to be said for it.'
'What?' said Flint wondering how the hell anyone could call Mrs Wilt a little woman.
'Diversionary tactics, old man. Can't think of anything more likely to unnerve the buggers than the sight of that woman dangling from a helicopter. Know it would scare the pants off me.'
'I daresay. But since that doesn't happen to be the purpose of the exercise I'd like some more constructive suggestion.'
From the other room Eva could be heard shouting that she'd send a telegram to the Queen if she wasn't allowed to join her family.
'That's all we need,' said Flint. 'We've got the press baying for blood and there hasn't been a decent mass suicide for months. She'll hit the headlines.'
'Certainly hit that window with a hell of a bang,' said the Major practically. 'Then we could rush the sods and '
'No! Definitely no,' shouted Flint and dashed into the Communications Centre. 'All right. Mrs Wilt. I am going to try to persuade the two terrorists holding your daughters to allow you to join them. If they refuse that's their business. I can't do more.'
He turned to the sergeant on the switchboard. 'Get the two wogs on the phone and let me know when they've finished their Fascist Pig Overture.'
Mr Symper felt called upon to protest 'I really do think these racialist remarks are quite unnecessary,' he said. 'In fact they are illegal. To call foreigners wogs '
'I'm not calling foreigners wogs. I'm calling two fucking murderers wogs and don't tell me I shouldn't call them murderers either,' said Flint as Mr Symper tried to interject. 'A murderer is a murderer is a murderer and I've had about as much as I can take.'
So, it seemed, had the two terrorists. There was no preliminary tirade of abuse 'What do you want?' Chinanda asked.
Flint took the phone. 'I have a proposal to make,' he said. 'Mrs Wilt, the mother of the four children you are holding, has volunteered to come in to look after them. She is unarmed and is prepared to meet any conditions you may choose to make.'
'Say that again,' said Chinanda. The Inspector repeated the message.
'Any conditions? said Chinanda incredulously.
'Any. You name them, she'll meet them,' said Flint looking at Eva, who nodded.
A muttered conference took place in the kitchen next door made practically inaudible by the squeals of the quads and the occasional moan from Mrs de Frackas. Presently the terrorist came back on the line.
'Here are our conditions. The woman must be naked first of all. You hear me, naked.'
'I hear what you say but I can't say I understand...'
'No clothes on. So we see she has no weapons. Right?'
'I'm not sure Mrs Wilt will agree...'
'I do,' said Eva adamantly.
'Mrs Wilt agrees,' said Flint with a sigh of disgust.
'Second. Her hands are tied above her head.'
Again Eva nodded.
'Third. Her legs are tied.'
'Her legs are tied?' said Flint. 'How the hell is she going to walk if her legs are tied?'
'Long rope Half metre between ankles. No running.'
'I see. Yes, Mrs Wilt agrees. Anything else?'
'Yes,' said Chinanda 'As soon as she comes in, out go the children.'
'I beg your pardon?' said Flint. 'Did I hear you say 'Out go the children'? You mean you don't want them?'
