fold-down bunks that were bolted to the main bulkhead. Royan's empty tea
mug stood on the deck at her feet. Nicholas sat down beside her, and she
reached up and touched the bloodstained dressing that covered his chin.
'You had better let me see to that.' Her fingers were deft and cool on
his hot inflamed skin as she cleaned the T
stitches with an alcohol swab and then placed a fresh plaster over them.
Nicholas felt a strong twinge of guilt as he submitted to her
ministrations.
However, it was Sapper who was the first to show the effects of the
doped tea. He lay back gently and closed his eyes, then a soft snore
vibrated his lips. Minutes later Royan sagged drowsily against
Nicholas's shoulder. When she was fast asleep, he let her down gently
and lifted her feet up on to the bunk. He spread a rug over her. She did
not even stir, and he had a moment's doubt about the strength of the
tablets.
Then he kissed her forehead softly. 'How could I ever hate you?' he
asked her softly. 'Whatever you did.'
He went into the lavatory and locked the door. He had plenty of time.
Sapper and Royan wouldn ot wake for hours yet, and Jannie and Fred were
happily ensconced on the flight'deck, listening to Dolly Parton tapes on
the audio system.
When at last he had finished, Nicholas glanced at his wrist-watch and
realized that it had taken him almost two hours, He closed the toilet
seat and washed his hands carefully. Then he took one last careful took
around the tiny cabin and unlocked the door.
Sapper and Royan were still fast asleep on the folddown bunks. He went
forward to the flight-deck, and Fred pulled his earphones down around
his neck and grinned at him.
'Nile water. It's poisonous. You have been locked in the loo for the
last couple of hours. Surprised that there is anything left of you.'
Nicholas ignored the jibe and leaned over Jannie's seat back. 'Where are
we?'
With a thick forefinger Jannie stabbed the chart that he was balancing
on his protruding belly. 'Almost in the clear,' he said complacently.
'Egyptian border in one hour twelve minutes.'
Nicholas remained standing behind his seat until Jannie grunted and
lifted the microphone. 'Time to go into my act.'
'Hallo, Abu Simbel Approach!' he said in a Gulf States accent. 'This is
Zulu Whiskey Uniform Five Zero Zero.'
There was a long silence from the Egyptian controller.
Jannie grunted. 'He probably has'a hint in the tower with him. Got to
give him time to get his pants back on.'
Abu Simbel Control answered on his fifth call. Jannie launched into his
tried and tested routine, feigning ignorance in fluent colloquial
Arabic.
After five minutes, Abu Simbel cleared him to continue on northwards,
with an instruction to 'call again abeam Aswan'.
They flew on serenely for another hour, but Nicholas nerves were
screwing up tighter every minute.
