BIGGLES IN THE GOBI

by Captain W. E. Johns

X. BAD LUCK FOR BIGGLES (Pages 110 – 122)

“Biggles had met trouble from a cause which, while fortunately not common, has happened more often than is generally realised, and is a regular hazard over a particular type of country in certain parts of the world. In quite a few cases the result has been fatal for the aircraft and its crew. In a word, he was in collision with a bird”. “As far as the aircraft is concerned the result of such an encounter must, of course, depend on where it is struck; but it must be obvious that a weight of perhaps twenty pounds, travelling at high speed in the opposite direction, is bound to cause damage no matter where it may strike”. “The eagle that resented the intrusion of Biggles’ Halifax came at him out of the blue. He saw it a split second before it struck. There was no time to do anything”. (This is the scene illustrated on the cover of the book). Biggles shouts to Bertie for help as his vision is obscured by blood and feathers. Berties takes one look and says “I say, how disgusting!” Bertie looks out of the astral dome at the top of the aircraft and he sees the dead bird wrapped around the pressure pump. Biggles says he will have to land and he gets Bertie to give him directions to a green flat patch straight ahead. “In a long flying career Biggles had made many anxious landings. He had made landings in even more risky places, but seldom had so much depended on touching down without mishap. Not being able to see clearly was the trouble”. Biggles flattens out a little too high, but lands without mishap. He passes a hand over his face and says “You know, Bertie, the trouble with me is, I’m getting a bit too old for this sort of aviation”. They get out to view the damage. “Luck, it is said, usually balances itself in the long run” and it has here. They had somewhere to land and the damage is not too bad. The sticky mess of gore on the windscreen could soon be wiped off. “Unfortunately, however the bulk of the bird, the entrails, sinews and talons, glancing off the Perspex, had hurtled away until it was caught by the pressure pump between the top of the cockpit and the centre turret. The eagle’s curved beak has gashed the leading edge of the centre-section. That, too, could be put right, although it might take a little time”. The pump is a bit bent but can be fixed. “They worked all the morning, Biggles on the pump and Bertie on the centre-section, stopping occasionally to scan the landscape for possible visitors. None came”. They have landed near a shrine and Biggles goes over to it and discovers it is also a well, with an ancient leather bucket for drawing up water. Biggles is able to clean himself up. In the distance they see a solitary grey figure. He stops every now and then to ring a bell. “Well, stuff me with suet pudding! If it isn’t the muffin-man” exclaimed Bertie. Biggles tells him he is a wandering holy man and the bell is to ward off evil spirits. The monk arrives and says something. “Biggles’ eyebrows went up. He smiled and answered. A short conversation ensued”. “Are you kidding?” enquired Bertie, looking suspiciously at Biggles. Biggles says the language is Hindi and he takes some loose coins from his pocket and drops them in the man’s bowl. He also gives him biscuits. Biggles tells Bertie the man is making for Nan-hu. “Tell him to remember us to the boys” jokes Bertie. This gives Biggles the idea of sending a message and he tears a leaf from his notebook and writes a message. Biggles talks to the man and gives him the rest of his change. The man goes to the shrine and prays and has a drink, then he sets off to continue his journey. Biggles and Bertie discuss departure, but leaving now means arriving at Dacca in the dark. Bertie asks if they need to leave at all, why not just wait until it is time to return to pick everybody up. “There’s no need to do anything in a hurry. So let’s sit down and think about it,” concluded Biggles, finding a seat in a shade cast by the wings.