ofyourthumb?”Madoxwatchesmeforamomentthroughthenoonglare.

    “Pullyourselftogether,”hemutters.

    Letmetellyouastory,”CaravaggiosaystoHana.“TherewasaHungariannamedAlmasy,whoworkedfermansduringthewar.HeflewabitwiththeAfrikaKorps,buthewasmorevaluablethanthat.Inthehehadbeehegreatdesertexplorers.HekneweverywaterholeandhadhelpedmaptheSandSea.Heknewallaboutthedesert.Heknewallaboutdialects.Doesthissoundfamiliar?BetweewowarshewasalwaysoionsoutofCairo.OosearchforZerzura—thelostoasis.ThenwhenwarbrokeouthejoiheGermans.Inhebecameaguideforspies,takingthemacrossthedesertintoCairo.WhatIwanttotellyouis,IthinktheEnglishpatientisnotEnglish.”“Ofcourseheis,whataboutallthoseflowerbedsinGloucestershire?”“Precisely.It’sallaperfectbackground.Twonightsago,eretryingtohedog.Remember?”“Yes.”“Whatwerehissuggestions?”“Hewasstranight.”“Hewasverystrange,becauseIgavehimaradoseofmorphine.Doyourememberthenames?Heputoutabouteightnames.Fiveofthemwereobviousjokes.Thenthreenames.Cicero.Zerzura.Delilah.”“So?”“‘Cicero’wasaameforaspy.TheBritishuhedhim.Adoublethentripleageaway.‘Zerzura’ismoreplicated.”“IknowaboutZerzura.He’stalkedaboutit.Healsotalksaboutgardens.”“Butitismostlythedesertnow.TheEnglishgardeniswearingthin.He’sdying.Ithinkyouhavethespy-helperAlmasyupstairs.”Theysitontheoldehampersofthelinenroomlookingateachother.Caravaggis.“It’spossible.”“IthinkheisanEnglishman,”shesays,suginhercheeksasshealwaysdoeswhehinkingorsideringsomethingaboutherself.

    “Iknowyoulovetheman,buthe’snotanEnglishman.Intheear