by Gore Vidal
Pete was irritated, partly because what Hastings said had some truth in it—he had acted foolishly. On the other hand, Anna was more important to him than business, than his own safety. “If you want,” said Pete recklessly, “you can take the necklace and—”
“Keep your voice down, boy,” said Hastings with a cool smile, his eyes like ice. A group of Egyptians had entered the bar and sat down at a table nearby. He lowered his own voice carefully. “Now don’t fly off the handle. Thought you were a clever chap, lot of nerve, control, that kind of thing. And here you are acting like a schoolboy. Surprised at you.”
“I just think my private life is no concern of yours,” said Pete in a low voice, aware that, in a sense, he was wrong.
“As far as I’m concerned, you can go live with that policeman on a houseboat,” said Hastings, suddenly lyric. “I don’t care. But don’t get involved until you’re clear, until we’re all clear. You’ve got in trouble once already. Suppose you’d had the necklace with you then? Been merry hell to pay for the lot of us.”
Pete mumbled that he was sorry. “Well, you won’t have much longer,” said Hastings cheerily.
“How much longer, do you think?”
“A day or two.”
“And then I leave the country with the necklace?”
“Can’t tell just yet. Hélène’s making those plans now. Depends a lot on the situation.”
“Why? Is there any trouble? Are the police—”
“Never worry about the police in an Arab country. They don’t cost much, and when they’re bought they usually stay bought, though of course that’s no sure sign Mohammed Ali may not be ambitious. No, the police won’t bother us. Others will. Another…syndicate is after the necklace. Even so, you’re fairly safe, if all goes well, and by that I mean politics.”
Pete was puzzled.
“Politics,” repeated Hastings, and his voice descended almost to a whisper. “There are rumors of a plot against the King. Trouble, real trouble. Nobody knows what might happen. If there’s out-and-out rioting it may be difficult to follow any schedule.”
“Then why not let me leave now, today? I can take a plane and be off in a few hours.”
Hastings chuckled. “I like that. Eager. Wonderful quality. Unfortunately, we have a schedule. Certain people must be alerted; others thrown off the scent. Your coming here unexpectedly probably shook some of them loose; they’ll be a while getting on to you again.”
“You mean others, people I don’t know about, are following me around, trying to get the stuff?”
“Certainly, my boy. Not nervous, are you?”
Pete swallowed part of his gin the wrong way; he coughed for several moments while Hastings pounded his back. “Didn’t mean to upset you.” Hastings chuckled. “Well, come along. Let’s find Hélène.”
She was free for lunch. Hastings called her on the house phone and a few minutes later, dazzling in a batik dress, she joined them out on the terrace in back of the hotel, where, under an awning overlooking the garden, lunch was served.
“We did not expect you so soon.” She smiled warmly and put her hand on his sleeve as though seeing him at last made up for everything, even the unexpectedness of his arrival.
“It was too hot in Luxor.”
“Meaning the weather?” asked Hastings.
Pete laughed. “That was too hot, too. No, it was getting uncomfortable with Mohammed Ali around all the time. I couldn’t wait to duck him. When Said gave me the necklace I figured I was free to go right then. I never thought there was a special reason for me to wait another day, especially with him hot on my trail.”
“You did exactly right,” said Hélène, somewhat to his surprise. “You must run no more risks than you have to.”
“In that case, I wish you’d hold onto the necklace until it’s time for me to skip the country with it. I can’t sleep nights knowing that there’s a hundred thousand bucks or so tucked away in my coat.”
“Lobster, I think,” said Hastings to the waiter, speaking for all of them. “Marvelous lobsters in these parts.”
Hélène ignored Hastings. “I can’t do that,” she said. “It wouldn’t work.”
“I don’t see why not. This is your city. You must have all sorts of good hiding places. I think you’d want it kept in a safe place. They can get me almost any day. There’s not a hell of a lot one man can do in a strange city against a dozen sharp customers who want something he’s got.”
“Lad who can take care of three bandits shouldn’t be frightened of some nervous jewel thieves.” Hastings poured wine with an accurate hand.
“I know what he means,” said Hélène hesitantly. “It has bothered me also. Peter, we can’t take the necklace now because we are watched, too, even at this minute. More important, though, we have no idea yet when you are to go. It depends on Said. On the situation here. On the negotiations with our buyer, which Said himself is conducting. For all I know, he may suddenly call us now, this minute, and send you to Europe.”
“Then the decision is his, finally?”
Hélène nodded. “Entirely his. Our only job is to make the arrangements. It will be best, probably, for you to fly, but all will depend on how much warning we have.”
“So meanwhile I wander about the city with a small fortune in my coat, which I don’t dare take off even when I go to sleep, and your whole scheme depends on my keeping out of the hands of police and competitors.” He sighed. “You have a lot of faith, I’ll say that.”
“We do, Peter. Don’t you understand there isn’t anything else we can do right now? Now that you know our situation a little better, you can see that it is like an army, in a way. We must follow orders, all of us. Our orders are to get you out of the country at a moment’s notice when the deal in Europe or America is completed. Your orders are to stand by, with the necklace, until we give the word.”
