I was advised by the man who sold it to me. Every once in a while it is necessary to give the brute a little gingering up, never mind. I use a hot iron under its tail He chuckled again, this time with genuine amusement. My goodness, it makes the animal very angry indeed. You never heard such a racket. You deliberately torment it to make it vicious?
Daniel asked, shocked despite himself. His tone made evident his disgust and contempt, and Chetti Singh bridled. You English and your love of animals. It is merely a form of training to make it more efficient. The injuries are superficial and heat readily. They drew up outside the warehouse and once again Daniel used the electronic key-card to open the roller door. As they drove through, the door tumbled closed behind them.
Park over there on the loading ramp, Daniel ordered. The headlights swept powerfully down to the girders and corrugated sheeting of the wall at the far end of the cavernous building.
The floor was as cluttered as before with a vast array of trade goods.
For an instant the leopard was caught in the full beam as the Cadillac drove on to the ramp and the headlights were deflected upwards. The great cat was crouched on the summit of a neatly squared pile of packing-cases. As the light struck it, the leopard crouched, yellow-eyed, and puckered its lips into a snarl. The light glinted on its exposed canine fangs. Then it dropped out of sight behind the pile of cases. Did you notice the injury to its face? Chetti Singh asked virtuously. You did that, and yet you accuse me of cruelty, Doctor Armstrong. The brute is extremely aggressive and impossible to control at the moment. I may have to destroy it. It is too dangerous-, even to me and my men. This will do. Daniel ignored the rebuke. We can talk here.
Switch off the engine and the headlights. Daniel reached up to the cabin light in the centre of the roof and a soft glow replaced the harsh white glare as the headlights faded.
They sat in silence for a while longer, and then Daniel asked quietly, So, Mr. Singh, how and when did you first meet Ning Cheng Gong? It was about three years ago. A mutual friend told me he was interested in ivory and other commodities which I could supply, Chetti Singh answered.
What were they, these other commodities? When Chetti Singh hesitated, Daniel jabbed him sharply with the shotgun barrels. Let us both keep to our side of the bargain, he suggested mildly.
Diamonds. . . Chetti Singh wriggled away from the shotgun. From Namibia and Angola. Emeralds from Sandwana. Rare Tanzanite gemstones from the mines at Arusha in Tanzania, some dagga from Zululand. You seem to have access to many sources of supply Mr. Singh. I am a businessman, Doctor. I think I am good, probably the best. That is why Mr. Ning dealt with me. It was mutually beneficial, then? Chetti Singh shrugged. He was able to use the diplomatic bag. Absolutely secure shipment. . . Except when the products were too bulky, Daniel pointed out. As was this last consignment of ivory. As you say, Chetti Singh agreed. But even then his family connections were abundantly useful.
Taiwan is a convenient entryport.
Give me the details of your transactions. Dates, commodities, values. .
There were many, Chetti Singh protested, I cannot remember them all.
You have just told me that you are a good businessman. Daniel prodded him again, and Chetti Singh tried to avoid the shotgun barrel but he was already hard up against the door and could move no further. I'm sure you remember every single transaction. All right, he capitulated.
The first was in early February three years ago. Ivory, value five thousand dollars. It was a trial shipment. It went well. At the end of that month there was a second transaction, rhino horn and ivory, sixty-two thousand dollars. In May of the same year, emeralds, four hundred thousand.
. . Daniel had trained his memory over the years as an interviewer.
He knew he could retain the details until he had a chance to write them down. The recital went on for almost twenty minutes. Chetti Singh was quick and incisive until suddenly he ended on a home note. Then this last shipment, the one you know about. Good. Daniel nodded. We come to the Chiwewe raid, at last. Whose idea was that, Mr. Singh? The ambassador. It was his idea, Chetti Singh blurted. I think you are lying. It is highly unlikely that he could have known about the ivory godown. Its whereabouts are not public knowledge. I think that it was more likely your area of expertise. All right, Chetti Singh agreed. I have known about it for some years. I was awaiting an opportunity.
However, Ning told me he wanted a large coup. His term of office was almost expired. He was returning home and he wanted to impress his family, his father. But you recruited the raiders, didn't you? Ning could not have done that. He did not have your contacts. I didn't give the orders to kill your friend, Chetti Singh's voice trembled. I didn't want that to happen. You were just going to leave them alive to tell their story, to explain to the police about Ning? Yes, no, no!
It was Ning's idea. I do not believe in killing, Doctor. Is that why you sent Chawe and me into the mountains together? No! You gave me no choice, Doctor Armstrong. Please, you must-understand. I am a businessman, not a brigand. All right, let's leave that for the moment. Now tell me, what was your further arrangement with Ning?
Surely you were going to continue such a lucrative partnership, even after he returned to Taiwan?
No! Please don't lie to me. That is breaking our agreement. Daniel jammed the steel muzzles into him so hard that he squealed. Yes, all right, please you are hurting me. I can't speak if you do that.
Daniel relaxed the pressure a little. I must warn you, Mr. Singh, that I would be delighted if you gave me an opportunity to break our contract.
Johnny Nzou's two daughters were about ten and eight years old. Your men raped them. His son Daniel, my godson, was just four. They beat his brains out against the wall. It was not a pretty sight.
I'd enjoy it if you reneged on our bargain. Yes, I would don't want to hear these things, please, Doctor. I am a family man, myself. You must believe that I didn't want----'Let's talk about Ning rather than your delicate sensibilities, Mr. Singh. You and Ning have plans for the future, don't you? We have discussed certain possibilities, Chetti Singh admired. The Ning family have vast holdings in Africa. After this last shipment of ivory, Cheng's status in the family will be absolutely enhanced. Cheng has expectations that his father will place him in charge of the African division of Lucky Dragon, that is the family holding company. You have a niche in these plans, don't you?
Your expert services will be in demand. Surely you have discussed it with Ning? NoChetti Singh squealed again as the steel eyes of the shotgun barrels burrowed into his flesh. Please don't do that, Doctor.
I suffer from high blood pressure; this uncivilized behaviour is absolutely prejudicial to my health. What are your arrangements with Cheng? Daniel insisted. Where will you operate next? Chetti Singh squeaked. Lucky Dragon plans toUbomo, move into Ubomo. Ubomo) There was surprise in Daniel's tone.
President Omeru? The sovereign state of Ubomo was one of the few success stories of the continent. Like Malawi, it nestled on the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley, a country of lakes and mountains, on the eastern flank of Africa, where open savannah and primeval equatorial forest met. Like Hastings Banda, President Omeru was another benevolent despot, ruling in the age-old African fashion.
Thanks to him his country was free of debt, and not as yet divided or ravaged by tribal warfare.
Daniel knew that Omeru lived in a small brick cottage with a corrugated-iron roof and drove his own Landrover. No marble palaces, no stretched black Mercedes, no executive jet for him.