226 



The 'Dokter' had been pleased. Being a Prime Minister is as 

 near as any human comes to being a god, but even he must feel 

 pleasure after making a decision to cover an unusual situation, to 

 harvest almost universal approval, even if it is grudged by his 

 opponents. The French were happy. They had the first really 

 complete Coelacanth, got by themselves; they had the prospect 

 of an undisturbed monopoly of more, and, for some time at least, 

 they would get world headlines for every one they found. They 

 would be able to point out any mistakes I had made, and all hurt 

 feelings would be soothed. The authorities of the Comores were 

 happy. Coelacanths had put their islands very much *on the map'. 

 They would probably issue a set of 'Coelacanth' stamps, that col- 

 lectors and ichthyologists all over the world would eagerly seek. 

 At least three Comorans were in such a position that they need 

 not work for a good while, and the lives of all the islanders must be 

 brightened, for almost every one of them could at least fish for 

 that wonderful possibility. Everyone round there would be 

 happy in the increased supplies of fish. Even Stuttard had appar- 

 ently not been unhappy. 



I just could not help smiling as I thought of my ugly old 

 Malania, snug in his asbestos- cement coffin, in the role of a 

 'Marchand de Bonheur', a dispenser of human happiness. 



The plane rumbled to the end of the runway, and as we shook 

 to the roaring test of the engines my heart was filled with fierce 

 deep content, for I had shed the worry and responsibility of the 

 Coelacanth ; one of the greatest ambitions of my life, to find the 

 home of the Coelacanth, had been fulfilled; I was leaving the 

 horror of the Mau Mau and going back to my own beloved 

 country, to my beloved fishes, to my old MalaniUy who could now 

 for ever sleep in peace. 



