Francis

This story is for persons of eighteen years or over. All comments, good or bad, are welcome and all will be answered.

Part Seventeen

`Francis! It's four o'clock. You should be up and getting ready to go out,' Wesson said from his sleeping bag.

`But I've only just gotten off to sleep,' I told him.

`You've got to go up that hill!'

`What for?' I mumbled.

`I told you last night,' he said exasperatedly.

`For these?' I asked as I pulled out four shoulder flashes from my sleeping bag.

`What! How! When?' He was running out of adverbs as I chuckled sleepily. That's why I didn't get to sleep till after three. I told Wesson that as soon as he was asleep, I was off and covered the distance in quite a short time. The last fifty yards took the longest as I crept up to the top. I had circled round them and found one guard asleep and another dozing as he leaned on the breastwork, looking the wrong way.

I shot him twice in the back before leaping onto the sleeping one and shot him in the heart while my hand was over his mouth. Then I just shot the other two as they lay asleep. I can say that they were very pissed off at being taken so easily. I found their log book and made them sign the time of the attack and that they had all been killed. Also, in case of them cheating, I tied them up. One didn't want that and got stroppy, so I decked him and left him with the others. When I'd finished telling Wesson, I gave him the flashes and the signed paper, plus their pay books, which had infuriated them when I rifled their pockets.

`Now let me get my beauty sleep,' I said, and rolled over and went to sleep.

It was midday when I woke up, and Wesson was outside lying in the sun with his shirt off. I went and poured out what was left of the coffee and drank it as he got up and put his shirt on.

`What now?' I asked.

`Well as we are somewhat ahead of schedule, let's strike camp and make for the next site.' So we packed up the tent and made our way back to where the huts were. We had just dumped our packs when I heard a voice call out.

`Hey fella's. The pretty boy's here and I think he's brought his dad with him.' It was one of those lads from the redoubt that I had attacked.

`Who was stupid enough to untie you?' I retorted, and that was enough. The four of them started to walk over towards us.

`You know what to do Francis,' Wesson said quietly out of the side of his mouth.

`Well here goes Wesson. Only step in if I get into trouble,' I said as I went forward to meet them.

The big one in front threw a punch as I dropped down onto one knee and punched him in the balls. As he started to double over, I came up with my head and connected with his chin, snapping his head back and he was unconscious before he hit the ground. I didn't see him land because I had already started to turn in my crouch and scissored the next man. I bounced up and put my knee into his solar plexus before chopping him at the throat, rending him unconscious too. The third man's fist grazed my cheek as I moved, but I was still able to take hold of his arm and use his weight to throw him. I didn't let go, which I would have done in the gym, so I felt his shoulder go and he was already giving out a scream before he hit the floor, his shoulder dislocated.

I saw, as I turned to face the last man, that a small crowd had gathered as I went forward to meet this last one. He was now starting to back off as I moved in closer, and I could hear the onlookers start to jeer as he kept moving back away from me.

`You're not worth the effort,' I sneered at him and started to turn away from him, but used the turn to speed my hop and kick. My booted foot caught him right in the pit of his stomach, knocking him onto his back where he doubled up gasping for breath. The onlookers began to cheer as Wesson strolled over to this last man and dragged him by the collar back to where our packs were by the tree. Other soldiers came forward to see to the two unconscious men and the moaning one with the displaced shoulder bone. Wesson crouched down by the one he'd dragged away and I heard him speak to the poor sod as his breathing started to ease.

`The four of you were fucked over last night and again this afternoon. You picked the wrong person to tangle with. Let me show you a picture of our pretty boy dressed in civvies.' Wesson pulled out a photo from his pocket and I had got close enough to see what it was. It wasn't a posed one, but it was one of me in one of the dresses that I liked.

A girl?' he exclaimed rather loudly, and I glanced round and saw that most of the men there heard his words. I don't believe it!'

`Her "dad" as you called me, doesn't bother training boys like you. She could have killed all four of you, but I told her that it wasn't the done thing on a training course. Just consider yourselves lucky.' I watched Wesson put the photo away and then I looked round as the others were carried away to be treated.

Well done Francis,' said Wesson as he put his arm round my shoulder. You couldn't have pleased me better.' I glanced sharply at him and thought otherwise.

`I'll go and get us some lunch,' I said and walked off towards what I gathered was the mess hall.

Technically, we weren't allowed to eat here, but I was saying fuck them and their rules, I was now playing by mine. I went into the rough mess hall and picked up two trays with the indentations for the food. Word had already gone ahead and soldiers moved out of my way as I went along the line, and the soldier who was dishing out the food didn't say a word, but filled the trays, and I then walked out and left a buzz of noise behind me.

I didn't start trembling till I had sat down under the tree with Wesson, and I thanked him for his training as we ate the food. Whether he noticed or not, he didn't say anything, and when we'd finished eating, I took his tray and threw both into the bushes behind us.

`Where do we camp tonight?' I asked him.

`Down by the stream I thought,' Wesson answered, getting his pack on. I was quite pleased that I was able to get the pack on and stand up without help. It took us two hours to get there and it wasn't long before we had the tent up and the little camp fit for our use.

`I'm going for a bath,' I said when all was done.

`Bath?' Wesson echoed.

`Well, a dip in the stream. Does the camp get their water from this stream?'

`I doubt it, why.'

`Well I'd piss in it if they did,' and laughed as I went off.

The water was cold, but I stripped off and went in and lay down and let the water gently flow over me. I was only in there a few minutes before I saw Wesson on the bank looking at me.

`You must be crazy! That water's freezing,' he said.

It's not so bad once you're in,' I said getting up and wading out. If my being naked affected him, I do not know. Try it,' I said as I walked back to the tent. I rubbed myself down with a shirt and went into the tent and laid down on my sleeping bag.

I haven't mentioned it before, but when they call a tent, a two man tent, I think they were referring to children. When laid flat, the two sleeping bags overlapped and there wasn't much head room either.

I was only there a few minutes before Wesson came in, naked and wet, rubbing himself down on a small square of cloth.

`You're mad. That bloody water was absolutely freezing.'

Makes your prick and balls shrink, doesn't it. Look at mine. I can hardly see them,' I said sitting up. What's yours look like now?'

`Same as usual,' he said lying down, the scrap of cloth he had been using to dry himself casually draped across his midriff.

`I must thank you for your training of me Wesson. I see now that I made the right decision to go into the Navy. Look what would have happened to me with blokes like that. I wouldn't have lasted five minutes, and I've got you to thank for that,' I said, rolling onto my side to look at him.

`Tell me Wesson. Where did you get that photo of me?' This question I asked very softly. He didn't answer straight away, but kept looking up at the tent roof.

`I...I came across it by chance.'

`When?'

`Er, just after you joined us

`Why?'

`You know damn well why,' he said fiercely, rolling onto his side to face me, our faces only inches apart. We lay there for I don't know how long, looking at each other, both naked in a small tent on our own. Well, it was inevitable.

Francis?' Wesson's voice was hoarse as he spoke, would this be the place?'

`If you think it's the time,' I said softly.

`Is it?' he asked.

`I think so Wesson,' I said, giving my lips a gently lick with the tip of my tongue.

`Oh Francis,' he said, his voiced now strangled as he rolled further towards me till our lips met and he then rolled right on top of me, kissing me rather fiercely. His scrap of cloth had slipped away and I felt his erection hard up against my belly. My arms went up round his shoulders and held him tight to me as we kissed.

`You haven't done this before, have you?' I asked when we broke off that long kiss.

`Not with, no,' he said looking down at me.

`Then roll over,' I said, which he did till he was flat on his back. I then moved over him and kissed him again. On the lips. Then the chin, slowly moving down to throat and finding a nipple among the chest hair. Then I traced a line from his chest hair down to the pubic hair, letting his erection twitch as my cheek touched it. I gave his bullet scar a fleetingly glance as I then gave his hard cock my full attention. He gave a gasp as I took it into my mouth and I saw his stomach muscles contract as he felt the warmth enclose him. I fondled his hard balls as I slowly moved my head up and down on him, using the tongue to tease at the same time. I didn't spend too much time down there, because I don't think he could have lasted for what I wanted.

I came off of him and fumbled around in the small pocket of my sleeping bag and pulled out a condom, which I quickly got out of its wrapper and then gently rolled it down over his hard cock. Then I moved up along his body and kissed him again.

`I...I haven't done this before Francis,' he said.

`But you still want to fuck me?'

`I do, I do.'

If we were in a bed with pillows, we could do it as a man and woman, but here we can't. You've seen a horse mount a mare, a bull cover a cow or a dog take a bitch? Well think of me as a bitch and you are the rampant dog. Your ready, I'm ready. You'll find it quite easy, much tighter than a real woman, but just as satisfying. Come on, I'm a bitch in heat and I am wanting a strong dog to fuck me.' I pulled him up onto his knees and I turned over onto my knees and moved so that I felt his erection touch my bum. Just put it there and push,' I said, almost panting in anticipation. I felt his cock nudge my hole and then he pushed and in he came, sliding right in till our thighs met.

`Oh my God,' I heard him mutter as I flexed and felt his hardness throb inside me.

Please Wesson,' I said in a begging voice, don't stop. Move and give pleasure to us both.' That was enough to get him going. He was gentle in his movements and definitely an amateur in this form of love making. I loved his way of moving, but it was not quite what I wanted after the fight I'd had that afternoon.

Fuck me Wesson as though you meant it,' I panted, my head turned round as far as I could. I need to feel you, please! Harder and then harder again!' His big hands held my hips firm and he started to push into me harder, his balls making slapping sounds against my thighs. `Faster!' I urged, and he picked up his speed and I loved the man for the thrill he gave me at his first experience of fucking another man. He swelled up inside me and I felt his fingers tighten on me as he started to come. He'd made funny noises as he pumped and ground himself hard against me, the heavy throb pounding my inner linings. I jerked myself off as he came, shooting all over my sleeping bag as he came inside me. The tension instantly being lessened as my balls emptied and I'm sure it was the same for Wesson. He'd grunted and groaned as he'd come and now his weight was heavy up against my thighs. He gave a few more thrusts before he pulled out of me, sitting back onto his heels.