He had to admit to himself that she was plausible, but a suspicion had begun to grow, an ugly indication of a plot so intricate that it made his head spin. Until he was sure, however, he would pretend ignorance. “Whatever you say. It’s almost as much your worry as mine. You’ll lose a fortune and I’ll get my throat cut.”
“I think we should have champagne. Just the stuff for a day like this. Celebrate a bit. Lunch’s best time for it, I always say.” And Hastings ordered champagne, which they drank thirstily, enjoying its coolness in the hot afternoon.
After lunch Hastings, as usual, excused himself, leaving Pete to Hélène, who had obviously been selected as the one who could best handle the young American.
“I suppose you’ll be glad when it’s over,” she said, as they sat back in their canvas chairs while the waiter cleared the table.
He nodded. “Real glad,” he said.
“I should never have asked you to take on this job,” She looked at him with concern. “The danger is greater than the reward, though it is certainly not to my interest to tell you this.” She gave every appearance of trying to be honest.
“Meaning I won’t get that percentage I was promised?”
“Meaning that even when you do get it you will not be sufficiently compensated for all you’ve done for us. You are very brave, Peter.” She turned her dark eyes on him, and the expression was warm and candid. Under the table her leg pressed gently, unmistakably against his. A spasm of desire went through him for an instant, but only for an instant. There was no other woman for him now but Anna. Deliberately, cold-bloodedly, he returned the pressure, noting with a scientist’s detachment the faint flush of color that rose from her neck to her face.
“I missed you,” she said softly, looking away.
“I thought about you, too,” he said.
She looked back at him slyly. “Not too much. I have heard about the German girl.”
“That didn’t mean anything,” he said. He let his fingers run over her bare arm. The soft skin was like a shock. It would be different from Anna, he thought grimly, if it happened. Judging from Hélène’s pas
t performance, she would tease a lot, but at the last minute she would avoid following through. It was possible that he had a surprise or two in store for her.
“Where will you go when you leave Egypt?” she asked, sitting very straight beside him while his strong rough fingers caressed her arm.
“If I leave here.”
“You mean you might stay?”
“Why not? Six feet under is as good here as anywhere. Maybe better. The sand keeps the body in good shape.”
She shuddered. “Don’t say that. You won’t be killed. There is a difference between danger and—and that. People are not so easily killed in a city like Cairo, certainly not Americans. Your passport is like armor.”
“It didn’t help much the night I was mugged in the tombs.”
“You were foolish. That was a bad place. No, if you keep a careful lookout, avoid dark empty places, you will be all right. I promise you that, chéri.”
He hid his mistrust of her. “I’ll do what you say.” He grinned suddenly. “I’m a bit short of cash. I was wondering if…”
“Of course. We’ll pay you the other hundred pounds now, if you like. Do you want English or Egyptian currency?”
He said he preferred American, but he’d settle for English.
“Do you want to come with me while I get it?” She looked him full in the face, a half-smile on her lips. He had a brief malevolent desire to shatter this cool mocking woman’s mask, to find what was underneath.
He followed her then to her room, where she rummaged through her dressing table until she found a black leather jewel box, in which, among diamonds, she kept a wad of currency. She counted out a hundred pounds, appearing not to be aware of him, standing behind her, so close that he could almost hear the rapid beating of her heart. She turned. They were now so close that they almost touched. He stepped back, with a great effort of will. This was not the time, not yet. She looked at him, surprised; she had expected some sort of advance and none had come. He took the money.
“Thanks a lot. I’ll need it.” They stood awkwardly for a moment. He was pleased to see her ill at ease.
Finally she said, “You seem different, chéri. Has something happened?” She lit a cigarette and this bit of business relaxed her, gave her an excuse to move away from him to the armchair by the window, where she sat down. He sat opposite her, on a straight chair.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Oh, I think you do.” She was gradually regaining control. “When you left you were… Well, there was more fire. I felt that we had a kind of understanding. Now something’s happened. You love her, don’t you?” This was abrupt.
He smiled, wondering what to say. “She’s a nice girl,” he said at last, trying to be offhand.
“But not for you. She is not free, in any sense.”
“You mean because of the King?”
“Partly, yes. Though not in the way you might think. She is watched day and night, and that is bad for you, for us. We are in sufficient danger as it is without having you become involved with Anna Mueller.”
“Why? What’s all the mystery about? What’s she done, besides go out with the local boss a few times?”
Hélène smiled. “What a funny way to speak of the King! But you’re right, he is the local boss, and he is the law, as you’ll find out if you try to cross him or any of his henchmen.”
“We’ll see,” said Pete, sounding more brave than he felt. It would be his luck to fall for the one girl in the country who was the most dangerous to know. Well, it couldn’t be helped. “Oh,” he said, changing the subject, “I saw a picture of you in Said’s house, with that Nazi. What’s his name, Raedermann?”
She took this very well; her face did not change expression. “Yes, we were good friends. I told you I was an agent.”
“For the Free French.”
“So I was. I knew many people, many Nazis, Communists, all sorts of people. We were like freemasons, the agents in those days.”
