Free The Secret War by Dennis Wheatley, Tony Morris

is for that reason France has been negotiating an alliance with Soviet Russia, and I do not say that she will not honour her obligation to the League and Great Britain. Only that, without Russia behind her, it would be suicide for her to do so. A man thinks twice before he takes his own life, however black the future may appear.”
    â€œI see your point,” Lovelace admitted. “Britain is the great bulwark of Capitalism, and if the Bolsheviks thought there was a chance of her being smashed once and for all they might refuse to come in. Then, if France considered the odds against her too heavy, we might have to face the whole shooting-match on our own.”
    â€œThat is so. Within a month, perhaps, if the plot to utilise the Abyssinian situation cannot be stopped. Even if we succeed in that you must still regard such a combination as a menace which you may have to face in the future, and if Russia, France, and the Little Entente did come to your assistance your case would not be very much better. Japan would immediately move against Russia, and apparently, from the recent trend of events, Poland, Austria and Hungary would join Germany and Italy in their attack on France.”
    Lovelace shook his head. “Either way it sounds desperately grim, but I can’t think the Germans have the least wish to go to war with Britain.”
    â€œThey have not. At present there is no personal hate between the two countries at all, except amongst the British Jews who are so bitter against the Nazis. But day and night the agitators are at work poisoning the minds of the German people with the delusion that because they have lost their colonies they have lost their honour. Mussolini is a very able statesman, and he will use that feeling to bring Germany in with him against Britain rather than face the collapse of Fascism through a stalemate in Abyssinia.”
    â€œAnd it is this Abyssinian concession which thewarmakers propose to use as their bait to involve Germany?”
    â€œYes. That is their present programme. At the moment the Italian armies are steadily advancing into Abyssinia. When the rains come they must call a halt, and then the Emperor will have a breathing space in which to consider his position. The Italians will dig themselves in and, since modern weapons give natural superiority to defence over attack, even where opposing armies are equally well equipped, no Abyssinian offensive will be able even to shake the Italian line. If the Emperor can manage to hold up the Italian advance until the rains come he will have at least six months in which to equip and train many of his regiments to fit them for modern warfare in the next year’s campaign. So far he has used his private fortune to purchase supplies, but now the Abyssinian war chest is exhausted. He must choose between leaving his warriors to be massacred when the Italians advance again, or selling concessions to provide them with modern equipment which will strengthen their resistance.”
    Valerie nodded. “And he will take the latter course as the lesser evil, because it is his only chance to escape complete defeat and the total loss of his Empire.”
    â€œMademoiselle, you have said it.” Barrotet waved a plump but muscular hand. “The matter is already agreed and a date fixed when Paxito Zarrif will be in Addis Ababa to give the credits and receive the signed concession.”
    â€œPaxito Zarrif,” Lovelace murmured. “I’ve heard of him. He’s a fabulously rich Armenian—isn’t he?”
    â€œYes. He is also the man who has arranged for the sale of the concession to Germany immediately he has secured it, which would give her a strong interest in Abyssinia and bring the whole question of overseas territories for her to a head.”
    â€œUnless …” murmured Christopher.
    â€œUnless Paxito Zarrif fails to reach Addis Ababa.”
    â€œPenn hasn’t got to go to Abyssinia after