The Rose of Tibet by Lionel Davidson Read Free Book Online Page A

better wait.
    ‘We’ve run into a rather curious financial problem. I don’t know if your brother ever mentioned it, but we take out an insurance policy for our unit members. Of course we now have four claims pending. For ten thousand pounds each. It’s a lot of money.’
    ‘It is,’ Houston said. Hugh hadn’t mentioned it.
    ‘The snag is, I’ve now heard there’s going to be some difficulty in collecting. The terms of the policy are that the company must pay out for death anywhere in the world from any cause except act of war. The only qualification is that adeath certificate has to be produced. This is something we don’t have.’
    ‘I see,’ Houston said dully, in the pause that developed. He didn’t think that he wanted now to discuss the question of indemnity for his brother’s death.
    ‘It seems the certificate can only be issued by a British consul or some other accredited official. And he can only issue it if he has evidence – a doctor’s certificate or a signed report. Lister-Lawrence can’t get this. Apparently no local functionary can sign anything at all in Tibet without the authority of the central government. And the central government doesn’t seem to be very interested.’
    Stahl took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily. ‘I don’t think there’s anything malicious in it,’ he said after a moment. ‘Lister-Lawrence takes the view that they’re merely nervous of any kind of foreign interest. He thinks they may be frightened of having to pay indemnity or of having to get into negotiations. Whatever it is, they’re not answering any inquiries, and the way it looks now no death certificate will be forthcoming.’
    ‘Of course,’ he went on, replacing his glasses and allowing his eyes to get busily back into orbit, ‘this doesn’t mean that the insurance company won’t eventually pay up. After a period, death will have to be presumed. But this might be a matter of years, and meanwhile there could be many difficulties for the dependants. Wister’s wife has two young children. Meiklejohn and Miss Wolferston both leave widowed mothers. There are complications about pensions, a whole lot of things. Naturally, we have a responsibility in this. We are trying to ease the burden. But I’ve been wondering the past few days if there mightn’t be another way that is worth trying.’
    He was silent for a few moments, watching Houston.
    ‘I was wondering,’ he said, ‘if it wouldn’t be an idea for someone to go over there and see Lister-Lawrence. He’s a very busy man and he’s not been able to give this much of his time. If someone could have a talk with him, examine all the documents, perhaps get in touch with the Tibetan representative out there, it might be possible to build up a dossier that could, at the least, hasten the presumption ofdeath. I was wondering,’ he said slowly, ‘if you’d like to do it.’
    Houston looked quickly down at his burning cigarette.
    ‘You’d be acting as a kind of plenipotentiary or agent for all of the dependants,’ Stahl said. ‘Naturally, they’d contribute to your expenses. I don’t know that they’d have anything very much to contribute at the moment –’
    ‘I don’t know that I have myself,’ Houston said. ‘I’d better say right away, Mr Stahl, I’m not very – interested in indemnity for my brother’s death.’
    ‘Why,’ Stahl said mildly, ‘I was thinking more of the other claimants than of you. Pardon me. I appreciate your feelings, of course. I merely thought you were in the best position – a healthy young fellow with no ties. But it was just an idea.’
    Houston gazed at him and his mouth dropped open. He had not thought of this aspect of it.
    ‘And as to money, I don’t think you need worry there. Your brother had salary coming from June. We’d be prepared to extend that to the end of March next, and to contribute to your expenses. Think it over, anyway.’
    ‘I will,’ Houston said, taken aback by