The Cauldron

by Colin Forbes

  "They have swimming outfits you can borrow,' Vanity told her. 'You could have a dip after lunch.'

  Alvarez had a wary expression as he surveyed the place. He took an especial interest in several people sitting by the pool. One slim girl in a swimsuit and a robe had the most amazing legs he had ever seen. She was surrounded by three men and he wondered who the lucky one was - if any of them. She caught his gaze and smiled. He gave her a little wave with his hand.

  The proprietor, a good-looking man with a warm extrovert manner, greeted them.

  'Lunch is ready to be served only when you are ready to be served. Do look around the place. A waiter is here to provide drinks...'

  Paula was standing at the inner edge of the terrace where she could look at the view, which was vertiginous. Far below she could see a hamlet called the Village. Nearby was an airfield. A light aircraft took off, climbed into the sky like a dragonfly, vanishing over the summits of pyramid-shaped hills. Then a chopper appeared out of nowhere, dropped, landed on the airfield.

  'What have we here?'

  Alvarez was suddenly beside her. He produced a pair of field glasses, focused them as the helicopter stopped on the runway.

  'Bring Tweed over here. Quietly and quickly.' he requested.

  Tweed left the others strolling round the pool, was alongside Alvarez in no time as Paula followed on his heels.

  Trouble?' he enquired.

  'I fear so. See those men disembarking from that chopper? The big man is Joel Brand.'

  He handed the glasses to Tweed who studied the men alighting from the machine. They all carried golf bags. As he watched, a second chopper dropped out of the sky, landed, disembarking more men. He handed the glasses back to Alvarez.

  "The guard master at Black Ridge, Luis Martinez, has left the second chopper,' Alvarez reported. 'More golf bags. You know what that means?'

  'Spot of bother?' drawled a fresh voice.

  Marler had strolled over to them from the pool. He held a glass of wine in his hand. Alvarez quickly explained what they had observed. He handed the glasses to Marler, who perched his wine on a nearby table then glued the field glasses to his eyes.

  "They're all piling into two vehicles,' he remarked. 'A Chrysler and a four-wheel job. Like a Land-Rover. Now what would they want with that? They're off now. Driving at speed up the valley. Intriguing.'

  He handed the field glasses back to Alvarez, rescued his glass of wine.

  'You know,' he remarked, 'this American wine is really very good.'

  'You saw the golf bags?' Alvarez said grimly.

  'Of course. Usual method of carrying concealed weapons. Used it myself in the past. Rather effective in this neck of the woods. Just a bunch of chaps off to play a game or two of golf. Merges rather well into the landscape.'

  Even though she knew Marler well, Paula was impressed with his off-hand manner. He was probably the coolest person present.

  'It does not augur well for us.' insisted Alvarez.

  'No.' Marler appeared to agree. 'It doesn't - the fact we haven't had lunch and it must be waiting for us now. You really should throw away that orange juice, Tweed. Do try a glass of wine c'

  Paula was glad that Newman had gone inside, presumably to chat up Vanity. It meant that Vanity had not overheard their conversation, that she had not observed the landing of the choppers - and had not seen that they had observed the arrival of hostile forces.

  The enlarged Table Four was the best one in the restaurant. By now they had the place to themselves. From her chair Paula could see straight down a section of the valley and across it - where range upon range of hills rolled away like a giant frozen sea.

  As they ate an excellent lunch she saw Newman staring at Tweed. He had caught on that something had happened and was wondering what it was. Which showed her he was not completely under the spell of Vanity. Paula drank more wine as Marler, chatting and joking, refilled her glass.

  Tweed was quiet. He joined in the conversation enough so he would not appear to be disturbed. Near the end of the meal Vanity reached inside her handbag, brought out a long white envelope, handed it to Tweed.

  'I was asked to give you this,' she explained.

  'By whom?' Tweed enquired amiably.

  'Byron Landis. He said he had been told it was important.'

  'Who told him that?'

  'You sound just like a detective.' She chuckled. 'I'm sure you would have made a very good one.'

