Seawitch by Alistair MacLean Read Free Book Online Page B

short order, two highly suspicious pilots in supersonic jets would be flying alongside and asking some very unpleasant questions.
    Watkins drove the truck back to the garage,
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    Jewired the ignition, locked the door, retrieved the minibus and left. Before dawn, all his friends* clothes would have been returned to their apartments, and the minibus, which had of course been stolen, to its parking lot.
    Roomer was getting bored and his elbows were becoming sore. Since the minibus had driven away some half hour ago he had remained in the same prone position, his night glasses seldom far from his eyes. His sandwiches were gone, as was all his coffee, and he would have given much for a cigarette but decided it would be unwise. Clearly those aboard the helicopters were waiting for something, and that something could only be the arrival of Lord Worth.
    He heard the sound of an approaching engine and saw another vehicle, with only sidelights on, turn through the gateway. It was another minibus. Whoever was inside was not the man he was waiting for, he knew: Lord Worth was not much given to traveling in minibuses. The vehicle drew up alongside the passenger helicopter and its passengers disembarked and climbed aboard the helicooter. Roomer counted twelve in all.
    The last was just disappearing inside the helicopter when another vehicle arrived. This one didn't pass through the gateway; it swept through it, with only parking lights on. A Rolls Royce. Lord Worth, for a certainty. As if to redouble his certainty, there caine to his ears the soft
    Seawftch
    swish of tires on the grass. He twisted round to see a car, both lights and engine off, coasting to a soundless stop beside his own.
    "Over here," Roomer called softly. Mitchell joined him, and together they watched the white-clad figure of Lord Worth leave the Rolls and mount the steps to the helicopter. "I guess that completes the payload for the night."
    "The payload being?"
    "There are twenty-one other passengers aboard that machine. I can't swear to it, but instinct tells me they are not honest, upright citizens. They say that every multimillionaire has his own private army. I think I've just seen one of Lord Worth's platoons filing by."
    "The second chopper's not involved?"
    "It sure is. It's the star of the show—loaded to the gunwales with armament."
    "That*s not a crime in itself. Could be part of Lord Worth's private collection. He's got one of the biggest in the country."
    "Private citizens aren't allowed to have bazookas, machine guns and high explosives in their collections."
    "He borrowed them, you think?"
    "Yeah. Without payment or receipt."
    "The nearest government arsenal?"
    "I'd say so."
    "They're still sitting there. Maybe they're waiting a preset time before takeoff. Might be some
    All stair MaeLean
    time. Let's go to one of the cars and radio the law."
    "The nearest army command post is seven miles from here."
    "Right."
    The two men were on their feet and had taken only two steps toward the cars when, almost simultaneously, the engines of both helicopters started up with their usual clattering roar. Seconds later both machines lifted off.
    Mitchell said: "Well, it was a thought."
    " 'Was' is right. Look at 'em go: honest Godfearing citizens with all their navigational lights on."
    "That's in case someone bumps into them," Mitchell said. "We could call up the nearest air force base and have them forced down."
    "On what grounds?"
    "Stolen government property."
    "No evidence. Just our say-so. They'll find out Lord Worth is aboard. Who's going to take the word of a couple of busted cops against his?"
    "No one. A sobering thought. Ever felt like a pariah?"
    "Like now. I feel goddamned helpless. Well, let's go and find some evidence. Where's the nearest arsenal from here?"
    "About a mile from the command post. I know where."
    "Why don't they keep their damned arsenals inside the command posts?"
    Sea witch
    "Because ammunition can and does blow up. How would you like to