High Water (1959) Read Free Page A

opened his mouth to speak. ‘Right now I need you for a special trip for one customer only, over to the other side. The chap who was going to do it is no longer available.’ He paused. ‘And I must have a chap I can rely on absolutely. In other words, old boy, you.’
    ‘Are you trying to make me believe that for doing that trip, and heaven knows there must be dozens of owner-skippers who’d do it for you, you’ll pay me the seven hundred pounds I need for my boat?’ He looked the other man hard in the eyes. ‘It’s crooked, isn’t it?’ he said quietly.
    Lang sighed heavily. ‘Come, come, now, don’t ask me a question like that. Let us say it’s a matter of essential business. Essential to me. And, of course, essential to your boat.’
    He watched Vivian struggling with his emotions, and went into the attack.
    ‘Look, Philip, I wouldn’t give you a line, I know you too well of old, but believe me, you’d have nothing to worry about, you’d be an employee of the agency while you’re on the job, quite legitimate in fact. There is absolutely no need for you to know anything about anybody. Just take my chap over to France, quietly, and without anyone knowing when or where. The chappie in question, Cooper, is a sort of undercover agent, who keeps an eye on all our agencies, and keeps them supplied with a little extra cash to by-pass the bloody currency restrictions. It’s the only way to survive, you know. On paper it’s illegal, I know, but the people who made those laws are the very people you and I fought like hell to protect. While we sweated blood, they made a tidy pile, but I don’t have to tell you that, do I?’ He smiled confidently. ‘What have you done with your medals, eh? I don’t suppose your friend the broker would accept those for credit!’
    ‘But, seven hundred quid, I——’
    ‘Well, it’s worth it to us, you can say it’s six months’ pay in advance, if you like, anything, but will you do it? Because, if you don’t, I’ll have to get someone else. Probably someone I don’t like, and don’t want to help.
    ‘You’ve nothing to lose, and everything to gain. No one will give you a second glance, they’re used to your boat popping in and out everywhere, obviously, and on this occasion, when you come back, it’ll be in your own boat! Not one that’ll belong to some bloody little money-grabber!’
    He drew a slim, gold case from his suit, and lit a cigarette; as he exhaled slowly, he said softly, ‘Well, old boy, are you on?’
    Vivian trembled violently, and forced a smile. ‘I’m on. Just this once.’
    Lang breathed deeply, and held out his hand.
    ‘Shake, blast you! Now, let’s have dinner.’
    As he made a sign to the waiter who was hovering nearby, he grinned boyishly. ‘Come round to the office tomorrow on your way to the blood-suckers, and we’ll give you the wherewithal.’
    He winked heavily. ‘As I’ve always said, if you’re in a racket, and can do not a damn thing about it, then you must make the most of it!’

    The grinding roar of countless cars and buses merged into one sullen symphony, and as the morning sunlight filtered through the churned-up clouds of exhaust smoke and the dust from the bone-dry pavements, the air seemed to be drawn from the glittering and noisy valleys between the opulent and colourful shop windows, and Vivian felt the overpowering desire to return at once to the comparative coolness of his room. He strode slowly down the shady side of Regent Street, glancing only perfunctorily at the busy stores, and allowing his active mind to work busily on Lang’s offer of the previous evening. He did not doubt for one second that the reason for the trip was as Lang had said, but inwardly he felt that he was being offered a form of charity, for old time’s sake, and that Lang was probably wrapping the whole thing up in a mesh of mystery, merely to sweeten the pill. He frowned, and glanced up angrily at the street numbers, to ensure that he