  Tweed balanced the long white envelope in his hand. It was expensive paper. He turned it over and found it carried a red seal. Embossed in the seal were the letters VB. He opened it, holding it close so no one else could see its contents. The message was typed on flock paper. No address at the top.

  I need to meet you urgently and secretly. At McGee's Landing. Please do not fail me .

  The letter ended with the initials VB in handwriting. He looked up at Vanity. There was a sudden silence round the table. Nothing in his expression had given a clue to his reaction. He was still amiable when he spoke to her again.

  'You didn't answer my question, I believe. I asked you who told Byron Landis it was important?'

  'He didn't say. I didn't see any point in asking him. I saw VB's seal on the back, so I presumed it was VB who had told him.'

  'Are you familiar with VB's signature?'

  'Of course. I've seen it frequently.'

  Tweed folded the letter so only the written initials were visible. He held it close to her, not releasing the sheet of paper.

  'Would you say those were his genuine initials?'

  Vanity studied the shortened signature. For once she looked quite serious and took her time before replying.

  'They look genuine.' she said eventually.

  'Not so difficult to forge, though. Does he often sign his communications with only his initials? That is, with the initials of his first two names?'

  'All the time,' she answered promptly.

  'Thank you.'

  She was reaching for the bill when Tweed took hold of it. She looked surprised, put out of countenance.

  'This is my treat.'

  "Thank you for your generous offer. But I will be paying this bill. Incidentally, if you don't think it impolite I'd like to remain here a little longer. It's the sort of place I wouldn't mind staying at. I think I'll ask to see some of the bedrooms. Would you mind driving back by yourself?'

  Vanity stared at him with a look Paula found difficult to interpret. She's not best pleased, she thought. Then Vanity recovered her poise, tossed her head.

  'If you insist. Come to think of it I've a pile of work waiting for me.'

  Newman stood up to escort her out. He had an annoyed expression. They heard the Audi start up and Newman returned, sat down.

  'Have another glass of wine, Bob.' Tweed said genially.

  'You didn't treat her very nicely, did you?'

  'By taking the bill off her?'

  'And by telling her to shove off - because that's what it amounted to.'

  'Calm down, Bob. Another glass of wine will make you feel better.'

  'I think I need another glass to get over that incident...'

  Tweed seemed in no hurry to leave. He asked the proprietor to show him several rooms. Paula accompanied them. The bedrooms were beautifully furnished. No expense had been spared to make guests with money comfortable and at home.

  'You've created a wonderful hotel.' Tweed remarked, holding a second glass of wine. 'If you'd let me have the brochure and tariff? This is just the sort of retreat I would like to visit when I need some relaxation...'

  Relaxation? Paula could hardly believe her ears. She could never remember Tweed having a holiday. They went outside and found Marler with the other members

  of the team by the pool. Marler had been talking to Butler on his own. Now he switched his attention to Nield who sat by himself in a chair. Paula had the impression Marler was instructing them. Then Marler gestured to Tweed and Paula. Earlier Tweed had spoken privately to Marler.r />
  'What have you been up to?' Paula asked.

  'I shall be driving the Merc..' Marler informed her. 'Alvarez will be by my side. You will travel in the back with Tweed. Newman will follow us, driving the BMW with Butler and Nield as passengers. I shall drive the lead car.'

  'What is all this in aid of?' Paula persisted.

  'We're off to McGee's Landing. Alvarez will identify the place for us - when we ultimately get there. Now, Paula, this is what you have to do when we leave the cars...'

  She listened with growing excitement. Marler's orders were very precise, as though he had foreseen every possibility. He then told Tweed what to do. Tweed nodded his approval.

  'You might tell me where we are going,' Paula demanded.

  'Probably to somewhere beyond McGee's Landing. I gather from Alvarez the road from there to distant Greenfield passes through some pretty wild and lonely country. Redneck territory.'

  31

  They drove down the steep winding hill to the valley road. But this time, instead of turning left back towards Carmel, Marler turned right, heading even further and deeper into the valley. Paula asked Tweed to show her the letter Vanity had delivered. She read it, frowned.

  "There's no time given for this so-called appointment.'

