Wolff looked up from his writing. “To keep the boy quiet. We’ve got a long way to go.” ‘Leave Billv here,” she pleaded. “He’s a child.” Tandam’s child,” Wolff said with a smile. :,You don’t need him.” Tandam. may be able to guess where I’m going,” Wolff said. “I want to make sure he doesn’t come after me.” “Do you really think he’ll sit at. home while you have his son?” Wolff appeared to consider the point. “I hope so,” he said finally. “Anyway, what have I got to lose? If I don’t take the boy he’ll definitely come after me.” Elene fought back tears. “Haven’t you got any pity?” “Pity is a decadent emotion,” Wolff said with a gleam in his eye. “Scepticism regarding morality is what is decisive. The end of the moral interpretation of the world, which no longer has any sanction . . .” He seemed to be quoting. Elene said: “I don’t think you’re doing this to make Vandam stay home. I think you’re doing it out of spite, You’re thinking about the ang ,uish you’ll cause him, and you love it. You’re a crude, twisted. loathsome man.” “Perhaps you’re right.” “You’re. sick.” “T’hat’s enough!” Wolff reddened slightly. He appeared to calm him-elf with an effort, “Shut up while I’m writing.” Elene forced herself to concentrate. They were going on a long journey. He was afraid Vandam would follow them. He had told Kemel he had another wireless set. Vandarn might be able to guess where they were going. At the end of the journey, surely, there was the spare radio, with a copy of Rebecca and a copy of the key to the code. Somehow she had to help Vandam follow them, so that he could rescue them and capture the key. If Vandam could guess the destination, Elene thought, then so could 1. Where would Wolff have kept a spare radio? It was a long journey away. He might have hidden one somewhere before he reached Cairo. It might be somewhere in the desert, or somewhere between here and Assyut. Maybe- Billy came in. “Hello,” he said to Elene. “Did you bring me that book?” She did not know what he was talking about. “Book?” She 286 Ken Follett
stared at him, thinking that he was still very much a child, despite his grown-up ways. He wore gray flannel shorts and a white shirt, and there was no hair on the smooth skin of his bare forearm. He was carrying a school satchel and wearing a school tie. “You forgot,” he said, and looked betrayed. “You were going to lend me a detective story by Simenon.” “I did forget. I’m sorry.” “Will you bring it next time you come?” “Of course.” Wolff had been staring at Billy all this time, like a miser looking into his treasure chest. Now he stood up. “Hello, Billy,” he said with a smile. “I’m Captain Alexander.” Billy shook hands and said: “How do you do, sir.” “Your father asked me to tell you that he’s very busy indeed.” “He always comes home for breakfast,” Billy said. “Not today. He’s pretty busy coping with old Rommel, you know.” “Has he been in another fight?” Wolff hesitated. “Matter of fact he has, but he’s okay. He got a bump on the head.” Billy seemed more proud than worried, Elene observed. Gaafar came in and spoke to Wolff. “You are sure, sir, that the major said you were to take the boy to school?” He is suspicious, Elene thought. “Of course,” Wolff said. “Is something wrong?” “No, but I am responsible for Billy, and we don’t actually Is know you … “But you know Miss Fontana,” Wolff said. “She was with me when Major Vandam spoke to me, weren’t you, Elene?” Wolff stared at her and touched himself under the left arm, where the knife was sheathed. “Yes,” Elene said miserably. WoIff said: “However, you’re quite right to be cautious, Gaafar. Perhaps you should call GHQ and speak to the major yourself,” He indicated the phone. Elene thought: No, don’t Gaafar, he’ll kill you before you finish dialing. Gaafar hesitated, then said: “I’m sure that won’t be necessary, sir. As you say, we know Miss Fontana.” TBE KEY TO REBECCA 287