lypartoftheinCairo—theTripoliAxis.Rommel’sRebeccaspy—”“Whatdoyoumean,‘Rebeccaspy’?”“IntheGermaaspycalledEpplerintoCairobeforethebattleofElAlamein.HeusedacopyofDaphneduMaurier’snovelRebeccaasacodebooktosendmessagesbaelontroopmovements.Listen,thebookbecamebed-sidereadingwithBritishIntelligence.Eve.”“Youreadabook?”“Thankyou.ThemanwhoguidedEpplerthroughthedesertintoCairoonRommel’spersonalorders—fromTripoliallthewaytoCairo—wastLadislausdeAlmasy.Thiswasastretchofdesertthat,itwasassumed,noonecouldcross.

    “BetweenthewarsAlmasyhadEnglishfriends.Greatexplorers.ButwhenwarbrokeouthewentwiththeGermans.

    RommelaskedhimtotakeEppleracrossthedesertintoCairobecauseitwouldhavebeentooobviousbyplaneorparachute.

    Hecrossedthedesertwiththeguyanddeliveredhimtothea.”“Youknowalotaboutthis.”“IwasbasedinCairo.Weweretragthem.FromGialoheledapamenintothedesert.Theyhadtokeepdiggirucksoutofthesandhills.HeaimedthemtowardsUweinatanditsgraeausotheycouldgetwater,takeshelterinthecaves.Itwasahalfoint.Inthehehaddiscoveredcaveswithrockpaintingsthere.ButtheplateauwascrawlingwithAlliesandhecouldn’tusethewellsthere.Hestruckoutintothesaagain.TheyraidedBritishpetroldumpstofilluptheirtanks.IntheKhargaOasistheyswitchedintoBritishuniformsandhungBritisharmynumberplatesontheirvehicles.Whentheywerespottedfromtheairtheyhidinthewadisforaslongasthreedays,pletelystill.

    Bakingtodeathinthesand.

    “IttookthemthreeweekstoreachdsyshookhandswithEpplerahim.Thisiswherewelosthim.Heturnedabatothedesertalohinkhe