Biggles and the Little Green God Page 3

  ‘I know as much as anyone in this country seems to know. It was a carved jade figure with a large ruby inset, believed to be an ancient idol which came originally from the Far East.’

  Pallimo’s answer surprised Biggles. ‘You are partly right. lt is an ancient — very ancient — object: a god if you like to call it that. But it is not, and never was, oriental.’

  ‘How do you know that?’ Biggles couldn’t help asking.

  ‘Never mind how I know. Take it from me I do know. Its disappearance has upset me very much and I would give a great deal to get it back. If I could think it was lost for ever, at the bottom of the sea for instance, I wouldn’t mind so much. I am more concerned that it does not pass into the hands of another person. That, really, is why I bought it.’

  Again, this remarkable admission astonished Biggles. ‘I assume there is a reason why you should feel like that about it?’

  ‘Let us call it a personal matter. Now, why do you think I should be able to help you?’

  ‘Well, sir, I had to start making inquiries somewhere and this seemed to be the obvious place. You have said, I believe, that there may have been foul play. Is that correct?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then am I to take it that you regard the loss of the aeroplane carrying your parcel not to be entirely accidental?’

  ‘That is only a suspicion. I have no proof to offer you!’

  ‘But you must have a reason for thinking that!’

  ‘I have a feeling this is not just a matter of common theft.’

  ‘Why?’

  Pallimo hesitated. ‘Call it intuition.’

  ‘Foul play is a broad term,’ went on Biggles. ‘Do you think the plane could have been hijacked? That sort of thing has happened, as no doubt you know.’

  ‘It is not impossible. A valuable object is always a temptation to rogues.’

  ‘When you bought the object at public auction somebody must have been bidding against you to lift the price to what you had to pay.’

  ‘I realized that.’

  ‘Do you know who it was?’

  ‘No. I couldn’t see. It was someone sitting behind me.’

  ‘A collector of such objects, perhaps?’

  ‘Quite likely.’

  ‘Have you any suspicion of whom it might have been?’

  Again Pallimo hesitated. ‘No.’

  Biggles tried a new tack. ‘Having secured the object, you engaged a man, a courier, to take it to your house in Chile?’

  ‘That is correct.’

  ‘Who was this man?’

  ‘Does it matter?’

  ‘It might.’

  ‘He must have gone down with the plane when it crashed.’

  ‘That is assuming it did crash. There is no proof of that.’

  ‘You can be sure he was a man of irreproachable character, or I would not have entrusted him with a package that was worth so much.’

  ‘You haven’t answered my question, sir,’ prompted Biggles. ‘What was his name?’

  ‘O’Higgins.’

  ‘An Irishman?’

  ‘Originally.’

  ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘He was a direct descendant of the famous Bernado O’Higgins, the soldier and statesman who, in the nineteenth century, as commander of the Chilean Army, liberated Chile from the Spanish Royalists. He became Dictator, but was subsequently deposed and went to live in Peru, where he died.’

  ‘So the O’Higgins whom you entrusted with your valuable purchase was a Peruvian?’

  ‘No. Later, some of the family returned to Chile and settled there. I know them well. I knew José O’Higgins was in London and about to return to Santiago, so I asked him if he would take a parcel home for me and he agreed.’

  ‘You talk of a parcel. What sort of parcel was it?’

  ‘A small cardboard carton tied up in brown paper by string.’

  ‘Wasn’t that a bit casual for such a valuable object?’

  ‘The idea was to make it look as if the parcel contained nothing of value. Not an original trick, I know. It has often been done.’

  ‘Did O’Higgins know what the parcel contained?’

  ‘Of course. I told him. I trusted him implicitly.’

  ‘Weren’t you in rather a hurry to get it home?’

  ‘Perhaps I was; but I didn’t want to leave it about.’

  Biggles nodded. ‘I can understand that. Now, if I am not taking up too much of your time will you please tell me this. You have said the idol is not of oriental origin. Do you know where it came from?’

  ‘Yes. It came from Chile.’

