Midnight Runner - Jack Higgins [33]
"Countess--please," Selim said wildly.
"Go from my sight. Never return."
Abu gripped Selim's arm and pushed him out of the terrace. Rupert said, "What was that all about?"
"Honor is everything to my people. Men die for it--and Selim will die for his lack of it."
Abu returned and, to Rupert's total astonishment, said in excellent English, "The man is a dog, Countess. What would you have me do?"
"See to him, Abu."
"At your orders."
He went out and she smiled slightly at Rupert. "When Abu was eighteen, his uncle, a rich trader, sent him to London University. He got a degree in economics--but on his return, he found that he preferred being a warrior. He is a very good one."
"Then God help Selim."
She finished her champagne and stood up. "Time for a shower and a change of clothes. I'll show you your suite."
S elim hurried from one narrow alley to another, making for the old quarter, and yet the truth was he had no idea where to go. He had thought to find favor with the Countess. Instead, he had received a death sentence. Nothing was more certain. He paused and stood in a doorway to consider the situation.
There was nowhere to hide, not in Hazar, not in the high country of the border or in the Empty Quarter. The word would go out amongst his people, and every hand would be against him. His mind raced and came up with only one possible solution: the harbor. There were boats there that called at every port in Southern Arabia. Perhaps he could get to Aden or even Mombassa on the east coast of Africa. There was a larger Arab population there and it was far from Rashid territory.
He hurried away, taking a different direction, and came out on the waterfront. It was very dark, but there were lights on the moored shipping. If he could slip on board one of the ancient coastal steamers, all would be well.
He turned on to one of the boardwalk wharfs, which had several boats tied up. It was very quiet, with only the sound of distant laughers, and then a board creaked behind him and he turned and saw Abu. Selim turned to run, but Abu was faster. He caught him by the robe, a knife in one hand, pulled back Selim's head, and drew the knife across his throat. Selim sagged, the life going out of him, and Abu wiped his knife on the man's robe and pushed him over the side of the wharf. The body fell some fifty feet, there was a splash, then only the silence again.
Abu walked away quickly. When he had gone, another Arab came out of the darkness wearing the crossed bandoliers of the Scouts, an AK slung from his left shoulder. He peered over the edge of the wharf and saw Selim's body floating facedown in the faint light at the stern of a coastal steamer. After a moment, he turned and walked away.
V illiers made a striking figure in his tropical uniform as he went into the bar at the Excelsior. There were only half a dozen people, all alone, and all European, with an air of business about them. One or two looked at him, curious. There was no sign of Kate Rashid or Rupert Dauncey. Villiers moved to the bar, where Abdul polished glasses.
"I'd have thought the Countess would be in tonight. I know she's in town."
"Later, Sahb, she comes later."
"Did she tell you that?"
Abdul looked nervous. "Would you like a lager, Colonel Sahb?"
"Not now."
He walked out, lit a cigarette, and stood at the top of the steps leading down to the garden. One of his men squatted at one side of the steps, his AK across his knees.
Villiers said in Arabic, "I see you, Achmed."
"And I you, Colonel Sahb."
"So why are you here?"
"Selim is dead. He floats in the harbor."
"Tell me," Villiers said, offering a cigarette and a light.
"We were to go with the women in the bazaar, have whiskey sups. Sahb knows we can do that there."
"And?"
"Selim was troubled, not himself. He said he had to see a friend. I thought it strange, so I followed."
"And where did he go?"
"The Rashid Villa. It was almost dark. I stood in the palms on the other side of the street and looked