The Eager Apprentice

Nshila Ileloka, MBE, former pupil of the witchdoctor Kwaname, and a British citizen, is the proprietor of The Rain Consultancy, a meteorological and weather prediction company based in Eastcheap, London. She is also a consultant assassin, specialising in the discrete removal of 'above suspicion' and otherwise untouchable villains by mixing traditional witchcraft and modern technology. This book commences with the dilemma experienced by a junior government minister who overhears a conversation. The focal person is a high-ranking foreign prince who is accepted and admired by the British establishment and is thought to be strongly pro-western. The conversation reveals beyond doubt that he is in fact a terrorist mastermind. There is no chance of an accusation being believed, and any accuser would be disgraced. The only option is to hire an assassin. The search for a qualified operator leads to Nshila, who has recently taken on a keen but very erratic apprentice. Her attempts to subject him to disciplined training have limited success. His activities, and the enthusiastic friends he makes, cause Nshila to commit to the contract more quickly than she would otherwise do. She has no financial problems and is no longer motivated by money. However she is unable to refuse a challenge and she is tempted by the fact that her client is in a position to influence the award of high honours. This would represent the pinnacle of success in her adopted country. However, this requires that a recipient should have performed some noteworthy action that benefits the nation. A suitable project is found, involving a diplomatic assignment in Africa. It succeeds, but while Nshila is away her apprentice makes an unauthorised attempt to kill the prince, and fails. On her return, Nshila is persuaded by her apprentice and some colourful new friends he has aquired, to move faster than she would like to solve the two problems that remain. The prince has yet to be killed and a powerful competitor for the intended honour must be disgraced. Disgrace is achieved when a friend of the apprentice reveals discreditable facts about the competitors life style. He is secretly filmed in disgusting and degrading situations and selected shots are sent to the appropriate office. The death of the prince occurs in the hunting field, when simulation magic is supplemented by a drug administered in the stirrup cup. In due course Nshila receives a title.