“They tell me you were pretty free,” said Pete, not intending this to sound as insulting as it did.
She flushed angrily. “I suggest it is none of your business.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. I mean Free French. Only it seemed funny that you were able to be such good friends with a Nazi big shot. That’s all I meant.”
She had recovered her poise by then. “Well, those were confused times, chéri, far more so than now. We were none of us too sure where our loyalties lay. But let’s not talk about such unpleasant things. Erich is dead, that war is over, the next one hasn’t begun, and you are soon to make money for us and yourself. What could be nicer?”
Pete agreed that it was pretty nice. There was another silence, and this time the tension between them was great, like an electric current in the warm air. But then, just before it became unbearable, he stood up and said, “I’ve got to go to the Consulate and see about those traveler’s checks I lost.”
Surprise and irritation crossed her face like the shadow of a cloud. Her voice did not betray her, though. “I’m sorry.” She rose, too. “Perhaps it’s better, chéri, that we see only a little of each other. Avoid the girl, though, until our business is complete. After that do as you must. Will you keep in touch with me here, twice a day? Telephone in the morning and later in the day, before dinner. We should have word from Said soon.” She walked with him to the door.
Without shaking hands, avoiding physical contact of any kind, he left her, pleased with his own will and, more important, pleased that he had made her think him a fool. He had kept his suspicions to himself. He was not yet sure of the dimensions of the plot, but he knew that the danger he faced came as much from Hélène and Said as it did from Mohammed Ali. He knew instinctively that he was intended to be a victim. He also knew that, if he was, they would suffer, too. He set his jaw coldly. Time was running out.
* * *
Mr. Case seemed surprised to see him when he entered his office at the Consulate.
“We were beginning to wonder what had happened to you, Mr. Walsh—I mean Wells. Sit down.” He sounded almost cordial. “There’ve been a number of inquiries about you.”
“That right? Who from?”
“I’m afraid I’m not at liberty to say. Only this morning, though, the Consul General asked me about you.” This fact seemed to impress Mr. Case.
“I hope to hell he did. I’d still like to know what happened to my traveler’s checks.”
Mr. Case frowned. “Ah, those. I’m afraid you’ll have to write them off. We found one in Alexandria that had been cashed by a moneylender. That means they are in the hands of a thief who knows what he is doing. I expect they have all been cashed by now. We wrote New Orleans, but so far no answer. You were in Luxor, weren’t you?”
“That’s right, seeing the sights.”
“You must be in business, then.” Mr. Case smiled politely. “I was under the impression you had no money the other day when you were in here.”
“Well, I’ll tell you. A good fairy came and put it under my pillow.”
“I was merely inquiring,” said Mr. Case, growing red. “I must tell you, though, that it would be a very good idea for you to leave the country, if you can.”
“Leave? I just got here.”
“I have no idea, Mr. Wells, what you are up to, but there is every indication that a first-class incident is in the making, and the Consulate feels that you, as an American citizen, should avoid making any trouble for yourself or for our government.”
“I don’t follow you.”
“Then I won’t lead you,” snapped Mr. Case. “The Consul General told me to tell you this if you came in here. We can only advise. You’re welcome to take it or leave it.”
“What kind of incident?”
“Political. This country is about to blow up. All Americans have been asked to leave or else move out into the suburbs. Since you, in particular, have seen fit to get mixed up with the local…businessmen, I think you would be
doing both yourself and us a favor if you left Egypt by the next plane. I assume you have enough money. If not, it is just possible that we…”
“That’s sure white of you. When I needed help you wouldn’t give me a cent; now that I look like a possible embarrassment, nothing’s too good for me.” Pete was a little bitter; the trick was so obvious. He wondered what it was the Consul had heard.
“I’m sorry you take it that way, Mr. Wells. But our first interest is the United States, not you.”
“That’s fair.” Pete rose. “I suppose you’ll tell me now to keep out of sight, to watch out.”
“As a matter of fact, I was going to suggest exactly that. We’ve given the same advice to all Americans. If this mob should start making trouble, anyone wearing Western clothes, whether Egyptian or American or European, will be torn to pieces. I have also been instructed to tell all nationals that should there be rioting in the streets, they are free to come to the Consulate here for protection.”
“Can you tell me anything about a man named Hastings or a woman named De Rastignac?”
Mr. Case shook his head as though he had never heard of either.
“What do you know about Anna Mueller?”
This had an effect. “Only what I hear in Cairo, what everybody hears.”
“That she and the King…”
“Exactly,” interrupted the official nervously, as though afraid of being overheard. “Now, if you should change your mind about leaving Cairo, and we hope you will, please feel free…” But Pete was gone before the sentence had been finished.
He walked back to the Stanley.
If anything unusual was going on in the city, he couldn’t spot it. Everything seemed perfectly ordinary. The beggars were everywhere, loud as ever. Street vendors shouted their wares in high monotonous voices. The expensive modern cars honked their horns and shifted gears smoothly in the broad main streets. Only the presence of more policemen than usual in front of certain buildings suggested that there was trouble brewing.
