Alan Hunter: Gently by the Shore

‘Oh, I dare say you’ll get a conviction.’ The chief superintendent came back off his half-turn. ‘The rest of it’s so strong that it’s almost bound to carry the day. But as I said, it’s a pity that you have to admit a phrase like “date unknown” against the important event of Streifer’s arrival in Starmouth… his defence are bound to be time-wasting and oratorical about it.’

Sir Daynes stared murder, and the chief superintendent stared it back.

‘Is this a fact?’ snapped the former at Gently. ‘We have just heard it read,’ chipped in the chief super scathingly.

Gently raised a calculating eyebrow. ‘How long,’ he mused, ‘how long would you say it would take a man — even supposing he was a confirmed anchovy addict — to eat five average-size tins of anchovies?’

‘Anchovies!’ exploded Sir Daynes, ‘what the devil have anchovies got to do with it, man?’

Gently shook his head. ‘I was going to ask Streifer that, if he had been feeling more communicative. But there were five empty tins in his waste-bucket at “Windy Tops” and I find it difficult to believe that he consumed one whole tin each tea-time for five days together…’

‘It isn’t proof,’ whipped in the chief super, razor-sharp.

‘No, it isn’t proof… just a curious example of devotion to anchovies. On the whole,’ added Gently mildly, ‘I was rather glad to find that a gentleman named Perkins, an employee at Starmouth Super Furnishings, was able to remember selling the mattress to a person resembling Streifer as early as Wednesday, 6 August…’

The dust died down and Sir Daynes, full of beans, returned to the problem of the reluctant Streifer.

‘You have heard the case against you. I think it is plain that it requires a better answer than mere silence. In your own interest, Streifer, I advise you to be as helpful as you can.’

‘In my own interest?’ Streifer gave a little laugh. ‘You are very kind people — very kind indeed! But what interest have I left when I am faced with this so-excellent case?’

‘You will not find the police ungrateful for any assistance you may be able to give them.’

‘Their gratitude would be touching. No doubt I should remember it with pleasure as I stood on your gallows.’

‘If you are innocent you can do no better than tell the whole truth. You are probably aware of other charges which will be preferred if you are acquitted on this one and I can say, on certain authority, that those charges will be dropped if you give us the assistance which we know to be in your power.’

‘And that would be the names of my associates in this country?’

‘Their names and all the information you possess about them.’

‘To turn traitor, in fact?’

‘To assist the ends of justice.’

Streifer laughed again and fixed his coal-black eyes on Sir Daynes. ‘Tell me,’ he said, ‘on this certain authority of yours — would it not be possible to forget Stratilesceul altogether if I gave this information?’

Sir Daynes jiffled impatiently, but the question pinned him down. ‘No,’ he admitted at last, ‘that charge is irrevocable, Streifer.’

‘But you could perhaps buy off the judge, or ensure that these quaint jurymen of yours returned a certain verdict?’

‘Quite impossible!’ rapped Sir Daynes, ‘understand once and for all that such courses are not followed in this country.’

‘And even if they were — even if I could be sure — even if you were to hand me a free pardon signed and sealed by your Queen herself — I would not betray the humblest comrade who marches with me towards the final liberation of mankind. That is my answer to you, the policemen. That is the only statement I wish to make. If you are just, as you claim you are just, you will take it down in writing and read it at my trial. But I have nothing more to say, excepting that.’

The silence which followed was slightly embarrassed. Sir Daynes seemed to freeze in his stern official look. Colonel Shotover Grout made rumbling noises, as though he thought the whole thing in very bad taste, and Superintendent Symms sniffed repeatedly in his superintendental way. It was the Special Branch Chief who spoke.

‘You see, Sir Daynes? This is the sort of thing we are up against at every turn… you may find criminals difficult to deal with, but believe me they are child’s play compared with fanatics.’

‘I cannot believe he will continue in this — this obstinacy,’ returned Sir Daynes, though his non-plussed tone of voice belied him, ‘his life is at stake, sir. Men will attempt their defence in however desperate a situation they find themselves.’

‘Not once they have become inoculated with creeds of this description,’ sneered the chief super. ‘They become intoxicated, Sir Daynes. They become tipsy with the most dangerous brand of aggrandizing delusion — political idealism. It means nothing for them to kill, and a triumph for them to die. We know these people. You had better let us handle them.’

Sir Daynes shook his head bewilderedly. ‘I must admit that it is something new in my experience… I feel somewhat at a loss.’ He glanced at the colonel. ‘What is your opinion, sir?’

‘Preposterous!’ grumbled the colonel half-heartedly, ‘unstable, sir… foreigners… unstable.’

‘Then, Sir Daynes, I take it you will make no further opposition to my investigations in this town.’

Sir Daynes pursed his lips. ‘If you think it is necessary it is my duty to give you every assistance.’

The chief super nodded in the comfortable consciousness of prevailed merit. ‘In effect I shall be taking over the present investigations at the point where your men and Chief Inspector Gently have left off. I shall want a full report from everyone engaged on the case and in addition I intend to conduct personal interrogations to bring to light points which may not hitherto have seemed important. Inspector Gently,’ — his head turned sideways again — ‘I have full authority to release you and your assistant from your duties here. Later on I should like to have a private chat with you and tomorrow you will be free to return to town.’

Gently nodded his mandarin nod and slowly removed his pipe from his mouth. ‘I’d like to make a point… if it isn’t interrupting the proceedings too much.’

The chief super’s head remained sideways in indication of his supreme patience.

‘One or two side-issues have cropped up in the course of my minor activities… I would have liked another day or two to tie them up.’

‘Unnecessary, Inspector Gently. They will certainly be taken care of.’

‘They concern,’ proceeded Gently absently, ‘the organization you are interested in disbanding.’

There was a silence in the crowded room. Nine pairs of eyes focussed with one accord on the man from the Central Office.

‘Of course… it’s not for me to suggest the line of further investigation… I don’t want to deflect the Special Branch from what it conceives to be its duty. But if they care to hold their horses for just a day or two, I feel I may be able to save them a certain amount of frustration.’

‘Come to the point, man!’ yapped Chief Superintendent Gish, proving for all time that his neck was fully mobile. ‘What is it you’re trying to say?’

‘I’m trying to say,’ replied Gently leisurely, ‘that I’m fully aware of the identity and whereabouts of the TSK leader in this country and you could arrest him this evening… if you thought it would do you any good.’

They thought it would do them some good for quite a long time together, did the chief super, Sir Daynes and Colonel Shotover Grout. In the first flush of enthusiasm they were for leaping into a Black Maria and descending upon Big Louey with drawn automatics and a full complement of iron-mongery. It took time and a certain amount of cold water to correct their transports. Gently was obliged to apply the latter in generous doses.