Chapter 13

André's first instinct was to see Indiya's reaction to the news from the radio. Her jaw dropped, and she looked up at both him and Robert in shock, as if she could somehow relate to the two of them.

But there was no connection there. André did not know Zahi Hawass, or the others that had been kidnapped.

"Don't jump to conclusions," he whispered, noting that they were still in the hallway. "The fact that they have word doesn't mean anything in all actuality."

"There is some truth to that," Langdon added.

"For the sake of Egyptology I hope that both of you are right," she said, looking back down at the radio.

André grabbed it from her hands. "There has got to be a way to turn the volume down."

"Just don't turn it off," Indiya said. "We need to hear what's going on."

A rush a footsteps came from somewhere down the hall and another Egyptian guard passed down a hallway parallel to them. Before they could react he had seen them standing there, fumbling with the radio.

His expression signaled that he was about to yell out to other guards. André beat him to it.

"Allez," André spitted out, and he turned in the opposite direction, pushing his feet against the Egyptian Museum's marble hallways. The clacking of his shoes as he ran was matched by that of Langdon and Indiya's.

He had no idea where he was going, which made him the worst individual to lead their little scramble. He could hear the guard trotting after them. "Stop!" His accent chased them, but he was not quite fast enough, as he seemed to drop behind. No matter, however, others would certainly hear their fluster of feet.

"Turn left down this hallway," Indiya said between breaths.

André did as instructed, and found himself running down another, similar hallway. "I hope everyone knows that I don't know where I am going."

"Just turn another left at the dead end up ahead," Indiya said, a bit louder this time. André could hear her footsteps catching up with his, while Langdon's seemed to hold on just barely, his were doing the same. The dead end was just ahead, and he hoped that this next turn would be the end.


Indiya practically pushed André down the next hallway, attempting to have him move quicker. The next hallway, however, wasn't a hallway at all, as she had planned. It was a door, leading onto Cairo's streets, meant to serve as an emergency exit.

André ran into the door, pushing it slightly open. Langdon and Indiya did the rest, pressing their hands on the metal and pushing hard at the door's weight. It opened fully within seconds, and they found themselves scrambling ono the streets with everyday passer buyers.

Indiya was quick to look at the exit they had just left. No guards were stationed outside of it, highly stupid of them in her opinion.

"Which way?" Langdon asked.

"Let's go as far down this street as possible," Indiya said. "Keep up with a fast pace."

Their running slowed to a speedy walk, as they wove their way between and around tourists, habitants, and many others. They went on for several blocks, before they ran into a faster escape route.


"I've never been successful at getting an Egyptian taxi," André said, waving his hand out at the line of them.

"Let me do it," Indiya said, stepping in front of him. She raised her hand, and André watched as she eyed a specific driver. His nod to them assured that he would be able to take them to their destination which, at this point in time, was to be determined.

She opened the door and moved back, ushering with her hand for one of the two men to enter first. "I plan to sit between you two so that you don't bicker as much."

"I don't bicker," André said, taking the lead and entering the taxi. She followed, and then Langdon followed her. It was a tight fit, but they all managed to get inside.

"Where are we going?" Langdon asked, turning to the two of them. André was not particularly fond of sharing a taxi with him, or sharing this day with him at all. Was it possible that his being here really caused this newsworthy even? He was not quite, although Mike Pan was convinced.

"I don't know," Indiya said.

André took the initiative to proceed without asking the two of them if it was the best way. He leaned closer to the driver, and spoke, in shoddy Arabic, the location for a building that he had intended to visit later in the day, if this hadn't happened.

"We will go to CNN's Cario Bureau," André said, to both of them. "Without my phone, I have no way of contacting Michael ware. But from there, I will."

"And you think he will know who has or where Zahi is?" Indiya asked, staring at him with her large grey eyes. "With all do respect, he is a journalist, right? Not a member of the CIA."

"Believe me," André said, standing his ground. "He will know what we need to do next."


Author's Note: I apologize for not continuing this sooner. My notes and everything else on my computer was lost due to Hurricane Katrina, and therefore I had no means of continuing it until now. I read back through the entire story again, and noticed several grammar mistakes which I intend to change. I apologize if the mood has shifted slightly; I intend to pick it up again, however.