I quickly turned round and with a tissue that I had kept out handy and pulled the used condom off of him and threw both out of the tent. He sighed and then rolled onto his bag as I moved over now and kissed him.

`Let me clean you up,' I said, and went down and sucked his wilting penis till I had taken all that was left of his coming into my mouth, swallowing it before licking him clean.

`You don't have to kiss me if you don't want to. But I can assure you that you won't be tasting yourself.' He looked at me for a moment, but he did lift himself up and kiss me, before rolling back, taking me with him.

`I...I don't know what to say Francis. It...it was so...I can't really say what it was that I felt.'

Don't say love for Christ's sake. You wanted to fuck me and I wanted you to. That's it!' I stroked his cheek and smiled at him. I won't feel degraded when you think of this later, and I hope you won't feel regret either. You've been tense for far too long, and all I've done is help you to relieve that tension. Besides, I liked it. You're a good, big man, and anytime you feel that you need to relieve yourself, just let me know. I'll be here for you as I hope you will be for me.' I moved in close to him, snuggling so that it was automatic for him to put his arms round me. I'm not a pervert Wesson. It's just that many times I feel insecure. I have always been and felt as a woman, and I quite often need to feel the strong arms of a man holding me. Protecting me as it were. Your arms are just what I need at this moment.' His arms tightened about me as I continued, Please don't hate me for what we've just done. Just help me help myself.' And I fell asleep in his arms.

When I awoke, the night sky was just beginning to show glimmers of day approaching. I looked up and saw that Wesson was up on his elbow looking down at me.

`Good morning Wesson,' I said softly

`Good morning Francis,' he replied.

`You don't regret last night do you?' I asked, putting up a hand and stroking his face, feeling the stubble on his cheek.

`No. It's just that I never thought that I could do it with, er, do it that way,' he finished. My hand travelled down his chest until I felt his semi erect penis and took it into my hand.

`Now that you've done it once, would you like to do it for the second time?' I felt the answer growing in my hand before he spoke.

Yes,' he said in a husky voice. I'd also like to kiss you again,' and he bent his head and gently did just that. His cock getting harder all the time as I gently rubbed it.

`I'm ready when you are,' I said when the kiss finished, passing him a condom.

`I don't need that,' he said.

`If you don't wear it, I won't suck you afterwards,' I replied, so he took it and put it on as I rolled over and went onto my knees. He didn't need any telling what to do. He held my hip as he pushed and entered me. It was good and hard and he fucked me better than he had the night before, ramming into me till he gave a strangled cry and I felt him really throbbing inside. I withheld doing it to myself, for I had other plans for my semen later. He pulled out making me give a little cry at the loss and I quickly pulled the condom off and threw that one out the tent too. Then I pushed him onto his back and spent the next ten minutes sucking and cleaning him.

I emerged from the tent and saw that the two condoms had got caught on a bush, and swung slightly in the small breeze as the dawn was breaking. I went down to the stream, which was really only a few yards away and washed. He was dressed and had a fire going when I got back. He went for a wash as I prepared some breakfast and had started to take down the tent when he returned.

`Don't forget to bury those, he said, pointing to the condoms as he helped me stow the tent and things. We ate and then I did some digging to bury any evidence of our being there. Even the trace of our fire was obliterated before we donned our packs and moved off. We'd gone about a quarter of a mile before I suddenly stopped.

I missed the wrappers,' I said to him, slipping off my pack and taking up the entrenching tool. I'm going back. You stay here. I won't be long,' and I set off at a lope before he could object or say anything. I was soon back at the site and then I sat down and had thoughts about the two sessions with Wesson. I soon had an erection and pulling it out, unrolled a fresh condom onto it, and then pulled it off. I did this with another three until I had all four hanging next to each other on the bush that I was going to use. I then jerked myself off and splattered all four with my sperm. I put myself away when I had finished and then picked each one off in turn to throw at the bush in a haphazard fashion. I then pulled from my pocket the other two that had been used by Wesson and threw then onto the bush as well. Then I set off back to where Wesson was waiting.

They were found later by a patrol and wrongly assumed, as I had intended, that Wesson had used all six on me that night. So that was how he came by the sobriquet of six shot Wesson. He never did understand how he got that nickname and I didn't tell him. As for me, being taken for a woman, they then thought that I must have been a raver to be able to get a man do it six times.

I met up with Wesson and we carried on, and during this day and the next two, we ambushed a two man patrol and one of six men. These we had caught crossing a wheat field that had many poppies growing in it. I picked a bunch of them as I went to the soldiers we had shot, giving each of them one of these red flowers as I took their flashes from their shoulders.

`Sorry about this chaps, but it's the closest thing I could get to a pimpernel.' As on several occasions Wesson and I had been spotted at some distances, we still seemed to turn up at a different place than was expected. This latest escapade with the flowers, gave rise to me being called Blakeney's Ghost. We also hit the same redoubt again successfully, getting three different men this time. Near a road that ran through the combat zone, I spotted a jeep through the binoculars and had time to plant a dummy mine in the road. This they hit, but didn't stop, so I didn't get their flashes, but I was later credited with two officers and a private as being killed in that encounter.

Then on what was our last but one day, we made our camp early, not far from the base camp, and Wesson spread out a map for me to look at.

Now tomorrow, we do our last assault. Only this time, they are warned that we are coming.' He then went on to explain. Here is base camp and the target is a field command post here,' he pointed. `It's twenty miles from H.Q. and the ground between is hilly and rough going. Wesson had marked the map day by day. He'd entered date and time and location of all our camp stops. Where and when we had hit patrols and so on, for our debriefing later.

`Is this where we hit the jeep,' I pointed at a mark on the map.

`Yes.' It was a road that was about a mile from H.Q., bypassing it. This road then curved a bit up towards the field post, passing it about two miles away. So tracing from H.Q. to the road and then up and turning off to the field post, I estimated it at about twenty six miles. Only six miles different from a direct route. I lay back in the sun and gave it some thought, occasionally leaning up to study the map while I was formulating a plan. I saw Wesson also lying in the sun, massaging his leg. He'd been doing this at each stop over the last two days.

`Is it still causing you problems,' I asked.

Damn thing. I shouldn't really have come on this trip with it, but it's been worthwhile,' he grinned and I smiled back at him knowing what he meant. It's going to slow us down tomorrow I'm afraid.' No it wouldn't, I thought to myself. Not if you agree to my plan, which I wasn't going to tell him till the next morning.

`I want to turn in early tonight. Can you wake me about two o'clock. I want to raid the H.Q.'

We're not allowed to hit that. It's off limits, he said.

`I'm not going to hit it. I just want to get a few things that would be handy for tomorrow.'

`Such as?'

`I'll tell you tomorrow.'

He duly woke me up about that time and I dressed and blackened my face for the raid. It was easy to get into the camp because no one was allowed to attack it, so it wasn't guarded properly. I got into one of the sleeping barracks and stole a pair of shorts, plimsolls, T shirt, an observer's blouse and trousers. I also picked up a spare paint pistol. With these goodies, I made the two mile trek back to our tent and slept till six.

I hadn't let Wesson see what I had got as we packed up after breakfast and presented ourselves at H.Q. just before eight. We went into the hut that was the Colonel's office where the radio was.

`You know the drill Wesson in this operation?' the colonel asked.

`Yes sir.'

For your benefit Lyon. In,' he looked at his watch, precisely four minutes, I will radio Major Evans that you are leaving. The Major, a radio operator, a sergeant and three privates man the post. You are not expected to over-run this post, but will be judged as to how well you do when you get there. There aren't any patrols out till you are well out of the immediate area of this camp. Your code names are Angel One and Two. We haven't given a name to the operation yet.' He turned to talk to the radio man as I spoke up.

`Excuse me sir. Could we call it Operation Marathon?'

`Yes, that would do nicely. Get me the Major please,' he asked the radio man.

`Already on sir, waiting for you,' he replied.

Good,' he said picking up the radio phone. Hello Major. Today the exercise is called Operation Marathon and Angels One and Two are leaving now. Over and out. Well that's it. Off you go and good luck.' Wesson saluted and we both left the hut.

`Who is that?' I asked Wesson, pointing out a young officer as we crossed the open space before the trees.

`Lieutenant Cargill. Been here a couple of weeks.' Good old Wesson. Ask a question and he's nearly always got the answer. We left the camp, heading off towards our objective and when we were well out of sight, I told Wesson that I wanted to strike off towards the road.

Why?' So we stopped and I told him of my plan. You're mad!' he exclaimed. It took all of ten minutes to convince him that it was the only feasible way. `They know we are coming, but don't know when.' He finally agreed and so we struck off for the road. Near to it, we stopped and I stripped off my clothes and got out what I had stolen from the camp during the night.

The plan was simple. With us leaving base camp at eight in the morning, it would, with full packs, take about ten hours to reach the post, taking into consideration, the terrain. That meant that they would be on the alert from about six o'clock to be ready for us, but not expect an attack till it was dark. I was going to run the twenty six miles using the road, carrying only the uniform, my boots and two pistols. I was allowing myself six hours, less if I could manage it, and then use my ruse when I got there, coming in from a different direction and well ahead of time. Surprise was the key element.

I had countered Wesson's argument by quoting him that it was more often quicker by a longer route than the direct one. He was going to follow up the road at his own pace, it was, after all, supposed to be my show. Dressed in shorts and shirt and the soft shoes on my feet, I slung the small bag with what I wanted on my back and I was ready.