  Biggles’ eyes opened wide. ‘That does surprise me. It would surprise some of the experts on these matters, too, I’m sure.’

  Pallimo smiled cynically. ‘Do not believe all the experts say. They have to pretend they know. They attribute anything they don’t understand to the Far East. They forget, or they don’t know, that there were older civilizations. Long before Europe discovered America there were wonderful cultures there. They, too, could produce works of art. The arrival of Europeans was their ruin. Europe began a methodical war of extermination; but a few of the inhabitants managed to get away and survive.’

  ‘You’re referring to the Incas.’

  ‘Not necessarily. They came later. There were great civilizations in South America before the Incas, as excavations are now revealing. These earlier people were superlative craftsmen, working in gold and precious stones. They did not know iron.’

  ‘And this idol—’

  ‘Let us get this right. It was a god, held in the highest reverence.’

  ‘You’re sure of that?’

  ‘I should know. I live there. All my life I have been a student of the country’s early history. I have mastered the language these early people spoke. I could claim to be the greatest living authority on the first South American civilizations, should I care to do so. I have talked to their descendants. I even know the name of the god they worshipped. It was Atu-Hua, god of the sierras — the mountains. Another thing you should understand, while we are on the subject, is this: the boundaries of the South American republics were not always the same as they are today. What is now Chile was once upon a time a much larger country than what it has become.’

  ‘Was it because you recognized the god Atu-Hua that you were so anxious to have it?’

  ‘You might say that was one of the reasons.’

  ‘Was there another?’

  ‘Yes, but I would rather not discuss it. Anything else you want to know?’

  ‘This man O’Higgins. Was he of pure European blood?’

  ‘Naturally, after centuries, there is not much absolutely pure European blood in South America. People intermarry. The great majority of the population is what are called mestizos; that is, of mixed blood. O’Higgins was one.’

  ‘Then he might have Inca, or even earlier, native blood in his veins.’

  ‘It is possible. It is nothing to be ashamed of. Why do you ask?’

  ‘It merely occurred to me that he might have more than just a passing interest in the god of his forefathers.’

  ‘That would be natural, would it not?’

  Biggles agreed. ‘Well, sir, if that’s all, and there is nothing more you can tell me, I won’t take up any more of your time. I take it you are still anxious to recover your lost property, if that is possible!’

  ‘I would give anything to get it back,’ stated Don Pallimo in a voice so definite that Biggles gave him a second look. However, he said no more, and after thanking the Chilean for giving him so much of his time he took his departure and returned to the office at Scotland Yard.

  ‘Well, how did you get on?’ queried Algy, who was already there.

  ‘Not too badly,’ Biggles answered. ‘Don Pallimo told me quite a lot, but I think he could have told me more.’

  ‘You think he’s holding something back?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘But why on earth should he?’

  ‘That’s a question I can’t answer; but I have a feeling in my bones that there’s more to this affair than has so far been divulged. It might even have a political angle. How, I wouldn’t try to guess. But you know what these South American republics are like. It doesn’t take much to start a revolution. Did you learn anything at the airport?’

  ‘Not a lot, but I picked up one item of information which I fancy will interest you.’

  ‘Let’s have it.’

  ‘Pallimo’s courier wasn’t the only passenger in the machine that disappeared.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Biggles said slowly. ‘You mean — a paying passenger?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I wonder if Pallimo knows that?’

  ‘Surely, if he knew, he would have told you.’

  ‘One would think so. Yet, perhaps not. This might be the key to something he didn’t want to talk about. I felt all along there was something. In fact, he as good as said so. There was one aspect he said he preferred not to discuss; one of the reasons why he was so anxious to recover his lost property. That’s what convinces me that there’s more to this than the intrinsic value of a lump of jade, however beautifully it may have been carved. Who was this extra passenger? Did you manage to get his name?’

  ‘Yes. There was no secret about that. It was Barrendo. Professor Barrendo. A Chilean authority on early American civilizations. Apparently he’d been over here to give a lecture to some society and was anxious to get back home. Naturally, the air line would be glad to fill another seat.’

