Five Weeks in a Balloon Page #2

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And I demand to know

the reason for this outrage!

They will explain inside.

- Professor Fergusson?

- It certainly is Professor Fergusson!

And I have no time for jiggery-pokery.

- Somebody's gonna pay for this.

- Yes, sir.

- Yes, sir.

- Your hat, sir.

- My hat, sir, stays where it is.

- This way, please.

- I cannot delay another minute.

- Professor Fergusson, sir.

My ship sails on the tide.

Never fear, Professor.

Your ship won't sail without you.

Mr. Prime Minister.

Good evening, Professor Fergusson.

I do not understand this

last-minute hocus-pocus.

Excuse me, sir.

This, uh, honor.

- Please be seated.

- Thank you.

- Brandy?

- Thank you, no.

Her Majesty offers her sincere good wishes.

I'm deeply touched. But I was not

aware Her Majesty was interested.

Interested... and perturbed, sir.

Perturbed? By my actions?

Not yours. Allow me.

Less than three hours ago, we learned...

that an expedition of

international slave traders...

will soon leave for the west coast...

and head for the heart of West Africa.

No-man's-land, huh?

What has this expedition-

If slavers plant their flag there,

they will control the entire territory.

- A very bitter pill for us.

- True.

We've been planning to explore

and develop that territory.

Now we have an urgent incentive:

the prevention of slavery.

But hasn't the slave trade

already been outlawed?

- Yes, but only by the major nations.

- Aye.

If they plant their flag, they'll make their

own laws and put everyone to the yoke.

- Exactly, Professor.

- This is the making of a mess.

Something's gotta be done,

but what's to do?

- We must plant our flag first.

- It cannot be done.

Start readying a British expedition...

and those slavers will be

running for the Volta River...

before you can hoist

your britches over your knees.

That's why you must plant it.

- Me? How?

- Fool them.

Fly directly from Zanzibar

to the Volta River.

Aye.

A little mild exploring- say, a 200-mile

flight over East Africa- is one thing...

but to fly 4,000 miles

over unexplored jungle?

That's another.

It could be suicidal.

Her Majesty realizes that.

She even wagered me a sovereign

that you would not take the risk.

Well, Her Majesty's just

lost herself a sovereign.

If my life's to be sacrificed,

I cannot think of a better cause.

I knew we could count on you.

What about this young American

reporter that I've agreed to take along?

- This Donald O'Shay?

- Take him. The perfect witness.

- I do not follow.

- In case of a legal dispute...

the eyewitness report of an American

would be conclusive evidence of our claim.

Aye.

And they tell me that he's a pleasant,

inoffensive young lad, this Donald O'Shay.

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