1967 - Have This One on Me

by James Hadley Chase

  He drew in a shuddering breath. ‘I don’t think now I’ll ever spend it. We’re trapped.’

  ‘I wouldn’t bet on it,’ Girland said cheerfully ‘Those puppets down there are only kids. We’ll get out. We just have to be careful.’

  ‘I have a feeling that I’m not going to get out,’ Worthington said. ‘There’s something I want you to do for me.’

  ‘You’ll get out,’ Girland said, restraining his impatience with an effort. This man bored him.

  ‘I’ve left all my money to Mala,’ Worthington said. ‘If anything does happen to me, will you tell her? It is all arranged. She has only to go to the Credit Suisse Banque at Geneva, prove who she is and then they will give the money to her . . . it is a lot ... sixty thousand dollars. It’s all for her.’

  A little startled, Girland looked at him.

  ‘Tell her yourself,’ he said. ‘Why not?’

  ‘Oh no. She might refuse it,’ Worthington said miserably.

  ‘You see, she doesn’t love me. I mean nothing to her. It would embarrass her, but when I am dead, she will be glad to have the money ... then she needn’t thank me for it.’

  Girland shrugged.

  ‘Don’t be so pessimistic. You’ll survive.’

  Worthington was now watching the activity going on below. He saw army trucks, loaded with soldiers, driving away to the north.

  ‘I know this district,’ he said. ‘They are surrounding us. In a couple of hours we will be in a trap. Now’s the time to go.’

  ‘On foot?’ Girland’s question was slightly mocking. ‘How far do you imagine we can get in a couple of hours?’

  ‘What are we going to do then?’ Worthington asked in despair.

  ‘We’ll find a way.’ Girland was watching one of the helicopters. It was coming in to land. He watched it disappear behind a line of trees, some twenty kilometres down in the valley from where they were. ‘You say you know the district. Did you see where the chopper landed? Do you know how to get there?’

  ‘Yes ... there’s a big field behind those trees. Why?’

  ‘Let’s get back,’ Girland said and got to his feet. He began to climb to the upper plateau.

  * * *

  Smernoff was enjoying himself. The time was seven minutes to seven and the sun was putting some warmth in him. He had been up all night, but he was used to little sleep.

  When he hunted, he didn’t expect to sleep.

  Captain Kuhlan had got his men into position by six o’clock as he had been ordered. Smernoff was surprised that his almost impossible order had been carried out so efficiently. He was now certain his quarries were surrounded. A ring of troops had been made within a thirty kilometre radius of the farm house. He knew it was not possible for them to have walked this distance before the troops had completed their circle. It was now a matter of time before he caught them.

  He had a large breakfast of four eggs, bacon; bread and three cups of coffee. He had bullied Suk. He had praised Kuhlan.

  Now he was making his way across the dew-soaked grass to where a helicopter was standing. The machine had come to refuel and Smernoff decided he would take a ride.

  Smernoff believed in surveying the territory where he hunted. He liked riding in a helicopter. He could tell the pilot to pause and he could lean out of the window and study the ground. A helicopter was the perfect machine for a hunt.

  Lieutenant Budovec, the pilot, was waiting patiently by the helicopter. He was short, stocky with dark curly hair, not more than twenty-three years of age, and desperately anxious to impress such an important passenger. He stiffened to attention when Smernoff came over the wet grass, passing two big petrol tankers there to refuel the helicopters.

  Smernoff had arranged the refuelling station. He knew the search would be long and tedious. To fly back to the military base near Prague to refuel was ridiculous. There must be no delay in this intensive search.

  ‘Well?’ he said, pausing before Budovec. ‘What news?’

  ‘Nothing so far Comrade.’ Budovec said. He had a map in his hand. ‘I have covered this section. Now I intend to cover this one.’ His gloved finger traced a small circle on the big scale map.

  ‘I would have thought they would have taken to the hills. You saw nothing suspicious up there?’

  ‘No ... it is difficult country ... there are so many trees.’

  Smernoff saw Budovec was doubtful.

  ‘But did you see anything at all suspicious?’ There was a rasp in his voice.

