Whispers In The Sand Part 28

'Let her go!' Toby called to Serena. 'I don't think he's here, but we'd better be systematic.'

But Serena had already turned to follow Anna. He stayed where he was, frowning. Then he turned to scan the faces of the crowds once again.

Anna was pus.h.i.+ng her way out of the entrance, staring more and more anxiously around her. She could not rid herself of the image of Ha.s.san lying on the ground, his body contorted by the swift pa.s.sage of the venom; the cobra, if cobra it was, sliding silently towards the lovers as they kissed in the shadow of the cave; the desperation and sorrow of Louisa as she walked away from the body of her love, never to set eyes on him again.

However angry she was with Andy she would not wish that on him. Her anger itself was serving to make her feel guilty. If anything happened to him it would be because he had taken her bottle; if she had not brought it to Egypt, if she had not talked about it, if she had not shown him the diary, let him read the extracts, if she had not in some way led him on he would not be in this position now.

She turned blindly towards the one place she hadn't looked - the smaller temple which Rameses had built for his wife, Nefertari. It was far less crowded than the great Sun Temple itself.

A frieze guarded the door to the temple. A frieze of cobras. Anna stopped and stared. There was a lump in her throat. For a moment she hesitated, trying to steady herself, then she plunged into the darkness beyond the square entrance. As her eyes grew accustomed to the dim lighting inside, the first person she saw was Andy standing studying one of the pillar capitals, at the near end of the p.r.o.naos. She stared at him, unable to believe her eyes, then almost hesitantly she walked up to him and 314.

touched his arm. Serena, some ten paces behind her, stopped and watched. 'Andy?'

He jumped. 'Anna! What are you doing here? You weren't on the bus!'

She shook her head. 'I wasn't feeling well. I came on later with Toby in a taxi.' Suddenly she wasn't sure what to say. She realised that Serena had stepped up beside her and she glanced at her helplessly. 'I need the scent bottle, Andy,' she burst out at last. 'You must give it back to me. Now.'

He inclined his head slightly. 'What scent bottle?'

'Oh please, Andy. Don't play games with me.' She held out her hand.

He shrugged. His face was cold. 'I put it somewhere safe. On the boat. You don't think I brought it with me, do you?'

She was overwhelmed with a feeling of relief. 'Where on the boat did you leave it?' 'I gave it to Omar to put somewhere safe.'

She shook her head. 'Well, it's not in the boat's safe. I looked.'

His eyes narrowed and she saw the angle of his jaw harden. 'Did you indeed? So, you stayed behind to snoop.'

'Andy, I had to.' She couldn't believe she was trying to justify herself to him. 'You had taken two things that belonged to me. Two things you had no right to.' She held his gaze resolutely. 'I found the diary.' She paused.

His expression did not change.

'That was in the safe, in an envelope under your name, but the bottle wasn't there and I want it back.'

'OK. So I didn't leave it in the safe.'

'So, where is it?'

'Somewhere else. In my cabin. It's perfectly all right.'

'It's not in your cabin. I looked there too.'

His face darkened. 'You had no right to do that.'

'You had no right to steal my belongings.' She took a step forward and was surprised that he stepped back defensively. 'It was stealing, Andy.' She pressed home her advantage. 'I asked you if you had my diary and you denied it. It is worth a great deal of money, as you yourself pointed out.

'Hang on a minute!' he interrupted. 'I took it to make sure it was safe. I wasn't going to keep it. You be careful about your 315.

accusations.' A patch of red had appeared above each cheekbone.

'Then you should have told me what you had done with it and not accused Toby.' She could feel her own anger rising to match his.

'Ah, Toby! The hero of the taxi trip across the desert!' He folded his arms. 'Well, I was right about him!'

There was a moment's silence. A group of Italian tourists filed past them and disappeared into the depths of the temple. There was a flood of excited conversation and a howl of laughter as they made their way into the depths of the great hall and stopped, cl.u.s.tered round a far pillar.

'What Toby did is in the past. He paid for it.'

