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. 12 DRAWN BY JIM HOLDAWAY START DATE OF STORY 4th September 1967 (Monday) END DATE OF STORY 13th January 1968 (Saturday) Many years ago a group of convicts escaped from Devil’s Island, reached mainland Central America, made their way inland to an uninhabited area and settled there. Over the years the convict state grew bigger than England. A President was elected. To keep the peace the neighbouring states recognised this Republic of Desperados – Calia. Driving through Central America, Modesty has stopped in a small village and met Torres, a painter until he was blinded while fighting in a revolution. Now a pacifist, he has turned to sculpture. Modesty becomes his new model. In nearby Calia the moderate President has died and the brigand Sabo now rules. His men raid the village. One villager is killed and three village girls are abducted. By a trick, Torres stops Modesty interfering. Father Ramon, the village priest, is adamant that he must try to get them back and Modesty volunteers to go with him. She also calls Willie Garvin in London on her radio. Torres insists on going to Calia, too. On the way, Willie parachutes in to join them. They hear shooting and take cover. They recognise the distinctive Irish voice of Finn, a former Network employee, and join in the battle to rescue him and his friends. Finn has been living in Calia and tells them that Sabo is crazy but no-one will oppose him. A plan is made. Finn goes to the capital of Calia and spreads rumours that troops are coming for Sabo. Father Ramon pleads with Sabo for the release of the girls and is beaten up. Finn arrives saying the troops are close behind and persuades Sabo to make a stand in a nearby Aztec fort. Sabo agrees and as a lot of his men are deserting him, takes Modesty, Father Ramon, Torres and the girls to the fort as hostages. With Willie in charge Finn’s men pretend to be troops, firing their guns in the air. Finn then frightens most of the rest of Sabo’s men into deserting him but Sabo catches him doing it and is going to kill him. Modesty gets free and Willie’s group arrives, this time disguised as reinforcements for Sabo. During the battle that follows Modesty kills Sabo. A stray bullet hits Torres on the head and restores his sight. Modesty, Willie and Father Ramon leave for the village, taking the girls back to their homes. Finn is elected as the new President. Torres decides to stay in Calia and paint. He thinks he might get Finn to make him Minister of Culture. 217