by W E Johns
Sekunder held out his hands, palms upward, Oriental fashion. ‘Why should I lie to you?’
‘You know the answer to that and I can guess it. What have you done with Adrian? You’d better tell me, and stick to the truth, because I shall get it, anyway.’
‘Why should I do anything with him?’
‘That’s what I’m asking you.’
‘I haven’t done anything. He came uninvited into my camp and decided to stay. We’re friends, with many things in common.’
‘And he asked you to bring me a message to that effect?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why didn’t he come himself?’
‘He’s busy working on the tomb.’
‘With what — his hands?’
‘No. With the tackle I went home to fetch.’
‘So that’s why you went off and left him here?’
‘Of course.’
‘Now you listen to me, and listen carefully,’ returned Biggles in a voice as hard as iron. ‘Let’s understand each other without wasting any more time. You took Adrian’s plane without his permission. That makes you a thief. You left him here, expecting him to die of thirst. That makes you a potential murderer if not in fact. I trust I’ve made myself clear so far. I now give you fair warning that if any harm comes to Adrian Mander, I’ll see you answer for it.’
‘What nonsense is this?’ cried Sekunder, in affected horror. ‘Is this what Adrian told you?’
‘Never mind what he told me. I’m able to draw my own conclusions. Now you get back to your own camp and send Adrian here to me. If he isn’t here inside an hour I shall be along to find out why.’
‘I wouldn’t advise you to do that.’
‘Oh! And why not?’
‘I have some Tuareg in my camp.’
‘What about it?’
‘They don’t like Christians.’
‘Doesn’t that go for you?’
‘I happen to be a Moslem.’
‘If that’s true, then all I can say is you’re a pretty poor specimen. I don’t care what you are. Religion has nothing to do with it and you know it. And don’t think you can scare me with this talk of Tuareg. I’d trust them farther than I’d trust you. If anyone is going to get hurt it will be you. Now push off and send Adrian to me. If, as I suspect, you were hoping I’d go home without him, you put your money on the wrong horse. When I go, Adrian will go with me. That’s all.’
Sekunder glowered, dark eyes under his kaffiyeh roving from one to the other of the men looking at him. Then, without another word, he turned and strode away in the direction from which he had come.
As they watched him go Biggles said evenly: ‘A nasty piece of work if ever I saw one. But at least he told us something we wanted to know. Apparently Adrian has come to no serious harm — yet.’
‘Are you going to wait an hour for him to come?’ asked Ginger.
‘I most certainly am not. Anything could happen in an hour. I only stipulated that time to make Sekunder think we’re not likely to move. I’m going along right away to see what he’s up to. I imagine we shall find him at the tomb. We’ll get to the bottom of this before he can do any mischief.’
‘You don’t think he could have been telling the truth?’
‘Not a chance.’
‘Then tell me this, old boy,’ put in Bertie. ‘Why didn’t Adrian come back to us?’
‘That’s what I intend to find out.’
‘What was Sekunder’s object in coming here to us?’
‘He wanted to have a look at us — or me, at any rate. From the way he hesitated when he first saw us, I have a feeling he thought I was alone. Obviously he’s anxious to get me out of the way. He must have expected a pretty dim type to try to put over that phoney message from Adrian. There’s one thing sure. If we leave Adrian alone here with that glib young rascal, he’s had it.’
‘How did Sekunder know we were here?’
‘Adrian must have told him. No reason why he shouldn’t. Maybe he did it to ensure his safety for the time being. Had Sekunder not known we were here, he might have murdered him out of hand. He must have intended that when he abandoned him here without water. It must have given him a shock to find Adrian still alive. How that happened we shall find out in due course. As I said a moment ago, I’d bet Sekunder didn’t expect to find three of us here, no matter what else Adrian may have told him. He may have hoped to find me alone, with the idea of pulling a gun on me and pinching the plane. Don’t forget he can fly. No doubt he carries a gun; but when he saw the odds against him, he had second thoughts about using it. That’s enough talking. Let’s press on. I don’t want to give him too long a start.’