Wish me luck,' I said, giving him a kiss, and I'll see you on the road later.' With that, I set off on my own trial of endurance. I jogged steadily for an hour before I slowed to a walk for about ten minutes before resuming the jog. I had also brought a water bottle, but only took cautious sips when walking. It turned out to be a gruelling run, but I reached my turn off that I wanted well within my time frame. My legs felt like lead and I had almost finished the water, but I forced myself on till I judged I was about half a mile away from the post. Then I hid myself as I stripped of the sweat sodden things and put on a fresh pair of socks and the stolen observer's uniform and my boots. Making sure that my two pistols were hidden on me, I drank the remaining drops of water and set off for the last leg.

I approached the post at a slow jog trot and I waved when I saw someone turn and see me. I kept stumbling on, still giving a wave as I got closer. I saw the major standing there with the sergeant, watching me approach. I came to staggering halt and threw an awkward salute to the officer.

`Who the devil are you,' he demanded.

Private...private Duvall sir,' I panted out, Observer of the twenty second unit under lieutenant Cargill sir.'

`Who...oh, the new chap. What the devil are you doing out here then?'

`Message sir, from the lieutenant. We were sent out in the early hours of this morning to establish a post further down the valley. When we made our position, after getting lost in the dark, we found that the radio had been broken somehow. That's why we couldn't speak to you and I was sent.'

`Well! Give me the message then,' he snapped.

`Could you radio H.Q. to confirm if it was two or three men that were sent out this morning, because that's how many we have spotted. If you would let me show you on the map sir, I can tell where our post is and where they were seen.'

`How long ago was this?' he asked sharply.

`Nearly two hours ago sir. So that would put them about two to three hours from here now, sir.'

`They've made damn good time. Sergeant!'

`Yes sir!'

`Have the men take positions at the wall. Which way were they heading?' he asked of me.

`The lieutenant thinks that they looked as if they were going to try and come up here upon your right flank,' I said.

`Hear that sergeant? Watch that sector closely. You! Come with me and show me exactly where they were seen.' The last directed at me and I followed him into the bunker. I glanced out of one of the slits and could see all five men, fairly close to me, all looking out at the valley.

`Here, show me on the map.' I had already worked out where my post should have been.

`We're here sir, and they were spotted across over here on the far side. Well out of our range, but definitely three of them coming this way. That's why we wanted to contact H.Q. to confirm the number sent out.'

Hawkins!' This was then, the radio operator's name. Get me H.Q.'

Yes sir,' and he fiddled with some dials and spoke into the microphone. I have them sir,' he said and as he turned, that's when I pulled out my gun and shot him in the heart and then turned the gun on the major.

Don't move sir,' I said as sharply as I could. You, Hawkins. You're dead, so don't make a sound from now on. Move away from that radio and sit down, you're out of the game from now on.' The major started to bluster.

Quiet please sir, or I will shoot you too.' I relieved him of his pistol and I could see that he was red in the face with indignation. I then sat down and not taking my eyes off him spoke into the microphone. Is that H.Q.?'

Yes,' came the tinny reply, who are you?'

`Angel Two, now give me the Colonel.' There was some sounds coming from the speaker as the operator was obviously speaking to somebody else.

`Who is this? It had better not be a joke,' he warned.

`No joke Colonel. This is Angel Two of Operation Marathon.'

`Where are you speaking from?'

`The field post that you sent me out to. I have control of the bunker and if you will just hold for a moment because I don't know how to work this radio. There are still four soldiers outside who are looking the wrong way, but they are still armed.' I could hear the Colonel squawk as I took my other pistol out of my blouse and through the slit, shot three of the men in the backsides. They all shot upright at the sudden shock and they turned round towards me.

`Sergeant! I haven't shot you yet, so don't make me make it a kill instead of a wound. The radio operator is dead and the major captured. Collect the weapons out there and throw them out into the field. Careful now.' I watched as he did as he was told and then said,

Now sit down with your wounded men and stay there till I say otherwise.' I then picked up the microphone, keeping an eye on the men outside and the major inside. I could see the dead' radio operator grinning behind the major's back.

Sorry about that Colonel,' I said into the microphone. I now have complete control of this post. We have one dead radio man, name of Hawkins. Three wounded soldiers, to whom the sergeant is attending, and Major Evans as a prisoner. Now I'm not sure of the rules of this game. Do I kill them all and disable the radio and make my way back, or what?'

`Well, I'm astounded Lyon. It's never been done before. This is not a trick to put them off their guard is it?'

`No sir. I'll let you speak to the Major.' I waved to the Major to come over from where he had sat down, and gave him the mike.

Major Evans here sir,' he said in a dull voice. It's true what you've just heard. I couldn't believe it. Five hours!'

Okay,' I heard the Colonel wearily say, put Lyon, Angel two back on please.' The major handed the mike to me. `Lyon!'

`Yes sir.'

`All I can is well done. Operation Marathon is over. I'm sending a jeep up to collect you, you must be tired. Tell the Major that a truck will follow later to collect the wounded. Again, well done. Over and out.'

`Well you heard the Colonel sir, it's over, but I must ask you for your shoulder flash. Yours too Hawkins.' Still red faced, the Major tore off his flash and handed it to me, and Hawkins gave me his.

Okay sergeant,' I said when I went outside. The game is officially over. I'll have your flashes thank you. A truck will be up later to take the wounded back to base. God, I'm fucking tired, and thirsty.'

I sat outside the bunker with the men, talking and eating lunch while I waited for the transport. The Major stayed inside on his own, sulking no doubt. I don't think he'd ever get caught out like that again. I also went out into one of the fields and found a few poppies and gave one each to the wounded men and one for the dead Hawkins. They laughed when I told them how we had caught the other patrol and left them with poppies too.

`Why didn't you shoot me too,' the sergeant asked.

`I needed one man to collect the weapons and throw them out. You were just lucky. If I hadn't been told that the operation was over, it would have been different.'

`In what way?' he asked.

`I would then have shot you too. In the leg though, not the arse. I had to shoot Hawkins to get the Major to do as he was told. Then I would have shot him also. But his would have been in the kneecap. That way, he would never see active service again. The radio would have suffered as well, so that you couldn't send out for help. That would have then taken many hours to sort you lot out as well as taking other men out of action for some time attending to you wounded lot.'

We heard the jeep approaching and I could see that it had picked up Wesson en route. I waved to him as it came closer and got a wave back in return.

`I never thought you would do it,' he cried as he got out of the jeep. He came over a gave me a big hug. I looked alarmed at him and cast my eyes back towards the group of soldiers watching us.

`Don't be fooled by the haircut boys. This is Francis Lyon! The best female member of my squad. You'll hear more about her when you get to camp.'

Female! Girl! Woman!' were just some the words I heard coming from the group at this news. Taken out by a chit like that. We'll never live it down,' one of them said.

`It won't seem so bad when you hear what else she has done,' Wesson laughed. I said goodbye to the boys and offered my apologies to the Major, who shook my hand, notwithstanding the humiliation he was going to feel later in front of the Colonel.

I'm proud of you,' Wesson said on the ride back, you've changed the rules of the game I've no doubt.'

We picked up our gear and drove into the base to be surrounded by the curious soldiers to see the girl, the only person to have succeeded in taking the last outpost in the combat zone game.

We dined with the Colonel that evening in the mess and were allowed to sleep in a bed in the hut where we first got changed. I think Wesson would have liked to fuck me that night, but I was afraid that somebody could walk in and catch us at it. But he liked the alternative. At the side of his bed, away from the door, I knelt and sucked and teased his erection till he came in a great surge and filled my mouth with his coming. He was pleased and satisfied with that.

Next morning was to be a de-brief on our stay there, and to flaunt what we had done, I dressed in a nice frock, stockings, the lot. I put make-up on for the first time in a week and went to the mess for breakfast. This caused quite a flurry in the mess as I sat with Wesson and accepted lots of compliments from many of the soldiers there.

Then we went to the Colonel's office and our map was laid out and we had to go over every step of our time there. The whole idea was to gain knowledge that could be used in all aspects of the combat zone. Looking at our map and that of the Colonel's. I could see that the only night camp of ours marked on his, was that of the condom bush. The Colonel, being a gentleman, didn't explain as to how they knew only one of our camps. I hid a smile and saw the glint of his eye towards me when he said that something was missed by us and not buried, though it was plain to see that it had been deliberate. Wesson looked at me and I just shrugged my shoulders as if to say I didn't know what it could have been.

Though patrols had been out looking for us, we had managed to evade each one, while ambushing two of them. All this was noted and it was the last that intrigued the Colonel. Considering we had left the camp, fully loaded, and went towards the road instead of the objective; ran twenty six miles, and did all this in less than five hours, and then took the post. This passed into army folklore and later, when an instructor said that they were going to do a Francis Mile, there would be groans, because they knew they were in for the full twenty six miles.

I had collected four officer flashes and eighteen of other ranks. There was a complicated system of points for all aspects of our stay there. It would take too long to go through it, suffice to say that my total was one thousand two hundred and twenty seven. The highest ever recorded and never bettered. The only points deducted, were those for them finding our camp of the condom bush. Wesson was as pleased as Punch at the score and he sang most of the way back on our drive towards London. I sang the words I knew, but he knew all the rude ones. He pulled the jeep into the kerb just round the corner from Harry's flat and cut the engine.

`When we were driving on our way out there, I was cursing myself for a fool to have suggested it. But I have had an experience out there that I'll never forget. I also felt so proud of you when you stood up to those four men, and beat them. Then to beat them all at the last. They should have given you a medal for that. I'm sorry that we are now back here, because it has been fun and I'm going to miss waking up and not seeing you lying there next to me.' I leaned in towards him so that he could put his arms round me and we kissed hard and long.

`Thank you Wesson, for what you have done. I too am glad that we did all that we did. Maybe there will be another right time and place for us. Let's hope so,' I said, giving him one last kiss before moving back into my seat and letting him drive me round the corner. I waved him goodbye and went upstairs to wait for Harry to come home, but first it was to be a bath and a long cool drink.

