The Eye of the Serpent (31 page)

Ethan shrugged his shoulders. ‘Your guess is as good as mine, Biff.' He looked at Alec. ‘You know anything, kid?'

Alec shook his head. ‘Not a thing,' he said.

‘You figure?' Biff clearly wasn't convinced. ‘We got at least three missing people, a car crash, a photograph of a guy that looks like his face is made of bugs.' He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. ‘And I got Scary Mary here telling me that
she saw a bunch of mummies driving off in your automobile. You telling me you don't know anything about it?'

Ethan kept his expression blank. ‘No comment,' he said.

‘Aw, forget it!' said Biff, waving a hand in dismissal. ‘You know what? I ain't even interested no more. I wouldn't please ya to ask any more questions. I just wanna go home.' He looked up at Charlie. ‘Let's get aboard this tub before it leaves without us.'

Charlie glanced at Ethan as she went by. She looked harassed. ‘Remember me?' she said. ‘I used to be a top photographer. These days I'm Biff's nurse.'

‘Yeah? Well, look after him anyway,' said Ethan, and he and Alec watched as she pushed the reporter up the gangway.

Now Coates bustled forward, all businesslike. He shook Ethan's hand but not with any real warmth. ‘Mr Wade,' he said, ‘I'd like to say it's been a pleasure, but really it's been more of an education. I
won't
speak to Alec's father about some of the exploits you got up to. I wouldn't want to unnerve him.'

‘I'm glad to hear it,' said Ethan. ‘You know,
we're going to miss you up at the dig. We'll be back to Archie's cooking for the next few weeks while we get the last of the antiquities packaged up.'

‘I've left him full instructions,' said Coates proudly. ‘I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by his culinary skills.' He turned his head. ‘Come along, Master Alec,' he said. ‘The boat will be departing at any minute.'

‘
Please
don't call me that,' pleaded Alec. ‘And could I have a few moments to say goodbye?'

Coates rolled his eyes but obligingly left him to it.

Alec turned to look solemnly at Ethan. ‘Well, I suppose this is it,' he said.

Ethan nodded. ‘It's gonna seem kind of quiet without you, Alec.'

Alec laughed and glanced over at Mohammed, who was chatting to Mickey and proudly polishing the bonnet of his new automobile. He lifted a hand to wave. ‘I can't believe you gave him your best Crossley.'

Ethan shrugged. ‘I won't be needing it,' he said. ‘The old one will see me out for the last few weeks. And how else was I gonna swear Mohammed to silence? Don't forget, he knows
quite a bit about what happened.'

Alec chuckled. ‘What are your plans once you've finished here?'

‘Well, I'm getting out of Egypt, that's for sure.'

‘Where will you go?'

‘Haven't decided yet. What about yourself?

‘Father mentioned Mexico in his last letter,' admitted Alec.

‘Yeah? I know Mexico like the back of my hand. Say, if your pop needs any help, remember me to him. Tell him to get in touch with me. You can always get a message to me at the Winter Palace – I'll be around for a while.'

‘I'll do that,' said Alec. ‘I'll talk to him just as soon as I get back.'

‘Good.' Ethan glanced up at Coates, who was staring frostily at him from the deck of the
Sudan
. ‘Might be a good idea not to mention it while ol' Coates is in hearing range. For some reason I still don't think he approves of me.'

They laughed together and Alec reflected that he was going to miss that.

There was a great honking blast as the steamer sounded its whistle, and somebody shouted the ‘All aboard!' for the last time.

Alec glanced back to the gangway. The crew
were getting ready to remove it. ‘I have to go,' he said. ‘Take care of yourself, Ethan.'

‘Always.'

They shook hands one more time and then Alec hurried aboard. He joined the others at the rail and the
Sudan
edged slowly away from the quayside and headed out into mid stream. Ethan stood looking out across the water, an easy grin on his face.

‘Well, that's the last we'll see of Mr Wade,' said Coates, with some satisfaction.

‘I wouldn't bet on it,' said Alec, smiling; and he lifted a hand to wave.

Follow the further adventures of Alec Devlin in
Empire of the Skull.

Alec Devlin: Empire of the Skull

Alec Devlin: Maze of Death

Sebastian Darke: Prince of Fools

Sebastian Darke: Prince of Pirates

Sebastian Darke: Prince of Explorers

ALEC DEVLIN:THE EYE OF THE SERPENT
AN RHCP DIGITAL EBOOK 978 1 407 04760 7

Published in Great Britain by RHCP Digital,
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This ebook edition published 2014

Copyright © Philip Caveney, 2008

First Published in Great Britain

Red Fox 9781862306080 2008

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