THE LOST STATUE OF MANCO CAPAC

The Lost Idol and Statue of Manco Capac

SAVAGE was late. Raybould sipped the last of his Black Russian. He would give the man five more minutes, then depart. He had better things to do than sit in the bar of Grant’s restaurant waiting for some young chancer who couldn’t read a watch.

Two more minutes passed, then the door from the street opened and a man with close-cropped, almost white hair and striking, pale blue eyes emerged into the foyer. He looked around, a faint smile playing over his lips. Raybould recognised Mark Savage at once from the photograph he had sent. He raised a hand to draw his attention.

“Mr Raybould?”

“Mr Savage. You know you are over an hour late?”

“I’m sorry.” The man had a surprisingly deep, mellifluous voice. “I was researching in the library and lost track of time.”

“I trust you have no objection to dining straight away?”

“Of course not.”

Raybould stood. He nodded to the waiter who had appeared discreetly at the door to the restaurant. “Evening, Andre.”

“Good evening, Monsieur Raybould. Your usual table is ready for you.”

Grant’s restaurant was large and genuinely old, with low ceilings and thick oak beams. As well as the main dining area, which was about half-full, there were several smaller rooms leading off. Raybould’s table was in an alcove in one of these. Privacy was guaranteed by thick drapes on three sides, and a curtain that could be pulled on the fourth.

Andre handed them two leather-bound menus. “An aperitif, Monsieur Raybould?”

“Have you any more of that excellent sherry – the Amontillado?”

“Bien sûr, monsieur. And for your guest?”

“Whatever,” Savage said airily. Raybould frowned. Clearly this man had little appreciation of the finer things. Still, no doubt he had more pressing concerns. Well, no time like the present, he thought.

“So, Mr Savage, perhaps you’d like to explain your proposition, and how it may be worth five million pounds to me.”

“Certainly.” Savage looked relieved to be getting down to business. “Three years ago, I was on a trekking holiday in Peru. A friend had told me about the Inca Trail, and I decided I must see it for myself. The trail follows the ancient road that originally linked Cuzco and Machu Picchu, the mysterious ruined city of the Incas.”

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