The Schirmer Inheritance

For a while, he thought the Sergeant had gone, and went back to the corner where his mattress was. Then he heard the Sergeant’s voice again, and hers. They were talking in German. He went to the wall and listened. The tone of their voices was curiously conversational. He was aware of a strange uneasiness and his heart began to beat too fast.

The voices had ceased now, but soon they began once more, and softly, as if the speakers did not wish to be overheard. Then there was silence for a long time. He lay down again on the mattress. Minutes went by; then, in the silence, he heard her utter a fierce, shuddering cry of passion.

He did not move. After a while there were low voices again. Then nothing. He became aware for the first time of the sound of the cicadas in the night outside. He was at last beginning to understand Miss Kolin.

Eric Ambler

The Schirmer Inheritance

12

George was kept for two days and three nights at the Sergeant’s headquarters.

On the first day, the Sergeant left the house soon after dawn, and returned when it was dark. George spent the day in the room downstairs, and had his meals there with Arthur. He did not see either the Sergeant or Miss Kolin. After that first night, she was moved to another room in an annex to the house and food was taken to her by one of the sentries. When George asked if he could see her, Arthur shook his head.

“Sorry, chum. No can do.”

“What’s happened to her?”

“I’ll give you three guesses.”

“I want to see her.”

Arthur shrugged. “I don’t mind whether you see her or not. It’s just that she doesn’t want to see you.”

“Why not?”

“The Sarge is the only one she wants to see.”

“Is she all right?”

“Fit as a fiddle.” He grinned. “Cut lip, of course, and a bruise or two, but radiant as a bride. You wouldn’t know her.”

“How much longer is this going on?”

“Search me. I’d say it had only just started.”

“After what happened, it doesn’t make sense.”

Arthur looked at him with some amusement. “I expect you’ve been nicely brought up. I told you she’d been asking for it, didn’t I? Well, she got it, and very nice too. I’ve never seen the Sarge take such a fancy to a girl before.”

“A fancy!” George was getting angry.

“I wouldn’t mind betting she was a virgin,” Arthur mused; “or as good as.”

“Oh, for God’s sake!”

“What’s the matter, chum? Sour grapes?”

“I don’t think there’s much point in discussing it. Did Colonel Chrysantos turn up?”

“The sheriff’s posse, you mean? Sure. They’re sitting on their backsides, like twerps, just on the other side of the frontier. Waiting for something to happen.”

“Or maybe waiting for Miss Kolin and me to turn up. Supposing the American Legation’s brought into this and they start complaining to Belgrade. Going to be a bit awkward for you, isn’t it?”

“You’ll be back before they finish even talking about doing anything. And when you do get back, you’ll begin to think again about all the fuss your office is going to make over the Sarge, and say it was all a mistake.”

“Got it all worked out, haven’t you? I don’t see what you had to get so upset about.”

“No? For one thing they’ve arrested that poor old sod who drove you. That’s not so funny, is it?”

“How do you know?”

“We had word from Florina this morning.”

“How?”

“Ask no questions, you’ll be told no lies. I’ll tell you this, though. The comitadjis have been using these hills for fifty years or more. There’s not much you can’t get away with in these parts if you know the ropes. Don’t forget that they’re Macedonians on both sides of the frontier. When it comes to small-scale work like this, the Chrysantos boys haven’t got an earthly.”

“What’ll happen to the driver?”

“That depends. He’s an old comitadji, so he won’t say where he got his orders from, no matter what they do to him. But it’s awkward. He isn’t the only one in Florina. There’s old Ma Vassiotis, for instance. They might have a go at her. You know, if the Sarge hadn’t changed things round a bit, I’d be inclined to go up and give your Miss What’s-her-name another bashing myself.”

“Supposing I were to tell Chrysantos that I hired the car and told the old man where to go.”

“He might believe you. But how did you know where to go?”

“I’d say you told me.”

Arthur laughed. “Proper lawyer, aren’t you?”

“Would it matter to you?”

“Not a tuppenny damn.”

“O.K., then.”

Arthur was cleaning a pistol. George watched him for a while in silence. At last he said: “Supposing there had been no question of the Sergeant’s going to America. Would you have gone on with this racket of yours?”

Arthur looked up, then shook his head. “No. I reckon we’ve just about had it now.”

“Having pulled off the big job?”

“Maybe. Time to move on anyway.” He bent over the pistol again.

“Got plenty of dough put away?” George said after a moment or two.

Arthur looked up, startled. “I’ve never met anyone with such terrible manners,” he said. “Come off it, Arthur.”

But Arthur was genuinely shocked. “How would you like it if I was to ask you how much money you had in the bank?” he said indignantly.