Elephant Song - Smith Wilbur - Страница 54

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At the next intersection the police vehicle turned left.  You did that well, Daniel congratulated him.  I am pleased with you.  Why are you victimising me in such a barbarous fashion, please, Doctor?  Don't spoil your record by asking facetious questions, Daniel advised him.

You know why I'm doing this.  The ivory was no concern of yours, surely, Doctor?

The theft of the ivory is the concern of any decent man, but you are correct.  That is not the main reason.  The business with Chawe.  That was not personal.  You brought that upon yourself.  You should not blame me for trying to protect myself.  I am a very wealthy man, Doctor.  I would be glad to make up to you any injury to your dignity or person you might have suffered.  Let us discuss a figure.  Ten thousand dollars, US, of course, Chetti Singh babbled.  Is that your final offer?  I find it miserly, Mr.  Singh.  Yes, you are right.

Let's say twenty-five, no, make that fifty.  Fifty thousand US. Johnny Nzou was one of the best friends I ever had, Daniel said softly. His wife was a lovely lady, they had three children, two girls and a little boy.  They named the boy after me.

Now you have me at a loss, never mind.  Who is Johnny Nzou?  Chetti Singh asked.  Let's say fifty thousand for him, as well.  One hundred thousand US dollars.  I give it to you, and you walk away.  We forget this foolishness.  It never happened Am I correct, Doctor?  A little late for that, Mr.  Singh.  Johnny Nzou was the warden at Chiwewe National Park.

Chetti Singh let out his breath softly.  I am terribly sorry about that, Doctor.  Those were not my orders.  . . There was the brittle edge of panic in his voice.  I had nothing to do-with that.  It was, it was the Chinaman.  Tell me about the Chinaman.  If I tell you, will you swear not to harm me?  Daniel seemed to consider this at length.  Very well, he nodded at last.  We will go to your warehouse where we can have a private uninterrupted chat.  You will tell me all you know about Ning Cheng Gong, and afterwards I will release you, immediately, unharmed. Chetti Singh turned to stare at him in the reflected light from the instrument panel.

I trust you, Doctor Armstrong.  I think you are a man of integrity.

I believe you will keep your word.  To the letter, Mr.  Singh, Daniel assured him.  Now just keep heading for the Warehouse.  They passed the sawmills.  The lumberyard was brightly lit and the teams of sawyers were at work in the long sheds.

The squeal of the saw-blades slicing into timber carried clearly even into the air-conditioned interior of the Cadillac.  Business must be good, Mr.  Singh.  You are working nightshift.  I have a large consignment going to Australia at the end of the week.  You will want to survive long enough to enjoy those profits.

just keep cooperating.

At the end of the street the warehouse stood in darkness.

Chetti Singh stopped at the main gates.  The gatehouse was deserted and unlit.  Left-hand drive, Chetti Singh remarked, indicating the controls of the Cadillac with an apologetic shrug.  You must operate the gate from your side.  He handed Daniel a plastic coated electronic key-card similar to the one retrieved from Chawe's corpse, and lowered the electric window.

Daniel leaned out and pressed the card into the slot of the control-box.

The gate boom rose and Chetti Singh drove through.  Behind them the boom dropped again automatically.  Your guard leopard must save you a great deal in the way of wages.  Daniel's tone was mild and conversational but he kept a firm pressure of the shotgun into Chetti Singh's ribs.  But I don't understand how you have made the animal so vicious.  In my experience, leopards will not attack a man unless provoked.  That is true.  Chetti Singh was more relaxed since they had struck their bargain.  He had stopped sweating and now he chuckled for the first time.

I was advised by the man who sold it to me.  Every once in a while it is necessary to give the brute a little gingering up, never mind.  I use a hot iron under its tail He chuckled again, this time with genuine amusement.  My goodness, it makes the animal very angry indeed.  You never heard such a racket.  You deliberately torment it to make it vicious?

Daniel asked, shocked despite himself.  His tone made evident his disgust and contempt, and Chetti Singh bridled.  You English and your love of animals.  It is merely a form of training to make it more efficient.  The injuries are superficial and heat readily.  They drew up outside the warehouse and once again Daniel used the electronic key-card to open the roller door.  As they drove through, the door tumbled closed behind them.

Park over there on the loading ramp, Daniel ordered.  The headlights swept powerfully down to the girders and corrugated sheeting of the wall at the far end of the cavernous building.

The floor was as cluttered as before with a vast array of trade goods.

For an instant the leopard was caught in the full beam as the Cadillac drove on to the ramp and the headlights were deflected upwards.  The great cat was crouched on the summit of a neatly squared pile of packing-cases.  As the light struck it, the leopard crouched, yellow-eyed, and puckered its lips into a snarl.  The light glinted on its exposed canine fangs.  Then it dropped out of sight behind the pile of cases.  Did you notice the injury to its face?  Chetti Singh asked virtuously.  You did that, and yet you accuse me of cruelty, Doctor Armstrong.  The brute is extremely aggressive and impossible to control at the moment.  I may have to destroy it.  It is too dangerous-, even to me and my men.  This will do.  Daniel ignored the rebuke.  We can talk here.

Switch off the engine and the headlights.  Daniel reached up to the cabin light in the centre of the roof and a soft glow replaced the harsh white glare as the headlights faded.

They sat in silence for a while longer, and then Daniel asked quietly, So, Mr.  Singh, how and when did you first meet Ning Cheng Gong?  It was about three years ago.  A mutual friend told me he was interested in ivory and other commodities which I could supply, Chetti Singh answered.

What were they, these other commodities?  When Chetti Singh hesitated, Daniel jabbed him sharply with the shotgun barrels.  Let us both keep to our side of the bargain, he suggested mildly.

Diamonds.  . . Chetti Singh wriggled away from the shotgun.  From Namibia and Angola.  Emeralds from Sandwana.  Rare Tanzanite gemstones from the mines at Arusha in Tanzania, some dagga from Zululand.  You seem to have access to many sources of supply Mr.  Singh.  I am a businessman, Doctor.  I think I am good, probably the best.  That is why Mr.  Ning dealt with me.  It was mutually beneficial, then?  Chetti Singh shrugged.  He was able to use the diplomatic bag.  Absolutely secure shipment.  . . Except when the products were too bulky, Daniel pointed out.  As was this last consignment of ivory.  As you say, Chetti Singh agreed.  But even then his family connections were abundantly useful.

Taiwan is a convenient entryport.

Give me the details of your transactions.  Dates, commodities, values. .

There were many, Chetti Singh protested, I cannot remember them all.

You have just told me that you are a good businessman.  Daniel prodded him again, and Chetti Singh tried to avoid the shotgun barrel but he was already hard up against the door and could move no further. I'm sure you remember every single transaction.  All right, he capitulated.

The first was in early February three years ago.  Ivory, value five thousand dollars.  It was a trial shipment.  It went well.  At the end of that month there was a second transaction, rhino horn and ivory, sixty-two thousand dollars.  In May of the same year, emeralds, four hundred thousand.

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