Read Online A Quiver Full of Arrows by Jeffrey Archer - Free Book Online

quickly through the pages.
He read that his brothers had already tried to put pressure on Lloyd’s, but to
no avail. That’s like trying to bribe a maiden aunt into taking part in a
public orgy, thought Eduardo, and he would have told them as much if he had
been back in Brazil.
    The Mexican Government was therefore
insisting that the contract be shared with an international construction
company acceptable to Lloyd’s if the legal documents were to be signed by the
midday deadline the following day.
    “Stay put,” said Eduardo to his staff, and
he returned to the dining room alone, trailing the long telex behind him.
Rodrigues watched him as he scurried back to their table.
    “You look like a man with a problem.”
    “I am,” said Eduardo. “Read that.”
    Manuel’s experienced eye ran down the telex,
picking out the salient points.
    He had tendered for the Amazon road project
himself and could still recall the details. At Eduardo’s insistence, he re-read
page seven.
    “Mexican bandits,” he said as he returned
the telex to Eduardo. “Who do they think they are, telling Eduardo de Silveira
how he must conduct his business. Telex them back immediately and inform them
you’re chairman of the greatest construction company in the world and they can
roast in hell before you will agree to their pathetic terms. You know it’s far
too late for them to go out to tender again with every other section of the
highway ready to begin work. They would lose millions. Call their bluff,
Eduardo.”
    “I think you may be right, Manuel, but any
hold-up now can only waste my time and money, so I intend to agree to their
demand and look for a partner.”
    “You’ll never find one at such short
notice.”
    “I will.”
    “Who?”
    Eduardo de Silveira hesitated only for a
second. “You, Manuel. I want to offer Rodrigues International S.A. fifty per
cent of the Amazon road contract.”
    Manuel Rodrigues looked up at F:duardo.
    It was the first time that he had not
anticipated his old rival’s next move. “I suppose it might help cover the
millions you owe me in table tennis debts.”
    The two men laughed, then Rodrigues stood up
and they shook hands gravely. De Silveira left the dining room on the run and
wrote out a telex for his manager to transmit.
    “Sign, accept terms, fifty per cent partner
will be Rodrigues International Construction S.A., Brazil.”
    “If I telex that message, sir, you do
realise that it’s legally binding?”
    “Send it,” said Eduardo.
    Eduardo returned once again to the dining
room where Manuel had ordered the finest bottle of champagne in the hotel.
    Just as they were calling for a second
bottle, and singing a spirited version of Esta Cheganda a hora, Eduardo’s private
secretary appeared by his side again, this time with two telexes, one from the
President of the Banco do Brasil and a second from his brother Carlos. Both wanted
confirmation of the agreed partner for the Amazon road project. Eduardo
uncorked the second bottle of champagne without looking up at his private
secretary.
    “Confirm Rodrigues International
Construction to the President of the bank and my brother,” he said as he filled
Manuel’s empty glass. “And don’t bother me again tonight.”
    “Yes, sir,” said the private secretary and
left without another word.
    Neither man could recall what time he
climbed into bed that night but de Silveira was abruptly awakened from a deep
sleep by his secretary early the next morning. Eduardo took a few minutes to
digest the news. Lieutenant Colonel Dimka had been caught in Kano at three
o’clock that morning, and all the airports were now open again. Eduardo picked
up the phone and dialled three digits.
    “Manuel, you’ve heard the news?...
    Good.... Then you must By back with me in my
707 or it may be days before you get out... One hour’s time in the lobby... See
you then.”
    At eight-forty-five there was a quiet knock
on the door and Eduardo’s secretary opened it to