Midnight Harvest (12 page)

Rogerio rose from the chair he had pulled in from the sitting room, anticipating Saint-Germain’s need of assistance. “You’re awake.”

“In a manner of speaking,” said Saint-Germain, waving him back.

“I reported the incident to the police. I told them you had received private care here, since there was shooting in the streets.” He had been reading the newspaper, but he now set it aside. “According to
La Revista del Cádiz,
nine people were killed and twenty-six wounded in yesterday’s outbreak of gunfire.”

“Did they say who is responsible?” Saint-Germain asked, unable to keep a degree of cynicism out of his question.

“‘Unknown groups of anti-military insurgents,’ according to this; the usual diatribes about Basques and Communists,” said Rogerio, putting his hand on the paper. “The editor is calling for a stricter enforcing of the laws, and more severe punishment to those who are caught causing public mayhem,” he added.

“In other words, he is playing into the army’s hands.” Saint-Germain used his right hand to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Is that the sum of it?”

“There is also a long piece on General Franco,” said Rogerio. “You would find it interesting, I think.”

“Oh? What does he say?” Saint-Germain knew Rogerio well and recognized this remark as an indication that there was more to the article than was immediately apparent.

“More of what he has been saying all along,” Rogerio told him. “But what he does not say is particularly interesting.”

Saint-Germain closed his eyes. “I’ll have a look at it in the morning, when I wake up.”

“Do you want more sleep?” Rogerio asked, relieved to hear this.

“Want it or not, I need it,” he said, preparing to drift off again. “And remind me: tomorrow I must spend some time…” He yawned.

“Some time?” Rogerio prompted.

“What?” Saint-Germain blinked. “Oh. Yes. Some time finding out who ordered me shot, and why.” With that, he let his attention fade as sleep overcame him again.

T
EXT OF A LETTER FROM
D
RUZE
S
VINY OF
E
CLIPSE
A
EROPLANO
I
NDUSTRIAS TO
E
STANISLAO
M
ENENDEZ Y
M
ORRO
.

729, Calle de las Piedras

Córdoba

11 May, 1936

Estanislao Menendez y Morro

Mininsterio de Carretera

Departamento de Desarrollo

Madrid

My dear Señor Menendez y Morro,

I have in hand your inquiry of 29 April, and I have read it over carefully. As acting Chairman of Eclipse Aeroplano Industrias, I am willing to answer your questions, except those that I deem unsuitable by reason of confidentiality, which I am legally required to maintain. I am sure you understand, and will not intrude further into such issues as those I cannot and will not now answer, and I thank you for respecting my decision, and honoring the obligation under which I make it.

First, as you must know, Eclipse Aeroplano Industrias is well-funded. You have access to banking records, and all transactions regarding this company have been subjected to the usual scrutiny. But let me assure you that should Eclipse not sell another airplane for two years and continue its production at the current rate, the company would not be in financial trouble for at least four years. I think you will agree that this is adequate for the projected output of this plant. Additionally, as you have certainly found out, the company is privately held by Ferenc Ragoczy, le Comte de Saint-Germain, who is a registered resident alien, just as I am, and who has been most careful to observe all governmental regulations imposed on the airplane industry since he acquired Eclipse Aeroplano Industrias. No doubt you can find the specific terms of that agreement in public records, along with the articles of incorporation.

How much has been paid can be found out from a careful inquiry into the banking arrangements that were part of the purchase of the business. You need not get such information from me, unless you suspect fraud; if that is the case, I would require a subpoena to release our records as part of your investigation. I cannot confirm any link with Eclipse Shipping for the same reason.

Your question about the use of our planes for surveys I can answer. Of course the airplanes can be used for such work. In fact, the Scythian can be fitted with cameras for the purpose of filming newsreels and motion pictures from the air. The cost of this adaptation is minimal, and depending on the number of airplanes ordered, can be adjusted to your advantage. The Moghul is not as versatile, but can be fitted out with cameras as well; it has the greatest carrying capacity of our present models, and as such, may be the most potentially versatile of our airplanes. The Spartan is not adaptable for cameras, but it can be given pontoons for water landings.

