BIGGLES FLIES AGAIN

 

by W. E. Johns

 

 

X.            THREE WEEKS  (Pages 160 – 175)

 

Biggles is walking through Karachi towards the Orient Hotel when he bumps into an old friend, Tim O’Neilson, an Irishman who once flew a S.E.5 with 56 Squadron, R.F.C.  (The line “Well! By the sacred turnbuckle of Saint Patrick, if it isn’t Tim O’Neilson” leads to some confusion for Johns as within a page he has Biggles referring to “Tim” as “Pat” although he is also referred to as O’Neilson.  In later editions Tim is called Pat O’Neilson to resolve the problem!).  They go and have a drink together at Teddy’s Bar.  (The line “What about knocking one back?” in the original first edition remains in the Boys’ Friend Library version but becomes “What about a spot of hospitality?” in the Dean & Son reprints, where “Pat” O’Neilson is a now a Spitfire pilot).  O’Neilson is in Intelligence.  Biggles asks “Ticklish job out here nowadays I should think, what with Gandhism and all the rest of it?”  “It is, since the British bulldog lost his teeth or forgot how to bite,” muttered O’Neilson bitterly.  “But it isn’t Gandhi that worries us, it’s the Great White Bear”.  Russia.  A man enters Teddy’s Bar and O’Neilson discretely points him out to Biggles as Ivan Nikitoff, “the Big Noise behind the Hammer and Sickle in this part of the world”.  “We’ve got a big show on at the moment over this Persian business, and he’s the man who’s going to spike our guns – if he can”.  Biggles and O’Neilson continue their conversation.  The next morning Algy goes to wake Biggles and asks him about an article in the local paper.  “What’s all this damn nonsense?” demanded Algy.  (The line “damn” remains in the Boys’ Friend Library version but becomes just “What’s all this nonsense?” in the Thames and Dean & Son reprints).  The article is headed WORLD FLYERS IN KARACHI and reads “Major James Bigglesworth, D.S.O., who had a brilliant record as a pilot during the War, landed yesterday at Karachi.  His flight, which has already embraced more than half the globe, will be continued to-morrow towards England by a new route, Istarain, Teheran, and the Black Sea ports.  He is flying a Vickers ‘Vandal’ six-seater aircraft with an assistant pilot and a mechanic.  The airmen are staying at the Orient Hotel”.  Algy asks “Did you get tight or something last night?”.  Biggles looked pained.  “Me tight!” he protested.  “Don’t be foolish”.  Before they can get out of the hotel, they are sent half a dozen cards from people looking for a lift with them.  One gentleman is Sirdar Ali Sha.  He asks if they have the authority of the Persian Government to fly over its territory and says he can help.  He is looking for a flight to Teheran and willing to pay for his passage.  They agree to take him and arrange to meet in an hour at the aerodrome.  Soon they are on their way.  Biggles “had followed the coastline of Persia as far as Jask, and then cut across the Strait of Ormuz, actually passing over that spur of Arabia called Oman on a straight course for Lingeh.  As they pass over “an insignificant speck on the map which bore the name Tumb Island”, the plane develops engine trouble and has to land.  “That magneto gone again, sir, I reckon,” observed Smyth.  They land and fix the problem but by that time darkness is approaching and they all decide to spend the night on the beach.  Smyth gets out some cases with food in.  The next morning, their passenger awakes to find himself alone on the beach and the ‘Vandal’ is a tiny moving speck in the distance.  A note has been left for him, addressed to Ivan Nikitoff, telling him that everything he needs for the next three weeks are in the cases – there is also a book for him to read.  On the plane, Algy asks Biggles how he knew that their passenger would be called to Teheran.  Biggles says he sent the note, in their secret code via Intelligence.  It was all arranged with Pat (Johns means Tim – see note above) and “It will so happen that a sloop will be passing the island in about three weeks, which by a curious coincidence, will be just about the time that Pat’s business is concluded”.  Algy asks what book was left and Biggles smiles.  Three Weeks,” he said, “I hope he’ll see the point”.