Part 5 (2/2)

'I already knew that. Marcel was here. He told me the fellow had two tickets for Prague.

But that's only the next hop. Apparently Ross goes on from there with someone else.'

'Do we travel with them?'

'Of course. I have two tickets for Prague in my pocket. Marcel got them for me. I told the chap that I, too, was expecting a friend on the London plane, and was then going on to Prague. He won't be surprised, therefore, to see us on board. That's the machine over there a” the Douglas with the Czech Airline markings.'

'You'll leave the Proctor here, then?'

'Can't do anything else. I shouldn't get far if I landed it at Prague.

The police would be on me like a ton of bricks.'

'You decided to take me with you?'

'Yes. This is where our troubles may begin. I may need help.' 'It'll be dark when we get there.'

'So much the better.'

'Where are we going to stay when we get there?'

'I shall try to get in at the Hotel Schweiz.'

'Why there?'

'Because that's where our friend over the way is taking Ross.' Ginger whistled softly. '

Good work. We shall still be able to keep an eye on him.'

'That's what I'm hoping. The big problem will be how to follow Ross when he's moved on again. I imagine he won't be long in Prague. But we can only deal with that when the time comes. Let's go over to the machine.

Here's your ticket. It'll be all right for us to sit together, but there can be no more talking to Ross.'

They moved on towards the aircraft bearing the 0 K registration letters of Czechoslovakia.

CHAPTER V.

Behind the Curtain.

It was dusk when the Douglas glided over the boundary lights of Ruzyn Airfield, the civil airport of the ancient Bohemian city of Prague.

There had been no developments on the journey. Indeed, Biggles and Ginger, who sat together, hardly spoke. The same might be said of Ross and his escort, who also sat together, although in that case conversation may have been handicapped by language difficulties. The remaining seats were occupied by ordinary-looking people, mostly men; but with so much political intrigue going on in Europe Biggles did not lose sight of the possibility that some of these were not so inoffensive as they appeared to be.

After landing, the usual formalities were observed. As far as Biggles was able to see there was nothing abnormal about this procedure; but knowing something of totalitarian methods he felt sure that hidden eyes were scrutinising the pa.s.sengers closely.

Approaching the Customs barrier he deliberately allowed Ross and his escort to go first, in order to keep his eyes on them; and in doing this he observed the first sign of under-cover behaviour. It was not conspicuous. Indeed, had he not been watching closely it would have pa.s.sed unnoticed. Standing behind the uniformed Customs official was a dour-looking civilian. As Ross put his bag on the counter, his companion's hand went to his tie, as if to straighten it. It appeared to be a careless movement: but it brought response. The civilian took a pace forward and touched the uniformed man on the arm. Forthwith the official, without even a question, put his chalk mark on the bags carried by Ross and his escort, who then simply walked on through the barrier.

Biggles, followed by Ginger, was next in the queue. They put their luggage on the counter. Biggles' hand went to his tie. For a split second his eyes met the hard gaze of the civilian watcher. Again the Customs man was touched on the arm. On the two pieces of luggage went the chalk mark.

Biggles picked up his bag and walked on. Ginger did the same. Not a word was spoken.

Not until they were walking through the reception hall did Biggles speak.

Then all he said was: 'Easy, wasn't it?'

Ginger, who apparently had not noticed this piece of by-play, answered: 'I don't get it.'

'Tell you later,' murmured Biggles.

Ross and his escort were now getting into a taxi. Biggles hurried after them. 'As we are going to the same hotel, do you mind if we share your cab?' he asked.

'Get in,' replied the German, in a flat voice that suggested disinterest.

Biggles and Ginger got in. What Ross was thinking of all this Ginger could not imagine.

The soldier's face was like a mask.

The cab rattled along over a greasy road between misty lights, for a slight drizzle of rain was beginning to fall.

All Ginger could think was, this is going too well; much too well. It can't last.

However, nothing happened. As usual, when strangers travel together, no one spoke.

The atmosphere created was stiff, and Ginger was relieved when the taxi at last pulled into the kerb outside a hotel that was clearly of the second, or even the third, cla.s.s.

Biggles said he would pay the taxi, which he did, and the time occupied by this allowed the others to enter the hotel just in front of him. The door opened into the usual small, gloomy vestibule, with a reception desk on one side, and, at the far end, a flight of stairs leading to the upper rooms. Old travel posters and notices covered most of the wall s.p.a.ce. A table littered with papers and magazines occupied the middle of the floor. A dusty aspidistra wilted in an ornamental stand in a corner.

A heavily-built, untidy-looking man, sat in s.h.i.+rt-sleeves at the reception desk. He looked up as the visitors entered and pushed forward the customary forms. Biggles heard him say to the man in front of him, speaking in German, 'Good evening, Herr Stresser. The same as before? So.

Number twenty-one.' As he spoke he unhooked a key and pa.s.sed it over.

Danke,' acknowledged Ross's escort, and thus Biggles learned his name.

Stresser filled in two registration forms with a facility born of experience while Biggles stood at his elbow awaiting his turn. The formality complete, Stresser and Ross picked up their bags and went on up the stairs. Biggles and Ginger then filled in their forms and showed their false pa.s.sports.

'A double room or two singles?' inquired the proprietor. 'Double,'

answered Biggles.

The man's eyes went to Biggles' tie, and then moved up to his face. 'Want to be on the same floor as Stresser?' he asked, evidently supposing them to be engaged on the same business a” which in a way they were.

'Yes.'

The man unhooked another key. 'Twenty-two. First floor. Turn right at the top of the stairs.'

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