‘By the way, Joe,’ James was saying, ‘hope you won’t mind but I’ve had your things moved down to Zeman’s old room. Had to accommodate yet another VIP who arrived this afternoon and I thought it more appropriate to put him upstairs.’ He waved a hand to the far side of the square where there stood an open-topped tourer, grey with dust, the flag of the High Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province drooping wearily on the bonnet.
‘See you in an hour then.’ He put a hand on Joe’s shoulder and his voice lost its briskness. ‘Damned glad you’re back! I’ll go and tell Betty – she’s been worried sick. Now, where’s Grace?’ And he went back to help Grace who was struggling to take her medical case from her horse.
In a few quick strides Joe caught up with Lily Coblenz and neatly placed himself in front of her before she could go through the archway into the guest wing. She looked up at him, resigned and truculent.
‘Into the garden. Now,’ said Joe pointing an imperious finger.
When he was sure they were not being observed he said carefully, ‘I was wondering if you had anything to say before this all gets a bit public? That, you can’t have failed to notice, was the Commissioner’s car in the courtyard. When we appear in front of him with our stories I’d like to think we were saying the same thing.’
‘What were you expecting me to say?’
‘Well, to start with, something on the lines of “Sorry,” “I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused,” or even “Aw, shucks!” and, to go on with, an explanation of the precise nature of your “arrangement” with your abductor. And before you tell me it’s none of my business – it certainly is my business! I’ve been placed in the unenviable position of answering for your safety for the duration of your stay. If I feel I am no longer able to fulfil this obligation I shall put you – hog-tied if necessary – in the back seat of Sir John Deane’s motor car ready for delivery back to Peshawar.’
‘I’ve nothing to apologize for! All this and worse would have happened if I’d not been here. Why, you wouldn’t even have known where we were, I’ll bet, if I hadn’t signalled to that plane!’
‘That was you? Ah. That was well done, Lily,’ said Joe, relenting. ‘The pilot noticed your flash and it confirmed other information we had concerning your whereabouts. But Iskander? What have you to reveal?’
‘Nothing. I’ve had no chance to speak to the guy! You know he was sent away from the village!’
‘Not good enough, Lily! Something’s been going on.’
‘Oh, okay then, I suppose you’ll have to know. There was this jirga meeting of the whole tribe – men, that is – and I saw it all. Halima told me what was going on. She’s the Malik’s wife but she’s also Iskander’s sister, bet you didn’t know that! Iskander set himself up against Ramazad. Big mistake! He was outranked, out-talked and then outlawed by Big Chief Serpent Tongue. Well, I felt kind of sorry for the feller. He’s no family apart from Halima and now he hasn’t even a tribe. He doesn’t deserve that, Joe! Now I know these Pathans love their native land but they do travel. It’s not unknown. In fact, they’re all over India and some have even gone to Australia. I sent him a note before he disappeared telling him to meet me back at the fort and discuss . . . coming back to the States with me,’ she finished defiantly. ‘That’s no mean offer, Joe!’
‘I’m sure it’s not but, tell me, Lily, and I intend to press you on this – on what terms exactly did you envisage Iskander would be accompanying you?’
‘I’ve given that quite a lot of thought,’ she said. ‘And I’m open to suggestions. Bodyguard, companion, adviser on Indian affairs? How does that sound? He could be based in Delhi or even come back to the States with us. Who knows? He’s just the kind of man my father would get along with. He’ll find him a job. Iskander speaks English better than your average American, he’s smart and he’s charming.’ Her eyes narrowed for a second and she added, ‘Besides which, things going as they are – the company expanding into India – it wouldn’t be bad to have someone on the ground who knows how things work. Someone we can be sure will look out for our side because the other side has rejected him. That’s the best kinda loyalty you can get, Joe – the one-way pull kind.’
‘Yes, I see what you mean and I agree, but Lily – this man is no one’s poodle. And we all heard what he had to say about his Pathan nature back there at the river. I think he was trying to warn you, prepare you for his rejection of your offer. And, anyway, there’s probably little we could do to help him in the circumstances. He must be under considerable scrutiny by the powers that operate in this land – after all, he’s guilty of kidnap and abduction times two and though you may be prepared to forgive and forget, Lord Rathmore will be demanding retribution.’