He had been ready to give the boy a quick sign, as he had done with Elene, and he had hoped that Billy was alert enough to mask his surprise rapidly, as Elene had done. But this was a different situation. If Billy were to wake up and see his father standing there, he would probably give the game away before he had time to collect his thoughts. Vandam turned to Wolff and said: 'Papers, please.'
It was the first time he had seen his enemy face to face Wolff was a handsome bastard. His big face had strong features: a wide forehead, a hooked nose, even white teeth, a broad jaw. Only around the eyes and the comers of the mouth was there a hint of weakness, of self-indulgence, of depravity. He handed over his papers then looked out of the window, bored. The papers identified him as Alex Wolff, of Villa les Oliviers, Garden City. The man had remarkable nerve.
Vandam said: 'Where are you going, sir!'
'Assyut.'
'On business?'
'To visit relations.' The voice was strong and deep, and Vandam would not have noticed the accent if he had not been listening for it.
Vandam said: 'Are you people together?'
'That's my son and his nanny,' Wolff said.
Vandam took Elene's papers and glanced at them. He wanted to take Wolff by the throat and shake him until his bones rattled. That's my son and his nanny. You bastard.
He gave Elene her papers. 'No need to wake the child,' he said. He looked at the priest sitting next to Wolff, and took the proffered wallet. Wolff said: 'What's this about, Major?'
Vandam looked at him again, and noticed that he had a fresh scratch on his chin, a long one: perhaps Elene had put up some resistance.
'Security, sir,' Vandam replied.
The priest said: 'I'm going to Assyut, too.'
'I see,' said. Vandam 'To the convent?'
'Indeed. You've heard of it, then.'
'The place where the Holy Family stayed after their sojourn in the desert.'
'Quite. Have you been there?'
'Not yet-perhaps I'll make it this time.'
'I hope so,' said the priest.
Vandam handed back the papers. 'Thank you.' He backed away, along the aisle to the next row of seats, and continued to examine papers, When he looked up he met Wolff's eyes. Wolff was watching him expressionlessly. Vandam wondered whether he had done anything suspicious. Next time be looked up, Wolff was staring out of the window again.
What was Elene thinking? She must be wondering what I'm up to, Vandam thought. Perhaps she can guess my intentions. It must be hard for her all the same, to sit still and see me walk by without a word. At least now she knows she's not alone.
What was Wolff thinking? Perhaps he was impatient, or gloating, or frightened, or eager . . . No, he was none of those, Vandam, realized; he was bored.
He reached the end of the carriage and examined the last of the papers. He was handing them back, about to retrace his steps along the aisle, when he heard a cry that pierced his heart:
'That's my dad!'
He looked up. Billy was running along the aisle toward him, stumbling, swaying from side to side, bumping against the seats, his arms outstretched.
Oh, God.
Beyond Billy, Vandam could see Wolff and Elene standing up, watching;
Wolff with intensity, Elene with fear. Vandam opened the door behind him, pretending to take no notice of Billy, and backed through it. Billy came flying through. Vandam slammed the door. He took Billy in his arms. 'It's all right,' Vandam, said. 'It's all right.'
Wolff would be coming to investigate.
'They took me away!' Billy said. 'I missed geography and I was really really scared'
'It's all right now.' Vandam felt he could not leave Billy now; he would have to keep the boy and kill Wolff, he would have to abandon his deception plan and the radio and the key to the code . . . No, it had to be done, it had to be done . . . He fought down his instincts. 'Listen,' he said. 'I'm here, and I'm watching over you, but I have to catch that man, and I don't want him to know who I am. He's the German spy I'm after, do you understand?'
'Yes, yes ...'
'Listen. Can you pretend you made a mistake? Can you pretend I'm not your father? Can you go back to him?'
Billy stared, open mouthed. He said nothing but his whole expression said No, no, no! Vandam said: 'This is a real-life story, Billy, and we're in it, you and I. You have to go back to that man, and pretend you made a mistake; but remember, I'll be nearby, and together we'll catch the spy. Is that okay? Is it okay?'
Billy said nothing.
The door opened and Wolff came through.
