Kingdom of Darkness

14

Deyab led Nina from the hotel’s side entrance to the waiting cars. Macy stood outside the middle vehicle, a Toyota minivan; she regarded the pair with confusion. ‘Where’s Eddie?’

‘He’s not coming,’ was Nina’s curt reply. She clambered into the van, finding Banna and Habib already occupying the back row of seats, and took a place on the middle row.

‘What? Why not?’

‘He’s doing something he thinks is more important. And no, I don’t want to talk about it,’ she added to forestall the inevitable follow-up questions.

‘Uh… okay,’ Macy said, clearly aching to know more. But she managed to keep quiet as she got in beside Nina. Deyab took the wheel and waited for the Mercedes he had been driving the day before, now leading the convoy, to pull away before following. Behind, a Toyota Fortuner SUV took up the rear position. The accompanying vehicles were occupied by the ASPS, acting as guards for both the archaeologists and the contents of the case in the minivan’s rear.

Banna was also intrigued by Eddie’s absence. ‘Good morning, Dr Wilde,’ he said. ‘Is your husband not joining us?’

‘No, he’s not,’ said Nina.

‘After what happened yesterday, I am surprised that he would leave you alone—’

‘Something came up that he felt he had to deal with,’ she cut in with irritation. ‘Okay?’

Habib gave her a concerned look. ‘Is it anything to do with the relic?’

‘Yes, I guess, but… not directly.’

‘Then I will not need to change the security arrangements?’ The Egyptian raised a hand as if about to take out his phone.

She shook her head. ‘No, it’s fine. He got a potential lead about the people who attacked us, so he’s gone to check it out.’

Habib’s expression of mild relief was replaced by one almost of shock. ‘He has found them?’

‘No, like I said, it’s only a potential lead — we don’t know if anything’ll come of it.’

Deyab looked back sharply. ‘Dr Wilde, if you have information about the men who attacked the dig, you should have told us.’

‘I will, as soon as I know anything definite. But for now, I don’t even know if I can trust the source of the information. We’ll have to wait until Eddie tells me what he finds out.’

‘And when’ll that be?’ asked Macy.

Nina shrugged. ‘Hell if I know.’ The driver was unhappy at having been left out of the loop, but didn’t push the issue further, returning his attention to following the Mercedes.

A rustle of paper from the rear seats prompted her to turn. Banna was reading what she could tell even upside down was Greek. ‘Is that the text from the fish?’

‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘I am translating it into English for you. It will be finished soon.’

‘Thank you,’ she said, slightly surprised.

‘You saved the tomb — and my life. It is the least I could do. And now we are working together, you need as much information as possible.’

‘When did you do all that?’ Macy asked.

‘I came to the government office very early this morning to start work. Actually, it was still night,’ he admitted to Nina. ‘You said I should take time after what happened yesterday, but…’

‘That’s okay,’ Nina told him. ‘I totally understand.’

‘Yeah,’ said Macy with a small laugh. ‘A workaholic archaeologist — that sounds familiar!’

The convoy continued through the city. They soon entered one of its main arteries, heading southwards through the urban sprawl before finally reaching the long highway that would take them to Cairo. Once clear of the Alexandrian traffic, they picked up speed. Settlements and irrigated farmland rolled by, the desert encroaching more with each passing mile.

‘Well then?’ said Macy after a while, nudging Nina.

‘Well what?’ she replied.

‘You and Eddie. Come on, spill! You were about to start a big argument yesterday, and it obviously didn’t stop there. So what’s going on? Are you both okay?’

‘Oh, we’re super fine,’ Nina snapped sarcastically, before softening at her friend’s wounded look. She glanced at Banna and Habib to make sure they weren’t eavesdropping before lowering her voice. ‘We just had a… difference of opinion.’

‘About what?’

‘You know, you ask a lot of questions, Macy.’

The younger woman grinned. ‘Hey, you were the one who told me to sit up front with the teachers instead of having fun at the back with the jocks.’

