Glenn Meade by The Sands of Sakkara (html) Read Free Book Online Page B

now.'
    'But you're disappointed she
didn't give us a straight answer.
    I can tell.'
    'Sure I am. It prolongs the torture.
But why don't we wait and see what happens, and try not to dwell on it.'
    Haider forced a smile. 'That's the
engineer in you speaking.
    Even when you're upset in love,
the practical side takes over. And maybe you're right. I wish I could be like
that, but God, I'll miss her. It was such a terrific time, and it's a pity it
all has to come to an end. I've had the best time of my life in her company.'
    Weaver picked up the champagne
bottle, refilled their glasses. 'Change the subject. When are you leaving
Cairo
?'
    'Tuesday. I'm flying home. I
haven't much choice - I've been conscripted.'
    Weaver was dumbstruck. 'So that's
what your letter was about?’
    'I'm afraid so.' Haider shrugged.
'You know my father's family come from a long line of Prussian officers, some
of them founders of the military academy. They'd turn in their graves if I
ignored the call.'
    Weaver put a hand on Haider's
shoulder. 'You should have told me, Jack. It just all seems so sudden. I'll be
worried about you.'
    'To be honest, I didn't want to
spoil the last couple of days by mentioning it. And I've been trying my best to
put it to the back of my mind. But don't worry about me. With my background,
I'll probably land a boring desk job.'
    'Do you really believe it'll be
over by Christmas, Jack?
    Rachel said you thought so.'
    Haider nodded firmly. 'I think it
will. Ordinary Germans don't want another war. Too many of them remember how
bad the last one was. I'm pretty sure common sense will prevail in the end. And
what about you? What will you do?'
    'Right now, I feel kind of
footloose. Professor Stern suggested there's still a little clearing up to be
done at Sakkara before the site's handed over to the Egyptians, so I
volunteered to help, along with a couple of the others. I've also had an offer
tonight to join a desert expedition, so maybe I'll stay on for a while, and
even try to learn more of the language.
    Besides,
America
declared its neutrality. We've no part in this war.'
    'Good for you. Let's just hope it
all settles down soon. But the thing about it is, the whole world's gone
crazy.'
    'What do you mean?'
    'The war's already sort of started
to intrude. The rumour's been going around that the British dug up a German
radio transmitter hidden in a field along the
Pyramids Road
. It seems there are spies
already at work in
Cairo
.'
    Weaver nodded. 'I know about the
rumour. But what's that got to do with anything?'
    'After we heard the declaration of
war on the radio over a week ago, I actually overheard one of the British in
our group claim that Rachel and I, and all the other Germans on the dig, were
really enemy agents and up to no good. Did you ever hear such garbage? I mean,
her mother's Jewish for a start. And Professor Stern loathes the Nazis.'
    'And what do you think of the
Nazis, Jack?'
    It was the first time they had
ever discussed politics, and Haider was mildly surprised. The? I love my
country, but I think you'll have guessed by now I haven't got much time for
Hitler.'
    'You mean because of
Poland
? Or
because of what he's doing to the Jews? All these race laws and prison camps
and deportations we've been hearing about.'
    'Both. And I've no time for that
sort of cruel behavior, and nor do so many decent-minded Germans. And we've
been friends long enough for you to know I wouldn't condone the kind of laws
the Nazis have enacted against the Jews, or the way Hitler has banished so many
of them from Germany. But it's not only that. Hitler talks too loudly and
hasn't a single ounce of humor. Always a bad combination, especially in an
Austrian.'
    Haider smiled faintly. 'I'm afraid
he's also an arrogant bore. And most important of all, he has the makings of a
tyrant. And all tyrants are cowards in the end. Which is why I think he'll back
down before it really does go too far.'
    'I