Dan ran his hand over the dusty tyre tread, then straightened and moved to the next wheel, his eyes assessing the wear and tear the vehicle had suffered the previous day.
He was surprised how well the SUV was handling the terrain and resolved to maintain their steady progress when they set off once more.
They’d woken at dawn from fitful sleep, the cold morning air seeping through the extra layers he’d purchased. They each devoured a cereal bar while they leaned against the vehicle, sipping from water bottles, and watched the sun begin to rise.
He glanced over his shoulder to a group of shrubs several metres from where he stood, to see Anna emerge, her hair re-tied into a ponytail.
‘Everything okay?’ he said as she drew near.
‘Yes, thanks.’ She managed a smile. ‘Not quite like camping in Arizona, though.’ She joined him as he finished checking the vehicle and shielded her eyes from the sunlight as she peered back towards the direction of the minefield. ‘What’s the plan?’
Dan held up his smartphone. ‘Time to check in.’
Anna stayed by his side as he hit the speed dial. David answered at the second ringtone.
‘Dan?’
‘Morning.’
‘Where are you?’
‘Near a minefield about a hundred miles east of Laâyoune,’ said Dan. ‘I’m aiming to find a road that will head north out of the country. Can you have someone meet us over the border?’
‘Negative, Dan.’ Mel’s voice came on the line. ‘You’ll need to think of something else. There’s a heavy police presence on the highways at the moment. Seems Galal hasn’t given up yet.’
‘I thought that might happen. Damn it.’ Dan kicked a stone at his feet, sending it hurtling over the ground. ‘Right, there have to be manned border posts up and down this route near the berm – we just have to find one we can access without going near the mines. Galal might have the police going round in circles, but maybe we stand a better chance with the army.’
‘Do you think that’s possible?’ said David.
‘I don’t know. I would imagine most of the border posts are manned from the Moroccan side, but there might be a way through.’
‘Dan? That’s going to be impossible,’ said Mel. ‘When the Moroccans built the berm, they laid a minefield the whole length of it. The signs you saw are only the start. And, even if you did manage to get through, there are still barbed wire and electric fences – you’d never get near one of the command posts.’
Dan exhaled. ‘Okay, Plan B. We keep travelling east anyway, and cross into Algeria.’
‘Risky,’ said David, ‘but if you can get to Tindouf, there’s a UN compound there – sort of a watching brief next to the refugee camp. Reach that, and we can arrange transportation back over the border into Morocco. Galal’s influence won’t reach that far. I can’t see a way for you to track back to the UN base at Samara without being seen by the police.’
Dan looked away from Anna, and his eyes travelled back the way they’d driven. So far, there had been no sign of Galal or anyone else in pursuit. All they had done was maintain a presence on the main highways.
It worried him, especially after the coordinated attack on the mining camp. It didn’t seem in their enemies’ nature to let them escape, not after going to such lengths to arrange first the roadblock, then the security alert at the country’s biggest airport.
‘How far is it to Tindouf?’ asked Anna.
‘About four hundred miles,’ said David.
‘Oh.’ She took a step back and surveyed the vehicle. ‘Will it make it?’
‘We’ll have to take it easy,’ said Dan. ‘So far, there are no oil or water leaks.’
‘But we’ll need fuel.’
‘Exactly.’ He held up his smartphone, the signal wavering despite Mel’s satellite link, the battery icon showing two-thirds of the power remaining. He thumbed through the icons on the screen until he found the map one and held it out so Anna could see. ‘There’s a small town south of our current position. It’s not on a main road, so we’ll have to take our chances. We’ll top up the fuel there, buy extra in jerry cans to strap to the roof, and then pick up our route again.’
Anna rested her hands on her hips as she cast her eyes over the desert landscape. ‘It’ll take us, what, another day and a half, you think?’
‘Based on our progress yesterday, yes. Say two, given that we have to detour first to get fuel.’
‘Okay.’ She turned back to him and nodded. ‘Let’s do it.’
‘You hear that, David?’ said Dan.
‘Affirmative,’ came the reply. ‘Again, suggest you take your bearings from your current position, then switch off your phone to conserve power. Call us in twenty-four hours with your position. Sooner if you need us. We’ll be standing by.’
‘Copy that.’
Dan ended the call and turned to Anna. ‘Right,’ he said. ‘Let’s go.’