"You mean the age of Napoleon in the Italian campaign, or Alexander at Issus?" he asked. Isobel began to respond to that, but he shook his head. "He's the Amenokal's nephew, and traditionally would probably get the position anyway. He's the most popular of the young tribesmen, and it's going to be they who do the fighting. Having the appointment come from El Hassan, and at this early point, will just bind him closer. Besides that, he's a natural born warrior. Typical. Enthusiastic, bold, brave and with the military mind." "What's a military mind?" Cliff said. "He can take off his shirt without unbuttoning his collar," Homer told him. "Very funny," Cliff grumbled. Isobel turned to the big Californian. "What's on the radio, Cliff?" "Let's go get a cup of coffee," he said. "All hellzapoppin." * * * * * They went into the larger of the two Tuareg tents, and Isobel poured water from a girba into the coffee pot which she placed on a heat unit, flicking its switch. She said sarcastically, from the side of her mouth, "A message, O El Hassan, from the Department of Logistics, subdepartment Commissary of Headquarters of the Commander in Chief. Unless you get around to capturing some supplies in the near future, your food is going to be prepared over a camel dung fire. This heat unit is fading out on me." "Don't bother me with trivialities," Homer told her. "I've got _big_ things on my mind." She looked at him suspiciously. "Hm-m-m. Such as what?" "Such as whether to put my face on the postage stamps profile or full." She said, under her breath, "I shoulda known. Already, delusions of grandeur." "Holy Mackerel," Cliff protested. "Aren't we ever serious around this place? You two will wind up gagging with the firing squad." Crawford chuckled softly but let his face go serious. "Sorry, Cliff. What's on your mind?" Cliff said impatiently, "From the radio reports, the Arab Union is consolidating its position. El Hassan is being discredited by the minute. Your followers were in control for a time in Mopti and Bamako, but they're falling away because of lack of direction. The best way I can put reports together, the Reunited Nations is in complete confusion. Everybody accusing everybody of double-dealing." Isobel said dryly, "Any other good news?" Cliff said glumly, "Rumors, rumors, rumors. Half the marabouts in North Africa are proclaiming a jihad in support of the Pan-Islam program of the Arab Union. Listen, Homer, we've got to get the backing of the Moslem leaders." Homer Crawford grunted. "We need Islam in this part of the world like we need a hole in the head. That's one of the things already wrong with North Africa." "What's wrong with Islam? It was probably the most dynamic religion ever to sweep the world."