The Light of Day 1962

Author:Eric Ambler
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2011-09-29T19:57:49+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

I woke up very early in the morning and with that nasty sick feeling that I used to have when it was a school day and I hadn’t done my homework properly the night before.

I got the cigarette packet out of my pocket and had another look at my toilet paper report. It really was not good enough. Unless I could think of something else to say,Tufanwould think that I was trying to be funny. I went and had an extremely uncomfortable cold bath, collected some more sheets of toilet paper and started again.

Period report heard. Attempts to check door contents frustrated. Will try again today,I wrote.

I thought about the ‘today’. Fischer had ordered the car for eleven o’clock. With that instruction to rely upon, it would be perfectly natural for me to go and fill up the car with petrol without asking anyone’s permission; and, as long as I didn’t keep them waiting, I could take my time about it If, when I got back, they objected to my having taken the car out by myself or wanted to know why I had been so long, I could say that I had been to buy razor-​blades or something, and be the injured innocent.

It was six-​forty-​five by then and in a fewminuésI would have to get ready for the seven o’clock radio contact. Two other things occurred to me that I might add to my report

Will telephone you from garage after inspection if time and circumstances allow, or will add to this report. During conversation Lipp—Miller yesterday name’Giulio’was mentioned in connection with a boat. No other details.

Then I added the bit about the Russian spies. It didn’t look quite so bald and stupid now.

I hid the report under the lining paper of one of the drawers, shut the french windows tight and got the radio ready with earphone attachment plugged in. Promptly at seven the car began transmitting.

‘Attention period report. Attention period report. Advicereceived from Swiss source that no passports have beenlegaüyissued to Harper and Lipp. In view Miner contact and Tekeiek papers with Harper, possibility mast be considered that correct names of Harper and Lipp are Hoffman and Kohner or vice versa. Miller may be Mathis. Imperative you report progress.’

As the voice began repeating I switched off. When I had packed the set away, I got the report out and added five words.

Hoffman, Kohner and Mathis names noted.

At least, I ought to get an ‘E’ for Effort. I put the new report in the cigarette packet, burnt my earlier effort and started to get dressed. As I did so, I heard theLambrettastart up and then go whining off down the drive. About twenty minutes later, I heard the sound ofitreturning. I looked out of the window and saw it disappearing into the stable yard with a bundle of partially-​wrapped loaves strapped to the rear seat.

Geven was back in the kitchen when I went down. He gave me a sullen look and did not answer when I said ‘good morning’.

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