Campbell's Kingdom Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the year. It’s still winter in the mountains and most of the roads are blocked. The Kingdom is a goodish way from any railroad. You might not get through for a month, maybe more. Meantime, the company that’s interested in the property has got to get organised so that work on the dam begins as soon as they can get up there. The season is a short one.’ He leaned forward and searched among the papers on his desk. ‘Here you are.’ He pushed a document across to me. ‘All you have to do is sign that. I’ll look after the rest. You’ll see the figure they agree to pay is $50,000. It’s a damn sight more than the property is worth. But they’re willing to pay that figure to avoid a court action on compensation. They already have the authority of the Provincial Parliament to go ahead with the construction, so whether you sign or not they are in a position to take over the property and flood it, subject to payment of compensation.’
    I didn’t say anything and there was an awkward silence. I was thinking that the dam had still to be built. For a few months the Kingdom could be mine. Even if there wasn’t any oil it was a patch of land that belonged to me. I’d never owned any property before. I’d never really owned anything.
    â€˜I must warn you,’ Acheson said, ‘that the purchasers’ original plan was to take power from one of the existing companies. This hydro-electric scheme is subsidiary to their main business which is the opening up of some low-grade lead mines. If you don’t sign now the odds are they’ll abandon the project.’
    So the Kingdom could still be saved. I lit a cigarette, thinking it over.
    â€˜Well?’
    I stared down at the deed of sale. ‘I notice you’ve not inserted the name of the purchasing company.’
    â€˜No.’ He seemed to hesitate. ‘A subsidiary will be formed to operate the power scheme. If you’ll sign the deed, I’ll insert the name of the company as soon as it’s formed. Then there’ll be just the deeds and the land registration to be settled. I’ll look after all that.’ His eyes fastened on mine, waiting.
    â€˜You seem very anxious for me to sell,’ I murmured.
    â€˜It’s in your interests.’ He took the cigar out of his mouth and leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. ‘I don’t understand you,’ he said. His tone was one of exasperation. ‘In the letter I sent you via Fothergill I made it perfectly clear to you that my advice was to sell. Instead you come all the way out here, wasting time and delaying the whole project.’ He got suddenly to his feet. ‘I should tell you, Wetheral, that it’s largely as a result of my efforts that these people have become interested in the Kingdom at all. As I told you, their original plan . . .’ He turned and crossed the room towards me. ‘For two pins I’d tell you to get somebody else to handle your affairs. I’ve had nothing but trouble acting for Stuart Campbell and not a nickel for it. If it weren’t for the interests of another client . . .’ He was standing over me. ‘I act for old Roger Fergus. He’s sunk nearly $40,000 in Campbell’s company. Now that Campbell’s dead I consider it my duty to see that the company is wound up and that debt paid off.’ He leaned down, tapping my shoulder with a large, podgy hand. ‘I’d go further. I’d say that you have a moral obligation to see that Roger Fergus is repaid.’ He turned slowly away and resumed his seat at his desk. ‘You’ve got till this evening,’ he said. ‘Where are you staying?’
    â€˜The Palliser.’
    â€˜Well, you go back to your room and think it over.’ He got to his feet. ‘Take the report with you. Read it. If there’s anything you want to know give me a ring.’
    He paused and then said, ‘I