Palmer seemed pleased to see me and immediately went and fixed me something to eat before supper with Harry. I ran the bath and had my first gin and tonic for a week. It went down smoothly and ate the small bits that Palmer had brought in to me. Then I took another tall glass of drink into the bathroom and wallowed in the bubbles and scented water with the iced drink occasionally pressed to my hot forehead.

I felt sorry for Wesson going home to a lonely bed as my stomach began to tingle at the thought of Harry being with me in bed. Then I remembered Cairo. It seemed that Frobisher's lot hadn't come up with anything, otherwise we'd have been pulled out of the Army game. Today was Thursday, so I would have to leave for Hong Kong on Tuesday to start Operation Switch, as I was calling it. The week away had been good for me in the respect that I hadn't brooded on this job for all that time. I was so happy that I began singing in the bath, putting all fears of failure out of my mind. I washed my hair twice and refilled the bath twice to scrub all the dirt of the field off me.

When finished, dried, powdered and perfumed, I lightly made up my face and wrapped in a big fluffy bathrobe, I waited for Harry to come home. There was joy on his face as he saw me curled up on the settee and he was quickly in my arms, kissing me and taking the little make up off as he did so with his kisses. He couldn't wait for supper, but dragged me off to the bedroom where he gave me all that he'd been saving up for a week in one go and gave me a really good fucking. I was really happy now with him hard inside me as he demonstrated at how much he had missed me.

I told him how much I missed him as I sucked and chewed on his still erect cock afterwards, saying that I should go away more often if he was always going to fuck me like that. We had supper late enough for Harry to regain his strength to take me again, and I then took him and we both fell asleep exhausted, top to tail as we had been sucking and playing with each other till overcome by sleep.

I would have liked to stay in bed with him, but knew that Frobisher would want to see us later. So after one more go at each other, Harry and I showered and after breakfast, I got dressed and went off to Whitehall.

Good morning Francis,' Wesson said shyly, in the shooting gallery when the echoes of the firing had died down. Sleep well?'

`Like a log. We should get away more often like that.'

`I agree,' he said, though our thoughts weren't really coinciding with what the other thought. His no doubt were to have me again, while mine was what I would get from Harry on the return as well.

`Any word from upstairs yet?'

`Not yet, but he knows we're in the building. In the meantime, let's see if you can now hit the targets that move instead of sitting there waiting.'

I can see that you've still got something on your mind,' he said after half an hour of fruitless firing. It's not something personal, is it?' I could guess the way his mind was going.

`No, Wesson. If it were, I would say so. Let's have a break and a coffee.'

`Good idea,' he said, and so we went to the cafeteria and were sitting there when a messenger came and found us. We had been summoned and knocked at the door and went in when he called out to enter.

`Make yourselves comfortable and tell me how things went?'

`Very well sir. Francis put up the best show ever seen there,' Wesson said proudly.

`And you Francis? How was it for you?'

`Wonderful sir. It was so exciting. Wesson did a lot for me while we were there.'

`I'm sure he took very good care of you,' he said dryly. Oh shit! I said to myself, he's heard about the condom bush.

Today was my day with the P.M., and a Brigadier from the War Office was there too. Most unusual unless there's an emergency.' Not Cairo, I begged to myself. Let not it be about Shylock. He asked me what was I doing sending a female into a combat zone exercise. Not asking me privately, but in front of the P.M. of all people. He didn't know that I'd already had a transcript of the phone call he'd got from the Colonel in charge down there. All I could do was field the questions he was asking. This piqued the P.M. and he wanted to know what was going on, so this Brigadier told him. He was most indignant at what had happened. The P.M. took a different view and was highly amused at you taking them on and beating them at their own game. What hurt the Brigadier the most was that you were a civilian. Mind you, he didn't mention half of what I had read that he had been told. That I told the P.M. after he had left.

Then it got a bit sticky when he made the connection of your surname. Same name as the chap that got the Legion of Honour a short while back, he said. Must run in the family, I had replied, not being able to tell him. If ever I could, in time, I could dine out for years on this kind of story.' He saw the horrified look on my face and laughed. `Don't worry Francis, some things that are secret now are not released for seventy years. Some secrets never see the light of day, so don't fret on that score.'

`May I get myself a drink please?' I asked, feeling very thirsty and in need of this drink.

`Certainly. You know where it is.' Wesson refused, so I made just the one for myself and sipping at it, went back and sat down. Wesson was telling Frobisher in more detail of what we had done.

`Well all I can really say is that you both have done me proud and though the Brigadier tried to take me down a peg in front of the P.M., he did quite the reverse. So off you both go and improve your shooting skills Francis.' I finished my drink and we said our thanks and went to leave before he called out.

`Oh Francis, one more thing. Wesson, this will only take a minute if you don't mind. Just wait outside.'

`Yes sir,' he said and shut the door with me still on the inside with Frobisher.

`Come here Francis,' and I walked over like a naughty child waiting to be spanked or even caned. He steepled his fingers, elbows on the desk as I went and stood before him.

I can understand the fight with the four men and was pleased at your overcoming them. I was not pleased at the flamboyant gesture you made with the condoms. I'm not that naïve not to know what happened in that tent that night. I've seen the way Wesson has been looking at you lately. To use six of the rubber things was outrageous. It has given Wesson the nickname of six shot Wesson.' I started to smirk and he glared at me and spoke very sharply. It's not funny Francis! Wesson's a good man. He slipped up with you that night in the tent. I don't want him hurt. Do you understand? If you hurt that man, I will personally break you. Got it?'

Yes sir,' I said meekly, that's the last thing I would do to him. I know he's a good man and I respect him for that.' I didn't dare say any more.

`Okay Francis, you can go, but be warned.'

`Yes sir,' I said, and with a red face, left the office.

`What was that about?' Wesson wanted to know.

He bawled me out for flaunting myself in front of the men,' I said off the cuff. I was being arrogant when I should have kept a low profile. He just didn't want to bawl me out in front of you, that's all.'

`Silly bugger. Want to do some gym work?'

`Not really. I'm rather tired. That run nearly killed me. It was only the excitement of the kill that kept me going, and I still had the exuberance yesterday. But today, it's all catching up with me. I think I'm going to take next week off. If fact, I definitely am going to take it off and get some rest. I'll see you in a week's time.' He looked a bit crestfallen at this but managed a smile as I left.

I went home to the flat and made a lot of phone calls, getting flight schedules before finally phoning Hong Kong, which took some time to get connected and gave them the date and time of my expected arrival on the Tuesday. Then I phoned Naples and told them when to expect me in Rome, because I wanted to fly direct from there to Cairo. Then I phoned Cairo and made a reservation at the Luxor hotel in the name of Lady Francis Lyon and that I would want a first class guide and car to visit the pyramids and other sights.

All bookings had to be made in that name because I needed to use the diplomatic passport to get through all the controls, first with the counterfeit money and then the real money without being checked.

When all this was done, I found that I should be able to get to the theatre before the final curtain. So I had a quick bath and got Palmer to ring for a taxi as I got dressed and did my face. The stage doorman knew me, and I was let in to see the last act from the wings. There Harry found me and we kissed, carefully so as not to mess up his make-up. Then I watched him go out for their bows and curtain calls and then went with him to his dressing room for him to take off his make-up and get changed.

We had a taxi home and took our supper into the bedroom and ate as we got undressed. I saw his erection and couldn't resist turning round and showing him my bare bum.

`God for Harry and once more into the breach.' He laughed and grabbed me and wrestled me to the bed, onto which I laughingly and willing fell.

`You misquoter of the Bard, I love you,' and he kissed me soundly.

`To misquote again then, Come Harry and use the bed.'

`You harlot,' he cried as he tore off what was left of my clothing.

`You misogynist,' I said as I gently fought him, letting him wrestle me over and enter me as if it were rape. He managed to get my legs open and plunged in and was now on top of me as I lay flat on my front.

`I feel like one of the Sabine women,' I cried.

`Is this how they were raped,' Harry gasped as he violently thrust himself in and out of me.

I hope so,' I grunted as he fucked me, because they would have liked this.' I later got to sticking myself into him and we both enjoyed what was left of the night. I didn't tell him that I was going away again till the Monday. We'd had the weekend together, but I couldn't now stop what I had put into motion.

`I'll only be away for a week, and then you can do the same to me again as you did this last time I returned. Be the savage and ravish me.' He laughed and kissed me, but he was downcast at the thought of me going away so soon.

`With Wesson again?' he asked, and I could hear the jealousy in his voice.

`No. This is a quiet job on my own.'

`You won't be in any danger?' anxiety high in the way that he said it.

`Of course not. I'm more of a carrier this time. Bits of paper from one place to another.' I'd made time during the day to go to Fortnum and Mason's, and had them pack me a large tin, sealed, of some of their finest English chesses. I was shocked at the price, but happily paid it because I thought that Wen Chi was worth it.

Next morning I was off to the airport, looking as regal and ladylike as I could. The service at the terminal was excellent, as was the First Class service on the flight. We landed, finally, that evening and I went straight to the hotel on the Kowloon side. I wouldn't have the time to go over to see Lee Chen, and I knew he would understand. I found out that he understood me too well, because that evening, answering a knock at my hotel room door, I opened it to find Lik standing there.

`Greetings Honourable Francis,' he bowed. I quickly pulled him into the room.

`You wouldn't have brought Wen Chi with you by any chance, or Suk?'

`Alas no. My master bid me come here to make your short stay a happy one, and I was only too pleased to accept this task.'

`Then I will have to make do with you to help me with my bath,' I said haughtily, smiling to make a joke of it.

`I would do it with pleasure for my Francis and grovel at your feet for the privilege that you bestow on one that is ever so humble.' I was going to tell him to cut the crap and get on with it, but I think it amused him, and, to tell the truth, it amused me too.

