Quenton-Harper's camp where you obtained these Polaroids-'
Nogo stood up, and came around the table to stand beside von Schiller.
He leaned over the atellite photograph and prodded his forefinger at the
spot near where the Dandera river joined the Nile. The photograph had
once been in the possession of Quenton Harper, and had been captured in
the raid on his camp. There were numerous markings in coloured marker
pen on the copy, which Nogo presumed had been placed there by the
Englishman.
"It was here, sir. You can see that Quenton-Harper has marked the spot
with a green circle."
"Now show me where the nearest Coptic church is situated."
"Why, Herr von Schiller, it's right here. Again Quenton-Harper has
marked it with red ink. It is situated only a mile from the campsite.
The monastery of St. Frumentius."
"There is your answer, then." Von Schiller was still frowning "Coptic
and Egyptian symbols together. The monastery."
They stared at him, none of them daring to question his conclusion.
"I want that monastery searched," he said softly. "I want every room and
every inch of every wall examined." He turned back to Nogo. "Can you get
your men in there?"
"Of course, Herr von Schiller. I already have one of my reliable men in
the monastery - one of the monks is in my pay. Added to that, there is
still martial law in force here in Gojam. I am the military commander. I
am fully mpowered to search for rebels and dissidents and bandits
wherever I suspect they may be sheltering."
"Will your men enter a church to perform their duty?" Helm wanted to
know. "Do you personally have any religious scruples? It may be
necessary to - how can I put it desecrate hallowed premises."
I have already'explained to you that I have renounced religion for other
more worldly beliefs. I would take pleasure in destroying such
superstitious and dangerous symbols as will certainly be found in the
monastery of St. Frumentius. As for my men, I will select only Moslems
or Animists who are hostile to the cross, and all it stands for.
I will lead them personally. I assure you that there will be no
difficulty in that respect."
"How will you explain this to your superiors in Addis Ababa? I do not
want to be associated in any way with your actions at the monastery,'
von Schiller said.
I have been ordered by the high command in Addis to take all possible
steps against the dissident rebels that are operating in the Abbay
gorge. I will be completely able to justify any search of the
monastery."
"I want that stele. I want it at any cost. Do you understand me,
colonel?"
i understand you perfectly, Herr von Schiller."
"As you already know, I am a generous man to those who serve me well.
Bring it to me in good condition and you will be well rewarded. You may
call on Mr Helm for any assistance that he can give you, including the
use of Pegasus equipment and personnel."
"If we are able to use your helicopter, it will save a great deal of
time. I can take my men there tomorrow, and if the stone is in the
monastery I will be able to deliver it to you by tomorrow evening."
"Excellent. You will take Dr Guddabi with you. He must search the area
for other valuables and translate any inscriptions or engravings that
you find in the monastery.
Please provide him with military uniform. He must appear to be one of
your troopers. I do not want to become involved in recriminations at a
later date."
"We will leave as soon as it is light enough to take off tomorrow
morning. I will commence the arrangements immediately." Turna Nogo
saluted von Schiller and strode eagerly from the hut.
hough Colonel Nogo had never entered either the qiddist or the maqdas,
he had often visited the monastery of St. Frumentius. He was therefore
fully aware of the magnitude of the task ahead of him, and the likely
reaction of the monks and the congregation to his forced entry to their
premises. In addition, he was familiar with numerous similar rock
cathedrals in other parts of the country. In fact he had been ordained
in the famous cathedral of Lalibelela, so he knew just how labyrinthine
one of these subterranean warrens could be.
He estimated that he would need at least twenty men to secure and search
the monastery, and to fend off the outraged retaliation of the abbot and
his monks. He selected his best men personally. None of them was
squeamish.
Two hours before dawn he paraded them within the security of the Pegasus
compound, under the glare of the floodlights, and briefed them
carefully. At the end of the briefing he made each man step from the
ranks in turn and recite his orders to ensure there was no
misunderstanding.
Then he inspected their arms and equipment meticulously.
Tuma Nogo was painfully conscious of his own culpability in allowing the
Englishman and the Egyptian woman to escape, and he could sense the
danger in Herr von Schiller's attitude towards him. He had few illusions
about the consequences if he were to fail again. In the short time since
he had made the acquaintance of Gotthold von Schiller, Nogo had come to
fear him as he had never feared God or the Devil in the days of his
priesthood. He realized that this raid was an opportunity to reinstate
himself with the formidable little German.
The jet Ranger was standing by, the pilot at the controls, the engines
running and the rotors turning lazily, but it could not carry such a
large number of fully equipped men. It would need four round trips to
ferry them all down to the asse4bly point in the gorge. Nogo flew with
the first flight, and took Nahoot Guddabi with him. The helicopter
dropped them three miles from the monastery, in a clearing on the banks
of the Dandera river, the same drop area as they had used for the raid
on Quenton-Harper's camp.
The drop area was just far enough from the monastery for the engine
noise of the jet Ranger not to alarm the monks. Even if they did hear
it, Nogo was banking on the probability that they were by this time
thoroughly conditioned to the frequent sorties of the machine, and would
not associate it with any threat to themselves.
The men waited in the darkness, warned to silence and not even allowed
by Nogo to smoke, while the jet Ranger ferried in the remaining
troopers. When the last flight came in Nogo ordered his detachment to
fall in, and led them in single file down the path beside the river.
They were all trained bush fighters in top physical condition, and they
moved swiftly and purposefully through the night.
Only Nahoot was a soft urbanite, and within half a mile he was wheezing
and whining for a chance to rest. Nogo smiled vindictively to himself as
he listened to Nahoot's pathetic whispered pleas for mercy as he was
prodded along by the men behind him.
Nogo had timed his arrival at the monastery to coincide with the hour of
matins and lauds, the break of day. He led his contingent down the cliff
staircase at a trot.
Their weapons were at high port, all the equipment was carefully muted
so as not to clatter or creak, and their rubber-soled paratrooper boots
made little noise on the stone paving as they hurried along the deserted
cloisters to the entrance of the underground cathedral.
From the interior echoed the monotonous chanting and drumming of the
ceremony, punctuated at intervals by the higher treble descant of the
abbot leading the service.
Colonel Nogo paused outside the doors, and his men drew LA up in double