She did, for all that. With a damp cloth she washed the blood and engine grease from his face, then applied antiseptic.
After that she gave herself a hurried make-up. And then there they were, circling for one more landing among the date palms.
She found herself a trifle shaky about the knees when, at last, she stepped down to the good earth.
A few steps away a strongly built man was standing talking to another.
“He looks familiar,” she told herself.
Just then the man turned. “Dad!” she cried. After three long strides, she was in his arms.
“Mary! It’s good to see you!” he boomed. “I knew you were coming, but I couldn’t let you know where I was. Why did you volunteer for so dangerous an assignment?”
“Because I am your daughter,” she replied proudly. “You wouldn’t want me to stand back, now, would you?”
“No, Mary, I wouldn’t. You’ve made it safely this far. Here’s wishing you luck and safety to the journey’s end.”
“The journey’s end,” she thought. “If he but knew how close we came to that end this very day.”