The Seventh Scroll

followed by a military ambulance and a three-ton transport truck, drove

through the gate of the perimeter fence and came directly to the foot of

the cargo ramp of the Hercules. The chauffeur jumped out and opened the

door, and his passenger stepped out into the late afternoon sunshine. He

was clearly a person of authority, dignified and composed. He wore a

light tropical suit and white shoes, a panama hat and dark glasses. As

he came up the ramp to where the five of them waited, he was followed by

two male secretaries.

He removed his dark glasses and tucked them into his breast pocket. As

he recognized Royan he smiled and lifted his hat, "Dr Al Simma - Royan!

You did it. Congratulations!" He took her hand and shook it warmly, not

relinquishing his grip as he looked directly at Nicholas.

"You must be Sir Nicholas Quenton Harper. I have been looking forward to

meeting you immensely. Won't you please introduce us, Royan?"

Royan could not meet Nicholas's accusing scrutiny as she said, "May I

present His Excellency, Atalan Abou Sin, Minister of Culture and Tourism

in the Egyptian government."

"You may indeed," said Nicholas coldly. "What an unexpected

pleasure,'Minister."

"I would like to express the thanks of the President and the people of

Egypt for returning to this country these recious relics of our ancient

but glorious history." He made  a gesture that encompassed the stack of

ammunition crates.

"Please, think nothing of it," said Nicholas, but he never took his eyes

off Royan. She kept her face turned half-away from him.

"On the contrary, we think the world of what you have done, Sir

Nicholas." Abou Sin's smile was charming and urbane. "We are fully aware

of the expense to which you have been put, and we would not want you to

be out of pocket in this extraordinarily generous gesture of yours. Dr

Al Simma tells me that the expedition to recover these treasures for us

has cost you a quarter of a million sterling." He took an envelope from

his inside pocket, and proffered it to Nicholas.

"This is a banker's draft drawn on the Central Bank of Egypt. It is

irrevocable, and payable anywhere in the world.

It is for the sum of 1250,000.1

"Very generous of you, Your Excellency." Nicholas's voice was heavy with

irony as he slipped the envelope into his top pocket. "I presume this

was Dr Al Simma's suggestion?"

"Of course," beamed Abou Sin. "Royan holds you in the very highest

regard."

"Does she, now?" Nicholas murmured, still staring at her

expressionlessly.

"However, this other small token of our appreciation was the suggestion

of the President himself." The minister snapped his fingers and one of

his secretaries stepped forward with a leather-covered medal case, which

he opened before he  isented it to Abou Sin.

re On a bed of red velvet nestled a magnificent decoration, a star

encrusted with seed pearls and tiny pay6 diamonds. In the Centre of the

star was a golden lion rampant.

Abou Sin lifted the star from its case and advanced on Nicholas. "The

Order of the Great Lion of Egypt, First Class, he a

scarlet ribbon over his head. The star hung resplendent on Nicholas's

grubby shirt-front, heavily stained with sweat and dust and Nile mud.

Then the minister stood aside and made a gesture to the army colonel who

was standing to attention at the foot of the ramp. Immediately there was

an orderly rush of uniformed men up the ramp. The detachment of soldiers

obviously had their orders. First they picked up the litters on which

the wounded Ethiopians lay.

"I am glad that your pilot had the good Sense to radio ahead that you

had wounded men on board. Rest assured that they will receive the best

care available," Atalan Abou Sin promised as they were carried down to

the waiting ambulance.

Then the soldiers returned and began carrying the ammunition cases down

the ramp. They were loaded neatly into the three-to

minutes Big Dolly's hold was bare and empty. A tarpaulin cover was roped

down securely over the back of the loaded truck. An escort of heavily

armed motorcyclists fell into formation around it, and then, with sirens

wailing, the little convoy roared away.

"Well, Sir Nicholas." Abou Sin held out his hand Courteously, and

Nicholas took it with an air of resignation.

am sorry to have taken you out of your way like this. I BMW

know that you will be anxious to continue on your journey, so I will not

detain you further. Is there anything I can do for you before you leave?

Do you have sufficient fueV

Nicholas glanced at Ja

Thank you, sir."

Abou Sin turned back to Nicholas, "We are pla

a

that you have returned to Egypt. In due course you will be receiving a

personal slid invitation from President Mubarak to attend, as an

honoured guest, the opening of that museum. Dr Al Simma, whom I am sure

you know has been appointed the new Director of the Department of

Antiquities, will be in charge of the museum. I am sure she will be

delighted to review the exhibits with you when you come back." He bowed

to Sapper and the two pilots.

"Go with God," he said, and went down the ramp.

Royan began to follow him, but Nicholas called softly after her.

"Royanl' She froze, and then turned her head slowly and reluctantly to

meet his eyes for the first time since they hadlanded.

"I didn't deserve that," he said, and then with a stab of emotion he

realized that she was weeping softly. Her lips quivered and the tears

ran slowly down her cheeks.

"I am sorry, Nicky," she whispered, "but you must have known that I am

not a thief. It belongs to Egypt, not to US."

"So everything that I thought there was between us was a lie?" he

demanded remorselessly.

"No!" she said. "I-' and then she broke off without finishing what she

was going to say. She ran down the ramp into the sunlight to where the

chauffeur was holding the back door of the limousine open for her. She

slipped on to the seat beside Abou Sin without looking back, and the

Cadillac pulled away and drove through the gate.

"Let's get the hell out of here, before these Gyppos change their

minds," said Ja

"What a splendid idea,'said Nicholas bitterly.

nce they were airborne again, Aswan Control cleared them for a direct

flight northwards to the Mediterranean coast. The four of them, Ja

and Fred, Sapper and Nicholas, stayed together on the flight-deck and

watched the long green snake of the Nile crawl along their right

wingtip.

They spoke very little during this long leg of the flight.

Once Ja

"I didn't really come along for the money," said Sapper, "but it would

have been nice to be paid. Baby needs new shoes."

Does anybody want a cup of tea?" Nicholas asked, as though he had not

heard.

"That would be nice," said Ja

you owe me, but nice anyway."