  ‘Not suspicious Comrade. There might have been a little smoke up on this hill.’ Budovec pointed to the map. ‘I circled the spot twice, but decided I had imagined it.’

  Smernoff grinned.

  ‘Let us go and look at what you imagined. The slightest clue is important.’

  He climbed into the helicopter and settled himself in the passenger’s seat. Budovec joined him in the pilot’s seat.

  Smernoff slung the strap of a pair of powerful field glasses round his thick neck.

  ‘Can you remember exactly where you imagined this smoke to be?’

  Budovec nodded as he started the engine.

  ‘Yes, Comrade. I remember very well.’

  The helicopter took off in a cloud of dust and began its short journey across the valley towards the distant hills.

  * * *

  ‘I have an idea,’ Girland said. He was sitting on the table, facing the other four. ‘It could possibly work out. The helicopters are landing in a field about twenty kilometres from here in the valley. If we could get down there, we might grab one of the machines. I can handle a chopper. There might be a chance that we could cross the frontier, but even if we don’t we can get within easy reach of the frontier ... what do you think?’

  ‘Of course,’ Jan said, excited. ‘Twenty kilometres ... it would take us about two hours ... it’s all downhill. Yes, let’s try.’

  ‘There are swarms of soldiers ... I’ve seen them,’ Worthington protested. ‘The forest is alive with them.’

  Girland took from his pocket the six cartridges which he rolled across the table to Worthington.

  ‘Okay, so there are swarms of soldiers. If we have to, we must fight our way out.’

  Worthington stared at him, then, aware Mala was watching him, he began to load his gun with an unsteady hand.

  Blanca said, ‘The helicopters will be guarded. Do you really think it’s possible?’

  ‘We can but take a look,’ Girland said. ‘Two of us have guns. It’s worth a try.’

  ‘Listen!’ Mala said.

  They now became aware of the approaching drone of a helicopter. They remained motionless, listening. The noise became louder and louder and more menacing. The air, stirred by the propellers, came into the cabin. The two maps, spread out on the table, took off and flapped against the opposite wall.

  The helicopter paused. It seemed to them that it was hovering directly overhead. Everyone in the cabin was tense: Worthington, grey-faced. Mala rigid with fear, the Brauns and Girland like stone people. Dust and small stones swirled around, outside the cabin. They could hear the branches of the trees swaying and bending to the suction of the propellers.

  Smernoff, leaning out of the window of the helicopter, saw the cabin.

  ‘Lower,’ he said.

  ‘It is too dangerous. Comrade,’ Budovec returned. ‘The trees ...’

  ‘A little to your right.’

  Budovec steered the machine as directed.

  Smernoff now could see the cabin clearly through the branches of the trees. His lips parted in a savage smile.

  ‘I think we have them.’ He reached for the radio-telephone receiver and gave Suk, waiting anxiously at the farm house, directions. Then, nodding to Budovec, he settled back in his seat. Budovec lifted the helicopter and began a wide circling movement around the hill.

  ‘I’ll swear that’s where they are hiding,’ Smernoff said. ‘My congratulations Lieutenant. You have the eyes of a hawk.’

  As the helicopter
lifted and drifted away, Girland said, ‘They’ve spotted us! We have to move!’

  ‘I told you ... I’ve kept telling you,’ Worthington exclaimed hysterically. ‘We’re in a trap!’

  Girland smiled at him.

  ‘It’s possible, but the trap hasn’t been sprung. Let’s go!’

  Within minutes they were ready to leave.

  ‘We’ll head down the hill towards the landing ground,’ Girland said. ‘It’ll take them a couple of hours to get up here. I’ll go first, Jan, you keep close to me, then the girls, then Worthington. Let’s move!’

  Keeping under the shelter of the trees, conscious of the helicopter circling above, Girland started down the narrow path that led to the second plateau. He moved steadily, remembering Mala. He could have moved much faster, but he knew she wouldn’t be able to keep up. The drone of the helicopter’s engines above them was a constant reminder that they had to keep under cover.

  The helicopter was still circling above them as they reached the lower plateau.

