Spears of Defiance by David Holman

Author:David Holman [Holman, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-31T22:00:00+00:00

For lunch, Cunningham had insisted they try Biltong, a traditional meat dish of marinated beef strips served with Potbread. Cunningham explained the bread baked in a cast-iron pot, originated from the Boer settlers and was their stable diet. As they washed down their meal with locally produced red Syrah wine, Cunningham spoke more about the missing missiles, informing his English guests of the type of missiles and how they went missing from the weapons facility.

Doing his homework for Operation Butterfly, Swan was familiar with this type of missile, the French- built AS-30 had been the standard air to surface weapon since the 1960s and had gone through many upgrades. A replacement, although a few years away was already on order with air forces who still had the old missile as part of their armoury.

Cunningham then ordered the desserts, recommending Malva pudding, another old Boer recipe which was served with ice cream. He wanted to know more about why Swan and Gable were so eager to track down Munroe. He recalled Swan mentioning explosives when they had spoken to Solly Leith.

‘So, Alex. What’s this about Semtex?’

Swan explained to him about the incident in London and how it had followed Munroe and his Irish companion meeting with the Libyan arms dealer. Still carrying a bitter taste after what he had witnessed at Camp Echo, he decided again to leave out what had happened to Ramir. He continued, informing Cunningham of the shipment, and of the unknown operation in Rhodesia. Then as they sipped their extremely strong, South African coffee, Swan was asked about his interest in the Buccaneer aircraft.

Gable looked at his colleague, wondering if he would reveal the details of Butterfly to a foreign agent.

There was no need to worry, Swan came across as theoretical, saying suggesting the aircraft was a formidable war machine and in the wrong hands could be lethal. Remembering what Janet had said to him earlier, he informed Cunningham of when the Buccaneer was sold to his country, being transported by ship from the port near the factory in Hull. He went on to talk about another British aircraft and how the Buccaneer ended up replacing the Rapier as the RAF’s main strike platform.

Although suspecting Swan was not telling him everything, Cunningham then changed the subject. ‘Any theories as what Munroe could be up to in Rhodesia?’

Swan nodded. ‘What we have so far, is that he needs explosives, has tried to recruit a member of his old team, of which I fear he has contacted others, so whatever this operation is, it is something big.’

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