Sheba. Part 15

'Or a man who was looking for something really important,' Kane said.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth he regretted them, but it was too late. She leaned across, a slight frown on her face and said, 'You're holding something back, aren't you? Hadn't you better tell me what it's all about?'

He sighed and got to his feet. 'I suppose I had. For one thing, you might be able to help. For another, now that you've scented a mystery, you won't rest content until you've wormed it out of me.'

She stood up with a soft laugh. 'Dear Gavin, you know me so well by now. Let's walk in the garden and you can unburden yourself.'

They went down the steps and walked through the trees, her hand resting lightly on his arm, and he inhaled her sweetness and was aware of feelings he had not experienced for a long time.

He began to talk, starting with the arrival of Ruth Cunningham and ending with an account of Alexias and his journey into the desert.

When he finished, they were sitting on a seat by the fountain and there was silence for a while. Somewhere a bird called through the night and Marie sighed. 'It's certainly a fantastic story.'

'Don't you believe it?' Kane said.

She shrugged. 'The important thing is that Cunningham did. What do you intend to do now?'

Kane shrugged. Til go up to Shabwa. Question the headman at Bir el Madani and find out what happened to Cunningham.'

Marie stood up and they started to walk back towards the house. 'Personally, I don't think you or anyone else will ever see John Cunningham again.'

Kane nodded. 'You're probably right, but his wife won't rest content until she knows for sure.'

Marie leaned against the bal.u.s.trade of the terrace. 'I agree with you. However, I think I can help to get this thing cleared up quickly. I'm flying to Bir el Madani in the morning to see Jordan about some equipment he needs. He's boring a test hole about fifteen miles from there. He's had his men lay out a rough airstrip for me. I'm only taking Jamal. There's room for you and Mrs Cunningham if you want to come along.'

Kane felt suddenly elated. 'That would be excellent.'

'Jordan will be waiting to take me to his camp by truck. I expect to be there all morning. You can borrow the plane. Three hours should give you ample time in which to make a quick survey of the area.'

'It would certainly save Mrs Cunningham a rough trip by truck,' Kane said. 'I was worried about that. I don't think she's up to it.'

'Is she pretty?' Marie said.

He shrugged. 'Skiros certainly thinks she is.'

'But you are more interested in her money?'

'The fee she's offering me to find her husband is certainly attractive, but I'm intrigued by the story about that temple.'

Marie laughed lightly. 'The eternal seeker. Will you ever be content with what is on this side of the hill, Gavin?'

'Probably not,' he said. 'I suppose that's the main reason archaeology interested me so much when I was a kid. That's why I stay on here, when each year I swear I'll leave. There's so much to do - as long as one has the money, of course, which means working for Skiros occasionally. But beggars can't be choosers.' He grinned. 'If it comes to that, why do you stay? You could make your headquarters in a more congenial spot. Bombay, for instance.'

She shrugged. 'This is an ancient land and my mother was of an ancient people. It's in my blood, I suppose.'

He dropped his hands on to her shoulders and smiled. 'You're a wonderful girl.'

He was suddenly conscious of the warmth of her body through the thin material of her s.h.i.+rt. For several moments they remained like that, staring into each other's eyes and then the smile slowly faded from her face. Kane pulled her towards him and she made no attempt to resist.

His mouth fastened on hers and she melted into him, alive and warm. After a while he pushed her away from him, holding her at arm's length. 'd.a.m.n you!' he said softly.

She smiled faintly, sensing the turmoil in his mind. 'My poor Gavin, have I disturbed the ordered pattern of your existence? But women are the devil, you should know that by now.'

'I'm only too well aware of that fact,' he a.s.sured her.

'Would you like a drink?'

He struggled with temptation and won. 'I don't think it would be advisable.'

She took his arm and they went down the steps and through the garden to the gate. She opened it and smiled up at him. 'Seven o'clock at the airfield and don't be late. I want to get an early start.'

Standing there in the moonlight she looked utterly and completely desirable. He sighed and said, 'Look, I'm sorry for what happened.'

She reached up quite suddenly and kissed him on the mouth. 'But I'm not,' she said, and pushed him through the door.

For a little while he stood there in the darkness, his hand raised to the bell chain, and then he turned away and walked down through the darkness towards the town.

When he reached the hotel, he went up to Ruth Cunningham's room and knocked on the door. There was no reply. After trying again, he opened the door and went inside, but the room was empty.

He went back downstairs and into the bar. Skiros was sitting by the window, a drink in front of him, gazing pensively out into the night. Kane crossed the room and stood over him.

The Greek looked up and smiled. 'Did you have any luck?'

Kane nodded. 'I've managed to trace him as far as Bir el Madani. He went up with one of Marie Ferret's convoys.'

Skiros raised his eyebrows in surprise. 'So, he actually did land in Bahrein. I must say I'm surprised. What do you intend to do next?'

'We're flying up with Marie in the morning,' Kane said. 'I've been up to Mrs Cunningham's room to tell her, but she isn't there.'

Skiros nodded into the darkness. 'She pa.s.sed this way only a few minutes ago. I think you'll find her on the beach.'

Kane thanked him and went on to the terrace. It was cool and the slight breeze carried the faintest trace of salt spray with it. He went down the steps to the sand and walked towards the white line of surf, his eyes searching the moonlit beach.

He paused, slightly at a loss, and her voice came clearly from his left. 'Over here.' uuu.uuuuuuuuuuuuI.uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu.u SriEBA uu"u"uuuuuuuuuu"uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

She was leaning against a fis.h.i.+ng boat. As he approached she said, 'Have you any news for me?'

He lit a cigarette, the match cupped between his hands against the wind, and nodded. 'Yes, I think everything's going to be all right now. I've traced your husband as far as a small Arab village about ten miles from Shabwa. We're flying up there with Marie Ferret in the morning. I should be able to learn something more definite from the headman.'

She gave a sigh of relief, and leaned against him, a hand on his arm. 'My G.o.d, that's marvellous.'

She sank down into the soft sand and Kane sat beside her and gave her a cigarette. The match flared in his hands, illuminating the strong line of her jaw, and tears glistened in her eyes.

He took her hand and said gently, 'Look, everything's going to be fine.'

She took a deep breath as if trying to get control of herself and nodded. 'I don't know how I'm ever going to be able to repay you for what you've already accomplished.'

'You'll have no difficulty, I a.s.sure you.' He grinned wryly and got to his feet. 'And now I think you'd better get some sleep, Mrs Cunningham. We've got an early start.'