Page 19 of Never
‘Thank you,’ she said, but he got the impression he had merely confirmed something she already knew. She did not look dismayed by the amount, he saw with surprise. So she did have the money.
He added: ‘Half on departure and half in Libya.’
‘Oh.’ She looked thoughtful: she had not known about the instalments.
‘He says that includes food and water and overnight accommodation, but not luxuries. That’s all I know.’
She said: ‘I’m grateful for your kindness.’ She gave that smile again, only this time there was a hint of triumph in the curve of her lips. He realized that despite his efforts she had controlled the entire conversation. Furthermore, she had smoothly extracted the information she needed. She got the better of me, he thought ruefully as she turned away. Well, well.
He got in the car and shut the door.
He started the engine, then watched her walk past the tables under the palm trees, across the filling station, and up to the repair shop.
He wondered whether she would board the bus ten days from today.
He put the car in gear and pulled away.
***
The cigarette seller had clearly not wanted to engage with Kiah, for some reason, and he had acted cold and indifferent, but underneath that she suspected he had a good heart, and in the end he had answered her questions. He had told her where to find Hakim, he had confirmed the price, and he had told her the money was payable in two instalments. She felt more confident now, not being completely ignorant.
She was puzzled by the man. Back at the village he had seemed a typical street vendor, ready to say anything, flatter and flirt and tell lies, just to separate people from their money. But today there had been none of that bonhomie. Obviously it was an act.
She walked to the garage behind the gas station. Three cars were parked outside, presumably being worked on, though one of them seemed beyond repair. There was a pyramid of old bald tyres. A side door of the building stood open. Kiah looked in and saw a small bus with no glass in its windows.
Was this the vehicle that would take people across the desert? Kiah was seized by fear. The journey was long, and people could die. A puncture could be fatal. I must be mad even to think of this, she told herself.
A plump young man in grubby Western clothes slouched into view. She noticed his grigri necklace, made of beads and stones, some of them probably engraved with religious or magical words. It was supposed to protect him from evil and bring suffering to his enemies.
He looked her up and down with a greedy expression. ‘What can I do for this angelic vision?’ he said with a grin.
She knew immediately that she would have to be careful how she dealt with him. Clearly he thought he was irresistible to women, despite his unprepossessing appearance. She spoke politely, hiding the contempt she felt. ‘I’m looking for a gentleman called Hakim. Would that be you, sir?’
‘I am Hakim, yes,’ he said proudly. ‘And all this is mine – the filling station, the repair shop and the bus.’
She pointed at the vehicle. ‘May I ask if this is your desert transport?’
‘It’s a fine vehicle, just serviced and in perfect working order.’ He narrowed his eyes. ‘Why do you ask about the desert?’
‘I’m a widow with no way of making a living and I want to go to Europe.’
Hakim became expansive. ‘I will look after you, my dear.’ He put an arm around her shoulders. An unpleasant smell arose from his armpit. ‘You can trust me.’
She moved away, dislodging his arm. ‘My cousin Yusuf will be with me.’
‘Excellent,’ he said, though he looked disappointed.
‘How much?’
‘How much have you got?’
‘Nothing,’ she lied. ‘But I might be able to borrow money.’
He did not believe her. ‘The price is four thousand American dollars. You need to pay me now to be sure of a place on the bus.’
He thinks I’m stupid, she said to herself.
It was a familiar feeling. When she had been selling the boat several men had tried to buy it for next to nothing. However, she had quickly realized that it was a mistake to pour scorn on an offer, no matter how derisory. The potential buyer would become offended at being spoken to that way by a woman, and he would walk away in a sulk.