‘Huh, I must be getting old if I’ve managed to become someone’s mentor… No, we’re both okay. We had a fight; wasn’t the first, won’t be the last. At least, I hope it won’t. Not because I enjoy fighting with Eddie, I mean, but because of what I told you about in Los Angeles.’

‘Your… illness?’

‘Yeah. I want to find out more about the Andreas relic, but that means spending a few days working on it here in Egypt. Eddie wasn’t happy about that.’

‘Yeah, I guessed. But I can kind of see why,’ Macy added. ‘If you don’t know how long you’ve got, then the way he sees it, it’s like work’s taking away some of the time you’ve got left together. I’d be pissed too.’

‘Straight to the point, as always. Have you been taking subtlety lessons from him?’

Another grin. ‘No, I’ve always been like this. Drove my parents crazy! But I always felt, why waste time dancing around what you want to say — or what you need to say? Hashtag YOLO, you know?’

‘I’ll… take your word for that,’ said Nina, feeling even older as she realised she had no idea what Macy meant. ‘But, yeah, my deciding to stay in Egypt definitely wasn’t what he wanted.’ She leaned back, running through the argument in her mind. ‘Did I do the right thing?’

‘You’re asking me for relationship advice?’ Macy sounded as if she couldn’t decide whether to be honoured or shocked.

‘Who else am I going to ask: those two?’ She looked around again to make sure the men behind her were still not listening…

Some wary part of her brain issued a warning: a silver SUV trailing their rear escort had also been there the last time she looked back. She decided to dismiss it. They were on the main highway between Egypt’s two largest cities, and another car might travel with them for a long time.

‘Okay, since you asked, I’ll tell you everything you’re doing wrong with your life.’ Macy gave her a devilish little smile, making Nina wonder what she had let herself in for, but she was only joking. ‘No, I wouldn’t do that. Not here, anyway. Maybe in a bar, after a couple of Fuzzy Navels!’ She giggled. ‘But I know what you’re like, Nina. Remember when we were at Abydos, trying to work out how to find the Pyramid of Osiris? You told me archaeology wasn’t just a job to you — it was something you had to do, like a calling. And that hasn’t changed, even after what’s happened to you.’

Nina remembered the day. ‘I suppose not,’ she said. ‘It’s part of me.’

‘Yeah, but so’s Eddie,’ Macy went on pointedly. ‘And you’re a part of him too — a big part. That’s why he was so upset about you wanting to go off and do your thing. He loves you, and he doesn’t want to be without you, not even for a couple of days.’

‘You’re right,’ Nina admitted after a moment. ‘I wasn’t thinking about it from his point of view. I… I just wanted to use the time I’ve got left to make one last big discovery, you know? Is that being selfish?’

‘I think that’s something you’ve got to decide for yourself. And then tell Eddie, when you see him again.’

Nina nodded. ‘Yeah, you’re right again.’

Pleased with herself, Macy settled back into her seat. ‘So, where’s he gone?’

‘Italy.’

‘What?’ she yelped. ‘You mean he’s not even in the country any more?’

‘Nope. He left hours ago.’

‘So he was mad at you for wanting to go off and do your own thing, and then he goes off and does his own thing?’

‘That’s about the size of it,’ Nina told her, though with an amusement that would not have been there earlier. ‘I tried to change his mind again before he went, but… well, he tried to change my mind, and you can guess how well that turned out.’ She felt a flash of regret for being angry enough not even to say goodbye, never mind give him any expressions of love, and resolved to remedy that the next time they spoke.

‘I can’t believe he did that! Man!’ Macy threw up her hands. ‘And after I just totally defended him as well. Why’s he gone to Italy?’

‘Like I said, he’s following a lead. There’s a guy there who might know something about the people who attacked us, so he’s going to—’

‘Dangle him over a cliff until he talks?’

Nina smiled. ‘Hopefully it won’t come to that.’

‘I don’t know.’ Macy became more solemn. ‘I mean, those bastards deserve it. How did he find out about this Italian guy?’

