A Bridge Of Magpies Read Free Page B

problem,' answered the desk official. The raincoated man eyed me.
    'You are Mr Struan Weddell?'
    `Yes. It's all there, in the passport'
    'It's hard to tell from the photograph. The hair and the beard are new.'
    'It was taken two years ago when I left South Africa.'. He stamped the passport and handed it to me.
    'This gentleman would like a word with you.'
    I then noticed the third man's cap under its plastic covering. He was a naval officer. He grinned at my surprise. '
    Captain Weddell?'
    'Yes.'
    'Compliments of the C-in-C, sir. We've been waiting hours for the jet: she's late. Transport is laid on for you.' `
    How did the C-in-C know I was coming?'
    'I don't ask questions, sir. I was detailed to meet you and fly you to the hospital.'
    'Fly?'
    'Helicopter, sir. She's out on the apron.'
    'Hold it. You mean to say the C-in-C actually . . .?'
    `You must ask the C-in-C why, sir. I don't know. My orders were to meet the Athens flight and fly you to the hospital.'
    I was touched. He'd no call to be generous after the way I'd thrown his job in his teeth as a result of the Walewska business. As I told Byron, the tanker tore out her bottom on a reef off South West Africa and I sank her. Her skipper was trying to cut corners when making a landfall at Panther head, which is the main landfall for ships heading up the Sperrgebiet, or forbidden diamond coast. The land looks like an old bone that's been gnawed and thrown away. It is desert and has the world's richest diamond fields. That is why it's forbidden territory–all eight hundred miles of it. I'
    d commanded a fisheries patrol frigate, and part of my job was to police the Sperrgebiet from the sea. On land there are motorized patrols and helicopters. The other part of my job was to keep an eye on the trawlers of all nations 21
    which frequent the coast. The Atlantic here matches the land for riches. Even the Grand Banks can't beat the fishing. There is a third source of riches on this God-forsaken shore: a string of rocky little inshore islands coated in bird guano–white gold, they call it. The Walewska's oil would have killed off the bird and marine life of these islands if I'd allowed her to stay afloat. So I'd blown her up with special charges so that the oil was destroyed–rather than send her to the bottom and risk seepage from the wreck. The danger was compounded by a strong current which flows through the guano isles. I'd acted fast, and on my own initiative. I meant what I said: 'Thanks. Thanks for coming?
    His grin behind the beard made him look ridiculously young.
    'Let's go,' I said.
    'First, I'll go and borrow you a coat from the chopper, You'll get soaked.'
    'It doesn't matter?
    'It was told to look after you. You must be bloody cold, if I may say so, sir.
    'I hadn't noticed–not after the Navy's warm reception.'
    He smiled, then strode out to the helicopter and brought me back a weatherproof. I felt good. I hadn't been looking forward to the cheerless process of landing unmet and making my way to a deathbed. We fell into step and made for the machine.
    I broke the companionable silence.
    'Is my mother still alive, Lieutenant?'
    A flicker passed across his face. His reply was neutral. 'I don't know, sir. I've told you what my orders are.'
    'She must be, otherwise all this wouldn't have been laid on.''I suppose so, sir:
    'Thank the C-in-C when you report, will you? I'll also call later and thank him personally.'
    He didn't answer as he held open the door of the Wasp. '
    Here we are, sir.'
    A thick-set petty officer gave me a hand up and took my case. The pilot nodded. There were the usual clattering preliminaries and then we were airborne. The international airport lies about fifteen miles out of Cape Town. Facing it, the city on your right and a chain of 22
    a
    suburbs and resorts stretches to the left as far as the naval base at Simonstown.
    We lifted. Thin rain cloud drifted past the Perspex. I settled back and wondered whether the helicopter would land at the