No infringement is intended on the characters belonging to Stephen Summers & Universal. R.Campbell, E.Hammond, H.Furborough, A.Trigg and N.Waters and Lt.Gen Masoud are entities borne of my own imagination. Well, General Trigg partly belongs to A.J.Mackey. Before she mentioned him, he didn't even exist in my little world. No money is being made from this story, it's for enjoyment purposes only.

CAPTAIN OF HIS SOUL 20 Plans.

With his back pressed hard against the Fort's stone walls, Rick cautiously edged his head around the corner. The rear entrance which had previously offered up his escape had now attracted a congregation of guards eager to be part of the excitement. Exasperated, Rick withdrew to consider his options; shoot his way through and automatically bring back the Royal Guard, or get into Jonathan's trunk. Neither choice was appealing, but seeing as the first held slightly more challenge than the second, the now fugitive O'Connell raised his gun and silently took the corner ready to open fire on the picket. He aimed; and in a heartbeat raised the gun over his head, quickly retreating around the corner to be hidden once more. He held his breath and waited. For a minute or two, it seemed that fortune still favoured him but he had no idea of where to go next. Then, the steady sound of footsteps drew closer. Damn! He knew he'd been spotted. With gun at the ready, he braced himself for the moment the figure appeared around the corner and snatched him by the collar pushing him firmly against the stone blocks, menacing the gun a whisker from his face.

"YOU!" Rick heaved.

"AYE!" growled the doctor. "I'll be thankin' ya t' get that thing outta me face!"

"Do you know how close I came to shooting you? Twice!" Rick hauled Ross over to the other side of him and once again stole a glance around the corner. The guards were still lingering, making a nuisance of themselves.

"No, just the once. Ya were plannin' on takin' a hostage just now til ya discovered t'was me. Weren't ya, ya fool!"

Rick let his head fall back against the wall in exhaustion. The wound to his shoulder was bleeding again and that incessant ache from his thigh was becoming an all too regular companion. He sighed heavily, his knees almost buckling beneath him. "You got any better ideas, Ross, cos I'm all out."

The doctor reached a sympathetic hand to his younger friend's shoulder, "I wasn't standin' around back there just to pass t'time of day with that lot, ya know. We've got a few ideas in t'pot."

Rick smiled slightly with a mixture of appreciation and relief. "Evelyn and Alex?"

"Safe with Jonathan."

"I need to get all of us out of Cairo before sunrise tomorrow. You know that, don't you?"

"We're well ahead of ya in that regard. Jonathan will get them on the train to Alexandria tonight and he'll travel with them in order to hold up his story."

"Which is?"

"Evelyn had to protect herself and the boy as well as you...you do realize this don't ya, Lad?"

Rick merely grunted a response in order to speed along the story.

Campbell nodded, "Right. Well she told those soldiers that she hadn't seen hide nor hair of ya for two days. The story is that ya've run out on 'er and Jonathan's the dutiful brother in 'er time of need."

The American snorted angrily but to no avail. Ross just held up his palm to silence any outburst. "There wasn't much else she could've said given the circumstances and once ya calm down you'll understand. Besides, it's the most logical story considering that most of Cairo has seen you two biting each other's heads off this past month or so!" Rick only stared angrily at his old friend and shoved the gun back into it's holster. "It's t'best way, son."

"Yeah, I guess. But even Alexandria isn't far enough away, Ross. We've gotta leave the country."

"One step at a time." assured Ross, "That's all we can do."

"Mmm." Rick knew he was right, yet his gut was still insisting he travel with his wife and son. "So what's the plan for you and me?"

"Right now or later?"

Not understanding, Rick questioned him silently.

"Well, later we'll attempt an escape of our own, with you hidden in t'boot of Jonathan's car if necessary. As for right now, I'm going to organize a bath because ya stink to high heaven! It smells like ya fell into a cesspool."

Rick opted not to answer.

"It was a cesspool, wasn't it?"

Silent and irritated, O'Connell rubbed his hurting shoulder and squatted to ease the load on his feet, while his failure to answer confirmed the obvious.

"Well we can't go back inside. We'll just have t'come up with another option because I'll be damned if I'm going t'put up with that stink any longer than I have to."

"Forget it. We don't have the time anyway"

"Aye! We do! And we will! There's nothin' we can do 'til nightfall anyway."

"So what do you suggest...a dip in the Nile?"

"Nah, I've another place in mind, but I doubt t'little lady would approve. Still, what she doesn't know won't hurt 'er."

oooo

Jonathan moved away from the window once Ross stepped out of sight behind the Fort walls. The thin veil of the curtain made it too difficult to see if the Yorkshireman was about to meet up with his brother-in-law or not, but he considered it best not to stick his head out into the open air for a better view. The last thing he needed was for anyone to notice him behaving anxiously. He just had to trust that Ross knew what he was doing. "Forced to trust a Yorkshireman." He sniffed at the irony and turned his attention toward his sister.

