The Oracle (Fargo Adventures #11) - Clive Cussler Page 0,85
to himself. “My wife used to tell me there’d be no sons of Nigeria if there are no daughters of Nigeria.”
“Wise woman,” Pete said.
“Very.” Okoro nodded at the truck. “She’d also say that we should help those who are helping us.”
Pete looked relieved. “Definitely.”
The three men walked over to the truck, helping to unload the shingles. On their way back, Sam saw Lazlo watching Nasha jumping rope, chanting “Sator, arepo—daughters of the sun. Tenet, opera, rotas—convey me to the light . . .”
One of the girls quit turning her side of the rope. “That’s not a jump rope song.”
“It’s the only one I know,” Nasha said, crossing her arms. “I learned it from Amal.”
“Start over. We’ll sing one for you.” Soon, Nasha was happily jumping to a song about a teddy bear turning around.
Curious about Lazlo’s interest, Sam asked, “Since when have you found jump rope so intriguing?”
“Not even in my youth, Mr. Fargo. But the song strikes a chord . . .”
“Teddy bears?”
“The Latin ditty she was singing before that.”
“Will it make the work go faster?” He nodded toward the trucks being unloaded.
“On my way,” he said, his gaze still on the girls.
As Sam left the courtyard, he glanced toward the office, where Remi and the lieutenant stood, Remi holding a tablet, nodding as she pointed to something on the screen. A few minutes later, she was on her phone. She looked up, and waved him over.
“Renee,” Remi whispered, then listened intently to whatever her friend was saying. “Of course. We won’t say anything to Amal until I hear back from you. We can head out first thing.”
“For what?” Sam asked as she disconnected.
“That break-in at their dig site. It was definitely Warren.”
“Why are we going there? The police should be handling that.”
“He’s dead, Sam. They found him at the bottom of the villa.”
“Did he fall?”
“That’s what Renee thought. But the police don’t seem to be treating it like an accident. The only thing that leaves is suicide. She doesn’t want Amal to know until she’s sure about what happened. We have to go back.”
She gave him her this is nonnegotiable look just as someone started laughing from the roof of the dorm. He glanced that direction, seeing a couple of soldiers laying flats of shingles across the decking. Between Pete, Wendy, and their new guardian angels, there was really very little he, Remi, or Lazlo could do here. He pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’ll call the flight crew and let them know. Next stop, Tunisia.”
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
What you help a child to love can be more important than what you help him to learn.
– AFRICAN PROVERB –
Early the next morning, Remi stood next to Amal and Lazlo as Wendy and Monifa brought the children out to the front of the school to say good-bye. Before Remi or Amal could even think what to say, the girls ran forward, each working her way in for a hug. Jol, Zara, Tambara, and Maryam waited until the other girls cleared, then wrapped their arms around both women.
Remi stood back, smiling at them. “We had quite an adventure. You were all marvelous.”
“Yes, you were,” Amal said. “But let’s not do it again anytime soon.”
The four laughed and backed away as Wendy stepped in, saying, “Okay. Let’s give them some space. They have a long trip ahead.”
A moment later, Pete and Yaro stepped out of the office, both with small duffels slung over their shoulders. With Makao and his gang still on the loose, the Fargos weren’t taking any chances. They decided to caravan to Jalingo, Pete and Yaro in the truck, Sam, Remi, Amal, and Lazlo in the Land Rover. With the school well guarded, Pete and Yaro planned on spending the night in Jalingo and picking up the beds they’d ordered for the new dorm the following morning.
Sam loaded their bags in the back, closing the tailgate. “Are you ready, Remi?”
“Wait,” she said. “Where’s our youngest Musketeer?”
Wendy nodded toward the office. Nasha sat on the porch steps, a stick in her hand, tapping it on the ground. When she looked up and saw Remi watching her, she snapped the stick in two.
“Give me a minute.” Remi walked over to the office, sitting down next to Nasha. “Why didn’t you want to come say good-bye?”
Nasha shrugged but wouldn’t meet her eyes, instead watching Pete and Yaro, who were tying down the back of the canvas on the truck.
Remi looked over at them, then back at Nasha. “I’m not sure when I’m