Ed added, “The man and I will probably come out there.”
Ames glanced about the square. Among the shops and buildings was an open-air restaurant.
“That’ll make a perfect place for us to keep watch,” Ames said. “The rest of us will be eating there when you go into the bazaar. Soon as you come out, we’ll trail you.”
FIERCE TRIBESMEN 129
“Right!” Ed agreed.
Shortly before seven o’clock, Tom, Bud, and Ames strolled casually back to the restaurant. They talked and joked like footsore tourists. As they sat down at a table, a waiter bustled up, salaamed, and took their orders.
Presently he returned with a plate of what looked like glistening black beads-caviar from the Caspian Sea. This was followed by bowls of mast, somewhat like cottage cheese. Then came a cucumber salad, flat disk-shaped “loaves” of bread, and generous servings of tchelo-kebob. This consisted of fluffy rice mixed with raw egg yolk and topped by strips of broiled lamb.
“Hmm! Not bad!” Bud said, sampling the dish.
As they ate, a taxi, which they had hired previously, drew up and parked at the curb nearby.
“There goes Ed!” Tom murmured when the trio started on dessert-a pastry stuffed with honey and chopped nuts.
His cousin was just walking into the covered bazaar. A minute later they saw him come out through the archway. At his side was the shaven-headed jeweler, now wearing a black skull cap. At a word from the jeweler, Ed beckoned a cab and the two climbed in.
Quickly Tom paid and tipped the waiter, as Ames murmured, “Let’s go!” The trio hurried to their own waiting taxi.