The Exodus Quest

II

Claire found Griffin shifting papers from the filing cabinets into cardboard boxes for Michael and Nathan to carry out to the pick-up. 'Well?' he asked sourly. 'How's our guest?'

'He needs a proper doctor.'

Griffin nodded. 'We're booked on tonight's flight to Frankfurt out of Cairo. I'll have Ramiz let him out the moment we're in the air.'

'Where is everyone?'

'Back at the hotel, packing. We need to get there too.' He checked his watch. 'I can give you five minutes to get your stuff together.'

'It's all at the hotel.'

'Good.' He packed the last box, slammed the drawer closed. 'Then let's get moving.' They went out to the pick-up, bumped their way out. Claire glanced anxiously back at the magazine.

'What is it?' asked Griffin, sensing her disquiet.

'He said something to me. About those hostages down in Assiut.'

'He's playing tricks with your mind. I warned you not to talk to him.'

Claire looked around. Mickey and Nathan were jolting around in the back, laughing like children. She thought that about them often, how like children they were. It wasn't their fault that bad things were going on here. They'd taken it for granted they could trust Peterson, because he was a man of God. She couldn't blame them for that: she'd done the same herself. And they were her comrades, her friends, whatever that Frenchman said. Her first loyalty had to be to them. 'Yes,' she agreed, putting Augustin forcibly from her mind. 'You did.'