The Greek Key (76 page)
'I see.' Tweed changed the subject. 'During the raid on Siros, why land below a German lookout post?'
'Bravado. Barrymore's. And because of the lookout there were few German patrols at that point. Made tactical sense - we relied on a sea mist to cover us, which it did most of the way. Now, I'm ready to go.'
'Then go,' said Tweed. 'I don't recall ever seeing you here. Leave Exmoor. Petros is in prison. Go,' he repeated, 'build yourself a new life.'
'Thank you . . .'
'I said go!'
As Kearns walked slowly away Tweed stared towards Porlock Weir. No sign of activity: they were too far west for the thunder of the falling cliff to have been heard. 'Poor devil,' he commented. He glanced at the pile of rocks where the dust was settling. 'It will be months before they find out what is under that lot, if ever. Now, let's get rid of that boat.'
Standing on either side of the motorboat, Tweed and Newman exerted all their strength. They heaved it upside down, pushed it over the pebbles, which made a grinding noise. The craft slid over the edge, floated for some distance half-submerged, drifted out to sea.
Kearns had managed to start up his Renault while they were occupied and it disappeared into the distance. Between them they tackled the Land Rover which still had the key in the ignition. Within ten minutes Newman had driven it to the water's brink. One final shove propelled it off the pebbles and it sank from view.
'Back to The Anchor,' Tweed ordered. He put an arm round Paula who was shivering with reaction. 'You need a good stiff drink. It's all over. Détente is intact-for better or worse. And I'll report to the PM on the quiet about Lucharsky and his allies. It's up to her what she does after that.'
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Epilogue
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It is reported that Deputy Chief of General Staff, Andrei Lucharsky, General Budienny, and a third unnamed general, together with their aides, Colonels Rykovsky and Volkov, perished while flying in a helicopter over the Caspian Sea. The pilot saved himself by parachuting from the machine. No further details are available of this tragic accident.
Extract from December issue of
PRAVDA.
'Odd that so much top brass should be committed to one chopper,' Tweed commented after reading the report. He handed it back to Monica. 'File it.'