Edward Whittemore - Nile Shadows

Joe heard the movement behind him. The owner brought over the two little cups of coffee and placed them on the table, a disheveled man with puffy eyes. As soon as he had left them, Liffy leaned forward.

I was afraid I'd missed you. Something's happened.

What?

Ahmad, whispered Liffy. I came to see you late last night when I finished work. I didn't think you'd be all night and I was going to wait in your room, but I never got there. Ahmad wasn't at his desk when I walked in and there was something wrong, I could feel it. There didn't seem to be anybody there.

Joe gripped his hands together under the table.

You looked around?

Not inside, I didn't like it. Then I thought he might be out back in the courtyard and I went around and climbed up to look in.

Liffy's hands were trembling. He lowered his eyes. Joe stared.

Ahmad, whispered Liffy. He was lying there all crumpled up. It looked as if he had fallen off the roof. His spyglass was still in his hand and his trombone was beside him.

A spasm jerked in Joe's stomach.

Dead?

He was lying the wrong way. His legs and his head were all twisted around but his straw hat wasn't there.

I didn't stay, I left and came to wait for you. I've been waiting for hours, I didn't go back. I have no idea what's going on there.

What was he wearing, Liffy?

His faded lavender nightshirt. That old thing he always wears when he's on duty.

Liffy hung his head. He pulled his hands off the table and hid them, his voice trembling.

I know what you're thinking. Ahmad never went up there without putting on his suit, it was his special place after all. And where was his hat, Joe? What happened to his old straw hat?

Liffy's voice cracked. He clutched Joe's arm, begging him, imploring him.

He went up there on a whim? Just decided to do it and leaned out too far. . lost his balance?

Joe closed his hand over Liffy's.

An accident? pleaded Liffy in desperation.

No, said Joe, squeezing Liffy's hand more tightly.

No? Liffy almost shrieked. Just this one time? No?

Joe gripped Liffy's shoulder. Tears were streaming down Liffy's face.

He was pushed? shrieked Liffy in a whisper. A harmless man like Ahmad? But what's the sense of that, Joe? What's the sense of it?

Joe was on his feet. He dropped some coins on the table.

There's no time, I have to leave.

Liffy's head jerked back.

Where are you going?

I have to see someone.

Who?

There was terror in Liffy's eyes.

Who? Say it. I know anyway.

David, whispered Joe.

Liffy leapt to his feet.

I'm going with you, then. I am.

You shouldn't, Liffy, not now. It would be better if you didn't.

Better? David?. . Better?

All right but we have to hurry, whispered Joe, and started down the room toward the shabby curtain separating them from the alley, a sudden image catching Joe's eye as they rushed past the mirror, the vision of a ghostlike figure drifting through the half-light behind him, wild hair streaming and a billowing cloak and a tormented face glowing in the dimness. . Liffy in flight through time. The unworldly figure of Liffy whirling through one of the last of his mysterious incarnations. .

***

The door to Cohen's Optiks was ajar. A bell tinkled when Joe pushed it open. There was no one in the shop.

Another door, half open, led to the workshop in the back where Joe had talked to Cohen. The workshop was also empty, the door at the rear of the workshop closed. Joe knocked, waited, turned the handle.

It was a storeroom, the place where Anna had listened to Joe's conversation with her brother. There were boxes and dusty trays, discarded grinding wheels, a clock on the wall which no longer worked.

Anna sat on a box, staring at the floor. She looked up, bewildered.

I only just heard. . Were you there?

She stared at Joe blankly and he shook his head. She stared at Liffy.

You weren't there?. . Wasn't anybody with him?

No, said Joe softly. What happened?

Oh. Oh a lorry struck him. The police just told me. He was crossing a street. They said it was nobody's fault.

Her face was empty. She stared at the floor. Joe heard a muffled cry beside him and all at once Liffy was on his knees beside Anna, gathering her up in his arms, the two of them rocking back and forth and wailing and crying out. . crying and crying.

Joe looked at the motionless clock on the wall and felt himself sinking. He pressed his eyes shut, too weak to stand, his heart crushed by the eternal sound of their weeping.

***

The tiny Greek church they had sought for refuge was deserted save for the two of them, the floor of the nave bare as was the custom, the few high-backed wooden chairs pushed back against the walls like thrones at a convocation of wary medieval kings. Shouts from playing children pierced the cool darkness.

Liffy sat on his throne with his hands in his lap, the life drained out of him since they had left Anna. Beside him Joe moved uneasily on his throne, thinking how stark the tiny church was without its priest and worshipers, its canticles and incense, with only vanished chants to fill the shadows. Liffy stirred, whispered.

Joe? What are you going to do now?

Well I'm going to try to see Stern tonight, one way or another, but in the meantime I need a sanctuary. In another era this little cave would have been fine, but the concept's no longer honored, sadly. Seems holy places have a way of getting lost over time, don't they, so you always have to be seeking new ones. .

Can you think of a place, Liffy?

A refuge, you mean?

Yes.

Liffy was gazing up at the low dome, at the fresco there depicting the austere figure of Christ as Pantokrator, the Paraclete or Intercessor, the stylized face expressionless, the enormous powerful eyes staring down at them.

You could try old Menelik's mausoleum, whispered Liffy. That would probably be as safe as anywhere.

It might be at that, thought Joe.

But Ahmad kept his forgery equipment there, he whispered. Won't Bletchley think of that?

Liffy stirred.

There's no reason for him to bother with it. There's nothing but a small printing press which runs by hand, so old and battered no one but Ahmad could ever work it. I imagine they'd just leave the place locked and forget about it. It doesn't mean anything to any of them.

Seems likely, thought Joe.

But how could I get in then?

I have a key, murmured Liffy.

You do?

Yes. I had a duplicate made of Ahmad's once. He used to let me borrow his and I was always afraid of losing it.

You used to go there by yourself, you mean?

Sometimes, to get away from everything. Ahmad took pity on me and let me use it. I used to go there to read.

Joe looked at him, surprised.

What did you read down there?

Buber, mostly. It was very quiet and I could feel at peace.

Joe nodded. I've been thinking about the Waterboys, he whispered, wondering if they could help in some way.

Liffy moved on his throne, still gazing up at the dome.

Why them?

Because I doubt they know anything about this, security being what it is. And because there'd have to be some sense of rivalry between them and the Monastery, human nature being what it is. And also because Stern's done work for them in the past, which means they'd have a high opinion of him. And because Maud works there. I know she only does translations, but that still means they'd trust her. Is there any officer there you know particularly well?

The Major, murmured Liffy. He'd be the one to contact. We get along and I think he reports directly to the Colonel, Bletchley's equivalent. In fact I think he's the Colonel's personal assistant. I can give you his private phone number and you could pretend you were me, asking for an emergency meeting. I've never had to set one up in the clear over the phone, but you could do it. We have the arrangement.