Windfall

Curtis interrupted the steady flow of obscenities from Gu

'Very well, Sergeant.' Stafford watched Curtis walk away in his stolid fashion and turned to Nair. 'Are you really a police officer?'

Nair gri

Stafford shook his head. 'I'll take it on trust.'

Gu

'Talk to me like that again and I'll kick your teeth in,' said Hardin sharply. 'Any injuries can be put down to resisting arrest.'

'Yes,' said Nair. 'I would advise a still tongue.'

Gu

'Oh, we can always think of something,' said Nair cheerfully.

Hunt wore a baffled expression. 'I don't understand all this.

Who is this man, and what has he to do with Ol Njorowa?'

'His name is Gu

'Yeah,' said Hardin. 'Over a beer. We've got some six-packs cooling in the lake; let's go get them.'

As they walked away Stafford called, 'Take a beer to the Sergeant,' then said to Nair, 'So what do we do about him?' He indicated Gu

'Not much. He'll keep until Chip comes back. Of course, we'll have to feed him.'

'yeah,' said Gu

'Hardin always said you were smart,' admitted Stafford. 'But not, I think, smart enough. You got in over your head, Gu

Gu

One of the nations was preparing for its part in the clash.

Brice looked at Patterson stonily. 'So Gu

'I couldn't ask him; he wasn't within shouting distance,' said Patterson acidly. 'But I think he's chasing after some Indian – a Sikh. He was making enquiries about the driver of a Kenatco taxi in the hotel car park and then hired the hotel boat to take him to the island. The boatman wouldn't wait for him because someone wanted to go fishing. He promised Gu

'So I did.' Brice tapped a ballpoint pen on the desk and stared unseeingly at Dirk Hendriks. 'A Sikh in a Kenatco taxi. That's something new.'

'And interesting,' said Hendriks.

'It gets more interesting,' said Patterson. 'I had another look at the taxi – a Mercedes just like Kenatco uses, but I don't think it's theirs. It had three ante

Brice sat straighter in his chair. 'Gu

'Are we sure Stafford has gone?' asked Patterson.

Hendriks nodded. 'Our man in Nairobi reported in person fifteen minutes ago. Stafford left on the morning flight. He checked out of the Norfolk early and changed his Kenyan money at the airport bank like a good boy. Our man saw the record – he has good contacts at the airport. Both Stafford and his man, Curtis, are on the passenger list.'

'But did anyone see them leave?' persisted Patterson.

'Forget Stafford," snapped Brice. 'Our immediate concern is Gu

The three of them left the office and, on the way through the entrance hall, Brice collected the black who presided behind the reception desk.

Hunt said, 'That's the damnedest story I've ever heard.'

Hardin chuckled. 'Isn't it, though? Not long ago Max asked me if I thought that ru

'Who's that?'

'Mrs Hendriks back in London. I liked her – a real nice lady.'

'Perhaps she's in it up to her neck just as much as her husband.'

Hardin drained his beer can and then crushed it flat. 'Max says not, and he's known her for a long time. He knew her before she married Hendriks. Apparently he got her out of a jam once before; some trouble her brother was in. That's why she went to him when I appeared with my story and Hendriks was away in South Africa. If she was in cahoots with Dirk she'd have kept her mouth shut. No, I think this is going to hurt her bad when the news gets out.'

Hunt looked at his watch. 'I'd better be getting back.'

'Okay.' Hardin picked up a beer can and tossed it to Hunt. 'Give that to Curtis on your way. It must be as hot as Hades up there. Tell him I'll relieve him for the afternoon watch. And check with Max before you go. He might want you to do something at Ol Njorowa.'

'Right.' Hunt looked up at the ridge. Tu

Hardin gri

Hunt reported to Stafford that he was leaving. Stafford said, 'Alan, is there a way into Ol Njorowa other than the front gate?'

'Not that I know of,' said Hunt. 'You go through the gate or through the fence – or over it.'

'Or under it,' suggested Nair.

Stafford shook his head. 'Brice knew what he was doing when he put up that fence. He's not stupid. My bet is that it's like an Australian rabbit fence and extends four feet underground. Is the animal migration laboratory normally kept locked?' i

'I don't know,' said Hunt. 'I've never had occasion to try the door.'

Stafford grimaced. 'Of course not.' He reflected for a moment. 'I don't know if there'll be any rough stuff- nothing like a shoot-out at the OK Corral – normally intelligence outfits don't favour guns. But there may be a bit of trouble when Chip moves in, so my advice is to get Judy out of there. Send her to Nairobi for a week's shopping or something like that.'

'I've already tried that and she's not buying it,' said Hunt.

'Well, tell her to keep her head down.' They shook hands and Hunt departed and Stafford walked over to where Nair was interrogating Gu

'Go screw yourself,' said Gu

Curtis turned his head as Hunt approached and slid down from the top of the ridge. He accepted the can of beer gratefully. 'Thanks. Just what the doctor ordered.'

'Hardin says he'll relieve you soon,' said Hunt.

'He needn't bother.'

Hunt regarded him curiously. 'Have you been with Max Stafford long?'

Curtis swallowed beer, his Adam's apple working vigorously. He sighed in appreciation. 'A couple of years.'

'Were you in the service together.'

Curtis nodded. 'In a way. A long time ago.'