Ashraf strides over from where he was sitting cross-legged on the sand. Ethan moves me away from the argument while he and Ashraf try to calm tempers.
Bart and Simon jump down from their camels.
“That was bloody brilliant. And I managed to get most of it.” Simon hands me his phone and I watch the episode back, laughing because Ethan was right. My face was priceless.
“Good on you, Simon. While I was falling to my death, you were filming,” I tease.
“I knew Ethan had you.” Yes. Ethan did have me. Even though it’s a bit blurry, you can see the terror in Ethan’s eyes as he leaps from his camel. I just hope anyone watching it puts it down to fear of losing a student in his care.
“Did I hear the handler call you Amira?” Bart asks.
“Yes, I think so. Why? What does it mean?”
“Interesting. It means princess. Guess he likes you.”
“I’m sure they call all women that. Part of the schtick to make you feel good.”
Both Bart and Simon shake their heads.
“First time I’ve heard it,” Simon says as he climbs back up onto his camel.
I have to admit, I’m feeling a little overwrought, although whether from the potential fall, the catch, or the argumentthat’s finally winding down, I don’t know. So maybe it’s my imagination, but as I look up, I see Riley still clinging to her restless camel, a look of pure venom in her eyes.
After eventually returning to the Pyramids on our motley collection of camels, we grab some dinner at a tiny street stall, where, yet again, Ethan is a familiar face. All except Garret, who insists on eating the bag of crisps he bought at the little shop in the hotel.
“I have a sensitive digestive system,” he says defensively when Jeremy teases him for being a chicken.
The Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids started in the early 1960s and still gets a huge crowd. Everything is dark as we take our seats, and I stumble as Riley shoves me out of the way in her haste to get a seat beside Ethan. It backfires on her because he catches me and guides me into the seat on the other side of him. Which is unfortunate because the last place I need to be is sitting beside Ethan in these tightly packed little plastic chairs, our thighs pressed together. Especially after what happened earlier.
Luckily, Riley demands his attention and I’m free to tune out the conversation and soak up the brooding silence of the Pyramids I know are out there in the dark.
A loud clash of symbols and a flash of light has me jumping in my seat. The Pyramids, the Sphinx, the funerary temples, the causeway are all suddenly lit up against the night sky. For nearly an hour, I’m transfixed. The lights and the lasers are so stunning I don’t know where to look, and the music and sound effects reverberate right to your core. It’s spectacular. I’m so engrossed I almost don’t notice the warmth of Ethan’s shoulder brushing mine or the smell of his aftershave. Not until we’re abruptly plunged into the dark and silent night. It takes me a momentto gather my wits. I glance at Ethan, who looks as moved as I feel. You’d think after so many years, he might be used to the extravaganza we’ve just seen. His expression tells me otherwise. Ethan’s almost as overwhelmed as me.
“Wow,” is all I can manage.
“I know.” He smiles in response.
The bus ride home is a rowdy one. Everyone is on a high after the show. Even Garret is full of excitement. Everyone is talking over each other, laughing, comparing high points. All but one of us.
Riley has been uncharacteristically quiet. When the door of our room closes behind us, she wastes no time in letting me know why.
“What’s going on with you and Ethan?” she demands before I’ve even taken off my boots.
“What? Nothing. What are you talking about?” I’m not a good liar, so the distraction of unlacing my boots is a welcome one.
“He leapt off that camel of his to save you so fast my head spun. He didn’t do that for me.”
“Well, you weren’t falling off a camel.”
“I nearly did. It tried to throw me off.”
“You weren’t going to fall. And it wasn't trying to throw you off. They all stand up like that. Back legs first. How can you not know that?”
“I’ve never been to Egypt before. How am I supposed to know?” Riley starts tossing things around in her suitcase.
“Neither have I. But I know how a camel stands up.” I go about getting ready for a quick shower.
“Humph. I saw the way you looked at each other. And the way he sat you next to him at the show.”