Sekunder was in fact already out of sight.
‘Are you leaving a guard on the plane?’ asked Ginger.
‘I don’t think that’s necessary as matters stand at present. Sekunder won’t leave here until he’s seen what’s inside that tomb. He’s reckoning to find a treasure, or he wouldn’t have gone to so much trouble over it. Anyway, if some of his party come this way, we shall meet them. If there are five of them, it may need three of us to keep the situation in hand should it come to a show-down.’
‘Don’t forget Adrian’s dead keen on seeing the inside of the tomb. What if he says he’d like to stay to see it opened?’
‘If he’s that crazy he can thundering well stay. I shall beat it for home. I’ve had enough of this inferno. It’s going to be another scorcher. We’re practically out of food, anyhow. Let’s go.’
They were soon on their way, walking directly towards the tomb without any attempt at concealment, which would have meant delay. There were signs of the storm everywhere, small pools of water and newly-washed sand.
They were still perhaps two hundred yards short of their objective, with Biggles scanning the tops of the rocks in front of them for possible enemy scouts, when they were brought to a halt by a noise that seemed singularly out of place. It was the clatter of an engine of some sort, being started. Following this came a harsh grinding sound.
‘What the devil!’ exclaimed Ginger.
‘That must be the equipment Sekunder brought with him,’ said Biggles. ‘He must have started work on the tomb. I can understand he’s in a hurry to finish the job.’
‘What a fuss over some poor blighter’s grave,’ sighed Bertie. ‘I hope he finds in it nothing but bones.’
‘Take it slowly now,’ ordered Biggles. ‘We’ll try to get a sight of just what they’re doing before they see us.’
‘You’re going right up to them?’
‘Of course. We haven’t time to mess about.’
They advanced now with more caution, keeping between the many rocks and still watching the ridges for anyone posted to stop them. Not that Biggles seriously expected opposition, reminding the others that Sekunder would believe he had an hour before there was likely to be any interference in what he was doing.
Apparently this was so, for they saw no one. Walking on soft sand, although any noise they might have made would have been drowned by the engine, they rounded the last obstruction to bring the tomb into view. There were six men present. Four of them, Sekunder and three Tuareg, were watching intently, standing close to a fifth who, on his knees, was working on the base of the tomb with what appeared to be a power-operated drill. Some camels were couched a short distance away. Against the top of the fallen spire rested three ancient muskets. Near them, seated in a curious position on a camel saddle, was Adrian. He, too, was watching the proceedings with interest.
Looking at the man working the drill, Ginger’s first impression was that he had made some progress. There was now quite a sizeable hole in the tomb level with the sand. This he thought was the one that had been exposed by the landslide when the pinnacle had fallen, now enlarged. The hole was certainly larger than when he had last seen it; but this he perceived was not so much the result of the drilling as of some sand having been washed away, evidently by the cloud-burst, for it had built itself into qui
te a heap lower down. The engineer was now working on the hole at the obvious place to start.
Such was the attention on the hole, and perhaps somewhat due to the noise, the new arrivals on the scene had not yet been noticed. Adrian was the first to see them. Facing towards them, a movement may have caught his eye, and he had only to look up to do that. He made as if to rise, but with a shrug and a grimace sank back. He did not appear to be hurt. Looking hard, Ginger saw the trouble. He was tied to the saddle.
Ginger attracted Biggles’ attention. ‘There he is,’ he said. ‘He can’t move. He’s tied.’
‘So that’s it,’ muttered Biggles. ‘Get him free. I’ll keep you covered. Bertie, stand by. There may be trouble.’
Ginger strode across the open sand to Adrian.
One of the Tuareg saw him. He said something sharply. Sekunder looked round, and from a stooping position sprang erect. He spoke to the engine operator who in turn got up. The engine stopped. Silence fell. It seemed curiously acute after the noise.
Biggles stepped forward. ‘Carry on,’ he said calmly. ‘Don’t let me interfere with the work.’
