# ■ 4 The political candidate

I drove that car across the moor as fast as I could，looking nervously over my shoulder. I was also thinking desperately about Scudder's notes.

Scudder had told me nothing but lies. All his stories about south-east Europe and people wanting to start wars were rubbish. But although he had told me lies，there was truth underneath.

The 15th of June was going to be an important day，but because of something more important than the murder of a Prime Minister. The story in his book was not complete，and there were some things I didn't understand-for example，the words 'thirty-nine steps'，which appeared five or six times. The last time the words were used，Scudder had written'Thirty-nine steps，I counted them-high tide at 10∶17 p. m. '

The first thing I learned was that war was certain. Everything was planned. Karolides was going to be murdered and nothing could prevent it.

The second thing I learned was that Britain was not prepared for war. Karolides would be murdered and war would seem certain. Germany would pretend to be against war，but while we and they discussed peace，their submarines would silently fill the seas around us.

There was something else. Although the newspapers didn't know it，the British and French governments were close allies，and had agreed to prepare for war together. The most important officers in the armies and navies met regularly，and in June one of the top people was coming from Paris for a meeting. He would be told the exact details of the British Navy's preparations for war.

But on the 15th of June other people were going to be in London. Scudder didn't give names，but called them just the 'Black Stone'. They had a plan to get hold of this information，which was meant only for the French Government. And the information would be used by our enemies just a week or two later，with a most terrible effect.

My first idea was to write a letter to the British Prime Minister. But nobody would believe my story. I had to find proof that Scudder's story was true；and this would not be easy with the police and the Black Stone following me.

I drove to the east through a country at peace；but I knew that in a month's time，unless I was very lucky，men would be lying dead in this quiet countryside. I came into a village and I saw a policeman standing outside the Post Office and reading something carefully. He looked up at the car，stepped into the road，and held up a hand to stop me.

I almost did stop. But then I realized that the policeman had been reading about me. I supposed the police at the hotel had worked quickly and contacted all the local villages. I drove faster，the policeman jumped out of my way，and I was soon out of the village.

I left the main road as soon as possible and tried a smaller one. It was not easy without a map，and I realized that I had been stupid to steal the car. It would help the police and the Black Stone to find me in any corner of Scotland. If I left it，and went off on foot，they would find me in an hour or two.

I took a road that went along a narrow valley，and then up onto the moor again. I was very hungry；I had eaten nothing since morning. And now，as I drove，I heard a noise in the sky，and there was the plane.

On the moor it would see me in a minute. I drove as fast as I could down into another valley and towards a wood. Suddenly，a car appeared in front of me from a side road. There was no time to stop. I did the only thing possible and drove off the road into a hedge，hoping to hit something soft beyond. But I was out of luck. The car went through the hedge like a knife through butter，and immediately began to fall. I jumped out and was caught by the branch of a tree，while the car disappeared into a river fifteen metres below.

* * *

A hand helped me out of the tree，and a frightened voice asked me if I was badly hurt. The speaker was a young man who was very alarmed and very sorry. I was more pleased than angry；it was a good way for the car to disappear.

It's my fault，'I told him. 'That's the end of my holiday，but that's better than the end of my life！'

He looked at his watch. 'I'm in a hurry，but my house is very near. Let me give you some food and a bed. But what about your luggage？Is it in the river？'

It's in my pocket，'I said. 'I'm from Australia，so I never carry much luggage. '

From Australia，'he cried. 'You're just the man I need. '

We got into his car and in three minutes we were at his very comfortable house. He found some food for me. 'You've only got five minutes，I'm afraid，but you can eat properly after wards. We've got to be at the meeting at eight o'clock. You see，I'm a candidate for the election and I've got a problem tonight. I had arranged for Crumpleton，who was the Australian Prime Minister，to speak at the meeting tonight，but he's ill. I've got to speak for forty minutes，and I don't know what to say. Listen，My-you haven't told me your name-Twisdon，you say？Well，Mr Twisdon，can you talk about Australia for a few minutes？'

It seemed strange to ask a man you had met in a car crash to speak at an election meeting，but I needed his help.

All right，'I said. 'I'm not a good speaker，but I'll speak for a bit. '

He was delighted. We got in his car，and on the way to the meeting he told me about his life. His name was Sir Harry Andrews and his uncle was in the government and had suggested politics as a job. He knew nothing about politics，but he was a friendly young man and I was glad to help him. When we arrived at the meeting，there were about five hundred people waiting. I was introduced as a'trusted Australian leader'and then Sir Harry started to speak. It was mostly about preparing for war. He said the Germans didn't want a war and that if we stopped building new warships， the Germans would do the same. I thought about Scudder's black book in my pocket.

But behind all the rubbish I could see that Sir Harry was a nice man. And he spoke very badly. I knew I wasn't a good speaker，but I would be better than him.

I simply told them everything I knew about Australia. I said that Britain and Australia must work together and be friends. I think I was rather a success.

