"AFRICA FLIGHT"

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 January 1940, Page 10

"AFRICA FLIGHT"

PUBLISHED BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT. COPYRIGHT.

By

VAL GEILGUD.

(Author of “Announcer’s Holiday,” “Beyond Dover,” Etc.

CHAPTER XII Continues.

As if in reply the door opened, and Larrimore stood there in the doorway. An expression of bewilderment on his face was replaced by an exceedingly unpleasant grimness as he gradually appreciated scene and sequence. Carol saw his fists clenching and hurried to intervene lest worse befall. “It’s all right, Rupert, we were only playing the goat!” “That,” said Larrimore slowly, “is more than obvious. Sothern, put that siphon down!”

“We’re all feeling the strain a trifle,” said the Professor quickly. Larrimore disregarded the attempts at mediation completely. His eyes remained fixed on Sothern, who stood, holding the siphon and tumbler, breathing heavily through his nose. "Put down that siphon!” repeated Larrimore. “Certainly,” said Sothern.

With a single quick movement he lifted the glass to his lips, and poured the contents down his throat. Then he held out the siphon to Larrimore, smiling.

“I think,” he said, "that I’ve called your bluff. I should be interested to know just what you propose to do about it?"

“Larrimore’s reply was to take one half pace, forward, and let drive at Scthern’s jaw with his right fist. The movement was so swift, so admirably co-ordinated, that the onlookers hardly saw it. They became aware of siphon and glass flying in different directions; of Sothern’s body crashing to the floor; or Larrimore turning back into the cockpit to get his coat. And none of the three felt inclined to move. Another face of reality had been turned upon them at close quarters. And each one of them felt instinctively that the consequences of that blow might be almost infinite . . .

At last Janet Manson stooped over Sothern. As she did so the young man grunted painfully, felt the angle of his jaw with shaking fingers, and heaved himself on to one elbow. “I congratulate you on your professional efficiency,” he said in a low voice, with a deadly look at Larrimore. Larrimore was putting on his coat. “I don’t find disregard of my orders amusing,” was all he said. “I’m not used to being given orders,” said Sothern, and got to his feet, disregarding Janet Manson’s offered arm.

“Evidently,” replied Larrimore pleasantly. “So you’ve got to learn. And I’ve only time for the quickest sort of lesson.”

Sothern swayed a little on his feet. “You'd better make up your mind,” he said, “to the fact that I’ve no intention, speaking for myself, of taking any orders from you!” “At the moment,” said Larrimore. “I've more important things to discuss with all of you. I’ve shown you what will happen if you disobey. I’ll only say now that next time I shall hit quite a good deal harder.

Carol winced. She knew Rupert was in the right. She admired —in a way —the ruthless competence of what he had done. But its violence shocked her for all that; particularly applied to Tony, who was about as fit as a child to stand up to a bout of fisticuffs. And Rupert hadn’t even given him time to put up his hands . . . “Rupert,” she said shyly, “don’t you think we might all have one little drink and cool off?” Hubert Manson hastened to second the suggestion, but Larrimore’s expression did not change. "I want you all to sit down.” he said. “I’ve done all I can with the wireless, and it’s not a bit of use. I've something important to explain, and it may take a little time.” There was something about Rupert Larrimore at that moment—a calm self-possesion, which, after his recent display of naked violence, had about it a quality definitely terrifying. The others found themselves automatically obeying his suggestion to sit down, almost as if he had been a master, and they once more at school. All except Antony Sothern. He leaned against one of the windows of the cabin, one hand pressed to his bruised jaw, his eyes very firmly fixed on Larrimore, almost as though he was expecting another attack, and a singular expression on his face. Carol, looking from one man to the other, did not know what to do. She was conscious of the fact most humiliating to a woman, that there comes a stage in almost all relations between men when she can do nothing at all. She knew, too, that she was frightened. And indeed, with the exception of Larrimore. who had lived so long with death at his elbow as a constant companion that fear had almost ceased to be for him recognisable, fear stood beside each one of the little party, compelling, invisible. So that for each one of them it came as a relief to have to wrench their minds to concentration upon what Larrimore was saying, even though understanding of his words confirmed their fear.

"There's only one possible way out of it.” he said. "Unless the Professor and 1 have made the worst sort of mistake in our calculatcns. the French post at El Fayoum can be made in a three days' march. Somehow or other, we've got to get word to that post. H's our only chance."

Sothern yawned ostentatiously, and Carol noticed the muscles of Larrimore’s face twitching dangerously. "Can't we have that drink, Rupert?” she asked, hastily. Larrimore turned on her.

