pyramids. Vandam cut the motorcycle engine and coasted to a halt. Before Wolff had a chance to get out of the car, Vandam wheeled his bike off the road on to the sand. The desert was not level, except when seen from a distance, and he found a rocky hump behind which to lay down the motorcy- cle. He lay in the sand beside the hump and watched the car. Nothing happened. The car stayed still, its engine off, its interior dark. What where they doing in there? Vandain was seized by jealousy. He told himself not to be stupid-they were eating, that was all. Elene had told him about the last picnic: the smoked salmon, the cold chicken, the champagne. You could not kiss a girl with a mouthful of fish. Still, their fingers would touch as he handed her the wine . . Shut up. He decided to risk a cigarette. He moved behind the hump to light it, then cupped it in his hand, army fashion, to hide the glow as he returned to his vantage point. Five cigarettes later the car doors opened. The cloud had cleared and the moon was out. ne whole landscape was dark blue and silver, the complex shadow work of the pyramids rising out of shining sand. Two dark figures got out of the car and walked toward the nearest of the ancient tombs. Vandam, could see that Elene walked with her arms folded across her chest, as if she were cold, or perhaps because she did not want to hold Wolff’s hand. Wolff put an arm lightly across her shoulders, and she made no move to resist him. They stopped at the base of the monument and talked. Wolff pointed upward, and Elene seemed to shake her head: Vandam. guessed she did not want to climb. They walked around the base and disappeared behind the pyramid. Vandain waited for them to emerge on the other side. They seemed to take a very long time. What were they doing behind there? The urge to go and see was almost irresistible. He could get to the car now. He toyed with the idea of sabotaging it, rushing back to the city, and returning with his team. But Wolff would not be here when Vandain got back; it would be impossible to search the desert at night; by the morning Wolff might be miles away. 256 Ken Follett
It was almost unbearable to watch and wait and do nothing, but Vandarn knew it was the best course. At last Wolff and Elene came back into view. He still bad his arm around her. They returned to the car, and stood beside the door. Wolff put his hands on Elene’s shoulders, said something, and leaned forward to kiss her. Van&.m stood up. Elene gave Wolff her cheek, then turned away, slipping out of his grasp, and got into the car. Vandarn lay down on the sand again. The desert silence was broken by the roar of Wolff’s car. Vandam watched it turn in a wide circle and take the road. The headlights came on, and Vandam ducked his head involuntarily, although he was well concealed. The car passed him, heading toward Cairo. Vandam jumped up, wheeled his cycle on to the road and kicked the starter. The engine would not turn over. Vandam Cursed: he was terrified he might have gotten sand in the carburetor. He tried again, and this time it fired. He got on and followed the car. The moonJigbt made it easier for him to spot the holes and bumps in the road surface, but it also made him more visible. He stayed well behind Wolffs car, knowing there was nowhere to go but Cairo. He wondered what Wolff planned next. Would he take Elene home? If so, where would he go afterward? He might lead Vandam to his base. Vandam thought: I wish I had that gun. Would Wolf take Elene to his home? The man had to be staying somewhere, had to have a bed in a room in a building in the city. Vandam was sure Wolff was planning to seduce Elene. Wolff had been rather patient and gentlemanly with her, but Vandam knew that. in reality he was a man who liked to get his way quickly. Seduction might be the least of the dangers Elene faced. Vandam. thought: What wouldn’t I give for a phonel They reached the outskirts of the city, and Vandam was obliged to pull up closer to the car, but fortunately there was plenty of traffic about. He contemplated stopping and giving a message to a policeman, or an officer, but Wolff was driving fast, and anyway, what would the message say? Vandam still did not know where Wolff was going. THE ]KEY TO REBECCA 257