Shadows of the Nile (13 page)

“Tricks? Her tricks? It's tricks from that old stone, more like. Sometimes it makes sounds – like sighing from the dead girls. You do what you want, but that's it for me.”

He strode out quickly.

Nephthys forgot him. She backed off from Aline and hesitated.

Aline turned slowly. Something was round her neck. It didn't move.

“So,” Nephthys said, unable to keep the fear totally out of her voice. “I wanted to see if you could still call the snake. One day soon I'll destroy your power and you'll die. You think you know how to fight me, Aline, but you can't remember the old ways and how to use them and I'll make certain you never will. Every time you go back I'll wreck your memory of it. You'll live in the present, with little idea of what really happened. You might not return from one of your adventures, and I'll bury you in the past; and if you do return, I'll bury you in the present.”

Aline didn't say anything. Nephthys clearly underestimated just how much she could remember.

Nephthys stormed out, banging the door behind her.

*

The snake sat heavily round her neck but Aline didn't notice the weight. Something was pouring into her head. The cobra was showing her some of the ancient ways. She felt the ring tighten on her finger. She felt the snake shawl cover her head and her face. She sat on an ornamental chair, one from the past. She felt power flooding into her, as she rested her hands on the heads of snakes carved on its arms. She was beginning to realise something important. The journey back wasn't just a glimpse into a bygone world. The life she was reliving wasn't just a picture image. That person was her! For some reason she was experiencing a previous existence, and Nephthys played a very important and dangerous part in it.

*

“Oh, Aline, there you are!” Peter met her just outside. “I thought you'd gone. Such an extraordinary place. Do you know, when that chap said to go and look at pictures I really thought they might be a bit naughty, but do you know, they were really only what he said, photos of pyramids and temples. Quite extraordinary. How did you get on? You could have come with me; honestly, there was nothing to offend a lady.”

“Well, like you, it wasn't a great surprise – just a drawing of animals on an old tablet.”

“It's a bit disappointing,” groaned Peter. “I thought we'd go back with dark tales of this and that. We might as well go and find the others.”

Aline walked quietly by his side as he chuntered on, taking comfort from him.

They soon found them. Jan was haggling over some jewellery and Mary was standing just to her side, holding several bags, an amused expression on her face.

“Ah, there you are,” Jan said. “I've already been shopping. Mary hasn't bought a thing. She says she doesn't really like shopping. I'd have thought, with all your money,” she said accusingly to Peter, “she could afford to buy a few trinkets. Oh come here, Aline, you understand shopping don't you? Help me choose a very sexy dress and gorgeous pair of earrings.”

Aline still felt a bit wobbly from her recent experiences but tried very hard to appear as normal as possible. She wasn't sure if she was the best judge of clothes at that moment, but it was such a relief to do something frivolous after what had happened earlier. A session with Jan and clothes would help clear her mind.

“Okay, but which occasion are they for?”

“I don't know. I've just bought some gaudy things. So, now I could get something flimsy and exotic to wrap myself in – maybe for dinner. I could make an entrance just like you did at the Galabeya party.”

“These are nice.” Aline held up some earrings, large ringed hoops with pink and gold stones hanging down on strands. “You could get something to wear to match them further up the market maybe.”

“We'll leave you to it,” Peter said. “See you back at the ship, and don't get involved with any more strange men.”

“Believe me we won't,” Aline answered with conviction.

Peter and Mary took off, carrying Jan's bags.

After they bought the earrings, with much negotiation, they set off as fast as they could up the narrow street, stopped every second by someone thrusting things into their faces.

“I want to buy a dress,” Jan announced to Aline. “Something which covers me from head to toe and makes me appear incredibly sexy for an eighty-something.”

“Okay. Let's get out of here and try and find other shops. There must be more choice nearby.”

