The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-08-28
The Road to Bagdad

route into the darkness, the in
quietude that Camilla had been
aware CT since last she had seen
Ronald Barker seemed to grow
with the miles.
From the railroad station at Je-
rusalem to a modern hotel in
bright colors with porte-co-
here and bell-boys in fake Turk
ish costumes. At the desk she
found what she was locking for
note from Ronnie-but she did
not open it until she reached her
own room.
"Come to the stall of Amaziah
in David Street. Next to the
oranges on the right side, going
east from the Jaffa gate. Bring a
guide and ask for Ali Afdal."
No signature-not even an mi
tial. She glanced att her wrist
watch. Ten o'clock. She took Slim
into her confidence and he volun-
teered at once. He said he didn't
need a guide. He knew the dump.
Asad had disappeared, probably
on one of his mysterious missions
to some mosque or high Arabian
dignitary. For this she was thank
full, taking coffee with Slim and
hurrying off in a taxi after maxi
ing sure they were not observed
! or followed.
At David's Tower Slim and Ca
milla dismissed the taxi and went
on foot into a narrow street little
more than an alley, a dark street
of shadows striped with sunlight,
with narrow archways leading
into dark passages, others leading
to little courtyards with glimpses
of palms and bright sunlight be-
yond the gloom.
When she mentioned the name
of Ali Afdal his face broke into
a hundred wrinkles and became
what he intended to be a smile.
and then he made a gesture, cali
Afdal-yes, pointing to a door
beside him, an ancient wooden
door letting into wall that
seemed to protect garden.
There were olive trees in the
garden and stone pedestals OF
what had once been a temple. AS
she entered a figure rose from a
bench and greeted her-an Arab
she thought, and was about to
ask him where Ali Afdal was
when the Arab behind his stains
and robes was suddenly Ronald
Barker himself.
He embraced her eagerly, ex-
planning that he had remained IN
native costume since she had seen
him last, for he had heard in Cal
no that theer were other Arabs
in Jerusalem determined to des-
troy him.
cts worse than I thought" he
muttered, shaking his h e d
"Asad's crowd has been too clev-
er for me. But at least I can now
move with my eyes open. DID
Asad ask you any questions about
me?"
Eyes, lots. But he didn't get the
right answers"
"Where is Asad now" he asked
81 don't know. He disappeared
from the railway station in a taxi
I haven't seen him since"
"Who brought you here?"
"Slim."
'Where is he now"
"Just a few steps away in the
tobacconist's, watching. He's been
real friend to you and to me-
They had been talking in low
cred tones, but as she sat beside
him he now spoke almost in q
whisper. "Camilla, Pm going into
a situation of considerable diff
Guilty. 1 think it's safer for you
not to be connected with me in
any way. If I had my wish I'd
prefer to send you by train down
to Haifa."
"Nonsense, Ronnie. I'm perfect
ly capable Of protecting myself"
I'm not sure Of that. I could
provide you with police escort
wherever you go, but the sight of
our constabulary stirs up trou-
BILE"
She was awake now to the seri-
business of his tone and manner.
''What makes you think some
thing will happen to our party?'
MANY things. Since the Bri-
fish took charge, the Arabs dis
like Americans, too. The French
Foreign Legion doesn't interfere
with them so long as they break
no laws. Camilla, you've got to
understand that Syria isn't Egypt
or even Palestine. Syria has a