The Iron Tiger Read Online Free PDF Page A

all.'
     
     
That's strange, you know. They've claimed it officially and the brutal truth is they're on pretty firm ground this time, historically speaking.'
     
     
'They can have it, for all I care,' Drummond said. 'Another month, and I'm out.'
     
     
Ferguson poked a match into the end of his pipe to clear the air hole and said casually, 'What were you thinking of doing?'
     
     
'Nothing you'd be interested in. I'm finished, Fergy. I've had enough. How long have I given you now; four years, five? I've played this sort of game on every border from Sarawak to Kashmir. I can't go OB forever. Nobody can.'
     
     
'You've done a good job, Jack. Fm not denying that,' Ferguson said. 'But you've been well paid.'
     
     
'What about last year when the Indonesians shot me down in Borneo?' Drummond reminded him. They chased me through that jungle for three weeks before I managed to scramble across the border.. He ran a finger down the ugly scar that stretched from his left eye to the corner of his mouth. 'I spent a month in hospital and what happened. You paid me the same as always. No more, no less.'
     
     
Ferguson sighed, took an envelope from his pocket and pushed it across. Three thousand, deposited as usual with your Geneva bankers. You know how to get in touch with me if you change your mind.'
     
     
'That'll be the day.' Drummond opened the envelope, examined the deposit slip, then put it ia his wallet. 'It's been fun, Fergy.'
     
     
He moved along the deck to the gangplank and stepped on to the wharf. 'One more thing, Jack,' Ferguson called. 'Don't forget who the Beaver belongs to when you've finished up there. Government property, you know.'
     
     
'And just how would you like to set about proving that?' Drummond said and started to laugh as as walked away along the wharf.
     
     
The Nighiwalkers
     
     
JANET stepped out of the shower, dried herself quickly and went into the bedroom, the towel wrapped around her slim body. The window to the terrace was open and she stood in the shadows and looked out. A bank of cloud rolled away from the moca and
     
     
Juma was bathed in a hard white light, fiat-roofed houses straggling down to the river below. The night sky was incredibly beautiful with stars strung away to the horizon where the mountains lifted uneasily to meet them.
     
     
It was peaceful and quiet, a dog barking hollowly somewhere in the night. In the streets below, she could see torches flaring and then a drum started to beat monotonously, joined a moment later by some stringed instrument, and the sound of laughter drifted up on the warm air.
     
     
There was a discreet tap on the door and she called quickly,.Who is it?'
     
     
'Ali - can I speak to you for a moment?.
     
     
She pulled on her dressing gown, fastened the cord and opened the door. Hamid came in, resplendent in his best uniform.
     
     
.How are you feeling?'
     
     
'Fine. I slept for an hour, then had a shower..
     
     
'Good.' He hesitated and then went on apologetically. Tm sorry about this, Janet, but Fm afraid I'd already arranged something for this evening.' He glanced at his watch. 'As it is, I'm pressed for time.'
     
     
'A lady?'
     
     
1 hope not,9 he said solemnly.
     
     
She chuckled. 'You're quite incorrigible. Better not keep her waiting.'
     
     
'lack went out to the airstrip to check on some cargo we're taking with us tomorrow. Motor spare, I think. He shouldn't be more than half an hour..
     
     
She listened to the sound of his footsteps fade along the narrow passage and then closed the door. She stood with her back to it, a slight frown on her face and then walked slowly across to the window.
     
     
The drumming was louder now, an insistent throb. bing that filled the night and someone was singing in & high, reedy voice, hardly moving'from.one note to another, monotonous and yet strangely exciting.
     
     
She hurried across to the bed, opened her second suitcase and took out a sleeveless black dress in heavy silk