Dennis Wheatley - Black August

'Dead,' Kenyon admitted, I haven't a doubt about that, but all the same I don't see how we can go on wrongfully detaining Government troops and a ship.'

'Well, what do you propose to do about it?'

Kenyon looked' wretchedly uncomfortable. 'I don't know,' he confessed. 'I hate ingratitude and since you saved us all it would be a pretty bad show to get you put under arrest, especially in view of what's likely to happen to you; but unless you are prepared to order the ship back to port I feel that it is up to me to let Fanshawe know where he stands.'

Gregory smiled amiably. 'Before you actually send the balloon up I think it would be interesting to hear a few other views. What does Lady Veronica feel about it?'

She looked at him steadily and then she said: 'I agree with Kenyon that apart from the question of our personal gratitude you ought to be shot for what you've done, but there is a sort of half truth in your specious excuses about the troops being useless where they were with the whole country in chaos; the great point is, that right or wrong you've done it now, and I for one have no desire to be dumped back on the quay at Chatham. Last night was quite enough slumming for this child. I shall probably die of seasickness, but I'd rather chance that and take a trip to the West Indies with you.'

Sallust nodded. 'A most sensible summing up of the situation. What about you, Ann?'

'I agree with Veronica. What you've done may be frightfully wrong theoretically, Gregory, but fifty soldiers and one destroyer aren't going to save England from anarchy, and since you've, saved us once already I think we can't do better than trust in you again.'

'A delightful vote of confidence, my dear.' He grinned and turned to Silas. 'Do you want to beat your little drum, Harker, and see me clapped in irons?'

The American's large humorous face had grown very grave as he replied: 'I think I'd like to have a word with Fane alone before I give any answer to that.'

'All right, go ahead; you'd better use the lobby, but wait ' Gregory held up his hand as they both rose from the table. 'I'd be glad if you will remember that I personally have not the least intention of returning to England, and that I only brought you along as a kindness. Moreover, I have the best part of sixty men under my command; they, at least, would never believe your story, and are prepared to carry out my orders to the letter. If through your interference Fanshawe cuts up rough there's going to be blue hell on this ship get that?'

'Do you really mean that you would go to the length of ordering your troops to fire on Fanshawe's sailors?' asked Kenyon horrified.

'That's it; and Fanshawe wouldn't stand a chance against me even if he had twice the numbers, but in the meantime the ship would become a shambles, and after, unless I could persuade sufficient sailors to come over to my side, we should probably be wrecked. Worst of all I just might be killed myself. I say worst of all, not out of any personal conceit, but because as long as I remain alive there is a reasonable prospect of discipline being maintained. Without me well, you've got a half mutinous crew already, and I'm not altogether satisfied about one or two of my own men. Now out you go, and just consider the sort of thing that might happen to your sister and Ann here in such circumstances, then come back and tell me if you still think it's up to you to go putting a match to the powder barrel.'

The conference in the lobby was brief. 'He's got us,' said Kenyon shortly. 'At least he's got me. Principles or no principles I can't run the risk of exposing the girls to any horrors like that.'

The American loomed immense and lofty even over Kenyon's height. 'He means it too,' he said seriously. 'He'll loose hell on this ship if he meets with any opposition, and he's right about the possibility of mutiny. I'd been counting that in myself.'..

'Yes. He seems to be one of those exceptional egoists who really have the courage to throw all established ideas overboard and carry their theories into practice regardless of the cost.'

Harker's blue eyes twinkled. 'He's a proper blackguard, but I like the man; this sort of thing needs guts.'

'It does. He's just the sort of chap I'd follow anywhere if only his authority were legitimate.'

'What's the odds?' Silas's full lipped mouth crumpled into a smile. 'We're either for him or against him, and if it's “for” we'd best back him for all we know, and put our scruples right behind us.'

'Yes. If we go to Fanshawe now things will blow up for certain, and if we don't we'll be liable anyhow to the same penalties as Sallust if his plans break down; so the sensible thing seems to do our damndest to help him pull this mad venture through.'

'Sure, I'm glad you see it as I do. Let's get back, shall we?'

Kenyon nodded. 'Righto! I only hope we don't have trouble with the sailors after all.

'Don't worry.' Silas ducked his head quickly as he stepped through the wardroom door. 'If we stick together we'll see this party through.'

'Well?' Gregory raised his left eyebrow with cynical inquiry.

'Having registered our protests we are going to forget it,' said Kenyon, 'and accept your leadership without further question.'

Silas squeezed himself back into his chair. 'That's so, General, and for the duration, as you call it, you can count on us.'

One of those rare smiles lit up Sallust's face. 'I'm glad,' he said slowly. 'It makes a world of difference to have your voluntary support, although I don't mind telling you now you would never have got as far as Fanshawe. The sentries in the passage outside the lobby had their instructions before we sat down to dinner.'

Kenyon smiled. 'I see; that's why you had them posted, eh? Although Fanshawe seemed to think it a mad idea to put sentries outside a mess.'

'A General Officer is entitled to his guard, my friend,' Sallust replied lightly. 'But now we're all agreed, what about some more port? A toast to a happy and successful voyage.'

Rudd hastened forward with a new decanter, and the toast was drunk, then Veronica leaned towards Gregory: 'Were you serious about taking us to the West Indies?'

'Perfectly, have you any preference for any particular island?'

'I've always wanted to go to the West Indies,' Ann announced unexpectedly.

'Good,' he nodded. 'Well, I favour Haiti myself, it's native owned or one of the smaller islands. Dominica perhaps I've friends there; you see complications might arise if we turned up at Jamaica or Cuba.'

'But why the West Indies?' Veronica protested. 'Think of the voyage, in this armoured speed boat. There's so much engine to it they haven't even room for a bathroom.'

He shrugged. ‘Europe is impossible, and the African coast presents all sorts of unpleasant problems. In the Indies there is an excellent climate; very few poisonous reptiles in the better islands, an abundant variety of fruit, and excellent deep sea fishing. What more do you want?'

'But my dear man, you don't expect us to live on the beach, do you?'

'Why not? All towns will be dangerous for a year or two to come until the world settles down again with a considerably reduced population. Even after the bloodshed stops there will be starvation and every sort of ghastly pestilence. Our only hope as I see it is to find a garden of Eden for ourselves and sit in it playing contract for shark's teeth.'

'What! live in the woods like savages?'

'Not quite. My reason for commandeering troops was not only for my own protection. I don't doubt that I could have got out of England on my own, but I should hate to live on a desert island, however fruitful, in complete solitude, and with organised labour one can do anything. Build houses, dig gardens, assure oneself an adequate and regular supply of food, and protect oneself from possible hostility of the inhabitants if any. These Tommies are to act the role of numerous Man Fridays to my Crusoe.'