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When he stood before Osman a guardsnarled in his ear, Down on your knees, infidel! Show respect to theemir of the Beja. She expected him to pounce upon her asRyder Courtney had done, but his restraint surprised, then titillatedher. Penrod spread hisfield map on the table and pinned down a corner with the water jug. A shortlivedcompilation it proved, for in the year 645, the Soga chiefs,custodians of the documents, threw them into the fire on the eve oftheir own execution for treason.

Sir Evelyn Baring had explained the rescue-expedition plan in detail. Her father watched her from across the room as she blushed brightscarlet, and thought her confusion was almost as uncharacteristic asher clumsiness. Bothparticipants had obviously enjoyed the process, but even that hadlasted less than a minute. The pleasant sensation was piqued by guilt and the convictionthat what was happening was sinful.