Part 30 (2/2)
I would not be able to use the electric blaster and insulated wire, and I must rely on one of the ti distaste for these teets They operate on the principle of acid eating through a thin hich holds the hammer on a powder cap When the acid cuts the wire the cap explodes, and the delay in the detonation is governed by the strength of the acid and the thickness of the wire
There can be a large latitude of error in this ti which on one occasion caused me a nearly fatal embarrassment However, in this case I had no choice in the matter - and I selected a pencil with a six-hour delay and prepared it for use with the gelignite
Aen rebreathing underwater set This diving set is alerous to use as the ti which uses coen which is filtered and cleansed of carbon dioxide after each breath and then cycled back to the user
Oxygen breathed at pressures in excess of twice atmospheric becomes as poisonous as carbon en below underwater depths of thirty-three feet, it will kill you You have to have all your wits together to play around with the stuff but it has one enore It does not blow bubbles on the surface to alarive away your position to hinite and the rifle ent back to the beach It was after three o'clock when I had donned and tested the oxygen set, and then I carried the gelignite down to the water and tested that for buoyancy It needed a few pounds of lead weights to give it a neutral buoyancy and make it easier to handle in the water
We had reached the water from the beach around the horn of the bay from the anchored crash boat The point of sand and palm trees covererd us as orked, and at last I was ready
It was a long tiring swim I had to round the point and enter the bay a distance of almost a ged heavily through the water and it took hts of the crash boat gli the bottoht would silhouette oon bed, for the water was clear as gin and only twenty-five feet deep
It was a relief to move slowly into the dark shadow cast by the crash boat's hull and to know that I was safe from discovery I rested for a few s that I had on nite
Now I checked the time on my wristwatch, and the luminous hands showed ten lass ain its slow eroding attack on the wire, and I returned it to its prepared slot in the case of explosive In six hours, o up with the force of a two hundred pound aerial booon and rose slowly to the hull of the crash boat It was foul with a hanging slih scale of shellfish and goose-neckfor an anchor point - but there was none and at last I was forced to use the shank of the rudder I bound the case in position with all the nylon rope I had - and when I was finished I was certain that it would resist even the drag of water when the crash boat was travelling at the top of her speed
Satisfied at last, I sank once oon and moved off quietly on h the water noithout the burden of the gelignite case and Chubby aiting for me on the beach
”Fixed up?” he asked quietly, as he helpedas that pencil does its job”
I was so tired now that the walk back through the grove see I had slept little the previous night, and not at all since then
This time Chubby watched over ently awake it was after seven o'clock and the daylight was growing swiftly
We ate a breakfast cold frolucose tablets fro of chlorinated water
I drew the knife from the sheath on my belt and threw it underhand to pin into the trunk of the nearest pal with the force of the irinned at hi to look relaxed and easy
”, just like the man said - no weapons,” and I spread my empty hands
”You ready?” he asked, and we both stood up and looked at each other aardly Chubby would never wish ood luck - which was the worst of all possible hex to put on someone
”See you later,”he said
”Okay, Chubby” I held out my hand He took it and squeezed it hard, then he turned away, picked up the FN rifle and plodded off through the grove
I watched hiht, but he never looked back and I turned away myself and walked down unarst the trees and stood at the water's edge, staring across the narrow strip of water at the crash boat The dangling corpse had been removed from the masthead, I saith relief
For many seconds none of the sentries on deck noticed ave them a loud ”Halloo' Instantly there was a boil of activity and clamour of shouted orders on board the crash boat Manny Resnick and Lorna appeared at the rail and stared across at me, while half a dozen armed seamen dropped into the whaleboat and headed for the beach
As the boat touched- they leaped out on to the sand and surrounded erly into my back and belly I kept my hands hoisted at half-mast and tried to maintain an expression of disinterest as a petty officer searched hness for any weapon When he was at last satisfied, he placed his hand between ave er of his men took this as a licence and he tried to rupture my kidneys with the butt of his AK47 - but the blow landed six inches high
I made briskly for the whaleboat to forestall any further martial displays and they crowded into the boat aroundthe muzzles of their fully loaded weapons painfully into various parts of my anatomy
Manny Resnick watched ain, Harry,”he smiled without mirth
”The pleasure is all yours, Manny,” I returned the death's head grin, and another blow caught me between the shoulder-blades and drove ether to control ht about Sherry North That helped
Commander Suleiman Dada was sprawled on a low couch covered with plain canvas cushi+ons He had re heavy with all the braid and medals from a hook on the bulkhead beside hireyish sleeveless vest, and even this early in the ht hand
”Ah, Harry Fletcher - or should it be Harry Bruce?” he grinned at me like an enormous coal-black baby
”You take your pick, Suleiaerous was the position in which Sherry and I were placed, and ed animal in my belly
”I have learned so ood friends,” he indicated Manny and the blonde Lorna who had followed , Harry I never dreamed you were a man of such vast talent and formidable achievement”
”Thanks, Suleiet carried aith compliments We have important business - don't we, ”True, Harry, very true”
”You have raised the tiger throne, Harry, we know that,” Manny cut in, but I shook one - but we salvaged what there was”
”All right, I'll buy that,” Manny agreed ”Just tell us what there is”
”There is the head of the tiger, about three hundred pounds weight in gold-” Suleilanced at each other
”Is that all?” Manny asked, and I knew instinctively that Sherry had told theiven her I did not hold that against her I had expected it
”There is also the jewel chest The stones removed from the throne were placed in an iron pay chest”
”The diaot it,” I said, and they murmured and smiled and nodded at each other ”But I'm the only one who knohere it is--” I added softly, and iain
”This ti to trade, Manny Are you interested?”
”We are interested, Harry, very interested,” Sulei between my two enemies now that the loot was almost in view
”I want Sherry North,” I said