The Nostradamus prophecies

43

‘They don’t seem to provide tyre irons any more in cars.’ Sabir rummaged further in the rear storage compartment. ‘I can’t exactly hit him with the jack. Or the warning triangle.’

‘I’ll cut you a thornstick.’

‘A what?’

‘From a holly bush. I can see one over there. It’s the strongest wood. Even before it’s been dried. If you walk somewhere with a stick, no one will ever question you. That way, you always have a weapon.’

‘You’re a real case. You know that, Alexi?’

They were parked on the battlements above the Rocamadour shrine. Below them were gardens, set into the sheer rock of the cliffs, intersected with winding paths and viewpoints. A few tourists were strolling around in a desultory way, wasting time before dinner.

‘Look at those searchlights. We need to get in before dusk. When they turn those things on, this whole hillside will light up like a Christmas tree.’

‘Do you think we’ve beaten him to it?’

‘We’ll only know when you break into the shrine.’

Alexi sniffed. ‘But I won’t break into the shrine.’

‘What do you mean? You aren’t bottling out on me, are you?’

‘Bottling…? I don’t understand.’

‘Turning chicken.’

Alexi laughed and shook his head. ‘Adam. It’s a simple enough rule. Breaking into somewhere is very difficult – but breaking out is easy.’

‘Oh. I see.’ Sabir hesitated. ‘At least I think I do.’

‘So where will you be?’

‘I’ll hide outside, then and watch. If he comes along, I’ll whop him one with your holly stick.’ He waited for the stunned reaction, but it didn’t come. ‘No. It’s all right. I’m only joking. I haven’t gone mad.’

Alexi looked nonplussed. ‘But what will you really do?’

Sabir sighed. He realised that he was still a very long way indeed from understanding the gypsy mentality. ‘I’ll just stay hidden outside, as we agreed. That way I can warn you by wolf-whistling when I see him. When you get to the Virgin, bring her back to Yola in the car and then come down and join me again. Between the two of us we should be able to bushwhack him somewhere inside the shrine, where it’s safer and where there aren’t any people around to get in the way.’

‘You don’t think she’ll be angry with us?’

‘Who? Yola? Why?’

‘No. I mean the Virgin.’

‘Christ, Alexi. You’re not having second thoughts on me, are you?’

‘No. No. I will take it. But I will pray to her first. Ask her to forgive me.’

‘You do that. Now cut me that stick.’