The Seventh Scroll - Smith Wilbur (бесплатные онлайн книги читаем полные .txt) 📗
followed by a military ambulance and a three-ton transport truck, drove
through the gate of the perimeter fence and came directly to the foot of
the cargo ramp of the Hercules. The chauffeur jumped out and opened the
door, and his passenger stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine. He
was clearly a person of authority, dignified and composed. He wore a
light tropical suit and white shoes, a panama hat and dark glasses. As
he came up the ramp to where the five of them waited, he was followed by
two male secretaries.
He removed his dark glasses and tucked them into his breast pocket. As
he recognized Royan he smiled and lifted his hat, "Dr Al Simma - Royan!
You did it. Congratulations!" He took her hand and shook it warmly, not
relinquishing his grip as he looked directly at Nicholas.
"You must be Sir Nicholas Quenton Harper. I have been looking forward to
meeting you immensely. Won't you please introduce us, Royan?"
Royan could not meet Nicholas's accusing scrutiny as she said, "May I
present His Excellency, Atalan Abou Sin, Minister of Culture and Tourism
in the Egyptian government."
"You may indeed," said Nicholas coldly. "What an unexpected
pleasure,'Minister."
"I would like to express the thanks of the President and the people of
Egypt for returning to this country these recious relics of our ancient
but glorious history." He made a gesture that encompassed the stack of
ammunition crates.
"Please, think nothing of it," said Nicholas, but he never took his eyes
off Royan. She kept her face turned half-away from him.
"On the contrary, we think the world of what you have done, Sir
Nicholas." Abou Sin's smile was charming and urbane. "We are fully aware
of the expense to which you have been put, and we would not want you to
be out of pocket in this extraordinarily generous gesture of yours. Dr
Al Simma tells me that the expedition to recover these treasures for us
has cost you a quarter of a million sterling." He took an envelope from
his inside pocket, and proffered it to Nicholas.
"This is a banker's draft drawn on the Central Bank of Egypt. It is
irrevocable, and payable anywhere in the world.
It is for the sum of 1250,000.1
"Very generous of you, Your Excellency." Nicholas's voice was heavy with
irony as he slipped the envelope into his top pocket. "I presume this
was Dr Al Simma's suggestion?"
"Of course," beamed Abou Sin. "Royan holds you in the very highest
regard."
"Does she, now?" Nicholas murmured, still staring at her
expressionlessly.
"However, this other small token of our appreciation was the suggestion
of the President himself." The minister snapped his fingers and one of
his secretaries stepped forward with a leather-covered medal case, which
he opened before he isented it to Abou Sin.
re On a bed of red velvet nestled a magnificent decoration, a star
encrusted with seed pearls and tiny pay6 diamonds. In the Centre of the
star was a golden lion rampant.
Abou Sin lifted the star from its case and advanced on Nicholas. "The
Order of the Great Lion of Egypt, First Class, he announced, placing the
scarlet ribbon over his head. The star hung resplendent on Nicholas's
grubby shirt-front, heavily stained with sweat and dust and Nile mud.
Then the minister stood aside and made a gesture to the army colonel who
was standing to attention at the foot of the ramp. Immediately there was
an orderly rush of uniformed men up the ramp. The detachment of soldiers
obviously had their orders. First they picked up the litters on which
the wounded Ethiopians lay.
"I am glad that your pilot had the good Sense to radio ahead that you
had wounded men on board. Rest assured that they will receive the best
care available," Atalan Abou Sin promised as they were carried down to
the waiting ambulance.
Then the soldiers returned and began carrying the ammunition cases down
the ramp. They were loaded neatly into the three-tonner. Within ten
minutes Big Dolly's hold was bare and empty. A tarpaulin cover was roped
down securely over the back of the loaded truck. An escort of heavily
armed motorcyclists fell into formation around it, and then, with sirens
wailing, the little convoy roared away.
"Well, Sir Nicholas." Abou Sin held out his hand Courteously, and
Nicholas took it with an air of resignation.
am sorry to have taken you out of your way like this. I BMW
know that you will be anxious to continue on your journey, so I will not
detain you further. Is there anything I can do for you before you leave?
Do you have sufficient fueV
Nicholas glanced at Jannie, and he shrugged. "We have plenty of juice,
Thank you, sir."
Abou Sin turned back to Nicholas, "We are planning to build a special
annexe to the museum at Luxor to house these artefacts of Pharaoh Mamose
that you have returned to Egypt. In due course you will be receiving a
personal slid invitation from President Mubarak to attend, as an
honoured guest, the opening of that museum. Dr Al Simma, whom I am sure
you know has been appointed the new Director of the Department of
Antiquities, will be in charge of the museum. I am sure she will be
delighted to review the exhibits with you when you come back." He bowed
to Sapper and the two pilots.
"Go with God," he said, and went down the ramp.
Royan began to follow him, but Nicholas called softly after her.
"Royanl' She froze, and then turned her head slowly and reluctantly to
meet his eyes for the first time since they hadlanded.
"I didn't deserve that," he said, and then with a stab of emotion he
realized that she was weeping softly. Her lips quivered and the tears
ran slowly down her cheeks.
"I am sorry, Nicky," she whispered, "but you must have known that I am
not a thief. It belongs to Egypt, not to US."
"So everything that I thought there was between us was a lie?" he
demanded remorselessly.
"No!" she said. "I-' and then she broke off without finishing what she
was going to say. She ran down the ramp into the sunlight to where the
chauffeur was holding the back door of the limousine open for her. She
slipped on to the seat beside Abou Sin without looking back, and the
Cadillac pulled away and drove through the gate.
"Let's get the hell out of here, before these Gyppos change their
minds," said Jannie.
"What a splendid idea,'said Nicholas bitterly.
nce they were airborne again, Aswan Control cleared them for a direct
flight northwards to the Mediterranean coast. The four of them, Jannie
and Fred, Sapper and Nicholas, stayed together on the flight-deck and
watched the long green snake of the Nile crawl along their right
wingtip.
They spoke very little during this long leg of the flight.
Once Jannie said quietly, "So I can kiss my fee goodbye, I suppose?"
"I didn't really come along for the money," said Sapper, "but it would
have been nice to be paid. Baby needs new shoes."
Does anybody want a cup of tea?" Nicholas asked, as though he had not
heard.
"That would be nice," said Jannie. "Not as nice as the sixty grand that
you owe me, but nice anyway."
