Chapter 14

How my father had managed to persuade his companions to let him go with me the next day, I did not quite know, but I had an inkling, that it had something to do with Harris. We set out early, the sun had barely risen over the hills, and reached our destination about an hour later. In the golden glow of the early sun, the ruins, build in the local yellow sandstone, looked stunning. Wind and sand had polished their surface and while in consequence, it had destroyed and wall paintings or carvings, it had produced a beautifully smooth surface – at least on two sides, obviously the direction from where the wind usually blew.

The little marker we had left on the spot where we had found the body, was almost invisible under the pile of sand which had gathered around it and grown slowly over the last couple of days. It must have been equally quick with the body, if not quicker for its larger bulk.

I have to say, I felt uneasy entering the place, not so much for me, but more for my father, though he had assured me, that he was well used to danger. I hoped he knew what he was getting himself into in this instance. Though knowing him, he presumably did. After all, he was the one who had been living here for almost two decades, not me.

Finding the bullet hole again, I determined from what direction the shot must have come, and that had it been directed at the dead man, it must have missed his upper torso, which could either mean he had been moving or that the shooter had been a bad one. The former was more likely, though I kept the latter in mind. There was but one wall behind which the killer could have hidden at that point, and I was sure he had done so. I climbed over the low structure and found myself in a rather tiny enclosure that was blocked off on all sides by walls of varying height, as at one point the lintel of what must have been the doorway, had come down together with parts of the roof and now obstructed the only way in that had been there in ancient times. And fortunately for me, the wind did hardly reach here, meaning that no sand had piled up in it. I took out the sieve, Aldwin had suggested we should take and began sifting through the loose sand and quickly found what I had been looking for – a bullet casing. I had been right, this had indeed been where the shooter had sat. I also found a couple of cigar stumps, though they were a brand unfamiliar to me. I pocketed my findings before climbing out of the small space again trying to make out, where the now dead man must have walked.

"Sherlock!" my father suddenly hissed, and with a strained face pointed in the direction of Luxor.

In some distance, I could see three men approach on horseback with some speed, or rather as if the devil was after them. Immediately I tensed, repercussions of my adventure at the Reichenbach-Fall resurfacing. That was not good at all. Pulling my father aside, we ducked behind another low wall and waited anxiously for what would happen. Needless to say, that we had not gone unarmed, as, in the light of what must have happened here, it would have been close to suicidal. Not that it was much better now, truth be told. If we left the ruins now, there would be no place to hide for more than a mile around. We had to stay, cost what it may.

The closer the group came, the more familiar they seemed to me, till at last, I recognised not only McKenna and Harris but also Lord Warbrook, whom I had met down at the casino two nights ago. For a moment I was speechless, never had I considered the possibility of either of my travelling companions were in on the crime.

But before the thought could become a certainty, one of the men, I think it was Harris, cried out: "Don't shoot! We are here to warn you and to help you. You have been set up and as it looks at the moment, you are in at the deep end of things. They are about a half-mile behind us, perhaps a bit more, but not by much."

And indeed, there, seemed to be a group of about five men, that appeared to have been hard on their heels, previously hidden by one of the shallow dunes around here.

"They are coming from the other side as well," McKenna panted, jumping off his horse and seeking shelter.

"Then you are crazy to have come here," I gasped, touched by their unexpected camaraderie.

"You have asked me once, how I came to be here, and now I will give you my answer, Mr Sigerson. I have come here to find out, what has happened to my brother, who had the honour to fight and fall alongside General Gordon. But I have to admit, that till now I have had little success," Harris replied. "I have heard rumours, but never anything definite."

"And you?" my father turned towards Lord Warbrook.

"Oh, I think I was just bored of my insignificant existence."

"Well, then let us hope it will be boring no longer," I replied wryly, wondering if I really could trust the man or not.

"Actually, it was Lord Warbrook who tipped us off." McKenna chimed in.

"Yes, I did. I happened to see, that one of Luton's men was lingering around the place you are staying in and after your inquiries the other night, I thought it of some significance. And when there is the Colonel involved, it hardly ever bodes well."

"Let me guess, you have had some trouble with him as well?" my father inquired, looking equally doubtful as I felt.

"Yes," was all the noble man's reply.

After that, the conversation ceased as we waited breathlessly for what might become of us, though there was the advantage that while our pursuers were out in the open we were, at least till the first shot fell, well hidden. Sneaking around the wall, I glanced over towards the other side to see whether McKenna's information was correct, which unfortunately it was. Two more men approached from there – on foot. Not much of a surprise considering that they must have come by boat. They were worryingly close.