In that hotel bathroom, he bathed me, powered and perfumed me and made me feel like a real woman the way he treated me. Before we got into bed, I gave him the sealed tin for Wen Chi and a little something for him that I had picked up, of all places, in the King's Road, Chelsea. The item had originally come from China, and now I was returning it by giving it to Lik. It was a little ivory carving of one man leaning over the back of another. Lik turned it over and over in his hand and said that it was a lovely piece of carving. I couldn't wait for him to eventually find out what it really was, so I took it away from him. Then I grasped the two figures and pulled them apart and he gasped and cried with laughter at what was revealed. The top figure had an enormous penis which slotted into the rear of the lower bending figure. He was absolutely delighted with it and kept sticking the two together and pulling them apart to marvel at the size of the fucking man's organ. He was still playing with the figures as we got into bed.

`Which one would like to be?' I asked him.

Both,' he replied. To be as big as this man to give pleasure with what he has got and also to be the other man, to receive such a size.' My hand had already begun to stroke the slim lithe body of Lik, his hairless chest and flat stomach.

`I would almost think that you are the man on top,' as my hand massaged his already swollen tool between his legs.

`Would my Lady Francis be like the man below to take such a treasure that the other man has to give?'

`I would only be able to take such a thing if it were forced upon me. My Heavenly Gate is only a small entrance to the grotto. A man of that size would have to use force to gain entry, and then fight to stay there.'

`So a forcible entry would be required to penetrate the Gate of Heaven tonight?'

`And a superior strength to hold and conquer once the gate has been breached.'

`When do you expect this attack to be made upon the gate?'

Anytime now,' I breathed as I rolled over, my heart beating at the anticipated assault. If you manage to breach the gate, fight hard to keep control of it.'

It was vicious and lovely. He roughly pulled me to my knees and pushed straight in without any foreplay. I gave out a scream as he penetrated me, driving in hard, grinding his pelvis against my bum. I grimaced at the pain as he battered into me, shaking me like a doll as he pounding his cock in and out of me. I came myself within a few seconds of the attack, my waving penis spraying the bed with my sperm as it pumped and flew in all directions. Then with a strangled cry of his own, he came, shooting inside of me as he held me tight, his cock throbbing like crazy inside me.

Truly a victor,' I sighed as I slid down onto the wet sheet with him embedded deep within. My gate is forever open to thee.' He later pulled out and went and washed as well as washing me. He then lay down with me and sucked upon me till I came again and then I slept.

As usual, when I awoke, he was gone. How he always managed to get away without waking me, was amazing. But he was gone, as were the two gifts that I had brought with me. Fun time was over and it was now time for the serious start of Operation Switch. I dressed and went down for breakfast, and when finished, met a man in the hotel lobby who I recognised as being of the House of Chen. I had deliberately not worn my Chen brooch for this visit, but he knew me anyway.

`The trunk that my Honourable father entrusted to me is outside in a guarded car that awaits you Honourable sister.' He bowed low and I did the same.

`Thank you Honourable brother. I thank you and if you could please also convey my thanks to the Honourable father when you return. I will just be a few minutes.' I went to the hotel reception and asked for a boy to come and collect my things in five minutes and that I would then come down and settle the bill.

`The Honourable Lady is staying in an hotel that is owned by the House of Chen. His guests are never presented with bills. A boy will be sent up as you requested.' She gave me a bow, which I had to return, and then swiftly went up to my room. No wonder I got such good service, I thought as I quickly packed and checked my make-up. Then downstairs and into the limousine that took me to the airport.

At the sight of my passport, it was all bows all the way to the First Class waiting lounge. But I had waited long enough to see the trunk and my suitcase given a special label before it had disappeared from sight along the conveyor belt. My escort assured me that there were people watching that trunk all the way out to the aircraft. Also, that there were people at Rome who would be doing the same as it was unloaded. I only had to wait a short time before I was asked to board the aircraft. I said goodbye to my escort and was wished a safe journey in return.

It was an Air Italia flight and the service was impeccable. I had dozed a little on the plane and it was still daylight when we landed in Rome. At passport control, I told them I was only staying for the night and wished that my trunk, under diplomatic seal, be placed in a secure area to go with me on my flight to Cairo the following day. I must say that they fell over backwards to help me, and I told them I would be glad of the same service when I returned in a few days time.

Then it was off to the hotel for the night. My stomach butterflies had started out as moths, but now they were getting larger and making me start to feel a little queasy. I unpacked just enough for the night and freshened myself up before going down for dinner. I turned into the bar first and immediately saw Dino sitting on a stool. I spoke a mixed mangled language that Dino was quick to pick up on and moved to sit next to me.

`May I help to order for you?' he enquired. I asked rapidly in English if all was well and he said that it was.

I couldn't follow his Italian to the barman, but I picked up the magic words of gin and tonic. Large, I corrected him and this was conveyed on.

Tell me about this wonderful Eternal City,' I asked him. So Dino waxed lyrical about Rome till the barman got bored with it and moved away. All ready then?' I asked in a low voice.

`Yes. It's me and Santi,' he said.

`Santi?'

Santino. It's a dim...dim something. I was told,' he laughed, but I've forgotten the word in English.'

`Diminutive,' I said as he then repeated the word a couple of times under his breath.

`But I will call him by his proper name, Santino. It sounds so much better. Have you got your tickets?'

`Yes Francis.'

Hush,' I said in a low voice. It's Signorina in public. We haven't been introduced. Please be careful.'

`My apologies Signorina,' and he gave me a slightly mocking bow, that I almost ignored, but couldn't. I had to get across to this youth. Hark at me! He was about the same age, but I felt that much older it almost made me feel weary.

`Do you know the meaning of the English word, sarcasm?'

`Yes.'

`Then do not use it with me. It offends and insults my intelligence, and when I'm offended, I get mad. Mad enough to kill.'

`I don't believe you,' he said defiantly.

`Dino. I don't need this shit. If you want a lesson in unarmed combat, we can go out back somewhere, and I'll kick the shit out of you. Last week I got involved in a fight with four soldiers.'

`Why?' he interrupted me.

`Because my sweet little Dino, they insulted me and my friend.'

`So you and your friend had this fight?'

`No. I fought all four on my own.'

`And your friend did not help! What a friend!'

`I told him not to, that's why.'

`What happened to them,' he was now intrigued, and my pride took over when I should have controlled it. But my excuse is that I was tired and needed to bring him down a peg or two.

`I knocked the first two straight out. Dislocated the arm of the third and then felt sorry for the last one, so I only kicked him close to death.'

`Mama Mia!'

`Two weeks before that, I killed a man.'

`Mama Mia again! Why?'

He insulted my friend, so please, I'm tired. All I want to do now is go and eat and then go to bed. So please do not offend me on this venture or I swear I will kill you. I will also kill you if you jeopardise any part of what we are going to do within the next few days. When we get to Cairo, you will be in a different hotel to me, but come to me in the bar of the Luxor at six p.m. on Sunday and I will give you the final instructions. Until then, Ciao.' I said as I slid of the stool. Oh, pay for my drink will you,' I said as sweetly as I could, smiling at him as I left to go and eat.

I cursed myself for a fool and knew that tiredness was taking over. First I had bragged too much and second and more important, I hadn't asked about the other man and his ability in the use of the Egyptian language. It wasn't a very happy bunny that went to sleep that night.

At the airport next morning, I collected my diplomatic case and boarded the flight for Cairo. I had a sticky moment at passport control when I arrived. I was asked if my business, because of my passport, was of a diplomatic nature. I had to confess that it wasn't. I told them that I had made up so much time picking up the odd document here and there around the world, that I was taking a break to see the wonders of Egypt. Then it was suggested that I leave my diplomatic trunk in their safe hands. The last thing I wanted. I thanked them for their courtesy but had to decline, as wonderful as their security was, I still had to keep the stupid documents under my eye all the time. I leaned forward confidentially to the English speaking man. `I know that most of the letters I carry are complaints from this ambassador and others, that they are not getting enough toilet rolls to wipe their pretty little backsides on, or why was the crossword section left out in the Times newspaper.' He laughed and waved me through, bypassing customs. I actually farted out of fear, something I'd never done before as I cleared the press of the airport. By the passing of wind to be ladylike, I meant from fear. I've done it other times, but this was almost sheer funk as I struggled to hold this wind in as I glibly talked to the passport man. What a relief it was to let go when I was outside. I got some funny looks, but acted as if had been someone else.

A taxi took me to the hotel where I had a magnificent suite overlooking the noisy city, and not just ordering a drink, I ordered a bottle of gin and a dozen tonics to be sent up, with plenty of ice. But then I remembered that ice is made from water, and the water in this city is not exactly comfortable with an English stomach, so all my drinks were warm ones. I used the ice to cool down the sealed bottles of tonic.

I had to be very careful in what I ate, because the last thing I needed on the Monday would be to have a case of the trots when confined in that van. I must say that the hotel provided me with an excellent guide and air conditioned car for my sightseeing trip to the pyramids and tombs of the Pharaohs. As we couldn't see it all in one day, I told him, when he had explained this, that I agreed to do the rest of the tour on Saturday. At least it kept my mind off what was now only just round the corner. I had got the hotel used to having my trunk hauled down to the car and back up to my room over these two days every time I went out of the hotel. So that when it came to Monday, the day I was checking out as well as doing the switch, the porters would be glad to handle the trunk for the last time.

Sunday morning, I met Hood in the hotel lounge as we'd agreed. He was reading an English newspaper and folded it up as I sat down near him. It looked natural when I asked if he would permit me to peruse his paper. Under cover of the paper I asked if all was okay and it was. What time was the pick up to be made? Nine o'clock in the morning, he told me. Perfect. It was about the time I had predicted. I told him where Dino and Santino were staying and described them and that the password was Switch. My instructions were that he was to see that they booked out early and that he collected them at six a.m. and take them to the garage and let Santino go over the route from the garage to the collection point, and from there to the airport. Then Dino was to come with a taxi to act as though he belonged to the Embassy and collect me at eight o'clock.

