He Shall Thunder in the Sky - Elizabeth Peters [87]
“Aslimi had better be put in protective custody, then.”
“That’s part of the plan, yes.” Ramses laughed softly. “He’ll probably be relieved as hell. When I see the Turk Tuesday, we will arrange an alternative drop.”
The current carried them downstream, so that he was not far from Giza when they landed. They sat in silence for a time. It was a beautiful night, with a small crescent moon hanging in the net of stars, and good-byes were difficult when there was always a chance they would not meet again. “Just in case” was a phrase both of them had learned to hate.
“Is there anything else you should tell me?” David asked.
“I don’t think so.” David’s very silence was a demand. After a moment Ramses said, “All right, then. It’s possible that Farouk was planted on us by the other side. That’s what I would do if I weren’t entirely confident of the reliability of my temporary allies. If this is the case and if he can be persuaded to talk, he could lead us to the man in charge of operations here in Cairo. You know what that would mean, don’t you? We could put an end to this business within a few days.”
David’s breath caught. “It would be too much to hope for.”
The pain and longing in his friend’s voice stabbed Ramses with renewed guilt. He said roughly, “Don’t hope. I’ve no proof, only what Mother would call a strong premonition. In any case, Farouk is dangerous, and the sooner we remove him, the safer for us. I’d better go before I fall asleep. Can you let me know where to find you? Our emergency method—use hieroglyphs, sign Carter’s name, and hire a messenger to deliver it.”
David steadied the boat as he climbed out. “I’ll tell you on Tuesday.”
Ramses slipped on the muddy bank, caught himself, and spun round to face his friend.
“Don’t waste your breath,” David said. “Do you suppose I’d let you go alone after what happened last time? I’ll find a place to hide and be in concealment before sundown. No one will know I’m there. And I might just get a clue as to where your friend the Turk has come from.”
“I can’t stop you, can I?”
“Not in your present condition.” David sounded amused. “I’ll contact you somewhere along the homeward path. Look for a dancing girl in gauzy pantaloons.”
:
After Nefret and I had developed the photographs I sent her to bed and retired to my own room. Needless to say, I was still lying sleepless in the dark, my door ajar, when I finally heard the sound I had been waiting for—not footsteps, for Ramses walked lightly as a cat, but the soft click of the latch when he opened the door of his room.
I was wearing my dressing gown but not my slippers. I do not believe I made any noise at all. However, when I approached Ramses’s door he was waiting for me. Putting one hand over my mouth, he drew me into the room and shut the door.
“Stand still while I light a lamp,” he whispered.
“How did you know I would—”
“Sssh.”
He tossed the bundled-up robe and turban he had worn that night onto the bed. Seshat sniffed curiously at it. The smell was certainly pungent.
“I thought you might wait up for me,” Ramses said softly. “Though I hoped you would not. Go back to bed, Mother. It’s all right.”
“David?”
“He was annoyed with me because I didn’t bring the plum cake. You had better get some sleep. Father will have us up at dawn.”
“I’ve been thinking about that house in Maadi. If your father knew its location—”
“David left the place tonight.”
“Was that handsome young man—Farouk?—at the meeting?”
“Yes.” He began unbuttoning his shirt. It was another hint, which I ignored.
“In my opinion, you ought to have the shop raided and Farouk taken into custody at once.”
Ramses stared at me. His eyes were very wide and very dark. “There are times when you terrify me, Mother,” he said, under his breath. “What put that idea into your head?”
“Logical ratiocination,” I explained, pleased to have got his attention. “The enemy has no reason to trust Wardani. If they are sensible people, as the Germans are known to be, they would place a spy in the organization.