"Come on, old girl!" Jonathan clapped his hands sprightly, "Let's get you packed."

Evelyn stood behind her opened suitcase completely despondent with the whole turn of events. "It's impossible Jonathan, I can't fit everything into one case."

Stepping closer, Jonathan leaned in front of her and removed all the clothing she'd packed for her husband. "If they decide to follow us and search the bags we can't be caught with anything that will give us away." He dropped O'Connell's clothes onto the bed and gently squeezed an arm about her shoulder, "I'm sorry, Evie. It's the only way."

Looking about the room, Evelyn remembered how Rick would groan about their lack of space and his frustration with her wanting to remain at the Fort instead taking a bigger house. She could almost hear him grumbling about how pointless it was to have all this money and not be able to put it to use. The hint of a smile accompanied a tear as her mind's eye saw him give up the argument as useless. Everything she saw in this room today he had moved at some point or another in his vain effort to clear the clutter out of his way. Now, looking up at her brother she wondered aloud, "Are we ever coming back?"

"Don't know, old mum. One day perhaps."

oooo

"Can't we just go to a normal bath house?" O'Connell appealed. "Aren't we meant to be inconspicuous?"

Ross nudged him through the door, weary of his friend's asperity, "This is inconspicuous, Lad."

With deadpan response, Rick turned to leave, "It's a brothel."

"It's a brothel with bath tubs." Ross shoved hard against his wounded shoulder, "The only one with bath tubs...which are concealed right out back which serves our purpose nicely."

"And you know this because...?"

Campbell smiled pleasantly prior to giving him one last shove allowing him enough space to close the door behind them. "They won't be looking for ya in a bath now will they? Pay the man?"

"I'm paying as well?" Receiving no reply, Rick begrudgingly threw his last two notes onto the counter and proceeded inside.

"Don't worry..." Campbell chortled behind him, "I'll never breathe a word."

oooo

"It's pretty clear he's not going to try anything in broad daylight." Emir Hammond was living dangerously believing he use arrogance with the Royal Guard, but he couldn't afford to let O'Connell get away. Without the reward all he had to look forward to was a beating from Nasser's henchmen and he knew anything these soldiers could do would pale in comparison. The lanky thief was completely fed up with this whole situation. He couldn't understand why finding one American in Cairo was so difficult, after all the man was hardly inconspicuous. All he needed was O'Connell and money; that's all, but it seemed completely impossible. This combination just wasn't going to eventuate whether it be their ill-devised cemetery heist or chasing the American for the bounty on his head. At least by annoying this officer he might win a night in the cells safe from Nasser's thugs. "If he's quick enough to disappear as easily like he did today, he's probably already miles away and laughing at us".

"You seem most sure of this, Mr Hammond. It makes one curious as to just how well you know our elusive Captain O'Connell?

It was a leading question and too easy for the seasoned Emir to avoid "Surely it's obvious?" and he dared a little further, "Even to you?"

Lieutentant-General Masoud stood before the lanky half caste as menacingly as he had before Evelyn O'Connell only hours earlier, "How so?"

Emir leaned forward in his seat, rested his elbows on his knees and stared through the window at the sweltering afternoon heat, "He's guilty, why else would he have run? So you have to ask yourself, where would he run to?"

Masoud kicked the chair out from under the insolent informer sending him crashing to the floor. "ENOUGH, Do you think me an idiot!.

Emir gathered himself together quickly and reclaimed his chair. Any embarrassment was well worth the reward money. He believed this so strongly that he even dared to repeat his boldness and scorned, "He's an American isn't he? So let's pretend for a minute that he might try to get home."

The Lieutentant-General smiled crookedly and without warning, once again sent Hammond sprawling to the floor. "I did not reach my station in life by having opportunists like yourself do my thinking for me, Mr Hammond. I have little doubt that Captain O'Connell will attempt to leave Cairo," Masoud spoke directly to the back of Emir's head, never once raising his voice, "What sort of soldier would I be if I lacked this type of foresight? So please, let's not indulge in any more nonsense. Just tell me what our American Captain looks like and where he's likely to bide his time until he's ready to make a move."

Now unsettled, Emir cautiously reclaimed his seat and in the same manner offered a careful description of O'Connell. "...oh, and he's injured." Commanded to continue, he shifted in his seat before quietly uttering, "His leg. Last time I saw him he was limping badly. And there's a fresh wound to his left arm." He glanced up, feeling encouraged but still wary, "Fresh...because there was blood on his sleeve...it was damp...you know?" A moment passed while he wiped his brow, "He's tired too. Whatever he does next, he's going to need help."

Masoud exhaled thoughtfully, "Tell me, Mr. Hammond. Do you believe he has deserted his wife and child?"

"Who, O'Connell?" Emir didn't know and shook his head. "All I can tell you is that she's the reason he didn't meet up with me..." Stopping awkwardly before he said anything about their doomed investment, he found himself struggling for words under the intense gaze of his minder.

