“Good luck.”
“And good luck to you, Doctor,” said Andre. They programmed their warp discs and clocked out.
“Somethin’s gone wrong,” Learoyd said. “They haven’t come out.”
“I knew we shouldn’t ‘ave left ‘em,” said Mulvaney. “Bloody green subaltern’s goin’ to get ‘imself killed for sure.”
“We’ve got to go back,” said Learoyd.
“Go back?” said Ortheris. “Are you out o’ your mind?”
Learoyd turned on him angrily. “What the hell do you want to do, Stanley? Leave them there? Fine! You can turn tail and tuck it up between your legs while you’re about it! Go back to Peshawar and warn the troops. I suppose someone’s got to do it. But I’m not walkin’ out on Finn and Andre, no sir, not Chris Learoyd! I’m not one to leave friends in a lurch. You with me, Mulvaney?”
“I never was much for sneakin’ about an’ keeping me ‘ead down,” said Mulvaney. “I say we go back an’ give those sods what for!”
“Well, if we’re goin’ to kill ourselves, we might as well do it together,” said Ortheris. “You’re right, mate, we can’t just leave ‘em. What’s the plan then?”
“They’ll never expect us to return, that’s for certain,” Learoyd said.”That should work in our favor. We sneak back in the same way we got out, posin’ as Ghazis. Mulvaney, fix your puggaree. I can see your red hair stickin’ out.”
Mulvaney adjusted his turban.
“Right. Let’s go.”
Walking boldly and purposefully, they headed back toward the temple. They passed the sentries without any trouble and went up the stone stairs into the columned entryway. They were greeted by several tribesmen inside, and Learoyd replied in Pushtu, keeping his answers brief and guttural for fear of betraying an accent. They were almost to the far end of the main chamber when a voice cried out, echoing in the stone hall, “On your knees! On your knees before the Light of Islam!”
They turned around and saw a man standing in the center of the chamber, flanked by four guards. He was tall and muscular, dressed entirely in black with loose-fitting trousers, a flowing, long-sleeved shirt, high black boots, and a vest intricately embroidered in gold. He wore a black turban fastened with a giant ruby clasp. The tribesmen in the chamber immediately dropped to all fours, pressing their heads to the floor. The three soldiers did likewise.
“Where the devil did they come from?” whispered Ortheris. “They weren’t behind us, were they?”
“Did you hear what he said?” Learoyd whispered. “The Light of Islam. That’s none other than Sayyid Akbar himself.”
“Now that’s what I call a stroke o’ luck,” Mulvaney said. “We can shoot the blighter where ‘e stands an’ end this jehad once an’ for all.”
“Don’t be a fool,” Learoyd hissed.”And keep your damn voice down! You’ll give us away.”
Drakov ignored the kneeling tribesmen and walked quickly across the chamber, heading for the innermost part of the temple with his guard accompanying him.
“Let’s follow them,” Learoyd whispered, “but not too close. Watch yourselves.”
They followed Drakov and his guards down the long corridor which ran to the left of the giant obsidian statue of Kali. Drakov’s guards stopped outside one of the chambers and took up posts by the entrance while Drakov went inside.
“We can’t pass this up,” Mulvaney whispered as they approached. “There’s only four of ‘em. We can slit their throats with these ‘ere knives an’ then do in that miserable fakir. We might never get another chance, Chris.”
“I said no,” Learoyd whispered.”We’ve got to find Finn and Andre first. We’re the only chance they’ve got.”
They had to pass the guards on their way to the cell where they were being kept before. They kept their heads down and grunted as they went by.
“You three!” Drakov called out behind them.
They stopped.
“Bloody ‘El!” whispered Ortheris.
“Turn and face me when I speak to you!” said Drakov.
They turned slowly, keeping their heads down, as if with great humility.
“Where are the warriors of the host of heaven?”