SERGEANT BIGGLESWORTH C.I.D.

by Captain W. E. Johns

XVIII. THE LAST LAP (Pages 175 - 188)

Arriving at Castel Benito in Tripoli, Biggles and Ginger find both the Renkell transport and Preuss in the Swan. Biggles is reluctant to shoot the Renkell up on the ground in case it causes a diplomatic incident and tries to land but Preuss taxis the Swan into his path. Biggles just manages to take off in time and turns and shoots up the Swan and kills Preuss when he tries to run to safety. "That should stop him laughing in church", muttered Ginger. The Renkell has taken off and Biggles gives chase for one last time with just an hours petrol left. The Renkell is some three miles ahead of them but Biggles slowly overhauls it. "Ginger moistened his lips, thankful that he was not in the Renkell. There was something so implacable, so relentless, about Biggles, when he was in his present mood. He knew that whatever happened he would not turn back. He would go on to the end, even if their petrol ran out and left them stranded in the heart of the Sahara". The Spur catches the Renkell and Biggles opens fire. Suddenly a man parachutes out of the Renkell, just in time as Biggles shoots it down and it "spread itself over the desert". Biggles lands and confronts the man who bailed out, knowing full well that it was Gontermann. "Come on - come on; you've got a gun," invited Biggles. "Use it or drop it, I don't care which." The Nazi tries to negotiate but Biggles is having none of it. When Gontermann goes for his Mauser, Biggles shoots him twice. Gontermann "slid forward, like a swimmer in smooth water" and dies. In the wreck of the Renkell transport they find the body of Baumer, also dead. A Mosquito plane arrives from the East, Algy has followed them, no doubt getting their course from Castel Benito. "Poor old Algy," said Biggles, smiling. "He still hopes to be in at the finish". Algy lands and Biggles decides they should all make for Algiers, the nearest airport. From there, Biggles flies on to London in the Mosquito and Algy and Ginger go back to Khartoum in the Spur to see how Bertie is getting on. Biggles takes Gontermann's bag, stuffed with all the jewels from all of the robberies. "Ten per cent of that little lot should keep us in cigarettes for a day or two" says Biggles. By noon the next day, Biggles is at Scotland Yard having slept at Gibraltar. "You'd better stay in the Force and make your fortune" says Raymond. "It has to be shared four ways, don't forget," reminded Biggles. "Still, I'll think about your suggestion," he added. The next morning, Biggles flies back to Khartoum to see how Bertie was faring. "He found him out of danger, although the doctor predicted that the injured leg might shorten a trifle, so that he would probably limp for the rest of his life". Algy and Ginger has flown on to the sanseviera and returned with Herr Renkell, who declared that he had been abducted by the bandits and forced to act as mechanic to his own machines. Biggles believed him. The whole secret base in the sanseviera had been burnt out and destroyed. Biggles inquires after von Zoyton but is unable to see him as he was not allowed visitors. Weeks later, von Zoyton escaped and the Egyptian police were unable to find him. "I'm not altogether sorry," said Biggles, when he heard this news. "He wasn't a bad chap at heart. Probably it all came from getting mixed up with the wrong crowd when he was a kid. His mother should have warned him."