gone. This was a feint, the tanks were sent to draw us off. The main
attack was through the left but how did they know the Gallas had
deserted?'
'As my grandfather says, never trust either a snake or a Galla.'
'Oh Jake,
we must hurry.' Vicky shook his arm. 'They'll cut us off.'
'Right,' snapped Gareth. 'We'll have to get back into the gorge and
rally them on the first line of defence in the gorge itself otherwise
they'll run straight back to Addis Ababa.' He swung around to
Gregorius. 'If we try and take these men, and he indicated the
hundreds of halfnaked, unarmed Harad who were now straggling out of the
dunes, 'if we try to take them back through the mouth of the gorge,
they'll be shot to pieces by the Italian guns. Can they find their own
way on foot up the mountain slopes?'
'They are mountain men,
Gregorius answered simply.
'Good. Tell them to work their way back and assemble at the first
waterfall in the gorge. That's the rallying point the first
waterfall.' He turned back to the others. 'On the other hand, we'll
have to use the gorge the only way to save the cars. We'll rush the
mouth in a tight formation and pray that the Eyeties haven't had a
chance to bring up their artillery yet. Let's go!' He grabbed Ras
Golam by the shoulder and dragged him, at an awkward run, back towards
where they had left their armoured car parked on the crest of the first
dune.
'Get back in the car,' Jake instructed Vicky. 'Keep the engine
running. We'll bring up the two other cars. I want you in the centre
of the line, then go like hell. Don't stop for anything until we are
into the gorge. Do you hear me?' Vicky nodded grimly.
'Good girl he said, and would have turned away, but Vicky held his arm
and pressed herself to him. She reached up and kissed him full on the
lips, her mouth open and wet and soft and sweet.
'I love you, 'she whispered huskily.
'Oh my darling, what a hell of a time you picked to tell me.'
'I
only just found out,' she explained, and he crushed her fiercely to his
chest.
'Oh, that's lovely,' cried Sara from the turret above them.
'That's beautiful.' She clapped her hands delightedly.
'Until later,' whispered Jake. 'Now get out of here!' and he turned
her away and pushed her towards the car. He turned himself and ran
lightly back into the dunes, with his heart singing.
'Oh, Miss Camberwell, I am so pleased for you.' Sara reached down to
help Vicky up on to the hull. 'I knew it was going to be Mr. Barton.
I picked him for you long ago, but I wanted you to find out for
yourself.'
'Sara, my dear. Please don't say any more.' Vicky hugged her briefly
before dropping into the driver's hatch. 'Or the whole thing will turn
upside down again.' Ras Golam was so tired and drained that he could
