Villiers pressed a red button. ‘Done.’
Ferguson said, ‘Where are you?’
‘Wouldn’t mean a thing to you, Charles. Marama Rocks, just on the border with the Empty Quarter. I’m on patrol here with a few of my men.’
‘You’ve got a new second-in-command, I hear.’
‘Yes, another Cornet, from the Life Guards this time, named Bobby Hawk. He’s off in the other direction with his patrol. To what do I owe the pleasure?’
‘I’ve just heard that Kate Rashid’s flying in tomorrow.’
‘Well, that’s not unusual. She comes here all the time.’
‘I know, but there’ve been some funny things going on here. I just have a gut feeling, that’s all. Where does she go?’
‘Lands at Hamam, then goes to Shabwa Oasis in the Empty Quarter by helicopter. But you know that, you’ve been there yourself.’
‘Is anything going on there, Tony?’
‘I wouldn’t know. These days I’m forbidden by the Sultan’s decree to go over the border into the Empty Quarter.’
‘Don’t you find that strange?’
‘Not really. All right, I know Kate Rashid has the Sultan by the throat, so I assume that it’s her order, not his. But she’s the leader of the Rashid Bedu and that’s Rashid territory. End of story.’
‘Could there be something going on out there?’
‘Preparing for a revolution, you mean? Come on, Charles, what does she need a revolution for? She’s got everything she wants.’
‘All right, all right, but be a good chap. Scout around, put the word out.’
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