Precipice

by Colin Forbes

  As the jet flew on through the moonlit night Tweed turned his thoughts to the situation in Sion. He tried to put himself into Brazil's shoes, inside his head. He had an idea which might be the key to the coming assault, but was unsure whether to intrude on Newman's territory.

  'We'll be landing soon, sir.'

  Tweed jerked himself into the present, realized the copilot was standing beside him. He thanked him.

  'One thing.' the co-pilot went on, 'to get on the right path for landing we'll pass pretty close to the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. Don't worry about what you'll see out of the window.'

  'Should have brought my camera,' Tweed joked.

  Less than a minute later the co-pilot returned, handed Tweed a small camera with a flash. He showed Tweed how it worked. Tweed listened patiently, although he was familiar with the model. The co-pilot walked briskly back to the crew cabin.

  The jet began to slant, to descend in a curve. Outside the window Tweed looked down on savage snowbound peaks, which appeared to be within inches of the fuselage. One jagged summit loomed towards him like a gigantic knife. He raised the camera, took several shots.

  Then the floor of the Valais came into view, rushed up to meet them as the pilot was forced to descend at a steep angle. They not only had the moonlight, they also had a flare path glowing to show them the way in. Tweed was reminded of old films he'd seen on the TV of wartime in the 1940s. This was the moment when he tensed. The moment before the wheels safely touched the ground. He peered out as far as he could along the window. Almost down. No sign of a runway.

  The Swiss pilot landed the jet so smoothly the wheels seemed to kiss the concrete. The moment it had stopped the exit door was opened and Tweed was escorted to the mobile staircase which had been run up to the machine. Newman stood waiting for him, hands on his hips.

  'Isn't there somewhere we can hide this jet so there's no risk of Brazil seeing it?' Tweed asked as Newman took him into a canteen.

  'Stop trying to run the show.' Newman clapped his hand on the shoulder of the man he was so glad to see. 'We've thought of that. Meld and Butler are already on board, bringing out the cargo of weaponry. And, before you ask, we do have transport to take it away from the airfield at once.'

  'Good,' said Tweed as he paced up and down the well-heated canteen to stretch his legs.

  'And.' Newman went on with a grin, 'the jet will then be parked inside a small hangar, the doors will be closed and locked. All thought of - and arranged - by Beck who is in constant touch with the airfield controller. Now, sit down and drink your coffee.'

  'Don't you have to leave?'

  'And, there you go again. It will be dark for a couple of hours yet. The coffee here is good, isn't it?'

  'Almost as good as Monica's,' replied Tweed, who had sat at a table with Newman. 'Very welcome, too. How is Paula?'

  'Raving at me when last I saw her. She wanted to come and meet you. I practically had to sock her to make her stay in bed. She needs the sleep. She's OK.'

  'And Philip and the others?'

  'Everyone is OK. Including Marler, who has never slept so much in my experience. But he did have a tiring day. Do not ask me why.'

  'Bob' - Tweed paused, his manner suddenly brisk, in full control - 'I have one idea I'd like to put to you. Before I do, I emphasize you are in command of this operation. If you don't like the idea, which is only a suggestion, throw it into the wastepaper basket.'

  'Go ahead.'

  'I tried to think myself into Brazil's position, bearing in mind what has happened. I think he'll be on cloud nine. Almost ecstatic about what he's achieved. I am sure he has something much worse planned in the very near future. Maybe today. Bob, I don't think he'll anticipate an attack on the ground station in his present mood.'

  'What an intriguing observation,' Newman said thoughtfully.

  'That being so,' Tweed continued, 'his army of thugs won't have been put on the alert. So what we need is one thing - a five-minute massive onslaught out of the blue. Then run.'

  'My God, I think you've hit the nail on the head.'

  'It's only a suggestion.' Tweed warned.

  'It's one I like. Like a lot.'

  Newman stood up, put on his coat and a glove on his left hand. He shook Tweed's with his right hand.

