The Cry of the Halidon Page 0,171

Durell was not aware that in a very real sense, the last strategies of Dunstone, Limited, had been created at Trident that week when strangers had converged from all over the world. Strangers, and not strangers at all... only disturbing memories now.

Charles Whitehall left with Lawrence, the revolutionary. Both black men said their good-byes at the airfield; each had places to go to, things to do, men to see. There would be no questions, for there would be no answers. That was understood.

They would separate quickly.

But they had communicated; perhaps that was all that could be expected.

Alison and McAuliff had been taken to the farthest villa on the shoreline. She had bandaged his hand and washed the cuts on his face and made him soak for nearly an hour in a good British tub of hot water. They were in Villa Twenty. They had slept in each other's arms until noon.

It was now a little past one o'clock. They were alone at the table, a note having been left for Alexander from Sam Tucker. Sam and Robert Hanley were flying to Montego Bay to see an attorney. They were going into partnership.

God help the island, thought McAuliff.

At 2.30 Alison touched his arm and nodded towards the alabaster portico across the lawn. Down the marble steps came two men, one black, one white, dressed in proper business suits.

R. C. Holcroft and Daniel, Minister of Council for the Tribe of Acquaba, high in the Flagstaff Range.

'We'll be quick,' said Holcroft, taking the chair indicated by Alexander. 'Mrs Booth, I am Commander Holcroft.'

'I was sure you were,' said Alison, her voice warm, her smile cold.

'May I present... an associate? Mr Daniel. Jamaican Affairs. I believe you two have met, McAuliff?'

'Yes.'

Daniel nodded pleasantly and sat down. He looked at Alex and spoke sincerely. 'There is much to be thankful for. I am very relieved.'

'What about Malcolm?'

The sadness flickered briefly across Daniel's eyes. 'I am sorry.'

'So am I,' said McAuliff. 'He saved our lives.'

'That was his job,' replied the Minister of the Halidon.

'May I assume,' interrupted Holcroft gently, 'that Mrs Booth has been apprised... up to a point?'

'You certainly may assume that, Commander Holcroft.' Alison gave the answer herself.

'Very well.' The British agent reached into his pocket, withdrew the yellow paper of a cablegram, and handed it to Alexander. It was a deposit confirmation from Barclay's Bank, London. The sum of $660,000 had been deposited to the account of A. T. McAuliff, Chase Manhattan, New York. Further, a letter of credit had been forwarded to said A. T. McAuliff that could be drawn against all taxes upon receipt of the proper filing papers approved by the United States Treasury Department, Bureau of Internal Revenue.

Alex read the cable twice and wondered at his own indifference. He gave it to Alison. She started to read it but did not finish; instead, she lifted McAuliffs cup and saucer and placed it underneath.

She said nothing.

'Our account is settled, McAuliff.'

'Not quite, Holcroft... In simple words, I never want to hear from you again. We never want to hear from you. Because if we do, the longest deposition on record will be made public - '

'My dear man,' broke in the Englishman wearily, 'let me save you the time. Gratitude and marked respect would obligate me socially any time you're in London. And, I should add, I think you're basically a quite decent chap. But I can assure you that professionally we shall remain at the farthest distance. Her Majesty's Service has no desire to involve itself with international irregularities. I might as well be damned blunt about it.'

'And Mrs Booth?'

'The same, obviously.' Here Holcroft looked directly, even painfully, at Alison. 'Added to which it is our belief she has gone through a great deal. Most splendidly and with our deepest appreciation. The terrible past is behind you, my dear. Public commendation is uncalled for, we realize. But the highest citation will be entered into your file. Which shall be closed. Permanently.'

'I want to believe that,' said Alison.

'You may, Mrs Booth.'

'What about Dunstone?' asked McAuliff. 'What's going to happen? When?'

'It has already begun,' replied Holcroft. 'The list was cabled in the early hours of the morning.'

'Several hours ago,' said Daniel quietly. 'Around noon, London time.'

'In all the financial centres, the work is proceeding,' continued Holcroft. 'All the governments are co-operating... it is to everyone's benefit.'

McAuliff looked up at Daniel. 'What does that do for global mendacity?'

Daniel smiled. 'Perhaps a minor lesson has been learned. We shall know in a few years, will we not?'

'And Piersall? Who killed him?'

Holcroft replied. 'Real-estate interests along the North Coast who stood to gain by the Dunstone purchase. His work was important, not those who caused his death. They were tragically insignificant.'

'And so it is over,' said Daniel, pushing back his chair. 'The Westmore Tallons will go back to selling fish, the disciples of Barak Moore will take up the struggle against Charles Whitehall, and the disorderly process of advancement continues. Shall we go, Commander Holcroft?'

'By all means, Mr Daniel.' Holcroft rose from the chair, as did the Minister of Council for the Tribe of Acquaba.

'What happened to the Jensens?' Alexander looked at Daniel, for it was the Halidonite who could answer him.

'We allowed him to escape. To leave the Cock Pit. We knew Julian Warfield was on the island, but we did not know where. We only knew that Peter Jensen would lead us to him. He did so. In Oracabessa... Julian Warfield's life was ended on the balcony of a villa named Peale Court.'

'What will happen to them? The Jensens?' McAuliff shifted his eyes to Holcroft.

The commander glanced briefly at Daniel. 'There is an understanding. A man and a woman answering the description of the Jensens boarded a Mediterranean flight this morning at Palisados. We think he is retired. We shall leave him alone. You see, he shot Julian Warfield... because Warfield had ordered him to kill someone else. And he could not do that.'

'It is time, Commander,' said Daniel.

'Yes, of course. There's a fine woman in London I've rather neglected. She liked you very much that night in Soho, McAuliff. She said you were attentive.'

'Give her my best,'

'I shall.' The Englishman looked up at the clear sky and the hot sun. 'Retirement in the Mediterranean. Interesting.' R. C. Holcroft allowed himself a brief smile, and replaced the chair quite properly under the table.

They walked on the green lawn in front of the cottage that was called a villa and looked out at the sea. A white sheet of ocean spray burst up from the coral rock and appeared suspended, the pitch-blue waters of the Caribbean serving as a backdrop, not a source. The spray cascaded forward and downward and then receded back over the crevices that formed the coral overlay. It became ocean again, at one with its source; another form of beauty.

Alison took McAuliffs hand.

They were free.