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."I thought you two hadn't met," Simon said."We haven't," she answered."Is this.""Mahmud," Simon confirmed."I'm afraid I don't know the last name.""Dehlavi," the Pakistani said."Mahmud Dehlavi." His forehead was glisteningwith sweat and he was hugging his wounded arm close against him."I came tosee madame to tell.to tell things I know, because she writes in the paper.""Sit down here," Tammy said, pushing a chair towards him."You shouldn't berunning around like that."Mahmud Dehlavi lowered himself gingerly into the chair, clutching Simon's armwith his left hand for support."Did the doctor fix you up all right?" Simon asked."Is it badly broken?"Mahmud looked grimly at his white-swathed right arm, which was now insplints."It is fractured," he said, "but the bone was not separated.""Still, that's a pretty fair job for a wooden crate to do," the Saint saidwithout a trace of levity.The slender Pakistani's dark eyes glowed like coals under a sudden blast ofair."Mr.Templar, Miss Rowan, can I trust you?" he asked."Of course," Tammy said.She had settled on a chair facing her new guest.Simon still stood, lookingdown on both of them."You can trust us to do what's right, if that's what you mean," hestipulated."I must trust you," the waiter said."I would not go to the police for.for various reasons, but everyone knows that the lady-Miss Rowan-has beenasking many questions and writing in the papers.It is known you protect thenames of those who speak to you, miss, so that is why-tonight-I decided tocome and see you." He looked up at Simon."Of course I did not know you wouldbe here."The Saint acknowledged the statement with a noncommittal nod."I'm very grateful that you've come," Tammy said."Go ahead."Mahmud's youthful face reflected all the impotent shame and rage of a mancrushed by arrogant forces hopelessly stronger than himself.Page 34ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html"It was not an accident that broke my arm," he said in a voice that shookwith emotion."They broke it.They broke it on purpose.They threw me on thefloor, and with his foot." Mahmud stopped, his head hanging, and took newcontrol of himself.When he started talking again it was directly to Tammy."Iknow people have spoken to you about the man that calls himself Kalki, the bigone that wrestles.He did this to me."Simon and Tammy exchanged glances of controlled triumph."Why did they pick on you this time?" the Saint asked quietly."I was a friend of Ali's.Not a close friend.He had no close friends.Butthey did not know how close we might be.They killed Ali because he was goingto tell all about them to the police.They.did this to me as a warning,and because I had argued when they last wanted me to pay them.""Pay them for what?" Tammy asked.Mahmud adjusted his position and for a moment his face twisted with pain."Many people pay them," he said."For nothing." He directed his next fewwords to Tammy again."You have written about this.You know.They bringPakistani people into England and promise them good papers and jobs, and thenwhen such people are here they are told they will be reported to the policeand sent to jail if they do not pay.""That's not a very accurate interpretation of the illegal entry laws," Simonsaid."Many people do not know the law.They do not know English.They do not careabout what the law says-they are just frightened.Very scared." He shook hishead."And it does not matter about the law anyway.The ones who want themoney will take it no matter what you know about the law.I was not afraid ofthe immigration authorities, but these men took a part of my money each week.After what had happened to Ali-and me-nobody will have courage not to paythem.""Besides the two characters from that delivery van, who else is in on thecollecting side of this operation?" the Saint asked.Mahmud's English, or his nerve, failed him briefly at that point"I am not sure what you mean," he said with a puzzled expression."Who runs the gang?" Simon said."Who's the boss?"The Pakistani's mouth twitched with spasmic tension before he finallyanswered."I do not know for sure who is the highest man," he said hesitantly."But Iknow one higher than Kalki
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