Page 60 of Sands of Sirocco
“The British have no intention of leaving us to govern ourselves …” Masry spoke in Arabic.Noah focused his thoughts away from the glowing embers of the past.Their discussion needed his full attention.Victoria’s life could depend on it.
“They lied to Sherif Hussein.They lied to us.We all saw it coming,” another man said.Murmurs broke out among the group.
Masry put both his hands out.“They ridicule us …”
The men vocalized their agreement.
“ … call us weak and spineless …”
The murmurs grew louder.Noah shifted so that his face was further in shadow.The air in the basement was stale, dry.Body odor and breath permeated the room, and it had grown unexpectedly hot.
“ … conscript our men, steal from our farmers.Steal the treasures of our people.We are not given the right to our own newspapers.They are no better than the Turks they replaced.”
The rhetoric went on for some time.Despite speaking of methods of raising funds to arm their cause, no mention of something as obvious as a ransom arose.
Though, perhaps, if they held Victoria, they wouldn’t want to tell everyone of it.There was a risk in doing so.
As the meeting wound to a conclusion, Masry said, “We have need for volunteers for an opportunity—one that has recently presented itself to us.We have little time to waste.”
Noah leaned forward with interest.Could this have to do with Victoria?
Either way, getting closer to the inner ranks of Masry’s organization could be beneficial.The more they trusted him, the more likely it was he could learn where they were keeping her.Noah stepped forward to volunteer as Masry’s gaze swept the room.
Then his eyes landed on Noah.His gaze narrowed.
Noah’s heart slammed hard against his ribs.He’d developed the skill of slowing his heart rate to have better accuracy when firing a pistol.Right now, the tricks he used evaded him.
Masry waved him forward.“Newcomer?”
The tight cords of Noah’s neck released.Masry didn’t appear to recognize him.
“We will put you to the test.Come.”
Test?Any relief he felt at Masry’s apparent lack of recognition faded.He’d spent enough time with men like this to know that tests of loyalty could be violent.Masry put a hand on Noah’s shoulder, leading him back out the door through which he’d come in.Three more men came with them.They eyed each other with suspicion.
“What is your name?”Masry asked.
“Karim Sayed,” Noah said.Despite the alias having been compromised with Abdullah and Stephen, it was also one of his better ones in Egypt.The chance of Masry knowing what had happened to Karim Sayed in Jerusalem also seemed slim.
The area outside the door was dark, but they reached another doorway, which opened to reveal a tunnel.Noah gave an impressed look.“I didn’t know there were tunnels to Café Riche,” he said.
Masry smiled.He had straight white teeth.If Noah was honest, he could see a flash of resemblance to himself in the man, a fact that brought him no pride.“These lands once belonged to a palace.Then again, there are undiscovered tunnels all over Egypt, no?”
A couple of inches over six feet, Noah hunched as he walked, the ceiling of the tunnel at his height.Noah smirked, noticing that Masry had to do the same.Noah’s father had been tall, but apparently he’d received that attribute from both sides of his lineage.
“Do you have any experience with weapons, Karim?”Masry asked.
“Some.”
“Good, that is useful.We need soldiers.You look like a soldier.”Masry said nothing more for some time.Their footsteps and quiet breathing were the only sounds.Calmer now, Noah felt disoriented in the tunnel, not knowing where he was heading.Let alone for what purpose.
Minutes later they stopped before a ladder.They took turns climbing it, to what appeared to be a drain cover, which was pushed back.As Noah climbed out, a dog slinked past him.Noah gave it berth, wanting to avoid the fleas that clung to it.He turned, blinking in the moon’s light, trying to see where he was.
A boulevard flanked by trees was on the opposite side of a traffic circle across from where they stood, which was a vacant lot.They were in Ismailia Square.The CID would be fascinated to know about this tunnel.
He dusted his hands from the climb up the ladder, wishing for his boots instead of sandals.His feet weren’t as tanned as his arms and face, but the disguise Alastair had given him included sandals.He only hoped Masry wouldn’t notice his feet.
Masry directed them to an awaiting motorcar.He gestured Noah to climb into the back seat, while one man who’d accompanied them took the driver’s seat.Then they were off, driving through the streets of the city.
