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

T H E M O D E S T Y B L A I S E C O M P A N I O N SABRE TOOTH First published 1966 by Souvenir Press Ltd., London and simultaneously in Canada by the Ryerson Press. Sir Gerald Tarrant is paid to be suspicious and he has spotted what looks like a truly ridiculous organisation. Called The Friends of Kuwait Freedom Society, its principal, Es-Sabah Solon, claims to be the head of the Free Kuwait government in exile and has produced a phoney family tree to prove he is the rightful ruler of the country. When he starts talking about an Army of Liberation and Tarrant is told that mercenaries from all sorts of places are fading out of circulation, then a powerful military strike against Kuwait begins to seem rather more than a fantastic possibility. But Tarrant’s masters do not agree and he lacks the resources to pursue what he believes to be a potentially dangerous situation. Modesty and Willie are sure he has cause for concern, and they offer to put themselves into the “mercenary” market place and see if they can get any leads. To set this plan in motion Modesty first creates the impression that she has become reckless, has lost her fortune and is behaving very strangely. She and Willie undertake the ingenious theft of a very valuable painting from a provincial French museum. Having made headlines with the theft they then arrange for it to be “recovered” by the police. Once again Tarrant is proved correct. A massive plan is in train to invade Kuwait and take it over. It is based in the Hindu Kush and it is led by the awesome and powerful Karz. Still lacking in his organisation are first quality Section Commanders. When Modesty and Willie are brought to his attention Karz dismisses the objection that they are not for hire and decides that if he can obtain a proper lever they will be forced to work for him. Even so he insists they take a capability test before he proceeds. They easily pass. When they return to Tangier they are told that their young ward Lucille Brouet has disappeared. Told to obey orders or the child dies, they follow the travel instructions they are given and they too disappear. Arriving at the base in the Hindu Kush they are inducted into Operation Sabre Tooth, and each given a Section to command. They appear to acquiesce but are constantly trying to find Lucille. When they realise the ful extent of the plan they conclude that if they must choose between saving one child or hundreds from death they must try to save the greatest number. Modesty conceives a plan that gets a message to Tarrant and also temporarily disrupts the operation. Tarrant’s Minister refuses to act. When Modesty discovers Lucille is being held in the camp she and Willie are able to free her. They get to one of the light aircraft to escape and on their way set explosive charges that will blow up the ammunition store and bring down a dam that will flood the valley in which the camp is sited. Modesty is badly wounded in the getaway but Willie manages to fly the plane and keep her alive until they reach safety. Tarrant makes sure the Minister who refused to act on Modesty’s message is sacked. I I 404