The Wild Geese is a 1978 novel by Rhodesian author Daniel Carney published by Bantam Books. He originally titled it The Thin White Line, but it went unpublished until its film adaptation The Wild Geese was made.
Carney could not get his novel published until a chance meeting with film producer Euan Lloyd. Lloyd loved the story about mercenaries in Africa on a mission to rescue a deposed leader, and purchased the rights to adapt it into a film. Carney in return asked for his novel to be published and Lloyd agreed, as he had already had an offer from an American publisher when he had first taken the novel to Hollywood. The novel was finally published as The Wild Geese just before the film's release.
Contents
The story
May 1968
Deposed Congolese President Julius Limbani is on a flight to Israel when his bodyguard is murdered. The CIA have hijacked the plane as part of a Cold War deal with current Congo president General Ndofa. Waiting in the Tel Aviv airport for Limbani is an Anglo-South African mercenary soldier Colonel Allen Faulkner. Faulkner is under contract to take Limbani back to the Congo and mount a coup d'état. When Limbani fails to arrive, Faulkner is left unemployed and returns to South Africa.
November 1970
Over two years have passed and Faulkner is summoned to London by merchant banker Sir Edward Matherson. Faulkner learns that not only is Limbani alive but he is held in Algeria and is to be returned to the Congo for execution. Matherson proposes for Faulkner to raise and lead a mercenary unit to rescue Limbani and bring him to London. With this chance to redeem his tarnished reputation after Limbani was kidnapped under his contracted safety, Faulkner agrees and sets about assembling his team. Three men are top of Faulkner's list; all have served under him in the past and are trusted beyond question. First to be recruited is American Rafer Janders, who at that time is in hiding from the Mafia. They have put out a contract on Janders' life after he killed a local mafioso's nephew for tricking Janders into being a courier of heroin. As Matherson persuades the Mafia into lifting the contract, Faulkner finds Janders holed up above a night club for homosexuals. Whilst waiting for Matherson to deal with the Mafia, Faulkner learns about what has happened to Janders since they last served together seven years ago. With Janders now part of the operation, Faulkner turns to two more comrades from the Congo, Lieutenant Jeremy Chandos and Regimental Sergeant Major Sandy Young.
After recruiting two more officers (Fynn and Coetzee) and 45 NCOs and enlisted men, the group travels to Portuguese-ruled Mozambique for training. Once Young begins training, he quickly becomes resented by most of the men because of his rigid and harsh methods. While Faulkner remains popular with the men, it is not the same for the RSM, who easily defeats an attempt by a few disgruntled mercenaries to kill him. Now respected as well as disliked by the men, RSM Young transforms old, seasoned soldiers and young rookies into a formidable fighting force. As Faulkner and Janders procure their transport and weapons, Chandos, Fynn and Coetzee explore the local nightlife of Lourenço Marques. There Fynn and Chandos meet two local escort girls; Jeremy dates Maria. Shawn dates Gabriella, who is nicknamed Gabby, and finds himself once again with a reason not to go on the mission. Fynn eventually recognises that he has a responsibility to his comrades and flies out with the rest of the mercenaries. However Fynn makes a promise to Gabby that he will return to her when he gets back.
A C-130 belonging to Mad Malloy takes them to their drop zone in the hills surrounding Albertville. The jump goes well except for Fynn, whose parachute fails to deploy properly but manages to land safely after using his reserve chute. Faulkner gathers his men, then the group splits in two and each march on their respective objective. As Chandos and Fynn's group approach the local airport, Faulkner's group manage to find the army barracks after an unexpected delay. The barracks which hold a garrison of the Congolese national army (ANC) as well as the imprisoned Limbani, cannot be approached easily, as there is no cover for a hundred metres. To take out the three sentries, Coetzee shoots them with crossbow armed with cyanide-tipped bolts. The mercenaries enter the barracks quickly and quietly as most of the garrison is asleep; it is now they split into three further groups. As Young leads one team to destroy the armoury, Janders' group enters the dormitories and, wearing gas masks, proceeds to kill the sleeping soldiers with cyanide gas. While these two groups get on with their tasks, Faulkner's group burst in on the guard-house under cover of the mercenaries' guns. Coetzee relieves one of the Congolese officers of the keys to the cells located beneath the room and along with a Scottish mercenary (McTaggart) Coetzee storms the basement, and after a short firefight they free Limbani.
The characters
Colonel Allen Faulkner – a former British Army officer and veteran mercenary soldier of the Congolese Civil War, now residing in South Africa. He is a self-confessed alcoholic whose reputation has been severely hit when Limbani was kidnapped.
Captain Rafer Janders – American soldier of fortune, also a veteran of the Congo. He has a son, Emile, who lives in Switzerland and attends a private school there.
Lieutenant Jeremy Chandos – younger officer of Faulkner's team, 29 years old; he is single with no attachments and is a mercenary for the money and the action.
Lieutenant Shawn Fynn – a former pilot and currently a party-loving playboy in London. As a friend of Chandos, he initially rejects the offer of work in what could be a one way journey. He changes his mind after being kicked out by his girlfriend. Homeless and broke he reluctantly joins Faulkner's mercenaries.
Lieutenant Pieter Coetzee – late of Rhodesia's British South Africa Police, bush war veteran Coetzee is another character living penniless in London. He is described as being stocky, slow-witted, and an uncomplicated racist.
Regimental Sergeant Major Sandy Young – a former Guards Warrant Officer and veteran comrade of Faulkner. He is described as a short man (5-foot 5 inches) with a fierce nature, with one motivation in life – to serve Faulkner.
Julius Limbani – former Congolese Prime Minister, now living in exile in Zürich. Limbani hires Faulkner to mount a coup d'état on his behalf. He is based on Moise Tshombe.
General Ndofa – former head of the Congolese Army and comrade of Faulkner's mercenaries. Now rules the Congo with an iron fist, even he created a secret police unit called the Simbas to create fear in the populace. Ndofa is based on General Mobutu.
Sergeant Tosh Donaldson – a former Commando who was demobbed in 1947, former rank of Private, and served two tours with Faulkner in 1965 with the rank of Sergeant; now a plumber.