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Borosoff said： 〃And just how do you propose to stop this madman； Mr。 Benson？〃
A'l don't know。〃
〃You don't know？〃 One of the others at the table lifted his eyebrows a millimeter…for him a sign of plete disapproval。 〃Then why did you summon us all this distance？〃
〃I didn't summon you。 I asked you。 I asked you to approve whatever course of action we might take。〃
'This course of action being…〃
〃Again； I don't know。〃
The eyebrows returned to normal。 A twitch of the man's lip showed that he was contemplating smiling。
〃This…ah…third party？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃He has a name？〃
〃Cronkite。 John Cronkite。〃
A hush descended upon the pany。 Them open objections had turned into pensive hesitation which in turn gave way to a nodding acceptance。 Benson apart； no one there had ever met Cronkite； but his name was a household word to all of them。 In the oil business that name had long been a legend； although at times a far from savory one。 They all knew that any of them might require his inparable services at any time； while at the same time hoping that that day would never e。
When it came to the capping of blazing gushers； Cronkite was without peer。 Wherever in the world a gusher blew fire no one even considered putting it out themselves； they just sent for Cronkite。 To wincing observers his modus operandi seemed nothing short of Draconian； but Cronkite would blasphemously brook no interference。 Despite the extortionate fees he charged； it was more mon than not for a four…engined jet to be put at his disposal to get him to the scene of the disaster as quickly as possible。 Cronkite always delivered。 He also knew all there was to know about the oil business。 And he was； hardly surprisingly； extremely tough and utterly ruthless。
Henderson； who represented oil interests in Honduras； said： 〃Why should a man with his extraordinary qualifications； the world's number； one； as we all know； choose to engage himself in…ah…an enterprise of this nature？ From his reputation I would hardly have thought that he was one to be concerned about the woes of suffering mankind。〃
〃He isn't。 Money。 Cronkite es very high。 A fresh challenge…the man's a born adventurer。 But； basically； it's because he hates Lord Worth's guts。〃
Henderson said： 〃Not an unmon sentiment； it seems。 Why？〃
〃Lord Worth sent his own private Boeing for him to e cap a blazing gusher in the Middle East。 By the time Cronkite arrived； Lord Worth's own men had capped it。 This； alone； Cronkite regarded as a mortal insult。 He then made the mistake of demanding the full fee for his services。 Lord Worth has a reputation for notorious Scottish meanness； which； while an insult to the Scots； is more than justified in his case。 He refused； and said that he would pay him for his time； no more。 Cronkite then pounded his error by taking him to court。 With the kind of lawyers Lord Worth can afford； Cronkite never had a chance。 Not only did he lose but he had to pay the costs。〃
〃Which wouldn't be low？〃 Henderson said。
〃Medium…high to massive。 I don't know。 All J know is that Cronkite has done quite a bit of brooding about it ever since。〃
〃Such a man would not have to be sworn to secrecy？〃
〃A man can swear a hundred different oaths and break them all。 Besides； because of the exorbitant fees Cronkite charges； his feelings toward Lord Worth and the fact that he might just have to step outside the law； his silence is ensured。〃
It was the turn of another of those grouped round the table to raise his eyebrows。 〃Outside the law？ We cannot risk being involved…〃
〃 'Might；' I said。 For us； the element of risk does not exist。〃
〃May we see this man？〃 Benson nodded； rose； went to a door and admitted Cronkite。
Cronkite was a Texan。 In height； build and cragginess of features he bore a remarkable resemblance to John Wayne。 Unlike Wayne； he never smiled。 His face was of a peculiarly yellow plexion； typical of those who have had an overdose of antimalarial tablets； which was just what had happened to Cronkite。 Mepacrine does not make for a peaches…and…cream plexion… not that Cronkite's had ever remotely resembled that。 He was newly returned from Indonesia； where he had inevitably maintained his 100 percent record。
〃Mr。 Cronkite；〃 Benson said。 〃Mr。 Cronkite； this is…〃
Cronkite was brusque。 In a gravelly voice he said： 〃I don't want to know their names。〃
In spite of the abruptness of his tone； several of the oilmen round the table almost beamed。
Here was a man of discretion； a man after their own hearts。
Cronkite went on： 〃All I understand from Mr。 Benson is that I am required to attend to a matter involving Lord Worth and the Seawitch； Mr。 Benson has given me a pretty full briefing。 I know the background。 I would like； first of all； to hear any suggestions you gentlemen may have to offer。〃 Cronkite sat down； lit what proved to be a very foul…smelling cigar； and waited expectantly。
He kept silent during the following half…hour discussion。 For ten of the world's top businessmen； they proved to be an extraordinarily inept； not to say inane； lot。 They talked in an ever…narrowing series of concentric circles。
Henderson said： 〃First of all； there must be no violence used。 Is that agreed？〃
Everybody nodded agreement。 Each of them was a pillar of business respectability who could not afford to have his reputation besmirched in any way。 No one appeared to notice that； except for lifting a hand to his cigar and puffing out increasingly vile clouds of smoke； Cronkite did not move throughout the discussion。 He also remained totally silent。
After agreeing that there should be no violence； the meeting of ten agreed on nothing。
Finally Patinos spoke up。 〃Why don't you… one of you four Americans； I mean…approach your Congress to pass an emergency law banning offshore drilling in extraterritorial waters？〃
Benson looked at him with something akin to pity。 〃I am afraid； sir； that you do not quite understand the relations between the American majors and Congress。 On the few occasions we have met with them…something to do with too much profits and too little tax…I'm afraid we have treated them in so…ah…cavalier a fashion that nothing would give them greater pleasure than to refuse any request we might make。〃
