Windfall

'I didn't see that,' said Stafford. 'I was too busy trying to get to Nair. What happened to him?'

'It bit him in half.' Hunt shivered involuntarily.

'Jesus!' said Hardin. 'I didn't like the bastard but I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy. Are you sure?'

'I'm sure,' said Hunt. 'I saw it. There was a lot of blood in the water.' He looked at the sky and added dully, 'They've been known to bite crocodiles in half.'

'I'd have reckoned Gunnarsson to be tougher than any crocodile," said Hardin in a heavy attempt at jocularity, but the humour fell flat.

'We'd better get on,' said Stafford. 'Nair needs a doctor. Any other injuries?'

No one admitted to being hurt, but Curtis said mournfully, 'I left my belt back there. It was a good belt, too. Snakeskin.'

'You left more than that,' said Hardin. 'You left your pants.'

'Yes, but my Amy gave me that belt.'

There was a moment's silence before Stafford said, 'That lot are marooned back there. I think we ought to move into Ol Njorowa now.'

'Chip won't like it,' warned Nair.

'Chip doesn't know the circumstances. How much staff does the animal migration lab have, Alan?'

'I don't know,' said Hunt. 'It varies.'I didn't think there was anyone there now until I saw Patterson.'

'Then there's a good chance that it's empty,' said Stafford as though arguing with himself. 'I don't think Brice can have really got going yet. So far he's been working on a shoestring and waiting for the Hendrykxx money. This must be the best time to bust him, while he's out of the game. Sergeant; head for the shore.'

'To Safariland," said Hunt. 'I think I know of a way to get you into Ol Njorowa.'

Chapter 31

Francis Yongo was boatman at the Lake Naivasha Hotel and Francis was worried. He had promised to pick up Mr Gunnarsson from Crescent Island and he had not done so because someone had taken his boat. He talked to the crayfish fishermen by the lake and asked if they had seen it. One said he thought he had seen it going out across the lake with a number of men in it. No, he had not seen where it was going; it had been of no interest.

Dispiritedly Francis walked up to the hotel to report to the manager who spoke acidly about inconsiderate tourists and got on the telephone. An hour later he called Francis into the office. 'I've traced the boat, Francis. It's lying at Safariland -just come in. You'd better take your bike out there and pick up Mr Gunnarsson on the way back. I doubt if he'll be pleased.' He went on to fulminate about thoughtless joyriders while Francis listened patiently. He had heard it all before. Then he went to get his bicycle.

Nair leaned heavily on Stafford as he hobbled up from the dock at Safariland towards the manager's office. Stafford said, 'What went wrong back there? How did Brice catch on?'

'It was Gunnarsson,' said Nair. 'I thought it best to stick close to the truth so I told Brice I'd arrested him. That meant Gunnarsson had to be handcuffed but he wouldn't wear them; he said he wanted to be free if anything went wrong so he faked it. Then he stumbled and they fell off.'

'And that was a tip-off to Brice.' Stafford shook his head. 'In a way you could say Gunnarsson killed himself. Will you be all right, Nair?'

'As soon as you've gone I'll phone Chip, then I'll get a doctor.' He sat on one of the chairs on the lawn. 'I don't suppose I can stop you?"

'It's the right time,' said Stafford positively.

'Perhaps, but I have to convince Chip.' Nair took a bunch of keys from his pocket. 'Go to the Lake Naivasha Hotel first. There's a pistol and a spare magazine clipped under the front seat of the Mercedes.' He tossed the keys to Stafford. 'Don't use it unless you have to.'

'Thanks. The others will be waiting. I still have to find out from Hunt how we're to get into Ol Njorowa.'

It was to prove ridiculously easy. He found Hunt, Hardin and Curtis waiting for him in the car-park, standing next to Hunt's Land-Rover. Hunt pointed to the trailer attached to the rear. 'You go in there.'

'Is there room?'

'It's empty apart from a few butane bottles and the burner,' said Hunt. 'I left the envelope and the basket at Ol Njorowa when I took the burner in for repair this morning. God, but that seems a long time ago.'

'Aren't you stopped at the gate?' queried Hardin.

'I never have been. Staff members can move freely.'

'Yes, they'd have to,' said Stafford. 'There's a limit to Brice's bloody security. It would look pretty queer if the staff of an agricultural college were searched every time they went in. That reinforces my contention that whatever there is to be found will be in the animal migration laboratory. All right; let's go.'

'I'll put you right outside the door of the lab,' said Hunt. 'But I can't promise it will be unlocked.'

Hardin said, 'Just deliver us; we'll see to the rest.'

Hunt opened the trailer and Stafford, Curtis and Hardin climbed in. Hunt hesitated. 'I usually keep it locked,' he said. 'There's a deal of petty pilfering.'