Nuri walked over to Nizam. "CIA? MI6?"
"Does it really matter?"
"Of course not."
"Then get in."
SAQQARA, EGYPT
It was time to move.
Dawson motioned to Sorens. "No Tavak. We go after them. Has Kipler rigged the other charge on the other side of the tomb?"
Sorens nodded. "But why bother? Let's just use the entrance."
"No. There's no way we're going to go barreling down that main corridor. One blast to give us access and one final blast to destroy the tomb once and for all. It's cleaner this way."
Kipler finished setting his charge and gave the thumbs-up sign.
Dawson nodded. "Blow it."
Kipler turned his back to the tomb entrance and twirled his finger to indicate for the others to do the same. He raised a small black box, pressed a button on its top surface.
A muffled explosion opened up a hole in the sand.
Dawson smiled. "See? No major cave-in and we have our very own entrance. Flashlights, everybody. Johnson, you stay out here and keep watch."
Kipler joined them as Dawson, Sorens, and Ali turned on their high-powered flashlights and crawled through the hole. The rubble had formed a makeshift staircase for them to maneuver to the tomb's main level.
"Where's Peseshet's chamber located, Ali?" Dawson asked.
"I'm not sure. It should be right around the corner," Ali gasped. "I can't breathe. I knew we should have come in the main entrance."
"You're not sure? You'd better be right, Ali."
A few minutes later they rounded the corner and through the ruin of stone and debris he caught a glimpse of the gold-flaked mural on the far wall.
"Holy shit, it's actually here," Dawson murmured. "Tavak found her. I shouldn't have—" Kipler stepped forward, but Dawson blocked his path. "Wait a minute. Do you see Tavak?"
Kipler motioned toward the rubble. "No way he survived this."
"You think not? I once saw him survive a—"
Gunshots. Aboveground, outside the tomb.
"What the hell?" He whirled toward the entrance, where pounding footsteps echoed in the next chamber. He and Kipler raised their weapons.
Johnson appeared, running toward them. "Eight men in a truck," he said breathlessly. "Lots of artillery. They could be following me in here."
Dawson muttered a curse as fury tore through him. He had been so close. Close to Peseshet's secrets and close to killing that bastard, Tavak. "You're sure we're that outnumbered?"
Johnson nodded. "And they're too well equipped. I saw at least two AK-47s. They're not Egyptian police. They opened fire as soon as they saw me."
"It doesn't matter who they are. We have to get out of here now. Head for the front entrance of the tomb. They'll probably be following Johnson down the hole we blew." Dawson reached into his bag and pulled out a camera. "Don't stop for anything. Open fire if you see so much as a shadow."
"But our own men are—"
"It doesn't matter. If those bastards take positions inside, we're finished. Move!"
Johnson and Kipler ran through the chamber with their guns ready.
Dawson turned with his camera and squeezed off several photos of the mural wall behind him. He had come prepared to cart it away, but this would have to do. Maybe he could come back later and get a closer look. Dammit!
Are you here, Tavak? Did the bitch give up her secrets to you?
It didn't matter.
Dawson bolted for the entrance, jamming the camera back into his bag even as he checked the ammo cartridge of his semiautomatic. Now that he knew the mural was here, he wouldn't stop until he knew everything it had to reveal. And every instinct was telling him that Tavak was still alive. He wouldn't be cheated for long.
Just a postponement, Tavak.
* * *
Gunfire. Automatic weapons. At least one was an AK-47, Tavak could tell and there was no mistaking the sharp reports from a pair of M9s. A battle was raging outside the tomb.
But why?
He had heard Charles Dawson's unmistakable voice in the adjacent chamber, then the sound of men running. Dawson wanted to kill him almost as much as he wanted Peseshet's priceless treasure. Why hadn't he tried to follow through?
More running footsteps coming down the corridor toward the chamber where he and Ben lay.
Dawson again?
He slumped to one side and closed his eyes.
"I've found him." Someone was kneeling beside him, turning him over.
In an instant Tavak snapped his arm around the man's neck and jumped to his feet. There were four other men in the chamber, he realized quickly. Before they could react, Tavak had the man's gun and was using him as shield. "Step back. Or I'll blow his head off."
"That's most uncordial of you," a tall, bearded man with an AK-47 cradled in his arm said. "But Abu probably deserves it for being so careless."
Tavak's gaze circled the men in the room. All bronze-skinned, all carrying weapons. "Where's Dawson?"
"If that was the man who was shooting at us outside, I assume he's on his way back to Cairo. He didn't seem eager to stay." He shrugged. "We let him go. Our job was just to see that you were safe."
"Who are you?"
"Nizam. I assume you are John Tavak." He added, "Would you please release Abu. He's looking a little pale. I don't believe he likes that gun at his head."
"Your job? Who sent you?"
Nizam ignored the question as his gaze fell on Ben. "He does not look well." He gestured. "Nuri."
Nuri quickly knelt beside Ben and opened a large medical kit. He prepped a hypodermic needle.
"Don't touch him," Tavak said. "Or your friend, Abu, will be on his way to paradise."
"It is only midiocane," Nuri said. "He's gone into shock. If I wanted to kill him, I'd do it with something less subtle." He looked at Tavak. "May I?"
Tavak hesitated. He wasn't sure what was going on, but he had to rely on instinct. He slowly nodded.
Nuri injected a clear substance into Ben's chest.
"Are you a medic?"
Nuri nodded. "By talent, not occupation. We need to get your friend to a hospital."
"Will he be okay?"
"Difficult to say. But we'll get him the very best help."
"We mean you no harm," Nizam said. "You have very strong allies, Mr. Tavak. We've been well paid to see that you come out of this tomb alive."
Tavak believed him. Take a chance. He released Abu and pushed him away from him. "You still haven't told me by whom."
"My employers prefer that I keep their names confidential," Nizam said. "Now it is time we left this place. We not only have to worry about the Egyptian police but the return of the man who was so eager to kill you."
Two of Nizam's men unfolded a stretcher made of canvas and long wooden dowels. Under Nuri's direction, they gently moved Ben onto it.
Tavak glanced at the mural of Peseshet. Nizam was right, Dawson might very well return. If he'd had time, he might have photographed the mural, but there was a chance he might think it necessary to get a closer look. He'd not gotten what he wanted, and the bastard would never give up. "Why don't you go on to the hospital with Ben? I'd like to stay here for a little while."
"You wish to confront your enemy." Nizam shook his head. "That was not my orders. You must come with us."
"Must? That doesn't sound very friendly."
"I am most friendly." He smiled and gestured with the AK-47. "Come along, my friend. Let me complete my mission with nothing but the happiest of endings."