'Guess then,' said von Schiller, but still Helm all, hesitated.
'Go on!'
'Either he wants to move the water to another area downstream, to use it
for washing out a deposit, gold nuggets or artefacts made of precious
metals, perhaps even site of the to use it for hosing the overburden off
the tomb,$
'Highly unlikely!' von Schiller interjected. 'That would be an
inefficient and expensive manner of excavation.'
'I agree that it is far-fetched.' Nahoot obsequiously followed von
Schiller's lead, but no one even looked at him.
'What is your other supposition?' Von Schiller glared at Helm.
'The only other reason for damming the river, that I can think of, would
be to reach something that has been covered by the water. Something
lying in the bed of the river.'
'That is more logical,' von Schiller mused, and turned his attention
back to the photograph. 'What is there below this dam site?'
'The river enters a deep and narrow ravine here.' Helm pointed at the
spot. 'Just below his dam. The ravine stretches about eight miles, down
to this point, just above the monastery. I have flown over it in the
helicopter, and it seems to be impassable, and yet-' he broke off, 'Yes,
go on! And yet - what?'
'On one flight over the area, we found Harper and the woman on the high
ground above the ravine. They were at this spot here.' He touched the
photograph, and von Schiller leaned forward to peer at it.
'What were they doing there?' he demanded, without looking up.
'Nothing. They were merely sitting on the top of the cliff above the
ravine.'
'But they were aware of your presence?'
'Of course. We were in the helicopter. They heard our approach. They
were watching us, and Harper even waved.'
And so they would have ceased whatever activity they were engaged in
when they became aware of your approach?'
Von Schiller was silent for so long that they began to fidget
uncomfortably and exchange glances. When he spoke it was so unexpected
that Nahoot started.
'Harper obviously has reason to believe that the tomb lies in the gorge
below the dam. When and how do you make contact with your spy that you
have in Harper's camp?'
'Harper is receiving some of his supplies from the villages here on the
escarpment. The women are driving down slaughter cattle to feed his men,
and carrying down pots of tej. Out man sends back his reports with the
women when they return.'
'Very well. Very well!' Von Schiller waved him to silence. 'I don't need
to know his life history. All I want to know is if Harper is working in
the ravine below his dam.
How soon can you find this out?'
'By the day after tomorrow at the latest,' Helm promised him.
Von Schiller turned to Colonel Nogo at the far end Of the conference
table. So far he had not spoken, but had watched and listened quietly to
