The Black Spiders Read online

  First there had been fanaticism, and then there had been the prize of untold wealth.

  So, Abbott had laid his plans and stored the weapons and selected his leaders on the island, then started the revolt, feeling quite sure that communists and other groups would join in the general uprising. And he had believed that the British would have to withdraw, leaving Canna wholly independent, and the new rulers would be politicians already in his pay, and he would be given—at least, he had been promised—the sole concession to work the veins of gold.

  ‘We’ve one possible chance,’ Craigie said, very quietly. ‘If the girl doesn’t come round, her brother might to able to tell us more than he has.’

  They were getting into the car which had been brought round to the theatre for them. The street was crowded, for rumours of a disaster had spread after the ambulances had come tearing into the street, and the police had been seen in their hundreds. The car moved slowly towards Shaftsbury Avenue then quickened its pace until they were heading for Hampstead along almost deserted roads.

  Soon they came to the Lang’s house.

  The guards outside had nothing to report. Charles Lang had not been out all the evening, and he was alone, for the servants had left, as well as Mrs. Lang and the twins. Charles was there, then, with his dreams of future power and glory, and Murray wondered what he was doing, what he would think or say when he knew exactly what had happened.

  There was no certainty that he knew where to find Meya Kamil.

  He came quickly, to open the door, and his face lit up when he saw Murray and the others, as if he believed that they had come to offer him the succession to his uncle. He looked startlingly handsome and wildly excited as he led them into the big room where the photograph of Meya Kamil was, and he looked up at it, almost as if in worship.

  ‘What have you decided?’ he asked abruptly. ‘Do you realise that only I . . . ?’

  Craigie interrupted, very quietly.

  ‘I wonder if you fully realise the issues at stake, Mr.Lang. The whole of the Island of Canna is inflamed to explosion point. Strong forces of British troops are on their way, and tomorrow morning there may be an absolute disaster, with pitched battles and open civil war. That will bring nothing but grief and sorrow and suffering to the people themselves.’

  Lang said angrily: ‘You are exaggerating! It is bad enough, but—’

  ‘It’s no exaggeration,’ Craigie insisted. ‘Every report from the island says that the situation is worsening rapidly. It was all planned to happen very quickly. Picked groups of terrorists are planning further outrages during the night, to make sure that the whole island is in uproar by morning. Do you really believe that you could quieten the people when that happens?’

  Charles Lang didn’t speak, but the glitter in his eyes gave a hint of madness.

  ‘We know how it began and who began it; we know that one man planned to take control of the island, because of the gold on it,’ Craigie went on. ‘Did you know of the gold?’

  Lang caught his breath.

  ‘Did you?’ Craigie asked again, sharply.

  ‘I knew of it, but that did not influence my actions,’ Lang protested; ‘I have only the good of the people at heart.’

  ‘One thing might save the people and the island now,’ Craigie told him softly, ‘and that is the return of your uncle. Nothing else can. Do you know where he is?’

  ‘I’ve told you, no, no, no! He is dead or as good as dead: he must be.’

  ‘Do you know where he is?’

  Lang didn’t answer.

  Murray felt the burning of excitement in his veins as he watched the man. Excitement and desperate eagerness touched Craigie and Loftus, too.’

  ‘Do you know where he is?’ Craigie repeated, very softly.

  ‘I don’t know where he is,’ Lang said shrilly, ‘I know where he might be, he always said that he would go there to die, and if he felt that he was dying he would go there.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘To the tomb of my father, in the mountains of Canna,’ Charles Lang said.

  There was nothing to do but wait.

  Within twenty minutes, Craigie had spoken by telephone to the Department Z agents on the island, and they knew exactly what to do. A strong force of the Guards, already being deployed, had gone with them to the tomb of Judge Lang, which was in the foothills of the mountains—the gateway to the gold which could have saved and had nearly wrecked the paradise of the island. Any time, now, word might come through from the island.

