BIGGLES
FLIES SOUTH
by Captain W.
E. Johns
III. ZARWAN
CALLS (Pages 50
– 56)
Algy queries Biggles about going to
Capetown. Biggles replies “To tell you
the honest truth, I was very much taken with that lad’s story. I liked his straightforward manner, too. This delving into the dark page of history is
extremely fascinating, and it would be rather gratifying to contribute
something to archaeological research – quite apart from which there would be
some satisfaction in doing the thieves who stole the lad’s plans out of what
they hope to gain”. Algy queries the
expense but Biggles says the boy’s father will pay expenses, although Biggles
hasn’t decided to go yet. Biggles sees a
man standing near them on the terrace.
He has arrived so quietly that he hadn’t been noticed. The man is “a
middle-aged man of undoubted eastern extraction notwithstanding the fact that
he was dressed in expensive European clothes.
He was short and inclined to corpulency”. He was “of a type common in the Middle East,
where east and west are all too often blended with unfortunate results”. The man asks if he has the honour of
addressing the celebrated Major Bigglesworth and introduces himself as Fuad
Zarwan. He apologies for the
inconvenience that they have suffered tonight.
“I have suffered no inconvenience, and, if I had, I cannot see that you
need lose any sleep on that account,” said Biggles in a manner that would have
settled an argument with an Englishman there and then”. Zarwan says that the unfortunate young man
who visited Biggles is insane and suffers from strange delusions. As the conversation develops, Zarwan makes
veiled threats towards Biggles and his companions. “Visitors in Egypt are well advised not to
become inquisitive in matters that do not concern them” says the man, adding
“It would be imprudent of you to take part in an expedition that might interfere
with my own”. Biggles merely replies
“I’ll bear it in mind”. The man leaves
and Algy queries why he didn’t “kick the oily-faced hog into the road”? Biggles says they would have spent the rest
of their stay in Egypt preventing people from sticking knives into them. The incident has helped Biggles make up his
mind, if it’s all the same to the others; They will go with Kadar on his
expedition.