speaking to Duraid's brother. There are some of Duraid's affairs that I
have to see to.'
I don't like you going back there on your own,' he shook his head,
'after your last experiences.'
'If our theory is correct, and Nahoot Guddabi was the danger, then he is
in Ethiopia now. I should be quite safe.'
'Still, I don't like it. You are the key to Taita's game.'
'Thank you kindly, Sir' she said with mock outrage. 'Is that the only
reason you don't want me bumped off?'
if forced into a corner, I may admit that I have also wn rather partial
to having you around.'
I'll be back before you know I've even gone. Besides which, you will
have plenty to keep you busy while I am away.'
'I don't suppose that I can stop you,' he grumbled.
When do you plan to leave?'
There's a flight at eight this evening.'
(A bit sudden. I mean, we have only just arrived.' He made one last
feeble protest, then capitulated. 'I will run you out to the airport.'
'No, Nicky. Heathrow is out of your way. I can catch the train.'
'I insist.'
On a Monday evening the traffic was reasonably light and, once they had
cleared the main built-up area, they made good time. The journey was
further lightened by their animated discussion as he related the
contents of the phone calls he had made in her absence.
'Through Maryam Kidane, I hope to be in contact with Mek Nimmur again
pretty soon. Mek is the kingpin of the whole plan Without him we cant
even make the first move on Taita's bao board.'
He dropped her off at the departures entrance at Heathrow. 'Phone me
tomorrow morning from Cairo to let me know you are all right, and when
you are coming back.
I'll be at the flat.'
'Reversed charges,' she warned him as she offered him her cheek to kiss.
Then she slid across the seat and slammed the door behind her.
He watched her waiflike figure in the rear-view mirror as he pulled
away, and he was filled with melancholy and a sense of loss. Then quite
suddenly he was aware of a new sensation of disquiet. His early-warning
bells were jangling. Something unpleasant was afoot. Something ing nasty
was about to happen when she reached Egypt.
Another dangerous beast had escaped from ' its cage and was prowling the
darkness waiting its opportunity to pounce, but it was still too early
for him to discern its colour or shape.
'Please don't let anything happen to her,' he spoke aloud, but he did
not know to whom his plea was addressed. He thought of turning back and
making her stay with him, but he had no rights in the matter, and he
knew she would not obey him. Short of physical force, there was no way
he could impose his will upon her. He had to let her go.
'But I don't like it one little bit,' he reaffirmed.
His private secretary, and the other men who worked for him, knew
exactly what he expected of them. Everything was as he required it.
Gotthold von Schiller looked around the interior of the Quonset hut with