‘We got some help from…’ Nina glanced at the Egyptians, not wanting them to know about her contact with the Mossad. Deyab was focused on the road ahead, a seemingly endless straight line disappearing to the shimmering horizon. Behind, Banna and Habib were talking in Arabic, the latter seeming on edge and distracted—

A flash of sunlight on silver caught her eye. The SUV she had noticed before was still tailing them. It had pulled out to overtake a truck that the little convoy had just passed, but was maintaining the same distance as before.

Most people would have dismissed the vehicle’s continued presence as mere coincidence, but recent events — and past experience — had made her more paranoid. She stared intently at the SUV as it pulled back in behind the Fortuner. ‘Is something wrong, Dr Wilde?’ asked Habib.

‘I don’t know. Maybe. A car’s been following us.’

Deyab looked in the mirror. ‘Which one?’

‘The silver SUV. It’s been behind us for miles now.’

The Egyptian spoke into a walkie-talkie. ‘The rear guard has seen it,’ he reported after getting a reply. ‘They do not think it is anything to worry about; it is just going at the same speed. We do have speed limits here in Egypt, even if you do not believe it!’ he added with a chuckle.

‘Most of them do kinda drive like psychopaths,’ Macy whispered.

‘Humour me and slow down, just to see what he does,’ Nina said.

‘You think it’s those Nazis?’ Macy asked, adding: ‘Huh. That sounds so weird saying that.’

‘I’d rather not find out.’

Habib snorted. ‘You are worrying about nothing.’

‘I am surprised, Youssef,’ said Banna, in a faintly jabbing tone. ‘You are the one who insisted that we take the relic to Cairo, and you arranged the security — if anything goes wrong, it will be on your head! We should not take any risks.’

The annoyed official had no comeback to that. Deyab spoke into the radio again. ‘Okay, we are slowing down,’ he announced after the other cars responded.

Nina looked back as the convoy reduced speed. The object of her suspicion remained blocked from view by the Fortuner… until it pulled out sharply and powered past. She tried to see who was inside, but the windows were too darkly tinted.

‘He is not following us, then,’ said Habib as the big SUV, a Volkswagen Touareg, swept away down the highway.

‘I guess not,’ Nina replied. But she couldn’t shake off a feeling of worry. The SUV could have overtaken them at any time, so why had it waited until now to pick up speed? ‘Deyab, is there anyone else behind us?’

‘Nobody is following us!’ exclaimed the agitated Habib. ‘How could anyone even know we are transporting the relic? Our journey is a secret.’

‘The plan of the tomb was supposed to be secret too, but the Nazis got hold of it somehow,’ she reminded him.

The Egyptian responded with anger. ‘I have started a full investigation into the leak! Whoever was responsible, I will find them.’

‘That should not take long, should it, Youssef? The list of suspects is very short,’ said Banna. Bitterness flooded his voice. ‘Shorter now, after yesterday.’

‘How many people had access to the tomb plan?’ asked Macy.

‘Not many. Myself, Dina and Bill Schofield at the dig, and at the Ministry, Dr Assad, of course…’ He looked at the man beside him. ‘And you, Youssef.’

‘I do not like your tone, Dr Banna,’ Habib said, frowning deeply. ‘If you are suggesting that I—’

‘I am not suggesting anything,’ Banna insisted, though it was obvious that now the idea had been planted, it was not going to leave.

The government official looked away, affronted — to find the two women giving him looks that were, if not outright accusatory, at least questioning. Tight-lipped, he turned to watch the desiccated plains slide past.

Nina regarded him for a long moment. Banna was correct: the number of people who could have accessed the detailed map given to her by Volker Koenig was indeed small, and several of them were now dead. But in the absence of evidence, she decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. Besides, the same finger that might point at Habib could equally be directed at Banna himself.

She checked the highway ahead. There was little to be seen on this stretch but sandy scrub. Vehicles going to Alexandria flicked past on the other side of the concrete central divider, but even with the road narrowing from four lanes down to three, there was almost no traffic.

