◆ SpookStack

a ‘Duncan Webb is scen on board the fishing hoat hte chartered to con- tinue the search from lraly. He tried to get to Juga- next did I elther see or hear rom Rocco, and, on the after- oon of the third day, when here was stlll slience, 1 decided do something about it. In the course of the boat journey Pietga had mentioned o gunboat and refused to go any further. Back we went to Chioggla and ° then. I returned to Venice-4to nd no message for me frgém oceo or his associates. Affr two more days of useless waitlag I returned to London. AU-I had was the so-called “message,” and I at once set about trying to see if there was | such a person as J.P, H. There was. It was oné of Guy Bure gess’s closest friends. I went to see him. with a full translation of he. message, Which now rea “Teli. J. PH. that ihe plaia must remain incomplete and one of her creators feats that he will soon be sent to join tife plain. where she resis: per- petually.” iB This friend told me: “TI under- stand the message. It refers to & book Burgess was golng to write—a biography of the late Gord Salisbury," he sald. -" “Tt was mitended to se the fifth. volume of the Hfe of the former Prime Minister written by tis daughter, Lady Gwendolin Cecil. She died before the work waa completed. t ‘Soon ba dead’ “Somewhere, I recall, Lady Gwendolin was referred to as ‘The Plaln'—because of her Salisbury connection and cause the word fitted her 1 “60, if Burgess: wrote message he was saying to '] won't be able to fink the ook on Lord Salisbury becauke, like hig daughter, I'M soon be dead,’ “Tt is astonishing. .Of course | a shrewd man with Jiterary © knowledge and a nersonal ton- tact with Burgess could have faked it, but it seems fantastic slavia Aur the skipper turned back when he saw a@ gun- heat approaching. TRUCE Leet CL) small place on the Jugoslav eoast a few miles north of Pola , (where Burgess was sypposed to come; I decided to try to get a Sow Mgt ST RS he Aa ts ifs: genuine. Then come back morrow with £16,000 in Italian lira and we'll take you to meet Burgess. How's that?" boat and go over there. 1. left Venice and went to Chioggia, a near-by fishing port. There 1 hired a boat for the to suppose that a fake could have been delivered to you jn such a dramatic fashion.” I have promised not to réveal I said I was perfectly satis Journey. . ~. this-‘man's name—he has been fied and—rather to my surprise Dangerous questioned. tco often already —the blond-man arreed, too, * a j about hisKtiowledge of Burgess when Pictro explained it to him. He went back i the other ship. Then we cast off and made ir way back to Venice, where I was told to walt for Roteo to contact mr so that we could make the return journey. Our parting was quite friendly and I duly waited for their next move—not witheut a worry on my mind. I had no means of checking ee Tet tn duck, The owner was not very happy about making the trip. He said it was dangerous to go into Jugoslay waters without preper papers, but he agreed to try his But when we had been out for some hours and the coast was just visible, he suddenly pointed to the horizon where & pull of smoke showed the approach of a shi ite insisted it was e@ Jugoslay Ane, " eas wipe eS 8 tae, and his movemanis—but he is aman of some distinction In the literary world and I must accept his Judgment. Then is Burgess. dead? 4 ielieve that at least he Ik in peril of his life and 1 believe , he has made some efforts te escape his Russian masters, But beyond that I have no “theories except this: I cannot belleve that a gang of interna- tlonal confidence tricksters on the message and no hope g+ ---- ~~ -4 would go to such lengths in the Ai. all of raising £10,000, even: & ; ope of such a small reward ( Guy Burgess re delivered * ' 2 And nat reward yemains if person. Om) » Guig co an etro care -o ith. the blulf. 3 om * renew their offer and next t1 e But my anxiety wes unneces¢ a a # fo give me final proof of the Bary, Heiner that aay, DE. bag. 2 ® / fae @ Sains. oa * aang