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cannot imagine that any of it was toward murder in a linen cupboard,
no matter whose. It seems a preposterous story to me.
It is preposterous, he agreed. But regrettably true. Somerset
Carlisle suggested that Watson Forbes was the greatest expert in the
practicalities of the proposed railway, both diplomatically and with
regard to engineering.
After Cecil Rhodes, you mean? she said, amusement touching
her lips. I imagine Mr. Rhodes, with his boundless ambition and
love of Empire, will be a keen backer of this project? She started to
move on from the picture. As Prime Minister of Cape Colony, it will
be vastly in his interest. All British Africa will be open to him by land
as well as by sea. He would be a better friend than enemy.
I m sure that is true, Narraway agreed, following her closely.
But I can t imagine any way in which he will be involved in this
tragedy in London.
I cannot see why anyone would be, Vespasia said unhappily. I
think you will find it is a madness that is quite personal and could as
easily have happened anywhere else, once the passion that ignites it
is disturbed.
They walked past a few more portraits, only glancing at the faces,
then made their way to the entrance. They had been together almost
an hour. He escorted her to her carriage where Emily was waiting. He
thanked her both for the information and quite genuinely for the
pleasure of her company, and he thanked Emily for her patience.
Half an hour later he alighted from a hansom cab in Lowndes
Square to call upon Watson Forbes. He had already ascertained by
telephone that he would be received.
The house was elegant, with all the marks of unobtrusive wealth,
a man who is comfortable with his possessions and does not need to
display them except for his own pleasure. The outer doors were of
B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E G A R D E N S 113
carved teak, oiled and gleaming. The parquet flooring in the hall was
Indian hardwood in various shades of rich brown. The paintings
were quiet: Dutch canal scenes, domestic interiors, light on water, a
furled barge sail, a face in repose, a winter scene all blues and grays on
the ice.
It was not until he was in Forbes s study that Narraway saw
the paintings of grasslands with an elephant standing motionless in the
heat and the strange, flat-topped acacia trees in the distance. There
were many carved animals in ivory and semi-precious stone. One en-
tire wall was lined with books, nearly all of them leather-bound. On
the well-used desk was an ostrich egg and a box covered with what
looked like crocodile skin.
Watson Forbes was a solid man with thick hair that had once
been dark but was now paling almost to white, leaving black brows
and a sun-darkened complexion. He had a long nose and a neat, chis-
eled mouth, which was surprisingly expressive. It was a powerful face,
and highly individual. Narraway had heard that he was close to
seventy, but he rose easily to his feet and came forward to greet the
Special Branch man with interest.
How do you do? You said in your conversation on the telephone
wonderful invention that you need expert information on Africa. I
know only parts of it, but whatever knowledge I have is at your dis-
posal. Please, he gestured to include the several leather-covered
chairs, inviting Narraway to take his pick. What is it you wish to
know? He sat down in the chair opposite. Whisky? Or do you prefer
something more exotic? Brandy, perhaps? Or sherry?
Not yet, thank you, Narraway declined. Do you know Cecil
Rhodes?
Forbes smiled. It lit his face, altering the severity of it, but the
look in his dark eyes was guarded. Certainly. One cannot do serious
business in British Africa and not know him.
And Cahoon Dunkeld?
Interesting you should mention them almost in the same
breath, Forbes observed. Coincidental, or not? Now the amuse-
ment was in his eyes also.
Of course not, Narraway answered. Forbes s intelligence was
114 A N N E P E R R Y
obvious; he would be a fool to try to dupe him. He needed Forbes s
knowledge and perhaps also his judgment. He must not insult him,
even unintentionally. You see a likeness? Or a contrast?
Both, Forbes replied. Dunkeld has the same ambition, some-
thing of the same ruthlessness, but far more charm. However, he
started his African adventures later in his life than Rhodes, and
he has no brothers to help him.
But a gifted man? Narraway pressed. And able to gather about
him others of talent, and to inspire loyalty in them?
Obedience, Forbes replied, choosing his word carefully. His eyes
never left Narraway s face.
Well liked?
Again he smiled. No. Why do you ask? Is this to do with the plan
for a Cape-to-Cairo railway? Forbes was now studying him quite
openly. His amusement was more marked, his eyes bright. It s not a
new dream, Mr. Narraway. It may be built, but it will be a far bigger
undertaking than some of its proponents believe. Have you any
knowledge of the terrain it will pass through? It is farther from Cape
Town to Cairo than it is from New York across the great plains of
America and the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific shores, and then
back again. And the climate and terrains cross extremes of equatorial
jungle, grassland, mountains, desert, waterless wastes you cannot
imagine. He gestured with strong, square hands. There are diseases,
parasites, poisonous reptiles and insects, plagues of locusts, and the
largest beasts on earth. Africa is another world, Mr. Narraway. It is
nothing like Europe at all.
Narraway heard the emotion. Forbes s voice was thick, almost
trembling, and there was a passion in his eyes.
It has a great and terrible beauty, he went on, leaning forward a
little. See a bull elephant charge! It is the most magnificent beast in
the world. And intelligent! Hear lions roar in the night. Or hyenas
laugh. They sound human, but insane. It chills the blood. Have you
heard about the drums? They send messages over hundreds of miles,
one drummer to another, as we would use beacon fires. Only, of
course, their messages are much more complicated, an entire lan-
guage.
B U C K I N G H A M P A L A C E G A R D E N S 115
Narraway did not interrupt him.
There are scores of kingdoms, Forbes went on urgently. Bound-
aries that have nothing to do with the white man: Zulu, Mashona,
Hutu, Masai, Kikuyu, and dozens more. And the Arabs still trade in
slaves from the interior to the coasts. There are old wars and hatreds
going back a thousand years that we know nothing about.
Are you saying that it cannot succeed? Narraway asked. He was
both awed and disappointed. Did he want Africa tamed by the white
man s railway? Did he want the British Empire spreading culture,
commerce, and Christianity throughout? Or was it a better dream to
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