The Cairo Code (6 page)

He let the sentence hang, and Rachel said quietly, “There's no chance of my parents or me returning to Germany. Not until this war has blown over and the Nazis are no longer in power. For now, Istanbul will be our home, and it'll be safe. My father has a lot of contacts there and he's sure he can get a more permanent lecturing post. But to be honest, it's Jack I'm more concerned about.”

“What do you mean?”

“He's bound to go back to Germany, so it's likely he'll be conscripted. But he's being the optimist about how long the war might last. He seems to think the whole thing will have blown over by Christmas, once Hitler has his way and annexes Poland.”

“He said that?”

“I heard him mention it tonight. And I suppose it's what a lot of people are saying. The optimists, mainly. But me, I'm not so sure. I think if it carries on, it could be truly awful.” She changed the subject, as if to lighten the mood. “Still, at least we all had this time together. It's something I'll treasure and remember. Always.”

Their eyes met, and something passed between them, Weaver was certain of it, and he looked at her a long time before he made to speak, wanting to tell her how he truly felt, but then he saw her glance away, towards the party. She seemed ill at ease.

“What's the matter?”

“Noth—nothing.”

Weaver looked back, through the open veranda door, and noticed a thin-faced Egyptian with a hook nose, wearing a pale linen suit, smoking a cigarette, and leaning against a marble column. His skin was pockmarked. He looked faintly sinister, and he directed a darting glance towards them, but when he noticed Weaver staring, he disappeared into the crowd. Weaver looked back at Rachel. “That man—was he bothering you?”

She shivered. “It seems like he's been watching me all evening.”

“Maybe I should find out who he is.”

She put a hand on his arm. “No, don't bother, he's probably harmless. He just made me feel a little uncomfortable, that's all. But he's gone now.”

Just then two men stepped through the open door, led by Halder, one of them the American ambassador, tall and distinguished, the other a formal-looking young Egyptian in his early twenties, wearing the traditional Arab robe, the djellaba, with gold and silver thread.

Halder came forward with a smile. “I'm afraid they're trying to sober up the visiting British professor. He's completely plastered. But allow me to introduce the ambassador and Kemal Assan.”

The ambassador shook Rachel's hand warmly. “Miss Stern, it's a pleasure. I'm a great admirer of your father's work. And Kemal has been looking forward to meeting you all night. He has a keen interest in your excavations, hardly surprising when you consider that his father is one of the most senior officials with the Ministry of Antiquities, not to mention a close personal friend of King Farouk.”

Kemal Assan gave the Arab greeting, touching his hand to his heart, then his head. “A tremendous pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Stern. My country owes you and your father's team a great debt. You've done wonderful work. I'm certain King Farouk and the government will want to thank you and your family for your efforts and that you will always be honoured guests in Egypt.”

“You're very kind, Kemal.” Rachel looked out at the lights and the city, aware of the powerful stillness. “I've never known Cairo to be so quiet. It's as if a storm's about to break.”

“There's a bad atmosphere in the air, I'm afraid.” Assan shrugged. “It almost seems as if the entire city is waiting to hear what more unpleasant news the war will bring.”

Jack Halder glanced at his watch and said diplomatically, “And now, gentlemen, I'm afraid I must drag you away. Rachel's got a train to catch to Port Said early tomorrow, and she needs her beauty sleep.”

“I hope we see you in Egypt again very soon, Miss Stern,” Kemal Assan said.

The ambassador shook all their hands. “Until next time. And thanks. You young people have sure done a terrific job.”

The ambassador and Assan left. Jack Halder sipped his champagne, put down his glass, and looked out at Cairo. “You're right, it's as quiet as the grave down there.”

Rachel was tired, and glanced at her watch. “I hate to spoil the party, but I'm ready to collapse. And my parents are about to leave. They're both exhausted. It's always the same after a dig, especially in this climate. I think they put their heart and soul into it and they've worn themselves out.”