I am not at liberty to divulge the reasons for the dismissal of Señor Lundhavn; I am not certain he was dismissed, for there is a letter of resignation in his file which presupposes he left voluntarily. If, as you say, he has accepted employment in Germany, you may have hit upon the reason for his leaving here, for undoubtedly the Germans are offering excellent salaries to engineers. I can propose no reason why he should not be granted permission to accept the offer of work, for all the designs of Eclipse Aeroplano Industrias remain here with us, under the terms of our contracts with the company.

How can you ask that this company divert our work from that which we are chartered to do? We could lose our business license if we fail to produce airplanes for nonstrategic use: you are as aware of the terms of our corporate grants, and you must know we are under specific mandate regarding the use of our airplanes.

It would be improper for me to provide you with our production schedule without the express permission of le Comte de Saint-Germain. I doubt he would refuse to tell you what he has arranged in that regard, but the information must come from him, not from me, or any other employee of this company. I will be pleased to forward your request to him if you would prefer I do so.

None of our employees have been the subject of governmental scrutiny, at least not to my personal knowledge. If such inquiries have been made, no part of the investigation has been revealed to me. Your interest in le Comte de Saint-Germain is well-known in this office. If suspicion has fallen on any other men, or upon me, I am unaware of it; if there is any such inquiry being made, I ask you to make a formal statement of such probes to this office as soon as is convenient for you.

Our test pilots are not currently available to train military personnel to fly reconnaissance missions in our airplanes, nor do I think you would find their techniques appropriate. If you would like to interview them, I ask that you arrange to do so through this office so that even the appearance of duplicity is avoided.

There are no plans at present to develop a new model of airplane, so your questions in that regard have no significance. However, if you mean to ask if we are able to develop new models, then I must tell you that of course we are. This company has five of the best airplane-design engineers working in western Europe, even with Señor Lundhavn gone. Our staff is second to none; le Comte has made it worth their while to work here, and unless the government should force a change in company policy, I cannot believe that you will find any other designs superior to ours.

In the hope that this will allay your fears and promote a cordial relationship between Eclipse Aeroplano Industrias and the government,

I remain

Most sincerely,

Druze Sviny

Acting Chairman

Eclipse Aeroplano Industrias

DS/jp

chapter five

“I still can’t believe I’m actually leaving tonight,” Doña Isabel said, not looking directly at Saint-Germain. “I must thank you again for arranging for me to lease that fine house fairly near London. Does it have moors and heaths? When next you have contact with the owner, tell him I am grateful to him.” She was dressed for the theater, in a long, drapey, sleeveless and backless silk dress the color of poppies; a fox wrap was negligently thrown around her shoulders—although it had been quite warm during the day, there was now a brisk wind off the Atlantic, and besides, the fox set off her lovely arms and back to spectacular advantage—and she carried a small, beaded bag worked in an Egyptian motif of jackal-heads. “It is Solita’s night off and she will not come until after siesta tomorrow. I should be well out of España by then.”

“The servants know you’re going out tonight, don’t they? And they know it’s likely that you will sleep well into the morning.” Saint-Germain wished he had thought of some other way to get her safely out of the country, but the ships were very closely watched and the trains could be stopped anywhere between Cádiz and the French border. “It is unfortunate that we must employ such a ruse, but better a little deception and you safe than prolonging your danger.”

“I feel foolish, resorting to this ruse to leave the country. It’s like a bad motion picture.” She managed a frangible smile for a long moment, then looked away, fright catching up with her again.

Saint-Germain reached out his hand to her. “I am sorry.” The action made his half-healed wound ache but that hardly mattered to him now.

