Gunner Kelly

stopped as he registered the change in Benedikt’s demeanour. “What’s the matter?”

“If Mr Kelly was the target. . .” Things were going very well indeed: they could hardly go better. “. . . that changes everything, Dr—David!”

“Changes everything—how?”

“Why I am here.” Apologetic sincerity was the proper note to strike. “You have been frank with me. I must return the compliment.”

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“That would be nice, I agree.” Cautious relief, slightly coloured by disbelief, was returned to him.

“It was because of the Old General. We were not satisfied with the progress of your investigations.”

“You—?” Audley frowned. “I don’t see what business the Bundesnachrichtendienst has with the Old General?”

Benedikt betrayed slight embarrassment. “The bomb was of an Irish make . . . but you appear convinced that it was not the work of the IRA. And he was certainly not a logical Irish target.”

“So?”

“So he was a former second-in-command of the British Army of the Rhine, with special responsibility for missile deployment in liaison with the Americans.”

“So he was. And Count von Gneisenau was second-in-command to Blucher at Waterloo—and Flavius Vespasianus commanded the Second Legion—so what?”

Benedikt frowned. “So—?”

“It was a hell of a long time ago. Fifteen years? More, maybe . . .”

“But he was once a prime target for assassination—”

“Oh—come on, man! Once upon a time—maybe . . . But the Russians . . . whatever their faults, they’re not vindictive about elderly generals.”

“Not the Russians, Dr Audley. Our own Red Army Faction, rather.”

“You’re pulling my leg! They were in nappies when he was in uniform. And you’ve got them more or less buttoned up, anyway dummy1

—”

“That is the point, Dr Audley—”

“David, please.”

“David. . . The survivors are looking for soft targets, to make headlines to show they aren’t finished. And . . . they have a reciprocal arrangement with the Irish National Liberation Army, to help each other at need.” Benedikt spread his hands. “We thought it just might be worth checking out, in case . . . And—I am sorry, David—but when I saw you down here yesterday ... I was wrong—

I acknowledge that now . . . But when I saw you, I thought I might take another look, to see what the British were up to. I did not think you would . ..,. tumble upon me so quickly.” He gave Audley a bitter smile. “And I did not expect a big hole in the ground, either.” He pointed at the sentry on the corner of the wood. “Or him.”

Audley grinned suddenly. “Yes ... I can imagine that. Although, oddly enough, it seems to come quite naturally to them. I suppose it’s because they’ve been hunting things hereabouts since the beginning of time—wolves and deer and foxes and rabbits . . . and each other after dark often enough, playing gamekeepers and the poachers.” He nodded at Benedikt. “If they’d had any man-traps still in working order it probably wouldn’t have been a hole you’d have stepped into last night, by God!” Just as suddenly as it had appeared, the grin vanished. “Or if Kelly had had his way there might have been fire-hardened stakes in it. Believe me, you weren’t altogether unlucky.”

Benedikt shivered in spite of himself. But now he had everything.

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“Then I must be glad you were here after all, in spite of what I did because of you . . . But ... I am sorry to have caused you such trouble unnecessarily.”

“No trouble, my dear fellow! You tested our defences, actually.”

Audley studied him. “So now you want to go home, I suppose?”

Exactly right! “I ... I rather think I am in your way now, perhaps?”

He mustn’t seem too eager though. “But if there is anything I can do ... to make amends?”

“Yes . . .” Audley continued to study him. “Well ... as a matter of fact, perhaps there is something, you know.”

Damn! “Yes?” Damn!

“It’s rather awkward, really . . . You see, Benedikt, I’m here ... as it were . . . unofficially, you might say ... In fact, you would say —

unofficially.”

“What?”

“Yes.” Audley looked uncomfortable. “I’m on leave, actually.”

Benedikt stared at him for a moment, then looked round the Chase

— from ridge to ridge, then down the Addle valley — and finally back to Audley. “God in heaven! Then this — ?”

“Is unofficial too. Nobody knows about it except us.” Audley paused. “You see, Benedikt, I came here as a favour ... to a young friend ... to stop Becky making a fool of herself.”