Десмонд Бэгли - Landslide

He wasn’t fitted to the role of Cupid, but he meant well and it really wasn’t a bad idea, so a couple of days later I left for the North Kinoxi in the jeep. The road hadn’t got any better since my last trip, and I was more tired when the big cabin came in sight than if I’d walked all the way.

Waystrand came to meet me with his stiff, slow walk, and I asked, ‘Is Miss Trinavant around, Mr Waystrand?’

‘Walking in the woods,’ he said briefly. ‘You staying?’

‘For a while,’ I said. ‘Miss Trinavant wants me to do a survey.’ He nodded but said nothing. ‘I haven’t seen your son yet, so I haven’t been able to pass on your message.’

He shrugged heavily. ‘Wouldn’t make any difference, I suppose. You eaten?’

I shared some food with him and then did some more log-chopping while he looked on with approval at my improved handling of the axe. When I began to sweat I stripped off my shirt, and after a while he said, ‘Don’t want to be nosy, but was you chawed by a bear?’

I looked down at the cicatrices and shiny skin on my chest. ‘More like a Stutz Bearcat,’ I said. ‘I was in an auto accident.’

‘Oh,’ was all he vouchsafed, but a puzzled frown came on to his face. Presently he went away and I continued chopping.

Clare came back from the woods towards sunset and appeared glad to see me. She wanted to know if the Mattersons had made any moves, but merely nodded when I said that no move had been made by either side.

We had dinner in the big cabin, during which she asked me about the survey, so after dinner I got out the Government map and indicated what I was going to do and how I was going to go about it. She said, ‘Is there much chance of finding anything?’

‘Not much, I’m afraid — not from what I saw of the Matterson land in the south. Still, there’s always a chance; strikes have been made in the most unlikely places.’ I talked about that for quite a while and then drifted into reminiscences of the North-West Territories.

Suddenly Clare said, ‘Why don’t you go back, Bob? Why don’t you leave Fort Farrell? It’s not doing you any good.’

‘You’re the third person who has asked me to quit,’ I said. ‘Matterson, McDougall and now you.’

‘My reasons might be the same as Mac’s,’ she said. ‘But don’t couple me with Matterson.’

‘I know, Clare,’ I said. ‘I’m sorry. But I’m not going to quit.’

She knew finality when she heard it and didn’t press it any more. Instead, she said, ‘Can I come with you when you do the survey?’

‘Why not? It’s your land,’ I said. ‘You can keep a close eye on me so I don’t skip the hard bits.’

We arranged to leave early, but in fact we didn’t get away too soon the following morning. To begin with, I overslept which is something I hardly ever do. For the first time in nearly three weeks I slept soundly without dreaming and awoke refreshed but very late. Clare said she hadn’t the heart to wake me and I didn’t put up too much of a protest. That was why we were delayed long enough for unexpected, and unwelcome, visitors to drop from the sky.

I was in my room when I heard the helicopter and saw it settle lightly in the open space at the back. Howard Matterson and Donner got out and I saw Clare go forward to meet them. The rotor swished to a stop and the pilot dropped to the ground, so it looked as though Matterson intended to stay for longer than a few minutes.

There seemed to be an argument going on. Howard was jabbering nineteen to the dozen, with Donner putting in his two cents’ worth from time to time, while Clare stood with a stony face and answered monosyllabically. Presently Howard waved at the cabin and Clare shrugged. All three of them moved out of sight and I heard them talking in the big main room.

I hesitated, then decided it was none of my business. Clare knew the score about the lumber on her land and I knew she wouldn’t let Howard get away with anything. I continued to fill my pack.

I could hear the rumble of Howard’s voice, with the lighter, colourless interjections of Donner. Clare appeared to be saying little, and I hoped most of it consisted of ‘No.’ Presently there was a tap on the door and she came in. ‘Won’t you join us?’ Her lips were compressed and the pink spots on her cheeks were danger signals I had seen before.

I followed her into the main room and Howard scowled and reddened when he saw me. ‘What’s he doing here?’ he demanded.

‘What’s it to you?’ Clare asked. She indicated Donner. ‘You’ve brought your tame accountant. This is my adviser.’ She turned to me. ‘They’ve doubled their offer,’ she said in an acid voice. ‘They’re offering half a million dollars for the total felling rights on five square miles of my land.’

‘Have you put up a counter-offer?’ I asked.

‘Five million dollars.’

I grinned at her. ‘Be reasonable, Clare: the Mattersons wouldn’t make a profit out of that. Now, I’m not suggesting you split the difference, but I think that if you subtracted their offer from yours there might be a basis for a sale. Four and a half million bucks.’

‘Ridiculous,’ said Donner.

I swung on him. ‘What’s ridiculous about it? You know you’re trying to pull a fast one.’

‘You keep out of this.’ Howard was fuming.

‘I’m here by invitation, Howard,’ I said. ‘Which is more than you are. Sorry to have spoiled your con game, but there it is. You know this land hasn’t been cut over for twelve years and you know the amount of mature timber that’s ready for the taking. Some of those big trees would go nicely in the mill, wouldn’t they? I think it’s a reasonable offer, and my advice to you is to take it or leave it.’

‘By God, we’ll leave it,’ he said tightly. ‘Come on, Donner.’

I laughed. ‘Your father isn’t going to like that. He’ll have your guts for garters, Howard. I doubt if he ever ruined a deal by being too greedy.’

That stopped him. He glanced at Donner, then said, ‘Mind if we have a private conversation?’

‘Go ahead,’ said Clare. ‘There’s plenty of room outside.’

They went out, and Clare said, ‘I hope you’re right.’

‘I’m right, but Howard might be obstinate. I think he’s a man who sets himself on a course and doesn’t deviate. He isn’t flexible, and flexibility is very important to a businessman. I’m afraid he might make a fool of himself.’

‘What do you mean?’

I said, ‘He’s so set on making a killing here that it might blind him to a reasonable deal — and I don’t think Donner can control him. That might bitch things up. Will you leave the dickering to me?’

She smiled. ‘You seem to know what you’re doing.’

‘Maybe. But the biggest deals I’ve made so far have been with used car dealers — I may be out of my league here. I never dickered in millions before.’

‘Neither have I,’ she said. ‘But if what I hear about used car dealers is correct, they’re as tricky to deal with as anyone else. Try to imagine Howard as Clarry Summerskill.’

‘That’s an insult to Clarence,’ I said.

Howard and Donner came back. Howard said heartily, ‘Well, I think we can sort this thing out. I’ll disregard the insults I’ve been offered so far by Boyd and make you a new offer. Clare, I’ll double up again and make it a round million dollars — I can’t say fairer than that.’

She looked at him coldly. ‘Four and a half.’

Donner said in his precise voice, ‘You’re being too rigid, Miss Trinavant.’

‘And you’re being too free and easy,’ I said. I grinned at Howard. ‘I have a proposition. Let’s get Tanner, the Forestry Service man, up here to do an independent valuation. I’m sure Clare will abide by his figure if you will.’