jigsaw together, you might say,” said Geordie. “But some of the pieces
don’t seem to fit.” “Such as?” “For one thing, you say that according
to Schouten, Kane and Hadley murdered Mark, and that Ramirez was in on
it.
Why do you think they killed Mark?” I said, “I’ve been thinking about
that. It was something that poor old Schouten said – that Hadley had
laughed when he asked to see the body and said it would turn the
stomach even of a doctor. What would that mean to you?””KnoWing what
we do of Hadley, it could mean torture.” “And why’should they
torture
Mark?” I should have felt ill at the very thought but somehow it had
all become rather academic to me.
“Why does anyone torture anyone? They wanted information out of
him.”
“And Ramirez was there. I think they wanted to know where the
high-cobalt nodules were to be found.” “Yes,” said Campbell. “I’ve
already worked that out for myself. Would Mark tell them?” “I don’t
know. He’d look out for his own skin, but he was capable of being very
scornful of people like them – he may not have realized that they
really meant it until they got down to business, and then it might have
been too late.” The girls studied me in silence, appalled at my
implication.
But Geordie put it into words. “You mean Hadley ran amok again and
went too far – and he died before he could talk?” “I think so.
They clearly don’t know the location, or they wouldn’t be tailing us
this way. So they buried their mistake, terrorized the doctor, and
sent Hadley to get Mark’s stuff, hoping for leads there. Hadley
bungled it and let the gear slip out of his fingersthanks to you,
Paula- and so Ramirez went to England to get it back, using Kane as
scout and contact man.” ‘it all seems to fit,” Geordie said.
He lay back on his bunk looking suddenly exhausted, so we left him. We
didn’t talk about it among ourselves. We were all drained and
saddened, and the trip back to Papeete was one devoid of much pleasure
for any of us.
We made a quick passage and all went well until we were within about
two hours of Papeete, and longing to be ashore. I planned to take Ian,
Campbell and one or two members of the crew to the police as soon as we
landed, leaving the others to guard the ship, especially Geordie and
the girls, zealously.
We had no idea where the Pearl might be but I wanted to run no risks.
I was in my cabin when word came down for me to get on deck fast. Ian,
who was acting skipper, pointed to a boat on our starboard beam. It
was a fast launch and was cruising around us in a wide circle. “Yon
laddie’s come up awful fast, Mike,” he said to me. “He’s up to
something. He looks official.” He handed me binoculars and I saw that
it was a patrol boat, naval in style, even to a four-pounder
quick-firer, mounted on the foredeck. It had a number but no name, and
as I looked it turned to approach us directly. “You’d better call Mr
Campbell,” I said.
The launch came up alongside and kept pace with idling engines about
fifty yards away. An officer by the wheelhouse raised a loudhailer and
a spate of French crossed t. An officer by the wheelhouse raised a
loudhailer and a spate of French crossed the water.
I raised my arms to shrug violently to indicate that I didn’t
understand. Another man took the loudhailer and shouted in English,
“Heave to, Esmerelda, or we will fire.” I looked at the gun on the
foredeck. Two matelots were manning it – one had just slammed a
magazine in and the other was swinging the gun around to train it just
about midships.
“What the hell!” I exploded. But one couldn’t argue with a
four-pounder. I heard Ian giving brisk orders and the sails came
tumbling down everywhere as the off-watch crewmen tumbled up on deck,
Campbell among them.
“What the hell’s going on?” he asked loudly.
“We’re being boarded by the navy,”I said,”in the traditional style. If
we don’t stop they’ll open fire the man said so.” Campbell looked at
the little gun in fascination. “Well, I’ll be double-damned,” he
said.
“Pirates?” “Not this close in. It’s official.” The sails were all
down and Esmerelda lost way and started to pitch a little. The patrol
boat edged nearer and finally came alongside, lines went across, and an
officer jumped on board followed by three sailors. He had a revolver
and the sailors were carrying sub-machine guns. Our men backed up,
alarmed and disconcerted by all this, and I saw Campbell make a violent
if surreptitious gesture to the girls to keep below decks.
“M. Trevelyan?”the officer barked.
I stepped forward. “I’m Michael Trevelyan.” A sub-machifie gun lifted
until the muzzle was pointed at my stomach. “You Are under arrest.” I
looked at him dumbfoundedly. “What for?” Campbell stepped forward
aggressively. “Now look here-‘ he began. The officer gestured and the
other two sailors lifted their weapons and there were ominous snicks as
the safety catches were released. Ian caught at Campbell’s shoulder
and he subsided.
The officer said, “You will learn about it in Papeete. You will please
come aboard my boat. You— He turned to Ian.
“You will accompany us in under engine. These men will stay on board
with you. You will attempt nothing foolish, please.” I looked into
his cold grey eyes and realized that he wasn’t kidding. I felt a sense
of sick reluctance to leave the Esmerelda but there really was no
choice, and I swung myself across without a word. I was briefly
searched, and then led below to a cabin with a minimum of furnishing-a
cell afloatand once inside I heard the door being locked.
I was on my own.
I was pretty miserable – I didn’t know what was going on, nor had I any
means of finding out, though I certainly had ideas – too many of
them.
If only I could have talked to someone I would have felt better, but
that was impossible. I wondered how they were all making out.
We went the remaining few miles into Papeete at a speed slow enough for
Esmerelda to keep up, no doubt still under the threat of the gun.
There were no portholes in my cabin and I couldn’t hear much either,
but the arrival at a jetty was unmistakable, and I braced myself for
whatever was coming. Sure enough within a few minutes they were at the
door, unlocking it, and then I was brought up into the sunshine to see
that we were back in Papeete but not in our old position; instead it
seemed to be a naval area. I saw Esmerelda tied up alongside us but
there were only French sailors on deck, none of my friends to be
seen.
A police car was waiting for me. My legs felt like lead as I went
ashore and got into it.
There was a police station, possibly the principal one, and I was taken
immediately and without any formalities into another cell and left
there. It was devastatingly bleak. A good couple of hours passed and
then I was let out once more, this time to be escorted to a large
business-like office, and to confront an angry-looking, mottle-faced
man behind the inevitable desk. I stood in front of it with my escort,
and another man behind us at the door – I had already decided on a plan
of action, such as it was – I was going to go immediately onto the
offensive. To be meek was intolerable to me and also foolish, for it
might imply guilt where I certainly felt none. So as soon as the man
in front of me began to speak I overrode him.
“I want to see the British Consul!” “Sit down.” “No. I answer no
questions without the presence of the Consul.” He slapped the table
with the flat of his hand, and I was jerked back into a chair. I saw a
nameplate on his desk which told me that he was one Jacques Chamant,
and with a title which I mentally translated as Chief of Police. I was
right at the top, it seemed. It had to be pretty bad. And I already
had a ghastly suspicion as to what it was.
“I stand on no ceremony with you, Trevelyan.” Another man with more
than passable English. “There has been a massacre at Tanakabu which
you started – and we will have your head for it.” I stared at.
him’ , outraged. “Are you crazy?” He leaned his elbows on the desk.
“I have a dossier here on you. You came to Papeete last week and made
some very serious accusations against Dr Schouten, on Tanakabu,