Page 145 of Never
‘Presumably the radio signal from the consignment could be picked up by a helicopter overhead, following the most likely route of the bus?’
‘Possibly,’ said Tab. ‘It’s a huge area to cover, but it would be worth a try. We could assume that the bus took the shortest route to a paved highway, which is more or less due north. The problem is that the chopper would be seen and heard by the people on the bus, and the smugglers would realize that they are under surveillance, and then they would take some kind of evasive action.’
‘How about a drone?’
Tab nodded. ‘A drone is quieter than a helicopter and can fly much higher. Far better for clandestine surveillance.’
‘Then I will ask the French air force to send one of our drones to try to pick up the radio signal from the consignment.’
Tamara said: ‘That would be great!’ She would feel much relieved by a sighting of Abdul’s bus.
The meeting wound up soon after that, and Tab walked Tamara out to her car. The French embassy was a long, low modern building that gleamed white in the strong sunlight. Tab said: ‘You remember that my father is arriving today?’ He was smiling, but he seemed nervous – which was unusual for him.
‘Of course,’ Tamara said. ‘I can’t wait to meet him.’
‘Slight change of plan.’
She sensed that this was what he was nervous about.
He said: ‘My mother will be with him.’
‘Oh, my God, she’s coming to inspect me, isn’t she?’
‘No, of course not.’ Tab looked at Tamara’s sceptical expression and said: ‘Well, yes.’
‘I knew it.’
‘Is that so bad? I’ve told them about you, and naturally she’s curious.’
‘Has she visited you here before?’
‘No.’
What had Tab said, to bring his mother to Chad for the first time ever? He must have let his parents know that Tamara was likely to become a long-term part of his life – and theirs. She should be pleased, not anxious.
Tab said: ‘It’s ironic. Here in this lawless country you face danger every day without flinching, but you’re scared of my mother.’
‘It’s true.’ She laughed at herself. All the same, she was anxious. She brought to mind the photograph in Tab’s apartment. His mother was blonde and well dressed, but that was all she could remember. She said: ‘You’ve never told me their names. I can’t very well call them “Papa” and “Maman”.’
‘Not yet, anyway. He’s Malik. She’s Marie-Anatole, but she’s always called Anne, which works in many languages.’
Tamara noticed that phrase –not yet –but did not comment. She said: ‘When do they arrive?’
‘The flight gets in around midday. We could have dinner this evening.’
Tamara shook her head. People were often cranky after flying. She preferred they should have a night’s rest before she met them. ‘You should spend the first evening alone with them,’ she said. Not wanting to suggest that they might be ill-tempered, she said: ‘You’ll need to catch up on all the family news.’
‘Maybe…’
‘Why don’t you and I meet them for lunch tomorrow?’
‘You’re right, that’s a better idea. But we don’t want to be seen, do we, the four of us in public? I’m not ready to confront my superiors with the news that I’m in love with a Yankee spy.’
‘I didn’t think of that. And I can’t invite them to my little studio apartment. What are we going to do?’
‘We’ll have to take one of the private dining rooms at the Lamy. Or we could have lunch in their suite. Papa always takes a single room, when he’s on his own, but Maman will have booked the Presidential Suite.’
So, no problem, Tamara thought, somewhat bemused. She still had not got used to Tab’s family’s wealth.
