Disclaimer: I do not own, or claim to own, any of the Biggles series characters used in this work. This fan fiction was written for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered part of the official storyline.
Warning: Non canon type fan fiction works
may contain severe time mix-ups and character deviations.
Biggles glanced up at the big green 40 hanging over the door. "This seems to be the place," he murmured to Algy. "I'll just ring the bell." He suited the action to the word, and a moment later, a tall, dark-haired man was standing on the doorstep looking at them.
"Mr. Bigglesworth? I'm Howard Carter. Air Commodore Raymond asked me to expect you." His voice was quiet and deep, with only the faintest trace of a German accent. "Won't you come in?"
Biggles followed Carter into the house, Algy and Jane trailing behind him.
Introductions were made. Carter poured drinks: double brandies for himself, Biggles, and Algy. He looked uncertainly at Jane, who was eyeing the brandy with distaste. "Can I get you something, Mrs. Bigglesworth?"
"Water will do, thank you." Jane's tone was frosty. She was busy glaring at her husband, who had absolutely promised not to drink alcohol again.
Biggles avoided Jane's eye and attempted a sip of brandy as Carter left to get water.
“So, how
can I help you?” Carter asked, returning with a glass of water for Jane, and seating
himself back in his armchair.
“I was actually wondering if you could give us an idea of what this place is like,” said Biggles. “All I know for now is that it’s an island. Our people don’t even have a map of the place.”
Carter lit a cigarette and studied the end of it for a minute before replying coolly, “Well, I have a map, if you would like it. It is a hand-drawn one, but I’m sure you would not mind.” He rose and left the room, returning some minutes later with a piece of yellowed paper.
“I was actually wondering if you could give us an idea of what this place is like,” said Biggles. “All I know for now is that it’s an island. Our people don’t even have a map of the place.”
Carter lit a cigarette and studied the end of it for a minute before replying coolly, “Well, I have a map, if you would like it. It is a hand-drawn one, but I’m sure you would not mind.” He rose and left the room, returning some minutes later with a piece of yellowed paper.
“By gosh,
that’s a piece of luck!” exclaimed Algy. “Where did you get that?”
Carter gave a sheepish shrug. “I was the one who drew it, if you want to know the truth.” He blew a smoke ring into the air.
“Then why didn’t you give it to Mr. Raymond?” demanded Jane, indignantly.
Carter shrugged. “At the time I drew this, I had just barely got out of the island with my life. If I gave it to Intelligence, they would have asked me to go back. Naturally, I did not have much motivation to do so.”
“But that’s treachery!” cried Jane. “Withholding information--vital information! You’re-”
Algy coughed meaningfully.
Jane ignored him, “-nothing but a trai-”
Biggles glided in quickly. “I would also like to know something of the coast, and places to land and so forth,” he put in, looking up from his examination of the map.
Carter gave his cigarette a long pull, glanced at Jane, then turned back to Biggles, and said, "I would strongly advise you not to land on the sea. It's worse than No Man's Land on a bad day. Covered with rocks, sharks, man o' wars, and goodness knows what else."
"Doesn't sound like the place for a picnic," agreed Algy.
"I would say not. Anyway, to continue, there are only two places big enough for a landing. One is here, and the other, here." Carter jabbed two spots on the map in front of Biggles.
"Good to know."
"Is there anything special about this island?" Jane cut in, unable to keep quiet for more than five seconds. “What makes it so important?”
Carter paused before replying. "As a matter of fact, yes, Mrs. Bigglesworth. There is something special about the island. Firstly, the island holds many resources, oil, coal, and so forth. Secondly, it is an ideal place to launch an attack on England or to observe what we are doing here. Third, it is a treasure chest; there was a cave full of gold ore the last time I was there, and a quarry full of rough rubies."
"By gosh!" muttered Algy. "What a paradise!"
"You are right," returned Carter. "And the Germans are going to go to any lengths to keep it. If they think you are a threat to their island, they will kill you without a second thought."
Jane screamed.
Carter gave a sheepish shrug. “I was the one who drew it, if you want to know the truth.” He blew a smoke ring into the air.
“Then why didn’t you give it to Mr. Raymond?” demanded Jane, indignantly.
Carter shrugged. “At the time I drew this, I had just barely got out of the island with my life. If I gave it to Intelligence, they would have asked me to go back. Naturally, I did not have much motivation to do so.”
“But that’s treachery!” cried Jane. “Withholding information--vital information! You’re-”
Algy coughed meaningfully.
Jane ignored him, “-nothing but a trai-”
Biggles glided in quickly. “I would also like to know something of the coast, and places to land and so forth,” he put in, looking up from his examination of the map.
Carter gave his cigarette a long pull, glanced at Jane, then turned back to Biggles, and said, "I would strongly advise you not to land on the sea. It's worse than No Man's Land on a bad day. Covered with rocks, sharks, man o' wars, and goodness knows what else."
"Doesn't sound like the place for a picnic," agreed Algy.
"I would say not. Anyway, to continue, there are only two places big enough for a landing. One is here, and the other, here." Carter jabbed two spots on the map in front of Biggles.
"Good to know."
"Is there anything special about this island?" Jane cut in, unable to keep quiet for more than five seconds. “What makes it so important?”
Carter paused before replying. "As a matter of fact, yes, Mrs. Bigglesworth. There is something special about the island. Firstly, the island holds many resources, oil, coal, and so forth. Secondly, it is an ideal place to launch an attack on England or to observe what we are doing here. Third, it is a treasure chest; there was a cave full of gold ore the last time I was there, and a quarry full of rough rubies."
"By gosh!" muttered Algy. "What a paradise!"
"You are right," returned Carter. "And the Germans are going to go to any lengths to keep it. If they think you are a threat to their island, they will kill you without a second thought."
Jane screamed.
Carter
looked startled. "Mrs. Bigglesworth? Are you all right? Did something
startle you?"
"People are going to, to, try and kill us!!" gasped Jane, her face a nasty shade of white. For a minute Algy thought she was going to faint.
"Why not?" said Carter, quite calmly. "Would you give up such a gold mine without a fight?"
"But to KILL us!" protested Jane.
Biggles coughed uncomfortably. "You know, dear, you could stay at home...we could have our honeymoon afterwa-"
"People are going to, to, try and kill us!!" gasped Jane, her face a nasty shade of white. For a minute Algy thought she was going to faint.
"Why not?" said Carter, quite calmly. "Would you give up such a gold mine without a fight?"
"But to KILL us!" protested Jane.
Biggles coughed uncomfortably. "You know, dear, you could stay at home...we could have our honeymoon afterwa-"
"No!" cried Jane, jumping to her feet. "I won't do that!
I shall Do My Duty!!"
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