  Murray had gone back to Dineley Street, taking Charles Lang with him to see his sister. Lang had hardly spoken since he had told them where they might find his uncle, and he sat in the car, silent, aloof and afterwards walked ahead of Murray as if he did not know or care where he was going. It was not until he was in the room with his sister, who had not stirred since Murray had last seen her, that he seemed affected by anything except his own great disappointment.

  He stared down at her, and then put out a hand and touched her forehead.

  ‘I have seen her like this before,’ he said, ‘and she always needed him to bring her out of it.’

  ‘Meya Kamil?’ asked Murray sharply.

  ‘Yes, Meya Kamil,’ said Lang. His eyes were brooding as he looked at his sister. ‘He always said that she had one weakness, and that was the weakness of submitting to fear. He believed that if she should ever conquer it, she would have as much influence with the people as he, and—perhaps he was right. Perhaps he was right. But—if he’s dead, he can’t help her, can he?’ That came out roughly, and he did not speak again.

  Juanita did not stir.

  Murray went into the living-room of Jane’s flat, poured out drinks, lit a cigarette, squashed it almost at once, and then lit another. Jane had prepared some sandwiches, but he didn’t feel like eating. When the telephone bell rang he leapt up to answer it, but although it was Loftus, there was no news yet from Canna.

  ‘There’s some about Abbott and the rest of his group in England,’ Loftus said. ‘We’ve got them all—with a few more spiders, too. They brought a few mating couples over here, and they breed at a terrific rate. Lilian Abbott had told us much more than anyone else—Abbott always believed that if he was to put his stooges in control of Canna he would have to act swiftly and decisively, and he knew that Department Z would probably give him more trouble than most. She told us something else about him, too—he’s quarter Cypriot, and his parents were killed by troops on duty in Cyprus, very early in the troubles. He’s always been a revolutionary and at heart anti-British, and that turned him completely.’

  Murray said: ‘I see.’

  ‘He used Cliff House for agents in England, but had other places in reserve,’ Loftus went on. ‘He did not intend to operate from Cliff House, but when Juanita was sent to England he wanted to find out why—and believed she knew where Meya Kamil was. He sent her to Cliff House, not dreaming she would escape, and—well, we know what happened then.’

  ‘Yes,’ said Murray stiffly.

  ‘So far that’s all . . .’ began Loftus, and then his tone changed. ‘There’s the overseas line, Craigie’s answering. Hold on.’

  He went off the line.

  Murray felt as if he was being suffocated. Jane came across, and stood very close to him. Her serenity had faded, with the same desperate anxiety in her eyes. Murray found himself covering her hand with his, felt the pressure of her other hand, felt a sense of oneness, and yet a sense of dread, for this might be the news which mattered so much.

  Then, Loftus roared:

  ‘They’ve found him!’

  They had found the Good Man of Canna in the mausoleum of his lifelong friend, Judge Lang, and they had learned that he had discovered the plot to obtain the gold and control of the island, that he had blamed himself, and he had gone to the tomb to pray—as he often did when in great stress of mind.

  One of Abbott’s men had shut him up in the tomb, blocking the entrance with great rocks, while in England,
Abbott had tried to make sure that Juanita did not know and could not tell anyone where her uncle was.

  Now the Good Man was back at Government House.

  The news was being spread through radio, loud-speaker and word of mouth. He was to broadcast, at hourly intervals during the night.

  Following his broadcast the stark truth of what had happened and who had been behind the plot was told to the people. So was the news of the gold which would give them all the things they sought.

  There was another thing.

  Meya Kamil had asked that Juanita be flown out to Canna, because he believed that he could bring her out of the trance, and help her, and perhaps groom her to follow him, with his own daughter, as the spiritual leader of the people.

  Murray came out of Craigie’s office, three weeks later, looking eager, refreshed and rested. He was smiling to himself, and had been smiling most of the time that he had listened to Craigie and Loftus. The reports were completely finished. There was complete quiet on Canna where the mines were being opened, there was a closer bond than ever with the Commonwealth, and:

  ‘Juanita is fully recovered,’ Craigie had said, ‘but she’s going to stay there.’

