Lion, Tiger, Bear 1135 did you sign up for the desert? she asked, gazing at yet another stunning sunset that bathed them a burnt orange. She entwined fingers tightly. Lost track of you. The wind blew softly causing swirls of fine silica, the infinite spaces reshuffling. Oh.. .in December of forty. Got bored with the artillery and jumped at the chance for a crumb of adventure out in the Libyan sandbox; Cambridge Library, the Arabic language book that I showed you. I learned it all, the hidden secrets too. Besides, Im sure you remember that I like to drive fast, I take my turn at the wheel. At university, the MG, I remember. She pulled at it. Love the beard, by the by. A necessity in wadi-land. Look, none of my business of course, but what are you really doing out here, Beansy? Last I heard you had some special training and all that, some intelligence work under your belt. Im guessing Thruxton is a cover name? She explained in detail the story of their ill-fated flight, the oasis, the cave omitting the part about the ancient chamber which she deemed classified. Thats the grand gist. Up till now Ive just been doing my bit, odd jobs and ferry flights, very little solid intel work. I once had a mission dealing with Porsche a few back during the peaceful racing seasons; hes a genius, but his engineering is a bit flawed Panzer-wise. Probably rushed it into production. This time round I was damned lucky to have two good men at my side, some divine intervention, that. Believe it or not, the tank escapade was their idea, not mine. He laughed. Only you. You! I swear it reminds me of when I first met you that day in the school librarypetulant, resourceful, flammable, truly remarkable if a little scary. God, Iwas shaken and equally enthralled with you those firstiew days, from the first rain-droppy kiss onward. Whomever taught you soldiering did it well, taught you the ropes proper. Christs flabby arse, what Id give for a crack at a German heavy tank, in the turret I mean. Give em a taste of their own damn 88 mm tonic. Bloody marvelous, miraculous work the three of you sunny dispatches by me of course, but no one will believe it back in Cairo. I can only report what I actually see. Well need aerial confirmation of the big tanks. Ah-hum, field tests you say? Yes, field tests. No one does believe, ever. Thats war for you, life in general, stranger than fiction they say. Funny enough, the Germans taught me a great deal once upon a time. Cant relate the precise details. Top-shelf secret dont you knowthe occulted SS and Himmler, female Viking training in mittens and furry boots, Vril and Thule flying carpets, King Nebuchadnezzar and the anal retentive Anunnaki, drunkard