“The Sultan? His army is very close at hand, but I do not think he has trade on his mind. The Pasha is here to throw out the French, as you well know.” He lowered his voice, covering the remark with a strained smile.
“Not something you want to lord on about,” said LeGrand. “Particularly in English—not with the British fleet about in these waters. Rumor has it that the French are becoming more and more suspicious of local traders. Information passes in whispers, even as coinage moves from one purse to another. They wonder how Nelson and his fleet managed to make such a good accounting of the French Army’s movements when they were in Palestine.”
“Do they?” Khalid was still smiling, though his eyes were smoldering with restrained hostility. “They are a curious lot, are they not?”
“Curious, indeed,” LeGrand returned. “As you seem to be. Pray tell me, what business do you have here today? Are you hoping to win a contract for the repair of these walls?” He gestured at the tawny fortifications.
“Nothing so enterprising,” said Khalid. “I was merely extending the hospitality of my people to these strangers, and seeing to their comfort. The professor here has an interest in ancient stone carvings, and I thought we might tour the fortifications.”
“Ah,” said LeGrand. “Good day, professor. Ready for the revelation?” he rubbed his palms together. “In spite of what my friend says, I think we can all safely acknowledge why we are here, yes? Now then…” he squinted at the sun. “You may wish to move this way in a moment.” LeGrand gestured to his right, where a low pile of loosened stone provided them a slight rise in elevation and a better view of the digging party. The low baritone of the French officer of engineers could be heard, exhorting the laborers to strain a bit harder at the iron lever they had wedged into the base of the large, half-exposed rock they were working.
“Come, professor, Madame… It is almost time.” There was just a trace of urgency in LeGrand’s voice, and Maeve could see that Khalid had been edging closer to the work crews, trying to appear uninterested, but keenly aware of their steady progress.
Robert turned, and then heard a loud chink as the iron lever slipped. A hard crack followed, and the large rock fell suddenly away from the base of the wall in a cloud of silt and dust. LeGrand rocked on his heels, a smile of anticipation on his face. There was an audible gasp as the dust settled around a dark squarish shape that had been exposed in the side of the wall. The officer had immediately taken note of it, and was leaning in, intent on some discovery in the rubble.
Two of the workmen rushed from the scene, as though frightened by what they had uncovered. The officer shouted after them, then barked loudly at the two French soldiers standing the watch, and the men came running in response.
Now Nordhausen saw that the two laborers had gone to fetch a sturdy rope and tackle. The officer was giving orders, his riding crop pointing this way and that, and he soon eyed the coach that LeGrand had arrived in, pointing at the horse. It was clear that he wanted to utilize the animal to help haul something out of the rubble. LeGrand, still beaming with a smug, self-satisfied expression, strode forward to offer his services. He gestured to Nordhausen with his hand, beckoning him to follow.
Robert and Maeve needed no encouragement. They were inching closer, trying to remain discreet, but keenly interested in the find. Khalid was right on their heels.
LeGrand stepped up, bowed to the French officer, and then gestured magnanimously at his horse and tackle, where the soldiers were already loosening the carriage harness and hitch to free the beast for their purposes, whether LeGrand approved or not. Dust clouded the scene, obscuring the find, but LeGrand acted as though he was playing out a well rehearsed part.
“Be my guest,” Nordhausen heard LeGrand say in French. “But what is it you have discovered, monsieur?”
LeGrand turned, expectantly, his face still molded in a jovial smile, and then he froze, as though struck by the officer’s riding crop. His eyes widened, bright ovals above the doughy cheeks of his face, and his jaw gaped open with a look of complete astonishment.
“Mon dieu!” the invocation escaped his lips as he gazed, and Nordhausen hurried forward to see what he was looking at, tripping on a pile of loosened rock. As he rose, Khalid strode boldly forward, a look of great satisfaction blooming on his face when he saw LeGrand’s reaction. He started to laugh, pointing a long thin finger at LeGrand as he spoke.
“Not what you expected, monsieur?” His eyes glittered. “Something to put a little fire in your next courier dispatch?” Now his laughter could not be restrained.
Nordhausen gaped at him, struggling to his feet. Maeve came up to lend him a hand, and they started down the gentle incline to approach the dig site. LeGrand had cupped his ears with his palms, as if to shut out the laughter of his adversary, but the gesture seemed more one of amazement. It was then that they saw Khalid turn to look upon the discovery that was obviously the source of his elation.
“Do I work some mischief for the Sultan, he wonders? More than you could possibly know, my friend.” But then his words were cut short and, like LeGrand before him, his eyes opened with surprise and shock. “Ahliah! He exclaimed, the mirth driven from his face and a look of profound distress in its place.
Nordhausen ran the last few steps. Pushing his way through the gathering crown until he reached the edge of the site. Maeve called after him the moment he ran forward, obviously perturbed.
“Come back here, Robert!” She had seen the spark of irrepressible curiosity in his eyes and was worried that he would do something—say something—that would cause some grave complication. There were many French soldiers at the scene now, and she was certain Robert would draw unwanted attention to himself the moment he opened his mouth.
She looked and saw him come up short at the lip of the dig, then heard him take in a sudden breath, as though startled by what he saw. His hand shot up to the top of his head, an involuntary gesture of bewilderment. She saw him scratch and then, to her great dismay, he pulled off his wig, thoughtlessly, carelessly, as though he was totally unaware of what he had just done.
She pressed closer, finally reaching the place where the others stood, clearly dumbfounded by the moment of discovery. The soldiers were pointing and speaking rapidly to one another in French. She saw the officer of engineers lean in, eyes squinting at the find now that the dust had settled. What in the world could have caused such commotion?
Then she saw it, the great black shape jutting from the side of the embankment below the wall, and now she understood, at last, the marvel of all those who looked on. A silence fell on the scene as the French officer of engineers stooped and extended his arm to touch the thing they had unearthed. He reached out, as though afraid that he might be scalded by the stone. She saw his hand play lightly over the smooth, polished surface of the find, one finger tracing a delicate path over the carved lettering. Then the hush resolved into a rush of whispers. People were turning to one another, nodding wide eyed conclusions, and she saw Khalid staring at LeGrand as if he expected to have the same berating laughter thrown at him by the man.
The look on LeGrand’s face was plain to see, however, and it was clear that neither man could lay claim to any victory in the find.
Robert turned, remembering her at last, and gestured wildly for her to take the final step forward and look upon the scene. She passed a moment of hesitation and great anxiety. Something was wrong. She could see it on everyone’s face, though many seemed to glow with joy at the find. Yet for LeGrand and Khalid, the discovery seemed to promise great trouble. It was clear to her now that one man or the other expected to come out the better when the shape of the ancient stone was finally unearthed.