“No, Caro], you can’t. And the sooner all of you realise that you've got to face up to what are for all intents and purposes war conditions, the

better chance we shall have of getting out with whole skins. I tell you quite frankly that the odds are against us. If anyone starts playing the goat again—and I don’t care whether the motive is childish vanity or simply slack-jawed lack of self-control —with what water supply we’ve got left, I won’t answer for the consequences. I shall simply take the law into my own hands, and that’s the plain fact—not fun.” "And is the first lesson over?” drawled Sothern.

But Larrimore by now had got himself well in hand and refused to be drawn.

“I sincerely hope it’s the last that will be necessary,” he said. Janet Manson passed her handkerchief across her dry lips, put it back in her bag, snapped the catch decisively, and looked at the airman with her shewd eyes that now were screwed up against the glare from the hot sand outside. “Mr Larrimore,” she said, "who are going to try and get to your French post?” “Yes,” said Sothern, leaning forward, “we're most anxious to hear the reply to that question. ■ Larrimore paused before he spoke. The decision has not been an easy one to make, and it was no easier to announce, as it were, in cold blood. Then his chin went up and his shoulders squared.

“The problem,” he said slowly, “boils down to this. Two must go. A one man job is always risky—particularly in the desert. And we can just run to full rations of water for two, if the rest of the party will play the game and be content to stand being thirsty for a few days. Of those two I'm afraid I must be one. I’ve probably more chance of making out on the trip than anyone else. I know some Arabic. I’ve done a desert march before. I’m stronger, and I’m fitter than anyone else here-—”

“That’s all right,” interrupted Hubert Manson. “It was obvious that you should go.” “I thought as much,” muttered Antony Sothern. “In a minute Antony,” snapped Janet Manson, “I shall be seriously angry with you.”

For a moment Sothern reminded Carol of the young man she had known in London: the correct wearer of a public school tie who had always stood a good deal in awe of her aunt; just a young man ashamed of himself. He even murmured an apology. "Actually,” Larrimore went on. “I think the risks are just about even for those who go and for those who stay. The trip'll be tough and dangerous. We may lose our way and starve. We may run into Arabs who take a dislike to our faces and quietly cut our throats. We may get buried alive in a sandstorm— —"

He noticed the expression on Carol’s face, and for a moment his voice was unsteady. “But there's a chance that we’ll get through all right. If we do the rest of you will have a relief plane out here in plenty of time. On the other hand there’s the possibility that we may get hung up, or make bad time, and that as a result the relief may get to you—not quite soon enough. I must warn you that there may not be a plane at El Fayoum, only cars.” “Thank you. Larrimore, for being so frank," said Hubert Manson. ‘That’s why,” said Larrimore, “I felt originally that each of you ought to have the opportunity to put in an individual claim to be the person to come with me. But I can't let you do that.”

"And whj’ not?’ Sothern demanded truculently. “Because,” said Larrimore coolly, “I can’t risk taking a companion who might prove inefficient on the job. Whoever comes with me has got to be young and fit, so as to stand the physical hardships, and trustworthy, so that I needn’t -fear having my orders questions. If they are I may be imperilled. If anything happens to me, the rest of you are done for!” “We quite understand, Mr Larrimore,” said Janet Manson. “I think you do, Mrs Manson. I’m more than grateful to you.” “Of course,” Janet went on meditatively, as if to herself, “it puts an old woman like myself out of the running at once. And, I suppose, Hubert also?”

Larrimore felt a queer tug at his heart at the sight, of the beseeching look in the eyes of an elderly woman, whose courage was being proved so sternly and so well. Hubert Manson leaned across and patted his wife’s hand gently. “My dear Janet,” he said, “d’you think that after thirty-two years together I'd go off on a trip like that without you? Even if I were fit? I should be utterly lost, as you very well know. Don't be absurd!” Janet smiled at him. and in the lookexchanged between those two whom she had always regarded almost, contemptuously as Victorians, Carol recognised a genuine emotion that her own life so far had never begun to achieve. Tears crept into her eyes, and the nails dug into the palms of her hands while she waited for Rupert to go on. "Yes," continued Larrimore. “I'm afraid you are too old. sir. And Flesch is too fat to stand the heavy going—“Flesch!" said Sothern contemptuously. “I said Flesch, Sothern. Tie's as ihuch right as any of us to his chance. But he’s not fit. I think I’d take Saunders, if it wasn't for the fact that I must leave somebody here whom 1 can rely on absolutely." "Isn't that being needlessly outspoken, Mr Larrimore?” (To be Continued.)