The Eye of the Serpent Read Online Free PDF Page A

best not to,’ he said, ‘A quite repulsive habit – though of course, in this climate one cannot promise anything.’
    Ethan stared at Coates for a moment as though considering saying something further; but then he shook his head and turned back to Alec. ‘A car like that should cost around a thousand bucks, but these are war surplus models. I picked ’em up for a whole lot less. They were made for driving generals around the battlefields, so they could take a good long look at the destruction they’d caused. Thought I might put ’em to better use.’
    There was a bitterness in his tone, which prompted Alec to ask another question.
    â€˜Were you in the war, Mr Wade?’
    Ethan frowned. ‘Yeah, I saw some action in France – enough to convince me that I never want to get mixed up in anything like that again.’ He glanced up as the two Arab boys camestruggling out of the port exit, each of them bent double beneath the weight of a huge trunk. ‘You guys don’t believe in travelling light,’ he observed, grinning.
    â€˜One has to be prepared for every eventuality, Mr Wade,’ said Coates evenly. ‘After all, it’s not as if we’re just staying overnight.’
    â€˜I guess not. Guys, put the two trunks in behind Mr Randall there.’
    The two Arab boys did as he asked, standing the trunks upright in the back seat, and Ethan rewarded them with a couple of coins apiece. They grinned delightedly and headed back to the port, in search of more customers.
    Ethan turned back to his visitors. ‘Mr Coates, if you’d like to get in beside Mickey, he’ll take you over to the dig and you can get unpacked. Alec can ride with me in the other automobile. There’s a call me and him need to make along the way.’
    Coates looked doubtful. ‘Oh, I’m not sure about that, Mr Wade. My instructions are to keep an eye on Master Alec at all times.’
    â€˜Relax, he’ll be fine with me.’ Ethan glanced at Alec. ‘Is it OK with you?’
    â€˜Umm . . . yes, why not?’ Alec turned to lookat Coates. ‘I’m sure I’ll be safe enough,’ he said.
    â€˜Very well, Master Alec. But be warned, in deviating from the approved procedure you are accepting full responsibility for your own safety.’ Coates climbed into the passenger seat beside Mickey, but he didn’t look at all happy. He was a man who took his instructions very seriously.
    Alec followed Ethan to the other vehicle and got in beside him. ‘What’s his problem?’ muttered Ethan.
    â€˜No problem,’ said Alec. ‘He’s just being Coates.’
    â€˜Guy needs to relax a little.’
    Ethan hit the starter and the car’s powerful engine rumbled into life. They were just about to set off when a shout drew their attention back to the port entrance and they saw the hulking shape of Wilfred Llewellyn, dragging a heavy trunk behind him and even more red in the face than usual.
    â€˜Mr Wade!’ he shouted. ‘Just a moment, please!’
    â€˜Who’s the stiff in the ice-cream suit?’ asked Ethan, and Alec had to make an effort not to laugh.
    â€˜His name’s Wilfred Llewellyn,’ he whispered.‘We met on the boat. Claims he’s a reporter for a paper in Cairo.’
    Ethan scowled. ‘A reporter?’ he muttered. ‘That’s all we need.’ He didn’t appear to have much liking for reporters. ‘Those people have been making life a misery for Howard Carter and his team ever since they found Tut’s tomb. And since Lord Carnarvon died they’ve been inventing all this hokum about some ancient curse. I guess it’s only a matter of time before we get the same treatment.’
    Llewellyn came up and stood beside the Crossley. After his exertion, the sweat was literally pouring from his face. ‘This heat!’ he observed. ‘Quite unreal.’ He