Sahara (Dirk Pitt 11)

Pitt nodded. "That's the plan if we're not discovered by Malian military forces before dark."

"We have talked between ourselves," said Monteux solemnly. "None will go back to Tebezza. All would rather die. We have made a pact to kill our wives and children rather than allow them to suffer in the mines again."

Pitt stared at Monteux and then at the women and children resting on the stone floor of the arsenal. His craggy and weathered face took on a look of sorrow tinged with anger. Then he said softly, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

Eva was too tired to sleep. She looked up into Pitt's eyes. "A walk under the morning sun with me?"

"No one is allowed to wander in the open. The fort has to appear abandoned to passing trains and any aircraft that might fly over."

"We traveled all last night and I've been locked up underground for nearly two weeks. Isn't there some way I can see the sun?" she implored him.

He said nothing but gave her his best buccaneer grin as he swept her in his arms and carried her up the stairs onto the parade ground. Not stopping, he climbed to the platform that stretched around the fort's ramparts before lightly setting her on her feet.

The sun blinded Eva for a few moments, and she didn't see the approach of a female commando who was on duty as a lookout. "You must stay below out of sight," the guard ordered. "Colonel Levant's orders."

"A couple of minutes," Pitt pleaded. "The lady hasn't seen blue sky for quite a while."

The tactical team fighter may have looked tough as nails in her combat suit, bristling with ammo and weapons, but she possessed twice the compassion and understanding of any man. One look at the wasted woman leaning against Pitt, and her expression softened. "Two minutes," she smiled ever so slightly. "Then you'll have to get back undercover."

"Thank you," said Eva. "I'm very grateful to you."

The scorching temperatures were still an hour away as Pitt and Eva looked out from their vantage point across the nearby railroad tracks toward the endless, unbroken terrain to the north. Strangely, it was Pitt and not the woman who saw a magnificence in the parched and hostile landscape, despite the fact that it had almost killed him:

"I can't wait to see the ocean again," she said:

"Do you dive?" he asked.

"I've always loved water, but never got beyond the snorkel stage.

"Varied sea life abounds around Monterey. Beautiful fish among the kelp forests, and incredible rock formations, especially down the coast past Carmel toward Big Sur. When we get there, I'll give you scuba lessons and take you diving,"

"I'll look forward to it."

She closed her eyes, tilted back her head, and soaked in the sun, her cheeks glowing from the rising heat of the day. He gazed down at her, taking in every lovely detail that had not been affected by her long ordeal. The lookouts stationed around the ramparts faded into the bright sunlight. He wanted to wrap her in his arms, forget the dangers, forget everything but this moment and kiss her.

And he did.

For a long moment she gripped him tightly around the neck and kissed back. He squeezed her around the waist and pulled her to her toes. How long they clung together, neither could remember.

Finally she pushed back and looked up into his opaline green eyes, and felt weakness, excitement, and love wrapped up in one swirling emotion. She whispered, "I knew from that dinner together in Cairo I'd never be able to resist you."

He said softly, "And I thought I'd never see you again."

"Will you be going back to Washington after we escape?" She spoke the words as if reaching safety was a certainty.

He shrugged without letting her go. "I'm sure they'll want me to return and work on stopping the red tides. And you, after a good rest, where will it be? Another mission of mercy to an underdeveloped country to fight disease?"

"It's my job," she murmured. "Helping to save lives is all I've ever wanted to do since I was a little girl."

"Doesn't leave much time for romance, does it?"

"We're both prisoners of our occupations."

The lookout came over then. "You'll have to get down below out of sight now," she said as if embarrassed. "We can't be too careful now, can we?"

Eva pulled Pitt's beard-stubbly face down to hers and whispered again in his ear. "Would you think me wanton if I said I want you?"

He smiled. "I'm an easy mark for wanton girls."