“I'm hardly surprised. They've both been working round the clock.” Halder smiled teasingly. “Even while the rest of us were asleep. Only the other morning I saw them crawling back into their tent, looking like they had been up digging half the night. What's the professor up to, Rachel? Has he discovered something he wants to keep secret from the rest of us?”

Rachel smiled back. “Hardly. But you know my father thinks he can never do enough. The work here means everything to him.”

Halder winked at Weaver conspiratorially. “Well, Harry, did you ask?”

Weaver shook his head, faintly uncomfortable, and Halder said, “Neither did I.”

“What are you both talking about?” Rachel inquired. “Ask what?”

Halder swallowed a mouthful of champagne, as if to steel his nerves, and took a deep breath. “This may be embarrassing. But who cares, the moment has come. There's something Harry and I have been mulling over, and we didn't have the nerve to ask. But seeing as you're leaving for Port Said tomorrow, and Istanbul beckons, we thought we might as well be brazen and pose the question.”

“What question?”

“Is there even the slightest chance you might be in love with either one of us?”

Rachel flushed. She bit her lip, and for a moment she seemed unsettled. “Why—why don't I make a promise. I'll write to you both and you write back. It would give us all time to get to know each other better. Then we'll take it from there.”

Halder looked deflated. “I think you're being very diplomatic.”

“No, Jack, just honest. There's so much happening in my life right now. Leaving Egypt, the move to Istanbul—”

“Have we put you on the spot?” Weaver asked.

“No, Harry.”

Halder said, “Then why do I feel embarrassed?”

“There's no need. No need for either of you to be. You know I care so much for you both.”

“Only care?”

“Please, Jack. This is not the time.”

“I'm sorry we brought up the subject, Rachel,” Weaver said, and went to take her arm. “I can see that you're tired. I'll go see if one of the embassy cars can take you to your hotel and we'll escort you down.”

“No, I hate partings. You both stay and enjoy yourselves, you've more than deserved it.” She hesitated, her lips trembling with emotion as she looked at them. “Can I tell you something? It's been the best time of my life. I really mean that. Until we meet again, good-bye.” It was very sudden, and there were tears in her eyes as she kissed and hugged them both, and then she was gone.

•  •  •

The band was playing a waltz. Halder picked up his champagne glass. “She seemed pretty upset. But she didn't really answer the question, did she? Me, I feel a little disappointed.”

Weaver considered for a moment. “I could be wrong, but it seems to me the offer to write could only mean one of three things.”

“What?”

“One, she doesn't want to get involved with either of us, and it's the easy way out. Two, she likes one of us, but we put her in an awkward situation by both being present, in which case she couldn't say outright, for fear of disappointing the other.”

“And three?”

“She likes both of us equally, can't make up her mind, and needs some breathing space to decide.”

“You think it's that?”

Weaver shrugged. “It's just a feeling I get. Maybe we should just take Rachel at her word. Besides, she's right. There's a lot happening in her life. Her family can't return to Germany, and Istanbul's a whole new world to come to terms with. And she was exhausted tonight. I think all the hard work she's been putting in has finally caught up with her.”

“You seem very blasé all of a sudden.”

“I like to think she was being genuine, Jack. She's not the kind of woman to just jump into a relationship. She needs time. So why don't we drop it for now.”

“But you're disappointed she didn't give us a straight answer. I can tell.”

“Sure I am. It prolongs the torture. But why don't we wait and see what happens, and try not to dwell on it.”

Halder forced a smile. “That's the engineer in you speaking. Even when you're upset in love, the practical side takes over. And maybe you're right. I wish I could be like that, but I'll really miss her. It was such a terrific time, and it's a pity it all has to come to an end. I've had the best time of my life in her company.”

Weaver picked up the champagne bottle, refilled their glasses. “Change the subject. When are you leaving Cairo?”

“Tuesday. I'm flying home. I haven't much choice—I've been conscripted.”

Weaver was dumbstruck. “So
that's
what your letter was about?”

