BIGGLES – SECRET AGENT

 

by Captain W. E. Johns

 

 

II.                    WAYS AND MEANS  (Pages 25 – 38)

 

Biggles says that assuming they take on the proposition they shall have to work out how to go about it.  “Knowing that failure could have only one ending we should go to any lengths – any lengths – to prevent it.  In other words, knowing that our opponents would not hesitate to kill us, I should not hesitate to proceed on the same principle”.  Biggles says they will need a four-seater aircraft and Ginger suggests a Wessex “Student” (another of Johns’ fictional aircraft).  They decide to operate from a small aerodrome in Northern France, glide over the frontier with Algy flying the plane and Biggles and Ginger will parachute into Lucrania.  To get out, Algy would have to come over at prearranged times and watch for light signals, such as red to keep away and green to come and fetch them.  Biggles has taken a tracing of a map of Unterhamstadt district and there is a castle which makes a conspicuous landmark.  Biggles identifies a large grazing area some four miles due north of the village that will suit their purposes.  They will arrive in Unterhamstadt and pretend to be tourists, wearing shorts and carrying rucksacks.  There is only one hotel and Biggles says they will have only seven days to do the job as every Saturday details of the names of tourists are sent to police head-quarters.  The Lucranian Chief of Secret Police is Erich von Stalhein, their old enemy.  “That oily-tongued swine?” exclaims Algy in a hard voice.  Biggles says “There is nothing oily about von Stalhein.  Acid-tongued, if you like.  And why a swine?  Be fair.  The man serves his country as we try to serve ours.  Apart from which he is the most efficient German I have ever met.  Had be been in command of German Intelligence in the Near East during the last war I should now be a handful of mouldering earth under the desert sand.  He knew I was a fake – but his boss didn’t believe him.  He was brilliant and only I know how lucky I was to beat him.  We ran into him again in that gold racket”.  (There are footnotes referring to Biggles’ first encounter with von Stalhien in BIGGLES FLIES EAST and his last encounter with him in BIGGLES & CO).  Biggles says “Personally, I have a sneaking regard for him; and, if we knew the truth, he probably feels the same about us”.  Ginger asks why don’t they use false names but that means fake passports and that might arouse suspicion.  As themselves they might be tourists, but with fake passports they would be treated as spies and the Germans probably have photos of them in their records.  They decide to take a carrier pigeon to send a message home and discuss what supplies they will need.  Biggles shows them all a photograph of Beklinder to memorise as they can’t take it with them.  He then goes to ring Raymond to say they will go.