I paid my bill that evening and spent a sleepless night in the room, waiting for the dawn, but dreading its arrival. I finally had a bath at six and was ready and waiting, fretting, almost tearing a handkerchief to pieces, waiting for eight o'clock. This was it! At a quarter to the hour, I rang down for a boy to collect my things and I was ready when a taxi pulled up and Dino jumped out and loaded my things into it. I tipped the bell boy and got in beside Dino. Hood, who had borrowed it for the day, was driving the taxi.

We were at the lock up garage within ten minutes and all was in hand, according to Hood. The trunk was loaded into the dirty white van and a label was stuck on it, giving an address in Cairo.

Just about now,' Hood said, looking at his watch, the driver of the van that's supposed to do the pickup is being taken from his van to be held till later. Then giving it another hour, the round would be continued and the van returned to the depot as planned.' I then took the opportunity for Hood to check that Santino spoke good enough Arabic to get by. Hood told me that he'd already done this. So all was ready and in place. I pulled off my dress, under which I was already wearing a pair of shorts and T shirt over my padded bra. I put on a pair of soft soled shoes and climbed into the back of the van. Before I was put into my little space behind their seats, I quickly ran over what we were going to do, and I made sure that Santino knew what was expected of him. Then I was closed up in my little box. I felt the engine start and the van move off. I was glad I took a bottle of water with me, because it was stifling.

Dino told me what happened later, when we were on our way to the airport.

The van pulled up at the designated building and there were some soldiers there that told Santino what door he had to back up to. Dino stayed in the front seat as Santino had gotten out and unlocked the rear doors of the van and opened them. A trolley had been wheeled up to the van and two of the soldiers had put the shiny steel box into the van. As the van's rear was almost in the building, nobody outside could have seen anything. With the box inside, Santino shut and locked the door and returned to the driving seat and started the engine.

At a given signal, Santino drove the van out back onto the road and behind an unmarked car that held four armed soldiers, and it was noticed that another similar car then started up and followed close behind. If the road had been empty, we could have got to the airport inside fifteen minutes, but I had allowed twenty. As soon as we began crawling through the city's traffic, Dino slipped over the back and released me from my box. Gasping for breath, I sat there in the jerking van as we slowly moved through the almost gridlocked streets. As I sat there, I looked at the box in some dismay. It wasn't the same! Panic started to well up in my throat. I quickly checked it for seals and found none, but it was locked. Oh Christ, I'd fucked it up, I thought.

`How can we get this open,' I said in despair.

`No problem,' said Dino, and with a couple of minutes the two locks were open.

`We haven't got much time,' I said to him, opening the big trunk of mine. We lifted out the other trunk from inside and I opened it. Dino whistled when he saw all that money.

`We've no time to waste,' I urged him. I opened the real case and all we could do was tip the contents into the big trunk. Then I shut the lid and locked it. Now all we had to do was to transfer the funny money from one trunk to the other. I kept glancing up over the driving seat to see how we were progressing on the road. I was alarmed to see that we were almost out of the city and would soon be bowling along to the airport.

We worked like crazy, me passing the money from one trunk to his hands to place in the proper one and it took us all of ten minutes. I could tell we were clear of Cairo and must soon be at the airport. Santino called out over his shoulder.

`About two minutes and we're there. I can see the turnoff up ahead.' The last few wads were put in and we slammed the lid shut. Dino relocked them and we pushed it back into its original position. I was sweating more now than inside that little box. I frantically pulled other boxes that were supposed to be deliveries and we jammed the empty trunk into the space and piled some of these boxes back on top.

`Quick. Now shut this compartment,' I said as I rolled into my little space for Dino to shut before he slipped back over into the front seat, just as we turned into the airport. The two cars and us were waved straight through the military guard there and out onto the airport's apron where a Russian civilian plane was just taking on passengers. Santino followed the lead car as it swung round to face the terminal before it stopped. Now the rear of the van was towards the aircraft, and a soldier then indicated for him to reverse. When a hand was slammed against the side, he stopped, and killed the engine. He got out and went round to the back and unlocked the doors and opened them up. The same two soldiers that had loaded the box, now pulled it out and carried it to the waiting fork lift. As Santino shut the doors and locked them, he saw the box being lifted up into the belly of the plane where it disappeared from his sight.

A few words of no consequence passed between a soldier and Santino, who laughed as he got into his seat and started the engine. He drove off and was waved out of the airport and we were soon running down the road to Cairo.

Magnificent!' Dino exclaimed as he let me out of my box and he grabbed my sweaty body and kissed me all over the face. How much money is there in that?'

`I don't know,' I said as I pulled out the tail of his shirt from his trousers so that I could wipe my face.

`There's a lot of people to be paid from that, so there won't be that much at the end of it.' I was so drained from the sweat box that I didn't really have, or feel the euphoria that I should have felt at that time. I just sat there and looked at my trunk. It only really sank in as we approached the lock up garage where the doors were eagerly opened to swallow us up from the outside world. When the rear door was unlocked and I was able to get out into what felt like cool air did the jubilation come.

I grabbed Santino's hand and shook it. Then Dino, who was shedding tears in his laughter, shook my hand. I clasped Hood in a bear hug and we all began to laugh uproariously. There were other people there who had helped Hood in preparing this end of the operation. They too shook my hand at a successful switch. Someone gave me a towel, and I went off to where there was a tap. I stripped off and washed myself, carefully keeping my back to them. I then dried myself and put on my dress. The stockings I could do at the airport or in the car, but now I think they were getting impatient to be paid. To get their share for what they had done.

Only Dino had seen all the money, and I was anxious that the others didn't see the whole of the contents of the trunk. I had two of them carry it to me and set it down. Then shooing them away, I unlocked it and counted a bundle to see how much each contained. I then counted out what I had promised Hood, plus a bit extra. This I put on the floor in front of me where nobody else could see it. I then closed the lid and called out to Hood to bring a bag over to me.

He squatted down beside and looked in awe at the pile of American dollars there. I took the bag from him and put it all inside.

`It's all there that I said you would get, plus an extra bundle. Don't let the others know exactly how much, you understand what I mean?'

`Francis, I love you,' he said as we stood up and he kissed me in the Gallic fashion.

`Destroy the van or whatever, but don't let it be seen again as it is. Pay off the men and make sure that nobody talks or we could all be in the shit. One more thing. This has been a private operation and nothing to do with Frobisher. If I find out that he's been told about this from this end, I will never forgive you and come and take all the money back from you and maybe your balls too!'

`Don't worry Francis. This has made me richer than what I get from him. I'd rather work for you if you would always pay me like this.' Hood was a very happy, rich man, and he couldn't stop smiling.

`Now get someone to drive me to the airport. With the trunk! And use another car to take Dino and Santino with their things so that they can catch the same plane.'

`It will be done.' He strode off, shouting orders that were quickly obeyed, and I told Dino and Santino that we would meet up in the same hotel in Rome. I then got into the taxi, with the trunk and was driven off back to the airport. I couldn't relax until I was in the air and out of Egyptian airspace.

It just happened to be the same man at passport control as I had encountered when I arrived.

`I see you still have your trunk with you.'

`Yes. The paper inside is very valuable. You know what top people are like, all the red tape and everything written three times. That's why I have to have a trunk. I really enjoyed my visit. It has been worthwhile. The Valley of the Kings, the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Oh what stories they could tell us.' I could feel the queue getting restless behind me, and he noticed it too.

`You'll come back again I hope?' he said, giving me my passport back.

`I would love to, this has been such an exciting trip and I'm glad that I came.' I waved at him as I went on through to let the airline staff take care of my baggage. Then into the First Class lounge where I had a triple gin and tonic, without ice as I sat down to try an unwind. One consolation was that through the windows I could see that the Russian plane had left, but it still seemed to be an age before the flight to Rome was called.

As I was one of the first to board, I couldn't see if Dino and Santino came aboard. I would have to wait till we arrived. Even then, I didn't see them. I was quickly let through with my passport and had a porter take my bags to the taxi rank. At least the boys knew what hotel we were staying at and it was over half an hour before there came a knock at my door, and I let them in. They both embraced me as they came in and instantly spied three piles of American dollars on the dressing table. They went over and hesitated, looking at the small stacks of one hundred dollar bills. As one, they turned to look at me and I smiled and nodded my head and they quickly picked up a bundle with a cry of joy and riffled through them as if to check to see if there wasn't cut blank paper in the middle.

Thank you Francis,' said Santino coming over and kissing my hand, so much for so little. One hours work.'

`It's not for the time but for the risk that's taken.'

`Thank you Francis,' said Dino, who also kissed my hand. I had noticed a shop in the foyer downstairs, and I needed something to take my share home in.

`Santino. Would you stay here in the room to guard the trunk? Dino, would you come with me to translate please? If you want anything to eat or drink Santino, just ring for room service.' He nodded his thanks as he was counting his share as Dino and I left the room. Downstairs in the shop, I found a large suitcase that would be suitable, so I bought this and a small bag for Dino to carry the third pile of notes to Naples. Through Dino, I had them sent up to the suite.

`Dino. It will be dark in an hour. Would you come for a walk with me? I want to see the Coliseum while I have a chance.' It was only a short distance from the hotel, so he agreed and we went out.

`It will be closed now,' he said.

`I know, but just to walk outside and have a look will be enough. I'm still trying to unwind from this morning and I'm still excited by what we did. He linked his arm through mine and we strolled to the plaza that was in front of this old and ancient building. He told me tales of what went on inside and said that it was a pity that we couldn't go in. But it was enough to just gaze at what once had been the most famous theatre in the world.

It was now starting to get dark, so we started back towards the hotel, street lights were now coming on. Just before we reached the block where the hotel was, I saw a café that had tables set out in a line on the pavement and a couple had just got up from the end one.

