Page 19 of Sands of Sirocco
He had to go to Cairo.But first he’d need to wire Lord Helton—or, better yet, make a telephone call—and ask him what the hell Helton wanted him to do with Stephen.
If Stephen hadn’t been a target of such importance, Noah wouldn’t have thought twice about simply shooting him and leaving the burden of transporting him behind.But Stephen had valuable intelligence to offer—more so now that he’d spent the last five months working with the Germans and the Turks.
Noah couldn’t lethis feelings for Ginger, or his own personal hatred toward Fisher, impede what was best for the British.And yet, each time he had to choose the good of others, it became more difficult.
Their best bet to avoid the Turks was by boat to a larger naval vessel and then to Port Said or Alexandria.But who knew when and where they’d find a ship?Naval support had been ordered near Jaffa, just south of Jerusalem, to aid with the battle up the coast.But he couldn’t very well row that way and simply hope for the best.
And they’d left most of their weapons and supplies in Jerusalem.
The sunrise bloomed, the red streaks across the sky like fingers of an angered sun that was displeased at being woken.A trek through the Judean desert had not been in anyplan.
“We’ll have to walk.Get camels in the next village.”Noah’s tone was curt as he shed the wig and dropped it onto the front seat.He wouldn’t allow Stephen to bait him.The provocative gleam in Stephen’s eyes showed he intended to be like a burr in his boots.
Jack had disposed of the burqa and fashioned a headdress for himself out of a handkerchief.“To Beersheba?”
“That seems the best option.”Noah opened the car door and stepped onto the rough desert ground.The wheels had bumped and jostled as they’d gone off the road held by the Turks, which had slowed their journey.He set his hands on the top of the car and looked back.They’d passed Bethlehem a short time ago.Even from here, he could see the signs of a village in the distance.
Stephen climbed out behind him.“Seems ironic.”His light-blond hair had grown white in the summer sun.“The last time I saw you was very near Beersheba.”He gave Noah a piercing look.“Just how is Ginny?”
Noah’s fingers curled into fists.It would take a miracle to prevent him from striking Stephen at some point in this journey.Then again, you never promised to deliver him unharmed.
Jack climbed out and removed a bag from the back seat.The only drinking water they had was in it.He still said nothing, uncharacteristically.No doubt Jack was waiting until they could speak without Stephen listening.
Noah turned toward Stephen, stared him down.“What’s your plan, Fisher?Why return to Cairo now?You’re likely to be executed for treason.”
“Perhaps.”In his German uniform, Stephen looked thinner than Noah remembered, his face gaunt.
Could it be possible that he’d grown tired of being on the run?
The thought left Noah as quickly as it’d come.Stephen would never simply give up.He did nothing without an ulterior motive.
The sharp sting of an insect bite distracted him and he jerked his arm up, knocking away a fly drawn by the scent of blood on his arms.When he’d been in the desert in early September, several of his travel companions had contracted sandfly fever.He didn’t want to replicate their experience.
“Hand me a canteen.”Noah went around to the other side and held out his hand to Jack, who obliged.
He poured some into his cupped hand, then rinsed the dried blood from his arms as best he could.After capping the canteen, he handed it to Jack.Jack looked at Stephen, who watched them from the car, then dragged Noah in the opposite direction.
When they’d moved several paces away, Jack said, “Are we really taking Fisher back with us?”
“I don’t see what choice we have.”Noah leveled his gaze at Stephen and then glanced back at Jack’s skeptical expression.“He’s kept his word thus far.I can’t see why he’d help us leave Jerusalem and then not allow us to get back to Cairo.”
“I can think of a bunch of reasons.Starting with the fact that he could lead us into some bigger trap.”Jack yawned.“It doesn’t help that I’m exhausted and my head is killing me because I haven’t had a decent cup of coffee for over a day.But I’m serious, Noah.I’m just getting a terrible feeling about this.”
“So am I.”The morning’s soft bluish light had replaced the bright colors of sunrise.“But I’m also uncertain where my personal feelings about the matter end and the wisest course of action should begin.”
“Spoken like a true Brit.”Jack handled the butt of his pistol that jutted out from the holster at his side.“The Yankee in me wants to smack some sense into you.We can’t trust this guy.Wedon’ttrust him.And it feels like we made a deal with the devil.”
Noah gave him an impatient look, rolling his head, his neck stiff.Jack was simply echoing his own fears, but he didn’t know what other option he had.“What would you do differently?”His voice was more clipped than he intended it to be.
“Other than put a bullet in him and claim it was an accident”—the muscles in Jack’s temples moved as he ground his teeth—“I have no idea.”
“Gentlemen, it occurs to me to offer my services to you once more.”Stephen ambled toward them.“The Turks haven’t yet abandoned their posts, but I believe the British Army isn’t far, correct?”
He was right.A division of soldiers had been ordered to take the road to Jerusalem via Hebron and Bethlehem, but they hadn’t broken through the Turkish line yet.Not that Stephen knew the details of the British orders.But, at this point, neither did Noah.While he remained behind the line and cut off from his contacts, Noah’s intelligence was three days old at best.
“And how do you propose to help us?”Noah’s gaze followed a black bird in flight overhead.Despite the sun, the clouds that were gathering in the sky were thick, threatening rain later.
“Instead of you having me tied up, you might take the role of my prisoners.I could get us as far as Hebron and then through the line.No one would have any reason to suspect me.But they will suspect this.”Stephen lifted his hands.