When we were back in his car again， Sir Harry was delight－ed. 'You spoke wonderfully，Twisdon，'he said. 'Now you must stay for a few days. There's excellent fishing here. '

We had a good supper-which I needed-and sat in front of a fire in his sitting－room. I thought the time had come for me to tell the truth and see if this man could help me. 'Listen，Sir Harry，I've got something very important to say to you. You're an honest man，and I'm going to be honest too. Everything you said tonight was dangerous rubbish. ' 'Was it？I wasn't sure myself. Do you think Germany is going to start a war with us？'

In six weeks' time you won't need to ask me that Listen， and I'll tell you a story. '

I sat in front of the fire，in that peaceful room，and told him everything. He heard about Scudder， his notebook， the milk－man， and my travels in Scotland. It was the first time I had told the truth，all of it， to anyone， and I felt better.

So you see，' I said finally，'I'm the man the police want for the Langham Place murder. You should call them at once.

He looked at me carefully. 'I know you're not a murderer，Hannay， and I believe you're speaking the truth. I'll help you. What do you want me to do？'

First，write to your uncle. I must contact the government before the 15th of June. '

He pulled his moustache. 'That won't help you. My uncle isn't interested in foreign politics， and I don't think he'd be－lieve you. No. I'll write to a friend of his，Sir Walter Bulli-vant， who works in the Foreign Office. He's an intelligent man and I think he'd help. What shall I say？'

So he wrote a letter to Sir Walter， saying that if a man named Twisdon came to him， he should help him. Twisdon would say the words 'Black Stone'and would whistle the song ' Annie Laurie'， to prove who he was.

He told me where Sir Walter lived， and asked me what more he could do.

Can you lend me some old clothes and give me a map？ And if the police come， show them the car in the river. '

I then slept for three or four hours， until Sir Harry woke me at two o'clock. He gave me an old bicycle for the first part of the journey.

■ 4 政治候選人。

我開車飛速穿越荒原，同時戰戰兢兢地回頭張望，心裡極力思考著斯卡德爾筆記本里的事。

斯卡德爾給我講的全是謊話。什麼東南歐、什麼有人要發動戰爭，純屬胡說八道。他講的雖然是假話，但其中也隱藏著真相。

六月十五日將是個重要的日期，因為那天會發生某件事，比謀殺希臘首相更要緊。他筆記本里的記述斷續不全，有些事我也不明白——比如，“三十九級臺階”這幾個詞出現了五六次。最後一次斯卡德爾用這幾個詞時，他寫道：“三十九級，我數了——漲潮時間，下午十點十七分。”

我搞明白的第一件事是戰爭肯定要爆發。一切都計劃好了。卡羅裡德斯死定了，無可挽救。

我搞明白的第二件事是英國對戰爭沒有準備。卡羅裡德斯將被殺死，而且戰爭看來不可避免。德國會裝出反對戰爭的樣子，一邊和我們探討和平，同時悄悄把潛艇佈滿周圍海域。

此外，英國和法國是親密的盟友，有協議要共同備戰，但是報界對此並不知情。雙方陸、海軍的高級軍官定期會晤，六月份巴黎方面某個首腦人物要來開會。他將被告知英國海軍備戰的詳細情況。

然而，六月十五日另外一批人也要到倫敦來。斯卡德爾沒說他們叫什麼，只稱他們為“黑石”。他們制定了計劃要把會晤情報搞到手，而這些情況只能讓法國政府知道。一兩週之後敵人會利用這個情報，那後果將不堪設想。

我第一個想法是給英國首相寫封信。但是沒有人會相信我的話。我必須找到證據說明斯卡德爾的話是真的；這可不那麼容易，因為警察和黑石正在跟蹤著我。

我開車向東通過寧靜的鄉村；而我清楚一個月之內，除非我幸運成事，否則這片寧靜的鄉野會橫屍遍地。我駛進一個村莊，看到一個警察站在郵電局外面，正在專心致志地讀著什麼。他一抬頭看到我的車，便走到路中央揚手示意叫我停車。

我差點停下來。但是轉念一想，意識到警察剛才讀的是有關我的消息。我猜到旅店的警察動作很迅速，已通知了各村的警察。我突然加速，嚇得警察從路上跳開，轉眼我便駛離村莊。

我儘快地從大路拐到小路看看情況。而沒有地圖談何容易，我意識到偷這輛車是做了件蠢事。在蘇格蘭我無論躲到那個角落，這輛車都會幫著警察和黑石把我找到。如果棄車步行，他們一兩個小時內也會找到我。