`Let's sit down for a moment so that I can savour the atmosphere of this wonderful city.' I sat down where the other woman had sat and Dino took the other which was at the end of these array of tables. The man had left an inch or two of beer in a heavy glass jug and the woman had obviously had wine. To our left was a dingy side street that ran along the back of the hotel and was probably used for deliveries. The hotel block ended just before us so that we could see the main road from where sat.

All the tables along the pavement were occupied by talking and laughing couples as I briefly closed my eyes to take in the smells and sounds. It was the cessation of conversation that made me open my eyes and look round. There, coming out the gloomy side street were three young men, who, to my eyes, looked like hoodlums. They swaggered along the road, passing comments to the people seated at the tables, and they stopped at one three down from us and the biggest of them, leaned on the table and it seemed as if he was snarling at the terrified looking woman as he spoke in rapid Italian. The man next her was just as terrified as the woman was as the hoodlum grabbed her bag and emptied the contents on the table. I saw him open her purse and take out some bills and put them in his pocket. He then threw the purse back amongst the contents of her bag.

`Let's get out here,' whispered Dino, his voice sounding scared.

Stay where you are,' I said quietly, but sharply as I pulled the beer glass towards me and pushed my bag to the back of the table. Just sit still. They might go past.' Sod's law came into play there. The three stopped by our table, one behind the other and the front one said something which I couldn't understand.

`What did he say?' I asked Dino.

`He...he wants some money for bus fare,' Dino answered, his voice shaking a little.

`Tell him to fuck off!'

`I can't say that! He's got a knife.' I had already seen that stuck in his belt, and if the blade was as big as the haft, well.

`I've seen it. Now tell him to Fuck Off.' I said the last two words very loud, and even as Dino tried to translate, the man understood what I was saying for he gave out a growl and reached for my bag. My right hand had already closed around the handle of the beer mug and my left hand grabbed his wrist just before he touched the bag. Holding his wrist down on the table, I rose up, my right hand coming up with the glass, and the edge of this heavy mug smashed as it caught him just under the nose. The sound of the cartilage breaking and snapping was quite clear as the bones were forced up into his brain. I knew he was dead before he fell onto the table, tipping it up as he crashed to the pavement.

The man behind him was quick to thrust forward with a knife in his right hand, but the crashing body at his feet slowed him down. My left hand took his wrist just above the bladed fist and I felt his muscles move and knew that he was thinking that I was going to force his arm upwards. So he straightened his arm, locking it as it were, and I had anticipated this as my right arm came across his chest so that my right hand caught the back of his arm just above the elbow. All this was in a split second, and his weight was still coming forward as I heaved my strength down to my left side and pulled back as hard as I could with my right hand. His elbow joint snapped with a crack and he screamed and the knife fell to the ground.

The third man was a bit slower and his right hand held his knife upright and forward as he threw himself at me, the arm swinging up. I then spun the second man round by his broken arm and he took the knife into his stomach making him scream again. I instantly let go of him and grabbed the third man's fancy shirt front and yanked him forward across the back of his doubling up companion. Pulling him forward by the shirt and his body was moving fast as I bent my head and smashed his face onto the hard part of my cranium. I just as quickly thrust him away as he screamed with his smashed nose so that his blood wouldn't spray on me. As he fell backwards his companion fell with him and lay across his stomach and chest. I then picked up my bag and stepped over the first man and stood over the third man and brought the heel of my shoe down and crushed his larynx.

`Choke you bastard,' I muttered as I could hear the burbling in his throat. Then I had a thought and turned and went back to the first man and pulled a wad of notes out of pocket.

All this had taken about twenty seconds, well less than half a minute anyway. Dino was standing there, mouth open, eyes wide like marbles. I put the money in his hand and dragged him towards the table where the money had been stolen from. I gave Dino a hard shake of his arm to bring his eyes into focus and look at me.

Throw the money on the table and say in an excited voice, Did you see those men fight each other?' Do you understand? Say it excitedly and give them the money.'

Dino then gabbled away in fast Italian as he dropped the money on the table. The silence at the tables was enormous in its intensity. I then took Dino's arm and pulled him away and made us walk calmly towards the corner of the hotel block and round it. Just before we did, I glanced back and could see that everyone who had been seated there, had scattered. All the tables were empty, and there were just the three figures lying on the ground by an upturned table at the end.

I could feel that Dino was shaking, so I kept a firm grip on his arm as we reached the entrance to the hotel and we walked over to the lifts. He was walking as if in a stupor, his legs straight and almost rigid. Not a word was said in the lift and soon I was knocking at the door to my suite and Santino let us in. Dino went straight for my bottle of gin and shakily poured out a glass, slopping it as he gulped it straight down, then coughing as he sat down, his face as white as a sheet.

`What's the matter with him?' Santino asked.

`Leave him for a minute,' I said as I poured myself a large gin and added only a little tonic, shaking myself at what I had just done. Wesson had told me never to use that trick as I did with the first man unless you mean to kill. The thing was I knew I was going to do it before it started. That was what was making me shake. I had intended to kill, and part of my brain was asking another part, why? I didn't want to go down that road just then.

`Did you kill them?' Dino asked when the coughing stopped.

`Kill them? Who?' Santino asked, his voice rising.

`I hope so,' I said, taking a big slug of my drink.

`Three thugs who were robbing people and started to have a go at us,' Dino said. We could now hear in the room, the sound of sirens in the distance. Police? Ambulance? They all sounded the same to me.

`Where?' Santino demanded.

`Just round the corner.'

`Were you seen?'

`Yes, but they all scarpered.'

`I'll go and find out,' Santino said, leaving the room in a rush. I finished my drink and poured out a second one. I took Dino's glass and refilled it, but putting a lot of tonic in it. Some colour had come back into his face as he took the glass and sipped at it this time.

My God. I didn't think it was possible,' and I could see that he was looking at me in awe. Three armed men and so fast too!' He gulped at his drink again. Francis?' and he looked down at the carpet as he spoke. I want to apologise for the way I behaved at the bar the other night. If you ever think I'm out of line again, please slap me.' Dino had suddenly grown up this night and I went and ruffled his hair.

`I don't think I'll ever have to do that Dino. Not now. God what a day this has been!' I went and sat down and brooded over my drink until Santino knocked at the door and Dino let him in.

`Dead! All three of them! I heard the police say that they must have had an argument. One still had his hand on a knife that was stuck into another one. Almost disembowelled they said. No witnesses that I could hear about. They were all big men. You should have seen them Dino, oh, I forgot. You were there. What was it like? Tell me!'

Shut up!' I almost screamed. If you want all the gory fucking details, go to your own room and talk about it, but not here!' I shouted.

`Sorry Francis,' said Santino apologetically.

No. I'm sorry about all of this. We had such a good day and then this happens. We should have been celebrating what we did in Cairo. I want to thank you again for today. Tomorrow, you go to Naples whilst I go to London.' I got up and went and shook their hands and gave them both a big hug. Now take your money and that for the family and don't spend all that money at once,' I said with a little laugh as I ushered them from the room. I leaned against the door and felt as if I wanted to cry for what I had done, but then said no. They were thugs, robbing people, they didn't deserve sympathy. I went and had a shower instead of a bath and was soon asleep in bed.

In spite of all the trials and tribulations of the day before, I was awake early and had my bath and breakfast sent up. I emptied the trunk and there I sat among nearly twenty million dollars and counted out ten million and tossed it back into the trunk. What was left was well over nine and a half, and this went into my new suitcase and that what I couldn't fit in, was spread into my other case.

I had not long done this when the expected visitor arrived. He bowed low to me and I bowed back and we went into all the pleasantries that appears to be required before getting down to business. I gave him the keys to the trunk and rang down for a bell boy who came and with much bowing again, I said goodbye to him and ten million dollars.

It only took me a few minutes to pack my things and a boy took my bags down and I paid my bill and had a taxi take me to the airport. I'd booked on an Italian plane and had paid in cash for my ticket. There weren't any problems there with my passport and that just left England to worry about. They were groundless too, because I just sailed through and was soon in a taxi on my way to London. The doorman phoned up to Palmer as I arrived, and the two of them got my bags upstairs. Harry was at the theatre I was told. So I had a few hours to wait, so I did the same as last time. Bathed for a long time, powdered and perfumed as I waited for my man to come home.

As soon as he came in, his clothes came off and we went to the bed and there I had a good fucking like last time, but he put some thoughts into my head that he might be playing with someone else while I was away. He said a few crude things that he's never said before, like when he was gripping me tight and thrusting into me, he said, `There. When was the last time you had a cock as big as mine shoved up your arse?' as he rammed in extra hard. Then when we had finished and I was down on him to suck and lick him clean, he said I was a good cock sucker. He'd never before said words like these to me, so it made me wonder, but I thrust these thoughts aside. Then we ate supper in bed and then lay kissing and cuddling till we fell asleep.

I think Wesson would have liked to kiss me as I breezed into the building and met him at the lifts.

`I thought you were only having a week off?' he asked as we waited.

`I felt like having an extra day, why? Has he been asking for me?'

`He did ask me yesterday and I said that you were having an extra long weekend.'

`What did he say to that?'

`Nothing. Just grunted and went off.'

We went to the shooting gallery and I surprised Wesson and myself by doing very well. We didn't get to the gallery on Friday. As soon as I walked into the building, one of the security men stopped me.

Miss Francis?' he called out. You're wanted upstairs immediately.'

`Wesson?'

`He's already up there.' Here it comes, I said to myself. The switch had been rumbled. Wesson knocked on the door as I approached him.

`What's this about?' I asked as he opened the door.

`I don't know,' he replied as we went in.

Take a seat,' Frobisher said as we approached the desk. As you know, the planners, were unable to come up with a feasible idea to disrupt Shylock and Farewell. On Monday, an observer watched the money being delivered to a Russian plane without us being able to do a thing about it. Yesterday was supposed to be Farewell. Well it appears it didn't take place. There's been a flood of coded despatches sent back and forth between Moscow and Cairo. Also lots of activity at Cairo's army headquarters has been reported.

