A Wreath For Udomo by Peter Abrahams

Author:Peter Abrahams [Abrahams, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Faber and Faber
Published: 2022-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

TWO

1

The Governor’s aide opened the door and announced:

“His Excellency.”

Jones and Smithers rose. The Governor, Lord Rosslee, walked briskly into the room and sank into his chair.

“Gentlemen …”

“Sir,” the two men said, almost in unison.

“Sit down, please. I asked you here because I don’t like this new development. I wanted your views before the Executive Council meeting.”

“You’ve seen the paper?” Smithers asked.

“Just read it. Damned explosive stuff if it gets a hold. The point is, will it?”

Smithers said:

“Police are out in force now, confiscating all the copies they can lay their hands on. We’ll keep its circulation confined to the town and hunt down all the copies.”

“Do we know how many copies are about?” Rosslee asked.

“I spoke to one of the owners. The usual edition is about three thousand.”

“But this edition wasn’t usual,” Jones said quietly. “I went down to the press this morning. Three weeks’ stock of newsprint had been used up last night. Perhaps more; the old printer wasn’t sure.”

“What did he have to say for himself?”

“He’s not implicated at all, sir. He had to go out to see about a piece of job printing. Udomo seized his opportunity while the old man was out.”

“What about the owners?”

“I’m sure they’re not implicated,” Smithers said.

“For all we know, then, there may be tens of thousands of copies of this paper hidden away somewhere in the town?”

“I’m afraid so,” Jones said.

“I doubt it myself,” Smithers said.

The Governor said: “The important thing is, where do we go from here? What is the mood of the town? Is this thing getting a hold? And this is the question that worries me: is there some organisation behind Udomo?”

The Governor looked first at Smithers, then at Jones. He took out his cigarette-case and held it to them. Smithers took one. Jones reached for his pipe.

Smithers cleared his throat. Jones thought: Pompous ass. He saw a glint in the Governor’s eye and looked away quickly.

“This is a storm in a tea-cup,” Smithers said firmly. “Udomo is nothing more than a firebrand. He and his two dupes are under lock and key where they can cool their heels for a spell. The police will soon gather up all this foul rubbish and that will be the end of it. There’ll be a seven-day wonder; no more. I’m an old hand, sir. I’ve seen this sort of thing before.”

“You don’t think, then, that there’s any kind of organisation behind Udomo?”

“No, sir. The sooner we bring Udomo to trial and get the matter out of the way, the sooner will things settle down again. These people respect firmness. I’m certain all the fuss would be over in a week if we handle this Udomo affair firmly. I know the Council of Chiefs and Elders will back whatever action Government takes in this matter. Endura will tell you so himself at this afternoon’s meeting.”

“Will the people follow Endura?”

“He’s the shrewdest and most respected politician in the colony. I would suggest that we bring Udomo to trial quickly, tomorrow or the

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