Like A Hole In The Head

     'I don't know why you are telling me this. I have returned your money and that lets me out,' I said as I got to my feet. 'I don't want to hear any more.'

     He put his hand gently on my arm.

     'Have patience with me for a few more minutes.' Then raising his voice, he called, 'Raimundo ! '

     Raimundo came out on to the verandah carrying a curious- looking instrument. It was made of iron, set in a wooden handle: the end of the iron was red hot.

     'Demonstrate to Mr. Benson the Red Dragon branding-iron,' Savanto said quietly.

     Raimundo pressed the red-hot iron against one of the wooden uprights of the verandah. I watched the wisp of smoke spiral away from the wood. Raimundo removed the iron, then with a quick look at me, he went back into the house.

     'Please look at what he has done,' Savanto said. 'It is the brand of the Red Dragon. It is of historic interest.'

     I moved over and looked at the brand-mark. It was about an inch long, depicting a crude animal with a forked tail and a snout like crocodile.

     'That was branded on the face of the girl Timoteo wished to marry,' Savanto said.

     I turned.

     'Are you and your tribe so primitive that you can't turn this over to the police?' I said.

     'Yes. It is a personal thing.'

     'Did the girl think so?'

     Savanto shrugged his shoulders.

     'It is not the girl. It is the insult.'

     'What happened to her?'

     'Mr. Benson, don't become too curious. Please sit down.'

     'I don't want to hear any more.'

     'You are involved in this.' He stared at me. 'Let me finish. Please sit down.'

So I sat down.

     'You will understand from what I have told von, I had a problem. I suspected Timoteo couldn't do what was expected of him. I heard about yon : a first-class shot : a man who spent three years in the jungle as a sniper. A sniper is a legalised killer, Mr. Benson. I decided you were the man I was looking for. I let it be known that Timoteo was taking shooting lessons. The news pleased my people and it amused Diaz because Diaz is no fool. He knew, as I suspected, that no one could teach Timoteo to shoot, but my people don't know and that is important.'

     'They'll know now,' I said.

     'Not if my thinking is correct,' Savanto said. 'You see, Mr. Benson, you are going to deputise for my son : you are going to kill Diaz Savanto.'

     I sat for a long moment staring at him. I felt a cold prickle run up my spine.

     'Your thinking is not correct,' I said.

     'Mr. Benson, this is important to me, to Timoteo and to my organisation. It is not that I mind losing the power I have. I am getting old. If there was someone to replace me, then I would go, but there is no one. I represent the rights and interests of a quarter of a million peasants. Because of my efforts, they are no longer starving, but there is still much to be done. I . . .'

     'Your thinking is not correct,' I repeated.

     'I am now offering you two hundred thousand dollars to take my son's place. Think carefully, Mr. Benson. How many men have you already killed in cold blood? Eighty-two? What is one more life to you?'

     'I was a soldier . . . a soldier has to kill. I'm no longer a soldier so I am not doing it. And let me tell you something : your son's thinking is right. If you are too primitive to know this, then take it from me.'

     I got up and walked into the lobby of the house.

     Raimundo was leaning against the wall close to an open door through which I could see Carlo, sitting at a table, picking his teeth with a splinter of wood.

     'I want the key of my car,' I said to Raimundo.

     I was set to hit him. I knew I hadn't much of a chance.

     He looked at me thoughtfully, then he took the key from his pocket and tossed it to me.

     I backed away, turned and started to cross the verandah.

     'So you are leaving, Mr. Benson,' Savanto said.

     I ignored him, going down the steps to the car.

     'If you are returning to your wife, Mr. Benson, there is no need to hurry. She won't be there.'

     His words came clearly to me as I was opening the door of the car. I stood for a moment feeling the hot sun on my face, then I closed the car door and came back on to the verandah.