"Higgins, Jack - Savage Day" - читать интересную книгу автора (Higgins Jack)

'Not quite. They clashed with a Royal Navy MTB early the following morning near Rathlin Island, but managed to get away under cover of fog, though the officer in command thinks they were in a sinking condition.'

*Were they sighted anywhere else?'

"A rubber dinghy was found on a beach near Stramore,

which is a fishing port on the mainland coast south of Rathlin, and several bodies were washed up during the week that followed.'

'And you think Michael Cork survived ?'

'We know he did. In fact, thanks to that grand old Irish institution, the informer, we know exactly what happened. Cork was the only survivor. He sank the boat in a place of his own choosing, landed near Stramore in that rubber dinghy and promptly disappeared with his usual sleight of hand.'

I moved to the window and looked out over the blue Aegean and thought of that boat lying on the bottom up there in those cold grey northern waters.

'He could do a lot with that kind of money.'

'An approach has already been made in his name to a London-based arms dealer who had the sense to contact the proper authorities at once.'

'Who was it? Anyone I know?'

'Julius Meyer. You've acted for him on several occasions in the past, I believe.'

'Old Meyer?' I laughed out loud. 'Now there's a slippery customer if you like. I wonder why they chose him?'

'Oh, I should have thought he had just the right kind of shady reputation,' the Brigadier said. 'He's been in trouble often enough, God knows. There was all that fuss with the Spanish Government last year when it came out that he'd been selling guns to the Free Basque movement. He was on every front page in the country for a day or two. The kind of thing interested parties would remember.'

Which made sense. I said, 'And where do I fit in ?'

'You simply do exactly what you've done in the past. Act as Meyer's agent in this matter. They should find you

perfectly acceptable. After all, your past stinks to high heaven very satisfactorily.'

TSJice of you to say so. And what if I'm asked to act in a mercenary capacity? To give instruction in the handling of certain weapons. That can sometimes happen, you know.'

'I hope it does. I want you in there up to your ears, as close to the heart of things as possible, because we want that gold, Vaughan. We can't allow them to hang on to a bank like that, so that's your primary task. To find out exactly where it is.'

'Anything else?'

'Any information you can glean about the Organization, faces, names, places. All that goes without saying, and it would be rather nice if you could get Michael Cork for us if the opportunity arises, or indeed anyone else of similar persuasion that you meet along the way.'

I said slowly, 'And what exactly do you mean by "get"?'

'Don't fool about with me, boy,' he said, and there was iron in his voice. 'You know exactly what I mean. If Cork and his friends want to play these kind of games then they must accept the consequences.'

'I see. And where does Meyer fit into all this ?'

'He'll co-operate in full. Go to Northern Ireland when necessary. Assist you in any way he can.'

'And how did you achieve that small miracle? As I remember Meyer, he was always for the quiet life.'