One of the others； known simply as 〃Mr。 A；〃 said： 〃How about an approach to that international legal ombudsman； The Hague？ After all； this is an international matter。〃
Henderson shook his head。 〃Forget it。 The dilatoriness of that august body is so legendary that all present would be long retired…or worse…before a decision is made。 The decision would just as likely be negative anyway。〃 〃United Nations？〃 Mr。 A said。 〃That talk…shop！〃 Benson obviously had a low and not unmon view of the UN。 〃They haven't even got the power to order New York to install a new parking meter outside their front door。〃
The next revolutionary idea came from one of the Americans。
〃Why shouldn't we all agree； for an unspecified time…let's see how it goes…to lower our price below that of North Hudson？ In that case no one would want to buy their oil。〃
This proposal was met with stunned disbelief。
Corral spoke in a kind voice。 〃Not only would that lead to vast losses to the major oil panies； but would almost certainly and immediately lead Lord Worth to lower his prices fractionally below their new ones。 The man has sufficient working capital to keep him going for a hundred years at a lossin the unlikely event； that is； of his running at a loss at all。〃
A lengthy silence followed。 Cronkite was not quite as immobile as he had been； The granitic expression on his face remained unchanged； but the fingers of his nonsmoking hand had begun to drum gently on the armrest of his chair。 For Cronkite； this was equivalent to throwing a fit of hysterics。
It was during this period that all thoughts of maintaining high； gentlemanly and ethical standards against drilling hi international waters were forgotten by the ten。
〃Why not；〃 Mr。 A said； 〃buy him out？〃 In fairness it has to be said that Mr。 A did not appreciate just how wealthy Lord Worth was and that； immensely wealthy though he； Mr。 A； was； Lord Worth could have bought him out lock； stock and barrel。 〃The Seawitch rights； I mean。 A hundred million dollars。 Let's be generous； two hundred million dollars。 Why not？〃
Corral looked depressed。 'The answer to 〃Why not？' is easy。 By the latest reckoning； Lord Worth is one of the world's five richest men； and even two hundred million dollars would be pennies as far as he was concerned。〃
Now Mr。 A looked depressed。
Benson said： 〃Sure he'd sell。〃
Mr。 A visibly brightened。
〃For two reasons only。 In the first place he'd make a quick and splendid profit。 In the second place； for less than half the selling price； he could build another Seawitch； anchor it a couple of miles away from the present Seawitch…there are no leasehold rights in extraterritorial waters… and start sending oil ashore at his same old price。〃
A temporarily deflated Mr。 A slumped back in his armchair。
〃A partnership； then；〃 Mr。 B said。 His tone was that of a man in a state of quiet despair。
〃Out of the question。〃 Henderson was very positive。 〃Like all very rich men； Lord Worth is a born loner。 He wouldn't have a bined partnership with the King of Saudi Arabia and the Shah of Iran； even if it were offered him free。〃
In the gloom of baffled and exhausted silence thoroughly bored and hitherto near…wordless； John Cronkite rose。
He said without preamble： 〃My personal fee will be one million dollars。 I will require ten million dollars for operating expenses。 Every cent of this will be accounted for and any unspent balance returned。 I demand a pletely free hand and no interference from any of you。 If I do encounter interference I'll retain the balance of the expenses and abandon the mission。 I refuse to disclose what my plans are…or will be when I have made them。 Finally； I would prefer to have no further contact with any of you； now or at any time。〃
The assurance and confidence of the man were astonishing。 Agreement among the mightily relieved ten was immediate and total。 The ten million dollars…a trifling sum to those accustomed to spending as much in bribes every month or so…would be delivered within twenty…four… at the most； forty…eight…hours to a Cuban numbered account in Miami； the only place in the United States where Swiss…type numbered accounts were permitted。 For tax…evasion purposes； the money of course would not e from any of their respective countries： instead； ironically enough； from their bulging offshore funds。
Chapter 2
Lord Worth was tall； lean and erect。 His plexion was the mahogany hue of the playboy millionaire who spends his life in the sun： Lord Worth seldom worked less than sixteen hours a day。 His abundant hair and mustache were snow…white。 According to his mood and expression and to the eye of the beholder； he could have been a biblical patriarch； a better…class Roman senator； or a gentlemanly seventeenth…century pirate…except for the fact； of course； that none of those ever； far less habitually； wore lightweight Alpaca suits of the same color as Lord Worth's hair。
He looked and was every inch an aristocrat。 Unlike the many Americans who bore the Christian names of Duke or Earl； Lord Worth really was a lord； the fifteenth in succession of a highly distinguished family of Scottish peers of the realm。 The fact that their distinction had lain mainly in the fields of assassination； endless clan warfare； the stealing of women and cattle； and the selling of their fellow peers down the river was beside the point： the earlier Scottish peers didn't go in too much for the more cultural activities。 The blue blood that had run in their veins ran in Lord Worth's。 As ruthless； predatory； acquisitive and courageous as any of his ancestors； Lord Worth simply went about his business with a degree of refinement and sophistication that would have lain several light…years beyond their understanding。
He had reversed the trend of Canadians ing to Britain； making their fortunes and eventually being elevated to the peerage： he had already been a peer； and an extremely wealthy one； before emigrating to Canada。 His emigration； which had been discreet and precipitous； had not been entir