Napoleon pushed onward, skirting around the city as it was easier than abandoning the jeep trying to navigate on foot along the narrow and sometimes treacherous streets of Marrakesh often called the red city, though he mused that it's color was closer to ochre.
It would really have been an almost tranquil ride had it not been for the sense of urgency that filled the U.N.C.L.E. agent over finding his partner.
The variety of plant life encompassing the outer walls of the city... giant bamboos, yuccas, palm trees, cypress, pines, cacti were a startling contrast to the desert sands they had recently travelled though.
The air though dry, was filled with the fragrance of flowering countless bougainvilleas, philodendron and rosebushes as they headed towards the city's oldest quarter, the Medina, within it the mysterious Kasbah.
There were many such Kasbahs in Morocco, the most famous one being in the city of Casablanca, thanks to the Bogart movie of the same name, though in fact it was the least memorable of the walled Kasbah citadels that stood in many North African cities and towns.
The homing signal was barely audible now, indicating Illya was on the move again, but at least it was pointing Napoleon in a more definitive direction.
He glanced over at Narcissus, noting that she was being unusually quiet, keeping her thoughts to herself as she held her hajib scarf tightly around her face. They finally reached the outskirts of the Medina, parking the jeep not far from one of the gated entrances.
Napoleon cuffed his Thrush cohort's hands together behind her back; the long sleeves of her robe concealing her jewelry from prying eyes as he took hold of her arm, urging her to walk along side of him while he monitored the tracking device with the smaller unit disguised as his cigarette case in his other hand.
He held it discreetly, trying not to let passersby seeing it or his look of frustration as the signal seemed to be weakening even more.
Napoleon stopped for a moment, looking at the narrow streets, trying to figure out which one to take. He decided on one street to the left and then signal strengthened, then another turn and it suddenly weakened, causing him to backtrack like a rat caught in a maze.
By late afternoon there was still no success at finding his partner and the winds had begun to pick up. He and Narcissus watched as all the merchants and pedestrians on the streets began to pack up, disappearing, pulling their head wear and hijabs tightly about them as the wind began to gust wildly.
"Shit," Napoleon cursed under his breath looking down at the cigarette case as the homing signal had gone dead.
"What? Lost your little sheep again...speaking of sheep, you two don't, you know? I've heard rumors about the Russian, so I wondered if you were the kind that swings both ways."
Napoleon shot her a foul look, but said nothing as his mind was racing, trying to focus on figuring out how to now get back to the jeep. He knew they were lost.
"Illya would never let him hear the end of it if he were here?" He mused to himself, but that thought only served to increase his growing sense of frustration and anxiety at not being able to find his friend.
"Hit a sore spot have I?" She laughed at him, knowing she had dared impugn Napoleon's reputation for his sexual prowess with the ladies.
The hot wind began to blast harder as people now scurried to clear the streets. A young man wearing in a white burnoose spotted the two foreigners as he held a hand on his skull cap, keeping it from blowing off his curly haired head.
He approached them with a look of concern in his eyes, bowing as he offered them a bit of advice in clipped English.
"Begging your pardon Effendi. You both had best seek shelter as quickly as possible as there is a sandstorm approaching. It will be very dangerous to be caught outside when it arrives."
"I'm afraid our vehicle is too far from here," Napoleon said, not wanting to admit they were lost. "Is there anyplace nearby that you could recommend where we might take shelter?"
"Come, if it is agreeable to you, I will take you to my master's house. I am sure he will not mind as he is always interested in speaking with outsiders such as your selves. Sometime he craves news of the world beyond Morocco. He would be cross with me if I did not come to the assistance of those in need of it. Please, come before it is too late...pardon, but I am being rude. I am Karim, servant to Säid Mustapha al-Hamza. His home is not far from here. Come?"
A strong gust of sand-filled wind stung their faces, and with no other option at hand Solo decided to trust the young man at his word. Something in his gut told him the fellow was being honest.
"Thank you Karim, my name is Napoleon and this is... um, my wife Narcissus and we'll gladly accept your kind offer.
She shot Solo a vicious dagger-filled look that if they had been real knives, they he would have been cut to ribbons.
They followed Karim several streets over, down a very narrow walkway to a heavy arched dark wooden door. It was a plain entrance, with the surrounding walls the same ochre color as the rest of the city.
The young man lowered the hood of his burnoose, pounding with his fist, then as a small trap door opened, and once his identity was confirmed; they were given admittance.
The three walked into a large exquisitely designed opened courtyard, encircled by cloistered arches lined with miniature palm trees and flowering greenery in terracotta planters and in the very center of the yard was a tall fluted fountain cascading water down to it's pool inlaid with blue and white mosaic tiles.
