143 



although it was misty and hazy I took a number of photographs 

 through the small air-holes. We saw Pamanzi and the houses of 

 Dzaoudzi and a small lake, and had a passing glimpse of a tiny 

 toy vessel close to the wharf that something told me was Hunt's. 

 My heart was pounding madly, and they had almost to force me to 

 sit down and tie myself in. I had seen the air-strip. It certainly 

 was small and looked rough, a rounded bit of the island sticking 

 out to the south, obviously not long ago it had been a coral reef 

 under the sea, for it was almost at sea-level now. The waves had 

 showed a north-easter of force less than two ; we had to land from 

 the sea and in front was a high hill. 



Bump, bump, bump ! It was a wonderful landing on that rough 

 surface, but the instant we came to a stop the heavens opened and 

 the rain just poured down in torrents. Everything was blotted 

 out and visibility reduced to a few yards. The roof of the plane 

 leaked like a sieve, and I had to rush round to get my sleeping-bag 

 and papers to dry spots. I was curiously indignant about this, as 

 I hate leaky roofs; but idiotically I also felt a sudden splash of 

 comfort, for it was as if this was a last effort of fate to try to keep 

 me back from the true end and reality, and I had a queer flash of 

 hope. 



The rain stopped as abruptly as if turned off by a tap, the mist 

 parted and figures came running across the flattened coral rag. 

 The door opened and through a blast of hot air I saw Hunt's face 

 looking up at me. For a moment I just could not speak; then with 

 a rush of pent-up emotion the words 'Where's the fish?' burst 

 from my lips like an explosion. With extraordinary intuition Hunt 

 replied, 'Don't worry, it's a Coelacanth all right'; and this had a 

 strangely soothing effect on me, but I was still in a fever. I found 

 myself on the ground, various French officials were introduced 

 to me; but I saw hardly anything, I wanted to see that fish. Tt is 

 on my boat,' said Hunt, and that at least was a terrific relief, for 

 it meant that even in French waters, on Hunt's boat it was not 

 strictly in French territory and technically at least it would be less 

 like taking it from the French. At the same time this was my 

 Coelacanth (if it was one) by every right, and in my almost insane 

 obsession at that moment I knew that those six South Africans 

 who were with me would be prepared to stand by me in support 

 of that right if it became necessary. 