  'It was worth your coming for that one idea alone. I must get back and finalize the battle plan. You'll wait here? Good. There's a small bedroom with loo and washbasin beyond that door. The staff, when I told them you were coming, have been cleaning it up. It looked OK to me before they started. See you . . .'

  Paula was woken by a nightmare. The Motorman, a faceless hunchback, had been strangling Karin Marchat, his huge hands squeezing her throat. Behind him Paula hammered at his skull with the butt of her Browning. It seemed to have no effect. Karin was gurgling horribly. Using all her strength Paula brought the gun down on the back of the creature's head, time and time and time again. Then she woke up.

  'Why the hell didn't I shoot him,' she said aloud.

  'What was that?'

  Newman was gently shaking her awake. He put on the bedside light, after warning her what he was doing. She stared at him, gave a gasp of relief.

  'Don't bother about me. I just had a nightmare.'

  'Good job I woke you, then.'

  'You didn't wake me,' she snapped. 'I woke myself up.' She sat up in bed, pulled on her dressing gown. 'Is it time to go already?'

  'No, and I apologize for disturbing your sleep. There's been a change of plan. I have to tell everyone. Won't be time later - we have to start so early. I've had to wake up everyone. And you didn't lock your door.'

  'Sorry. I was so tired. In your room?'

  'Would five minutes from now be too quick?'

  'Not if you push off now . . .'

  Paula could dress very quickly. After slopping cold water on her face, she put on leggings, both sweaters over two layers of underclothes, and her short, fur-lined coat, grabbed her shoulder bag with the Browning inside, and went to Newman's room. When he opened the door and she walked in she saw everyone had arrived.

  'I came to you last.' Newman explained, 'to give you a bit more sleep.'

  She looked round the room. Butler and Nield, fully dressed, sat in armchairs. Marler had adopted his usual stance, standing against a wall, smoking a king-size.

  'Haven't seen you in ages,' she said, looking at Marler.

  'I've been sleeping the sleep of the just.'

  'Tell me how to do it sometime.' She sat down. 'Where is Philip?'

  'I woke him first.' Newman told her. 'He's gone to pay a quick visit to the Marchats. He has to ask them something important which occurred to me.'

  'I'll go with him.' she said, jumping up.

  'Sit down!' Newman ordered. 'He left a while ago. He'll be back soon.'

  'I don't like it.' she told Newman abruptly. 'He could lead The Motorman to them.'

  'You have that little faith in Philip?' Newman asked ironically.

  'Sorry, I'm only half-awake. I'll be compos mentis in a minute.' She saw his expression. 'All right, fire away. I'll take in whatever it is you've replanned.'

  Newman explained the technique of the new plan. Paula listened carefully. When he had finished she asked her question.

  'What's this new weapon?'

  'Harry.' Newman said, turning to Butler, 'show Paula the weapon Tweed has brought us.'

  'Tweed is here?' Paula almost yelled, then lowered her voice. 'Well, where is he, Bob?'

  'Waiting at the airfield. Then he's there to take any calls that come in from Beck.'

  'I'd like to see this weapon which sounds so important to the new plan. I agree your plan is brilliant.'

  'Not my plan.' Newman informed her. 'Tweed thought up the whole thing while flying here in the jet. Harry, show her.'

  Butler went behind a couch, picked up something, emerged with a rocket launcher, hand-held, pressed into his shoulder. Paula gazed at the large muzzle Harry was aiming at her point-blank. She th
ought it looked like a miniature cannon.

  'Don't worry.' Harry called out to her, 'it isn't loaded.'

  'Thank heavens for small mercies.' she said and smiled.

  'And this is what it's loaded with, what it fires a fair distance.'

  He dived behind the couch, laid the launcher on the floor, came up holding a sinister-looking shell.

  'Makes quite a bang.' Harry went on. 'Newman will be the one who uses it. The rest of us are protection. Tweed brought spare shells.'

