Luana by Alan Dean Foster Page B

believe he said.”
    “All right.” Albright rose. “If you should need me for anything, dear Isabel, my name is in the directory. Rest assured I’ll stay in touch.”
    Though not, he thought as he eyed her with interest, as in touch as I’d like to be. They walked towards the door. Well, if things developed properly that little detail might also be handled, so to speak. He’d already come to the conclusion that sweet little Isabel need not disappear right away. Once Mr. Barrett was disposed of, there would be ample time for forced dalliance. The jungle was very discreet.

Chapter IV
    They would travel by land rover to Mwanzi, on the shore of Lake Victoria. From there the railroad could carry them all the way to Mpanda. Barrett’s easy camaraderie and solid reputation made him one of the privileged few who could travel with ease between Kenya and Tanzania. From Mpanda they would have to proceed on foot, and on their own.
    Barrett’s first comment on seeing Albright and Kobenene at the outfitter’s station was predictable.
    “Beggin’ your pardon, Izzy, but who the hell are those two bums?”
    Albright was on his way towards them and saved Isabel the need of a reply.
    “Permit me to introduce myself,” began Albright, in his finest professorial manner.
    “Why not?” countered Barrett. “You’re going to do it anyway.”
    “Uh, yes.” Albright was only briefly caught off stride. “And my associate. My valet, Kobenene.”
    “He looks it,” admitted Barrett drily. Kobenene forced himself to smile.
    “And I am Doctor Norman Albright.” He extended a hand. Barrett took it warily.
    “Doctor of what?”
    “Chemistry, dear boy, chemistry. I was for many years the great John Hardi’s closest friend and co-worker.”
    “More’s the pity for him,” muttered Barrett, so low that no one could hear. He looked at Isabel, jerked his head at the two. “What do they want?”
    “Norman tried to carry on my father’s work, Mr. Barrett. But he’s been stymied by the loss of all father’s old papers and records. He hopes to have a look at them when we find the plane.”
    “You’re nothing if not positive, Izzy.” Barrett studied Albright, who looked blank. “You must want a look-see at those papers awful bad, Albright. You got any idea where we’re going?”
    “Naturally, dear boy. It’s all in the interests of science,” he said unctuously, “which is best served by men with inquiring, far-ranging minds.”
    “Yeah,” said Barrett. “How come your inquiring mind never led you to mount your own search for these desperately valuable notes? Oh, screw it! You can come, if Miss Hardi insists. But on two conditions.”
    “Which are?”
    “One,” said Barrett tightly, straining to help hoist a heavy case atop the roof of a land rover, “I’m the only captain on the ship. What I say goes. If I decide halfway to Zaire it’s time for you to go home, you turn around and go home. If I say bury your head in the mud, you get dirty. Understand?”
    “Perfectly, dear boy, perfectly! Whatever you say,” Albright added brightly. “And the second condition?”
    Barrett paused, one hand wrapped ’round the handle of another case.
    “That you stop calling me ‘dear boy.’ Otherwise I’m gonna lose my lunch.”
    “Surely, surely, de . . . Mr. Barrett. All easily done. We are in accord, then. Come, Kobenene, let us see to our own equipment.” They moved down along the motorized caravan.
    “Hold it, Izzy,” said Barrett, putting out an arm to stop her as she turned to go. “How well do you know this guy?”
    “Really, Mr. Barrett, your insinuations and suspicions strike me as being awfully misdirected. Norman Albright is a brilliant chemist and really did work with my father for many years.” She hesitated. “Frankly, we’ve been out of touch for some time. But he knew me as a little girl. I’m delighted to find him here in Nairobi and even more delighted that he’s coming with us.” She turned and