EXTRACTS: The Modesty Blaise Companion Expanded Edition © 2018 The Book Palace (425 PAGES in Full edition)

E X P A N D E D E D I T I O N T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I STORY No. 8 DRAWN BY JIM HOLDAWAY START DATE OF STORY 21st February 1966 (Monday) END DATE OF STORY 9th July 1966 (Saturday) Captain Magnus uses his ship, “Draken” for a series of bold robberies along the west coast of Europe, with his crew/gang, the Vikings. One of his victims, Norwegian tycoon Albert Nilsen, recognises his estranged son, Olaf, as being one of the robbers. Olaf long ago rejected his domineering father, left home, became a criminal and later married Margrete, a poor girl who his father despises. Modesty and Willie Garvin, who are enjoying themselves ice racing in Sweden, are confronted by Albert Nilsen at their hotel. He accuses Modesty of turning his son into a criminal by employing him in The Network and demands that she rescue Olaf from Magnus. At first baffled, Modesty realises that Olaf worked for The Network under another name, was stupid, could not obey orders, ruined a Network caper and was wounded in the process. Modesty threw him out but also gave him a Network pension because of his wound. This keeps him financially independent of his father. Modesty goes to visit Margrete and for her sake decides to help. Magnus is resting between raids and Modesty and Willie call on him and tell him to throw Olaf out of his gang. Magnus takes this as a challenge, kidnaps Margrete and uses her to lure Modesty and Willie into a fight to the death. Olaf at last realises how much his wife means to him and leads Modesty and Willie to the secret island hideout where Magnus has taken Margrete and is waiting for them. They sneak ashore and overpower the gang but Modesty is wounded in the thigh by a stray bullet. Both she and Olaf are captured by Magnus who threatens to kill them unless Willie fights him to the death.The weapons are to be old style long handled Viking axes. Willie tricks Magnus into cutting off some of the end of the handle of Willie’s axe, turning it into a weapon that Willie can throw. He kills Magnus. They return to Olaf’s home where his father is waiting. He has taken the precaution of having a medical helicopter standing by and Modesty is immediately flown to hospital and her life threatening wound dealt with. There is a general family reconciliation. Some weeks later while visiting Modesty, Willie asks how her wound is. Much to the embarrassment of Sir Gerald Tarrant he examines the newly healed scar on Modesty’s thigh. 213