  ‘Wait ... keep under the trees,’ Girland said and moved forward cautiously. He looked down at the distant farm house.

  Army trucks were coming up the lane, leading to the hill. As he watched, the trucks stopped unable to go further, and troops holding automatic weapons spilled out. Moving fast, urged on by their officers, they began to climb the hill. Girland attempted to estimate their number. He decided there were well over a hundred of them.

  He beckoned to Jan.

  ‘Here they come. We may have to fight our way through them, but no noise. Feel like it?’

  Jan nodded. His big fleshy face was grim and his eyes excited.

  ‘Why not?’

  Still keeping his voice low, Girland went on, ‘It’ll have to be the two of us ... Worthington is useless.’

  Again Jan nodded.

  ‘Okay, then let’s go.’ Girland turned to the others. ‘Jan and I are going first. Give us three minutes, then come after us. If there is trouble, stop and wait. Okay?’

  ‘Yes,’ Blanca said.

  Girland looked at Worthington.

  ‘No shooting ... if they hear shots they’ll pinpoint us.’

  Worthington, sweating, sickly white, tried to say something, but his voice had gone. He could only nod his head.

  Touching Jan’s arm, Girland began to slide down the path.

  It was at this moment Smernoff, high above the hill, spotted Girland through his field glasses.

  ‘There they go!’ he exclaimed to Budovec. ‘Get lower!’ And reaching for the microphone, he relayed to Suk what he had seen. ‘Get more men up here! They are coming down. We’ve got them!’

  The helicopter dipped and the trees bent under the air suction. Looking up through the branches, Girland saw the helicopter, hovering just above him. The pilot and the passenger were looking directly at him. He didn’t hesitate. His .45 automatic slid into his h and and he fired four shots at the machine. The bang of the gunfire reechoed in the still air and went crashing down into the valley.

  The helicopter swung away. Budovec, hit in the arm, turned the machine towards the landing ground, gritting his teeth, blood running into his glove.

  Smernoff cursed.

  ‘Are you badly hurt?’ he snarled.

  ‘My arm.’ Budovec tried to be heroic, but the pain was making him feel faint. ‘I can land.’

  ‘You damn well better land!’ Smernoff shouted. ‘Get hold of yourself!’

  Budovec made the effort and righted the helicopter.

  ‘Well, that’s that,’ Girland said ruefully as he slid the gun back into its holster. ‘If I hadn’t got rid of that fly, it would have sat on our tails all the way down. Now, they know we are up here. We must go back. They’ll expect us to come down. We’ll go up and come down from another direction.’

  They turned and scrambled up the path where they met the other three coming down.

  ‘We must go back,’ Girland told them. ‘Follow me,’ and passing them, he continued up the path. Scrambling, panting and frightened, Worthington and the two girls followed him.

  Jan brought up the rear. They passed the cabin and then continued up the hill.

  Then they heard the sound of an approaching helicopter.

  Smernoff had already alerted Suk to send another machine up to the hill while Budovec was bringing his machine in to land.

  The helicopter appeared out of the sun and swooped down on the hill. It was at this moment that the small party were crossing a bare strip of ground, heading towards the shelter of more trees. The soldier, sitting by the pilot, opened up with his automatic rifle. The bullets made puffs of dust within metres of the party. They threw themselves flat. Lying on his back, Girland looked up at the hovering helicopter. He could see the soldier shouting excitedly to the pilot. Girland aimed at the pilot’s head and gently squeezed the trigger of his gun. Killed instantly, the pilot slumped forward and the helicopter, out of control, crashed on the hill, turning over and over in a blaze of flame.

  ‘Come on!’ Girland exclaimed. ‘Fast now!’

  They followed him up the hill.

  Thick white smoke began to cascade up into the sky from where the helicopter had crashed. The slight wind took the smoke away from them. Girland suddenly stopped. The others crowded around him. He looked at Jan.

  ‘We could have started a forest fire, couldn’t we?’

  Jan looked at the swirling smoke and nodded.

  ‘Yes ... listen’

  They could hear the roar of the flames, the crackling of burning trees and the smoke was becoming denser. They could also feel the heat of the blaze.

