human
At the _douar_! Max repeated.
gpt
Where is it?
human
Not twenty miles away, answered Manöel, keeping all feeling out of his voice, as an interpreter should.
gpt
But it's between here and Touggourt. Not exactly on the way, still we could have reached it by taking a détour of a few kilometres off the caravan track and saved hours, precious hours.
human
Never mind, said Max, worried though he was because of the delay that meant something to him, if not as much as to Manöel.
gpt
Never mind. We shall be in time yet. They say the festivities are only half over. That means she isn't married. Buck up! I know this is a shock; but it isn't a surprise that the wedding feast should be on. You've been expecting that. You've even been afraid it might be all over.
human
But something has happened, or they wouldn't have taken her away,
gpt
Perhaps she tried to escape, Max suggested.
human
Would it be harder for her to do that at the _douar_ than here?
gpt
In a way, yes. Here she might be hidden for a while in some house of the village: it's a rabbit warren, as you can see. Whereas, round the _douar_ lies the desert open to all eyes. Still, it's easier to get out of a tent than a house.
human
Well, let's be off and see for ourselves, instead of guessing,