It seems, by what we've able to decode, that someone, either in the Egyptian Army or outside, has been able to disrupt both events. The twenty million dollars the Russians finished up with turns out to have been forged. Each is accusing the other of trying to cheat on the deal. So Farewell has been called off it seems. But,' he did his steepling act with his fingers again, `somehow I don't think that this is the case. Wesson. Your thoughts on it?'

`What. Oh, er, I don't know sir. Whichever side did it has saved us a lot of trouble and possible saved a war.'

`Francis?'

`The same as Wesson's sir. A big favour has been done us.'

`Where were you on Monday Wesson?'

`Monday? Here sir. You saw me.'

`So I did, so I did,' he murmured. The bastard has guessed I said to myself and had to fight to remain calm and not fidget.

`Francis? Where were you on Monday?'

`Oh, travelling sir.'

`Oh, travelling. Last week too?'

`As it happens, yes sir.' I watched him pick up a piece of paper.

`Yes, I've noticed. Twice to Hong Kong. Twice to Rome, and, oh dear me, twice to Cairo.' He paused for several minutes.

`Did you know of these trips Wesson?

`No sir. It's news to me,' he replied, looking sideways at me.

`You left Cairo forty five minutes after a Russian aircraft took off on Monday morning. One that had twenty million dollars aboard. The description of you was accurate as well as the name. What did you do Francis?'

`It's a need to know basis sir.'

`Don't be flippant!' he said sharply.

`Wesson didn't know or have anything to do with it,' I said desperately.

`I know.'

`Can I have a drink sir?'

`No.'

`Then I don't talk, sir.'

`Oh very well,' he said testily, flapping his hand towards me, or the cabinet, but the message was the same. I took my time getting my drink, but couldn't come up with anything feasible in such a short time. I sat back down with a very large drink.

`Was that long enough to think of good answer Francis?'

`No sir,' and couldn't help grinning at him at his perspicacity.

`Now let us hear the truth.' So I told them the story of the escapade though I thought it wise to inflate my expenses.

`What would have happened if we'd planned something?' Frobisher asked when I'd finished.

`Then I would have aborted mine.'

`Just like that? What about the twenty million forged dollars?'

`Yes to the first and I'd have probably found a way of using up the money to pay off Hong Kong.'

`You were willing to gamble on that? Maybe your life too?'

`Yes sir.'

`I just don't understand it? Do you Wesson?'

`I...I'm lost for words sir. This beats the combat zone.'

So you finished up with, how much did you say?' I mumbled out the answer. Speak up Francis,' he said cupping his hand to his ear. `How much did you get?'

`Six million dollars, sir.'

Wow,' Wesson breathed out. I wish you'd asked me along.'

`Wesson!'

`Sorry sir.'

`How come your cut was so small?'

`I had a lot of expenses. They had to come out of my share.'

`Why didn't they share the expenses and then go half and half?'

`Well it goes back a bit further than this sir. We did something once before and they stood all the expenses. It was my turn this time.'

`And where is our share? The British Governments share?'

`I beg your pardon?'

`You heard me Francis.'

`Why should they get any? I worked bloody hard for this. I planned and paid out for it and all in my own time!'

`You work for the Government, therefore some of it should go to them.'

`That's a joke! Ever since I first came to this office, I've been shunted round Europe being fucked and shot at, nearly getting killed and I've killed for them. If I work for them as you say, then they should bloody well pay me! I haven't had a cent yet, so they can consider this then as the back pay that I'm owed!'

`Point taken. What do you get paid Wesson?'

`If six million is the going rate, I would like a pay rise sir!'

`Don't you start. Look Francis, the government can and will take it if we don't come to some agreement.'

`I'll resign sir!'

`You can't resign. You can be fired, but you can't resign. Oh, go get yourself another drink and one for Wesson too,' he sighed. When I returned with the drinks, I saw that Frobisher had poured out a sherry for himself. Wesson grinned at me as he took his drink, giving me a little toast by raising it slightly before he took a sip.

`Francis, the government needs money. It always needs money. Now when the war started, they bought up houses and made them into offices for the people who ran the war from here in London. Now they want to sell them. Do you know the place where you are staying with Harry?'

`Yes.'

`Well why don't you buy it? Buy that one and the other nine in the block. To hell with it, why not the other ten on the other side of the road so that you've got the whole street?'

`Are you kidding me? What would I do with another street! I've already got one. Not only the street but the whole bloody village.'

`Is that true?' Wesson asked.

`Yes!' I snapped.

`No, I'm not kidding Francis.'

`What's the exchange rate for American dollars?'

I don't really know for sure, but let's say, er, about four to the pound.' I saw that he was using a pencil for his calculating and I started to laugh. Yes Francis?' he looked up at me.

`Seeing you with that pencil reminded me of the mathematician that had a problem with constipation and found that he could only work it out with a pencil.'

Wesson sprayed his drink across the carpet as he tried to choke back his laughter, and I saw a twitch at the corner of Frobisher's mouth.

`Now what was I going to do? Ah, four dollars to the pound. Four times into six goes one and a half times, and that makes it one and a half million pounds sterling.'

`Okay. How much is it per house?' I asked resignedly. He looked down to check.

`Twenty five thousand pounds. Each.'

`That's sheer outright robbery!'

`So was the money.'

`That's different!'

`No it isn't. Now look Francis, that's the deal. The Government takes a third for the houses, you can spend a third to get them converted back into proper accommodation, leaving you with a third. Look at it this way. In ten years time they will probably worth twice as much if not more. You'll be sitting on a fortune.'

I'm sitting on one now if I wanted to be a whore.' Wesson choked again. I slapped him on the back. Only this time I'm getting fucked and having to pay for it too!'

`Francis! The government could still take that much, maybe more in tax. It would be classed as unearned income. This way, in time, you'll see that I'm right.'

`What do you think Wesson?' I asked.

`Aw Francis, you're putting me on the spot here. I can see both sides of the argument, but I'm afraid that I've got to down on the side of the boss.'

`I thought you were my friend,' I cried.

`Francis there's no one else I would rather be out in the field with. You know that now. I'd trust you with my life, and if that doesn't go above and beyond friendship I ...I don't know what.'

`Thank you Wesson,' I said softly, gently touching his arm, tears had started to run down my cheeks at his truth and honesty, and, yes I think love.

`If you had taken me with you, then, maybe my answer would've been different.'

`I couldn't. I made a promise.'

That's very commendable,' Frobisher spoke up loudly to prevent Wesson asking any more awkward questions, for which I was grateful. But back to the original question. Do we have a deal?'

`Yes,' I said, dully

`So when do we get the money?'

`When I see the deeds to these properties,' I replied.

`You mean these?' he said, picking up a wrapped bundle and holding them up for me to see.

`You bas...' He interrupted me.

Now Francis,' in admonishment. No names, no pack drills. Have the money here tomorrow and I'll give you the deeds.'

`You knew all along then?' I accused him.

`Not exactly. Not until the frantic cables started flying back and forth. Then you sit down at a desk. Just like this one here. You take a blank sheet of paper and you write down five words. That's all. Just five words. When you start to fill in answers to those five words it soon becomes very clear.'

`Okay, I'll bite. What five words?'

`Simple,' he beamed as he leaned back as if pontificating.

What? Why? When? How? and Who? You asked me once too often about how was it going with planning. I never gave it to planning!' This was a stunner for me. He continued, The first clue came on your sudden flight to Hong Kong. Then I back tracked you to Naples and Cairo. So I knew you had the ball, so I let you run with it, as they say over the water.'

If he'd been a cat, he'd have been licking his whiskers as if he'd just got the cream of the milk.

Now that we've cleared all that out of the way, it's down to other business. I let you stay here for this Wesson, because it has an indirect bearing on what I've got to say next.' He then threw a newspaper at Wesson, who caught it and looked at it bewildered. Look at it. The front page, and tell me what it says.' Wesson unfolded the paper and looked at it, and looked up at Frobisher with the same look as before.

`I can't. It's in Italian.' My heart sank. I knew what Frobisher was leading up to. The bastard did know everything.

`Yes it is in Italian and the date is of last Tuesday. Look at the picture then and tell me what you see.'

`There's an ambulance and some policemen and what looks like three bodies on the ground at what, well, I would say, a street café.' He looked up.

`Exactly, yes you've said most of it, but don't the bodies look dead to you? If they were injured wouldn't somebody be kneeling down attending to them?'

`Yes. You're quite right,' he said in a low voice.

`Yes. I am right and I think I would also be right in saying that you are responsible for the death of these three men.'

`What?' he roared, rearing up from his chair. I put out a hand to try and restrain him because I knew that Frobisher was baiting him.

`They were hoodlums,' I said, but he didn't comprehend what I was saying.

`When I said responsible, I meant indirectly. You see, that photograph on the front page is of a scene in a small street that backs onto an hotel. An hotel in Rome that a certain, er, lady that we know was staying at the night before. Well, actually at the time these three men were killed.'

Wesson looked at me as the penny slowly began to drop.

`It's not his fault!' I cried

`Why not, pray?' from Frobisher.

`You know damn well why!'

`Francis. I know you killed them, but I would like to know why?'

In a shaky voice I went through that episode at the café. When I'd finished, tears were running down my face and Wesson had his arm round my shoulder. He gave me his handkerchief and I wiped my eyes and face, sniffing as I tried to clean my nose as well.

Is that it?' Wesson said in an angry voice. Have you had enough for the day.'

`Yes thank you. Would you be so kind as to take Francis home. Take the rest of the day off.'

`Thank you ever so much sir,' Wesson had said in an almost sneering voice. He helped me up from the chair and led me to the door and out of the office. I'd finished with his handkerchief and tried to give it back to him but he told me to keep it.

To be continued.