The Spoilers by Desmond Bagley

Author:Desmond Bagley [Bagley, Desmond]
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781842320518
Publisher: House of Stratus
Published: 2000-08-31T18:30:00+00:00

That's the man. Ahmed said he had an army. I wonder if this crowd is part of it."

'It could be. I don't see how it helps us,'

'God helps those who help themselves,' said Follet practically. Still holding the chicken leg, he got up, took the candle, and began to explore the further reaches of the cave. His voice came hollowly. 'Not much here.'

'What do you expect in a jail?' asked Tozier. 'All the same, it's a good idea to see what resources we have. What's in that box you're sitting on, Nick?'

'It's empty.'

'And I'm sitting on fertilizer,' said Tozier in disgust. 'Anything else, Johnny?'

'Not much. More empty boxes; some automotive spare parts -- all rusty; half a can of diesel oil; a hell of a lot of nuts and bolts; a couple of sacks of straw -- that's about all.'

Tozier sighed. Follet came back, put down the candle, then picked up the lamp and shook it close to his ear. 'There's some kerosene in here and there's that straw over there -- maybe we can do something with that.'

"You can't burn a cave to the ground, Johnny. We'd just asphyxiate ourselves.' Tozier went to the door. This is going to take some shifting -- it must be four inches thick.' He cocked his head on one side. There's someone coming. Watch it.' He retreated from the door and sat down.

It opened and the man called Metcalfe came in. He was brushing himself down and turned his head as the door thudded behind him. Then he looked at Tozier and said without smiling, 'Hello, Andy; long time no see.'

'Hello, Tom.'

Metcalfe came forward and held out his hand, and Tozier grasped it. 'What in hell are you doing here?'

'That's a long story,' said Tozier. This is Nick Warren -- Johnny Follet.'

'If I said, "Pleased to meet you," I'd be wrong,' said Metcalfe wryly. He looked Warren up and down with a keen eye, then glanced at Tozier. 'Here on business, Andy?'

'Sort of. We didn't come willingly.'

'I saw the boys hustling you in -- I couldn't believe my eyes. It's not like you to be nabbed as easily as that.'

Take the weight off your feet, Tom,' said Tozier. 'Which will you have -- the fertilizer or the box?'

'Yeah, stay and visit with us for a while,' said Follet.

'I'll have the box,' said Metcalfe delicately. 'You're a Yank, aren't you?'

Follet burlesqued a southern accent. 'Them's flghtin' words where ah comes from. Ah may have bin bawn in Arizony but ma pappy's from Jawjah.'

Metcalfe looked at him thoughtfully for a long time. 'I'm glad to see high spirits -- you're going to need them. You look as though you've seen service.'

'A long time ago,' said Follet. 'Korea.'

'Ah,' said Metcalfe. He grinned and his teeth gleamed white against his sunburnt face. 'A legitimate type. And you Warren?'

'I'm a doctor.'

'So! And what's a doctor doing wandering about Kurdistan with a bad type like Andy Tozier?'

Tozier pulled at his ear. 'Are you in employment at the moment, Tom?'

'Just wrapping something up,' said Metcalfe.

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