Cliff looked at Homer Crawford. "If Rex found us so easily, so will anybody else."
Isobel put in. "Not necessarily. Mr. Donaldson has information that most of El Hassan's opponents wouldn't."
Homer came to his feet unhappily and began pacing. "No, Isobel. Ostrander, for instance, has all the dope Rex has and is just as capable of working it through to a conclusion. It takes no great insight to realize El Hassan has to either put up or shut up when it comes to Tamanrasset. That's possibly why some of the other elements interested in North Africa have so far refrained from action against the Arab Union. They want to see what El Hassan is going to do—find out just what he has on the ball."
Rex Donaldson looked at him interestedly, "And? What are your plans?"
Homer Crawford's face worked. "My plans right at present are to stay alive, and you finding me so easily isn't heartening. However, it brings to mind some other problems which need solving, too."
The rest of them fell silent, looking at him. His usual casual humor had dropped away, and his personality gripped them.
He stopped his pacing, and frowned down at them.
"El Hassan is going to have to remain on the move. Always. There can be no capital city, no definite base, and it's going to be a poor idea to sleep twice in the same place." He shook his head emphatically as though to deny rebuttal, which they hadn't actually made. "El Hassan's enemies mustn't know his location within twenty miles."
"Twenty miles!" Cliff blurted.