They turned away from the hubbub and found a much quieter area, nearer to the main part of the town. There were shops, with the traders sitting patiently outside. One lady attracted Jan's attention, holding a silky pink top. She motioned them in. Jan needed no encouragement. She was in a mood to buy anything and everything, and she whispered to Aline as they went in, “If I don't like it I can give it to one of my granddaughters.”

She rushed into the shop, but Aline hesitated outside. She suddenly felt as if she was going deep inside herself, as Cheng would have said. Even with people around, it suddenly felt very peaceful. She stood quietly, her hands together, with eyes lowered, remembering Cheng, and thinking about her quest and the Egyptian she was searching for. Then something made her glance up. Someone had been watching her, someone tall, someone very masculine, someone she very much wanted to meet – but he turned hurriedly before she could even see his face. Although he was a distance away she was certain he was the Egyptian she had seen before.

“Stop!” she cried. But he ignored her and quickly disappeared into the distance.

She ran after him. But it was futile. The main street was so crowded with people she would never find him, and it would be so easy to get lost.

Sadly she retraced her steps. There was something about him which was so familiar. She felt tears of frustration stinging her eyes.

Jan didn't notice the tears and hadn't missed her. She was totally absorbed in her shopping.

The shop inside was small and jammed full of women's clothes hanging on railings. Jan made for a pink dress and Aline agreed it would match the colour of the earrings.

She tried it on. It was high at the neck, long in the skirt, with loose sleeves down to her wrists and shaped at the waist to show off her still-good figure. The woman picked out a gold necklace and a gold girdle to relieve the pinkness. With her blonde hair and her face glowing with pleasure, Aline thought she looked very attractive and much younger than her years, and told her so.

“Let me buy you something,” Jan said.

“That's sweet of you, Jan, but really I've got lots of things.”

“Try this one,” the shopkeeper said to Aline, selecting a turquoise dress. “It's not expensive. See, it has a long silky skirt, with a wide jewelled waistband which comes to just under your bosom, and then there are two pieces of silk attached to the band which pull up and tie at the back of your neck. Here, let me help you try it on.”

Encouraged by Jan, who sat happily in her pink dress watching her, Aline allowed herself to be helped into the turquoise one. It did indeed fit her well. The waistband was tightened as much as possible to show off her small waist, the silky strips of material were fitted securely over each of her breasts and knotted behind her neck. Her back was bare from the waist upwards.

The woman hung a Nubian necklace around her neck, with a turquoise stone in the centre and earrings to match the stone.

“You look terrific,” Jan said. “I'll buy it for you. You can't refuse a gift.”

Aline tried to say no, but she could see Jan would be hurt. After it was bought, they headed straight out of the shop for the nearest cafe which overlooked the Nile.

*

“Do tell me something about yourself,” Jan said, as they sat sipping a beer. “I know a bit about you but you know everything about me, my modelling career and my large family. I know you're clever with languages, and probably widely travelled, with doing the job you have. Which other countries have you been to?”

“Well, I've been to Paris – I stayed in four different hotels on that assignment; I've been to New Zealand, a beautiful country, where I swam with the dolphins in the Bay of Islands and had a meal in the Sky Tower in Auckland. I've done Disney World in Florida, and visited many Mediterranean Islands.”

“And you don't like travelling – well flying, Gerald said.”

Aline laughed. “That's true, but I'm getting better.”

“What about your parents? Do they mind you flitting off all over the world.”

“No. They're lovely. I text them most days, my mother especially seems to worry about me. She still thinks I'm sixteen although I'm twenty-six and well able to look after myself. At least I think I am.”

“Parents always worry, however old you are.”

“Yes, I suppose so. They know my work is important to me. Also, I'd like to write some fiction, as Peter is always encouraging me to do, but it's a difficult world to break into.”

“Oh yes, I'm sure it must be. What about boyfriends?”

“Well, I've had several,” Aline replied thoughtfully, “but nothing really serious. I'm waiting for that someone really special. Sounds a bit crazy, but that's me.”

