The QE2 Is Missing

“I’m in complete agreement, doctor. Is this high enough?”

By the time de Laiglesia returned, the room had been aired and Chvosta was sitting in the armchair. Partially dressed, still the color of death, but relatively recovered.

“I’ll be ready in a few moments, Major,” he said in a hoarse and angry voice. “And I want you to know that I know enough Spanish to understand some of the insulting remarks these two criminals made while they were manhandling me.”

“Mr. Chvosta, I’m sure you were mistaken. Perhaps slightly delirious. You were seriously ill, they worked lard to help you.”

“Don’t make light of this, Major. I know what the lord gordo means, and some of the others!”

The Major fought to keep his face straight. “I will investigate. If the charges are true in any way strong measures will be taken.”

“I'll want to know about them.” He pulled himself to his feet and reached for his jacket. The Sergeant moved forward to help him.

“There was a phone call while you were out, Major,” the Sergeant said. “I answered because Mr. Chvosta was very weak at the time. Will you tell him about it? The caller only spoke English, but I think it was the Dutchman.”

“Yes, I’ll tell him.”

There was an air of cold hatred permeating the suite when Chvosta finally arrived. He felt it as he came through the door. Though he was weak he was no longer ill, and emotionally he was ready to take on the world. Doctor Llusera’s injection of morphine was doing him a great deal of good. It was Wielgus and the Admiral who were the angriest; they were not used to being kept waiting. Stroessner wasn’t bothered at all since he was also enjoying the beneficial effects of the good doctor’s needle. Aurelia was grimly quiet, seated in one corner.

“Well, I hope that we are ready to begin at last,” Chvosta said as he entered, quickly, before anyone else could speak. Seeking some small revenge for the humilities he had suffered. Admiral Marquez’s face grew red and he began to splutter, but Wielgus cut him off with a gesture of his hand.

“Yes, we will begin,” Wielgus said. This business was too important to permit himself to be irritated. “You have received a report on the diamonds?”

“Yes. The total value of the stones is in excess of the agreed price. I assume you have no intention of being generous to that degree?”

“You are correct. Removal of two of the bags will correct the total.”

“I will agree only after De Groot has verified their value against the list in your possession, then has done a random check of five of the other bags. Is this satisfactory?”

“Yes, of course. Bring him up here.”

“Go get him,” Chvosta ordered Aurelia. She left the room.

“We will get on with the business,” Wielgus said, taking the notebook and gold pencil from his pocket and laying them out on the desk before him. “You stated that the munitions ship would be in the harbor of Valparaiso today?”

Chvosta nodded, then dropped heavily into an armchair. “Either tied up at a dock or in the roadstead.”

“We have a complete crew standing by ready to board as soon as we have finalized arrangements here. What is the name of the ship?”

Chvosta stared silently at the German, unmoving and unspeaking, his ashen face cold and expressionless. The seconds stretched on and Wielgus barely restrained his impatience.

“Come now, Mr. Chvosta, we have lost a great deal of time today because of your little bout of mal de mer. It will be safe enough to tell me the name of this ship, you can trust me…. “

“I trust no one, Dr. Wielgus. Without exceptions everyone tries to cheat, sooner or later, in the arms business. It is always simpler to steal arms than to pay money for them. I owe my present position with Global Traders to the fact that I have never been taken advantage of. Never. When the diamonds are here the exchange will take place.”

“Are you accusing me of attempting to cheat you, Czech?” Wielgus’s voice was frigid with suppressed rage. “I could have you killed, like that, in an instant.”

Chvosta’s voice was equally cold. “Yes, Doctor, I know your record for killing Czechs and Jews and others of the non-Aryan races. Nevertheless, we will wait for the diamonds. I think you would prefer the arms to the death of one fat Czech.”

The impasse was broken by the return of Aurelia with the Dutch expert. Wielgus waved him towards the bags of diamonds.

“Put that on the desk,” he said. “Here is your original list. I have removed these two bags, this one and this one. You will check the contents of five other bags at random. Begin.”