‘Nothing’s wrong.’ In the circumstances that was something less than the truth. But at least she was right: if he himself had only just spotted her, disguised by clothes and dogs and children, then she ought not to have rated a second glance. ‘I was expecting… hoping for… your helper, that’s all, Willy. In the front line, as it were—
that’s all I meant.’
‘ “As it were”?’ She mimicked him. ‘My most efficient “helper” is keeping an eye on us, don’t you fret. Colonel Sheldon wouldn’t like me to come to any harm—Dad wouldn’t take kindly to that.’
But then, in spite of the typical Willy-banter, she was frowning at Price, Anthony - For the Good of the State him with that sure insight of hers, the ignited fuse quite extinguished. ‘Only you didn’t mean that, did you? Because I know you, Tom Arkenshaw. And this is like last night, when I dropped those names, and it was wrong then. But it’s even more wrong now—isn’t it? Isn’t it?’
Tom looked around quickly. He couldn’t see any All-American marine, but at least he still couldn’t see Panin’s back-up either.
Only, Audley had reached the car; and although he was busy kicking one of the Dalmatians right now he could hardly be unaware that Sir Thomas Arkenshaw was busy chatting up some strange young woman when they ought both to be already on the way to Brentiscombe Point.
‘I told you—don’t fret! My “helper” is what you’d call a “pro”, Tom honey.’ She was already grinning, at once wickedly and reassuringly at the same time, as he came back to her. ‘ “Big panic”—or “SNAFU”, as my boss says… only I’m not supposed to know what the “FU” stands for, because he knows my uncle and my dad—is that what you really mean, Tom?’ She almost reached out to him, but then restrained herself. ‘So what do we do now?’
She was lovely. But her helper was all he had for backup, so he owed them both a true signal now, with no pretending. And to hell with Audley, who was looking at him. ‘All right, Willy darling…
Maybe big panic, or maybe the worst is over—I don’t know.’ Then he remembered Audley pocketing ‘the evidence’, and knew beyond doubt that the big man had been concerned to arm himself as best he could. ‘But my guess is there’s more to come—though I don’t see how.’
Price, Anthony - For the Good of the State She struggled with that for a second only. ‘The worst is over—?’
She was quick, too. ‘We have to get away from here quickly, as well as after Panin. Because there are two dead men in the house, back up there. And even if the neighbours didn’t hear the shots, then there’ll be one of our removal vans here soon enough, and it probably won’t be too healthy. But we have to follow Panin anyway. Because he’s leading us to Zarubin, Willy.’
‘Zzz-Zarubin-?’
‘Don’t ask me how or why. There isn’t time—and if there was, you wouldn’t believe it, in any case. But he’s made us an offer we can’t refuse, apparently.’ Time had run out, once again; he didn’t even need to look at Audley to know that. ‘Have you got a good map in your car?’
The Zzz of Zarubin was still on her lips, and she had to change their shape to get rid of it. ‘Yes, we’ve got a whole lot of maps—
your big maps, with every goddamn thing on them… like every motte and bailey.’
Naturally, with its funds and its forethought, the CIA always had an unlimited supply of Ordnance Survey large-scale masterpieces.
‘Brentiscombe Point is up the coast from here, towards Ilfracombe.
There’s a stream comes down to the sea there, and a few cottages.
And the Devon Coast Path runs along there, eastwards—there’s a
“Roman Fortlet” marked just inland from it.’ He could remember Audley’s voice in his ear. ‘It wasn’t really a fort, it was a signal station. You’ll find two others marked further east—this is the last of the three. On the path under the fort is where we’re meeting Price, Anthony - For the Good of the State him.’ He concentrated on her. ‘Tell your man I want back-up there.’ Now for the truth. ‘And you keep well away this time, Willy. Because if you’re there I shall only worry.’ That was the truth, and there was no way of wrapping it up, ‘You’ll just be in the way. Do you understand?’ And, anyway, it was best unwrapped. ‘Do I make myself clear?’
‘Oh sure! You make yourself very clear. All too clear!’ She almost ignited again, but caught her temper with a conscious effort.
‘Okay, Tom: message received.’ What she wanted to do, he could see, was look over her shoulder at Audley. But she controlled that desire also, and merely nodded. ‘Problems you’ve gotten yourself, but I’ll try not to be an extra one. It’s my bodyguard you want now, not my body. Message received. So off you go, then.’
She was so close to him that he could see the fine moisture of the wet wind on the finer golden down on her skin. And he knew then that of all the things in the world he wanted to do, ‘going off away from her was the last and worst. ’Willy—‘
‘No, Tom!’ She raised her hand, almost as though to touch him again; but then she drew it back, as if their polarities repelled each other.‘ “Stand not upon the order of your going—go at once!”—I learnt that at college, when we played Macbeth.’ She smiled up at him. Tom goggled at her. ‘You played Lady Macbeth—?’ ‘Hell, no! It was a ladies’ college—so I played Macbeth… Go on, Tom, for God’s sake!‘ The hand waved urgently at. him. ’But… just you be very careful out there, like Sergeant Esterhase says—okay?‘
Almost embarrassingly, Audley wasn’t fuming at the delay: he was Price, Anthony - For the Good of the State as avuncular as a bishop at a vicarage tea party.
‘I’m sorry, David!’ Still no sign of Panin’s man—any more than of Willy’s: the road was empty enough to risk a three-point turn across it.
‘Don’t be.’ What was worse than not-fuming was the big man’s unashamed interest; and, looking in all directions as he completed the manoeuvre, Tom observed Willy crossing the road ahead of him now; which would bring her to Audley’s side, for further inspection. ‘There’s no hurry, now that we know where to go—’
The car’s angry acceleration slammed him back into his seat as Tom put his foot down ‘—just take it easy! Because Major-General Zarubin will wait for us, Tom.’ As they reached her, Audley raised his hand in a parody of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother’s much-loved wave; and, what was worst of all, Wilhemina Groot returned the wave. ‘ Yes . . Major-General Gennadiy Zarubin will undoubtedly wait patiently on our coming, Tom.’ Audley settled himself back comfortably, even folding his arms to demonstrate his equanimity. ‘He has a name to give us. So he needs us.’
Tom became aware that his foot had the accelerator flat down; and that this was both unnecessary, because the damage was done, and dangerous, because they were already approaching the next corner too fast. ‘What name, David?’
‘What name?’ Audley jerked forward as the brakes began to do the best they could. ‘Now… would that have been Mosby Sheldon’s young woman, by any remote chance, Tom?’
Price, Anthony - For the Good of the State Tom cooled himself down, helped by the relief of getting round the bend on four wheels and on the road. ‘And if it was?’
‘Then he’s still running true to form. Because he had a very pretty woman in tow last time I met him. And she didn’t look the part either, as I recall…’ The old man twisted in order to observe him more closely. ‘But… what you omitted to tell me, young Tom… is that you already know her quite well. Or even better than that, perhaps?’