They would walk long into the night’s darkness, and rest for a few hours before sunup. Then hopefully, they’d only have another twenty-five or so miles until the border, maybe arriving by mid morning. Matt wasn’t sure what this meant, when they got there – friendly faces, an outpost? He was too fatigued to ask.

A few hours later, the light had gone and Berry came back in. Matt overheard his words as he spoke softly with Abrams.

“Got a dry creek bed – only a slight depression, but gives us some shelter. Flat land outside, low opportunity for concealment on the perimeter – good as we’re going to get.”

Abrams nodded. “Okay; we’ll rest here.” He suddenly felt for his comms and looked at the small screen. He grunted in satisfaction.

“Good news, we got a return ping. There’s a Mossad agent in the vicinity: Bluestar. Looks like we might have a friendly face out there about to join us.” He turned to the group and pointed to the dry creek bed. “Let’s get some rest. I’ll take first watch for an hour, then Berry, and then Hartogg. No fires, no lights, no wandering off, limited conversation – sound will carry for miles over a flat surface.” He looked hard at Matt and Andy.

“Got it,” Matt said.

Later, he and Andy sat together, eating dried beef and sipping warm water. Matt felt bone tired, and Andy’s eyes had dark circles showing under a layer of dust.

“Been in the desert before?” Matt whispered.

Andy nodded slowly. “Yep, Chihuahuan, Sonoran, Mojave, lots of them. But never in the Middle East – first time.” He took another bite of his beef, chewing slowly. “You?”

Matt nodded. “Yeah. The Middle East is the real genesis of civilization, and the birthplace of formal language. Most of my work is done on campus, but I’ve been known to get my hands dirty.”

Andy grinned. “Thought so. You never struck me as the sort to wrestle with other academics over that stale donut.”

Matt smiled. “No, but as Captain Kovitz is extending me her personal protection…”

“Forget it; she has eyes for only me.” Andy laughed. He nodded to Tania. “She’s quite a looker…for a soldier, I mean.”

Matt looked over his shoulder to where Tania was checking her kit. “Only you, huh? Good luck with that.” She looked up and gave them a thumbs-up. Matt retuned the gesture and then turned back to Andy. “Sure, she’s attractive, but I wouldn’t tell her that; army chicks are usually pretty tough.”

Andy’s mouth turned down. “Still not sure I like them on the front line.”

Matt snorted. “You haven’t met some of the military women I have.” He remembered the fearsome Special Forces soldier, Casey Franks, all tattoos, scars and bunched muscle. And there were others he knew even more formidable.

“Yeah, well, maybe there’s one in a thousand,” Andy scoffed. “But Tania’s a nice girl – too nice to be doing this.” He laid himself back down.