Hammond Innes - The Strange Land

Kavan made some reply that was inaudible, and then the Greek’s voice cut in: ‘You are lying. I know that you visited Marcel Duprez’s lawyers in Rouen. I know that — ‘ He stopped abruptly as I pushed open the door.

Kavan was sitting up in the bed, the blankets pulled rightly round his naked body. Kostos was standing by the couch. They were both looking towards the door as I entered. They were quite still like a tableau, and the tension in the room was something that you could feel. “What are you doing here, Kostos?’ I demanded angrily.

‘Nothing. Nothing that is to do with you. You keep out of this, Lat’am.’ His eyes switched to Kavan. ‘Think it over, my friend.’ He began buttoning up his raincoat. Ali is a fool. I tell him that when I know that in Cairo he arranges for you to act as the contact man. Your reputation is no dam’ good. But you double-cross me and you find yourself out on the Marchan with a knife in your back.’ He fished in the pocket of his waistcoat and flipped a piece of pasteboard on to the blankets on Kavan’s feet. ‘Come to my office as soon as you are recovered. An’ no more nonsense, you see. This is not Europe. This is North Africa, and all out there’ — he waved his hand towards the uncurtained windows — ‘it is an Arab world with only a thin layer of white peoples who tread a careful step.’ He put his hat on, pulling it down with a quick tug at the brim, and then turned to go -

As he passed me, he paused, tapping the side of his nose. ‘Not a sparrow falls. Remember, Lat’am. An’ don’t do nothing silly, eh?’ He pushed past me and went out, slamming the door behind him.

I turned to face Kavan, who was still sitting up in the bed. ‘What’s all this about?’ I demanded. ‘What did Kostos want?’

‘Some papers — a cargo. How the hell do I know? Kostos is a part of Wade’s world.’ He shrugged his shoulders. He wasn’t scared; not the way he had been when the police had been in the room. But there was a tautness in his voice that showed his uneasiness. ‘Wade was a crook,’ he added.

‘Then why in God’s name did you sail with him?’

‘I told you before — because I am a Czech and a refugee and it’s the only way I can get out of England.’

‘But if you knew he was a crook —?’

‘I didn’t discover that till later.’ He lay back and put his hands behind his head. ‘He came and saw me in London and it was agreed that I should sail with him to Tangier’ I knew nothing about him, except that he wanted — ‘ He stopped there. ‘Can I have a cigarette please?’

I handed him the packet and lit one myself. ‘Well, when did you discover he was running something?’ I asked.

‘We ran into a gale off Ushant,’ he said. ‘We could easily have slipped into the lee of the islands through the Chenal du Four and put into Brest. Instead, he stood out into the Atlantic, beating into the teeth of it to clear the coast of France. He said he wasn’t taking any chances. That’s how I knew.’

‘But what about the Customs when you left Falmouth?’

‘We didn’t clear Customs. He said there was no need.’

‘What was he running?’

He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Currency, securities — how do I know? When I asked him, he told me to mind my own damn business. He didn’t talk about his own affairs.’

‘Did you know Kostos would be waiting for you when you arrived?’

‘Of course not.’

“But when he came up to you on the beach — why didn’t you tell him you weren’t Wade?’

He pushed himself up on to his elbow. ‘Because the police are there. Because I have to escape from myself, from all the past. Now leave it at that, will you?’ He lay back, breathing heavily. ‘I’m sorry, Latham,’ he murmured. ‘It’s just that I’m tired. As soon as we’re clear of Tangier — ‘

‘But we’re not clear of Tangier yet,’ I reminded him. “What exactly did Kostos say? Had he been here long?’

‘No.’ He hesitated, looking at me uncertainly out of the corners of his eyes. ‘He wanted some documents. He said that I’d been employed by an Arab to get them.

He meant, of course, that Wade had.’ He paused and then asked me if I knew anything about an Arab called Ali d’ Es-Skhira.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘He’s a nationalist; a fanatic. The French deported him from Morocco after he’d caused serious rioting in Marrakech. He lives in Tangier now. Why?’

‘Nothing. It doesn’t matter.’

‘What happened next?’

‘I told Kostos I hadn’t been able to get the documents’, and he got angry and called me a liar. Then you came in.’

‘Did Wade mention these documents to you?’

‘I told you, Wade didn’t talk about his affairs.’

He was trying to hide something. I could sense it. ‘Kostos described them as the deeds of Kasbah Foum.’ He stared at me sullenly, not saying anything. I went over and sat on the bed. ‘Now look here,’ I said. ‘You’re getting yourself mixed up in something dangerous. I know this town. I’ve been part of it — that was what turned me into a missionary. Kostos is not a man to play around with. And if you’re mixed up with Ali d’ Es-Skhira as well…’

‘But I’m not,’ he protested. ‘I don’t know anything about it.’

‘Oh yes, you do. You know all about this place Kasbah Foum. When you regained consciousness in this room last night, one of the first things you asked me — ‘

‘All right. I do know about Kasbah Foum. But it’s nothing to do with you, Latham.’ He was sitting up again and his voice was angry. We stared at each other for a moment and the atmosphere between us had grown suddenly tense. Then he gradually relaxed. ‘I’m sorry,’ he murmured. ‘Maybe later, when we’re out of this place, I’ll explain….’ He lay back and closed his eyes. There was an obstinate set to his mouth.

I hesitated. Maybe I could shock the truth out of him.

‘Tell me one thing,’ I said. ‘Did you get possession of those deeds after Wade went overboard — or before?’

His eyes flicked open and there was a surprised look on his face. ‘You mean — ‘ His mouth stayed open slightly, and then he rolled over in the bed so that he faced me. ‘Now listen, Latham. I didn’t kill Wade, if that’s what you’re getting at. It happened just as I told you.’

‘It was the deeds I asked about.’

‘The deeds?’ He stared at me.

‘When did you get them out of him?’

‘I didn’t get them out of him.’ His voice was angry. ‘How could I? He never had them.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Oh, for God’s sake!’ he shouted at me. ‘Leave it at that, will you? Wade didn’t have them.’

‘All right,’ I said, getting to my feet. ‘But it’s a pity you didn’t bother to convince Kostos of that.’ I stubbed out my cigarette. It was no good worrying about it. The thing to do was to get out of Tangier as quickly as possible. ‘How do you feel?’ I asked him. ‘I see you ate the steak I brought you.’

‘Yes.’ He smiled and added quickly, ‘It was the most wonderful steak I have ever eaten.’

‘And you weren’t sick?’

‘No.’

‘How do you feel then?’

‘Not too bad. A little tired, and my body’s still sore. Otherwise, I’m all right. I think I’ll try and get some sleep.’

‘Do you think you’ll be fit enough to travel tonight? There’s a train at nine thirty-five. We could be in Casablanca tomorrow morning in time to catch the day train to Marrakech.’

‘Is there a sleeper on the train tonight?’

‘Yes. I’ll try and book berths.’

There was a knock at the door. It was one of the hotel boys. The patrone had sent him up for Kavan’s passport. ‘What’s he want the passport for?’ Kavan asked. I explained that it was the custom in Tangier for the hotelier to hold visitors’ passports and he let the boy have it. ‘And bring the senor’s clothes up, will you?’ I told him.