"Damn you, Jake Barton. I don't have to answer to you or to anybody," she said softly.
"Right," he said. "Quite right. You're a big girl now but just remember that you're playing with the big boys. And some of them play very rough."
"Is there any charge, counsellor?" She looked up at him defiantly, and then she saw the look in his eyes and the anger shrivelled within her.
"I don't want to fight with you, Vicky," he said softly.
"That's the last thing in the world I want to do." He swallowed the last of his coffee. "Well," he said, "back to work.
"You give up easily, don't you?" Vicky didn't realize she had spoken until the words were out, and then she wanted them back but Jake cocked an eye, at her, and he grinned that big boyish grin of his.
"Giving up?" Now he laughed aloud. "Oh, lady! If you believe that then you do me wrong, - a grave injustice." And he moved slowly towards where she sat and stood over her.
The laughter faded from his voice and from his eyes as he spoke in a new husky tone.
"You really are very lovely."
"Jake." She held his eyes. "I wish I could explain but I just don't understand myself" He touched her cheek and stooped down to her. "No, Jake, please don't-" she said and made no effort to avoid his lips, but before they touched hers, there was the -urgent sound of galloping hooves, coming up through the forest.
The two of them drew slowly apart, still watching each other's eyes and Gregorius Maryarn rode into the camp on a shaggy little mountain pony.
"Jake," he called, sliding down off the saddle. "It's war! It's begun! The Italians have crossed the Mareb. Gareth has just told my grandfather."
"The timely messenger," murmured Vicky, but her voice was a little shaky, and her smile lopsided.
"I've come to help you fix my car, Jake. We must be ready to fight," called Gregorius, and tossed his reins to the servant who followed him.
"Let's get to work. There is little time my grandfather has called all his commanders to a war council at noon. He wants you there."
Gregorius turned away and hurried to the gutted hulk of Tenastelin. For a moment longer Jake stood over Vicky, and then he shrugged with resignation.
Just remember," he threatened her mildly, "I don't give up, and he followed Gregorius.
An hour later they had stripped the gearbox and spread its component parts on a sheet of clean canvas. Jake rocked back on his heels.
"Well, grand pappy has cooked his goose," he said, and Gregorius apologized solemnly.
"He is a very impetuous gentleman, my grandfather."
"It's getting on towards noon." Jake stood up. "Let's go down and hear what next he has in store for us, that impetuous gentleman." The Ras's encampment was set a little apart from the main body of his army, and housed only his personal entourage. There were at least two acres of hastily erected tukuLs, made of sapling frames covered with a range of material from thatch to flattened paraffin cans. Through this encampment wandered the naked snotty-nosed children and the Ras's multitudinous female retainers, together with goats, mangy dogs, donkeys, and camels.
The Ras's tent was set up in the centre of this community. It was a large marquee, patched so often that little of the original canvas was visible. His bodyguard was grouped protectively at the entrance.
Beyond the Ras's tent was a large area of open sandy ground, almost completely covered by rank upon rank of patiently squatting warriors.
"My God," exclaimed Jake. "Everyone gets to the war council."
"It's the custom," explained Gregorius. "All may attend, but only the commanders may speak." To one side, separated from the Harari troops by a small space of beaten earth and centuries of rankling hostility, were the Galla contingent, and Vicky pointed them out to Jake.
"Pretty bunch," he murmured. "With allies like that, who needs enemies?" Gregorius led them directly to the Ras's tent, and the guards stood aside for them to enter. The interior was dark and hot, redolent with the smell of the rank native tobacco and spiced food. At the far end of the tent, a knot of silent men squatted in a tense circle about two figures the Ras, swathed in dark woollen robes, and Gareth Swales in a light silk shirt and white flannels.
For a moment Jake thought that the two central figures were deeply immersed in planning the strategy and defence of the Sardi Gorge then he saw the neat piles of paste, board spread out on the golden Afghanistan rug between them.
"My God," said Jake. "He took me at my word." Gareth looked up from the fan of cards he held in his right hand.
"Thank God." His face showed obvious relief. "I only wish it had been an hour earlier."
"What's the trouble."
"This old bastard is cheating," said Gareth, with barely suppressed outrage quivering in his voice. "He has caught me for almost two hundred quid this morning.
I'm utterly appalled, I must say. They obviously have no scruples, these people-" and here Gareth glanced at Gregorius, no offence meant, of course. But I must admit I am staggered." And the Ras nodded and grinned happily, his eyes sparkling with triumph, as he waved Jake and Vicky to a seat on a pile of cushions beside him.
"If he's cheating don't play with him," suggested Vicky, and Gareth looked pained.
"You don't understand, old girl. I haven't been able to figure how he's doing it. He's invented a method new to science and the gambling halls of the world. He might be an absolutely unscrupulous old rogue, but he must be some sort of genius as well. I've just got to keep on playing with him until I work out his system." Gareth's doleful expression became radiant. "My God, when I do Monte Carlo here I came!" He discarded a six of spades. The Ras leapt upon it with a cackle of triumph and began laying out his hand.
"Oh my God," groaned Gareth. "He's done it again." The tense group of counsellors and elders around the game exploded in a delighted burst of cheers and felicitations, and the Ras acknowledged their congratulations like a victorious prizefighter. Grinning and snuffling he leaned across the rug and with a loud cry of "How do you do!" he punched Gareth's arm playfully, and Gareth winced and massaged the limb tenderly.
"He does that every time he wins. He's got a touch like a demented blacksmith I'm black and blue."
"How do you do!" cried the \ Ras again, louder than before, and he shaped up to punch once more, but Gareth hastily produced his purse, and the Ras relaxed.
"He keeps punching until I pay." Gareth counted out the coins, while the Ras and his followers watched in heavy-breathing concentration, which only broke into smiles and laughter again when the pile of coins in front of Gareth reached the stipulated amount. "No credit in this game," Gareth explained, as he shoved the money across.
"Cash on the nail, or you get your arm broken. This old bastard Gareth glanced again at Gregorius, I no offence, of course.
But this old bastard wouldn't trust his own mother, probably with good reason. I'm absolutely appalled! I've met some shockers in my time but this chap takes the biscuit." There was a deep respect in Gareth's tone, which changed to mild alarm as the Ras gathered the cards preparatory to the next deal, and he turned to Gregorius.
"Please explain to your dear grandfather that, though I'd be delighted to accommodate him at a future date, I do think he should now concentrate a little of his skills on confounding the common enemy.
The armies of Italy are waiting. Reluctantly, the Ras laid the cards aside and, with a sharp speech in Amharic, put the war council into session, then immediately turned to Jake Barton.
"My grandfather wishes to know the state of his armoured squadron.
He is impressed with the cars, and is certain that they can be used to great advantage."
"Tell him that he has wrecked a quarter of his armoured squadron. We've got three runners left." The Ras showed no remorse at this rebuke, but turned to his commanders and launched into a long vivid account of his exploits as a driver, his wide gestures describing the speed and dash of his evolutions. The account was punctuated by loyal exclamations of wonder from his officers, and it was some minutes before he turned back to Jake.