Desert Pursuit by Chris Ryan Read Free Book Online

said John Middleton, heading back to the jeep. ‘That’s the last plane out tonight, and I’m hitching a lift.’
    ‘Where are you going?’
    ‘To kick a few media asses. I have my contacts – and I’ve told the guys here that I’ll do my best to get that footage shown.’
    ‘What shall we do?’ asked Amber.
    ‘You go have your break. You deserve it.’
    ‘But shouldn’t we stay in the camp? Show our support?’
    ‘I think we’ve enjoyed their hospitality for long enough,’ said Alex.
    The others nodded, knowing exactly what he meant. Sahawari hospitality was legendary, even in the refugee camp where everything was in short supply. Someone always kept the water jugs in their tents topped up, while the rest of the camp operated a system of rationing. There was no natural water supply there – a steady stream of tankers had to ferry water in to keep the cisterns full. Food was in short supply too. The aid agencies could only supply the basics and the Sahawaris supplemented this by keeping little herds of sheep, goats and camels on the edges of the camp. They had even managed the small miracle of creating vegetable gardens in the middle of the desert. These extras helped, but there was still not enough food to go round and Alpha Force had become increasingly uncomfortable with having plates full of vegetables and meat presented to them at every meal.
    ‘Alex is right,’ agreed John Middleton. ‘It’s time to leave. You go and enjoy your dune driving. I want you to listen to Khalid, though. He knows the safe areas and the places to avoid. Right, Khalid?’
    Khalid nodded solemnly. He was acting as their guide on the trip and he took the responsibility very seriously. Parts of Algeria were very dangerous to foreigners. Some routes were plagued by bandits and there were fundamentalist groups operating in the north of the country that would not think twice about killing a group of westerners.
    ‘Is safe, where we go,’ said Khalid. ‘I promise.’
    ‘Good lad,’ smiled John Middleton. He kissed Amber goodbye and nodded to the rest of them. ‘Keep in touch,’ he said, pointing to the pouch where Hex kept his palmtop.
    He gave a thumbs-up sign and climbed into the jeep. ‘Oh, I nearly forgot,’ he said, rummaging through his briefcase and pulling out a slim black box. ‘Since I’m not going to be around for a few days, you need to hand this tracker unit over to Philippe before you set off on your trip. That way he can find you if anything goes wrong. You are all wearing your trackers, aren’t you?’
    ‘Yes, Uncle,’ sighed Amber, reaching up and stuffing the tracker device into the door pocket of the Unimog.
    ‘Let me see.’
    Wordlessly, Alex, Paulo and Hex lifted their shirts and pointed to their belt buckles, while Amber and Li hooked out the lockets they were wearing around their necks. The buckles and the lockets all carried concealed tracker devices within them.
    ‘And you have your insulin? Your blood-sugar testing kit?’ continued John Middleton, looking at Amber.
    ‘Uncle! I may be a diabetic, but I’m all growed up. You don’t need to keep checking up on me!’
    John Middleton merely raised his eyebrows and waited.
    ‘It’s all in here,’ sighed Amber, pointing to the pouch at her belt. ‘Wanna make sure my hands are clean, too?’ she added sweetly.
    ‘OK,’ grinned John Middleton. ‘I’ll get out of your hair.’
    ‘Let’s go see what’s happening in the square,’ said Amber, once they had waved the plane off. ‘You coming, Khalid?’
    Khalid hesitated. ‘No, I stay here,’ he said, gesturing to the loaded Unimog. ‘I sleep here. Under. I guard.’
    ‘It’ll be safe here, Khalid,’ said Alex.
    Khalid shrugged. ‘I stay.’
    ‘You’re just scared we might leave you behind,’ teased Li and Khalid gave her a broad smile.
    ‘Do you think he’ll be OK out here on his own?’ asked Amber as Alpha Force headed away towards the centre of the daria.
    ‘He won’t be