Elephant Song - Smith Wilbur - Страница 55

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. . Daniel had trained his memory over the years as an interviewer.

He knew he could retain the details until he had a chance to write them down.  The recital went on for almost twenty minutes.  Chetti Singh was quick and incisive until suddenly he ended on a home note. Then this last shipment, the one you know about.  Good.  Daniel nodded. We come to the Chiwewe raid, at last.  Whose idea was that, Mr. Singh?  The ambassador.  It was his idea, Chetti Singh blurted.  I think you are lying.  It is highly unlikely that he could have known about the ivory godown.  Its whereabouts are not public knowledge.  I think that it was more likely your area of expertise.  All right, Chetti Singh agreed.  I have known about it for some years.  I was awaiting an opportunity.

However, Ning told me he wanted a large coup.  His term of office was almost expired.  He was returning home and he wanted to impress his family, his father.  But you recruited the raiders, didn't you?  Ning could not have done that.  He did not have your contacts.  I didn't give the orders to kill your friend, Chetti Singh's voice trembled.  I didn't want that to happen.  You were just going to leave them alive to tell their story, to explain to the police about Ning?  Yes, no, no!

It was Ning's idea.  I do not believe in killing, Doctor.  Is that why you sent Chawe and me into the mountains together?  No!  You gave me no choice, Doctor Armstrong.  Please, you must-understand.  I am a businessman, not a brigand.  All right, let's leave that for the moment. Now tell me, what was your further arrangement with Ning?

Surely you were going to continue such a lucrative partnership, even after he returned to Taiwan?

No!  Please don't lie to me.  That is breaking our agreement.  Daniel jammed the steel muzzles into him so hard that he squealed.  Yes, all right, please you are hurting me.  I can't speak if you do that.

Daniel relaxed the pressure a little.  I must warn you, Mr.  Singh, that I would be delighted if you gave me an opportunity to break our contract.

Johnny Nzou's two daughters were about ten and eight years old.  Your men raped them.  His son Daniel, my godson, was just four.  They beat his brains out against the wall.  It was not a pretty sight.

I'd enjoy it if you reneged on our bargain.  Yes, I would don't want to hear these things, please, Doctor.  I am a family man, myself.  You must believe that I didn't want----'Let's talk about Ning rather than your delicate sensibilities, Mr.  Singh.  You and Ning have plans for the future, don't you?  We have discussed certain possibilities, Chetti Singh admired.  The Ning family have vast holdings in Africa.  After this last shipment of ivory, Cheng's status in the family will be absolutely enhanced.  Cheng has expectations that his father will place him in charge of the African division of Lucky Dragon, that is the family holding company.  You have a niche in these plans, don't you?

Your expert services will be in demand.  Surely you have discussed it with Ning?  NoChetti Singh squealed again as the steel eyes of the shotgun barrels burrowed into his flesh.  Please don't do that, Doctor.

I suffer from high blood pressure; this uncivilized behaviour is absolutely prejudicial to my health.  What are your arrangements with Cheng?  Daniel insisted.  Where will you operate next?  Chetti Singh squeaked.  Lucky Dragon plans toUbomo, move into Ubomo.  Ubomo) There was surprise in Daniel's tone.

President Omeru?  The sovereign state of Ubomo was one of the few success stories of the continent.  Like Malawi, it nestled on the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, a country of lakes and mountains, on the eastern flank of Africa, where open savannah and primeval equatorial forest met.  Like Hastings Banda, President Omeru was another benevolent despot, ruling in the age-old African fashion.

Thanks to him his country was free of debt, and not as yet divided or ravaged by tribal warfare.

Daniel knew that Omeru lived in a small brick cottage with a corrugated-iron roof and drove his own Landrover.  No marble palaces, no stretched black Mercedes, no executive jet for him.

He flew to the meetings of the Organization of African Unity in the tourist class cabin of a commercial airline as a deliberate example to his people.  He was a beacon of hope, not the type to deal with Lucky Dragon.

Omeru?  I don't believe it, Daniel said emphatically.  Omeru is yesterday's man.  He is old, redundant.  He resists change and development.  Soon he will go.  It is being arranged.

Soon there will be a new man in Ubomo, young, dynamic.  . . And greedy, Daniel suggested.  What will Cheng; and Lucky Dragon have to do with all this?  I do not know the details.  Cheng does not trust me that far.

All I know is that he has asked me to deploy my people in Ubomo, to make my dispositions.  Ready for the day.  When will it be?

I do not know.  I told you.  But I think soon.  This year?  Next year?

I do not know, you must believe me, Doctor.  I have held nothing back from you.  I have fulfilled my part of the bargain.

Now you must keep yours.  I think you are a man of honour, an Englishman, a gentleman.  Am I correct, Doctor?  What was our bargain, Mr.  Singh?  Refresh my memory, Daniel asked, never relaxing the pressure of the shotgun for a moment.  After I told you all I know about Cheng, you promised to release me immediately, unharmed.  Have I harmed you, Mr.

Singh?  No, not yet.  But Chetti Singh was sweating again now, more copiously than before.  The expression on the white man's face was murderous.

Daniel reached across him, and seized the door handle.  It was so unexpected, so quick that Chetti Singh had no chance to react.  He was hunched against the door, trying to get away from the shotgun.  You are free to go, Mr.  Singh, Daniel said softly.

With one hand he wrenched open the driver's door of the Cadillac and laced his other hand in the centre of Chetti Singh's chest.  With all the strength of his anger and disgust, he shoved.

The door flew open.  Chetti Singh was leaning his full weight against it.

The thrust of Daniel's arm hurled him outwards.  He fell on his back on to the cement floor of the warehouse, and rolled over twice.  He lay there stunned and paralysed with shock.

Daniel slammed the door of the Cadillac shut and locked it.

He switched on the headlights.  For a moment nothing changed.

Chetti Singh lay on the floor outside the vehicle and Daniel stared down at him mercilessly through the shatterproof glass.

Somewhere in the dim depths of the warehouse the leopard sawed hoarsely.

Chetti Singh bounded to his feet and threw himself against the side of the Cadillac, scrabbling at the window with his bare hands.  His face contorted.  You cannot do this to me.  The leopard .

. . Please, Doctor.  His voice was muted by the intervening glass, but still the raw panic was shrill in his voice and a dribble of saliva broke from the corner of his mouth.

Daniel regarded him dispassionately, his arms folded and his jaw clenched.  Anything, screamed Chetti Singh.  I'll give you anything He glanced over his shoulder, and his expression was wild with terror as he turned back to Daniel.  He had glimpsed that deadly shadow, circling silently in the gloom.  Money, he mouthed imploringly, slapping his pink palms on the glass.  Please, I'll give you as much, a million dollars. I will give you anything.  just let me in.  Please, please, I beg you, Doctor.  Don't leave me out here.  The leopard coughed, an abrupt explosion of sound filled with infinite menace.  Chetti Singh spun round to face the darkness, cowering against the side of the vehicle.

Get back, Nandi" His voice was a high-pitched shriek.  Back!  Back to your cage!  They both saw the leopard then, crouched in the alley between two walls of packing-cases.  Its eyes reflected the headlights, yellow and glittering.  Its tail flicked back and forth with a mesmeric rhythm.  It was watching Chetti Singh.  No!  screamed Chetti Singh.

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