“I'm afraid so.” Halder shrugged. “You know my father's family come from a long line of Prussian officers, some of them founders of the military academy. They'd turn in their graves if I ignored the call.”

Weaver put a hand on Halder's shoulder. “You should have told me, Jack. It just all seems so sudden. I'll be worried about you.”

“To be honest, I didn't want to spoil the last couple of days by mentioning it. And I've been trying my best to put it at the back of my mind. But don't worry about me. With my background, I'll probably land a boring desk job.”

“Do you really believe it'll be over by Christmas, Jack? Rachel said you thought so.”

Halder nodded firmly. “I think it will. Ordinary Germans don't want another war. Too many of them remember how bad the last one was. I'm pretty sure common sense will prevail in the end. And what about you? What will you do?”

“Right now, I feel kind of footloose. Professor Stern suggested there's still a little clearing up to be done at Sakkara before the site's handed over to the Egyptians, so I volunteered to help, along with a couple of the others. I've also had an offer tonight to join a desert expedition, so maybe I'll stay on for a while, and even try to learn more of the language. Besides, America declared its neutrality. We've no part in this war.”

“Good for you. Let's just hope it all settles down soon. But the thing about it is, the whole world's gone crazy.”

“What do you mean?”

“The war's already sort of started to intrude. The rumor's been going around that the British dug up a German radio transmitter hidden in a field along the Pyramids Road. It seems there are spies already at work in Cairo.”

Weaver nodded. “I know about the rumor. But what's that got to do with anything?”

“After we heard the declaration of war on the radio over a week ago, I actually overheard one of the British in our group claim that Rachel and I, and all the other Germans on the dig, were really enemy agents and up to no good. Did you ever hear such garbage? I mean, her mother's Jewish for a start. And Professor Stern loathes the Nazis.”

“And what do you think of the Nazis, Jack?”

It was the first time they had ever discussed politics, and Halder was mildly surprised. “Me? I love my country, but I think you'll have guessed by now I haven't got much time for Hitler.”

“You mean because of Poland? Or because of what he's doing to the Jews? All these race laws and prison camps and deportations we've been hearing about.”

“Both. And I've no time for that sort of cruel behavior, and nor do so many decent-minded Germans. And we've been friends long enough for you to know I wouldn't condone the kind of laws the Nazis have enacted against the Jews, or the way Hitler has banished so many of them from Germany. But it's not only that. Hitler talks too loudly and hasn't a single ounce of humor. Always a bad combination, especially in an Austrian.” Halder smiled faintly. “I'm afraid he's also an arrogant bore. And most important of all, he has the makings of a tyrant. And all tyrants are cowards in the end. Which is why I think he'll back down before it really does go too far.”

“I just hope you're right. But do you really have to go back home?”

“There's a German word.
Pflicht.
You may have heard my father use it. It means duty, and more besides. And it's a word often used in the Halder vocabulary. In fact, it's in the family motto. So in a way, I feel I'm honor-bound not to let down the family name. No matter what my father might think of Hitler, I really don't believe he could live with the fact of having a son who turned out to be the first conscientious objector in the clan.”

“In that case, I wouldn't worry about what the British say about you being a spy. I hear some of the Germans pointed the same accusations at the French and the British members of the crew.” Weaver smiled. “So far, I think I'm the only one who hasn't had a bad word said about him. It has me worried.”

Halder laughed, and Weaver scanned the crowds and said more seriously, “There was a man watching Rachel this evening. Egyptian. Thin, about forty, a bit sinister-looking, wearing a linen suit. Did you notice him?”

“No. Why?”

Weaver shrugged. “It's probably nothing. Perhaps she has a secret admirer.” He hesitated. “You know what just occurred to me? What if America entered the war, and we were on opposing sides? How would that make you feel?”

“Terrible.” Halder shook his head firmly. “But we could never be enemies, Jack. Not ever. At least not personally, whatever differences our two countries might have.”