The silver SUV was still there, though, visible past the convoy’s leading car. It had slowed again, matching their speed a few hundred yards distant. Nina eyed it. Was it just a coincidence that it was keeping pace with them, or…

The Touareg suddenly pulled out. The reason for its swerve came into sight as the leading Mercedes also moved over: a pickup truck with a shredded rear tyre was slewed at an angle in its path, blocking the inside lane.

The convoy leader’s voice crackled from Deyab’s walkie-talkie. The Egyptian acknowledged, pulling out to pass the stranded truck. ‘Shouldn’t we help them?’ Macy asked.

Deyab shook his head apologetically. ‘We need to get to Cairo on schedule.’ Ahead, the first car was about to pass the pickup. ‘But I can call the traffic police and—’

The truck and the Mercedes both vanished in a flash of flame.

The deafening crack of an explosion hit the minivan a fraction of a second later. The front windshield shattered, fragments spraying its occupants. Eyes squeezed shut, Deyab stamped on the brake. The van skidded across the highway — and crashed into the mangled remains of the convoy’s lead vehicle.

Dazed, Nina sat up — and felt heat scouring her face. The Merc had been flipped on its side and set aflame by the car bomb, blocking the two outer lanes. The minivan’s nose was buried in the wreckage. Fire was already spreading to the Toyota’s bodywork. ‘Deyab!’ she cried. ‘Go back, reverse!’

The Egyptian brought up an arm to shield his face from the blaze, fumbling for the gear selector with the other. Through the flames, Nina saw sunlight flash off silver and glass. The Touareg had swung around to come back towards them—

Gunfire!

She twisted, looking past the dazed Banna and Habib to see that the Fortuner had stopped behind them. One of the ASPS jumped out — only to be cut down by a burst of bullets from another van. Black-clad men scrambled from the newly arrived vehicle and opened up with automatic weapons. The Egyptian guards thrashed and flailed as rounds ripped through their bodies.

Horrified, Nina desperately pounded a fist against Deyab’s shoulder. ‘Go, get us out of here! It’s an ambush!’

The bodyguard floored the accelerator. The engine whined, but the minivan could only manage a crawl, its front bumper entangled with the Mercedes. He jerked the steering wheel in an effort to shake it loose.

The Touareg stopped on the other side of the burning barricade. More men jumped out — Rasche amongst them. ‘It’s them, it’s the Nazis!’ Nina yelled. ‘Jesus Christ, go!’

Guns raised, the attackers ran towards them—

The minivan broke free. It lurched backwards, swerving off the road before Deyab regained control. He braked hard and shoved the gear selector into drive.

The van scrabbled through the sand. The Egyptian spun the wheel to round the blockade — and charge at the gunmen. Some of the Nazis had to dive to avoid being mowed down.

‘Everyone duck!’ Nina yelled, seeing guns being brought to bear. She dropped low, pushing Macy’s head down. But the expected assault didn’t come.

Which meant the Nazis wanted them alive…

The minivan swung past the Touareg, tyres shrilling as it bounded back on to the asphalt. Still shielding himself from the licks of fire coming through the broken windshield, Deyab hauled the Toyota back into line with the highway—

The side windows burst apart.

Rasche fired a long burst from his MPX-K, raking bullets along the Toyota’s flank at head height. Deyab screamed as a grazing round ripped across his temple, instinctively bringing both hands up to the wound.

The van veered towards the concrete divider. ‘Deyab!’ Nina shrieked. He realised the danger and grabbed the wheel again—

Too late.

The Toyota hit the unyielding slab at an angle and was flipped into a roll. Engine screaming, it crashed down on the divider, flank grinding along it before toppling back on to the road — upside down. The remaining windows shattered. The minivan screeched along the tarmac before, top-heavy, it rolled again and landed on its side.

The seat belts had saved its occupants from serious injury, but now the same restraints trapped them inside the overturned vehicle. Nina struggled to find the release, but Macy was slumped on top of her. ‘Macy, wake up!’ she cried.

