Free The Last Cut by Michael Pearce

forward and found the tools and took them away with me. Ho, ho, I thought, that will teach you a lesson!’
    ‘Fair is fair,’ said Owen, ‘and if you take mine, I take yours. Is that it?’
    The ghaffir looked at him, surprised.
    ‘Well, yes, Effendi. That was it, more or less.’
    ‘And you did not think to seize the man?’
    ‘Well, no, Effendi. He was bigger than I.’
    ‘Were you not armed?’
    ‘Ah, yes, Effendi. But so might he be.’
    ‘Nor did you think of reporting it the next morning?’
    ‘By then, Effendi, it was surely water under the bridge.’ And, besides, you had the tools?’
    ‘Well—’
    And thought, no doubt, that was punishment enough?’ ’Exactly so, Effendi,’ agreed the ghaffir, relieved.
    Owen had one last question.
    ‘You know the workmen; and you saw the man. Which of them was it?’
    After some hum-ing and haw-ing, the ghaffir identified Babikr.
    ‘Well, that clinches it,’ said Macrae.
    ‘Aye,’ said Ferguson despondently.
    ‘Ye’d never have thought it.’
    ‘One of ours!’
    ‘I still can’t understand it. Why would he do a thing like that?’
    ‘You think you know them,’ said Ferguson, shaking his head.
    ‘Well, you do know them,’ said Owen. ‘You reckoned that if you put it to them, they’d come out with it. And you were right.’
    Aye. There is that.’
    ‘Still, one of ours—!’
    ‘What I cant understand,’ said Macrae, ‘is how he could bring himself to do it. You’ve met our men,’ he appealed to Owen, ‘you can see what sort of men they are. Now, would they do a thing like that?’
    ‘Well—’
    ‘No more would he. At least, that’s what I would have said.’
    ‘Someone must have got at him,’ said Ferguson.
    ‘Aye. That’s what I’m thinking. And do you know what more I’m thinking? I’m thinking that it’s not over yet. If they can turn one good man, they can turn another. They might try it again. I shan’t feel happy till I know what’s behind this.’ He looked at Owen. ‘I hope you weren’t thinking of stopping?’

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Chapter 5
    « ^ »
    McPhee stuck his head in at the door.
    ‘I’m worried, Owen.’
    ‘You are? About what, particularly?’
    ‘The licentiousness.’
    Owen put his pencil down.
    ‘I don’t know that we can do a lot about that, can we?’ he said cautiously.
    McPhee came further into the room.
    ‘I do feel that we ought to make some effort to, well,
contain
    it.’
    ‘I’m not sure—’
    ‘You see, Owen, there will be mothers there. And children. Not to mention the Kadi.’
    Ah, you’re talking about the Cut?’
    ‘I am sure it must make him uncomfortable.’
    ‘I don’t know. He’s been opening it for centuries, hasn’t he? I would have thought he was pretty used to it by now.’
    And then there’s the Diplomatic Corps.’
    ‘Licentiousness? That’s hardly likely to trouble them!’
    And think of the Consul-General’s wife!’
    ‘She’s not involved, surely?’
    ‘No, no. But she will see it. That’s the point. It’s pretty unavoidable. I do feel people ought to be protected against immodesty, Owen.’
    ‘Well, I… You don’t think she could just stay away? If it bothered her?’
    ‘But, Owen, she goes every year!’
    ‘Well, then… Surely, that means—?’
    ‘Owen!’ said McPhee severely. ‘She goes out of a sense of duty!’
    ‘I’m sure, I’m sure. Only—’
    ‘Yes?’
    ‘I don’t see what I can do about it.’
    ‘Couldn’t you ban some of the more outrageous forms of behaviour?’
    ‘Such as?’
    ‘I really wouldn’t like to specify,’ said McPhee, cheeks growing pink.
    ‘That makes it difficult.’
    ‘I just feel,’ said McPhee earnestly, ‘that something ought to be done. Before it is Too Late.’
    ‘McPhee thinks I ought to ban immodest behaviour,’ said Owen, as he and the Consul-General’s Aide were leaning on the bar of the Sporting Club that lunchtime.
    ‘Certainly. I’ll speak to the Diplomatic Corps about it.’
    ‘No, no. He means in