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Sabah was calht air “Like you suspected, Aziz has reneged on his pro us”

A flicker of light reached them from the distance Out on the horizon, near the coast, a line of thunderstorun to form The rains had not yet pressed inland, but soon the desert would begin to feel the relief of unexpected showers; the final proof of his brilliance And yet things were threatening to fall apart on the very cusp of victory

“Aziz is a traitor,” Jinn said, his face expressionless

“He is a man with his own interests,” Sabah counseled “Like all men, he follows those that profit him You would do well not to take offense personally”

“Those who break their vows offend ive?”

“The politics of Egypt,” Sabah said “Thethere for fifty years, including the s are still in tur power, and it’s dangerous for thesecular these days Especially an outsider”

“But our progra life to their deserts as well as ours”

“Yes,” Sabah said “But they have the dam at Aswan, and the water in Lake Nasser behind it They don’t need e offer as much as the others do Besides, Aziz is not a si the rain or you can withhold it But if you bring it for the others who pay, it will fall on his country just the same”

Jinn considered this It was unavoidable “I am more than he suspects,” Jinn insisted “I will force his hand”

“I warn you, Jinn, he will not turn”

“Then I will take e”

Sabah did not seem pleased by this “Perhaps this is not the time to make new enemies At least until we have dealt with the Americans You know they’ve found evidence of the horde on the daed sailboat”

“Yes,” Jinn said, displeased with the news “They are now hunting for Marchetti He is their prime suspect”

“They will find him easily,” Sabah said “These people from NUMA are determined They will not hesitate to confront him”

“Of what concern is that to us?” Jinn said His words dripped with arrogance and self-assuredness