我駛向一條狹窄的山谷路，然後折身返回荒原。我從早晨就滴水未進，現在飢腸轆轆。我正開著車，聽到空中有響聲，是那架飛機。

在荒原上飛機轉眼就會看到我。我儘快駛向另一個峽谷，然後奔樹林而去。猛然間，從岔路上一輛汽車竄到我面前。停車已來不及了。唯一可能的是駛離道路，衝入籬牆，希望能撞在後面什麼軟東西上。然而我非常不走運。汽車穿過籬牆，一如餐刀切黃油般爽利，然後馬上向下跌落。我跳了出來，被掛在一個樹枝上，而汽車消失在下面十五米的河中。

有一隻手幫我從樹上下來，我聽到一個戰戰兢兢的聲音問我是否傷得很重。說話的是個年輕人，他很吃驚也很歉疚。我與其說憤懣不如說欣慰，汽車這樣消失很不錯。

“這是我的錯，”我對他說。“這一下假期算完了，但總比命沒了好！”

他看了看錶。“我正忙著，但我家很近。讓我給您提供吃住吧。可是您的行李怎麼辦？掉在河裡了？”

“行李在我口袋裡，”我說。“我從澳大利亞來，從來不多帶行李。”

“從澳大利亞來，”他叫了起來。“我正需要您這麼個人。”

我們坐上他的車，三分鐘就來到他那舒適的家。他給我找了些吃的。“恐怕您只能吃五分鐘，不過以後您可以好好吃一頓。八點我們必須去開會。您知道，我是這次選舉的候選人，而今天晚上我遇到個麻煩。我今晚本來安排的是克蘭姆坡頓講話，他是澳大利亞的總理，可他病了。這樣我就要講四十分鐘，但不知道講些什麼。聽我說，先生……您還沒告訴我您叫什麼呢……叫特維斯頓，對吧？好了，特維斯頓先生，您能不能用幾分鐘講講澳大利亞？”

車禍中你碰到個人，就拉他在選舉會上講話，真是不可思議，可我要他幫忙啊。

“好吧，”我說。“我講不好，不過可以講一會兒。”

他很高興。我們坐進汽車，去開會的路上他把他的情況講給我聽。他叫哈里·安德魯爵士，他叔叔在政府工作，勸他也從政。而他對政治一竅不通，但他年輕，為人和善，我很願意幫助他。我們趕到會場，已經有五百來人等在那兒。我作為“可信賴的澳大利亞領導人”被介紹給大家，接著哈里爵士開始講話。內容主要是如何備戰。他說德國人並不想打仗，如果我們停止建造軍艦，德國人也會同樣做。我則想著口袋裡斯卡德爾小筆記本上的事。

除了這一番胡言亂語，我可以看出哈里爵士為人不錯。而講話相當糟糕。我知道自己演講水平也不怎麼樣，但總比他講得好。

關於澳大利亞，我把知道的一古腦兒都端了出來。我講到英國和澳大利亞要同舟共濟，友好相處。我覺得我的講話挺成功。

我們回到車上時，哈里爵士興高采烈。“您講得棒極了，特維斯頓，”他說。“您必須在這裡呆幾天。這有一個刮刮叫的垂釣活動。”

我們吃了一頓豐盛的晚餐——這正是我之所需——然後一塊坐在客廳的火爐前。我覺得這正是把實情告訴他的時機，看此人能不能幫我一把。

“聽我說，哈里爵士，我有非常重要的事情跟您說。您是個實在人，我也同樣會實實在在。今天晚上您講的都是危險的無稽之談。”

“是嗎？我自己還說不準。您認為德國要和我們開戰嗎？”

“六週之後您就不必問我了。聽我說，我給您講一件事。”

在那間寧靜的屋子裡，我坐在火爐前，把一切都告訴了他。他聽著關於斯卡德爾、以及他的小筆記本、送奶員、以及我在蘇格蘭的歷程。這是頭一回我把真相，一切真相，告訴別人，心裡感到好多了。

“您知道了，”末了我說，“我就是蘭厄姆命案中警察要抓的那個人。您應該立刻報警。”

他審視著我。“我知道您不是凶手，相信您說的是實話。我會幫助您的。您需要我做什麼？”

“首先給您叔叔寫封信。六月十五日前我必須和政府取得聯繫。”

他捋著鬍子。“那對您沒用。我叔叔對外國政治沒有興趣，我覺得他不會相信您。不。我會給他一位朋友寫封信，他叫瓦爾特·布利萬特爵士，在外交部工作。他很聰明，我想他會幫助您的。怎麼樣？”

於是他給布利萬特爵士寫了封信，信中說如果有個叫特維斯頓的人去找他，他應予幫助。特維斯頓會說暗語“黑石”，還會用口哨吹那首叫“安妮·勞裡”的歌以證明他是誰。

他告訴我布利萬特爵士的地址，又問還需要他做什麼。

“您能借給我幾件舊衣服再給我一張地圖嗎？再有，如果警察找來，領他們看看掉在河裡的汽車。”

然後我睡了三四個小時，兩點鐘哈里爵士把我叫醒。他給了我一輛舊自行車以供我第一段路程之用。