‘What do you want?’ demanded Sekunder in a voice of suppressed anger.
‘Just a word or two with Adrian, that’s all,’ answered Biggles.
CHAPTER 14
SEKUNDER MAKES A MISTAKE
For some seconds, in an atmosphere as tense as can be imagined, nothing happened. That is, there was no hostility on either side. Perhaps the situation had arisen too suddenly, had caught Sekunder unprepared. The Tuareg, dark and taciturn, did not move. They stood stiff and expectant as if waiting for orders. Maybe they didn’t care. Sekunder had a conversation in a low voice with the engineer, possibly to explain something or ask for his advice. This was understandable, for it must have been apparent that a resort to open violence would not benefit anyone. Inevitably someone would be hurt, perhaps killed. Neither side was in a position to remain in the desert for any length of time. Although he was prepared for anything, Biggles thought, and hoped, that Sekunder would see it like that. It could be assumed he was anxious to open the tomb. Biggles had no serious interest in it. He was ready for a show-down, but he preferred not to force it. His worry was to get Adrian away and so finish the job he had been sent to do. Gradually the tension relaxed.
In this temporary stalemate Ginger untied Adrian and brought him across to Biggles. Sekunder saw this, of course, but he made no attempt to prevent it. No doubt he realized that had he done so the result would have been war. All he did was shrug and say something in a low voice to the engineer. The drill resumed its noisy clatter. This suited Biggles. The danger of an immediate flare-up had passed, although it was bound to come sooner or later.
He looked at Adrian. ‘What happened to you?’
‘I bumped into them by accident. I thought they were in front of me, but they came up from behind. What could I do?’
‘What did you do?’
‘It seemed useless to make a fuss, so I pretended to string along with them.’
‘Did Sekunder believe that?’
‘I don’t know. He appeared to. His reaction to seeing me was amazement that I was there, still alive.’
‘I can well believe that,’ returned Biggles dryly. ‘Did you send me a message?’
Adrian’s eyebrows went up. ‘A message? I know nothing of any message. Who said I sent one?’
‘Sekunder.’
‘So that’s where he went this morning! I hope you weren’t fooled by him.’
‘I was not.’
‘What was the message I was supposed to have sent?’
‘He said you had decided to stay with them, so I might as well go home.’
‘Ha! That would have suited him fine. He wanted you out of the way.’
‘Of course. I realized that. You must have told him we were here.’
‘I told him you were here. I said nothing about Bertie or Ginger. I left that for him to find out for himself.’
‘How did this come about?’
‘He said he had seen a plane coming this way. Had I seen anything of it? Naturally, I said yes; it was here. I told him why. Had he thought I was here alone, he might have tried again to get rid of me. I’ll admit that at the first moment of surprise I was thinking of my personal safety.’
‘Of course. Now let’s get down to brass tacks and make an end of this nonsense. Do you want to stay here with Sekunder?’
‘Certainly not, although I’d like to see the tomb opened.’
‘Oh, damn the tomb.’
‘What do you want me to do?’
‘Go home. By the way, Ginger went out last night, before the storm broke, to look for you. He saw you with Sekunder. You seemed to be on good terms.’
‘I thought it advisable to take that line.’
‘Later, I gather, you had words, one might say a row. What caused you to change your mind?’
‘Sekunder said we’d camp near the tomb to be ready to start work as soon as it got daylight. He didn’t know where it was, so I had to show him. When we got there I said I assumed our original agreement still stood.’
‘What was it?’
‘I was to be head of the expedition in return for providing air transport, but if we found anything of value it was to be share and share alike. There were only the two of us originally.’
‘What did he say to that?’
‘He said it was no longer possible because he had promised Bolzana — that’s the fellow with him — a half share, for providing the necessary equipment and the camels to get it here. That started the argument. I said if he liked to give away his half share it was all right with me, but I still wanted my share. At the end I got angry and accused him of stealing my plane for his own ends. I’m a bit short-tempered when it comes to that sort of thing.’
