Collins glared at him. ")"at utter tripe."
Ammar shrugged wearily. "If you say so."
"Good God, man, there are people sick and dying on this ship."
"I doubt seriously whether any of your crew and passengers will die of exposure or from starvation before my departure," said Ammar curtly.
"They'll simply have to survive some discomfort for the next hours or so until you can restart the engines and heat the ship."
"That may be too late for any of us if the wall of the glacier breaks off."
"It looks solid enough."
"You don't realize the danger. A massive ice slab might fall any moment. The weight could smash the Flamborough like a ten-story building collapsing on an automobile. You must move the ship."
"A risk I cannot avoid. The ice film on the plastic would melt, giving away our location, and satellite infrared cameras could detect our radiated heat."
Collins's face was ed with helpless rage. "You're either a fool or you're insane. What good has any of this proven? What profit will you get out of it? Are we being held for ransom or as hostages in return for freeing your fellow terrorists behind bars somewhere? If you're simply walking off and leaving us, I fail to see the purpose."
"You have an irritating degree of curiosity, Captain, but a dedication of purpose after my own heart. You will learn the reasons behind our capture of your ship soon enough."
Ammar rose and nodded at the guard who stood behind Collins. "Return the Captain to confinement."
Collins refused to move. "Why can't you provide hot tea, coffee, soup, anything that will alleviate the suffering?"
Ammar did not bother to Turn as he walked from the dining salon.
"Goodbye, Captain. We won't meet again."
Animar went directly to the communications room. Ibn was standing, watching a teletype hum out the latest wire-service news. His electronics man was seated at the radio, listening to an incoming transmission while a voice recorder copied it on paper. The radio and teletype were powered by a portable generator.
Ibn turned at Ammar's approach, gave a brief nod in recognition and tore a long sheet of paper from the teletype.
"The international news media are still reporting the Lady Flamborough as lost," he reported. "Salvage ships are only now arriving off Uruguay to conduct an underwater search. My compliments, Suleiman; you fooled the world. We'll be safely back in Cairo before the West learns the truth."
"What news of Egypt?" asked Ammar.
"Nothing worth celebrating yet. Hasan's cabinet ministers still control the government. They stubbornly hold on to power. They've played it smart by not sending in security forces to smash the demonstrations. The only bloodshed was caused by our fundamentalist brothers who mistakenly blew up a busload of Algerian firemen attending a convention in Cairo.
it was thought the bus was part of a government police convoy. The Cairo news network is claiming Akhmad Yazid's movement is a front for Iranian fanatics. Many supporters are wavering in their loyalty and there has be
en no mass demand for Hasan's cabinet to dissolve the government."
"That idiot Khaled Fawzy was behind the bus explosion," snarled Ammar.
"The military, where do the armed forces stand?"
"Defense Minister Abu Han-iid will not commit himself until he views the bodies of President Hasan and Hala Kamil to confirm their deaths."
"So Yazid has yet to make a triumphal takeover."
Ibn nodded and his expression turned grave. "There is another news item. Yazid has announced that the cruise ships crew and passengers still live, and he will personally negotiate with the terrorists and arrange for the release of everyone. He has gone so far as to offer his life in exchange for Senator George Pitt to impress the Americans."
A numbing, paralyzing rage swelled within Ammar, sharpening his senses and opening his thoughts like envelopes inside his mind. After a few moments, he looked at Ibn.
"By Allah, the Judas goat has led us to slaughter," he said incredulously. "Yazid has sold out the mission."
Ibn nodded in agreement. "Yazid has used and betrayed you. "