THE BLACK PERIL

by W. E. Johns

VI. COUNCIL OF WAR (Pages 83 – 93)

Two days later and Biggles has reported the whole matter to the authorities. He has sent a detailed report to the Intelligence branch of the Air Ministry. “They had discussed Ginger’s future, with the result that they had decided to take him back to London with them and endeavour to secure his entry into the Royal Air Force as an aircraft apprentice, failing which they would use their influence to get him a place in one of the many aircraft manufacturing firms they knew, with a view to subsequently obtaining his ticket as a ground engineer. Biggles has also agreed, in return for his part in the rescue, to have him taught to fly at a school – a proposal that met with Ginger’s entire approval”. Squadron Leader Taglen and Colonel Barlow come to see Biggles about his report. They ask him if it is a joke. They have been to check out the places referred to but there are no floodlights to be found and the house has burnt down. Taglen says there is not a single clue to work on and asks Biggles to keep them informed if he hears anything more about the affair. Biggles wants to satisfy himself that there is nothing to be found and agrees to allow Ginger to come along. He has told his father that he has found a job flying. They fly to the creak on the Norfolk coast and return to the hut to find all traces of what had been there, removed. Algy tells Biggles that when he saw the men in the hut, Blackbeard was holding a map against the wall. Lines had been drawn from six or seven marks on the East coast of England to a spot in Europe, which may be the headquarters of the whole thing. “Where was this place?” asked Biggles abruptly. “I’m not quite certain because it was a small scale map, but I could put my finger on the spot to within fifty or a hundred miles. The lines ran straight across the North Sea, across northern Germany, to the Baltic coast. They either ended in Eastern Prussia, or in Russia. I fancy it was Russia”. They decide to fly as far as the Baltic and see what happens there before they make further plans.