Part 18 (1/2)

'But you're not convinced of this, are you?' Julie said.

'I'm neither convinced nor unconvinced. I know no more about it than you do. Maybe the Colonel finds it preferable, more comforting to think along those lines: maybe the FFF want the Colonel - us, the country - to think along those lines. They have all the hallmarks of being a devious and highly organized bunch. That impression, too, may be deceptive. Are they a simple-minded group trying to make us think they are devious or a devious-minded group trying to make us think they are simple? Figure it out for yourselves. I can't. I'm going to rest lightly. Turn on the radio, would you? The FFF have, it seems, got into the habit of making a public announcement after what they no doubt regard as being one of their master strokes. Don't bother to wake me to convey their next dire threat. In fact, don't bother me for anything.'

He had barely dropped off when Julie came in and shook him awake. He opened his eyes and, as was his custom, was almost instantly awake. He said: 'This is the way you don't disturb me? The heavens have fallen in?' 'I'm sorry. A letter came for you.'

'A letter? An exhausted man is torn from his slumbers 'It came by special delivery,' she said patiently. 'it has Urgent stamped all over it.'

'Let me see.' He took the envelope from her, glanced briefly at the address and postmark, opened the envelope, half extracted the contents, pushed it back inside again and slid the envelope under the pillow. 'And I'm disturbed by this. One of my fellow officers trying to be witty. Next time, be sure the heavens have fallen in.'

'Let me see what was inside that letter,' Julie said sharply. She sat on the bed, laid her hand on his arm and said in a gentle voice: 'Please, Peter?'

Van Effen made to speak, said nothing, reached under his pillow, retrieved the envelope and gave the contents to Julie. It was not a letter, just a plain postcard, blank on one side. On the other side was a crude drawing of a coffin and a hangman's noose. Julie tried to smile. 'Well, it has been three months since the last one, hasn't it?'

'So?' Van Effen sounded indifferent. 'It's been, as you say, three months. And what's happened in that three months? Nothing. And no reason on earth why anything should happen in the next three months.' 'If it's so unimportant, why did you hide it?'

'I didn't hide it. I put it away in the full view of my little sister whom I didn't want to upset.'

'May I see that envelope, please?' She took it, looked at it and handed it back. ”All the others had come from other countries.

This one is post-marked Amsterdam. That was the first thing you saw and that's why you put it away. The Annecy brothers are in Amsterdam.' 'Maybe. Maybe not. This postcard could have come from any country to a friend or accomplice in Amsterdam who sent it on to this address.' 'I don't believe that. Kid sister or not, I'm all grown up and a big girl now. I can think for myself, I can feel for myself. I know they're in Amsterdam. And so, I'm sure, do you. Oh, Peter. It's all too much. One set of madmen threatening to flood our country, another set going to blow up the palace and now this.'

She shook her head. 'Everything at once. Why?'

'It is an unusual set of circ.u.mstances.'

'It is a - oh, do be quiet. Do you have no idea what is going on?' 'I've no more idea than you have.'

'Maybe. Maybe not. I'm not sure I believe you. What are we going to do? What are you going to do?'

'What do you expect me to do? Patrol the streets of Amsterdam until I find some character carrying a coffin over his shoulder and a noose ;n his hand.' He put his hand on her arm. 'Please excuse momentary irritation. There's nothing I can do. Second thoughts, yes. I can go back to sleep, Next time, make sure the heavens have fallen.' 'You're hopeless.' She half-smiled, rose, shook her head again when she saw that his eyes were already closed and left the room.

He had barely dropped off for the second time when Julie returned. 'Sorry again, Peter. The Colonel. I told him you were asleep but he said it didn't matter if you were dead, I was to bring you back To life again and get you to the phone. He left me in no doubt that it was very urgent indeed.'

Van Effen touched the bedside cupboard. 'He could have used the scrambler.'

'Probably using a public phone.'

Van Effen went through to the living-room, took the call, listened briefly, said: 'I'm leaving now,' and hung up.

Julie said: 'Where?'

'To meet a person the Colonel says may be a friend. I don't know his name.' Van Effen put on shoulder holster, tie and jacket. 'Things, as you said, Julie, tend not to occur singly. First, the d.y.k.e nut-cases. Then the palace nut-cases. Then die Annecy nut-cases. Now this.' 'Whatever ”this” may be. Where's your friend?'

'Wouldn't you know. He's in the mortuary.'

Five.

The old town of Amsterdam may well be unique in the attraction of its tree-lined winding ca.n.a.ls, its medieval charm, its romance, its almost palpable sense of history, its nostalgic beauty. The city mortuary wasn't like that at all. It didn't possess a single attractive feature, it had no charm, medieval or modern, was totally and irredeemably ugly. It was clinical, functional, inhuman and wholly repellent. Only the dead, one would have thought, could have tolerated such a place: but the white-coated attendants, while not much given to whistling at their work, seemed no different from your average office worker, factory mechanic or farm labourer: this was their job and they did it in the best way they could.