  ‘And he, I suppose, went west with the rest of the party.’

  ‘No. He’s okay.’

  ‘How did that happen?’

  ‘It’s been confirmed that he left the plane at Buenos Aires saying he’d decide
d to call on a relative there and would continue his journey home later. How lucky can some people be?’

  ‘So lucky that one would almost think they’d been given the gift of second sight,’ Biggles commented meaningly.

  ‘You’re not suggesting he could have known what was going to happen to the plane!’

  ‘I’m not suggesting anything. I’m merely saying that what some people call luck can be the result of having inside information.’ Biggles reached to pick up the telephone.

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘I’m going back to see Pallimo if he’s still available. There’s a question I’d like to ask him. The more I learn about this case the fishier it smells.’

  CHAPTER 5

  A THANKLESS ASSIGNMENT

  BIGGLES called the Hotel Grande and asked to be put through to Don Pallimo’s apartment. When he had been connected he said: ‘This is Inspector Bigglesworth here, sir. There is a question I forgot to ask when I was with you just now. I’d rather not talk over the telephone. Can you give me a minute if I come round? It won’t take longer than that... Thank you, sir.’

  ‘Shan’t be long,’ he told Algy, and went out.

  In a quarter of an hour he was at the hotel. He found he was expected, and without delay was taken to the room of the man he wanted to see.

  ‘Yes, Inspector, what’s the question?’ asked Pallimo, cheerfully, as he was shown in.

  ‘Two questions, sir, so I’ll come straight to the point,’ Biggles said. ‘Did you know there was another passenger on the plane taking O’Higgins and your parcel to Santiago?’

  Pallimo’s expression changed abruptly. ‘No, I certainly did not know that,’ he answered sharply.

  ‘That’s what I thought, or you would have mentioned it to me. The second question is this. Do you know a man named Barrendo?’

  Pallimo frowned. For an instant he looked startled. ‘Yes, I know a man of that name,’ he admitted. ‘What about him?’

  ‘He was the other passenger on the plane.’

  Pallimo stared at Biggles’ face. He did not speak.

  ‘I thought you’d like to know,’ Biggles said, a little awkwardly, perceiving his news had come as a shock. ‘That’s all, sir.’ He turned to go.

  Pallimo found his voice. ‘One moment, Inspector,’ he said quickly. ‘This man Barrendo. Was he still on the plane when it disappeared?’

  ‘No. I understand he left it at Buenos Aires, giving the reason he wanted to call on a relative who presumably lives there.’

  ‘Of course,’ breathed Pallimo. ‘Of course.’

  ‘Why do you say of course?’ prompted Biggles. ‘Was this what you expected me to say?’

  ‘It’s nothing... nothing,’ answered Pallimo shortly. ‘Thank you, Inspector, for this information. Good day to you.’

  ‘You’re sure there is nothing else you’d like to tell me?’

  ‘Quite sure.’

  ‘At least tell me this,’ requested Biggles. ‘Had Barrendo a personal interest in the god—’

  ‘His interest was as great, if not greater, than mine,’ broke in Pallimo.

  ‘Could he have been the man who bid against you at the auction?’

  ‘It is possible, and that is as much as I’m prepared to say.’

  ‘You’re not forgetting that I’m working on your behalf, trying to recover what you’ve lost,’ reminded Biggles with a hint of reproach. ‘Obviously, any information you can give me, no matter how trivial it may seem, could make my task easier.’

  ‘I have nothing more to say.’

  ‘In that case I won’t detain you. But before I go will you please tell me this. Do you, or do you not, want me to recover, if possible, this god you call Atu-Hua?’

  ‘I don’t care if it is lost for ever; but I’m anxious that no one else should gain possession of it.’

  Biggles shrugged. ‘As you wish, sir. It’s up to you. If you feel like that I wonder you bother to claim the insurance money.’

  ‘I paid the premium so why should I not have that to which I am entitled?’

