The Amulet of Power - Mike Resnick [51]
“Welcome to Khartoum,” said Omar. “I hope you enjoyed the journey, because now is when things start getting dangerous.”
18
They walked three blocks to the Bortai Hotel. They paused before the entrance, and then Omar shook his head.
“Too many people know you’re in the country now,” he said, “and they know we have used the Bortai in the past.” He whispered to Hassam. “Hassam will go ahead and get us lodgings at the one other hotel where we can provide security. Most of the Mahdists don’t know we have any contacts there, so it should be safe—from them, at least—for the few days we’ll be here before you find the Amulet.”
“It could be months or even years looking for it,” said Lara.
“You are Lara Croft,” said Gaafar. “You will find it sooner than anyone thinks.”
“I appreciate your confidence,” she said. “I hope it’s not misplaced.” She turned to Omar. “Where will we be staying?”
“The Arak Hotel. It is half a mile from here.”
They walked slowly, pretending to window-shop, giving Hassam time to make the arrangements. When they arrived, the Arak turned out to actually be nicer than Lara had anticipated. During the colonial era it had been nicer still, and the management had made every effort to keep it up during the intervening half century of war, drought, and poverty.
Omar walked up to the desk, nodded to the clerk, and came away a moment later with a number of keys. He handed one to Lara and one to Gaafar.
“You will be staying in a suite on the third floor,” he announced. “Winston Churchill once stayed there.” He paused. “Gaafar and Hassam will be on one side of you, and I will be on the other.”
The elevator wasn’t working—she suspected it hadn’t worked in some time—and they climbed the winding staircase, then walked down the broad corridor until they came to her suite. She unlocked the door and walked in.
There was a large parlor with a number of chairs and couches, and best of all, given the heat, a bowl filled with fruit and figs on a small table. The bedroom and bathroom were off to the left.
“I hope the accommodation is acceptable,” said Omar.
“It will be just fine,” she said. “Come on in and have some grapes or a fig.”
The three men entered the parlor. Gaafar and Omar seemed unimpressed; Hassam’s jaw dropped, and she had the feeling that these, threadbare as they were, comprised the most luxurious surroundings in which he had ever found himself.
“Where will Kevin stay when he arrives?” she asked.
“Before I answer that, I am afraid I must ask an indelicate question,” said Omar uncomfortably.
“We’re just friends,” she said. “I never met him before I went to Edfu.”
“Then he will room with me,” said Omar. “Assuming he is still on the Amenhotep.”
“Why wouldn’t he be?”
“The Mahdists or the Silent Ones may have killed him,” answered Omar. “Or he may be as brilliant as you believe. He may have figured out where the Amulet is hidden, and left the boat to go retrieve it.”
“He doesn’t know where it is,” said Lara.
“You are sure?”
“The Sudan is his area of expertise,” she explained. “Yet he was looking for the Amulet at Edfu. That means he hasn’t been able to find it here.”
“You will find it,” said Gaafar with conviction.
“He’s the expert,” replied Lara.
“But you are—”
“I know,” she interrupted wearily. “I’m Lara Croft.”
“Precisely.”
“It gets to be a burden after a while,” said Lara.
“Where will you begin looking for the Amulet?” asked Omar.
“I have no idea,” she answered. “After all those days riding El Khobar and Nasrullah, and then what passed for a bus ride, I think I deserve the evening off. Tomorrow I’d like to see where Gordon lived, where his headquarters were, and if any of his writings are in the local library or museum I’ll need to read them.”
“I will arrange it,” promised Omar. He turned to Hassam. “Ask Ismail when the Amenhotep is expected. If he doesn’t know, go to the docks and make inquiry.”
Hassam nodded and left.
“Who is Ismail?” asked Lara.
“The desk clerk—and my cousin,” said Omar.
“Well, it’s comforting