82 | John W. Warner IV power system. Very strange. Ill bet their range is pretty good for a big tank, and thats important. Everyone has fuel supply problems. Mum, you sound like an expert to me, said Takuta, scrubbing. As a pilot, I enjoy mechanical stuff on occasion. Especially new German designs; bit of a hobby, suppose. That and the latest fashion and gossip rags. Bit of a sponge, mind wise. Madame, we must steal camels, use the stars to travel East to the Nile at night, said Gwafa, smelling her cotton twill trousers. Much better now. Bea thought for a minute or two. Travelling day and night, itll take us many days to reach the Nile even without harassment or unseen challenges, about three hundred plus miles, I reckon. That might be too late. Takuta added: We should pinch a lorry, but we couldnt carry enough petrol to make it unless we had a bunch of extra jerrycans. Stealing equipment from the Germans or Italians is dicey work, trust me. Theyd track us down like hounds. She smelled her panties. Ugghh, not exactly smart dress in Chanel, but itll suffice; guess were all soap dodgers for a long while. Anyhoo, a Kubelwagen might be better. Good mileage, but then wed be a dandy target in a German vehicle once we reach allied lineswherever they areand God help us if theres a patrolling Hurricane or Beaufighter about, theyll strafe anything that moves. A camel is best, two even better. Lets have a think about it before we make rash decisions. Gwafa unfolded the Arabic map. Bahriya Oasis is halfway it says here by rough road, I hope the Allies still hold it, the Sudan Defense Force, all black men. Oui, many days by camel, but they are expensive. We have nothing to trade but the old jackass. We can steal some camels if were lucky. She slid them on, then her pants. Gads. Stuck at a romantic oasis with no camel, no beau, and no chilled cocktails. Sometimes, this war is a genuine bore, gents. Nighttime arrived accompanied by violet light and a lower temperature. Gwafa lit a small candle; they all ate rations while staring at the map on the floor. Three and a half candles left. Eating a hunk of dehydrated Scho-ka-Kola German chocolate from a tin that Gwafa had deftly swiped, Bea massaged their situation in her minds eye. If they departed by camel during darkness it would be an understandable escape given the insane odds.