  ‘You insured the god knowing there was a risk of it being lost, or stolen.’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Did you inform the insurance company of the unusual risks they were taking?’

  ‘It is not for me to tell them how to run their business.’

  ‘They may have their own ideas about that,’ Biggles pointed out. ‘However, I won’t waste any more of your time. I take it you’ll be here should I want to see you again?’

  ‘I shall not be here. I am going back to Santiago at the earliest possible moment.’

  If Biggles was surprised he did not say so, or show it. He took his departure and returned to Scotland Yard. He went straight to the office where he found Algy waiting.

  ‘Well?’ queried Algy.

  ‘There’s no well about it,’ returned Biggles. ‘The more I see of this business the less I like it. It begins to stink. I’m more than ever convinced that there’s more to it than we’ve been told. Pallimo knows, but for some reason he won’t come into the open. He was shaken when I told him Barrendo was on the plane, but he still wouldn’t talk.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’

  ‘I’m going down to see the chief right away; and if I have my way he’ll tell whoever handed us this bunch of old rhubarb they can cook it themselves. See you presently. Then we’ll have some lunch together.’

  Biggles went to the Air Commodore’s office and found him working at his desk.

  The Air Commodore put down his pen and looked up. ‘How have you been getting on?’

  ‘Fairly well, sir. One might say too well,’ Biggles answered.

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

  ‘I’ve spent the morning talking, but all I’ve done is stir up enough muddy water to make it impossible to see the bottom of the can. This case looked tricky from the word go, but now I’m sure of it. There’s more behind this little lost god business than Mr Pallimo has led anyone this side of the Atlantic to believe. Take my word for that.’

  ‘Have you seen Pallimo?’

  ‘Yes. He’s back from the Continent.’

  ‘What did he say?’

  ‘It’s what he won’t say is the snag. He knows what’s behind this affair, but for some reason he intends to keep it to himself.’

  ‘But that’s ridiculous! How does he expect us to help him if he won’t co-operate?’

  ‘That’s a question you’d better ask him, sir. He won’t tell me. However, I’ve learnt enough to convince me that the loss of this little green god was no common theft. There’s more than one person involved and I suspect Pallimo knows who they are. The whole thing seems to be tied up to some mystique.’

  ‘Tell me what you’ve found out so far.’

  Biggles related the results of his morning’s work in some detail. ‘I’m beginning to think that somewhere in the background there’s a political wangle going on, and this little green gent with a bloodshot eye named Atu-Hua is the kingpin in it.’

  ‘Strange that you should run into the name Barrendo,’ the Air Commodore said. ‘It cropped up here this morning.’

  ‘How did that happen?’

  ‘I’ve had a visit from one of the secretaries of the Chilean Embassy. He wanted to know if Barrendo was still in England and, if so, if we could locate him for them.’

  ‘You can now tell him he isn’t. He’s gone home — or at any rate as far as Buenos Aires. He left here on the same plane as O’Higgins, the man carrying the parcel for Pallimo. Something tells me that Caravana was never intended to get to Santiago. Or put it this way. If it did, the parcel wouldn’t be on board. May I make a suggestion?’

  ‘Do.’

  ‘Let’s forget the whole thing and invite Pallimo to work it out himself.’

  ‘It isn’t as simple as that.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Do I have to remind you there’s a little matter of a hundred thousand pounds to be taken into account?’

  ‘Pallimo doesn’t need the money.’

  ‘That isn’t likely to prevent him from claiming it.’

  ‘The claim might be invalid on the grounds that he failed to inform the insurance company of certain exceptional risks. I told him so this morning.’

  ‘Could that be proved?’

  ‘It might be difficult if Pallimo denied any knowledge of exceptional risks,’ Biggles had to admit.

  The Air Commodore shook his head. ‘No. We can’t get out of it like that. British insurance companies have a world-wide reputation for paying claims and they wouldn’t risk losing it. We can’t get away from it. The article was insured. It has been lost. The claim will have to be paid. There’s only one way of escaping the liability.’