Sahara (Dirk Pitt 11)

"What of the World Health scientists? The morning newspapers said their plane is reported overdue and presumed missing."

"One of Kazim's better ideas," answered Bordeaux. "He faked the plane crash in an uninhabited part of the desert."

"Faked? I forewarned Hala Kamil of what I had conceived as a genuine bomb plot to destroy the aircraft and Hopper and his team."

"A slight change in your plan to frighten off any future inspections by World Health scientists," said Bordeaux. "The plane crashed all right, but the bodies on board were not those of Dr. Hopper and the rest."

"They're still alive?"

"They're as good as dead. Kazim sent them to Tebezza."

Yerli nodded. "Better they should have died quickly than in the mines of Tebezza as overworked and starved slaves." Yerli paused thoughtfully, then said, "I think Kazim has made a mistake."

"The secret of their true situation is safe," said Bordeaux indifferently. "No one escapes from Tebezza. They go into the mines and never come out."

Yerli took a Kleenex out of his coat pocket and began wiping the lenses of his binoculars. "Did Hopper discover any evidence that might prove damaging to Fort Foureau?"

"Enough to cause renewed interest and promote a deeper investigation if his report had been made public."

"What is known about the NUMA agent who escaped?"

"His name is Gunn, and he's the Deputy Director of the National Underwater and Marine Agency."

"An influential man."

"Indeed."

"Where is he now?"

"We traced the aircraft that evacuated him to Paris, where he boarded a Concorde for Washington. From there, he was taken directly to NUMA headquarters. My sources say he was still inside the building as of forty minutes ago."

"Is it known if he smuggled vital information out of Mali?"

"Whatever information he obtained, if any, from the Niger River is a mystery to us. But Mr. Massarde feels confident nothing was discovered that could jeopardize the Fort Foureau operation."

"Kazim should have an easy time making the other two Americans talk."

"I received word just as I left to meet you. Unfortunately, they escaped too."

Yerli stared at Bordeaux in sudden irritation. "Who bungled?"

Bordeaux shrugged. "Makes no difference, who's to blame. Frankly, it's not our concern. What's important is that they are still inside the country. There is little hope of them escaping over the border. It's only a matter of hours before Kazim's search operation hunts them down."

"I should fly down to Washington and penetrate NUMA. With the right moves I might discover if there was more behind this than a cut-and-dried pollution investigation."

"Let that go for now," said Bordeaux coolly. "Mr. Massarde has other work for you."

"Did he clear it with my superiors at the National Defense Staff?"

"Your official release for outside duty will be conveyed to you within the hour."

Yerli said nothing but resumed peering through his glasses at the little nuthatch that was still perched bottom-side-up, pecking away at the bark of the tree trunk. "What does Massarde have in mind?"

"He wants you in Mali to act as liaison to General Kazim."

Yerli showed no reaction. He kept the

glasses trained on the bird as he spoke. "I was assigned for eight months in the Sudan some years ago. A dreadful place. The people were quite friendly though."