Chapter23
An Incident at Dendera
Aweek later, near Dendera, West Bank of the Nile
“I could grow used to this sort of living,” Randy said, as he watched Mahmood dockThe Denderaat the port near the ship’s namesake village.Another of the crew had already set out to arrange transportation to take them to the nearby temples.
“Oh, dear.Does this mean you won’t want to go back to living in Oxfordshire?”Diana asked, her arms crossed as she watched the crew tie the ropes up on the dock.
“I said I could grow used to it, not that I would wish to do it,” he replied.“I fear I’m growing fat.All this food and no exercise.”
Diana arched a brow.
“Well, only some exercise,” he amended, immediately understanding the meaning of her gesture.“The very best kind.It’s my favorite time of the day,” he whispered.
Her cheeks pinking with his words, she dipped her head.“Mine as well.”
Randy puffed out his chest.“I am glad to hear I’m favored over your study of ancient temples and artifacts.”
“I didn’t say that,” she teased.
He pounded his chest with a fist and feigned offense before he regarded her mode of dress, not surprised she had donned her breeches, white shirt, and boots.She and David had spent the night before strategizing over how they would explore the temples at Dendera.
Not having read the volume ofLa Description de l’Egyptewhich included the findings at Dendera as they had been doing, Randy didn’t feel the least bit left out.He had listened intently, though, determined to learn what he could.
He feared they would be disappointed.Due to shifting sands, it was possible the temples—or at least their entrances—would be mostly buried in the desert.Remembering Diana carried a small shovel in her satchel, he supposed he could offer to help dig their way in if that were the case.
When he lifted the bag to carry it up on the deck, he found it far heavier than usual.“What have you stuffed into this?”he asked.“It must weigh almost as much as you do.”
She blinked.
“I didn’t mean it like that,” he quickly amended.“It’s just heavier than usual.”He pulled the strap on over his head and shoulder so it rested against the opposite hip.
“Flasks of water and a couple of torches,” she replied.“Unlike most temples I’ve been in, this one still has its roof.We’ll need light once we’re inside.”
Nodding his understanding, Randy waited until Diana had stepped onto the dock before he followed.
Mahmood led the way toward the village of Dendera, shouting orders in Arabic to his crew while he was still within earshot.Behind him, his passengers paired up, the men offering their arms to the ladies.Flasks of water were either stowed in reticules or hung about their necks.
When it was apparent Bradley would be staying behind with the captain’s daughter, Tom paused until Helen was abreast of him and held out his arm to her.
“Good morning, my lady,” he said.
Although she was tempted to rebuff his offer—she was still smarting over what had happened on the back deck the week before—Helen placed her hand on his arm and said, “Good morning, Mr.Forster,” rather glad when she caught him wincing at the use of his formal name.She was about to say something about the fair weather, but their guide began speaking.
“Dendera, which has also been called Tentyra, is home to several temples,” Mahmood said as he adopted a leisurely pace, the bottom of his robe flapping in the breeze.“The largest was dedicated to Hathor, the goddess of motherhood, birth, and rebirth.She was also known for celebration and joy and the renewal of the cosmos,” he explained, lifting his arms and spreading his hands to indicate the heavens.“Music, dance, beauty, and love,” he added.
“It seems fitting a goddess would be in charge of so much,” Tom murmured, his comment meant for Helen.
She huffed softly.“Yes, we women usually are.”
He seemed about to agree with her, but his mouth clamped shut when Mahmood continued talking, the captain cum dragoman unaware of the conversation behind him.“Hathor is easy to identify in the carvings and paintings you will see on the walls of the temple, for she has the head of a cow or the horns of a cow,” he explained, using his fingers on either side of his head to illustrate his point.“Not much is left of the other temple, one dedicated to Isis.She is the goddess known for her power and magic.She was the mother of Horus and a wife and a sister to Osiris, as well as a healer.”
“A wifeanda sister?”Tom repeated under his breath.
“The women really did have to do everything,” Helen whispered.
Ahead of them, a line of hantours approached.“Ah, our carriages are here,” he said, grinning broadly.“I will tell you more when we are at the temple.”
