The Last Bazaar

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

The night was not yet over, Alicia saw to that. An intercom system linked to Wi-Fi had been installed inside their sumptuous tents and the Englishwoman made full use of the amenities. “After all,” she said. “You don’t stay in a five-star, all-inclusive hotel and not make use of the friggn’ facilities, do ya?”

So, Drake stood guard and watched as she snuggled in next to Yorgi and waited for the bottles to arrive. In keeping with the superior service of the place two waiters appeared within five minutes, immaculately tailored even down to their black Gucci rain boots, holding silver platters in white-gloved hands. The first knelt beside Alicia and poured red wine, the second set out a table full of cold cuts. Almost before they were gone Kinimaka was falling upon the food.

“Ah, ah,” Alicia clucked. “Prince and princesses only. You peasants can go catch a wild boar or something.”

The Hawaiian glanced at her, a slice of ham dangling from his mouth. “You’re kidding, right?”

Dahl grinned. “If I don’t get my steak I’m going to punch somebody in the face.”

Drake laughed and grabbed a handful for himself. Alicia toasted the team and then went down to a little more snuggling. “So, Yorki, how do you like being married to a treasure hunting, ball-busting chickadee?”

Yorgi, never totally comfortable in Alicia’s presence, inched away. The glass of wine in his hand was already half empty. “Umm, fine. I am good.”

“Good?” Alicia snorted. “I’ll show you good. We just need to ask the guards to leave,” she hesitated. “Unless… unless you’d preferred they stayed?”

Yorgi spluttered some more as Drake turned away, hiding a smile. One thing you could say for the inimitable Alicia Myles — she always livened up a room. Or a tent, to be more precise. With Kinimaka still filling up it had left Dahl to quickly check the perimeter and the Swede now returned.

“Quite a community,” he said. “I counted over thirty tents like this before I gave up and half a dozen more in a clearing fit for a king. Probably Ramses and his finer guests. Now what is Alicia doing to Yorgi?”

Drake walked to the tent flap. “Any guards around?”

“Bloody hundreds. Add all of these people’s personal minders to Ramses’ own security force and you have a genuine army.”

“So we stay covert.”

“Absolutely. Though with Mano’s appetite and Alicia’s antics I’d say we’re already on somebody’s radar.”

Drake perched on a footstool. “What are they gonna do? Call the front desk?”

“Out here,” Dahl said. “Nothing would surprise me.”

“Point taken.” Drake cleared his throat. “Umm, Alicia, be a good girl now and put Yorgi down.”

The blonde rounded on him. “Careful, Drakey.”

“You’re making too much noise.”

“Never been accused of that before. Okay, okay, whatever. Hey, I have an idea!” Alicia drained her glass and reached for a walkie-talkie. Drake rose to stop her but paused as she held up a hand.

“Hey,” she said when a voice answered. “Do you guys do dancers? Y’know, male dancers?” Her sly glance at Drake ensured he knew she was trying to provoke a reaction.

Drake nevertheless ended the communication for her, urging her to keep a little restraint. “It’s not One Night in Bangkok,” he reminded her. “It’s a terrorist arms exchange. And all the staff are slaves who either work or die, I’m betting. So stay focused.”

Alicia sobered at his words, finally relaxing her grip on Yorgi’s neck. The Russian headed over to the other side of the tent.

“So where are we supposed to sleep?” Kinimaka asked. “Us guards, I mean.”

“I guess we don’t,” Drake said. “We guard.”

“There’s always the jungle,” Alicia said a little petulantly.

“Oh yeah. I’d just love to get snuggled down with a bird-eating spider for the night.”

Alicia eyed the sides of the tent as if expecting a visitor. “They have those here?”

“Oh aye,” Drake drawled. “Bigger than a kitten, hairier than a gorilla. They have a sound like a horse’s hooves chasing you through the trees. Great bedfellows, I hear.”

Alicia sniffed. “No doubt I’ve had worse.”

“Classy.” Drake looked away. “So, how about we try to get some rest and wake up refreshed for the morning? I get the feeling tomorrow’s gonna be a blast.”

Dahl eyed him. “Are you being ironic?”

“Sure, mate, sure. Aren’t I always?”