'Oh, he paid for it, did he, Anna? Is that what he told you?' Andy glanced at Serena. 'Well, he doesn't seem to have learnt from his past. As you were not there, on the bus, I sat next to a chap called Donald Denton. He's a retired doctor who used to live near Toby. He remembered the whole story. Toby killed a man who he claimed in court had raped his wife, but in fact the wife and this chap were having an affair and she was about to run away with him! And Toby murdered his wife as well.' His face softened. 'I'm sorry, Anna. I know how disappointed you'll be -'

'It's not true! She committed suicide.'

'Is that what he told you?'

'He told me all about it, yes.'

'And you believed him, of course.' He sighed. 'I don't suppose I can change your mind then.' He pushed his hands into his pockets and stared up at the great cow-head of the G.o.ddess Hathor above their heads. 'You really like him, don't you?' He glanced at Serena. 'And I suppose you do too? I can never understand women!' He grinned. He had relaxed, obviously confident that the diary and bottle were forgotten.

'Why don't you speak to Toby yourself? He's here somewhere.' Anna gestured towards the doorway. 'I'd like to hear what he has to say about your accusations.' 'Oh no! You're not setting us up for another sparring match, sweetheart.' He looked at his watch suddenly. 'Anyway, the coach is leaving before long. I suspect it's time we were heading in that direction.' He strode past her towards the entrance.

Anna looked towards Serena. 'I don't think he has got the bottle with him. After all that, he was safe!'

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Serena nodded. 'So, Andy lives to fight another day,' she said succinctly. 'And in more ways than one.'

Anna shrugged. 'I don't believe him. Not about Toby.'

'Good. He's a complete, congenital liar.' Serena tucked her hand through Anna's arm. 'Come on. Come back with us on the bus.'

Anna hesitated. 'We came in a car. Toby told the driver to wait.'

Serena wrinkled her nose. 'How very rich this ex-con must be!'

'I don't think so.' It was Anna's turn to colour. 'He did it for me. He cares, Serena. You saw how much he cares.'

They emerged from the temple and looked round. There was no sign of Andy. Omar was standing some fifty yards away, a cl.u.s.ter of people around him. He saw them emerge into the sunlight and he raised his hand to beckon them over. 'We must go soon, people. The bus is waiting.' He grinned at Anna. 'I saw Andy. He says you found him.'

Anna nodded. 'I did indeed.'

'And there was no cobra?'

She shook her head.

'Jolly good!' Omar smiled even more widely. 'Now please, we collect everyone and go.

Anna was looking round. 'Serena? Where did Toby go?'

'He stayed in the hill when we left to look in Nefertati's temple.' Serena gave a small grimace. 'I'm sure he will find us.'

'I don't know what to do. He'll expect me to go back with him. I'll have to find the car.'

'Well, that won't be a problem. Presumably it will be in the car park, near the bus.' Serena sighed. 'OK, we'll find it and then you'll have to choose. Anna, I like Toby too. I trust him and I would never trust Andy, but be careful. When all is said and done we don't know anything about him do we, any more than we really know anything about each other.'

The two women looked at one another for a moment; Anna grinned and with a helpless shrug she turned to follow Omar.

Andy met them in the car park. He was smiling broadly. 'Well, you'll never guess what's been happening here!'

Anna frowned. He was looking at her. Almost, she suspected, he was gloating. Her heart sank without knowing why. 'So? What's been happening?'

'Your friend, Toby. The police came. They've taken him away, 317.

and your car has gone. I'm afraid you'll have to make do with the hoi polloi on the bus.' He gave a small bow.

'Toby's been arrested!' Anna echoed. She stared at him. 'You're lying!'

'You wis.h.!.+ No, I'm not lying.' He stopped and his face sobered. 'Oh dear, I can see it's been a shock. He had you fooled, didn't he? He had us all fooled. The painting he was doing must have been a cover for something. To make him look respectable.'

'But what's he supposed to have done? I don't understand. Has he left me a message?'

