019. Rendezvous

The sun was beginning to set. The motor-punt Jezebel was happily chugging along at eight knots; its sister ship still out of sight but somewhere in the calm waters ahead. Caroline sat atop one of the crates of EPKs, her long red hair billowing in the wind. She was bored.

'How long we sail for?' Mohsen called from the tiller.

Caroline checked her wristwatch, 'About eleven hours.' she said.

Mohsen shook his head, 'Why we not see them?'

Caroline shrugged. Perhaps the Jezebel was not as fast as Mohsen had earlier implied.

'When we see them, hide.' he said.

'Hide? Where?' Caroline asked, looking about herself.

She felt she had a reasonable point; after all, the punt was so small and so bereft of hiding places. Mohsen pointed at a large crate beneath a tarpaulin that Caroline had not noticed before.

'In large crate.'

Caroline carefully removed the tarpaulin and pushed open the lid of the crate. It was empty. Her mind immediately snapped back to the empty barrels of 'VIN' on the Eastern Promise.

'Why is it empty?' she asked Mohsen.

'Spalding say not empty when we come back.' he said.

'What are we bringing back?'

The boy shrugged and returned his attention to piloting the punt. As they rounded a bend in the river, another punt came into view. Without a doubt, it was the Ahab – Jezebel's sister. Mohsen motioned for Caroline to hide now. She climbed inside of the large empty crate and Mohsen replaced the lid. There was barely enough room inside to sit, with Caroline forced to place her head between her knees. She felt a sudden longing for the crawlspace she had on the Eastern Promise.

There were three small holes at either end that let in light and air, but were so low to the foot of the crate Caroline could not peer through them. She would have to rely on Mohsen to keep from being discovered.

After ten minutes, there was a sharp wooden "pop"; the two punts had made contact. There was a brief exchange of words, and footfalls on the Jezebel's wooden deck. It was impossible for Caroline to hear with any sort of clarity. Everything sounded muffled and distant. Suddenly, there was a sharp knocking on the side of the crate. A firm male voice said:

'Sit tight, I'll let you out when the others are eating.'

Caroline's heart leapt. 'Is that you, Rex?' she whispered.

There was a long pause and then the voice reiterated:

'Just sit tight.'

Caroline felt much relieved upon hearing Rex's voice. After what seemed like an eternity, the voice returned:

'Me again,' Rex said, 'I'm opening the crate.'

The lid was removed and Caroline took her first breath of fresh air in what felt like hours. It was night now, and the stars shone brightly over the waters of the Nile. Rex wore an expression of utter disdain.

'You don't seem too happy to see me....' Caroline said.

'You're supposed to be in Alexandria.' Rex grunted.

'Well, I couldn't very well let you have all the fun.'

'Caroline, these men are dangerous...'

'I thought you said they weren't.'

'No, I said they weren't killers. They're still not the sort of people you want to go gallivanting around Egypt with...'

'Who are they, Rex? What have you got yourself mixed up in?'

'Who they are isn't important. Jacobs' a thug, Sykes is a smuggler and Spalding is an expert in antiquities. It's who they work for that Whitehall's interested in.'

'Who?'

'Your old friend, John Brady.'

'Brady!' Caroline hissed.

'He co-funded this little jaunt down the Nile; he's in bed with Spalding.'

'But why? What's his game?'

'What other game is there, Mrs. Carol?' another voice said.

Caroline and Rex turned around and found themselves face to face with Graham Spalding. He had been listening from the shadows, perhaps for the whole time.

'Money is a fine motivator of men,' Spalding said, 'And in the case of John Brady, the only motivator.'

'And you, Spalding? Is money what motivates you?'

'Oh, I have nothing against money, no. But for me, there are more...esoteric gains.'

'Such as?' Rex asked.

'There's knowledge, fame...restoring the reputation of a fallen loved one.'

'That's oddly specific.'

Spalding revealed a Luger which he had been concealing.

'We are all reasonable people, here,' he said, 'There's no need for bloodshed if it's avoidable. Now move.'

Rex and Caroline stood slowly and were reluctantly marched off the punt by Spalding.

'Keep your hands where I can see them.' Spalding ordered, and the two complied.

They were taken to a small campsite, where Mohsen was being held by Jacobs. The boy was struggling against the man's grip, but it was no use. He was too strong.

'Sit down, over there.' Spalding said.

Caroline and Rex moved to one side of the fire, and Jacobs dropped Mohsen on the ground beside them. Spalding continued:

'You can drop the act now, Mr. Rexton. We know who you and your young companion really are. Our mutual friend, John Brady, tipped us off.'

'That rat.' Caroline spat.'

'And you, Mrs. Carol. You are proving quite difficult to be rid of. You all have interfered with my plans for the last time. Mr. Sykes?'

Sykes looked up, 'Yes, boss?'

'Take these three down to the river...and shoot them.'

'Uh, right boss.'

Sykes drew his pistol. He was visibly sweating.

'Come on then,' he said, 'Down to the river.'

TO BE CONTINUED...