  It was odd but it was true; the great issues faded before the vividness of the personal ones. Juanita was well again, and there was no more to fear for her. She was not like other women, she was half visionary and half fey—and he knew that she would never be for him.

  Yet he would see her again.

  He was to fly to Canna and make a report for the Department, although ostensibly he would go as the foreign correspondent of the News-Courier. The Post-Dispatch had asked him to return, but he preferred to make the complete change; he felt more free.

  He was going to the island to see Juanita.

  But Jane Wyatt was to go with him.

  Series Information

  Published or to be published by

  House of Stratus

  Dates given are those of first publication

  Gideon Series

  (Writing as JJ Marric)

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Title Also Published as:

  1 Gideon’s Day Gideon of Scotland Yard 1955

  2 Seven Days to Death Gideon’s Week 1956

  3 Gideon’s Night 1957

  4 Gideon’s Month 1958

  5 Gideon’s Staff 1959

  6 Gideon’s Risk 1960

  7 Gideon’s Fire 1961

  8 A Conference for Assassins Gideon’s March 1962

  9 Travelling Crimes Gideon’s Ride 1963

  10 An Uncivilised Election Gideon’s Vote 1964

  11 Criminal Imports Gideon’s Lot 1965

  12 Gideon’s Badge 1966

  13 From Murder to a Cathedral Gideon’s Wrath 1967

  14 Gideon’s River 1968

  15 Gideon’s Power 1969

  16 Gideon’s Sport 1970

  17 Gideon’s Art 1971

  18 Gideon’s Men 1972

  19 Gideon’s Press 1973

  20 Gideon’s Fog 1975

  21 Gideon’s Drive 1976

  22 Vigilantes & Biscuits Gideon’s Force 1978

  Other Series by John Creasey

  Published or to be published by

  House of Stratus

  Dates given are those of first publication

  ‘Department ‘Z’’ (28 titles)

  ‘Dr. Palfrey Novels’ (34 titles)

  ‘Inspector West’ (43 titles)

  ‘Sexton Blake’ (5 titles)

  ‘The Baron’ (47 titles) (writing as Anthony Morton)

  ‘The Toff’ (59 titles)

  along with:

  The Masters of Bow Street

  This epic novel embraces the story of the Bow Street Runners and the Marine Police, forerunners of the modern police force, who were founded by novelist Henry Fielding in 1748. They were the earliest detective force operating from the courts to enforce the decisions of magistrates. John Creasey’s account also gives a fascinating insight into family life of the time and the struggle between crime and justice, and ends with the establishment of the Metropolitan Police after the passing of Peel’s Act in 1829.

  ‘The Toff’ Series

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Title Also Published as:

  1 Introducing the Toff It’s the Toff ! 1938

  2 The Toff Goes On 1939

  3 The Toff Steps Out 1939

  4 Here Comes the Toff 1940

  5 The Toff Breaks In 1940

  6 Salute the Toff 1941

  7 The Toff Proceeds 1941

  8 The Toff Goes to Market 1942

  9 The Toff Is Back 1942

  10 The Toff on the Trail (short stories) 1942

  11 The Toff among the Millions 1943

  12 Accuse the Toff 1943

  13 The Toff and the Deadly Parson The Toff and the Curate 1944

  14 The Toff and the Great Illusion 1944

  15 Feathers for the Toff 1945

  16 The Toff and the Lady 1946

  17 Poison for the Toff The Toff on Ice 1946

  18 Hammer the Toff 1947

  19 The Toff in Town 1948

  20 The Toff Takes Shares 1948

  21 The Toff and Old Harry 1949

  22 The Toff on Board 1949

  23 Fool the Toff 1950

  24 Kill the Toff 1950

  25 A Knife for the Toff 1951

  26 A Mask for the Toff The Toff Goes Gay 1951

  27 Hunt the Toff 1952

  28 Call the Toff 1953

  29 The Toff Down Under Break the Toff 1953

  30 Murder Out of the Past (short stories) 1953

  31 The Toff at Camp The Toff at Butlins 1954

  32 The Toff at the Fair 1954

  33 A Six for the Toff A Score for the Toff 1955

  34 The Toff and the Deep Blue Sea 1955

  35 Kiss the Toff Make-Up for the Toff 1956

  36 The Toff in New York 1956

  37 Model for the Toff 1957

  38 The Toff on Fire 1957

  39 The Toff and the Stolen Tresses 1958

  40 Terror for the Toff The Toff on the Farm 1958

  41 Double for the Toff 1959

  42 The Toff and the Runaway Bride 1959

  43 A Rocket for the Toff 1960

  44 The Toff and the Kidnapped The Kidnapped Child 1960

  45 Follow the Toff 1961

  46 The Toff and the Toughs The Toff and the Teds 1961

  47 A Doll for the Toff 1963

  48 Leave It to the Toff 1963

  49 The Toff and the Spider 1965

  50 The Toff in Wax 1966

  51 A Bundle for the Toff 1967

  52 Stars for the Toff 1968

  53 The Toff and the Golden Boy 1969

  54 The Toff and the Fallen Angels 1970

  55 Vote for the Toff 1971

  56 The Toff and the Trip-Trip-Triplets 1972

  57 The Toff and the Terrified Taxman 1973

  58 The Toff and the Sleepy Cowboy 1975

  59 The Toff and the Crooked Copper 1977

  Inspector West Series

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Title Also Published as:

  1 Inspector West Takes Charge 1942

  2 Go Away to Murder Inspector West Leaves Town 1943

  3 Inspector West at Home 1944

  4 Inspector West Regrets 1945

  5 Holiday for Inspector West 1946

  6 Battle for Inspector West 1948

  7 The Case Against Paul Raeburn Triumph for Inspector West 1948

  8 Inspector West Kicks Off Sport for Inspector West 1949

  9 Inspector West Alone 1950

  10 Inspector West Cries Wolf The Creepers 1950

  11 The Figure in the Dusk A Case for Inspector West 1951

  12 The Dissemblers Puzzle for Inspector West 1951

  13 The Case of the Acid Throwers The Blind Spot; Inspe
ctor West at Bay 1952

  14 Give a Man a Gun A Gun for Inspector West 1953

  15 Send Inspector West 1953

  16 So Young, So Cold, So Fair A Beauty for Inspector West; The Beauty Queen Killer 1954

  17 Murder Makes Haste Inspector West Makes Haste; The Gelignite Gang; Night of the Watchman 1955

  18 Murder: One, Two, Three Two for Inspector West 1955

  19 Death of a Postman Parcels for Inspector West 1956

  20 Death of an Assassin A Prince for Inspector West 1956

  21 Hit and Run Accident for Inspector West 1957

  22 The Trouble at Saxby’s Find Inspector West; Doorway to Death 1957

  23 Murder, London - New York 1958

  24 Strike for Death The Killing Strike 1958

  25 Death of a Racehorse 1959

  26 The Case of the Innocent Victims 1959

  27 Murder on the Line 1960

  28 Death in Cold Print 1961

  29 The Scene of the Crime 1961

  30 Policeman’s Dread 1962

  31 Hang the Little Man 1963

  32 Look Three Ways at Murder 1964

  33 Murder, London - Australia 1965

  34 Murder, London - South Africa 1966

  35 The Executioners 1967

  36 So Young to Burn 1968

  37 Murder, London - Miami 1969

  38 A Part for a Policeman 1970

  39 Alibi for Inspector West 1971

  40 A Splinter of Glass 1972

  41 The Theft of Magna Carta 1973

  42 The Extortioners 1974

  43 A Sharp Rise in Crime 1978

  ‘The Baron’ Series

  These Titles can be read as a series, or randomly as standalone novels

  Title Also Published as: