never promised they would blow the canal -which is quite true – only that
there would be considerable activity in that area at nine o’clock this
morning. There were, they reported, scenes of very considerable activity
which is again quite true. All rescue and repair teams were there,
waiting, as were considerable numbers of police and army, not to mention
air force helicopters. They claimed to have taken a good number of aerial
photographs of the scenes, just for keepsakes.’
‘You believe that, too?’
‘Certainly. I have no reason to disbelieve it.’
‘But aerial photographsio How could that be possible?’
‘It would be all too simple, I’m afraid. There would be any amount of
helicopiers buzzing about there this morning. An extra one wouldn’t be
noticed especially if, as is highly likely, it was carrying some official
markings.’
‘What was the reason behind this pointless and idiotic exerci
‘It was far from being idiotic and very much to the point. just in case
we missed the point they spelt it out very clearly. They said that in the
space of twenty-four hours they had reduced the country, most especially
the authorities, to a state of frustrated helplessness. The so-called
authorities – they had a number of cynical and very unpleasant remarks
to make about the government, the police, the army and those whose duty
it was to look after the safety and welfare of dykes, locks, weirs,
sluices, dams and I forget what else – were totally powerless to do
anything to stop them. AD they had to do, they said, was to stop at home,
stick a pin into a map, phone the papers, sit back and never go within
a hundred kilometres but still guarantee that the law, the army, the
repair and rescue teams would be out in full force. It was, they said,
both an entertaining and gratifying situation. One can readily understand
why they feel that way.’
‘And not a word about their purposes, no hint as to what lies behind it
all?’
‘No hint, but a suggestion that we might soon know what
95
their demands are going to be. They didn’t use the word “demands” but they
can have meant nothing else. Tomorrow, they said, they were going to fiood
a really large area of the country and after that they would probably have
talks with the government. Can you imagine? The sheer cold arrogance of it
all. They speak as if they are an independent sovereign state. Next, one
supposes, they’ll be calling for an open debate in the UNO.’ He glanced at
his watch. ‘Plenty of time. Two minutes to remove this outfit – no washing
or soaking required – and five nrunutes to put on my Hunter’s Horn uniform.
I suggest coffee.’
She put a hand on his arm. ‘You really are going there, aren’t you, Peter.’
‘Of course. I’ve said so. Somebody has to and as I am the only person who’s
been in contact with them, it has to be me. How else do you think the law
would ever get anywhere unless it’s prepared, just once in a while, to take
the initiative?’
‘I wish you weren’t going. I feel certain something is going to happen.
Something awful. You could be hurt, even killed, or, maybe even worse,
crippled for life. You know what they d:d to those two men. Oh Peted’ She
was silent for a moment, then said.: ‘If I were your wife, I’d stop you.’
‘How?’
‘I don’t know,’ she said miserably. ‘Appeal to your better nature, love for
me, something like, “For my sake, if you care about me, please don’t go.”
Something clever like that,’ she said bitterly.
‘Well, you’re not my wife, and, even if you were, I’d still go. I’m sorry
that sounds hard and selfish and cruel, but it’s my job and I have to go.’
He put his hand on her arm. ‘You’re a very kind girl and I do appreciate
your concern.’
‘Kind? Concern?’ She caught his wrist and gently removed his hand from her
arm. ‘Concern!’
‘Annemarie!’ Van Effen’s surprise was genuine. ‘What on earth’s wrong.’
‘Nothing. just nothing.’
Van Effen gazed ahead for some moments, sighed and said: ‘I don’t think
I’ll ever understand women.’
96
‘I don’t think so either.’ She seemed to hesitate, then said: ‘I don’t
much fancy going to a coffee-shop.’
‘If you wish we won’t. But why not?’
‘I don’t much care for wearing this face in public. Where there are
decent people around. It doesn’t matter back there. And I don’t think you
are particularly keen on being seen among the same public with a freak
like me.’
‘I know what lies behind the warpaint so it doesn’t matter to me.’ He
paused. ‘Maybe I don’t know anything about women but I always know when
they’re telling fibs.’
