“These stones...”she said, her attention on the walls.“Some of these inscriptions are upside down, or half-missing,” she murmured, her gloved hand tracing places along the seams where the carvings were unmatched.
“Indeed.The blocks used here were from other temples,” Mahmood explained.
She huffed a sigh of disappointment.
“It became a common practice in the last dynasties,” he added sadly.“They simply reused parts of old temples to build the new ones.”
Nodding her understanding, she asked if they could see the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues near Luxor.“I know they are not truly of Memnon, but rather of Amenhotep the Third,” she added.
Surprised by her statement, Mahmood arched a dark brow.“You are familiar with their story?”
“If you are referring to the story told to the Romans, then I am,” she replied.
He chuckled.“I cannot promise they will sing,” he warned, referring to an odd effect that sometimes happened in the morning hours.
“I don’t care if they do,” she replied.
“Then I will arrange for transport and take you there on the morrow.”
Randy dipped his head to hide his amusement.“When you told me the story of those statues, I thought you did so because you had seen them with your own eyes,” he claimed.
“How could I have?”she countered.“I’ve never been to Egypt before.”
“Well, I know that now,” he replied, still grinning.“I admit I have had the desire to see them ever since you told me your tall tale.”
“It’s not a tall tale,” she argued.
Instead of responding, Randy turned his attention to their guide.“When will we be able to tour the Temple at Luxor?”he asked.
Mahmood displayed a huge grin.“If we see the Colossi of Memnon in the morning, then we shall tour Luxor in the afternoon,” he said.“But first, we must sail there.’Tis not far.Mayhap an hour to the dock in front of your hotel.”
“Hotel?”Stella repeated.
Nodding, Mahmood said, “You will stay there three nights before we continue our journey.”
“Will we be able to take a real bath?”Barbara asked, her query resulting in a chorus of questions from the others.
The guide held up a staying hand.“Baths, yes,” he affirmed.“You will find your accommodations most civilized in Luxor.”
Will chuckled as Harry joined him near the temple entrance.“So, do we continue up the Nile or...”Harry asked with a shrug.In all their plans, they had never discussed continuing the trip farther than Luxor.
“Let’s discuss it over dinner,” Will suggested.“I have a feeling if you were to ask Diana, we would be in Egypt for another year,” Will claimed.
Harry chuckled.“Helen might be in agreement,” he replied.“She seems quite happy on this trip.”He glanced over to where his daughter was still flanked by Tom and David.“All this attention from handsome young men.She doesn’t usually receive it in London,” he added.
Will nodded.“If I was a betting man?—”
“My money would be on your son,” Harry interrupted.
Blinking, Will furrowed his brows.“David?”he said in surprise.“I would have thought Thomas,” he murmured.
Harry chuckled.“Should I be concerned about either one?”
Shaking his head, Will’s attention went back to the three as they regarded the statues of the baboons.“No,” he replied finally, deciding not to mention that he didn’t expect David to take a wife until he was older.
The two stepped away from one another as their wives joined them, and soon the entire party headed back to the boat.
An hour later, they arrived in Luxor.