Andy shrugged. 'No doubt we'll hear all about it soon enough!'

Serena touched Anna's arm. 'Let's get on the bus,' she said softly. 'There's nothing you can do here.'

Andy was watching Anna's face intently. 'Don't think about him any more, Anna. Just be thankful you didn't get wound into his net.' He lifted a hand in greeting as he saw Joe approaching and turning, climbed into the bus past Omar who was standing by the door counting heads.

Anna sat with Serena at the back, too shocked and miserable to speak as the doors shut and the coach swung out of the car park and back onto the dusty road. In minutes they were out of the shabby breeze-block town of Abu Simbel and into the desert, insulated from the broiling desert heat by air conditioning and window blinds and the gentle crooning of an Egyptian singer on the bus stereo.

Twice they stopped on the way back. Once to see a particularly spectacular mirage which everyone but Anna, who was without her camera, duly photographed, gasping in the dry oven-heat of the early afternoon, and once to see a camel train coming in off the desert. She stayed in the coach this time, watching the poor creatures being loaded onto lorries and beaten to their knees beneath the heavy rope nets which would hold them in place, wondering bleakly whether the few shots of the young blades cavorting round on their racing camels really made up for the despair in the eyes of those proud creatures on their way to the meat markets in Aswan.

'You OK?' Serena climbed back into the bus and lowered herself into the seat beside her.

She nodded. 'I think I've had enough of Egypt. As a holiday meant to cheer me up and restore my sense of self-worth and security it has failed totally.'

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Serena sat back, staring up at the ceiling. 'Toby means a great deal to you, doesn't he?'

'Yes.'

'I'm so sorry. Andy's a b.a.s.t.a.r.d. I bet he's got the whole thing wrong. I'm going to double-check everything he's told you.'

Behind her sungla.s.ses there were tears in Anna's eyes. 'I don't understand any of it.' She gave a deep sigh. 'But there must be something we can do to help him.'It was like coming home. The crew with their friendly smiles were ,all back after their two-day break, with scented towels to wipe away the heat and dust of the desert and warm freshly made lemonade.

Standing in the crowded reception area sipping her drink before making her way to her cabin, Anna was suddenly confronted by Andy. He came up to her and put his hands lightly on her shoulders.

'Anna, I am truly so very sorry. It was cra.s.s, the way I broke the news to you. And will you forgive me for taking the diary? I never meant you to be worried. It was thoughtless beyond belief. Meet me in the bar when you're freshened up and we'll have a drink. Please.' His eyes on hers were sincere and very kind.

'Andy, I'm so tired. I just want to rest.'

'And so you shall. After the meal. We're having a late lunch, then we can rest so that after dark we're restored enough to go to Philae to see the son-et-lumiere. Please, Anna. I want us to stay friends.' He paused and grinned enquiringly at Omar who had stopped beside them.

'Your bag, Andy. You left it on the bus.' Omar slapped him on the back. 'Luckily the driver spotted it.' He handed over the bag and moved on, searching for the owner of some other piece of left luggage.

Andy automatically swung the bag onto his shoulder. 'Say in half an hour? In the bar?' he said to Anna. 'Please.'

She was looking at the bag. As he had lifted it up the side pocket had gaped open and she had spotted the flash of scarlet silk. Banging down her lemonade gla.s.s on the reception desk counter she reached out and caught at the broad canvas strap as it hung over his shoulder, pulling the bag towards her.

'Strange, this scarf looks so much like mine.' Before he could move back she had pulled the small bundle out of the pocket and 319.

unrolled it in her hand to reveal the scent bottle. 'You had it with you all the time?' She spat the words at him. 'You had the bottle on the bus! Don't you realise what that could have meant? Why did you lie, Andy?' She shook the bottle under his nose. 'Why do men always have to lie?'

