human
A messenger from my people to the south. Continue with your newly arrived warriors, O Guémama.
gpt
It is not a _kambu_ device. My people deal not in magic. It is but one of the many of the things the new ways bring. One day, Guémama, Homer's face remained expressionless,
human
I'll get some coffee.
gpt
Holy Mackerel, if Donaldson, here, can drop in on us out of a clear sky, what keeps anybody else from doing it? Somebody with a couple of neopalm bombs in the way of calling cards.
human
Hold it, you chaps. I want to notify the others.
gpt
The others? What others?
human
Jack, Jimmy, Dave. Here we are. Took donkey's years, but I found them. You chaps zero-in here.
gpt
How did you find us? Who did you just radio? Where'd you come from?
human
I say, hold it, Donaldson chuckled sourly.
gpt
First of all, I've come to join up. I thought as far back as that time we co-operated in quelling the riots in Mopti that you ought to do this--proclaim yourself El Hassan. When I heard you'd taken the step, I came to join up.
human
Oh, great, Cliff said.
gpt
What took you so long? We hardly get here, to our ultra-secret hideout, than here you are.
human
I took so long, because I needed the time to recruit a few other chaps I knew would stand with us.
gpt
That's who you just radioed?
human
Of course, old boy. I'd hardly bring the opposition down on us, would I?
gpt
Where are they?
human
In a couple of hovercraft, similar to your own, possibly twenty kilometers to the southwest.
gpt
You still haven't told us how you found us?
human
After tendering my resignation to Sir Winton, I considered the possibilities, which narrowed down very quickly when I heard the Arab Legion had taken Tamanrasset.
gpt
Why?
human
Because, my dear, unless El Hassan is able to retake Tamanrasset, his movement has come a cropper. He turned his eyes back to Crawford, who was nervously running his hand through his hair.
gpt
I knew you had done considerable work in this area, so your whereabouts became obvious seeing that Tamanrasset is in Tuareg country. It was simply a matter of finding what Tuareg encampment was your base, and since your quickest manner of gathering support would be to swing the Amenokal to your banner, I headed for his usual encampment this time of year.
human
If Rex found us so easily, so will anybody else.
gpt
Not necessarily. Mr. Donaldson has information that most of El Hassan's opponents wouldn't.
human
No, Isobel. Ostrander, for instance, has all the dope Rex has and is just as capable of working it through to a conclusion. It takes no great insight to realize El Hassan has to either put up or shut up when it comes to Tamanrasset. That's possibly why some of the other elements interested in North Africa have so far refrained from action against the Arab Union. They want to see what El Hassan is going to do--find out just what he has on the ball.
gpt
And? What are your plans?
human
My plans right at present are to stay alive, and you finding me so easily isn't heartening. However, it brings to mind some other problems which need solving, too.