Istanbul Express Read Online Free PDF

her a hand down from the train.
    â€œAlas, my wife is unable to join me just yet.” Kolonov gave a mock sigh. “The price one pays for an overseas assignment can be high.”
    â€œColonel Burnes? Colonel Jake Burnes?”
    Jake turned and called, “Over here.”
    A lean, sunburned young man hustled over. He started to salute, then realized he was in civilian clothes and forced hishand back down. “I’m Corporal Bailey, sir. The consulate sent me over to fetch you.”
    â€œYou see, what did I tell you, my friends? A new life!” Kolonov beamed triumphantly. “Well, I simply must dash. You will all come and be my guests for dinner at the Soviet consulate, yes?”
    â€œSoon as we’re settled,” Jake assured him, accepting the hand, then turning back to the young man. “This is my wife, Corporal.”
    â€œMa’am.” The young man waited impatiently for the Russian to shake Pierre’s hand and bow a final time to the ladies before departing. His tone was insistent as he said, “We need to be shoving off, sir.”
    â€œLead on, Corporal.”
    â€œYessir. Is this, I mean, are you Major Servais?”
    â€œI am.”
    â€œI have a message for you too, sir. The French consulate called to say you should check in immediately. I can drop you off, if you like. Then I’ll take your wives and the gear over to your hotel.” Not waiting for a response, he hefted as many valises as he could manage, and started for the exit.
    Jake caught up with him. “What’s the rush?”
    â€œThe whole consulate’s all sixes and sevens, sir. You were supposed to get in a couple of days ago.”
    â€œOur train was delayed,” Sally pointed out.
    â€œI know, I mean, yes, ma’am. There’s been radio traffic like you wouldn’t believe about that as well.”
    Jake demanded, “As well as what?”
    â€œI’m not supposed to say, sir,” the corporal responded carefully. “My orders are to get you back to the consulate and do it on the bounce.”
    Scarcely had they all settled into the big consular sedan than the swarthy Turkish driver let in the clutch and squealed away. Jake leaned forward from his station in the backseat and demanded, “Why can’t you tell me anything?”
    â€œLeave him alone, Jake,” Sally said quietly, her gaze on thescene zipping by outside their window. “He’s just following orders.”
    The corporal shot her a grateful glance, then returned his attention to the front windshield in time to call, “Heads up,” and grab for the top deck. The driver swung wide around an overloaded donkey cart, then swept back in front of the animal’s nose and ducked down an alley.
    Corporal Bailey turned around and said apologetically, “I’d yell at him, sir, but it wouldn’t do any good.”
    Pierre nodded approvingly in the driver’s direction, then announced brightly, “I do believe I am going to like it here.”
    The driver traveled with equal pressure on the gas pedal and the horn. The only one who seemed perturbed by their lightning dash through gradually thickening traffic was Jake. After they had come within a hairsbreadth of derailing a streetcar, Jake asked Jasmyn, “This doesn’t bother you?”
    â€œI was raised in Marseille,” she reminded him.
    â€œThe French only wish they could drive like this,” Pierre said in admiration. He turned to the corporal. “Where can I buy myself a car?”
    â€œHere we are, sir,” the corporal announced as the car swung through great iron gates and halted in a cobblestone courtyard. “I’ll let them know the colonel’s arrived, then be back to escort everyone else onward.”
    Jake slid from the car and turned a worried frown toward Sally, but she stopped him with a smile. “We’ll be fine. You go see to business.”
    He followed the