  'I noticed that myself.' Tweed replied.

  'Why have we left so late? You seemed to be wasting time at the Lodge deliberately. It will soon be dusk, then dark.'

  'Marler's idea, which I agree with. Messrs Brand and his cohorts will have been waiting for hours, wondering whether we're coming. Waiting gets on people's nerves. My aim is to demoralize them before we meet.'

  'You really think we are going to meet them?'

  I'm sure of it. So are Alvarez and Marler. They have laid a careful trap. Incidentally, Alvarez isn't too happy with our confronting them. Newman has recovered his poise and can't wait to get there. Ditto with Marler.'

  'Ditto.' Marler called out.

  'From the plans you've laid.' Paula commented, 'and the armoury you've issued, you appear to be expecting something fairly violent.'

  'Possibly the most ferocious firefight we've been engaged in so far.' Marler replied. 'Object of the exercise - to hit Moloch for six, to wipe out as many of his troops as possible. Should be fun.'

  Paula didn't reply. She was looking out of the window as they passed isolated homesteads perched by the roadside. Lights were on inside the windows and a deep purple dusk was falling over the valley. At the same time the heat of the day was evaporating and night's chill was descending. On both sides the hills seemed to be closing in on them.

  'How much further?' she called out to Marler.

  'Quite a distance.' Alvarez replied to her. It was the first time he had spoken. "This isn't Highway One. We're going very deep into uncharted territory. No patrol cars roam this area. Too dangerous.'

  Very reassuring, Paula thought. Alvarez means we've left civilization behind. Tweed seemed .to read her mind.

  'Lack of patrol cars is an advantage.' he remarked. "There will be no witnesses to what happens.'

  'Who wants witnesses?' she said with forced flippancy.

  The road was now level, on the floor of the valley, twisting and turning round bend after bend. Marler had some while back turned on his headlights. In the beams she saw feeble hedges lining the road, bleak fields beyond. No sign of life anywhere. They had left behind even the odd isolated homestead. They were in the wilderness.

  'Won't they see us coming with your headlights on?' she warned Marler.

  'Probably. But I can't drive along this road without them. We're not stopping when we reach McGee's Landing. I want to approach that place on foot from the far side. Surprise, I think Napoleon said, is the great element in warfare. Something which meant that.'

  Paula reached down into her shoulder bag, rearranged what Marler had given her. She would need a certain weapon the moment trouble started. She forced herself to relax, leaning back against her seat. Tweed put out a hand, squeezed her arm, sensing the tension inside her.

  "That bomb against the window at Anton & Michel changed your whole attitude,' she whispered.

  'Yes. I decided that instead of us being the sitting ducks we had to go over to the attack. Are you all right?'

  'You know I will be when it starts c'

  The moon was not yet up, which was a factor Marler had counted on. Looking sideways, across Tweed to her right, Paula saw huge gulches between one hill fold and another. The intense blue of the starry night sky created blue V-shapes which she had never seen before. There was something peaceful in the atmosphere which she found comforting.

  'McGee's Landing coming up.' Alvarez called out. 'On our right.'

  Marler slowed down, dimmed his headlights. A short way back from the road was a huddled collection of one-storey wooden cabins, each joined to the next. Lights shone in all the windows but there was no sign of a single human being.

  "The local boozing joint,' Alvarez explained. 'Although the Rednecks distil their own foul brand of hooch. With that inside them they go stark raving mad...'

  Marler drove on round yet another bend, still slowly, leaning forward in his seat. Then he suddenly turned his lights full on for a few seconds. In the brief glare Paula saw a sign. FALLING ROCK NEX'I SIX MILES. He dimmed his lights again.

  "The scenery is changing,' Tweed remarked.

  The Merc, was creeping along now. To their right Paula gazed at distant black mountains with streaks of what appeared to be snow on their summits. A short distance to their left were sheer cliffs of layered sandstone. The view was grim, bleak and desolate.

  Marler suddenly turned his lights on full power. Ahead on either side were old tree trunks, bare of leaves, dripping moss like the tears of death. Tweed leaned forward like Marler. In the blaze of his headlights an immense yellow machine blocked the road. Paula stared at it.