‘I’m telling fibs?’
‘Of course you are.’
‘Well, yes, I am. Can’t we have coffee at Julie’s place. It’s only
another five minutes.’
‘Sure. Time I have. I know you’re very fond of Julie. But are you also
worried about her?’
‘I think she’s worried about me. Even though she knew you would be there
she didn’t like the idea of my going back to that place.’
‘You didn’t answer my questioD. You’re not, perhaps – well, just a little
bit worried about her?’ She remained silent.
‘The Annecy brothers. Would you believe, I’ve never even seen either of
them? I regard them as a fairly distant menace.’
‘The menace I’m thinking of is a great deal nearer to home. Well, not
menace. Problem, rather.’
‘This is something new on me. A bagatelle, whatever it is. Give me the
name of this person or problem and I’ll attend to it.’
‘Indeed, Lieutenant.’ Something in the tone of her voice caught van
Effen’s attention and he gave her a long speculative look. ‘And how do
you attend to this bagatelle, when the bagatelle in question is
yourself?’
‘Ah. Me again. I don’t suppose there’s any point in repeating the old
complaining question?’
‘Which is what?’
‘What the bell am I supposed to have done this time?’
‘By your standards, I suppose, absolutely nothing.’
‘I detect a certain sarcasm? Or is it irony? I’ve noticed an
F.-D 97
increasing use of it. Not becoming, Annemarie. You should do something
about it. Well, what have I done?’
‘Reduced a lovely girl to team. Not once, but three times. And when I say
lovely, I don’t just mean beautiful. I mean the nicest, kindest, warmest
person I’ve ever met. Three times. But it’s as I said. By your standards,
a bagatelle.’
‘Julie?’
‘Julie! Who else would I mean? Or do you have a whole collection of
ladies that you go around reducing to tears?’
‘What’s she crying about?’
‘What’s she – I don’t know what to say. I can’t believe you’re cruel,
indifferent. But don’t you care that she’s upset?’
‘Of course I care. I’d care more if I knew why shc was upset.’
‘I wonder. You’ll think it funny. For one thing, you left last night
without a good-night hug and kiss. You’ve never done that before, she
says.’
‘Funny? It’s ludicrous. My men getting hospitalized, a gang of lunatics
threatening to inundate our country, another gang of lunatics wanting to
hire me to blow up the palace or whatever, nations toppling and I’m
supposed to be worried about smooches? A bagatelle? Soon fix that.’
‘Of course you will. A double ration of affectionate farewells. Georgie,
Porgy, pudding and pie, kissed the girls and made them cry.’
‘Shakespeare?’
‘English nursery rhyme.’ Her voice was very curt indeed. ‘Perhaps a
bagatelle. What does matter is that she says she hurt two people she
loves because she was meddlesome. I suppose she means you and me. Said
she thought she was helping but that she was too clever or too stupid for
her own good.’
‘That’s her problem. A little bit of self-analysis never did anyone any
harm.’
‘Seff-analysis! You told her she was interfering and too smart for her
own good. Anybody’s good.’
‘Julie told you that?’
‘Of course she didn’t. She’s too loyal – misplaced loyalty, perhaps.
Julie would never have said that – she’s too unselfish to think about
herself. But it sounds exactly like you.’
98
‘I’ll say I’m sorry. Very, very sorry.’
‘And, of course, you’ll tell her that I told you to.’
‘No. I must say Ws a sad thing to b~ held in such low esteem by two
ladies you love.’
‘The Lieutenant is pleased to be flippant,’ she said coldly.
‘Flippancy? Never. You don’t believe rne?’
‘No, I don’t believe you.’
‘I care very much about you. But as a matter of principle and in the
interests of discipline, a barrier must remain between the officer class
and rankers.’
‘Oh, shut up!’ The tone was one of pure exasperation.
‘The principle doesn’t seem to be standing up very well,’ van Effen said
gloomily. ‘And the barrier’s flat. So much for discipline.’