  'One should do the trick.' Newman said. If it doesn't we're all in trouble.'

  'I think it will work.' Paula said, ever the optimist.

  There was a rapping tattoo on the door. Newman unlocked it, peered out, let in Philip, who took off his fur-lined coat as he entered. The room was now very warm.

  'It's still not snowing.' he reported. 'It's cold enough to freeze the whatnots off a brass monkey but the moon casts a good light.'

  'How did you get on?' Newman demanded anxiously.

  'Because they recognized my voice they were going to let me in but I told them to keep the chain on the door. They were both still up, fully dressed. I suppose what Paula and I told them gave them a lot to talk about.'

  'Get to the point,' Newman snapped.

  'It's OK. Anton told me there are no villagers left on the Kellerhorn. A few years back there was a landslide and even the old villagers ran for it and never went back. The youngsters have gone looking for the bright lights, as Anton explained.'

  'I don't quite get it.' Paula said.

  'Bob was worried,' Philip explained. 'Worried that if there were still occupied villages on the mountain there could be casualties. Innocent Swiss.'

  Newman decided: 'I'll explain the new plan to Philip. Lucky we got that jeep.'

  'Where on earth did you get a jeep from at this hour?' enquired Paula.

  'Butler and Nield - much earlier - leaned against the bell of the garage which supplied the two four-wheel-drives. The owner lives over the shop,' Newman told her. 'He wasn't pleased, I gather - until Nield showed him a fistful of Swiss banknotes. Then he could have bought the shop's whole stock. That gives us three vehicles. One is really a spare - in case a vehicle is put out of action.'

  'I'm not going back to bed,' Paula decided, 'now I'm up and dressed I'm staying that way. I'd get very little extra sleep before dawn - if any.' She took off her coat.

  'I'll stay up with you,' volunteered Philip, 'after Bob has finished with me. We've still got food and I can go down and persuade the night clerk to make coffee - by showing him my Walther, if necessary.'

  'You are joking,' said Paula. 'Of course you are.'

  'I'm staying up, too,' said Marler. 'Anyone fancy a game of poker? Provided we play for big money . . .'

  43

  A five-minute assault. Paula found the words echoing in her mind as the convoy moved off at dawn. Again a heavy mist had descended over Sion as had been the case when Philip and Paula had first arrived in the town. Its clamminess cloyed at their faces, it deadened all sound. They seemed to move out of a ghost town.

  Philip and Paula, in a four-wheel-drive, led the way at the beginning. Newman had agreed it was sensible since they knew the route. Behind them followed Butler and Meld, each clad in black leather and helmets and riding a Fireblade. They would move to the head of the convoy when the beginning of the road up the mountain was reached.

  'We need a distraction if they see us coming.' Newman had decided. 'If we're spotted too early the sight of what will appear to be a couple of Leather Bombers will confuse the opposition.'

  Behind the motorcycles Newman drove the jeep with the rocket launcher and spare shells beside him. He had chosen the jeep because it would be easy to leap out of.

  Bringing up the rear Marler sat alone in the second four-wheel-drive. Like Philip, Butler, and Nield he carried a canvas satchel with a shoulder-strap. They drove with their headlights dimmed and met no other traffic and not a single soul on the streets.

  With Philip behind the wheel, they soon left Sion behind and paused as the beginning of the mountain road came into view. Butler and Nield rode into the vanguard and Newman followed behind them.

  'There would be a mist,' Philip commented.

  'Just what we need to cover our departure.' Paula assured him.

  'You're not driving.' he reminded her.

  'I'll take over the wheel anytime.' she retorted.

  'I'll hang in here for awhile.'

  They emerged suddenly above the white layer of heavy mist and Paula was surprised how high they had climbed already. Above them was an azure sky, cloud-free. She looked back and thought the huge rock near the Marchats' house, appearing to float, was like a Japanese painting.