  Its engine was chugging away as Marler switched off the motor. A big man with black hair, wearing a blue check shirt, denims and boots was feeding sections of pine foliage into the machine. Paula sucked in her breath and spoke seconds before Alvarez.

  "That big man is Joel Brand.'

  'And that machine is a chipper.' said Alvarez. 'If we hadn't stopped we'd have had a dense rain of powdered wood spewed over the car, blinding us.'

  'Which was probably the idea.' Marler said. "This is it.'

  He waved a hand up and down twice out of the window he had lowered, signalling a warning to Newman in the BMW. Then he started the motor, drove forward and swung left off the road through a hedge, speeding up towards the looming sandstone cliffs.

  As he had started to turn off Paula had seen strange heavily built men holding shotguns coming towards them from the field to their right. Newman had followed Marler, was close behind him as the Merc, pulled up at the foot of the vertical cliffs.

  'It starts now!' shouted Marler and he dived out of the car.

  Paula, Tweed and Alvarez left the car swiftly, remembering Marler's instructions back at Robles Del Rio. Paula dropped to the ground, making herself the smallest possible target. She reached into her shoulder bag, produced the vital object, laid it beside her. The timing had to be perfect. Then she hauled out the Browning, gripped it in both hands, remained very still behind a mound of arid grass.

  The rest of the team were following Marler's earlier orders. They were fanning out, crouching as they ran. She saw Butler, holding the sub-machine-gun, way over to her right. Marler was standing, protected by a dead tree trunk dripping more hideous moss, Armalite in his hands.

  Alvarez was over to her far left, crouched by a huge sandstone boulder. Newman was leaning into a cleft in the cliff face, his satchel slung over his shoulder. Tweed hugged the ground, close to Paula. From the floor of the car he had grabbed a rocket launcher, now pressed against his shoulder. Nield had slipped into another cleft in the cliff. They were all spread out, making a difficult and wide target. Then Paula saw the men advancing towards them.

  Six Red
necks were out in front, carrying their shotguns and grinning. Behind them was a second file -Brand's thugs, attempting to use the Rednecks as a screen. More men were climbing off the chipper. Tweed aimed carefully, fired the rocket launcher. The missile exploded against the chipper, blowing it to pieces. Then all hell broke loose.

  The Rednecks began firing at random. A sandstone boulder fell, landed close to Paula. She looked up and backwards. High up on the cliff rim another much larger boulder teetered. Brand had positioned a man on top of the cliff. Marler calmly turned round, back to the trunk, aimed with his sniperscope. The man on the cliff rim fell, arms spread out, emitting a chilling scream. He hit the ground and the great boulder he had been propelling over the edge fell, dropped on top of the sprawled figure which had set it in motion, crushing him.

  There was a sudden chatter of Butler's sub-machine-gun, fired over the heads of the Rednecks. They panicked. One fired his shotgun, hit nothing as his companions began to flee. Confusion. This was the moment. Paula grabbed the smoke bomb, hurled it to land among the running Rednecks. Newman shot down one Redneck who burst through the spreading smoke cloud which obscured the Rednecks. Paula heard shots being fired by Brand's men at random. The smoke drifted away and the ground was littered with the corpses of the Rednecks -shot accidentally by Brand's thugs.

  The sub-machine-gun chattered again as Brand's men began to run away. Five of them fell, riddled with bullets. Luis Martinez rushed forward, his revolver aimed at Paula. She fired first, her target his legs. At the same moment Nield fired, his Walther aimed at the same target's chest. He crashed forward, lay very still.

  There was a sudden oppressive silence. A big man in the distance, running, had reached the road. He disappeared behind the wrecked chipper. She heard a car's engine starting up, driving off towards Greenfield. Joel Brand had escaped.

  Tweed was the first to walk back to the Merc. He sat inside the back. As he had walked he had looked down at the dead men. Simple men who had not learned to live the normal life others lived. He felt depressed at the scale of the slaughter - but he knew it had been necessary.