Midnight Runner Part 10

"Then let him speak." She said to Rupert, "Abdul is the barman at the Excelsior."

"Countess, I have news," Abdul said in Arabic.

"English, please, my cousin has no Arabic."

"Colonel Villiers came in from the border earlier this afternoon. Two Land Rovers and seven Scouts. He was ambushed when they halted at the pool at Hama. One of his men was shot dead. Omar. There was a sniper on the cliffs."

The houseboy came in with the tea and coffee, served it un.o.btrusively, and withdrew.

Kate Ras.h.i.+d said, "How do you know this?"

Abdul shrugged. "The Scouts are in the bazaar and they've been talking."

She nodded. "Is Villiers Sahb Sahb eating at the hotel tonight?" eating at the hotel tonight?"

"Yes, Countess, but I have more. The colonel was drinking lager on the terrace and Mr. Carver joined him. I managed to hear their conversation."

She turned to Rupert. "Ben Carver is an old RAF hand who runs air taxis out of Hamam. He does a lot of work for Ras.h.i.+d." She nodded to Abdul. "Go on."

Abdul told her everything, for he had an excellent memory and prided himself on it. When he was finished, she opened her purse and took out a fifty-dollar bill and handed it to him.

"You've done well."

He backed away and raised a hand. "No, Countess, this is for you, my gift."

"For which I thank you, but do not dishonor me by refusing mine." Abdul bowed and smiled, took the bill hurriedly, turned, and went out.

Rupert said, "So Villiers is pumping people for information?"

"On Ferguson's behalf, we can a.s.sume."

"Who ambushed him?"

"Who do you think?" She spoke to Abu. "You've done well. The one you killed, who was he, this Omar?" The answer was important. Since the Scouts were all Ras.h.i.+d Bedu, the family links with those in the Empty Quarter were immensely strong.

"My second cousin."

"I want no blood feud over this."

"There will be none, Countess."

"And Villiers Sahb Sahb will not be touched until I give the word." will not be touched until I give the word."

"As you say, Countess, I would only kill him face-to-face. He is a great warrior."

"Good. My cousin here is a great warrior, too. He fought many battles with the American Marines and is precious to me. Guard him with your life."

"As you say, Countess." He went out.

She explained to Rupert what Abu had told her, and suddenly, darkness started to fall and the houseboy came in and switched on the lights. Moths fluttered instantly.

"So what now, cousin?" Rupert asked.

"I think a gla.s.s of champagne." She nodded to the houseboy, who was hovering, and gave the order. A moment later, Abu appeared.

"It grieves me to disturb you, Countess, but Selim asks to see you."

"Selim? Really? How interesting. Bring him in." She said to Rupert. "Another man has turned up-and this one is a Sergeant in the Scouts."

"And, of course, a Ras.h.i.+d. It still puzzles me how this all works, both sides made up of the same people."

"That's because you're a Yank and you don't understand the Arab mind."

The houseboy appeared with a bottle of Bollinger in an ice bucket and two gla.s.ses. He thumbed the cork off expertly and poured.

"I thought alcohol was forbidden in Arab countries," Rupert said.

"It varies. Hazar has always had a rather liberal att.i.tude."

"And you go along with that? After all, you are a Muslim."

"I also don't wear a chador, chador," she said, referring to the obligatory headscarf for Muslim women. "I'm also half-English, Rupert. I serve both sides of the coin."

As she sipped champagne, Abu ushered Selim in. The Sergeant looked very worried.

"You speak good English, Selim, so we'll speak English now. Does Villiers Sahb Sahb know you are here?" know you are here?"

"No, Countess." Selim was instantly alarmed. "I am here because I felt I must speak to you."

"Why?"

"We've been in the border country, the Scouts, with the Colonel. We no longer cross into the Empty Quarter."

"I know this."

"Villiers Sahb Sahb asked me many questions. He wanted to know if there was anything going on over the border." asked me many questions. He wanted to know if there was anything going on over the border."

"And what did you tell him?"

"That I knew nothing. But he made me feel uncomfortable. I don't think he believed me."

"Which shows his intelligence, for you were lying to him, weren't you?"

"Countess, please."

"Light me a cigarette, Rupert." He did so and pa.s.sed it to her. "But you must not lie to me, Selim." She leaned forward. "So tell me what you have heard whispered."

"The camp, Countess, the camp at Fuad Oasis. Foreigners come and go, and there is sometimes much gunfire. Those who roam the desert, the Adoo Adoo bandits, have heard of such things." bandits, have heard of such things."

"Many people talk mysteries, and loose tongues abound. But they can be cut out, Selim. Why have you come to me? You are the Colonel's man."

"But I am also Ras.h.i.+d." Selim was bewildered. "My loyalty is to you first, Countess, you are our leader, all Ras.h.i.+d agree."

"Even the Hazar Scouts?"

"Well, there are those who are old-fas.h.i.+oned in their ways, who look to the Colonel."

"Men who keep their oath, you mean, unlike you? You also swore the oath, you tasted salt with Colonel Villiers, and ate his bread. There is a matter of honor here, and loyalty. You say you are loyal to me, but can I depend on loyalty and honor from a man who has none?"

