"Higgins, Jack - Sheba" - читать интересную книгу автора (Higgins Jack)

'But why the hell should anyone want to kill you?' Jordan said. 'And what is this stuff quat anyway?'

Kane lit a cigarette. 'It's a narcotic stimulant found in the leaves of a shrub from these parts. When the leaves are chewed, the user feels alert and confident. Used regularly, it gradually has an effect on the physical appearance.'

Jordan frowned. 'What's this bit about hired assassins?'

Kane shrugged. 'I'd have thought you'd have known about that by now. If you want to kill a man in this country, you don't do it yourself. You hire a professional.'

Jamal had been busy searching the body of the first man Kane had killed. Now he turned and came towards them, a leather bag in one hand, which he handed to his mistress.

Marie looked inside and then held it forward silently so that the others could see its contents. It was stuffed with silver coins.

Jordan whistled and Marie said gravely, 'There must be the equivalent of two or three thousand Maria Theresa dollars here, Gavin. Someone must want you dead very badly.'

Kane nodded soberly. 'Yes, and I think I know who it is. I had a run-in with Selim, yesterday. One of his men had a try last night when I was sleeping.'

Marie frowned. 'But how would he know that you would be at Bir el Madani this morning?'

Kane considered the fact and then nodded. 'You've got a point there. Anyway, to hell with it. It didn't come off and somebody's paid a lot of money out for nothing.' He groaned and wiped a hand across his mouth. 'I could use a drink.'

'I've got a flask in the truck,'Jordan told him. 'Come to think of it, I could do with a swallow myself.' He grinned and shook his head. 'And I was worried in case being a geologist turned out to be boring.'

As they walked back towards the truck, an excited crowd of people swarmed past them and moved towards the dead bodies.

'Where the hell did they spring from?' Jordan said. 'Anyone would think they knew something was going to happen.'

'They very probably did,' Kane told him.

Ruth Cunningham looked sick and her face was pale. 'Are you all right?' she said to Kane.

He nodded. 'I'm sorry you had to see that.'

She seemed to find difficulty in speaking and clambered back into the front seat, where she sat, nervously clasping and unclasping her hands.

Jordan had been examining the bag of coins Jamal had found on the body of the first assassin and he looked at Kane enquiringly. 'What happens to this little lot?'

'You hang on to it for now,' Kane told him. 'I'm sure we'll find a use for it later.'

Jordan grinned. 'Pietty good pay under the circumstances.' He produced a brandy flask from a compart- ment under the dashboard, took a long swallow and handed it to Kane. 'Compliments of the house.'

Kane raised the flask and toasted him silently. He choked as the brandy burned its way down into his stomach, and he climbed into the rear of the truck. 'I haven't thanked you yet. That was nice shooting back there.'

Jordan slipped behind the wheel and drove towards the village. 'I was raised on a ranch in Wyoming.'

He turned the truck into the wide main street and braked to a halt outside the largest house, scattering a herd of goats.

Kane got down and Ruth Cunningham followed him. 'After we've had our talk with Omar, we'll take a flight over the Shabwa area,' he said to Marie.

She nodded. 'Take care, Gavin, and don't go too far out into the desert. It's bad flying country.' She glanced at her watch. 'Let's see - with any luck, we should be back here just after noon.'