James Chase - Vulture Is a Patient Bird

“A pal of mine in Jo’burg is starting a travel agency,” Ken told him. “He needs more capital. I’m going into partnership with him.”

“Travel agency? Is that so hot?”

“It’s good. We plan a de luxe service. Personally conducted tours around the game reserves. That’s where I’ll score. There’s a lot of money in it. The Americans are heavy spenders if you give them real personal service. I’ve been dealing with them for some years. I know what they want, and I plan to give it to them.”

Fennel grunted.

“Sounds like hard work to me. I don’t believe in work. Only suckers work.”

“So what are you going to do with your share?”

“Spend it… that’s what money is for. I’ve got no time for the punks who save their money. What happens? They kick off and some other punk gets it.”

“Maybe that’s what they want.”

“To hell with that! There’s always money around. When I’ve

spent what I get from Shalik, I’ll do another little job. I’ve got plenty of contacts. They know I’m good so I’m never short of a job.”

Ken held up his hand, cutting him short. He had heard a crackle on the two-way radio and he put the set to his ear.

“Ken… hi, Garry… hearing you loud and clear… over.” He listened for some moments while Fennel watched him intently. “Roger. Good luck. Out,” and he switched off.

“Well?”

“They’re staying the night,” Ken told him. “Kahlenberg seems pleased they dropped in. I must say that surprises me. Anyway, they are meeting him at 21.00 hrs. Garry says he’ll call back at 23.00 hrs., and for us to stand by.”

Fennel grunted. He looked at his watch. It was just after midday.

“You mean we stay on this goddamn rock for twelve hours?”

“I guess so. We don’t want to walk into any of the guards. I reckon it is safe up here. Let’seat.” He brought out the inevitable can of beans.

“Goddamn it! Isn’t there anything else to eat except beans?”

“Steak pie… want that?”

“That’s better than beans.” Fennel brooded as Ken searched in the rucksack for the can. “I bet those two are doing themselves well.” His mind dwelt on Gaye and a vicious spurt of rage ran through him. Get this job over, he told himself, and then you fix her and you fix her good.

“What’s bitten you?” Ken asked, seeing the savage expression on Fennel’s face.

“Nothing… how much longer are you going to take to open that can?”

“I wish I knew we weren’t going to be disturbed,” Garry said. Gaye and he were sitting on the terrace after an excellent lunch served by two Zulu waiters.

Gaye was stretched out on a reclining chair, a cigarette between her fingers. Garry thought she looked lovely in the red and gold sari. It was the type of costume that suited her, and which he admired.

“Why?” Gaye asked, looking at him.

“Obvious reasons,” Garry returned with a grin. “I would take you into the bedroom.”

She laughed.

“When I too wish we knew we weren’t going to be disturbed.”

“Could be embarrassing if Mr. Tak arrived on the scene.”

“It could. So instead, we had better do some work.” She sat up, crushing out her cigarette. “Have you thought about how Fennel is to get in?”

“Through here.” Garry waved his hand to the big lounge. “With us here, he has only to walk in.”

“Would it be as easy as that?”

“I think so. There could be guards patrolling the house at night. I don’t see any of them around now.”

“Perhaps Kahlenberg is so sure no one could get through the jungle, the house isn’t guarded.”

“Want to take a look at the garden?”

“Not now. It will be terribly hot out there.”

“Then you take a nap… I’m going.” Garry got to his feet. “You have more energy than I have. You’ll be roasted.”

“See you,” and with a wave of his hand, Garry wandered off down the green cement path.

She watched him go, then she closed her eyes and thought about him. When the job was done, they would all separate. She wondered what he would do. She would have liked to have had a long weekend with him in Paris, and then say good-bye. She was twenty-six years of age, and she was sure Shalik would continue to make use of her for at least five more years before he began to look around for a younger woman. She had no illusions about Shalik. In those five years she would have made and saved enough money to give her complete independence and that was what she wanted more than anything else. To be financially free to live well, to travel and possibly get married.

She considered the possibility of marrying Garry, but decided it wouldn’t work out. Although he attracted her physically, she knew she wasn’t in love with him and also he hadn’t her need for gracious living. Luxury was essential to her whereas it wasn’t to him. No… he was a good bed companion, but nothing else. If she were to marry, she must find a man who was wealthy, intelligent, cultured and luxury loving. She knew this was a pipe dream for she had met many men in her life, had many proposals of marriage, but there was always some snag, or was it that she valued her freedom too much?

Anyway, pipe dreams were pleasant when lying in a comfortable chair in the shade, surrounded by luxury.

She dozed off, and it was more than an hour later that Garry, returning, awakened her.

“Want a drink, lazybones?” he asked, moving to the bar.

She nodded, stretched and sat up.

“Find anything interesting?”

“Yes and no. There’s no access to the far end of the house.” Garry brought over two Tom Collins and sat down. “The path leading to it is guarded by a Zulu who looks as if he’s stepped right out of a movie. He was wearing a leopard skin, ostrich plumes and carried a shield and an assagai. He turned me back without trying to be polite.”

“Kahlenberg’s quarters, I suppose.”

“Yes. Another thing: there’s a big pool full of enormous crocodiles at the far end of the garden and sitting on surrounding trees are about ten well fed looking vultures. That corner of the garden gave me the creeps.”

Gaye laughed.

“But why?”

“Just struck me it would be a marvellous place to dispose of a body.”

She looked at him and seeing he was serious, she asked, “Why should Kahlenberg want to dispose of a body?”

Garry sipped his drink, then cradling the glass in his hand, shaking it slightly so the ice cubes tinkled, he shrugged.

“The atmosphere of the place made me think of it, but I’m uneasy about all this, Gaye. I think we were invited in too easily. I don’t like the look of Tak. Once or twice while you were talking to him, I got the idea he was laughing at you. Particularly when you asked if this place was his. It struck me he knew you knew it belonged to Kahlenberg.”

“Do you think he suspects us?”

“I think he could.”

“You don’t think he guesses we are after the ring?”

“I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure he thinks we are phonies.”

“So what do we do?”

As if in answer to this question, Garry saw Tak coming along the path towards them.

“Here he is now,” he said, getting to his feet.

“Please don’t let me disturb you,” Tak said, approaching. There

was a thin smile on his lips and his glittering eyes moved from Garry to Gaye. “Did you enjoy your lunch?”

“It was wonderful, thank you.” Gaye gave him her most charming smile. “It really is lovely here.”

“Yes… it is very pleasant.” He paused, then went on, “Miss Desmond, would you be interested to see Mr. Kahlenberg’s museum?”

Although her heart skipped a beat, Gaye kept her face mildly interested.