The Levant Trilogy Read Online Free PDF

getaway plans this time,
Major Cookson?'
    Cookson gave a
wry, sheepish smile, not resenting the question. In Greece, where he had had
money invested in property, his house had been a centre of hospitality. When
the Germans came down on Athens, he had chartered two freighters, intending to
take his friends to safety. Pinkrose had been among those invited. They had
kept their plans secret but had been discovered and Cookson was ordered by the
military to include anyone who chose to leave.
    Now, having spent
the money he had in Egypt, he existed on a dole from the British Embassy. He
had been brought by Clifford merely as a driver of the second car. His clothes
were becoming shabby, he looked underfed and Pinkrose, who had been his guest
in the past, treated him as an inferior. For a time those who knew Cookson's
story had no wish to speak to him but now, seeing him so reduced in the world,
Harriet looked on him with pitying amusement. He answered humbly, 'I have no
plans, and if I had any, I've no money to carry them out. Those freighters cost
me a fortune and I didn't get a penny of compensation from the army.'
    'Still you got
away with all your possessions while we were allowed only a small suitcase. You
even had your car on board.'
    'My poor old
car,' Cookson sighed and smiled. The Egyptian customs've still got hold of it.
They refuse to release it - not that it matters. I couldn't afford to run it'
    Harriet, having
decided the past was past, smiled with him, realizing that now they were almost
old friends, while Pinkrose went on with his fretful mumblings, the more angry
because he had been left in the lurch for a second time.
    A crowd of
children had gathered to watch the strangers. Mr Liversage, enlivened by his
tea, went over to them and trailed his dog backwards and forwards in front of
them, his manner gleeful, expectant of applause. The children stared,
confounded by the laughing old man and the old, bald toy dog which was a
money-box in which he collected for charity. At first they were silent then one
of them opened his mouth to jeer and the others took up his contempt with
derisive yells and shouts of 'Majnoon'. Stones were thrown at man and dog and
Clifford rushed in, wielding his fly-whisk like a flail, and scattered the miscreants.
That done he ordered his party to rise. 'Wakey, wakey. We've a long drive
back.'
    As they moved and
dusted themselves down, a passenger from the second car, a university professor
called Bowen, said, 'Isn't this where that chap Hooper lives? He took over a
Turkish fortress and spent a mint of money on it.'
    'Hooper?' The
name brought Clifford to a stop. 'Sir Desmond Hooper? Now he's the one who
could tell us what's happening out there. He's always wining and dining the
army big shots.'
    Bowen, a small,
gentle fellow, nodded. 'Well, yes. He might know more than most people.'
    "Then why
don't we look him up? Call in for an early sundowner?'
    'Oh, no,' Bowen,
aghast at the idea, had the support of Cookson and Mr Liversage, when he
realized what was being argued, said firmly, 'Can't do that, my dear fellow.
Too many of us. Can't march an army into a chap's house, don't you know! Simply
not done.' Pinkrose, however, eager for news and concerned for his own safety,
felt differently. 'Why not call in? Why not? These aren't ordinary times, no
need to stand on ceremony these days. It's disgraceful the way we're kept in ignorance.
If Sir Desmond Hooper knows what's going on, it's his duty to tell us. Yes,
yes, his duty ... it's his duty, I say.' Pinkrose spoke indignantly, carrying
his anger with Gracey over on to the innocent Hooper.
    The others -
Simon, Harriet, Miss Brownall and a girl from the second car who was also one
of Clifford's employees - took no part in the discussion but waited for
Clifford's decision. Harriet, entertained by it, was not unwilling to see the
Hooper fortress in the anonymity of so much company.
    Pinkrose's
agreement settled the matter for Clifford. 'We 'll go,' he