“Alright. Let me know if you change your mind.”
The cough of the engine as Mo starts it up reminds us it’s time to go, and we board the bus. Off to see a demonstration of traditional papyrus-making methods.
The lunchtime conversation plays in my mind as we tour the facility I’ve been to many times before. It’s planted a dangerousseed in my head. Because regardless of how much I loved Jess, and I did, in the deepest part of my heart, I have to acknowledge that maybe we weren’t entirely suited. There’s no denying we wanted different things in life. But marrying, or at least being in a relationship with, a fellow archaeologist would surely work better than marriage to a ‘civilian’. Sadie having the same doubts about having children as me? Best not to think about what that could mean.
Between the mountain of organisation for the dig, and the distraction of Sadie, I had completely forgotten tonight is New Year’s Eve. When we arrive back at the hotel, we’re all invited to a party on the rooftop, from where we'll get a great view of the fireworks over the Pyramids.
I’d love to see them. I’d love to see Sadie see them. But that way lies danger. So it’s a good thing I’m committed to dinner with my Department of Antiquities contacts and the directors of other digs about to get underway. Normally, I’d be one of the first to leave. Tonight, I hang around, hoping the party at the hotel will be over before I get back.
And for once, the universe smiles on me. All is quiet and dark as I get out of the cab and look up at the rooftop. I fall into bed without the temptation of watching Sadie party.
Chapter Thirty
Sadie
It’s no surprise to anyone when Riley is ten minutes late on the day we check out of the hotel and move to the boat we’ll be sailing to Amarna on, which is also where we’ll be living for the duration of the dig.
We’re all a little dusty, to be honest. The party last night migrated to Simon and Jeremy’s room once the fireworks finished, so at best, we’ve had four hours of sleep. But it was worth it to see the colours exploding over the Pyramids from the hotel rooftop. To wonder what the ancient people would think if they could see such a sight.
I would’ve helped Riley pack—in the few days we’ve been here, she’s spread herself across every flat surface in the room, including the floor—but she’s been so snaky and snarly with me since the camel incident, I thought it would cause less trouble if I left her to it.
The trip through Cairo is the same traffic chaos I’ve already learnt to expect. Finally Mo pulls the bus up to a busy little dock.
There are several feluccas, traditional Egyptian sailing boats, being loaded with everything from bags of grain to goats to wooden crates full of goodness knows what, by laughing, shouting men wearing jalabiyas. At the end of the dock a motor cruiser is moored.
The hull and railings are bright white, as though they’ve recently been painted, with a narrow, jaunty blue stripe running its length. A tall white wheelhouse with three sparkling clean windows sits towards the front with the name of the boat,Doma, printed neatly in orange lettering on the front and the side.
Behind the wheelhouse are wooden panels with tiny, high-set windows at close intervals, running almost to the back of the boat, supporting a middle deck roofed in a sandy brown tarp. Low benches are built into the short railing and are lined with colourful cushions.
At the back of the boat is a taller cabin with an open upper deck above it. Judging from the delicious-smelling smoke wafting from the small metal chimney, this must be the kitchen.
It’s small but neat and clean and cheerful. And I fall in love with it on the spot.
“That’s theship?” Riley squeaks as she takes in the scene. The look on her face is comical.
“It’s a boat, actually. And pretty comfortable. We stayed on this one last year.” Bless Bart and his sunny nothing-bothers-me nature.
We grab our bags from the back of the bus and make our way down the short dock. I wish I had a spare hand to take photos of all the activity. Hopefully there’ll be time for that when we board.
Standing proudly on the middle deck awaiting introductions are the crew.
As well as Ashraf, we have our captain, Khaled, deckhand Sayed, cook Marwa, and our housekeeper Noha. Mo will goahead by road, so we have a bus to get us to and from the dig site. In fact, he’s already peeling away from the dock in a cloud of dust before we’re all on board theDoma.
Ethan gives us our cabin numbers—two to a cabin, much to Riley’s disgust—and suggests we get ourselves settled.
The staircase to below decks is steep and narrow, as is the little corridor down the middle of the boat. Cabins line either side. Bart points out the three shared bathrooms, which are little more than cupboards, two at the front and one at the back. We all ignore Riley’s complaint over the lack of ensuite facilities as she struggles and thumps down the stairs with her suitcases until Simon takes pity on her and helps.
Our cabins are small and basic, with a single set of bunk beds, a slightly rickety sink in the corner, and a small chest of drawers with hooks on the wall above for our clothes.
“If you think I’m taking the top bunk, you can think again. It doesn’t look safe,” Riley says before I’ve even had time to drop my backpack.
“Suits me. If it collapses, it’ll fall on top of you.” I suppress a smile at the way her mouth pops open in confusion and dump my pack on the bed that’s made up with crisp white sheets and a brightly coloured doona before she can change her mind. I’m happy to take the top bunk because from there, I can see out the tiny window. I’d also rather get up on deck than waste time arguing about who gets which bed.
Pulling my camera out of my daypack, I climb over the suitcases Riley’s left in the doorway and head straight back up on deck. As I climb the stairs, I can hear her asking where the aircon controls are and complaining loudly about the sink only having cold water.
By the time I get back up on deck, Sayed is already casting off, and Khaled is in the wheelhouse, preparing to steer us into the main channel of the river.
“How long will it take us to get to Amarna?” I sidle up to Ethan, who is leaning against the rail watching the river. I’ve never seen him look so relaxed. Almost happy. My breath catches and nerves come alive in places they shouldn’t as he turns to me, his eyes sparkling in his newly tanned face. It should be illegal to look that good.
