We flew south to Quito in one of the fast new jets of the Canadian
Pacific Airlines and from there to the Galapagos in a much less
comfortable Ecuadorean Air Force transport plane. The air-strip on
Baltra Island, so busy during World War II, lay neglected and forlorn
among the lava blocks and scrub. From it to the Governor's house on
Chatham Island, we rode first by motor launch and then in a rusty old
jeep, probably another relic of that war or subsequent lend-lease.
"I wish I could see a tortoise," I said, clinging desperately to the
struts of the canvas top as we bounded through clouds of dust from the
jeep ahead.
"They're probably all in zoos now," Pat said, mopping cautiously at her
face where the makeup was slowly melting in the steamy tropical heat.
"You couldn't see one anyway in this dust."
It was a little cooler on the screened-in porch of the residence. The
Governor, a fat little man who looked like the caricature of a Mexican
snoozing under a tree, fussed around all the important visitors. With
obvious pride he produced cold drinks from what was probably the only
refrigerator on the island. I took a long draught of beer, settled back
with a sigh and looked out over Wreck Bay.
"Hey! There's the fishing boat." I sat up again excitedly and pointed
it out to Pat. The officials exchanged nods and smiles. It was the
boat ... the first test of identification was over. An hour later we
went aboard although there was nothing to see that could be of use
in solving the case. All the tanks intended for holding fish were
empty and had been flushed with sea water. One tank held fish when the
ship was captured, probably as camouflage. There was a well-equipped
laboratory but that had been explained away as necessary for marine
biology research. There was absolutely no clue. No trace of aerosol
bombs or other apparatus for holding the virus had been found.
Ashore again, we were taken to see the prisoners, watching them through
peepholes as they exercised in the small jailyard. Almost at once Pat
shook me and tried to point through the little peephole before she
realized how silly that was.
"Did you see that tall man on crutches?"
"Yes, it's the one I tossed on the deck."
"And there's the second man, and ... look over to the right there, by
the wall! That's the leader, I'm sure of it!"
"Wait till he comes closer," I said, "but I think you're right."
The crew members were circling around the yard, getting exercise under
supervision of the guards. As they came closer to our hiding place
there was no doubt. Yellow-hair and his pals were there.
One by one, the three Slavs were called in to stand before us. The
blond leader was first. I thought his eyes widened a little when he
saw me. There must certainly have been despair in his heart when he
realized that they were not being held as poachers, but his control was
admirable.
"Do you know these people?" The question was in English.
"No."
"You never saw them before?"
"No."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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