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omething to drink？〃
〃No。 There were a good many people present the evening we ourselves learned of that relationship；〃 she went on thoughtfully。 〃Military persons。 One of them overheard our conversation and reported it to you？〃
〃Only a few words of the conversation； but they were enough to arouse his curiosity。 Eventually the word got back to me； and aroused my curiosity。 It took my associate in England a while to find the proof … birth and death certificates； records of certain financial transactions … you know the procedure。 I haven't told anyone else； Mrs。 Emerson。〃
〃No； you hoard information like coins； paying it out only when you can gain something〃 was the furious response。 〃Do not expect thanks for your discretion from us。〃
〃Never mind； Mother；〃 Ramses said。 〃That isn't the issue now。 He's won the first round。 Perhaps we should let him explain further。〃
It was a damning story。 A few weeks earlier； a man calling himself Ismail Pasha had appeared in Constantinople。 The word soon spread among the faithful： he had been an infidel； a high…ranking member of the British Secret Service； who had e over to the true religion and the right cause。 He had been seen in public with German officers and also with Enver and the other members of the ruling triumvirate； richly dressed and clanking with jewels。 He had prayed at the mosques； and on at least two occasions he had addressed the crowd with an eloquence that brought them to their knees。 For surely no one could be so familiar with the words of the Prophet unless he himself was a holy man！
Shortly thereafter； one of the local agents in British pay was caught and executed。 It was pure luck that the others in the group got away。 Sethos was one of the few who knew of that particular network； he had been sent to Constantinople to meet with its members。
〃That isn't proof of anything；〃 Emerson declared。
〃No；〃 Smith agreed。 〃However； he has not been heard from since。 Attempts to contact him through the usual channels have received no response。 His assumed name is interesting； too； don't you think？〃
〃Ismail is a very mon name；〃 Emerson said。
〃The name of the son of Abraham by his handmaiden Hagar； who was cast out into the wilderness； lest he challenge the position of Abraham's legitimate son；〃 Smith said； his thin lips curving in a cynical smile。 〃 'His hand will be against every man and every man's hand will be against him。' 〃
〃I believe I am better acquainted with Holy Writ than you；〃 Nefret's mother…in…law said with a sniff。 〃God saved Ismael and blessed him and promised to make him … er … fruitful。〃
〃Confound it； Peabody； will you stop talking about the Bible？〃 Emerson was trying not to shout； the words squeezed between his lips like rumbles of distant thunder。 〃Prove it； you say。 How？〃
〃That should be obvious。〃 Smith knew he had won。 He leaned back in his chair。 〃Ismail Pasha is now in Gaza。 Find him。 You will know if he is the man we believe him to be … or that he is not。 If he is that man； and you can bring back evidence that he is a prisoner or under duress； we will take steps to free him … unless you can do the job yourself。〃
〃That's rather a tall order；〃 said Emerson。 〃Even for us。〃
〃You mistook my meaning； Professor。 That's the trouble with English； it is too imprecise about pronouns。〃
〃So；〃 said Emerson； after a long moment。 〃You want Ramses to go after the fellow。 Alone。〃
〃It's the only way； Professor。 You surely don't suppose that the four of you could cross enemy lines in disguise？ Individually you are only too recognizable； as a group you are unmistakable。 It's a job for one man； and there is only one man who can maintain a convincing disguise long enough to do the job。〃
They were all looking at Ramses； waiting for him to speak； Emerson caught himself on the verge of a heated reply and remained silent； possibly because his wife had administered an admonitory kick under the table。 Ramses turned his head and met Nefret's eyes。
They had been over this subject many times； with Nefret continuing to demand promises and reassurances and Ramses increasingly resentful of her refusal to accept his given word。 There was no need for speech now； she knew what he wanted to do； what he felt he must do； and she knew that the decision was hers。
She had the means to hold him。 A few sentences； a few words 。 。 。 She released her grip on his hand。 Her fingers had left white marks。
〃I've always felt that Ismail was unfairly treated；〃 she said； shaping the words with care so her voice wouldn't tremble。 〃God won't take a hand this time； so 。 。 。 so someone else must。〃
PART TWO
Gateway toGaza
9
We arrived in Cairo on a misty gray morning。 The city was swathed in fog and there was not a breath of air stirring。 The feeling of oppression was not solely physical。 We had had to leave our friends to cope with Jumana's grief and Cyrus's frustration … for that enigmatic clue of Jamil's was driving him to distraction。 I had made him promise on his solemn oath that he would not go wandering round the wilderness looking for Jamil's tomb。 He had given his word； but his hands were behind his back and I suspected he had his fingers crossed。 Although Katherine did not reproach me； I knew she wondered how we could abandon her at such a time。
Emerson had pointed out that I need not abandon her。 Not only was there no need for me to go to Cairo； my presence there would add unnecessary difficulties to an already difficult situation。 The summons had been for …
〃For Ramses；〃 I said； cutting into his tirade with the skill of long experience。 〃You weren't asked either。〃
〃If you think；〃 Emerson announced loudly； 〃that I am going to let the boy go off alone to face that pack of wolves from the War Office …〃
〃My sentiments exactly；〃 I said。
Upon which； Emerson burst out laughing and pulled me into a close embrace。 〃Peabody； when you put your chin out and give me that steely stare； I know I've lost the argument。〃
〃You wanted me to e。 Admit it。〃
〃Mmmf；〃 said Emerson； his lips against mine。
We caught the evening train and went straight to Shepheard's。 The sufragi on duty greeted us like the old acquaintances we were； and asked what he could do for us。
〃Breakfast；〃 I said； while Emerson divested himself of various articles of clothing and tossed them around the room。 Emerson had not been in favor of staying over； but even he admitted that we could not dismiss this request as brusquely as we had done with the War Office's other attempts to bring Ramses back into the service； and catch the first train back to Luxor。
〃Emphatically not；〃 said Ramses。 〃Smith told us virtually nothing； but they wouldn't have sent for me unless they have some idea as to how to locate him。 We must try to find him； Father。 If he is a prisoner …〃
〃If？〃 Emerson exclaimed。 〃Do you believe he is a turncoat and a traitor？〃
Once upon a time Emerson's intimidating scowl would have reduced Ramses to silence。 Now he met those narrowed blue orbs squarely and smiled a little。 〃It's odd to hear you defend him； Father。 Good God； I don't want to believe it either！ But the man is an enigma … embittered； cynica