“Oh, don’t be. I am grateful that you are willing to do so much for me. So you have nothing to be sorry about: there is no reason to be. You aren’t to blame for the hostilities, are you? You didn’t begin them, and you cannot stop them. You needn’t apologize for helping me.” She did her best to look brave and very nearly succeeded. “I didn’t have to leave—I might have decided to remain here, mightn’t I?”

“Yes, you might have done that,” Saint-Germain said, a tinge of dubiety in his voice.

She pursed her lips. “You are the most infuriating man, Comte,” she said in mock frustration. “Of course I cannot remain here, not with everything I do subject to scrutiny.”

He made a gesture of apology. “I am sorry it came to that.”

“Oh, don’t be. Without your warning, who knows what foolishness I might have committed? Most of my friends think I am indulging in histrionics when I tell them all that has happened in the last month.” She pressed her perfectly made-up lips together. “You said I would have to be careful because my mail might be being read, and it was. You said my telephone calls were being overheard, and they were. You said they would question my servants, and they did. They questioned Solita twice. How dare they? As if I could do anything disloyal to España, or if I were, that I would tell my maid about it. They have subjected me to indignities that I wouldn’t demand of a felon. Having my letters read! Yet I feel as if I am a criminal, and I’m not.
I’m not!
” She turned her back on him and strove to gain control over her emotions. “They did the same to you, too, didn’t they?”

“Yes.” Saint-Germain took a turn around the sitting room. Old-fashioned gaslights provided the illumination, golden and glowing; the very modern furniture with the Egyptified decor seemed shockingly futuristic in this gracious traditional chamber. “If it helps you, I don’t think you’re being foolish, or overly dramatic: you are in danger—there are those who would stop you if they suspected you wanted to leave.”

“Is that why you’re driving me to that secret airport of yours? So no one will know I’ve left?” She wanted to be playful but ended up feeling forlorn; her mouth trembled and she pressed her hand to her lips to stop it.

“That is part of my plan, and it is known that we’re going to the theater tonight. Who would guess that you are going to be on your way to an airplane journey while the audience is sitting through the last two acts,” said Saint-Germain. “A diversionary tactic, attending the theater, to throw our followers off the scent, and that should buy us an hour or so. We’ll watch the first act and then we’ll depart, after the second act has begun. This will probably mean speculation about us, but that is preferable to being dogged by spies. I’ve already told Rogerio to let it be known that I’ll be away for a few days, and that, too, will buy you some time.”

Her laughter was more brittle than amused. “You must have anticipated everything.”

“I have some experience in these matters,” he said, and thought of Franksland and Fiorenza, of Russia and Saxony, of India and China, of Baghdad and Shiraz, of the Viceroyalty of Peru and Spain, of places forgotten or never recognized that he had flown, as he would shortly fly España again. How many times he had been forced to escape in his forty centuries! The memories might have overwhelmed him if he had not been giving his attention to Doña Isabel. “At least you have a little time. You will not be entirely without resources. The transfer from your bank went through without difficulty; fortunately your husband transfers monies all the time, so yours attracted no particular attention. Your goods will arrive in England in a week or two. The ship left yesterday afternoon, the crates addressed to the house. I think you’ll like it; Copsehowe is a lovely old manor, and Briarcopse is a beautiful little village, Tudor and Georgian for the most part. The villagers are a bit insular, as are most English villagers, but they will find a Spanish woman, especially one so young and beautiful as you, a prize. You will not be ignored or neglected, nor will you be imposed upon: the Earl of Copsehowe keeps a house in London where his grandson lives; his two sons died in the Great War. The Earl himself is in a nursing home, for he is quite old. His grandson, Peter—who acts for him in all his business now—has no interest in Copsehowe, preferring to raise his family at their London house, and so Charles and his grandson are both glad to find a tenant for it.”

“You say the lease is for twenty years,” Doña Isabel said, although she knew the answer; she was comforted by reviewing the arrangement, as if that made her future more definite. “Isn’t that a long time?”