leave Mek Nimmur.'
'I can't understand what you see in that old rogue,' Nicholas laughed
with her. 'I have -spoken to Mek. He wants me to take his share of the
booty with me. He won't be able to carry any extra luggage at the
moment.'
'Yes, I know. Mek and I discussed it. We need the money to continue the
struggle here.'
She broke off and ducked involuntarily, as a stunning explosion cracked
in their eardrums and a tall column of dust leaped into the air close to
the edge of the grove.
Shrapnel whistled over their heads and twigs and leaves rained down on
them.
sweet Mary! What was that?' Tessay cried.
'Two-inch mortar,'said Nicholas. He had not moved, nor made any attempt
to take cover. 'More bark than bite.
Nogo must have brought it in with his last flight.'
'When will the Hercules get here?'
'I'll give jannie a call, and ask him.'
As Nicholas sauntered over to the radio set Tessay whispered to Royan,
'Are you English always so cooV
'Don't Ask me - I' mostly Egyptian, and I am terrified.' Royan smiled
easily and put her arm around Tessay. 'I am going to miss you, Lady
Sun.'
'Perhaps we will meet again in happier times.' Tessay turned her head
and kissed her impulsively, and Royan hugged her hard.
'I hope so. I hope so with all my heart.'
Nicholas spoke into the microphone. 'Big Dolly, this is Pharaoh. 'What
is your position now?'
'Pharaoh, we are twenty minutes out, and hurrying.
Did you have baked beans for dinner or is that mortar fire I hear in the
background?'
'With your wit you should have gone on the stage,'
Nicholas told him. 'The uglies have control of the south end of the
strip. Make your approach from the north. The wind is wester rly at
about five knots. So any way you come in, it will be cross-wirid.
'Roger, Pharaoh. How many passengers and cargo do YOU have for me?'
'Passengers are six cas-evac plus three, Cargo is fifty-two crates,
about a quarter of a ton weight.'
'Hardly worth coming all this way for so little, Pharaoh.'
'Big Dolly. Be advised, there is another aircraft in the circuit. A jet
Ranger helter. Colour green and red. It 1cop is a hostile, but unarmed.'
'Roger, Pharaoh. I will call again on finals.'
the two women were Nicholas went back to where waiting with the wounded.
'Not long now,' he told them cheerfully. He had to raise his voice to
make himself heard above the din of mortar bursts and rapid small'arms
fire.
'Just enough time for a cup of tea,' he said. He pushed a few twigs into
the embers of the previous night's fire, then rummaged in his small
emergency pack for the last of his tea bags while Sapper placed the