  ‘The wind’s taking it down the hill,’ Girland said. ‘If the wind changes, we could be in trouble. We’ll go down this side of the hill.’ He turned to Worthington. ‘Give Jan your gun.’

  Worthington hesitated, then reluctantly handed the gun to Jan.

  ‘We two go first,’ Girland said to Jan. ‘Come on.’

  As they started down the hill, the smoke swirled overhead.

  In a few minutes, Girland thought, there would be an umbrella of smoke over the hill, and they would be invisible to the probing eyes of a helicopter pilot. They need not worry about keeping to the trees. They could now take the quickest way down.

  The crackling and the roaring of the flames as the flames leapt from one dry tree to another made a terrifying sound. The heat was becoming intense.

  Moving fast, leaving the other three well behind, Girland and Jan slid, slithered and ran down the narrow mountain path through the forest, heading towards the valley.

  Suddenly Girland pulled up and Jan nearly cannoned into him.

  ‘Listen!’

  Faintly above the sound of the forest fire, they could hear the barking of dogs. The two men looked at each other.

  ‘Do you think we are moving right into them?’ Jan asked his face smoke-streaked and worried.

  ‘We’ve got to get down, ‘ Girland said. ‘Let’s get this organised. I’ll go on. You wait here for three minutes, then you come after me. Tell the others also to wait three minutes before coming after you.’

  Jan nodded and Girland again started down the path. He was now very alert, his eyes searching the ground ahead of him. There was a lot of cover: big boulders, trees and patches and high grass. It was difficult to get a clear view. He continued on down, gun in hand, aware the barking of dogs was getting nearer.

  He finally reached a thick clump of shrubs. He paused.

  Below him was a road, beyond the road, a forest. He hesitated, then as he was about to slide down the bank to the road, he heard a halftrack armoured truck coming up the road. He got behind a tree.

  The halftrack with four young soldiers, all carrying automatic rifles, sitting in it, chugged by. The sun reflected on their steel helmets. He waited until the halftrack continued past, climbing the twisting hill road, then he slid down the bank.

  He ran across the road and dived down the bank into the forest.

  He stopped
, turned and waited. He could hear another halftrack coming up the road. He looked anxiously across the road and saw Jan coming down.

  Jan also heard the halftrack and he stopped short. Both men, either side of the road, watched the vehicle pass.

  Girland climbed back up the bank.

  ‘Stay with the others,’ he called. ‘See them across. I’ll go on.’

  Jan nodded.

  Girland turned and began the sharp descent through the trees.

  Jan waited for the others to join him.

  The barking of the dogs grew louder.

  As Budovec brought the helicopter to a bumpy landing, and then slumped over the controls, Smernoff opened the cabin door and jumped to the ground.

  The three soldiers, guarding the landing ground, came forward at a run. Their young, immature faces were excited.

  ‘Get him out!’ Smernoff barked. ‘He’s hurt.’

  Without bothering further about Budovec, Smernoff walked quickly across to where his jeep was waiting.

  His stride faltered slightly when he saw Malik standing by the jeep. His dark cruel face tightened, then he joined Malik who was staring up at the hill, watching the helicopter hovering against the blue sky. There came a rattle of automatic weapon fire.

  ‘What do they think they’re doing?’ Malik rasped. ‘Are they firing at them?’

  Furious, Smernoff looked skywards. There came a faint bang of a revolver shot. As the two men watched, the helicopter h e e l e d out of control and smashed down into the forest.

  Immediately, there was an explosion, and a moment later part of the forest was in flames.

  ‘Girland!’ Malik snarled. ‘The fools. Didn’t I tell you with Girland you just can’t mount a straightforward operation?’ He watched the smoke come down in great dark waves, blotting out the forest. ‘Now, we have a forest fire. The wind is taking it away from them. Why haven’t you caught them before now?’

  Smernoff wiped his sweating face.

  ‘It is just a matter of time,’ he said. ‘We’ll catch them. They are surrounded.’

  ‘You should have had them by now!’ Malik said in disgust.

  ‘Look at that blaze! How can your troops get up there now?’