicholas glanced
at his wrist-watch. There was a three-hour time difference. Of course,
it would be afternoon in Addis.
'This is Sir Nicholas Quenton-Harper calling from the UK. Is Mr Geoffrey
Tennant, your military attache, available, please Geoffrey came on the
line almost immediately. 'My dear boy. So you made it all the way home.
Lucky you.'
'Just thought I would set your mind at rest. Knew you would be losing
sleep.'
'How is the charming Dr Al Simma?'
'She sends her love.'
'I wish I could believe you.' Geoffrey sighed dramatically.
'Big favour, Geoff. Do you know a Colonel Maryam Kidane at the Ministry
of Defence?'
'First-rate chap,' Geoffrey affirmed immediately. 'Know him well. Played
tennis with him last Saturday, actually.
Demon backhand.'
'Please ask him to contact me urgently.' He gave Geoffrey the telephone
number of the flat in York. 'Tell him it's in connection with a rare
breed of Ethiopian swallow for the museum collection.'
(up to your shenanigans again, Nicky. Not enough that you get slung out
of Ethiopia on your ear. Now you are trading in rare birds. Probably
CITES Schedule One.
Endangered species.)
'Will you do it for me, Geoff?'
'Of course. Serve to Lead, old boy. Always the sucker.'
'I owe you one.'
'More than one. Half a dozen, more like it.' He had less success with
his next call. International Enquiries gave him a number in Matta. On
his first attempt he received an encouraging ri riging tone.
me,' he pleaded in a whisper, but on
'Pick it up, Jan the sixth ring an answering machine cut in.
'You have reached the head office of Africair Services.
There is nobody available to take your call at the moment.
Please leave your name and number and a short message after the tone. We
will get back to you as soon as possible.
Thank you.'Jannie Badenhorst's rich South African accent was
unmistakable.
'Jannie. This is Nicholas Quenton-Harper. Is that broken-down old Herc
