BIGGLES GETS HIS MEN

by Captain W. E. Johns

VIII. THE PLOT UNFOLDS (Pages 98 - 111)

At 10.00 pm, Biggles wakes Ginger and they cut their way through the barbed wire, dodging sentries, to escape. Their are several hutments scattered about under the cover of the forest, so they can't be seen from the air. Biggles wants to check them out to see if he can find Vale and the missing scientists. In one hut a conference appears to be going on and a familiar German voice is heard. It is none other than Erich von Stalhein, Biggles arch enemy! A quick peep reveals ten people in the room, including a person they presume must be Ling Soo. When von Stalhein speaks the plot is revealed. He has been invited here to take charge of intelligence and security. "Certain members of certain governments are involved". "By the control of atomic weapons they hope to intimidate - or shall we call a spade a spade and say blackmail - the rest of the world, to their financial and political advantage". A name is mentioned - Luntz - as "an obvious precaution". Von Stalhein says the Lieutenant Vasilloff has reported that the men in the plane were Koreans but von Stalhein doesn't believe it. Von Stalhein guesses the name of the man who probably flew it as Bigglesworth! The two men who were brought in after Lieutenant Vasilloff shot down the plane were common Korean traders - their story rings true, says von Stalhein (the two men obviously survived the beating they had it would appear). Von Stalhein asks that all guards be doubled. Asked if he is afraid of Bigglesworth, von Stalhein replies "I am not afraid, but I have a respect for his ability. He is one of those men who, while others are talking, acts, and had he not been under the protection of the devil himself he would have been dead long ago. He is as hard to catch as an old fox, and as hard to hold as an eel. If he is about I am all the more relieved to know that Luntz is where he was". After being informed that Ming had reported there appeared to be two extra workers on the work party, von Stalhein says they need to examine the tongues of all of the slaves. Two have not had their tongues cut out. As the conference breaks up, Biggles says to Ginger they have got to locate the men tonight as they may not get another chance. "It's pretty certain that our men will be behind barbed wire. That should be a guide. We haven't much time. We've got to be out of this before daylight".