The Exodus Quest

III

Gaille could see the colour rising in Stafford's throat, his fists clenching tighter and tighter in his lap. She found herself leaning away from him in the driver's seat, as if he was a landmine about to go off. But when the detonation finally came, it began more quietly than she'd expected.

'Congratulations,' he said, turning to Lily.

'I'm sorry?'

'For ruining my programme. Congratulations.'

'I don't thinks it's-'

'What the hell am I supposed to do now? Tell me that.'

Gaille said: 'It can't be as bad as-'

'Did I ask your opinion?'

'No.'

'Then shut the fuck up.' He turned back to Lily. 'Well? Your suggestions, please.'

'We'll go on to Assiut,' said Lily. 'I'll make some calls from the hotel. We'll sort it out. We'll come back tomorrow and-'

'We're filming tomorrow,' yelled Stafford, red-faced with anger. 'And then we're on a fucking plane. I've got obligations, you know. I'm expected in America. You want me to cancel my morning shows because you can't do your job properly?'

'I got the permissions,' said Lily defensively. 'Everything was in order.'

'But you didn't arrange it on the ground, did you? First rule of going overseas. Arrange it on the ground.'

'I asked to come out. You wouldn't pay my airfare.'

'So it's my fault now, is it? Jesus! I don't believe this!'

'I didn't mean it like that.'

'You're supposed to find ways to sort these things out. That's your job. That's your entire fucking job. That's all I employ you to do.'

'Why not film the sunset here on the west bank?' asked Gaille. 'You'll still get your sunset.'

'But not Amarna. Not the Royal Wadi. Unless you're suggesting that I should perpetrate a fraud upon my public. Is that what you're suggesting?'

'Don't talk to me like that.'

'Don't talk to me like that?' he mocked. 'Who the hell do you think you are?'

'I'm the person driving this car,' replied Gaille. 'And unless you want to walk…'

'This is a disaster,' muttered Stafford. 'A fucking disaster.' He turned on Lily again. 'I can't believe I ever hired you. What was I thinking?'

'That's enough,' said Gaille.

'I'm going to warn everyone about you, you know. I'll see to it you never work in television again.'

'That's it!' Gaille pulled into the side, took the keys from the ignition, got out and walked away. Doors opened behind her, she glanced around to see Lily hurrying after her, wiping her wet eyes with the heel of her hand. 'How do you put up with him?' asked Gaille.

'It's my career.'

'Is it worth it?'

'Yes,' said Lily. 'Isn't yours?'

Gaille sighed. It was true enough. She'd put up with plenty in her time. 'How can I help?' she asked.

'Can't you call someone? How about Fatima?'

'She's in hospital.'

'There must be someone. Please.'

Gaille's gaze slid past Lily to Stafford, leaning against the Discovery, glaring at them both. This was how bullies worked, she knew. They made life unbearable for everyone around them until they got their own way. It galled her to do anything to help him out of the mess he'd brought upon himself. 'You've still got your permissions to film, yes? I mean, he only ripped up the one for the Royal Tomb, right?'

'Yes. Why?'

'There is something we could try, I suppose.'

'What?'

'It's a hell of a risk,' said Gaille, already beginning to regret volunteering anything.

'Please, Gaille. I'm begging you. He can ruin my career. He really can. And he will too, just out of vindictiveness. You've seen how he is.'

Gaille sighed. 'Okay. The thing is, there are car ferries every few kilometres along the Nile. Every town has its own. There's another a little south of here. I've used it before when this one was down for repairs. The police don't watch that one.'

'Another ferry?' Lily turned before Gaille could stop her. 'Apparently there's another ferry just south of here,' she told Stafford.

'And I could care less because…?'

'You have permission to film the Southern Tombs,' sighed Gaille. 'That's where many of Akhenaten's nobles were buried.'

'I know what the Southern Tombs are, thank you. I also know I have no need to film them.'

'The thing is, they're out on their own at the southern end of Amarna.'

'So?'

'So if we cross back over the Nile on this other ferry, we should be able to make it there without being spotted. And even if we are stopped, we'll have your authorization to film.'

'Are you stupid or something? I don't want to film the Southern fucking Tombs. I want to film the Royal fucking Tomb.'

'Yes,' said Gaille. 'But once we're there, it's theoretically possible to hike across the hills to the Royal Tomb. It's not that far.'

'Theoretically possible?' sneered Stafford. 'What use is that if none of us knows the way?'

Gaille hesitated again. She knew she shouldn't let animosity for this man provoke her into rashness. And yet it did. 'I know the way,' she said.