The Burning Sky by Jack Ludlow

Author:Jack Ludlow
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Horn of Africa, Crime, General, Ethiopia, Suspense, Thrillers, Fiction, Espionage
ISBN: 9780749008321
Publisher: Allison & Busby
Published: 2011-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

At dawn the trio formed to say goodbye to Conrad Mason, a man who had risked his career in aiding this enterprise, as well as turning a blind eye to the wishes of the two Americans, though he waited until the Ethiopians finished their prayers so he could have a quiet talk with Ras Kassa.

The last act, just before he mounted the horse that would take him back to Berbera, was a quiet word with Cal Jardine, who, while insisting his own influence was nil, intimated he knew certain people – he was thinking of Peter Lanchester and perhaps even Monty Redfern – who might be able to put in a word and get the man a better posting.

Mason was not looking at him as he made the offer, seemingly intent on the drovers carrying out their ritual morning task of combing their camels for their moulting hair, a saleable commodity once enough was gathered.

‘No thanks, Jardine. Odd as it seems, I am rather fond of this part of the world, don’t you know?’

He was no longer looking away, indeed the stare that accompanied those words was direct and challenging, as if Mason was daring him to allude to the real reason he was happy to remain in Somaliland; it was an invitation declined, but Jardine was determined to test the colonial officer as well, even if, in his heart, he knew it to be both unwise and potentially a cause of trouble.

‘Give my regards and thanks to your wife, for everything.’

‘Ah yes, Margery,’ Mason said absent-mindedly, as if she were a distant person suddenly recalled. ‘She is not the finest hostess in the world, but she does her best.’

‘On the contrary, I found her very accommodating.’

The last word hung in the air, but Mason was not to be drawn, though it was noticeable his farewell handshake was a little firmer. Jardine was tempted to add that, while Mason was content to stay here, he doubted if that applied to her, but he put such a comment aside too, on the very good grounds that it was really none of his business: you never knew the secrets of a marriage – God only knew how that applied to him – and it was something best to steer clear of.

Mason’s departure combined with the arrival of a troop of women leading camels, which set up one of those vocal matches between their beasts and the Ethiopian animals, who voiced their resentment at the intrusion while the Somalis’ camels responded in kind. It seemed they had come to fetch water, Zeila having none, so every drop had to be carried in on a daily basis and no doubt sold, a thriving and everlasting business. Though the visitors could not understand what was being said, it was apparent the Ethiopian fighting men were making lewd suggestions to these women, offers that were being rudely rejected.

‘I noticed some of your men are armed,’ Jardine said, as, with the water ladies gone, he rejoined Ras Kassa.

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