  'We're making good progress.' Philip said as he swung round yet another hideous bend. 'And the snow is hard so we can move faster.'

  'Newman is going like the wind. The trouble is he has Butler and Nield ahead of him. Put those two on motorcycles and they jolly near break the sound barrier.'

  She was surprised, had a funny feeling, when unexpectedly they passed the rock alcove where they had fought off a three-man ambush. Don't think about it, she told herself. Concentrate on what lies ahead.

  Behind them, Marler was whistling a tune to himself. He had waited at the bottom while Newman took the lead in his jeep, with only the motorcycles ahead. He was impressed with the way Newman was negotiating the bends, bearing in mind that he hadn't had the experience he had built up driving to the villa the day before.

  Butler and Nield, finding the surface hard, were storming up the mountain with Newman not far in their wake. They had to hit the ground station before the guards woke up. They were banking on the sheer mountain wall muffling the sound of their headlong approach.

  'Boy.' Philip exclaimed, 'are they moving!'

  'So are we.' responded Paula.

  She had stopped gazing down into the abyss. She wanted her nerve steady as a rock - steady as the rock wall they were skimming past - when the inevitable battle began. She took out her Browning, checked the action.

  'That's the second time you've done that,' Philip joked.

  'It gives me something to do.'

  'I know. The sooner we're there and get on with it the better as far as I'm concerned.'

  'Me, too. I'm worried about Bob.'

  'Why?' asked Philip with a note of surprise. 'He can look after himself.'

  'I realize that, but when they see what he's aiming they'll make him their main target - the enemy will.'

  'Which is why we've all been fanned out in the plan -just so we can back him up. He showed us, remember? Using salt and pepper cellars to represent who was who.'

  'Looked all right - on a tablecloth. But it's theory.'

  'It will go according to plan,' Philip insisted.

  'Famous last words.'

  'Be optimistic, like me,' Philip told her.

  'You can't see your expression. You look as grim as one of those mountains.'

  'I'm concentrating on my driving. Which is rather a sound idea, don't you think? Under the circumstances?'

  Philip had just swung round another hair-raising curve in the road, which now rose very steeply. He was deliberately keeping her talking, to take her mind off what lay ahead of them. At times he provoked an argument while they came closer to the plateau where the ground station was located.

  'You're driving very well, Philip.' she said.

  'Famous last words!' he joked.

  'We're nearly there, aren't we?'

  'Very close now. Better check the action of your Browning again,' he needled her.

  'I know why you said that. But if we are very close then I think I'll take your mocking advice.'

  She extracted the Browning from her shoulder bag, held it in her lap, the muzzle pointed away from Philip, tension building up inside her as the great boar's head of the Kellerhorn came into view.

  Inside the main building of the ground station it was Brazil who first had an in
clination of what was heading straight for them. He slept little, liked to advertise his boundless energy.

  'I'm always up first - before the world has woken up.' he had told many people. 'That is how I steal a march on the rest of the world. While others slumber I work.'

  It was still a couple of hours before he planned to send the second, major signal. He had had his breakfast alone and was staring out of the large window of armoured glass which overlooked the approaches to the heights. The large room was his HQ, his living and sleeping quarters. A door leading off it led to an even larger room which controlled the mobile conning tower perched above it, the sophisticated laser system which contacted the satellite.

  He had been working, so it was well after dawn when he pulled back the curtains, stared in disbelief at the convoy of vehicles below him. He was confused for a few vital minutes by what he thought were two Leather Bombers on motorcycles, then he raised the alarm. Why the hell hadn't he posted heavy guards round the perimeter during the night? He cursed his omission. Pressing a button on his intercom he shouted down it.

  'Craig! We're under attack . . .'

  Rounding the last corner, Butler and Nield rode up towards the ground station, keeping well apart to provide a smaller target, looking for guards. Newman drove the jeep into the middle of the space between them, continued a long way forward.

  'He's going too close.' said Paula.