‘I wore also my contact lenses,’ said the chubby little Egyptian woman in a muffled voice. ‘They made my eyes water very much because the windows of the car were open and there was a great deal of dust and sand. Such a useful costume, eh? I did not even have to cut off my moustache, though I would have done it, Vicky, if . . . What is wrong?’

‘He’s fainted,’ I said. I didn’t blame him.

He felt cooler after I had sponged him off, and he had passed from unconsciousness to what seemed to be normal sleep. After washing the parts of me that showed, and a few that didn’t, I went into the next room, where the party was in full swing.

Schmidt jumped up from his chair. From the chair, I should say; there was only one. ‘Beer or bourbon, Vicky?’

‘Neither. I . . . Oh, what the hell. Bourbon.’

‘You should rest too.’ Schmidt assisted me into the chair and patted me.

‘I will. After we’ve decided what to do next.’

‘At the moment our options are somewhat limited,’ Feisal said dryly. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor. In his rumpled, dusty clothes, his face dark with a day’s growth of beard, no one would have known him for the well-groomed young professional of the Queen of the Nile. We’ll have to stay here till Johnny’s fit again. When will he – ’

‘How the hell should I know?’ I took a swallow, shuddered, and took another one. ‘Sorry, Feisal, I didn’t mean to snap at you. If he’s not better – a lot better – by tomorrow, I’ll get him to a doctor. You may have to help me; if he’s conscious he won’t go voluntarily. Then you and Schmidt will have to proceed without us. It would probably be best for you to separate; that doubles the chance that one person will get through.’

Feisal gave me an odd look and nodded, without comment. Schmidt said, ‘But, Vicky – ’

‘Shut up, Schmidt.’ The bourbon was great stuff. My brain was really clicking; I felt like a combination of Einstein and Ms Super Spy, ready for anything. ‘We can’t stay here long. For one thing, Keith could get in deep trouble if the cops find out he sheltered us.’

‘Once the truth comes out he will be a hero.’ Schmidt twirled his moustache and added happily, ‘Like the rest of us.’