it does, it is very unlikely that you will still be involved with the
search. As for myself, I have a series of very important negotiations
coming up here in Germany, as well as the annual general meeting of the
company. These I cannot miss.'
'You will not be coming back to Ethiopia at all, then?' Nahoot perked up
at the prospect of escaping from von Schiller's malignant influence.
'I will come as soon as there is something for me there.
I will be relying on you to decide when my presence is needed.'
'What about the stele! I should-'
'You will continue to work on the translation.' Von Schiller forestalled
his objections. 'You will take a full set of photographs with you to
Ethiopia, and you will continue your work while you are there. I shall
expect you to report to me by satellite, at least once a week, on your
progress.'
'When do you want me to leave?'
ly, 'Immediately. Today if that is possible. Speak to Frulein Kemper.
She will make your travel arrangements.' For the first time during the
interview Nahoot looked happy.
Dolly droned on steadily southeastwards, ig and there was very little to
relieve the boredom of the flight. The dawn was just breaking when they
crossed the African coast at a remote and lonely desert beach that
Jannie had chosen for just this reason.
Once they were over the land there was as little of interest to see as
there had been over the sea. The desert stretched away, bleak and brown
and featureless in every direction.
At irregular intervals they heard Jannie in the cockpit speaking to air
traffic control, but as they were able to hear only half the
conversation they had no idea as to- the identity or the nationality of
the station. Occasionally Jannie dropped the heavily accented English he
was affecting and broke into Arabic. Royan was surprised by Jannie's
fluency in the language, but then as an Afrikaner the guttural sounds
came naturally to him. He was even able to mimic the different accents
and dialects of Libyan and Egyptian convincingly as he tied his way
across the desert.
For the first few hours Sapper pored over his dam drawings; then, unable
to proceed further until he had the exact measurements of the site, he
curled up on his bunk with a paperback novel. The unfortunate author was
unable to hold his attention for long. The open book sagged down over
his face, and the pages fluttered every time he emitted a long grinding
snore.
Nicholas and Royan huddled on her bunk with the chessboard between them,
until hunger overtook them and they moved to the makeshift galley. Here
Royan took the subservient role of bread'sticer and coffee-maker, while
Nicholas demonstrated his artistry in creating a range of Dagwood
sandwiches. They shared the food with Jannie and Fred, perched up behind
the pilots' seats in the cockpit.
'Are we still over Egyptian territory?' Royan asked.
With his mouth full, Jannie pointed out over the port wingtip of Big
Dolly. 'Fifty nautical miles out there is Wadi Halfia. My father was
