to break out of the perimeter in lorries. Made it as far as the Egyptian frontier.” Adam thought a minute and smiled. “Some New Zealanders broke through to Rommel’s headquarters, set it afire. Gave Rommel a scare. Those Anzacs are something else. During Rommel’s attack on Alemein, they held the Quattara depression, turned him back.”
Maybe Rafi went with the Anzacs, Lily thought. Maybe he went on to Cairo. Rafi can’t get in touch with me because he doesn’t know where I am. That’s why I don’t hear from him. I must find a way to let him know I’m in Tangier.
Adam’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Nothing to worry about. Things are better since Montgomery took over. We’ve provided Sherman tanks. And better anti-tank missiles—4.2 armor-piercing mortars with delayed fuses. We’ll do all right in Torch.” Adam sniffed the air. “Weather’s changing.”
Lily started up a flight of stairs that led to a restaurant door.
Adam paused at the landing. “Whatever you decide, I have to warn you. If there’s trouble, you’re on your own.” He pushed the door open and held it. “We’re going inside?”
Lily hesitated a moment. She squared her shoulders, and with a nod, glided through the door.
“You want the tajine?” she asked and smiled. “I recommend it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Bits of paper and flotsam flew before the morning wind, whipping around stalls of the Grand Socco. Berber women hovered over baskets of vegetables like flapping birds and held onto broad brims of hats that curled in the blustery weather.
“There’s a Levanter blowing,” Drury said. “Rainy season will start soon. It’s getting late.”
“Late for what?” Lily asked.
Drury hurried on ahead toward the Legation, while Lily scurried after him. “Late for what?” she asked again before she realized that he was worried about the weather for the landings of Torch.
He bustled back and forth all morning, from Lily’s desk to his own, no time to talk, collating sections of the report, urging Lily to hurry the final corrections.
He left the office and Lily concentrated on finishing the report, hunched over the desk. Tired, she paused and closed her eyes.
Someone’s hands began to knead her stiff shoulders. Drury?
It felt good. She rested and leaned back.
The sweet odor of Korian’s pipe, mixed with overtones of garlic and sweat hit her nostrils. She jumped out of the chair.
“You’re working too hard,” Korian said, smooth and oily. “That’s why you’re so edgy.”
He leaned over her desk to read what she had written.
She turned the paper over. “The report will be circulated to all personnel when it’s ready.”
The swelling around his eyes had softened, leaving only a slight greenish discoloration. His lapel had a hole, charred around the edges.
“You burned a hole in your suit.”
“Must be from the pipe. I’ll get it rewoven.” He looked down and brushed at it with the side of his hand. “That’s not why I wanted to see you. I thought we could have dinner tonight.”
She moved away from the desk. “I’m busy.”
“Have to wash your hair again?” He tried an unctuous smile. “All work and no play.” He moved nearer and rested a hand on her shoulder.
She backed away. He edged closer. She could feel his breath on her face, panting, smelling of yesterday’s garlic.
Drury appeared at the door. He cleared his throat, brandished a fist, and Korian threw up his arms in a gesture of surrender before he scurried out.
“Thanks,” Lily said.
“He’s a pea-brained idiot.” Drury closed the door and reached into his pocket. “Time for you to earn your keep.” He handed her a ticket. “Tomorrow you go to Gibraltar. You’ll be leaving on the nine o’clock ferry.”
“Did Adam talk to you about the Dead Man’s Hand?”
“He told me. Nothing to worry about. Just some joker trying to frighten us.” Drury began sorting the pages on Lily’s desk. “There’s a leak. I think I know
Maybe Rafi went with the Anzacs, Lily thought. Maybe he went on to Cairo. Rafi can’t get in touch with me because he doesn’t know where I am. That’s why I don’t hear from him. I must find a way to let him know I’m in Tangier.
Adam’s voice broke into her thoughts. “Nothing to worry about. Things are better since Montgomery took over. We’ve provided Sherman tanks. And better anti-tank missiles—4.2 armor-piercing mortars with delayed fuses. We’ll do all right in Torch.” Adam sniffed the air. “Weather’s changing.”
Lily started up a flight of stairs that led to a restaurant door.
Adam paused at the landing. “Whatever you decide, I have to warn you. If there’s trouble, you’re on your own.” He pushed the door open and held it. “We’re going inside?”
Lily hesitated a moment. She squared her shoulders, and with a nod, glided through the door.
“You want the tajine?” she asked and smiled. “I recommend it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Bits of paper and flotsam flew before the morning wind, whipping around stalls of the Grand Socco. Berber women hovered over baskets of vegetables like flapping birds and held onto broad brims of hats that curled in the blustery weather.
“There’s a Levanter blowing,” Drury said. “Rainy season will start soon. It’s getting late.”
“Late for what?” Lily asked.
Drury hurried on ahead toward the Legation, while Lily scurried after him. “Late for what?” she asked again before she realized that he was worried about the weather for the landings of Torch.
He bustled back and forth all morning, from Lily’s desk to his own, no time to talk, collating sections of the report, urging Lily to hurry the final corrections.
He left the office and Lily concentrated on finishing the report, hunched over the desk. Tired, she paused and closed her eyes.
Someone’s hands began to knead her stiff shoulders. Drury?
It felt good. She rested and leaned back.
The sweet odor of Korian’s pipe, mixed with overtones of garlic and sweat hit her nostrils. She jumped out of the chair.
“You’re working too hard,” Korian said, smooth and oily. “That’s why you’re so edgy.”
He leaned over her desk to read what she had written.
She turned the paper over. “The report will be circulated to all personnel when it’s ready.”
The swelling around his eyes had softened, leaving only a slight greenish discoloration. His lapel had a hole, charred around the edges.
“You burned a hole in your suit.”
“Must be from the pipe. I’ll get it rewoven.” He looked down and brushed at it with the side of his hand. “That’s not why I wanted to see you. I thought we could have dinner tonight.”
She moved away from the desk. “I’m busy.”
“Have to wash your hair again?” He tried an unctuous smile. “All work and no play.” He moved nearer and rested a hand on her shoulder.
She backed away. He edged closer. She could feel his breath on her face, panting, smelling of yesterday’s garlic.
Drury appeared at the door. He cleared his throat, brandished a fist, and Korian threw up his arms in a gesture of surrender before he scurried out.
“Thanks,” Lily said.
“He’s a pea-brained idiot.” Drury closed the door and reached into his pocket. “Time for you to earn your keep.” He handed her a ticket. “Tomorrow you go to Gibraltar. You’ll be leaving on the nine o’clock ferry.”
“Did Adam talk to you about the Dead Man’s Hand?”
“He told me. Nothing to worry about. Just some joker trying to frighten us.” Drury began sorting the pages on Lily’s desk. “There’s a leak. I think I know
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