BIGGLES GOES TO WAR

by Captain W. E. Johns

XII. A BLOW, AND A DESPERATE MISSION (Pages 138 – 148)

Biggles asks how it happened. Apparently, the Count had chartered a plane from London, but when refuelling at Belgrade, he was told his pilot had been taken ill and a replacement pilot found. The new pilot flew him to Shavros, the capital of Lovitzna, where he was detained as it was said his papers were not in order. Biggles says he needs time to think about things. The enemy Intelligence Service must be very efficient to have known the Count was on his way back to Lovitzna. Biggles asks for the name of a reliable Maltovian agent, or spy, in Shavros and a couple of suits of workmen’s clothes – just ordinary peasants’ coats and trousers. With Algy and Ginger, Biggles forms a plan, they will fly in the big Lovitznian aircraft to a field near Shavros, then two of them, Biggles and Ginger will go and try to rescue the Count whilst the other, Algy, takes off in the machine and returns to collect them later. Ginger comes up with the idea of landing further away – in the field they landed in early in the day – and then using Smyth’s motor-bike to get to Shavros. Ginger says to Biggles “You can ride it and take me on the back a la pillion”. (The Modern Boy had this as “on the pillion”). To come back with the Count, they could steal a car. Algy could stay in the field with the aircraft and only leave if he has to, returning to collect them. Ludwig returns with the clothes and the name and address of an agent, Gustav, in Shavros. Ludwig also tells them the password to use and that the Count is being held at the Hotel Grande. Ludwig tells them he thinks they are very brave. “It’s merely a national habit” says Biggles, “Duty to those we serve and finishing the job we start on”. The big machine takes off and roars into the night.