Алистер Маклин - River of Death

‘Stop it.’ Smith’s voice was cold and incisive but when he spoke again the tone had changed to one of bitterness and left no doubt that he was addressing Hamilton. ‘If I may say so, you have a splendid capacity for making friends.’

‘Oddly enough, I do. I have quite a few in this city alone. But before I make a man my friend I have to make sure he’s not my enemy or potential enemy. Very sensitive about those things, I am. But so’s my back – sensitive, I mean, sensitive to having a knife stuck in it. I should know, I’ve had it done twice to me. I suppose I should have you all searched for flick-knives or some such toys but in your case I really don’t think I’ll bother. The harmless animals and innocent Indians are safe from any ill intentions you may develop, for, quite frankly, I can’t see any of you lot taking on an armed Indian or a jaguar with what is, after all, little more than a pen-knife.’ He made a small gesture with his right hand, as contemptuous as it was dismissive, and from the sudden tightening and whitening of Smith’s lips, it occurred to Hamilton, not for the first time, that Smith might well and easily be the most dangerous man of them all.

Hamilton gestured again, this time towards the very considerable pile of equipment lying on the garage floor. ‘How did those arrive – the packaging, I mean?’

‘Crates. We crate them up again?’

‘No. Too damned awkward to handle aboard a helicopter or hovercraft. I think–’

‘Waterproof canvas bags.’ He smiled at the slight surprise on Hamilton’s face. ‘We thought you might require something like that.’ He pointed towards two large cardboard boxes. ‘We bought them at the same time as we got the equipment. We’re not mentally retarded, you know.’

‘Fine. Your plane, a DC6, I understand – what’s its state of readiness?’

‘Superfluous question.’

‘I suppose. Where are the hovercraft and helicopter?’

‘Almost at Cuiabá.’

‘Shall we join them?’

The DC6 parked at the end of the runway of Smith’s private airfield may not have been in the first flush of youth but if the gleaming fuselage was anything to go by its condition would have ranked anywhere as immaculate. Hamilton, Ramon and Navarro, aided by an unexpectedly helpful Serrano, were supervising the loading of the cargo. It was a thorough, rigorous, painstaking supervision. Each canvas bag in turn was opened, its contents removed, examined, returned and the bag then sealed to make it waterproof. It was a necessarily lengthy and time-consuming process and Smith’s patience was eroding rapidly.

He said sourly: ‘Don’t take many chances, do you?’

Hamilton glanced at him briefly. ‘How did you make your millions?’

Smith turned and clambered aboard the aircraft.

After half-an-hour’s flying time out from Brasilia the passengers, with the exception of Hamilton, were all asleep or trying to sleep. No-one, it seemed, felt philosophical enough or relaxed enough to read: the clamour from the ancient engines was so great as to make conversation virtually impossible. Hamilton, as if prompted by some instinct, looked around and his gaze focused.

Heffner, sprawled in his seat, appeared, from his partly opened mouth and slow deep breathing, to be asleep, a probability lent credence by the fact that his white drill jacket, inadvertently unbuttoned, lay so as to reveal under his left armpit a white felt container which had obviously been designed to accommodate the aluminium flask inside. This did not give concern to Hamilton: it was perfectly in character with the man. What did concern him was that on the other side of his chest could just be seen a small pearl-handled gun in a white felt under-arm holster.

Hamilton rose and made his way aft to the rear end of the compartment where the equipment, provisions and personal luggage were stored. It made for a very considerable pile, but Hamilton didn’t have to rummage around to find what he was looking for – when loading he had made a mental note of where every item had been stored. He retrieved his rucksack, opened it, looked casually around to see that he was unobserved, removed a pistol and thrust it into an inside pocket of his bush jacket. He replaced the rucksack and resumed his seat up front.

The flight to Cuiabá airport had been uneventful and so now was the landing. The passengers disembarked and gazed around them in something like wonder, which was more than understandable as the contrast between Cuiabá and Brasilia was rather more than marked.

Maria was gazing around her in apparent disbelief. She said: ‘So this is the jungle. Quite, quite fascinating.’

‘This is civilisation,’ Hamilton said. He pointed to the east. ‘The jungle lies over there. That’s where we’ll be very soon and once we get there perhaps you’d sell your soul to be back here.’ He turned and said sharply to Heffner: ‘Where do you think you’re going?’

Heffner had been walking in the direction of the airport building. Now he stopped, turned and looked at Hamilton with a languid, insolent air.

‘Talking to me?’

‘I’m looking at you and I don’t squint. Where are you going?’

‘Look, I can’t see it’s any of your business, but I’m going to a bar. I’m thirsty. Any objections?’

‘Every objection. We’re all thirsty. But there’s work to be done. I want all the equipment, food and luggage transferred to that DC3 there, and I want it done now. Two hours on and it will be too hot to work.’

Heffner glared at him, then looked at Smith, who shook his head. Sullenly, Heffner retraced his steps and approached Hamilton, his face heavy with anger. ‘Next time I’ll be ready, so don’t be fooled by last time.’

Hamilton turned to Smith and said, almost wearily: ‘He’s your employee. Any more trouble or threats of trouble and he’s on the DC6 back to Brasilia. If you disagree, I’m on the plane back there. Simple choice.’

Hamilton brushed contemptuously by Heffner who stared after him with clenched fists. Smith took Heffner by the arm and led him to one side, clearly having trouble keeping his anger in check. He said, low-voiced: ‘Damned if I don’t agree with Hamilton. Want to ruin everything? There’s a time and a place to get tough and this is neither the time nor the place. Bear in mind that we’re entirely dependent upon Hamilton. You understand?’

‘Sorry, boss. It’s just that the bastard is so damned arrogant. Pride cometh before a fall. My turn will come and the fall is going to be a mighty big one.’

Smith was almost kind. ‘I don’t think you quite understand. Hamilton regards you as a potential troublemaker – which, I have to say, you are – and he’s the sort of man who will eliminate any potential source of trouble. God, man, can’t you see? He’s trying to provoke you so that he can have a reason, or at least an excuse, for disposing of you.’

‘And how would he do that?’

‘Having you sent back to Brasilia.’

‘And failing that?’

‘Don’t even let us talk about such things.’

‘I can take care of myself, Mr Smith.’

‘Taking care of yourself is one thing. Taking care of Hamilton is another kettle of fish altogether.’

They watched, some of them with evident apprehension, as a giant twin-rotored helicopter, cables attached to four lifting bolts, clawed its way into the air, raising a small hovercraft with it. The hovercraft’s rate of climb was barely perceptible. At five hundred feet, it slowly began to move due east.

Smith said uneasily: ‘Those hills look mighty high to me. Sure they’ll make it?’

‘You’d better hope so. After all, they’re your machines.’ Hamilton shook his head. ‘Do you think the pilot would have taken off unless he knew it was on the cards? Only three thousand feet. No trouble.’