Midnight Runner - Jack Higgins [43]
"Hell, I'll never understand the Arab mind."
"You've said that before. Now let's turn to other things. I've been thinking about this Liberty in Europe Day."
"Yes, Saturday. What about it?"
"I've been thinking that it might not be too good an idea for us to be seen to be too closely connected with it, not right now when we're under investigation. We have to maintain our non-violent front. When heads start getting cracked, I want us to be perceived as the voice of reason. So this is what I want you to do: I want you to go to Oxford and see Professor Percy. Make it clear that the Rashid Educational Trust is only interested in matters of welfare and education, that we're totally against violent protest of any kind, and that we expect him to tell the students that."
"You know what they're like. They'll go anyway."
"Well, of course they will! But we'll be on record as opposing it. And in case you have any problems with him, I happen to know that there's a discrepancy of some fifty thousand pounds in the accounts of the Act of Class Warfare at Oxford...so Percy has some explaining to do."
"Do you really think heads will be cracked?"
"My dear, I'm counting on it, especially with little Helen Quinn toddling along like the good little dilettante she is. With any luck, she'll get arrested. That really would look bad in the papers. The gossip columns would love it--the revolutionary who's a Senator's daughter."
"You bitch. You don't miss a trick, do you?"
"No, darling. Just make sure that you don't."
S aturday morning found him in Oxford at The Lion. The pub was crammed with students and Percy was already there, a pint of beer in front of him.
Rupert paused beside him. "I'll just get a drink."
He pushed through the crowd and saw Helen Quinn and young Grant at the end of the bar. He smiled and went over and ordered a large Jack Daniel's from the barman.
"Hello, there," he said. "You're going to the rally, then?"
Grant stopped smiling and became aggressive. "What's it got to do with you?"
"Alan, shut up." She smiled at Dauncey. "Yes, we're going on the bus."
"I wish you wouldn't. It could get very nasty. The more I've read about it, the more likely it sounds that there'll be violence, and we simply couldn't condone anything like that."
Students nearby were listening and Percy, coming forward, had also heard. Grant said, "You don't approve?"
"Not of riots, and police trying to crack your skull with a baton."
"Afraid, are you? A ponce like you would be. Rupert Dauncey. What kind of a name is that?"
Students standing around laughed and Helen said, "Stop it, Alan."
He ignored her. "I know what it is, it's a ponce's name."
Rupert smiled gently. "If you say so," picked up his drink, and returned to Percy.
The professor said, "I'm sorry about that."
"That's okay. He's young. But I meant what I said. I think it's all too dangerous. I want you to get on that bus and tell them not to go."
"Get on the bus? But I told you. I've other plans. I--"
"You can forget them. Listen to me. The Countess and the Rashid Educational Trust acted in good faith in supporting Act of Class Warfare. We believed in its philosophy--but we do not believe in violent protest."
"But I can't control their behavior."
"I realize that. But you can tell them how you feel when they're on the bus."
"No, I--"
"Professor." Dauncey leaned close. "We've put a lot of trust in you. Also a lot of money. Wouldn't it be a shame if it should come out that there is a discrepancy of fifty thousand pounds in the ACW accounts?"
Percy seemed to shrivel up. "I don't know anything about that," he whispered.
"Oh, yes, you do. Imagine what it would be like at Wandsworth, someone like you, sharing the showers with murderers and sex offenders. Not a pretty picture, Professor."
Percy had turned white. "For God's sake, no."
"We wouldn't appreciate the scandal ourselves. It would damage our reputation. But it would damage you much more, wouldn't it?"
"All right," Percy moaned. "Whatever