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By Root 1082 0

foreign invasion that turned a spiritual movement into a political and military force. The French, infiltrating from the south and the west, and the Italians, attacking Cyrenaica on the north, awakened a flame of resistance in the inhabitants of the region. By 1914, the descendants of the great spiritual leader had joined forces with the Sultan. Turkish officers and Arabic-speaking Germans were supporting the Senussi in their effort to dislodge Italy from her foothold on the coast, and informed persons believed it was only a matter of time before Sidi Ahmed would be persuaded to mount an armed attack on Egypt’s western border. Though Britain was ill-equipped to counter such an attack, after the heavy losses at Gallipoli, the real danger was that even a temporary success by the Senussi might cause their sympathizers in the Western Desert and the Nile Valley to rise.

“Not again!” I groaned.

“No, my dear. Ramses managed to control a small group of would-be revolutionaries in Cairo, but not even Kitchener would be fool enough to suppose he could single-handedly counter the influence of the Sheikh el-Senussi. I don’t know precisely what sort of harebrained scheme they had in mind, but I suppose it involved sending Ramses to spy on the Senussi in one of his bizarre disguises. There’s no need to worry about it, because it won’t happen.”

“That is very interesting, Emerson, but it doesn’t explain who sent that fellow Asad after Ramses.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Emerson admitted. “In fact the whole business is somewhat odd. Sidi Ahmed knew of Ramses’s masquerade and it may well have been one of his people who got Asad away from Kharga, but I can’t see him going out of his way to seek a petty revenge. Ramses acquitted himself well in the affair, and the Senussi admire a courageous enemy. The same is true of Sahin Bey, who is the real professional and who obviously respected a fellow professional, even if he was on the opposite side. You overheard some of the complimentary things he said about Ramses—”

“ ‘He is a brave man and deserves a quick death.’ I cannot say I find that attitude particularly reassuring, Emerson.”

“That’s how these fellows think,” said Emerson, shrugging his broad shoulders. “It’s all part of the Game. He’d cut the boy’s throat in a second if they crossed swords again, but I don’t believe he would try to get back at him for a past defeat.”

“That’s very consoling.”

“Believe me, Peabody, I am not taking this lightly. I have an idea.”

“Would you care to discuss it with me?”

“Dear me, you are in a sarcastic mood this evening. What I propose is that we send Ramses and Nefret off to Luxor for a time. The danger, if it exists, is here in Cairo.”

“He won’t go, not if he thinks we are trying to get him out of harm’s way.”

“He will if we can convince him he is needed in Luxor. According to all the reports I’ve heard, the Gurneh tomb robbers are running wild, with no supervision of the sites. If Ramses can’t round up a few of the more pertinacious lads he can put the fear of God into them—and make certain my tomb is not molested.”

“I see through you, Emerson!” I exclaimed. “You aren’t concerned about Ramses; you are worried about your confounded tomb.”

“I am concerned about both,” said Emerson, giving me a reproachful look. “They don’t call Ramses Brother of Demons as an idle compliment; his very presence will make the lads think twice about breaking the law.”

“Well, it is not such a bad notion,” I admitted. “It will get Ramses—and Nefret, who is equally at risk, since she won’t let him out of her sight from now on—away from Cairo, and stop your ranting and raving about tomb robbing. They can sail on the Amelia. It will be like a honeymoon for them; the poor things never had one, you know, not really.”

“Honeymoon? With Reis Hassan and a full crew, not to mention Sennia and Basima?”

“I have no intention of allowing Sennia to go with them.”

“Good luck,” said Emerson. “I am glad you approve. I will propose the scheme tomorrow.”

Though we used the Amelia primarily as living quarters, she had been completely overhauled