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.The object was Jeff s un-kempt and abused head.He got his shoulders throughthe hole and then slumped forward, arms outstretched.If it was a stratagem, to force George to bend overto help him, it failed.George moved even farther backtoward Dinah.Cartwright s voice was heard in peremp-tory comment from beyond he must have his facedown on the level of the hole.Jeff twitched and beganto drag himself on through.Dinah ran to him, carelessof George s knife, and as she threw her arms aroundhis sagging body she promised herself that, not evenwhen talking in her sleep, would she mention thatnasty doubt.It took Cartwright longer to come through with hisburden.He had brought a sort of knapsack in whichto transport the boxes; as he tossed them carelesslyinto the container, Jeff was roused to comment. You ll smash them, dammit.Be careful. I think not.Someone was kind enough to pack themwell. Cartwright picked up the last box and weighedit casually in his hand. This is the one, isn t it? Don tbe coy, dear fellow; I saw Layard s translation.Amaz-ing document.I m rather interested myself, thoughHoly Writ isn t exactly my thing.Wonder if they llpublish or suppress it? 350 / ELIZABETH PETERSJeff groaned, expressivo, and Dinah felt a faint stabof irritation.So, he had placed her life even ten extraminutes of her life above his precious scrolls.Still,the prospect of damage to them produced more visiblesigns of distress than any of Cartwright s other threats.Cartwright rose to his feet, holding the precious box.His eyes glittered wickedly. I enjoy the look on your face, Smith, when I wavethis thing around.If I dropped it, the box might open,and then& But I haven t time for any more games.George, go on down.I ll lower the knapsack to you.Don t want to take any chances with the loot. The Bedouin slouched toward the cave mouth.Di-nah s heart speeded up.This was the time, as soon asthe Arab was out of the cave on his way down the cliff.If Cartwright looked out again& Then she saw the gunin his hand and knew, with a sickening certainly, thatthey would be dead before George s feet touched theground.George lowered himself out.Then it happened.Thecrash was so loud Dinah was deafened by it.It tookher several seconds to realize that the rumble ofrock not just a trickle of small stones, but tons of it,falling straight down had been mingled with a humanscream; and that the light pouring into the cave THE DEAD SEA CIPHER / 351was now golden and unobstructed, the rays of thesunset over the western cliffs.A dark form appearedat the mouth of the cave, swinging in midair like Super-man.Cartwright s gun, which had been wavering un-certainly, swung up toward the hovering form.Super-man fired first three neatly placed shots, whichdropped Cartwright like a stone.Then the danglingfigure caught the upper rim of the new opening withone hand and swung itself into the cave. You are not hurt? he asked, with concern. I amso glad. Dr.Kraus, Dinah said.He didn t look like the same man.The horn-rimmedglasses were gone, and the body that had looked limpand chubby now seemed like that of a man of stockybuild who had developed his muscles like Atlas. So you were the one, Jeff said. One? The doctor looked puzzled.Another dark shape came into view from above.Itdescended more slowly, hand over hand; now Dinahcould make out the thin black line of the rope.Thedoctor reached out a chivalrous hand and helpedMartine to enter.She greeted Dinah with a lazy smileand clucked sympathetically at Jeff. Not you two? Jeff gasped. 352 / ELIZABETH PETERS Two? The doctor said.The third member of the party to arrive was René.Jeff sat down on the floor. I m not going to say it, he muttered.It was like the stage version of Peter Pan, everybodyflying in.Or an avant-garde play, with the membersof the cast entering by a rope in the middle of the stage.Dinah counted them as they came. Where s Mrs.Marks? she asked dreamily, whenthe assemblage seemed to be complete. At Khirbat Qumran with the car. It was Drogenwho spoke; he looked as bland and unruffled as if hehad just stepped out of his office. She was so worriedfor you.& Why, my dear young people, you did notthink that sweet innocent old lady was how shall Isay it playing a part? No, no, she is precisely whatshe says she is; the widow of a clergyman, on a senti-mental pilgrimage; it is the fiftieth anniversary of hermarriage. Jeff s mouth opened and emitted an odd gurglingsound.Frank Price, who had been the last one to ar-rive, following his leader as usual, stepped forward. I expect you want some water, he said primly. Itwas careless of you to go off without it. Dinah took the canteen he offered her, and THE DEAD SEA CIPHER / 353drank.The bliss of liquid, even this rather tepid stuff,in her parched throat, momentarily distracted her.Shehanded it to Jeff, and then tried to gather her wits to-gether.There they stood, crammed into the little chamber,all smiling as benevolently as a wedding party. You re all spies, she said indignantly. All of youexcept Mrs.Marks.And Cartwright was one too.Iseverybody in the whole world& Who are you peopleworking for? Do not mistake, said Martine scornfully. We donot work, as you say, for the same interests.We cometogether in this, only this, because our aim is the same. Drogen cut in, with a warning look at the girl. The young lady is quite correct
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