Exocet - Jack Higgins [78]
'Okay,' Montera said. 'You're on.'
He climbed in behind the controls while Villiers got into the passenger seat beside him and secured the door. The engines coughed into life with a shattering roar, drowning every other sound.
'What do you think?' Villiers shouted.
Montera didn't even bother to reply. There was a strange, set smile to his face. He taxied into the wind and gave the plane full throttle. The Chieftain shuddered and seemed to leap forward on a diagonal course to the sea that gave them the longest strip of beach left.
They went across one water channel and then another and another, spray flying up in clouds on either side, Montera stamping hard on the rudder bar to keep her straight. And then she lifted, one wing dipping slightly, and the breakers were beneath then, the wheels skimming the whitecaps.
Suddenly, they were moving very fast indeed, the engine note deepening into a full-throated roar. Only then did Montera pull back on the control column.
* * *
After a couple of hours waiting at the house, Gabrielle could take it no longer and she and Wanda walked to the airfield. It was still raining hard and they sheltered in the hangar.
Gabrielle said, 'What are you going to do after this?'
Wanda shrugged. 'God knows. I was on the street when Felix picked me up. It was like a dream. From the gutter to luxury, just like that. I suppose I'll have to wake up now.' She shook her head. 'He was a right bastard, you know that? And I was so afraid of him.'
'Then why did you stay?'
'Because I was more afraid of being back on the street.'
'And now?'
Wanda said, 'Oh, I don't know. All of a sudden, it looks as if it could be interesting.'
'I've been thinking,' Gabrielle said. 'I've got a lot of good friends in the magazine business and I've a hunch the camera would like you. Maybe we could put something together.'
'You mean, Wanda Jones as a sort of Vogue centrefold?' Wanda grinned. 'Now that really would be something.'
There was the sound of engines in the far distance and the Chieftain came in low from the west, then turned into the wind for landing.
Wanda said, 'I've just thought of something. What if it isn't them? What if they lost out? It could be Felix.'
Gabrielle turned, a kind of astonishment on her face. 'You really think a man like Donner could take Tony Villiers?' She laughed out loud. 'My God, Wanda, but you do have a lot to learn,' and she turned and walked towards the plane as it taxied in.
* * *
The Chieftain came to a halt, but Montera didn't switch off the engine, simply sat there staring out of the windscreen.
He said, 'Could you make it fast? I want to get out of here.'
'You're not staying?'
'Nothing to stay for.'
'I'd say there is, standing right outside by the port wing.'
Montera slid back the side window and looked out at her. Gabrielle was laughing, all the relief in the world in her face. She waved excitedly.
He turned to Villiers. 'Please Tony.'
It was the first time he had used his name and there was anguish in his voice. Villiers said, 'Okay, but I'm sticking with you. Where are we going?'
'Where we started from. Brie-Comte-Robert.'
'And then?'
'There's an Air France jumbo leaving for Buenos Aires tonight. I intend to be on it.'
He started to turn the Chieftain away, increased speed and Gabrielle wasn't smiling now, her mouth opening in a cry that was soundless, drowned by the roaring of the engines and then she was somewhere behind the end of the runway that was rushing towards them.
* * *
The concourse at Charles de Gaulle airport was not particularly busy as Tony Villiers waited by the bookstall outside the international departure lounge. Montera was at the Air France desk putting his holdall through. He turned and paused to light a cigarette, a curiously elegant figure in the old black flying jacket and the jeans.
'Dear God,' Villiers said softly, 'I actually like the man. Everything all right?' he asked as Montera approached.
'I've got to change at Rio. Something to do