The lower portions of the walls were covered with zelliij, glazed multi-colored tiling in an eight pointed star motif, above this was a band of stylized Koranic text that was interwoven with floral designs. Vertical panels of intricately carved plaster stretching above the tiles were decorated with geometric patterns. It was all quite breathtaking and a stark contrast to the simple entrance.
Another gust of wind brought a fine dust with it as it swirled around them.
"Please quickly, I will take you to your rooms where you can bathe, and I will have fresh clothing sent to you. You will have some time to rest, then you will be presented to the master and break bread with him, " Karim bowed, showing the way with a wave of his arm.
They were lead inside to an opulent suite, the floors covered in intricately woven carpets, the walls draped in warm curtains, with ornate brass fanous lanterns suspended from the ceiling, inlaid with red glass, the candle-light emanating from them bathing the room in a warm, seductive glow.
The saffron colored sofas lining the walls were covered in large soft multicolored pillows, and behind sheer pale yellow curtains was a large feather bed. In the center of the room was a tiled bath filled with scented water; delicate lotus flowers floating on the surface.
The windows were shuttered tightly, covered with heavy drapes that protected the interior from the whistling sand-filled winds outside.
"Are you sure this is not overstepping your authority by doing this for us Karim, I'd hate to see you get in trouble with your master?" Napoleon said.
"No Effendi, it is part of our beliefs and considered an act of piety through which one expresses concern for the well being of another. My master observes the poor tax...that which purifies, as it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. My master is a most pious and generous man."
Solo raised his eyebrows then nodded his acknowledgement to Karim as he left; then removed his jacket, loosening his tie; he sat on the edge of the bed. Narcissus stood, glaring at him, not saying a word.
"What's wrong now?"
"Wife, you had to say I was your wife!"
"Well, we needed a good cover, and besides I don't think our host would look kindly upon an unmarried couple sleeping together?"
"He could have given us separate rooms!" she huffed.
"And me let you out of my sight for one minute...not a chance Darling." He proceeded to remove the rest of his clothing, " care to join me in a bath my dear?" He smiled at her, turning on the Solo charm.
She turned her back to him, reminding him that she still wore the handcuffs. "That would be a little difficult with these don't you think?"she looked at him over her shoulder, smiling at him seductively.
Napoleon walked over to her, nuzzling her throat as he reached down, unlocking the cuffs. Narcissus rubbed her wrists, then wrapped her arms around his neck kissing him hard, nibbling on his lip, then drove her tongue into his mouth.
He lifted the galabeya, slipping it effortlessly over her head, then picked her up, carrying her into the bath while holding her in his embrace. They made love in the soft scented water, then drying themselves they moved to the bed, continuing their forbidden dance.
Narcissus moaned loudly as Napoleon drove himself into her again and again until together they climaxed together. She lay there nestled in his arms, finally whispering him. " I have to say, you are all they say you are and then some Napoleon Solo."
"So I've been told." he laughed softly.
"That's rather narcissistic of you...we may have more in common that I thought" she whispered.
"Only repeating what I've been told, but having that in common with you...sorry don't think so." He answered, crinkling his nose.
Narcissus angrily wrenched herself free of his arm, then rose from the bed, pulling the sheet around her.
At that moment a female servant appeared carrying the promised clothing for she and Napoleon.
"Pardon mistress, I bring these from my master, and he bids you to join him once you and your husband are readied." She bowed, averting her eyes as she laid the neatly folded bundle of clothes on a divan by the shuttered window.
Napoleon and Narcissus dressed themselves in the elegantly embroidered galabeya robes, a rich chocolate brown one with leggings for Solo, having orange and yellow stitching around the collar and cuffs, and for Narcissus, a bright yellow dress with gold stitching, and a pale yellow hijab scarf for her head. There were two pairs of pointy-toed babouches...leather slippers for their feet.
Napoleon reminded her not to try anything since her identity had now been established as being his wife, and local custom required that a wife be obedient and silent. Her outspoken nature would not be looked upon kindly by their host even though she was a foreigner and a non-believer.
"If you want to get out of here alive and in one piece, I advise you to behave? Verstehen_understand?" he told her in her native German.
"Natürlich...liebe_ of course...dear." She answered coldly.
She stood by the door to their room fussing with her head scarf, then crossed her arms in front of her, tapping her foot impatiently on the floor.
"In a rush?"
"Tsk" she clicked her tongue at him." I'm hungry."
Napoleon rolled his eyes at her, then checked the tracking device one more time, but much to his disappointment there was still no signal.