Big Dolly to a halt, a file of four armoured half-tracks raced out and
surrounded the huge aircraft, training their turret weapons upon her.
Obedient to the instructions radioed7by control, Jannie shut down his
engines and lowered the tail ramp of the aircraft. No one on the
flight-deck had spoken since they had landed. They stood crowded
together, looking unhappy, peering out of the cockpit windows.
Suddenly a white Cadillac with an escort of armed motorcyclists,
followed by a military ambulance and a three-ton transport truck, drove
through the gate of the perimeter fence and came directly to the foot of
the cargo ramp of the Hercules. The chauffeur jumped out and opened the
door, and his passenger stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine. He
was clearly a person of authority, dignified and composed. He wore a
light tropical suit and white shoes, a panama hat and dark glasses. As
he came up the ramp to where the five of them waited, he was followed by
two male secretaries.
He removed his dark glasses and tucked them into his breast pocket. As
he recognized Royan he smiled and lifted his hat, 'Dr Al Simma - Royan!
You did it. Congratulations!' He took her hand and shook it warmly, not
relinquishing his grip as he looked directly at Nicholas.
'You must be Sir Nicholas Quenton Harper. I have been looking forward to
meeting you immensely. Won't you please introduce us, Royan?'
Royan could not meet Nicholas's accusing scrutiny as she said, 'May I
present His Excellency, Atalan Abou Sin, Minister of Culture and Tourism
in the Egyptian government.'
'You may indeed,' said Nicholas coldly. 'What an unexpected
pleasure,'Minister.'
'I would like to express the thanks of the President and the people of
Egypt for returning to this country these recious relics of our ancient
but glorious history.' He made a gesture that encompassed the stack of
ammunition crates.
'Please, think nothing of it,' said Nicholas, but he never took his eyes
off Royan. She kept her face turned half-away from him.
'On the contrary, we think the world of what you have done, Sir
Nicholas.' Abou Sin's smile was charming and urbane. 'We are fully aware
of the expense to which you have been put, and we would not want you to
be out of pocket in this extraordinarily generous gesture of yours. Dr
Al Simma tells me that the expedition to recover these treasures for us
has cost you a quarter of a million sterling.' He took an envelope from
his inside pocket, and proffered it to Nicholas.
'This is a banker's draft drawn on the Central Bank of Egypt. It is
irrevocable, and payable anywhere in the world.
It is for the sum of 1250,000.1
'Very generous of you, Your Excellency.' Nicholas's voice was heavy with
irony as he slipped the envelope into his top pocket. 'I presume this
was Dr Al Simma's suggestion?'
'Of course,' beamed Abou Sin. 'Royan holds you in the very highest
regard.'
'Does she, now?' Nicholas murmured, still staring at her
expressionlessly.
