"Yes." She watched him settle down with his computer before she punched in Allie's number. She braced herself as Allie picked up the phone. "Don't start arguing with me, Allie. You're not going to change my mind."
"Oh, no. You never change your mind, do you?" Allie's voice was hard and tense. "You just go your own way and let me worry. Don't you do it, Rachel."
"Simon told you why I'm here? Of course, he did. Then you must realize that I have to do this."
"I don't realize any such thing. It's crazy. You're clutching at straws and wasting your time. Our time. Stop this and come home, dammit."
"There's a chance. It's a long shot, but I have to take it. I'll come home as soon as I can. Understand, Allie."
"I don't understand. You were almost killed a few days ago, and now you're traipsing all over the Middle East. It's not safe there. What if someone decides to take another potshot at you?"
"There's no reason for anyone to try to shoot me. That was just a random screwball incident."
"You don't know that."
Rachel couldn't argue. "I don't believe there was a connection."
"And I suppose someone blowing up this tomb was a random incident, too."
"If someone is willing to commit a crime to get their hands on that cure, there must be some value to it. That's only logical."
"The hell it is. And what about this Tavak? What kind of man is he?"
Rachel's gaze moved to Tavak across the gate area. His expression was focused, absorbed as he studied his computer screen. She was once again aware of the intelligence and intensity that radiated from him. "He's… different."
"That's a nice side step." Allie paused and Rachel could practically feel her frustration in that silence. "I'm not getting through to you, am I?"
"I have to do this, Allie. If I get to a point that I don't see any hope of finding that tablet, or if I discover the whole thing is bogus, I'll stop. You may have given up, but I can't."
"I can see that you won't. And I can't talk to you any more right now, Rachel. Good-bye."
"Please. I didn't mean to upset you, Allie."
"That's pretty lame. Of course, I'm upset. But I shouldn't worry, I shouldn't let anything real touch me. I should go to bed and let you ward off the whole damn world for me." Allie's voice was shaking. "Now you listen to me. All this risk taking can't go on. I can't take it. You be careful. Nothing is going to happen to you because you have the bad luck to be my sister." She hung up.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
Rachel hung up the phone and stared out the huge windows at the planes on the runways. The conversation hadn't been any worse than she had thought it would be, but it still hurt. Even more because she could understand where Allie was coming from. Well, she had made her decision, and she wasn't about to change it. Try to forget Allie for the time being.
No way. Allie was always with Rachel, and she wouldn't have it any differently. She was the only person in Rachel's life whom she loved, and she wasn't going to let her go. She'd let her sister cool down for a few days, then call her again and try to smooth things over. Maybe she'd have good news by that time.
She got to her feet and moved quickly toward Tavak. She needed Tavak to help her, and she'd run him ragged until she got every bit of information and assistance she could wring out of him.
"Tavak."
He looked up, and it took him a few seconds to clear his mind from the problem in front of him. "Done? Dinner?"
"Yes. I'm hungry."
He studied her and then smiled. "Yes, you are. In more ways than one. I've already sent Natifah's transcription to you, and that should fill one need." He stood up. "But let's feed this urgent and particular appetite at once."
* * *
"She won't listen." Allie turned to Letty after hanging up the phone. "She's going to get herself killed. What the hell have I done to her?"
"You haven't done anything," Letty said quietly. "And I won't have you blaming yourself because Rachel is world-class stubborn. She can't help how she feels, and you've just got to cope."
"If I get the chance." Her lips tightened. "No, I will get the chance. I'll see to it." She went over to the portrait of Rachel she'd been working on before the call. She'd done it from a sketch because Rachel never had time to pose. She'd caught her in the garden, and her expression was thoughtful, not smiling, but all the intelligence and intensity and emotion that was Rachel was in that painting.
I love you, dammit. Listen to me.
She drew a deep breath and picked up the brush. Patience.
She'd gotten through a hell of a lot in her life. She could get through this and come out on top.
Work. Plan. Get ready.
* * *
Rachel opened the Natifah file as soon as they were airborne for Paris.
I greet you. I am Natifah, chief aide to the great physician Peseshet, and I write as commanded by my honorable lady. A terrible crime has been done against Peseshet and all my sister physicians. They died at the hands of Pharaoh's soldiers, and I only escaped because I was still in Babylonia doing my lady's bidding. She knew that Pharaoh might act against her and sent me word to stay out of the kingdom and hide from his wrath. But she also ordered me to preserve her story and all the work she had spent her life creating.
She knew there would be no tomb to shelter her body and no earthly goods to take with her on her soul's journey to the afterlife. Her image was struck off every wall in the kingdom, and I burn with anger when I think of it. No one deserved an honorable burial and the respect and glory in life than my lady. Who else could save the dying that no one else could save? Who else could make the lame walk? The gods sent her to shine her light upon the kingdom, and she became the sunrise of the world.
She told me to hide her cures and medicines only until it was safe to release them to the people. When will that be in a kingdom that strikes down one such as Peseshet? So I have hidden them well so that no one will find them without great labor and greater wisdom. The gods know that there is not a quantity of either in this kingdom. I have spent six years setting the puzzle of five in place so that if I am also killed, Peseshet's command has a chance of being fulfilled. Her work may be lost, but only until wisdom and sanity return to the kingdom.
And, by the gods, I will find a way to honor her and let all know her glory.
Below I have told in detail my lady's story and shown a little of her great wisdom of healing. Seek the rest yourself. Peseshet told me that all that was worthwhile in life came from within.
Believe her.
Honor her.
Rachel scanned the rest of the transcript. It was basically the story of Peseshet that Tavak had already told her but with many more details. Following it was a list of ailments and her cures for them and her accomplishments in healing. She had outlined treatment options for tumors, chest pains, breathing problems, and sleeplessness, among a multitude of other things.
She glanced at Tavak sitting next to her. "My God, some of these cures Natifah listed are astonishing. They could refer to cancer, heart disease, diabetes… "
He nodded. "I told you that I was hoping for more than that single tablet that you're interested in. What do you think of Natifah?"