The sketch pad plopped onto the table, and Nina tapped the drawing of the cothon. “The Phoenicians were the only ones who cut artificial harbors like this out of dry land. I believe these shards will provide the dating to back me up:”

She dumped out her pottery fragments, not caring that they might be mixed with the others. Taking his time, Fisel picked up a piece, examined it, then studied another one. After a few minutes he looked up. His moist brown eyes boggled behind the thicklensed glasses, but he was trying hard not to show his excitement.

He cleared his throat and addressed Knox. “Surely you’re not going to accept this as definitive proof of Dr. Kirov’s theory.”

“Of course not, Dr. Fisel. There’s much work to be done, and Dr. Kirov knows that as well as we do. You must admit it’s an intriguing beginning, however.

Assuming he had detected a crack in Knox’s advocacy, Fisel’s putative scowl turned into a fourteenkarat smile. “I am compelled to admit nothing until the case is made.”

Kassim arrived with a glass of hot tea. Fisel nodded and picked up his magnifies The audience with the cousin of the king had ended.

Nina seethed with anger as she and Knox walked away from Fisel’s tent. “Imperious little bastard! He knows damned well that I’m right.”

Knox gave an avuncular chuckle. “My guess is that Fisel agrees entirely with your findings and will waste no time reporting them.”

She grabbed the professor’s arm and peered into his dusty face. “I don’t understand. Why the act?”

“Oh, it’s perfectly dear. He wants to claim the credit for discovering your Phoenician port.”

“That’s it!’ She started back toward Fisel’s tent. “If he thinks he’s going to get away”

“Hold on, my dear. I promised you’d get credit for all underwater finds, and I meant it. Remember, we hold the important cards. You’re the only one on this expedition who knows how to dive.”

“He can bring in other divers.”

“Yes, he can. Short, plump, bald, and nearsighted though he may be, Fisel swings a lot of weight, figuratively and literally, within his antiquities department. He can bring in all the resources he will need. In the meantime, I want you to finish your sketches, classify what you’ve found, and continue your survey using scientific methods.”

She was still unconvinced. “What if he tries to stop me from diving?”

“This is a joint expedition. I am equal in command to him. He can only go so far until he gets permission. It will take days. If you think our red tape is formidable, remember Morocco is heavily influenced by the French, who invented the word bureaucrat. I will massage his ego, but I want you to do a very difficult thing. Consider giving Fisel some credit for this coup, if it truly turns out to be Phoenician. This is his country that we’re digging up, after all. He may have some Phoenician forebears.” .