Night Train to Memphis - Elizabeth Peters [134]
‘Is that why you tried to pull out?’
‘It was certainly a consideration. However, Max was an even stronger deterrent. If you recall, he was already vexed with me when we ran into one another in Sweden. I had advised Blenkiron not to hire him for this job and Max knew it. He took my refusal to work with him personally, I’m sorry to say. He’s such a sensitive chap.’
‘How did he learn your real name?’
I had caught him off guard. The empty can crumpled in his hands. ‘That’s not – ’
‘You’ve been controlling the direction of this conversation. Now it’s my turn. How did they find you? Max didn’t know who you were before. He kept calling you Smythe.’
John didn’t answer. I knew he must be feeling rotten or he’d have been able to come up with a facile lie. Not that I’d have believed it. I knew the answer.
‘It was through me, wasn’t it? Max knew you weren’t dead. He knew my identity. She knew it, from him. When she set out to track you down she started with me. They must have been watching me for months, hoping – expecting – you’d turn up. All they had to do then was follow you home.’
John tossed the crumpled can aside. ‘What difference does it make?’
‘None at all,’ I said morosely. ‘It’s just the last goddamn straw that broke . . . Look! Isn’t that a light?’
John caught my arm as I started to stand up. ‘It’s a light, certainly. One of several. Hold on.’
‘You think it’s not Feisal?’
‘There hasn’t been time for him to reach El Till, much less have a look around. They’re coming this way. Oh, dear, oh, dear,’ John said. ‘I always expect the worst, but I loathe having it happen.’
Chapter Thirteen
I
‘THEY GOT HIM,’ I whispered.
‘Or he turned us in?’
‘He wouldn’t do that! Would he?’
‘One would certainly hate to think so.’ John’s voice was so soft I could scarcely hear it. ‘There are other possibilities, I suppose . . .’
‘The hell with other possibilities! We have to assume the worst, as you keep telling me. What are we going to do?’
‘You may do as you like,’ said John. ‘I am going to – er – lie down.’
And he proceeded to do so, though ‘fall over’ would have been a more accurate description.
He looked rather peaceful with his head pillowed on his bent arm but when I touched his cheek he didn’t move. His skin was burning hot.
In a way, it was a relief to have no more choices left. I covered him with the coat and brushed the hair away from his temple. ‘Goodbye, John,’ I whispered. ‘I love you.’
I stood up.
His hand wrapped around my ankle and brought me thudding to the ground. ‘Where the hell do you think you’re going?’ he demanded.
Sand is a lot harder than it looks, and this variety of desert is littered with rocks. By the time I recovered my breath it was too late to get away; he had rolled me over onto my back and was lying across me.
‘You low-down skunk!’ I gasped. ‘You did that on purpose!’
‘Is that any way to talk to the man you love?’ His voice was almost back to normal; I knew the slight unevenness was due to suppresed laughter. ‘I’m deeply hurt that you would think I’d resort to a childish, melodramatic trick like that one.’
‘John, are you crazy? Those people out there – ’
‘There’s plenty of time. Were you really going to dash out and lead the hunters away from me, risking capture and a fate worse than death?’
His lips were hot and dry. At first. I wrenched mine away. ‘You’re not crazy, you’re delirious. Let me go. It’s the only sensible course of action.’
‘No, it’s not.’
‘Yes, it is. Stop doing that.’
‘No, it’s not. Why should I?’
‘Because . . .’ I had lost my grip on the conversation, not to mention the whole situation. ‘Look – ’
‘I can’t I’m busy.’
‘They won’t do anything to me,’ I said, giggling insanely. I do that when I’m upset, and his lashes were tickling me. ‘I’ll tell them – ’
‘It is not a sensible idea,’ said John, ‘because that may not be the police. And if