"Countess-please," Selim said wildly.

"Go from my sight. Never return."

Abu gripped Selim's arm and pushed him out of the terrace. Rupert said, "What was that all about?"

"Honor is everything to my people. Men die for it-and Selim will die for his lack of it."

Abu returned and, to Rupert's total astonishment, said in excellent English, "The man is a dog, Countess. What would you have me do?"

"See to him, Abu."

"At your orders."

He went out and she smiled slightly at Rupert. "When Abu was eighteen, his uncle, a rich trader, sent him to London University. He got a degree in economics-but on his return, he found that he preferred being a warrior. He is a very good one."

"Then G.o.d help Selim."

She finished her champagne and stood up. "Time for a shower and a change of clothes. I'll show you your suite."

Selim hurried from one narrow alley to another, making for the old quarter, and yet the truth was he had no idea where to go. He had thought to find favor with the Countess. Instead, he had received a death sentence. Nothing was more certain. He paused and stood in a doorway to consider the situation.

There was nowhere to hide, not in Hazar, not in the high country of the border or in the Empty Quarter. The word would go out amongst his people, and every hand would be against him. His mind raced and came up with only one possible solution: the harbor. There were boats there that called at every port in Southern Arabia. Perhaps he could get to Aden or even Momba.s.sa on the east coast of Africa. There was a larger Arab population there and it was far from Ras.h.i.+d territory.

He hurried away, taking a different direction, and came out on the waterfront. It was very dark, but there were lights on the moored s.h.i.+pping. If he could slip on board one of the ancient coastal steamers, all would be well.

He turned on to one of the boardwalk wharfs, which had several boats tied up. It was very quiet, with only the sound of distant laughers, and then a board creaked behind him and he turned and saw Abu. Selim turned to run, but Abu was faster. He caught him by the robe, a knife in one hand, pulled back Selim's head, and drew the knife across his throat. Selim sagged, the life going out of him, and Abu wiped his knife on the man's robe and pushed him over the side of the wharf. The body fell some fifty feet, there was a splash, then only the silence again.

Abu walked away quickly. When he had gone, another Arab came out of the darkness wearing the crossed bandoliers of the Scouts, an AK slung from his left shoulder. He peered over the edge of the wharf and saw Selim's body floating facedown in the faint light at the stern of a coastal steamer. After a moment, he turned and walked away.

Villiers made a striking figure in his tropical uniform as he went into the bar at the Excelsior. There were only half a dozen people, all alone, and all European, with an air of business about them. One or two looked at him, curious. There was no sign of Kate Ras.h.i.+d or Rupert Dauncey. Villiers moved to the bar, where Abdul polished gla.s.ses.

"I'd have thought the Countess would be in tonight. I know she's in town."

"Later, Sahb, Sahb, she comes later." she comes later."

"Did she tell you that?"

Abdul looked nervous. "Would you like a lager, Colonel Sahb Sahb?"

"Not now."

He walked out, lit a cigarette, and stood at the top of the steps leading down to the garden. One of his men squatted at one side of the steps, his AK across his knees.

Villiers said in Arabic, "I see you, Achmed."

"And I you, Colonel Sahb. Sahb."

"So why are you here?"

"Selim is dead. He floats in the harbor."

"Tell me," Villiers said, offering a cigarette and a light.

"We were to go with the women in the bazaar, have whiskey sups. Sahb Sahb knows we can do that there." knows we can do that there."

"And?"

"Selim was troubled, not himself. He said he had to see a friend. I thought it strange, so I followed."

"And where did he go?"

"The Ras.h.i.+d Villa. It was almost dark. I stood in the palms on the other side of the street and looked up to the terrace. The Countess was there with a man, English, I think."

"No, American. I know who this man is."

"Then Abu brought Selim on to the terrace, and he and the Countess talked. A little later, Selim came out. He stood there looking worried, as if he didn't know where to go."

"What do you mean by worried?"

"He had the stink of fear on him, Sahb. Sahb. He started down the street, and I was about to follow when Abu came out and went after him." He started down the street, and I was about to follow when Abu came out and went after him."

"And you followed."

"Yes, Sahb, Sahb, down to the harbor. He turned on to one of the wharfs. He seemed to be examining the s.h.i.+ps, then Abu ran up behind him, cut his throat, and pushed him into the water." down to the harbor. He turned on to one of the wharfs. He seemed to be examining the s.h.i.+ps, then Abu ran up behind him, cut his throat, and pushed him into the water."

Villiers said, "Why would Abu do this thing?"

"For the Countess, Sahb. Sahb."

"But what would be her reason?"

"Allah alone knows this."

Villiers offered him another cigarette. "I'm grateful, Achmed, that you've told me this, but why? You, too, are Ras.h.i.+d, the Countess is your leader."

He knew the answer before it came. "But Sahb, Sahb, I have tasted your salt, sworn the oath, and I am your man. This the Countess would agree on. It is a matter of honor." I have tasted your salt, sworn the oath, and I am your man. This the Countess would agree on. It is a matter of honor."

"And perhaps Selim had none."