‘So I’ve noticed.’
‘I also told him a few other home truths about himself. That, I suppose, was a mistake, because it resulted in the Tuareg setting on me, under his orders, and tying me up. I imagine that knowing you were here, that was as far as he dare go — unless he could get rid of you somehow. That’s about all there is to say. What are you going to do?’
Biggles thought for a moment. ‘That’s really up to you. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I can’t stay here much longer because we’re out of food. I’ll wait for Sekunder to open the tomb if that can be done today. Early tomorrow morning I shall start for home. You’ll have to make up your mind whether you come with me or stay here.’
‘Are you going to tell Sekunder that?’
‘Don’t be silly. He’d simply delay opening the tomb until I’d gone.’
Adrian glanced at where the work of getting into the tomb was still going on, the noise of the engine drowning their conversation. ‘Fair enough,’ he agreed. They should finish today some time. If they haven’t I’ll pack it in and go home with you.’
‘Now you’re talking sense,’ advised Biggles. ‘If you stayed here with this bunch I wouldn’t give much for your chance of ever getting away. What do you know about this man Bolzana?’
‘Practically nothing. He’s hardly spoken in my hearing. I have a feeling he doesn’t really know what’s going on. Sekunder has kept us apart. I suspect he has fed him a string of lies, as he did me.’
‘What makes you think Bolzana doesn’t know the truth of this business?’
‘Because when on one occasion we were alone for a minute I asked him if he knew what had become of my plane. He just stared at me and said “What plane? I know nothing of a plane”. Then Sekunder came up and put an end to the conversation.’
‘I see,’ murmured Biggles thoughtfully. ‘It’s time he knew the facts about Sekunder.’
‘I gather Bolzana found and hired the Tuaregs with their camels.’
‘No doubt. It’s hardly likely Sekunder would have the necessary money. As for your plane, I think you might as well write it off as a dead loss.’
‘I shall ask Sekunder about it,’ de
clared Adrian. ‘I’m not letting him get away with it.’
‘Please yourself about that, but don’t take any chances. You’re lucky to be still alive, and you’re not out of the wood yet. You know too much for Sekunder’s peace of mind.’
During this conversation Biggles had kept an eye on the work going on at the tomb, aware that on its contents would depend Sekunder’s behaviour. There had been some progress. The drill had loosened a large stone which now looked as if it might be lifted out. Sekunder evidently thought so, for he put a hand on Bolzana’s shoulder as a signal to desist, or perhaps move out of the way. The engine was stopped. Then, instead of doing what was expected of him, he came over to where Biggles was standing and said curtly: ‘Have you made up your mind what you’re going to do? I’ve given you plenty of time.’
To which Biggles replied: ‘You’ve given me nothing. My time’s my own. Who said I was going to do something? I’m content to wait until you’ve made a way into the tomb.’
‘You may be, but I’m not,’ retorted Sekunder. ‘I’d like a clear understanding about what is going to happen to any treasure we find.’
‘I’m perfectly clear about that. You made an agreement with Adrian Mander to go fifty-fifty, and that’s how it’s going to be.’
‘I’ve already told him—’
Biggles cut in. ‘I know what you told him. I’m doing the talking now. Instead of arguing about something that may not exist, I suggest you carry on and settle that point first. All the tomb may contain is a few old bones, and none of us is likely to get excited over those. There may be nothing at all in the tomb. The time to talk about the division of a treasure will be when one has been found. Now get on with it.’
Sekunder had a good look at Biggles’ face. Finding no sympathy there, he merely shrugged, said ‘Very well,’ and went back to the tomb. Dropping on his knees he wrenched at the loose stone, this way and that, until he was able to drag it clear. The effect of this was to make the hole more than twice its original size, but it was still not wide enough for a man to get through. However, apparently thinking it large enough for a preliminary investigation, Sekunder lay flat and inserted an arm. After groping about for a short while he withdrew it and held up an object he had found. It was a human skull. With a gesture of impatience he flung it aside.
