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“Convenient” The Frenchman hefted the Colt “Is this part of your scientific equipment?”
“No It belongs to Dr Ramirez He insisted that we take it in case we ran into trouble Froht”
Victor laughed “Your story sounds so stupid it ht actually be plausible” He appraised Gamay as only a Frenchman could look at a woman “Gamay, an unusual name with French roots”
Ganized lechery where Victor saw char her fee “The Frenchmen I have met in the past would have introduced themselves by now”
“Ah, pardon my bad manners It must be my association with people like this cochón here” Dieter flinched as Victor waved his pistol barrel under the Dutchman’s nose “My name is Victor Arnaud This ishis silent co the acquisition of rare biological substances from the rain forest”
“You’re botanists, then, like Dr Ramirez?”
“No,” he said with a shake of his head “The work is too rigorous at this point for botanists We have a working knowledge of biology, but we are the advance collection tea specimens for the scientists to analyze They will come later e have paved the way”
“So you’re looking for pharmaceuticals?” Paul ventured
“Perhaps, as a by-product,” Arnaud said “It is no secret the next cure for cancer ical treasure house above our heads” He tapped his long nose, then his lips “We are here prirances for perfumes and essences, tastes for the food industry If we come across medicinal extracts, so overnitimate”
Paul let his gaze drift over the ferocious-looking painted savages, the leveled guns, and the patently terrified Dieter He didn’t believe for an instant that these jungle thugs were doing anything legiti too inquisitive, but he kneould seem peculiar if he didn’t show curiosity
“You’ll hardly be surprised if I observe that you’re quite heavily armed for a scientific party,” Paul said
“Of course,” Arnaud said, taking the comment in stride “Ramirez’s fears were not without foundation You can see how dangerous the forest is You yourself have seen a dead man” His mouth curved in an ironic smile “You must wonder what our relationship is with this wretched creature,” he said, speaking of Dieter “He has given us the ical specimens They know the forest better than anyone He is paid handsoht add”
Paul grinned “Looks as if you’re about to fire Mr von Hoffman from his job”
“And for good reason Even if what you have to say about yourselves is true, that you are not couriers, this does not change the fact that Dieter here tried to steal fro for an extremely valuable plant that could be worth millions, billions possibly, to the pharmaceutical, food, and perfu to take sa it for decades, although not for perfume, unfortunately”
“You seem to have solved your problem,” Gamay said “You have both Dieter and the specimens”