248 | John W. Warner IV Youll have boars head and Humble Pie with sheeps guts soon for Christmas, so no worries, said Alice, sewing a tear on her trousers. Bea mumbled: Somehow I dont feel any better. Gripping his binoculars, Bernie looked down valley at the boulder-strewn green landscape and river, a small settlement in the distance. Behind the valley were the tall snowy peaks, making the whole scene look as if painted by a master landscape artist, the muted colors soothing and pastoral, a high-altitude paradise. Tomorrow Ill send Nasim into the village; he wont draw much suspicion. Someone must have seen or heard something. Only a few highland shepherds have met us so far, lets keep it that way. We need salt, Bernard, said Gwafa. And more water. I know. Its been weeks. My hoofs are as sore as the mules, said Bea, popping a vitamin. Theres more damned peaks and valleys around here than a French chefs meringue. The Germans could be hiding the entire Afrika Korfs in a hidden glen and no one would be the wiser. Weve made an arc of a hundred-sixty miles plus, and were running out of tinned provisions. A girl cant survive on goat alone. The hell you cant, mumbled Bernie. What about heading due north? End up in Tehran via Arak? asked Alice, yearning to see more than just mountains and valleys. Nasim stirred the coals. A long hard trip, sahib. Bernie sat and chewed some overdone leg meat. We cant give up. Somethings out there, I can feel it in my bones. If there is an airship base and mining operation out here, they must be flying at night with no navigation lights. Maybe they float it up to altitude before using the engines. Thats what I would do. I agree, said Gwafa. But where to look? Alice pried open a tin. I dunno, Bernie. Are you sure of yourself on all this? What if we just Bernie took a firm tone, sensing defeatism. Button it. Weve been over all this already! Look, weve missed something. Lets go back to the pass above Yasuj; The Gate must be relevant in some obscure way, said Bea. Otherwise, I agree with Drumm, we should head up to Isfahan, somewhere. She popped a syrupy cherry. Need a hot soak in a luxurious bath house or Harem. We need food for the mules too, said Gwafa.