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〃When will we see you again？〃 I asked。
〃I don't know。 I am to rendezvous with Chetwode this evening and go on to Gaza with him。 Two days； perhaps three。 I'll e here as soon as we've finished the job； I promise。〃
He kissed my hands and my feet and rose。 〃Is there a bab…sirr？〃 he asked Emerson。 〃I may want to use it next time。〃
〃A secret door？ Oh； yes。 Mahmud has too many enemies to do without that little convenience。 I'll show you； and get you some clothes。〃
Ramses nodded。 He turned to his wife。 She stood as still as a prettily dressed doll； lips parted and braceleted arms folded over her breast。 Ramses knelt and bowed his head。
〃Don't worry；〃 he whispered。 〃It will be all right。〃
She put out her hand； as if to touch his hair； but stopped herself in time。 〃e straight here after 。 。 。〃
〃As soon as I can。〃 He took her hands and raised them to his lips。
FROM MANUSCRIPT H
Ramses hadn't told her the part that worried him most。 He shared that information with his father； as they tried to find him something to wear。
〃I met Chetwode in Rafah； as we had arranged。 He's not awfully good at this sort of thing； his jaw dropped down to his chest when a filthy 'Gyppie' edged up to him and gave him the word we'd agreed upon。〃
〃Curse it；〃 said Emerson。 〃Can't you go off on your own … leave him behind？〃
〃They'd stop me before I got out of Khan Yunus。 You haven't heard the worst of it。 General Chetwode； the mander of the Desert Column； is our lad's uncle。 I was dragged off to his office； where I was required to report to him and his chief of field intelligence。〃
〃Hell and damnation！ Who else knows about your 'secret' mission？〃
〃God knows。〃 Ramses picked up a shirt； grinned； and put it aside。 〃Mother would say He does。 If the word has e down the chain of mand； Chetwode's superior Dobell must also have been informed。 There's nothing here I can use； Father。〃
〃What about that parcel you asked me to bring along？〃
〃I'll take it with me； but I don't want to wear those things in Khan Yunus。 Selim must have a change of clothing he'll lend me。〃
〃You mean to let him in on this？〃 Emerson asked。
〃How much does he know？〃
〃Only that we are obviously bent on mischief of some sort。 Selim doesn't ask questions。〃
〃He deserves to be told … some of it； at any rate。 It's a poor return for his friendship and loyalty to be treated as if he were not pletely trustworthy。 Especially；〃 Ramses added bitterly； 〃when every idiot and his bloody uncle knows。 I think Selim may have spotted me when I arrived； he gave me a very fishy look when I was arguing with the doorman。〃
Selim had spotted him； but not； as he was careful to explain； because of any inadequacy in Ramses's disguise。 〃Who else could it be； though？〃 he demanded。 〃I do not ask questions of the Father of Curses； but I expected you would join the others sooner or later。〃
〃You must have wondered what this is all about； though。〃 The clothes Selim had given him would suit well enough； Arab garments were not designed to be form…fitting。
Selim folded his arms and said stiffly； 〃It is not my place to wonder。〃
Ramses grinned and slapped him on the back。 〃You sound exactly like your father。 I and another man are going into Gaza； Selim。 There have been rumors about a certain Ismail Pasha … that he's a British agent who has gone over to the enemy。 Since I am； er； acquainted with the gentleman in question； they are sending me to get a look at Ismail and find out whether the rumors are true。〃
〃Acquainted；〃 Selim repeated。 〃Ah。 Is it possible； Ramses； that I am also； er； acquainted with him？〃
〃You can't go with me；〃 Ramses said。 He hadn't answered the question。 Selim accepted this with a shrug and a nod； and Ramses went on； 〃Thank you for the clothes。 I'll try to return them in good condition。〃
〃Tonight's the night； then；〃 Emerson said。
〃Yes。 Chetwode … our Chetwode … and I are meeting after nightfall in an abandoned house in Dir el Balah； just north of here。 I hope to God he can find it。 It will take me a while to get there by roundabout ways； since I don't want to be recruited by some lad looking for laborers。 I had better go。 Do you want to send me on my way with a few curses and kicks； Selim？〃
Selim did not return his smile。 〃If you say I should。 Be careful。 Do not take foolish chances。〃
〃As your father would have said。 I'll try not to。 Watch over them； Selim。〃
Chetwode was late。 He stood squinting into the darkness of the half…ruined building； his form outlined against the starry sky。 Ramses waited only long enough to make sure the other man was alone before he moved out of the shadows。
〃Didn't they teach you not to make a target of yourself in an open doorway？〃 he asked caustically。
〃Since it was you …〃
〃You hoped it was me。 Get out of that uniform and put these on。〃
He made certain he had covered Chetwode's face； neck； hands； and forearms with the dark dye； and got all his hair concealed under the turban。 There wasn't anything he could do about the blue eyes that looked trustingly into his； but when the boy grinned； cheerful as a hound pup； the expanse of healthy white teeth was another reason to remind him to keep his mouth shut。 Patiently Ramses went over it again。
〃If anybody speaks to you； drool and babble and bob your head。 Idiots are under the protection of God。 Stick close to me 。 。 。〃 He hesitated； gripped by one of those illogical premonitions … or maybe it wasn't so illogical； under the circumstances。 〃Stick close unless I tell you otherwise。 If I tell you to run； do it； without arguing and without looking back。 That's an order。 If you disobey I'll see that you face a court…martial。〃
〃But if we're separated …〃
〃I'll find you if I can。 If I can't； you'll have to make your own way back to our lines。 Don't wait for me or go looking for me。〃
Chetwode's face was as easy to read as a page of print。 Some of the sentences read： 〃One doesn't abandon a rade。〃 〃You can count on me； old chap； to the death。〃 Or something equally trite。 Ramses sighed and offered another cliché。 〃One of us has to get back with the information we've collected。 We know we're laying our lives on the line； that is part of the job。〃
Chetwode's tight lips parted。 〃Oh。 Yes； that's right。 You can count on me； old chap …〃
〃Good。 One more thing。 Hand over that pistol。〃
Ramses had every intention of searching him if he denied carrying a weapon； but the young fool didn't even try to bluster it out。 His hand flew to his waist。
〃What if we have to shoot it out？〃 he demanded。
〃If it es to that； we'll have a hundred men shooting back at us。 Hand it over； or I'll leave you behind。〃
Chetwode looked from his stern face to his clenched fist and got the point。 Slowly and reluctantly he unbuckled the belt fastened round his waist under his shirt and gave it and the holster to Ramses。
Ramses removed the shells and added the empty gun to the pile of abandoned clothing； which he covered with a few loose stones。 〃Now shut up and watch where you're going。〃
The boy wouldn't shut up。 He'd memorized the directions that Ramses had ignored； since he didn't need them； and kept up a breathless； whispered monologue： 〃Keep to the