Exocet - Jack Higgins [72]
* * *
Rabier was tied up and bundled into the butler's pantry and Villiers helped himself to the Walther he carried. 'I should imagine the Brigadier's on to Paris now.'
'It will still take time for them to move,' Gabrieile said. 'What about Raul? You've got to do something Tony.'
'Yes, I know.' Villiers turned to Leclerc. 'Are you game to fly the Chieftain out to Ile de Roc and try landing her on that beach.'
Leclerc smiled. 'It would certainly give Donner one hell of a surprise and we could take half a dozen of my men.'
Villiers turned to look at them. They seemed fit enough, but rather more intellectual than the average soldier and two of them wore glasses.
'These boys are technicians, aren't they? Electronics wizards?'
'And good soldiers, too, believe me. What we lack are weapons.'
Wanda said, 'There are rifles and things in the stables where those men of Donner's were staying. I just saw them.'
Leclerc turned to his men. 'Come on then. What are we waiting for?' He led the way out.
Gabrielle put a hand on Villier's arm. 'Take care, Tony, and try to be in time.'
'I will.' On impulse he kissed her on the forehead. He walked to the door.
She called, 'Tony?'
'Yes?'
'I think you were always worth something better.'
'Than you?'
'Oh, no. I'm too too arrogant to admit that.' She smiled. 'Than what you do, Tony. You're worth so much more than Ferguson and all his dark games. Worth a little joy. And I'm sorry about us - sorry about a lot of things.'
He smiled, looking suddenly as charming as on the first time she'd met him. 'I'm not. When the going was good, it was bloody marvellous. I wouldn't have missed you for anything.'
He went out. A moment later she heard the Peugeot estate start up and move away and then there was only the silence.
* * *
In Espinet's office, Raul Montera sat in a chair, hands still bound by the silk scarf. The major lay in the corner, covered by a blanket. Donner turned from a cupboard and held up a bottle of champagne.
'The old devil did himself well. Krug 71. An exceptional year. Pity there isn't time to chill it. Still, you can't have everything in this life.' He thumbed off the cork and laughed as the champagne foamed. 'You'll join me in a glass?'
'As you well know, it doesn't agree with me,' Montera said calmly.
'Well, it agrees with me, old sport.' Donner filled a glass, went to the window and peered out. 'Things have certainly gone well, you must admit. Nothing like a little organisation.'
'I heard some shooting.'
'Just a little. A couple of guards up at the missile pens loosed off a few rounds before my boys cut them down. Very useful that. It makes it all hang together when we leave you face down with a bullet in you, from one of their weapons naturally.'
The door opened and Stavrou entered.
Donner said, 'Have you made contact with the trawler?'
'Yes, they should be here in thirty-five minutes.'
'Everything else under control?'
'Everyone under lock and key except for ten civilian personnel who are loading Exocets on to trucks in the missile pens.'
'Excellent,' Donner said. 'You get back up there and keep things moving. We'll join you in a few minutes. The colonel might find it interesting.'
Stavrou went out. Donner refilled his glass and raised it in mock salute to Montera as rain rattled the window.
'Not long now, old sport.'
* * *
Sitting in the cockpit of the Chieftain beside Leclerc, Villiers saw Ile de Roc lift out of the sea on the horizon, a grey hump under cumulus clouds, the cliffs at the northern end wreathed in mist. They were flying at no more than three hundred feet above the sea, Leclerc's hands steady on the column, and below the grey-green surface of the sea was being whipped into whitecaps.
Villiers said, 'What about wind direction? Will it be all right for landing?'
'Good enough, I think. It's the down-draughts from those cliffs we'll have to watch for.'
The island crouched there like a grey beast, waiting for them, the great cliffs rearing three hundred feet high at one end, the rest of the