Bing shut the door behind them and now the light came into the small room only from another open door, which led into a courtyard beyond.
“Seddig is hiding, sir, as you commanded,” Ahmed said. “It would not be good for anyone to see two bakers this morning.”
“That is what I asked,” Bing approved.
“And this is all you require?” Ahmed asked, looking down at the board of bread and the basket with the chickens.
Bing lifted up the board.
“It’s heavy,” he exclaimed, and turned to Melina. “I was going to ask you to carry this on your head,” he said, “but I see that I shall have to do that. Can you manage the chickens, do you think?”
He stopped and a look of utter consternation came over his face.
“Fool that I am!” he cried. “Can you balance anything on your head?”
“As a matter of fact I c