320.My place of hiding is opened, my place of hiding is revealed.There is a trade in all things old. People come from far away and buy anything and everything from the days of the tombs. The bottle travels in a box of shards and beads and amulets across the waters of the Nile and is taken to a merchant in Luxor. Coins change hands. For months the box lies untouched in a store room; when it is unpacked the merchant picks out the bottle at once. He had not noticed it before and now he feels a catch of excitement in his throat. Early New Kingdom gla.s.s is rare. He brings it to his work table and picks up his magnifying gla.s.s. The stopper is wedged in tightly and sealed. He finds a knife to uncork it, hesitates and changes his mind. Instead he sends a message to a friend. His house has grown cold; the air flickers with desert lightning and an unearthly s.h.i.+mmer runs across the shelves and over the table. The newcomer, head and shoulders wrapped in a white shawl, touches breast, mouth and forehead in greeting and comes forward to the table. He is venerable and learned and 321.

has studied the magical arts. He stands in silence looking down at the small gla.s.s container. The silence lengthens. Outside, the sun moves across the sky and gains entrance at the latticed windows, throwing fretted shadows on the floor. The man looks up, his face white. 'There is power in this sacred vial. Power beyond measure. And it is guarded by priests of old who have never left it.' He shakes his head. 'Bring me paper and ink that I may write their wishes down. Those who have touched this object with sacrilegious hands have paid the price with their life's blood.'

Anna was sitting on the bed in her cabin when Serena knocked and pushed open the door. 'You OK?'

Anna nodded. The bottle was lying beside her on the covers.

'I've spoken to Omar.' Serena sat down and picking it up she turned it gently over and over in her hands. 'He was a bit taken aback by your outburst just now and I sort of tried to explain.' She shrugged. 'He doesn't know anything about Toby being arrested. He was astonished when I told him. He spoke to the captain immediately because he had been in charge of the boat while Omar was away and he said no one had come asking for Toby. And Toby's pa.s.sport is still in the safe.' 'What does that mean?'

Serena raised an eyebrow. 'It means there's a strong possibility Andy's lying, as I suspected.' She held out the bottle. 'It's strange that Louisa kept this after Ha.s.san died. I'd have thought she'd want to get rid of it.'

Anna shook her head. She picked up the bottle and stroked it gently with her little finger. 'It's so small and it's brought so much unhappiness. She kept it, I suppose because Ha.s.san gave it to her. I wonder if she saw Carstairs again?'

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Serena gestured towards Anna's bag. 'I think I'm as hooked on this story as you are. Haven't we got time to read a little before our meal?' she asked hopefully. 'And it would take your mind off Toby...'Sir John knocked on Louisa's cabin door and pushed it open. 'How are you feeling, my dear?' She was lying on the divan, 'wrapped in a silk bed-robe. Her head was aching and her skin as hot as fire. 'Can we not persuade you to eat a little? Mohammed is concocting more and more wonderful t.i.tbits for you.' He was looking at the untouched plate beside her.

She turned towards him and forced a tired smile. 'I'm sorry. I'm not hungry.'

'No. Well, I'll tell him to keep trying.' He nodded. 'A party of Nubians came to the boat this morning, Louisa. They brought your paints; the things which were left in the cave.' He looked down at his feet suddenly. 'They are very honest, these people. I rewarded them well.' He glanced back at her. 'I thought you'd want your things.' He went to the door and fumbled outside for a moment, turning back with her woven bag. 'Shall I leave it here?' He waited for an indication of what she wanted. When she gave no sign, he shrugged and placed the bag against the wall, under the small table.

Some time later he left, closing the door quietly behind him. When he returned it was dark. They had moored above the cataract near Philae. Outside the river was bright with moonlight.

'Louisa, Lord Carstairs is in the saloon. I understand he came up to Aswan on the steamer. Are you well enough to receive him?'

She sat up slowly, pus.h.i.+ng her hair out of her eyes. 'He's here? On this boat? I thought you had forbidden him to set foot on it!'

Sir john shrugged uncomfortably. 'He heard what happened. He wants to see you.'

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For a moment she sat still, as if gathering her strength, then she pulled herself to her feet. 'I'll see him in the saloon.'

'Shall I call Treece to help you dress, my dear?'