Read Online Assignment Black Gold by Edward S. Aarons - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Edward S. Aarons
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Saka,
as you say"—Durell paused— “this man, your stepbrother, is now the head of
the Apgaks—Lopes Fuentes Madragata.”
Lepaka sighed. “Yes.”
“And how many know that?” Durell demanded.
“You and I. Lopes. No others.”
“All right. Then what’s the deal? What choice do I have
except staying in this jail for years to come?”
“l want you to bring the Saka back—back to life, back to his
rightful place, leading the people of Lubinda. To end Madragata’s stupid
terrorism on behalf of the Maoist Apgaks. Bring him back for me, Durell.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
“It is a journey into the desert, beyond the Bone Coast.”
Lepaka paused. “Settled by Germans in pre-World War I days. There are still
some Rhineland-type castles there— Wakermund , Schneiderhof , and Heinrichburg .
All ruins. Ignore them. I cannot leave. Madragata is ready to make his strike.
He knows just where and when to do this bloody business. Someone tells him. I
do not know who, but he has an informer, high in government, perhaps. I step
closer to him with each hour. No, I cannot leave the city now."
Durell said, “I have no wish to interfere in your affairs or
get mixed up in local politics. Why me?”
“First, you have no choice. If you do not agree, if you
attempt to leave Lubinda secretly, or it you betray me, you will spend the rest
of your life in this prison. I promise you that. You will not live long under
these conditions. but each hour will seem like a year. Also, you see, I know
you. I have your dossier here, and I know what you can do. You will go to the
Saka and persuade him, for me, to rise from the dead and help save us.”
“Would he listen to me, a stranger?”
"You will speak for me, my words will be in your
mouth. will listen.” Lepaka paused. “He
is not in sympathy with Lopes, his son. Be not concerned about that. But if he
refuses you and me, you will not leave Lubinda.”
“Alive, you mean?”
“In any fashion.”
“The Saka is an old man.”
“He will listen.”
The wind came in through the small window and again died in
agony, Durell thought about the prison, and did not like his thoughts. He knew
that Komo Lepaka meant every word he said. Whether or not me words held the
whole truth. he could not know.
He said, “And Brady Cotton?”
“You may pursue your search for him.”
“I ‘want to go to the Lady," Durell said.
The colonel's heavy eyelids thinned. “You think Brady
is there? No, no. He is off in the jungles—"
“I'd like to look.”
Lepaka said, “It is not in my jurisdiction. You must ask
Hobe Tallman. He will refuse you. Duty a maintenance crew is on the rig now.
All work has been stopped."
“I can get there,” Durell said.
“How?"
“Maybe Mrs. Cotton will help.”
“Ah. Kitty. A lovely young woman. Very helpful to our
people. She teaches English to our children here, did you know that?"
“How much time will you give me?” Durell insisted.
Lepaka thought about it. “You may have all of tomorrow. By
evening, you must he on your way to the Kahara Desert. I will let you know
where to look for the Saka. You will be gone three days, at the most. You may
be sure that you will be observed every moment. Any attempt to reach the border
will prove unfortunate for you —and perhaps for Mrs. Cotton. too.”
“You’re not as subtle as I thought.” Durell said.
“When the fdata snake strikes, his fangs are bared.”
Chapter 8.
There was a brief freshness in the morning air when Durell
stepped through the prison gates. He walked through the empty streets and lanes
of the town and noted that lights were burning in the Presidential Palace. In
the Chinese quarter, he smelled breakfast rice cooking and heard the wail of a
child, the grunt of a pig in a backyard. He was not followed. He checked
several times, and spotted no one.
He did not go back to the Lopodama Hotel. He walked quietly
to the Pequah, entered that maze of tiny shops and tenements,
as you say"—Durell paused— “this man, your stepbrother, is now the head of
the Apgaks—Lopes Fuentes Madragata.”
Lepaka sighed. “Yes.”
“And how many know that?” Durell demanded.
“You and I. Lopes. No others.”
“All right. Then what’s the deal? What choice do I have
except staying in this jail for years to come?”
“l want you to bring the Saka back—back to life, back to his
rightful place, leading the people of Lubinda. To end Madragata’s stupid
terrorism on behalf of the Maoist Apgaks. Bring him back for me, Durell.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
“It is a journey into the desert, beyond the Bone Coast.”
Lepaka paused. “Settled by Germans in pre-World War I days. There are still
some Rhineland-type castles there— Wakermund , Schneiderhof , and Heinrichburg .
All ruins. Ignore them. I cannot leave. Madragata is ready to make his strike.
He knows just where and when to do this bloody business. Someone tells him. I
do not know who, but he has an informer, high in government, perhaps. I step
closer to him with each hour. No, I cannot leave the city now."
Durell said, “I have no wish to interfere in your affairs or
get mixed up in local politics. Why me?”
“First, you have no choice. If you do not agree, if you
attempt to leave Lubinda secretly, or it you betray me, you will spend the rest
of your life in this prison. I promise you that. You will not live long under
these conditions. but each hour will seem like a year. Also, you see, I know
you. I have your dossier here, and I know what you can do. You will go to the
Saka and persuade him, for me, to rise from the dead and help save us.”
“Would he listen to me, a stranger?”
"You will speak for me, my words will be in your
mouth. will listen.” Lepaka paused. “He
is not in sympathy with Lopes, his son. Be not concerned about that. But if he
refuses you and me, you will not leave Lubinda.”
“Alive, you mean?”
“In any fashion.”
“The Saka is an old man.”
“He will listen.”
The wind came in through the small window and again died in
agony, Durell thought about the prison, and did not like his thoughts. He knew
that Komo Lepaka meant every word he said. Whether or not me words held the
whole truth. he could not know.
He said, “And Brady Cotton?”
“You may pursue your search for him.”
“I ‘want to go to the Lady," Durell said.
The colonel's heavy eyelids thinned. “You think Brady
is there? No, no. He is off in the jungles—"
“I'd like to look.”
Lepaka said, “It is not in my jurisdiction. You must ask
Hobe Tallman. He will refuse you. Duty a maintenance crew is on the rig now.
All work has been stopped."
“I can get there,” Durell said.
“How?"
“Maybe Mrs. Cotton will help.”
“Ah. Kitty. A lovely young woman. Very helpful to our
people. She teaches English to our children here, did you know that?"
“How much time will you give me?” Durell insisted.
Lepaka thought about it. “You may have all of tomorrow. By
evening, you must he on your way to the Kahara Desert. I will let you know
where to look for the Saka. You will be gone three days, at the most. You may
be sure that you will be observed every moment. Any attempt to reach the border
will prove unfortunate for you —and perhaps for Mrs. Cotton. too.”
“You’re not as subtle as I thought.” Durell said.
“When the fdata snake strikes, his fangs are bared.”
Chapter 8.
There was a brief freshness in the morning air when Durell
stepped through the prison gates. He walked through the empty streets and lanes
of the town and noted that lights were burning in the Presidential Palace. In
the Chinese quarter, he smelled breakfast rice cooking and heard the wail of a
child, the grunt of a pig in a backyard. He was not followed. He checked
several times, and spotted no one.
He did not go back to the Lopodama Hotel. He walked quietly
to the Pequah, entered that maze of tiny shops and tenements,
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