"You were saying, Mr Hammond? "

Taking a breath he swallowed and began to spill information at a rapid pace, "The night of the murder he was meant to introduce me to a friend of his. Someone who needed workers to lift and carry items that were going out of the country. All above board, of course." His awkward smile did nothing but expose a chipped tooth at the front of his mouth. "When he didn't turn up I went to his home and he said his wife was sick and he refused to keep our appointment. All he gave me was a name and an address; but without O'Connell this man wouldn't see me."

"Which man would this be?"

The story dragged on, fuelled by Hammond's bitterness. It revealed nothing of use and only irritated Masoud. "I see how you are angry with Captain O'Connell, but you are only wasting my time if you have accused him of murder out of spite."

This affronted Hammond, "You know yourself that the witnesses in the bar said it was an American and my description fits with theirs." Pointing to his own chest in a childlike huff, "I saw him that same night and he'd been in a fight."

"How badly do you need this reward?"

"Very badly!" Vigorously defending his actions and beliefs, Emir raised his voice. "It wasn't me who threw that man in the river. I'm doing the right thing here and giving you a murderer so don't turn this back onto me being greedy or however you're trying to make me look!"

Masoud smiled.

"Even you have doubts about whatever his wife told you, so it must be her who's helping him." Silence fell between the two men for what Emir felt was an eternity. It must be her! he reassured himself. I can't have come this far for nothing.

Masoud sat down. "I don't believe you Mr. Hammond. I think you're a liar and a thief. In fact, I believe that you and Captain O'Connell were in the midst of planning something very illegal. However, luckily for you, I do not believe Mrs O'Connell's story either and I am not looking for thieves..."

Hammond had been holding his breath without realizing it

"...at least not today."

Too uncomfortable to answer, Emir just sat in obedient silence.

oooo

"Aye, ladies. Bye-bye." It was an effort to persuade the last girl from the room but Ross eventually managed by way of good humour and a quick pat on her bottom. She giggled dutifully as the doctor squeezed the door shut, just missing the hem of her skirt. "Aye darlin', many thanks." They were gone at last, much to the men's relief. Pretty as they were, they were giddy and noisy with a tendency to pickpocket. Rick retrieved his wallet from the less experienced girl after she dropped it trying to conceal it in her waistband. Annoyed, he snatched it from the floor and showed her it was empty, but the older of the two wriggled her way between them and began making a fuss over O'Connell, forcing him to step backwards, raising his hands above his head to throw her off.

Once alone, the two men stood quietly observing each other. One amused, the other exasperated. It was the doctor who finally broke the silence.

"Get in then."

O'Connell sighed; shook the fatigue from his shoulders and slowly unbuckled his belt. "If Evelyn hears anything about this you'll die with me. Got it?"

"Well who'd 'ave thought ya'd have so much bloody trouble getting ya shirt off!" The joke fell flat and Ross scoffed at him, "Anyway, all she did was peel it off your back." It only took a raised eyebrow from the American for Ross to understand immediately. "No more said then." The dried blood from his wounds combined with street dirt and sweat dissolved into the hot water, but not without stinging. It was 'steady as she goes' as he lowered himself into the tub. When at last he rested his back against the tub, his shirt and other garb landed unceremoniously into the water with him. "Wash these along with ya'self. They'll be dry by dusk." The clothes were dunked and squeezed out in slapdash manner and immediately tossed back. Screwing his face up at the sopping bundle, Ross hung them through the open window to catch the hot afternoon breeze, "Since when does wet equal clean? " Rick ignored him, closed his eyes and let his head drop back to allow the steam to wisp about his face while he considered his predicament,

"I know my way around the alleys and there's a few handy dark corners. With any luck we'll be able to avoid any attention and meet up with Evie and Jonathan at the station tonight."

"Not tonight. Alexandria is where we meet."

Tilting his head towards Ross, his eyes opened as the ire rose in the American's voice, "This is my call, Ross."

"In Alexandria ya can lead all t'way to China for all I care, but not 'til then." Ross's stern tone left no room to argue and he played expertly on the influence which their history afforded. "Let ya lass leave quietly with the boy. She's been through enough already 'n' Jonathan will see 'er safe."

He didn't like it. No matter how devoted Jonathan was, Rick would rather it was he who saw Evelyn and Alex out of Cairo. Frustrated and with no other solution, Rick dunked his whole head beneath the hot water. It was just a shame that the soothing effect didn't transfer to his mood as well. He pushed himself up just as abruptly, madly rubbing his fingers through his hair. "Alright! Your way sounds fine."

"Aah, diplomacy." Dr Campbell leaned back against the wall, stretching his legs before him. "But I've learned that with you, diplomacy is nothin' more than saying 'nice doggy' until ya can find a rock."

O'Connell didn't answer. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back against the bath, his mind a buzz with plans.

END CHAPTER

Thankyou to everyone who continues to read this story and hold an interest in it. I know it's been a long, drawn out process and I really appreciate that many of you keep coming back to read the updates. Thankyou.