‘Does that make you sad?’
‘So sad that I try not to remember it. My father is still alive, but recently he has begun to oppose our government in the matter of foreign wars, and has been arrested several times. He might even be in prison now.’ I paused to wonder why I had told this stranger so much about myself already.
He smiled, and passed the hookah back to me.
‘. . . it is because you look at me, and think This man is like me.’
‘How did you know what I was thinking?’
‘Because I am like you. It might also be something to do with the native tobacco we are sharing: it has beneficial effects, it is said.’ I should have paid more attention to that.
He then asked, ‘Are you married?’
‘I have two children, boys, but I haven’t married yet.’
Şiwan laughed. He had a wealthy laugh; one that said that life amused him. ‘Isn’t that rather putting the cart before the horse, old boy?’ I now found that rather funny as well, and also laughed aloud. I couldn’t remember the last time I had laughed like that.
I know that by now you’re worrying about Hudd. Well, don’t. He was in a small windowless room off the one I was sitting in: counting the money, of course.
I found him later in the small room we had been allocated to sleep in. There were two small horsehair mattresses on pallet beds, and heaps of heavy blankets. Homely and clean. I knew that I wouldn’t wake up scratching.
Hudd sniffed as soon as he looked at me, and said, ‘Christ, Charlie; you haven’t been smoking that stuff, have you? It will rot your brain, and make you sterile.’
‘What stuff?’ Then I understood. ‘Oh, is that what it was? I’ve seen those Air Ministry films as well, and don’t believe a word of them. I just feel a bit light-headed, that’s all . . . and very relaxed. I’m sure I haven’t gone sterile yet.’ I was just justifying myself, of course, which was stupid. I should have realized what I was doing.
‘What did you tell him?’
‘Apart from name, rank and serial number? We talked about our fathers. His died last year, and he’s still upset about it. Have we found Watson’s money?’
Hudd sighed, ‘Yes and no. The three boxes they keep in the small room have the gold coin. There’s fifty or sixty coins missing, but that doesn’t amount to much.’
‘So we’ve found the money Watson said we could keep. I like you, Hudd; you never take your eye off the ball.’
‘Stop messing about. We still don’t know where the paper stuff is, and that’s what’s important.’
‘Do you think Şiwan knows where it is?’
‘I don’t know. He acts as if he’s given me all of the money, apart from the odd coin . . . and do you know what they’ve done with them by the way?’
‘No.’ I yawned; ‘. . . and you’d better hurry up and tell me; I’m just about out on my feet.’
‘That’s the dope you smoked, you dope. I think all of the missing coins have been handed out, and made into decorations. Each of his wives has two around her neck on pieces of electrical wire. He wanted to collect them all back for us, but I told him no. They should keep them. Do you know why he’s helping us, when he’s already run rings around the Frogs and the Israelis?’
‘Something to do with a sense of honour I think. His father told him that the rightful owner would come looking for it one day, and it would cause problems for the family if they didn’t hand it over. Apparently the old man said they’d had enough trouble with the British Empire already, without taking it on again. You’ll find the words rightful and owner are very big out here. The Vans own about a thousand square miles of mountain, and would fight to retain every stone of it. It also helps that he was educated in Cambridge, and has fond memories of its women.’
‘I’ve never been to Cambridge.’
‘I have. I’ll lie down now, and tell you about it. When I stop speaking you’ll know I’m asleep.’
The next morning Hudd told me those were the last words I spoke that night.
After breakfast of yoghurt, cheeses and flat bread, I explained to Van, ‘I need to radio my boss, and tell him our situation . . . but I don’t want to do it behind your back, and make you suspicious. You can listen in if you like.’
I had waited for Hudd to go out for his morning stroll. He did that after his morning meal; usually with a small spade in his hand – and by the way, spade means shovel, not a suit in a card game.
Şiwan said, ‘He can hear you from here?’
‘Morse code only. We can throw a signal hundreds of miles these days with the right equipment.’
‘I can’t read Morse.’
‘You’ll have to take me on trust then. Though some say it’s difficult to trust someone from Stoke-on-Trent.’ I enjoyed that. Touché.
I sent, Recovered coin with local help. Still trying.
You’re always trying, was what came back at me. Don’t know why we put up with you. I didn’t recognize the hand, but the opening challenge and responses had been OK so I guessed it was M’smith. Wrong again. If my head felt muzzy that morning I had only myself to blame.
Hector?
Daisy.
You take a great photograph. Tell the boss we’ll check in again later.
Why did you do that? I asked myself as I stowed the aerial. Why do you always have to be a smart arse?
Van asked, ‘What’s the matter? Bad news?’ There must have been something in my face.
‘No. I just made a Smart-Alec comment which will probably hurt someone, and get me into trouble. Why do we do that sort of thing?’
‘Usually because
