Leopard Hunts in Darkness - Smith Wilbur (книга бесплатный формат .TXT) 📗
"The consignment is usually exported on a commercial Air Zimbabwe flight to Danes-Salaam on the Tanzania coast. We are not sure what happens at that end, but it probably goes out on a Soviet or Chinese freighter."
"The Soviets have no qualms about wildlife conservation," Sally-Anne nodded. "Sable-fur production and whaling are big foreign-exchange-earners for them." o Air Zimbabwe operations fall under?"
"What portfolio d Craig asked suddenly.
AL "The portfolio of the minister of tourism, the honourable Tungata Zebiwe," Peter replied smoothly, and they were all silent for a few moments before he went on. "When a consignment is due, the products are brought into Harare, all on the same day, or night. They are not stored, but go directly onto the aircraft under tight security conditions and are flown out almost immediately."
"How often does this happen?" Craig asked and Peter Fungabera glanced enquiringly at his aide who was standing unobtrusively at the back of the room.
"That varies," Captain Timon Nbebi replied. "In the rainy season the grass is long and the conditions in the bush are bad. There is little hunting activity, but during the dry months the poachers can work more efficiently.
However, we have learned through our informant that a consignment is almost due and will in fact go out within the next two weeks-" "Thank you, Captain," Peter Fungabera interrupted him with a small frown of annoyance; obviously he had wanted to deliver that information himself. "What we have also learned is that the head of the organization often takes an active part in the operation. For instance, that massacre of elephant in the abandoned minefield," Peter looked across at Sally-Anne, "the one that you photographed so vividly well, we have learned that a government minister, we do not know for certain which one, went to the site in an army helicopter. We know that on two further occasions a high government official; reputedly of ministerial rank, was present when consignments were brought in to the airport for shipment."
"He probably does not trust his own men not to cheat him, "Craig murmured.
"With the bunch of cut-throats he's got working for him, who can blame hir& Sally-Anne's voice was hoarse with her outrage, but Etter Fungabera seemed unaffected.
"We believe that we will be forewarned of the next consignment. As I have intimated, we have infiltrated a man into their organization.
We will watch the movements of our suspect as the date approaches and, with luck, catch him red-handed. If not, we will seize the consignment at the airport, and arrest all those handling it. I am certain we will be able to convince one of them to turn state's evidence." Watching his face, Craig recognized that same cold, flat, merciless expression that he had last seen when Comrade Lookout reported the death of the three poachers. It was only a fleeting glimpse behind the urbane manner and then Peter Fungabera had turned back to his desk.
"For reasons that I have already explained to you, I require independent and reliable witnesses to any arrest that we might be fortunate enough to make. I want both of you to be there. So I would be obliged if you could hold yourselves ready to move at very short notice, and if you could inform Captain Nbebi where you may be contacted at all times over the next two or three weeks." As they rose to leave, Craig asked suddenly, "What is the maximum penalty for poaching?" and Peter Fungabera looked up from the papers he was rearranging on his desk.
"As the law stands now, it is a maximum of eighteen months" hard labour for any one of a dozen or so of fences under the act-"
"That's not enough." Craig had a vivid mental image of the violated and rotting carcasses of his animals.
"No," Peter agreed. "It's not enough. Two days ago in the House I introduced an amendment to the bill, as a private member's motion. It will be read for the third time on Thursday, and I assure you it has the full support of the party. It will become law on that day."
"And," Sally'Arme asked, "what are the new penalties to be?"
"For unauthorized dealing in the trophies of certain scheduled wild game, as opposed to mere poaching or hunting, for buying and reselling and exporting, the' maximum penalty will be twelve years at hard labour and a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars." They thought about that for a moment, and then Craig nodded.
"Twelve years yes, that is enough." eter Fungabera's summons came in the early morning, when Craig and Hans Groenewald, his overseer, had just returned to the homestead from the dawn patrol of the pastures. Craig was in the middle of one of Joseph's gargantuan breakfasts when the telephone rang, and he was still savouring the homemade beef sausage as he answered it.
"Mr. Mellow, this is Captain Nbebi. The General wants you to meet him as soon as possible at his operationalheadquarters, the house at Macillwane. We are expecting our man to move tonight. How soon can you be here?"
"It's a six-hour drive," Craig pointed out.
"Miss Jay is already on her way to the airport. She should be at King's Lynn within the next two hours to pick you up." Sally-Anne arrived within the two hours, and Craig was waiting on the airstrip. They flew directly to Harare airport and Sally-Anne drove them out to the house in the Macillwane hills.
As they drove through the gates, they were immediately aware of the unusual activity in the grounds. On the front lawn stood a Super Frelon helicopter. The pilot and his engineer were leaning against the frise lage smoking and chatting to each other. They looked up expectantly as Sally-Anne and Craig came up the driveway, and then dismissed them as unimportant. There were four sand, coloured army trucks dra A Wn up in a line behind the house, with Third Brigade. 4oopers in full battle, kit grouped around them. Craig could sense their excitement, like hounds being whipped in for the hunt.
Peter Fungabera's office had been turned into operational headquarters. Two camp tables had been set up facing the huge relief map on the wall.