The younger woman moved weakly, but had been left stunned by the crash. Nina reached around her, grabbing her friend’s seat belt and following it to its buckle. She stabbed at the button, and with a yelp Macy dropped from her seat, tumbling over the redhead to end up in a heap. Nina found her own button and thumped down beside her.

‘Come on, get up!’ she said, wriggling clumsily around in the confined space. ‘We’ve gotta go!’ Banna and Habib were still belted into the rear seats. The young archaeologist had a deep cut on the side of his face. ‘Banna! Ubayy, can you hear me?’

Banna’s face screwed up in pain. ‘Yes, yes,’ he managed to say.

‘Hold on, I’ll get you loose.’ She reached out—

‘Nina!’ Macy cried in alarm. Nina turned — and through the now vertical slot of the windshield saw men encircling the overturned Toyota. All were armed.

‘Shit!’ Nina gasped, moving with a new, fear-driven urgency. She and Macy unfastened Banna’s seat belt, pulling him upright before releasing Habib. ‘They’re surrounding us. I don’t know what—’

‘Dr Wilde!’ called a voice from outside. Rasche. ‘Do not try to escape.’

A deeper voice told Nina that Walther was also amongst their attackers, the hulking Nazi issuing orders. A young man peered in through the van’s rear window, giving its occupants a cursory glance before spotting the case. He dragged it into the open.

Rasche appeared at the front window, narrowing his eyes as he saw Deyab still buckled into the driver’s seat. The bodyguard groped for his gun—

Lips curling into a cruel smile, Rasche shot him in the head. Blood and brain matter splattered across the seat, and the Egyptian’s body went limp, twitching. Macy screamed.

Someone climbed on to the minivan. Dazzling sunlight flooded in as the door above the two women was pulled open. ‘Get them,’ Rasche said, gesturing with his gun.

Hands reached down, roughly pulling Nina out. ‘You didn’t have to kill him!’ she shouted at the Nazi leader. Rasche merely shrugged. Macy was lifted into the open, then Banna and finally Habib. The four stood in a line beside the wreck, fearfully regarding the hard, impassive faces staring back at them.

The young man who had retrieved the case called to Rasche and held up the bronze relic. He frowned at the prisoners. ‘Where is the statue?’

‘It was destroyed,’ Nina replied. The Nazi’s expression darkened further. ‘But we found that hidden inside it.’

Walther joined him and spoke in German. Rasche was still not pleased, but nodded. ‘Then it is fortunate that our orders were already to take you alive,’ he told Nina. ‘We have use for archaeologists. Especially one with a reputation for finding the unfindable.’

‘What use?’ she demanded.

He ignored her, watching the other man return the relic to the case before moving to Habib. ‘Thank you for all the information you gave us, Youssef. You have been most useful.’

Habib’s expression became that of a rabbit trapped in headlights. ‘You — you promised you would keep my helping you a secret!’

‘You gave them the tomb plans?’ cried Nina. The enraged Banna tried to lunge at him, but one of the Nazis shoved him back against the minivan.

‘I needed the money!’ Habib gabbled. ‘I did not know anyone would be hurt, I swear to Allah!’ He turned to Rasche, frantic. ‘Why did you tell them? They will tell the police — I will go to prison!’

‘We are going to take them with us, so they will not talk to anyone,’ Rasche replied. ‘Come over here. I have the rest of your payment.’

He backed to the roadside. Habib followed, offering a stammering apology over his shoulder to Banna. It was not well received. Shamefaced, the government official turned back to Rasche—

The German’s gun was pointed at his heart.

Habib barely had time to register the betrayal before Rasche pulled the trigger. He staggered, held upright by sheer disbelief, before collapsing on to the tarmac. Macy screamed again and turned away, Banna frozen in horror. Another wave of cold disgust hit Nina.

‘Gierige kleine Ratte,’ muttered Walther. He issued an order, and the case was taken to the Touareg. ‘Move,’ he told the prisoners.

‘Where are you taking us?’ Nina demanded as she, Macy and Banna were hustled to the Nazis’ van.

Rasche’s malevolent smile returned. ‘To the home of the New Reich.’