BIGGLES FOREIGN LEGIONNAIRE

by Captain W. E. Johns

V. SERGEANT VOUDRON OPENS UP (Pages 53 – 62)

“The next two days passed without incident”. They saw Marcel frequently but he made no attempt to speak with them. Voudron was curt but not unfriendly towards them. On the morning of the third day, Biggles receives a letter through the post saying the man they were interested in was using an alias and he was formerly a criminal lawyer in Paris, who left after being denounced as a collaborator during the Occupation. He went to Marseilles where he assumed his present name and defended shady cases, including Voss, (who flew for the gang). He had offices in Tangier and Casablanca and his present address is his country house during the heat of Summer. The letter was signed “M”. Biggles shows the letter to Ginger and then burns it. Ginger suggests getting Algy over to watch Voss and Biggles says he will think about that. The next thing to happen is the circulation in the camp of a rumour that certain people were going to be drafted and sent to Fort Labougant, deep in the Sahara, which was, according to those who knew it, the nearest place to hell on earth. “The heat, the glare and the hideous loneliness, had to be experienced to be believed. More men when out of their minds with Le Cafard at Fort Labougant than all the other stations put together”. Biggles and Ginger are not unduly worried as they are yet to complete their training, but they then hear that Sous-Lieutenant Brissac was to conduct the draft and take over command at the Fort. Biggles thinks strings have been pulled to get Marcel out of the way. Whilst walking across the square, they see Voudron, who comes over to speak to them. He tells both Biggles and Ginger that they are on the list to go to Fort Labougant. Voudron says he put them on the list as it would be safer for them to be away from the two “spiteful Arabs”. Then he dropped his voice. “Of course, you needn’t go if you don’t want to”. Taking Biggles and Ginger to a quieter area he suggests they desert, although he doesn’t like to use that word, merely “take a walk and forget to come back”. Biggles admits they don’t want to go to Fort Labougant and Voudron says he has friends who might be willing to help them if they would like to go on flying aeroplanes “without asking questions”. “A man in his right mind doesn’t argue with his bread and butter” said Biggles tritely. Biggles and Ginger confirm they will go. They arrange to meet Voudron at seven o-clock that night just past the ruined mosque on the way to town. Voudron leaves. “What a rat. What a snake in the grass,” sneered Ginger. Biggles says this is what they have come for. They have to speak to Marcel and walking past him, Biggles is able to catch his eye and go to the rear of the station headquarters. Marcel joins them and Biggles explains what has happened. Marcel says there is no draft to Fort Labougant. It is all a pack of lies. Biggles accepts he was taken in by the story he had been told. Marcel wants to take action against Voudron, but Biggles implores him not to. Marcel has to be prepared for their sudden disappearance. If they are offered the job, they will desert to take it. Marcel says he doesn’t like it and leaves to think about it. Biggles tells Ginger to be careful not to let it out that they know the draft talk is without foundation.