Windfall

Stafford smiled. Now that Chipende was revealed, Curtis was giving him full military honours. He said mildly, 'I think we'll still call him Chip, Sergeant.' He looked at his watch. 'We can't go yet. I'm expecting someone else. Perhaps fifteen minutes.'

So they waited and presently Hunt arrived and, somewhat to Stafford's consternation, he had brought Judy. They got out of the car and Stafford said, 'I told you not to tell anyone else.'

Hunt gave a lop-sided grin- 'I wanted a witness.'

'And I'm a patriot, too,' added Judy. 'What's going on, Max? It's all very mysterious.'

Stafford stood undecided for a moment then he shrugged. 'Very well. You might as well come along.'

'That's not very gracious,' she said.

'It wasn't intended to be,' he snapped, and turned to Curtis. 'Carry on.'

Curtis led the way to the edge of the lake where there was a rough timbered jetty alongside which was moored an open boat with a black Kenyan sitting in the stern. They got in and the Kenyan started the outboard engine and soon they were cruising at a respectable speed towards an island which lay about a mile offshore. 'Why are we going to Crescent Island?' asked Judy.

'I don't know, but we'll soon find out,' said Stafford. He nudged Curtis. 'Who's there?'

'Col…' Curtis swallowed and began again. 'Chip and Nair, and Mr Hardin. And there's another man. I don't know who he is.'

Stafford grunted and wondered about that but did not let it worry him. The time to worry was when he thought it might cause trouble. Hunt said, 'Do you mean Nair Singh?'

'Yes,' said Stafford shortly, and watched the island ahead.

At last they drew alongside the rocky foreshore and were able to land. Chip came down to meet them. He looked at the Hunts and frowned, then said to Stafford, 'Could I have a word with you?' Stafford nodded and they walked out of earshot. 'I don't think this is a good thing, Max. Why did you bring them?'

'I didn't bring them,' said Stafford irritably. 'I wanted Hunt along; his sister came without invitation.'

'But why even Hunt?'

'We've got to have someone on the inside and I elected Hunt,' said Stafford. 'I have my reasons and I'll justify them. Curtis tells me you've brought along your own surprise.'

Chip nodded. 'You'll forgive me if I don't introduce him. He's here… er… incognito.'

'One of your bosses?'

Chip smiled. 'Could very well be."

'So that's why we're here on an island,' said Stafford. 'All right; let's get on with it. We have a lot to discuss.'

Chip hesitated, then nodded. 'All right; let's go.'

Stafford jerked his head at Curtis and the Hunts and they all followed Chip up a slope which led down to the beach, walking among trees. Once Stafford was alarmed as a big animal broke away from quite close and he saw a white-ringed rump as it plunged away from them. 'Waterbuck,' said Curtis dispassionately.

'They do very well here,' said Chip. 'They swim across from the mainland. The big cats don't like water very much, at least not to the extent of swimming a mile, so the water-buck are safe from predators.' Stafford thought with some humour that even now Chip could not resist acting the courier, but became alert when Chip said, 'Watch out for snakes.'

They pressed on and eventually came to a piece of level ground on which were the foundations of a building. Whether the building had fallen down or whether the builder had just got as far as putting in the foundations Stafford could not decide. Here, waiting for them, were the others – Nair, Hardin and a stranger. He was an elderly black Kenyan with greying hair and an expressionless face. Chip went over to him and talked in low tones.

Stafford walked over to Hardin. 'Hello, Ben. Who's the old man there?'

'He doesn't say – neither does Chip. I'd say he's top brass. He doesn't talk so you'd notice.'

'He's come to assess the evidence,' said Stafford. 'I have some to give him.'

Chip stepped forward and said to the Hunts, 'I think we ought to introduce ourselves. I'm Pete Chipende, but call me Chip. This is…"

'No!' said Stafford sharply. 'Let's not pussyfoot around.' He looked at Alan Hunt. 'This is Colonel Peter Chipende of the Kenyan Army.' There was a flash in Chip's eyes which he ignored. 'You already know Nair but you don't know his rank and neither do I.'

Nair stepped forward. 'Captain Nair Singh, at your service.'

Hunt raised his eyebrows. 'I didn't know you were in the army, Nair.'

'You still don't know,' said Chip flatly. 'This conversation isn't happening. Understand?'

Stafford said, 'Ben Hardin you've already met, and this is Curtis. That gentleman over there I don't know, and I don't think I want to know. Chip is right. What you learn here you keep under your hats.'

Judy laughed nervously. 'All very portentous.'

'Yes,' said Hunt. 'Very cloak and dagger. What's it all about?'

'Tell him, Chip,' said Stafford.

Chip said, 'We have reason to believe that Ol Njorowa is not as it seems, that it is an illicit base in Kenya for a foreign power – a centre for espionage.'

'You're crazy,' said Hunt.