just outside the Damascus Gate, phone OETA, say who you are, and
ask for the car. Travel light. The less you take with you, the
less temptation there'll be to steal and that much less danger
for your escort. I always take nothing, and get shaved by a
murderer at the nearest village. If you wash too much, or change
your shirt too often, they suspect you of putting on airs. Can't
travel too light. Use the car as far as Jericho, or thereabouts,
and send it back when the messenger says he's through with it.
After that, do whatever the leader of the escort tells you, and
you'll be all right."

"How do I cross the Dead Sea?"

"That's ben Nasir's business. There's another point I'll ask you
to bear in mind. When you see me at El-Kerak, be sure not to
make the slightest sign of recognition, unless and until you
get word from me. Act as if you'd never seen me in your
life before."

I felt like an arch-conspirator, and there is no other sensation
half so thrilling. The flattery of being let in, as it were,
through a secret door was like strong wine.

"Is your memory good?" Grim asked me. "If you make notes, be
sure you let everybody see them; you'll find more than one of
them can read English. If you should see or overhear anything
that you'd particularly like to remember because it might prove
useful to me, note it down by making faint dots under the letters
of words you've already written; or--better yet--take along a
pocket Bible; they're all religious and respect the Bible. Make