BIGGLES DELIVERS THE GOODS

by Captain W. E. Johns

VII. WAR COMES TO SHANSIE (Pages 58 - 66)

Biggles and co. approach Shansie. The Lotus is moored the other side of the Major's bungalow. Suddenly, Prince Lalla, Marling's son, drops out of the trees and joins them. He is a lad of about Ginger's age. Marling has been tied to a tree and is at the mercy of the Japanese. Many of his servants have been killed. Other workers in the plantation were too far away to help. As our heroes advance on Shansie, they see Japanese soldiers eating and drinking. Ginger and Ayert are sent ahead to capture the Lotus, the Japanese launch. A native spear has been thrust in a fire and the enemy officer approaches Marling with it. He wants to know the location of Marling's ruby mine. "So this is how the swine interrogate their prisoners?" muttered Biggles through his teeth. "My God! It makes me go cold when I think that some of our fellows may have been treated like this. Well, although he doesn't know it, that little rat has finished his career as question master. For the first time in a long while shooting a man is going to give me the greatest satisifaction". Biggles shoots the Japanese officer with his rifle as part of a general attack on the Japanese. Lalla blows a whistle which would bring the rest of his men into the fight. They are led by Malong, his foreman, swinging a parang. "They've lost their heads," said Biggles. "They'll lose their heads, literally, when Ayert and Malong get amongst them with their parangs" prophesied Li Chi without emotion. Major Marling, a man aged between 50 and 60, is rescued and is furious with the Japanese for their attack. He takes our heroes into his house.