BIGGLES AND THE LITTLE GREEN GOD

by Captain W. E. Johns

11. THE CRASH (Pages 112 – 121)

“The weather held. The morning after the finding of the stranded air hostess dawned still but cold, and grey under a mantle of mist. But this was soon dispelled by the rising sun and the dome of heaven resumed its immutable serenity of eggshell blue”. “Conchita, after a good night’s sleep, and having washed the accumulated grime off herself, looked a different person. Being young she recovered quickly. No doubt her relief at being rescued, when she must have abandoned hope, had something to do with it”. Biggles cuts her a strong stick to act as a support for her injured leg. At breakfast, “starting with a base of that universal standby where food it not readily to be had, porridge oats with condensed milk and sugar”, Biggles asks Conchita if she has heard of an ancient Indian god called Atu-Hua. She hasn’t. Biggles says it was being brought back on her plane. “This is as far as it got”. The plan is for Conchita to remain at their plane to rest her leg, but she insists on going with them. “Biggles, against his better judgment be it said, for he thought the girl with her injured leg was likely to be an encumbrance, did not press the point”. They set off, the way leading steadily downhill, as if it might have been a game track. After nearly half an hour of slipping and sliding through the green twilight under the tropical trees, there arrive at the crash site. “It was a sorry spectacle”. Only the fuselage remained more or less intact and debris lays everywhere. None of the crew that had left the wreck had returned. Biggles didn’t intent to search for them, knowing it would be futile. Biggles says “Anyone who got out of this mess alive was lucky. The trees, Conchita, by catching the wings and absorbing the worst of the shock of impact, may have save you”. Leaving Conchita to rest, Biggles and Algy go through the cabin and luggage compartment. The belly of the fuselage had been ripped open from end to end and letters from the mail bag lay everywhere. Some wrappings of parcels are there, but the contents are missing. “That must have been done by the Indians who came here,” remarked Biggles. “If Atu-Hua was here he’ll have disappeared with the rest, this time, I fancy, for ever”. Looking at some charred letters, Biggles says “I’m not going to try to work out who put a bomb on board, or why; I’ve knocked my pan out already sweating over that problem”. Oddly enough, the big main petrol tank had not been fractured. “That’s where they were lucky,” Biggles said. “Had it broken open everything would have gone up in flames and this would have been a different story. Well, that’s about all we can do,” he went on in a resigned voice. “I didn’t seriously expect to find Atu-Hua, so I can’t say I’m disappointed. At least we shall be able to tell Pallimo that we made a search and found the crash. He can now do what he likes about it. Let’s get back to the plateau and call it a day”. They rejoin Conchita, who hears a noise. From some distance below comes a strange medley of sounds, consisting chiefly of wild singing, or chanting, with occasional yells, accompanied by the throbbing of a drum and the clashing of cymbals. Biggles says it can only be Indians. He doesn’t think they will worry them, unless something has upset them. “There’s no knowing what an Indian will do if he goes off his rocker”. Biggles sends Conchita back on the journey towards their aircraft, aided by Algy, which he waits to see what is going on. In due course, Biggles joins them and says about the Indians “in the mood they’re in they could get up to any sort of devilment”. Biggles had got close enough to see them. “They’re all dolled up as if for a big occasion – paint on their faces, feathers in their hair, ribbons and all sorts of gimcrack (meaning showy, but cheap or badly made) finery. They’re being led by a sort of witch-doctor type with something on a pole”. That “something” is Atu-Hua. Algy says “So they’ve found him”. “Why not? He must have been in one of the parcels they took from the wreck” replies Biggles. “So they’ve got their god back” says Algy. “Yes, and they obviously intend to make the most of him,” answered Biggles grimly. “This is what certain people we know may have been afraid of. It could start something”. Biggles sends Algy on ahead to get a couple of pistols, load them and bring them back, “just in case there’s trouble”. “Biggles helped Conchita to her feet and they followed more slowly”.