Читать книгу The Sheikh's Bride - Sophie Weston - Страница 6

‘WHAT are we waiting for?’ asked the co-pilot.

The pilot looked down from his cockpit at the Cairo tarmac. In the early morning, the dust was tinged with diamond light and the roofs of the distant airport building gleamed. A couple of men in dark suits were doing an efficient sweep of the apron on which their plane had come to a halt.

‘Security,’ he said briefly.

The co-pilot was new to flying the Sheikh of Dalmun’s private fleet. ‘Do they always go through this?’

The other man shrugged. ‘He’s an influential guy.’

‘Is he a target, then?’

‘He’s megarich and he’s heir apparent to Dalmun,’ said the pilot cynically. ‘Of course he’s a target.’

His companion grinned. His girl-friend regularly brought home royalty watching magazines.

‘Chick magnet, huh? Lucky devil.’

The security men had finished their surveillance. One of them raised a hand and a white stretch limousine came slowly round the plane. The pilot, his cap under his arm, stood up and went to shake hands with the departing passenger.

An early-morning breeze whipped the Sheikh’s white robes as he strode towards the limousine. In spite of the entourage that followed, he looked a lonely figure.

The pilot came back into the cockpit.

‘We’re on stand-by,’ he said briefly.

Other cars arrived. The security team swung into them then the limousine drew away, flanked by its guardians.

The pilots sat back, waiting for an escort to the plane’s final parking place.

‘What’s he doing here?’ asked the co-pilot idly. ‘Business or pleasure?’

‘Both, I guess. He hasn’t been out of Dalmun for months,’ said the older man unguardedly.

‘Why?’

The pilot didn’t answer.

‘I heard there was a bust up. His old man wanted him to marry again?’

‘Maybe.’ A second monosyllabic answer.

‘So what do you think? Has he been let out to find himself a bride?’

The pilot was betrayed into indiscretion. ‘Amer el-Barbary? A bride? When hell freezes over.’