John tossed the crumpled can aside. ‘What difference does it make?’

‘None at all,’ I said morosely. ‘It’s just the last goddamn straw that broke . . . Look! Isn’t that a light?’

John caught my arm as I started to stand up. ‘It’s a light, certainly. One of several. Hold on.’

‘You think it’s not Feisal?’

‘There hasn’t been time for him to reach El Till, much less have a look around. They’re coming this way. Oh, dear, oh, dear,’ John said. ‘I always expect the worst, but I loathe having it happen.’

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

I

‘THEY GOT HIM,’ I whispered.

‘Or he turned us in?’

‘He wouldn’t do that! Would he?’

‘One would certainly hate to think so.’ John’s voice was so soft I could scarcely hear it. ‘There are other possibilities, I suppose . . .’

‘The hell with other possibilities! We have to assume the worst, as you keep telling me. What are we going to do?’

‘You may do as you like,’ said John. ‘I am going to – er – lie down.’

And he proceeded to do so, though ‘fall over’ would have been a more accurate description.

He looked rather peaceful with his head pillowed on his bent arm but when I touched his cheek he didn’t move. His skin was burning hot.

In a way, it was a relief to have no more choices left. I covered him with the coat and brushed the hair away from his temple. ‘Goodbye, John,’ I whispered. ‘I love you.’

I stood up.

His hand wrapped around my ankle and brought me thudding to the ground. ‘Where the hell do you think you’re going?’ he demanded.

Sand is a lot harder than it looks, and this variety of desert is littered with rocks. By the time I recovered my breath it was too late to get away; he had rolled me over onto my back and was lying across me.

‘You low-down skunk!’ I gasped. ‘You did that on purpose!’

‘Is that any way to talk to the man you love?’ His voice was almost back to normal; I knew the slight unevenness was due to suppresed laughter. ‘I’m deeply hurt that you would think I’d resort to a childish, melodramatic trick like that one.’

‘John, are you crazy? Those people out there – ’

‘There’s plenty of time. Were you really going to dash out and lead the hunters away from me, risking capture and a fate worse than death?’

His lips were hot and dry. At first. I wrenched mine away. ‘You’re not crazy, you’re delirious. Let me go. It’s the only sensible course of action.’

‘No, it’s not.’

‘Yes, it is. Stop doing that.’

‘No, it’s not. Why should I?’

‘Because . . .’ I had lost my grip on the conversation, not to mention the whole situation. ‘Look – ’

‘I can’t I’m busy.’