Chapter 25

CHAPTER 25 Karachi. The name had been in Amy's mind for days, but it was now struggling for space against thoughts of an easy smile and a singing voice that gave her chills. Back in Sydney, while threatening to feed Amy to sharks, Isabel Kabra had listed the places Dan and Amy had been. For some reason, she'd included a place they'd never visited: Karachi, Pakistan. Amy had to accept that they were done in South Africa. Lingering any longer would be a mistake. The Holts were still out there, and angry. But that didn't make it any easier to leave. "Let's keep in touch," Kurt had said before they'd parted. "I hope we meet again."

Amy hoped so, too. She couldn't expect it, though. She couldn't expect anything other than constant change. "Flight 796, Johannesburg to Karachi, will be boarding in ten minutes," a voice echoed through the terminal. "Hey, gotta go," Dan said. Amy hugged Professor Bardsley. "Thanks for your help." "Yeah, and the tunes you let me upload onto my iPod," Nellie said unenthusiastically. "Can't wait to listen to Renaissance church music." "I suppose," Professor Bardsley said, "I cannot convince you to remain." "Sorry," Amy said sadly. Professor Bardsley had been kind to them. He had driven the Yugo all the way back to Johannesburg, allowing Nellie, Dan, and Amy to sleep. He had found food for Saladin, helped book the flights, and even offered to pay. "We know how you feel about the thirty-nine clues, Professor Bardsley. But we have to continue. We were given a challenge, and we have to see it through."

"By grace," he murmured. His face crinkled, and he gave a small wink. Amy wasn't expecting that response. "Grace…?" "She was a remarkable, lovely, generous woman," Professor Bardsley said. "You knew her?" Amy said. "Did she know everyone in South Africa?" Dan said. Professor Bardsley nodded, smiling. "Grace had many friends here. Does this surprise you?" Amy smiled. Bardsley had a long history with the 39 Clues and the Tomas. He knew Winifred Thembeka. Of course it made sense that he'd known Grace. "Let's stay in contact, Professor." "Godspeed," he replied. She, Dan, and Nellie turned to the security line. It was quicker than they expected. After passing through the scanner, they followed the sign for the boarding gates, but a man with a mustache gestured toward a motor cart. "This way, please," he said.

"No, thanks," Amy replied. "We'll walk." The man moved closer. "This way." "Just give him some baksheesh and tell him to go away," Dan murmured. "Wrong country, dude," Nellie said. The man stepped quickly in Dan's path. In his right hand was a small knife. "What the—?" Dan looked around frantically. Behind him, Nellie drew in a breath. "Better do what he says. Now." Amy trembled. She and Dan climbed into the back of the cart as Nellie took the front passenger seat. The man sped away from the gates, driving out a back door and across a tarmac. Small craft buzzed overhead and cargo carriers rolled by. Soon they raced around the corner of a hangar. If the coast was clear, they could make a run for it. Dan poked Amy. She eyed him and nodded ever so slightly. The driver swerved around the building. Suddenly, Dan felt a bag come down over his head. "Hey!" he shouted.

Amy and Nellie were screaming. Dan tried to stand, but his arms were yanked behind him. He felt a coarse rope tightening around his wrists and a gag around his mouth. In moments, he was being shoved from behind. They were walking on concrete. A rush of wind lifted his shirttail as a low-flying plane passed. He felt himself being pushed through a door. Then two hands were shoving him downward, into a chair. On either side of him, he could hear Amy and Nellie grunting against the gags. "One… two… three… all present." The voice felt like a scrape of acid down Dan's back. "Let's be civilized about this, shall we?" The bag was pulled up over his head, and he was staring into the face of Isabel Kabra. "Diamond," Isabel Kabra said, filing her fingernails and looking out of place in a molded plastic chair. "You came to South Africa and discovered the clue was diamond. Aren't they clever, children?" "Hope it wasn't too… erm, hard for you,"

Natalie said, snickering. "A pity you had to strain yourselves," Ian continued, "when we could have easily told you." The mustached man squatted behind Amy, Dan, and Nellie, tying their legs to the chair. Isabel, Ian, and Natalie faced them across the cement floor of a storage shed. Shelves were crammed with cans, boxes, tools, and parts. Behind Ian's head was a huge, dented propeller lying sideways on a machine with a fan belt. Amy pulled at her restraints. Isabel knew about the Clue. Somehow she'd tracked them down. But Amy was no longer surprised at Isabel. No longer scared. At this point, all she wanted to do was one thing. Get her. "How did you know? Dan sputtered. "This was a Tomas clue!" "Churchill was a Lucian, dear," Isabel said with a chortle. "He found the Tomas clue a hundred years ago. Did you really think we wouldn't know?" "Indeed," Ian piped up. "Well put, Mother."