Vandarn knew why she had made a face when she sipped his drink: it had been straight gin. She was coping so well with the situation, he thought. What did she think he, Vandam, was planning to do? She must have guessed by now where he was hiding. She would be trying desperately not to look in this direction. Poor Elenel Once again she had got more than she bargained for. Vandam hoped she would be passive, take the line of least resistance and trust him. Did Wolff still plan to go to the Oasis Restaurant? Perhaps he did. If only I could be sure of that, Vandarn thought, I could leave it all to Jakes. Wolff said: “You seem nervous, Elene. Did I confuse your plans by coming here? If you want to go and finish getting ready, or something-not that you look a whit less than perfect right now-just leave me here with the gin bottle.” “No, no … Well, we did say we’d meet at the restaurant.. “And here I am, altering everything at the last minute again. To be truthful, I’m bored with restaurants, and yet they are, so to speak, the conventional meeting place; so I arrange to have dinner with people, then when the time comes I can’t face it, and I think of something else to do.” So they’re not going to the Oasis, Vandam. thought. Damn. Elene said: “What do you want to do?” “May I surprise you again?” Vandam thought: Make him tell youl Elene said: “All right.” Vandam. groaned inwardly. If Wolff would reveal where they were going, Vandarn could contact Jakes and have the whole ambush moved to the new venue. Elene was not thinking the right way. It was understandable: she sounded terrified. Wolff said: “Shall we go?” ‘All right.” The sofa creaked as Wolff got up. Vandarn thought: I could go for him nowl Too risky. He heard them leave the room. He stayed where he was for a moment. He heard Wolff, in the hallway, say: “After you.” Then the front door was slammed shut. Vandarn stood up. He would have to follow them, and 254 Ken Follett
take the first available opportunity of calling GHQ and contacting Jakes. Elene did not have a telephone, not many people did in Cairo. Even if she had there was no time now. lie went to the front door and listened. He heard nothing. He opened it a fraction: they had gone. He went out, closed the door and hurried along the corridor and down the stairs. As be stepped out of the building he saw them on the other side of the road, Wolff was holding open a car door for Elene to get in. It was not a taxi: Wolff must have rented, borrowed or stolen a car for the evening. Wolff closed the door on Elene and walked around to the driver’s side. Elene looked out of the window and caught Vandam’s eye. She stared at him. He looked away from her, afraid to make any kind of gesture in case Wolff should see it. Vandarn walked to his motorcycle, climbed on and started the engine. Wolff’s car pulled away, and Vandam followed. The city traffic was still heavy. Vandam. was able to keep five or six cars between himself and Wolff without risking losing Wolff. It was dusk, but few cars had their lights on. Vandam wondered where Wolff was going. They were sure to stop somewhere, unless the man intended to drive around all night. If only they would stop someplace where there was a telephone … They headed out of the city, toward Giza. Darkness fell and Wolff illuminated the lights of the car. Vandam left his motorcycle lights off, so that Wolff would not be able to see that he was being followed. It was a nightmare ride. Even in daylight, in the city, riding a motorcycle was a little hair-raising: the roads were strewn with bumps, potholes and treacherous patches of oil, and Vandarn found he had to watch the surface as much as the traffic. The desert road was worse, and yet he now had to drive without lights and keep an eye on the car ahead. Three or four times he almost came off the bike. He was cold. Not anticipating this ride, he had worn only a short-sleeved uniform shirt, and at speed the wind cut through it. How far was Wolff planning to go? The pyramids loomed ahead. Vandarn thought: No phone there. WolTs car slowed down. They were going to picnic by the THE KEY TO REBECCA 255