The Exodus Quest

II

'I can't do this,' muttered Faisal, taking a step back from the edge of the sump. 'I can't. I won't.'

'Fine,' scowled Abdullah. 'Then I'll do it. But I won't have you pointing the finger at me later if it all goes to shit.'

'No,' said Faisal. 'Neither of us are doing it. It's wrong. It's just wrong. You know it is.'

'And you're going to tell Captain Khaled that, are you?' snorted Abdullah.

Faisal grimaced. Abdullah had a point. He'd suffered only one of that man's proper beatings, but it had put him in hospital for a week. He didn't fancy a repeat. 'What were his orders, exactly?' he asked.

'Like I told you. To silence them.'

'To silence them!' snorted Faisal. 'And why did he use that particular word, do you think? So that if all this is found out, he can blame us for misinterpreting his orders. We'll be hung while he'll be let off with a slap on his wrist.'

'You think he'd do that?'

'Of course he would,' said Faisal. 'Do you honestly believe everything we've found here has been worthless, like he's been telling us? Bullshit. He's just keeping it all for himself. It's only ever him, him, him.'

Abdullah grunted. It was a suspicion they all shared. 'Then what do you suggest?'

'We do precisely as he told you. We silence them.'

'I don't understand.'

'These two planks. We put one either side of the shaft. Then we stretch out the sheets and blankets between them, pin them down with rocks. That'll muffle any sound, especially once we've sealed the mouth up.'

'I don't know.' Abdullah gave a shudder. 'If he finds out…'

'How's he going to do that? I'm not going to tell him. Are you?'

'Even so.'

'So you'd rather kill them, would you?'

Abdullah glanced down, considered the options then grimaced. 'Very well,' he nodded. 'Let's do it.'