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ns. At least two thirds of his force is on the offensive. It doesn't make much sense. But it must make sense to _him_, or he wouldn't be doing it." Ostrander said, and to everyone's surprise there seemed to be an element of worry in his voice too, "I know Colonel Midan Ibrahim, met him in Cairo and in Baghdad on various occasions. He's considered one of the best men in the Arab Legion. He doesn't make military blunders." Bey said, "Come on, Kenny. Let's round up Guemama and take a look at the front." He led the way from the tent. * * * * * There was a guard posted before the tent which doubled as press and communications center, and the private quarters of David Moroka. The figure that approached timidly was garbed in the traditional clothing of the young women of the Tegehe Mellet tribe of the Tuareg and bore an _imzad_ in her left hand, while her right held a corner of her gandoura over her face. The guard, of the Kel Rela tribe, eyed the one-stringed violin with its string of hair and sounding box made of half a gourd covered with a thin membrane of skin, and grinned. A Tuareg maid was accustomed to sing and to make the high whining tones of desert music on the _imzad_ before submitting to her lover's embrace. _Wallahi!_ but these women of the Tegehe Mellet were shameless. "Where do you go?" he said gruffly. "El Hassan's vizier has ordered that he is occupied and none should approach." "He awaits me," she wavered. There was _kohl_ about her eyes, and indigo at the corners of her mouth. "We met at the _tendi_ last night and he bid me come to his tent. It is for me he waits." _Wallahi!_ but his leader had taste, the sentry decided. "Pass," he said gruffly. Even a vizier of such importance as this one must need solace at times, he decided philosophically. She slipped past silently to the tent entrance where the Tuareg guard noticed she paused for a long moment before entering. He grinned into his teguelmoust. Aiii, the little bird was timid before the hawk. She stood for a moment listening, and then slipped inside, dropping the desert musical instrument to the ground. Dave Moroka's back was to her and even as she entered he flicked off the switch of the video-radio into which he had been speaking and scowled at it. When he stood and began to turn, she covered him with the small pocket pistol. She had an ease in handling it which denoted competence. His eyebro
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