“I do understand, believe me. I felt the same, even though I never had the chance to play the field, as it were. My parents were very protective of me,” Jan mused. “My mother would chaperone me on modelling assignments, and any man who looked at me would be vetted. I married quite young – I was nineteen, and my career finished then. I didn't really miss it. I devoted my time to my husband and children. I really loved my husband.” Her voice became low with emotion. “Of course I still have our offspring, and their offspring, and they all keep me going. You know, I think if you're waiting for that special person, you'll eventually find him and he'll mean everything to you.”

They sat quietly for a while, enjoying their beer and watching the river.

Aline wondered if she should share with her all the strange things that had happened to her ever since she came to Egypt. Jan was kind. She had age and experience on her side and was like a mother figure. And yet she wasn't sure. She thought about the others. She could confide in someone like Peter with his ebullient charm, yet depth, or sensible Mary. Then there was Gerald, so sweet and helpful, or Achmed with his wisdom, or Cheng with his linking to the past. She could even tell her parents, but they would worry and were a long way away. Whoever she confided in, they might not believe her and might think it was her imagination. Perhaps wait for the moment. She had many people she could turn to if necessary.

“Tell you what,” Aline said. “To finish off our shopping spree, why don't we go on a boat ride before dinner? I noticed you can hire one quite cheaply near us, and you get a couple of boatmen thrown in, and someone to sing to us! It only lasts half an hour, so we'd be back well in time for the evening's entertainment. It'll be my treat in return for the lovely dress. Now, you can't say no.”

“Well that's really nice of you. It does sound a good idea, another escapade! And why don't we wear our posh frocks? That would be the icing on the cake.”

“Okay,” Aline smiled. She wasn't certain if wearing long flimsy dresses was quite suitable for a small boat, but it could add to the fun.

*

“Where are you two ladies going?”

They were about to disembark from the cruise ship, when Achmed wandered over to them.

“We're going on an adventure,” Jan said conspiratorially.

“On your own?”

Aline stood by quietly. She wore her beautiful new dress but knowing she was going onshore she'd tied her shawl loosely around her shoulders to hide her exposed back. Jan sparkled in all her pink glory.

“Yes, we thought we would,” Aline answered. “We've been told everyone here is friendly.” She felt Achmed was about to try and dissuade them.

“That might be so, but I think it's very unwise for two ladies to be unaccompanied in the evening.”

“We're only going on the sailing boat,” Aline went on. “There are several boats out on the river already.”

“Possibly, but they are probably about to turn round and come back very soon. You could be the only boat left on the river. If you must go, then I will come with you, if you will allow me.”

Aline was about to ask Jan what she wanted to do when Jan linked her arm through Achmed's.

“Well,” Jan smiled. “I thought it was going to be all girls together but this is even better. What an offer, a handsome man offering to join us. Come on, Aline, take his other arm and let's go for an evening sail.”

Aline smiled and acquiesced.

They crossed to the shore.

“You look as if you three are up to something,” Peter called down from the upper deck. “Have fun. By the way, ladies, that chap we met this afternoon doesn't work on the boat, and no one's heard of him. We were a bit too trusting, eh?”

“Just a bit,” Aline called back.

“What was all that about?” Achmed asked.

“Oh nothing really,” Aline murmured. “Someone who said he was one of our chefs and wanted us to buy herbs in the market.”

She glanced sideways at Achmed. He didn't say anything but the dark, concerned look on his face said everything.

*

“Ah, welcome, people!” One of the sailors jumped quickly out of the felucca and helped them step carefully across the small expanse of water. Achmed went to join the boatmen at the back, and was soon laughing and talking with them as they set sail.

It was a peaceful and serene evening, and the boat skimmed across the water making very little noise, except for the sound of the sail in the breeze. Achmed was right about the other boats returning to shore, and they passed some of them on their way back, and all waved to each other. They were soon completely alone on the river as they sailed away from the town and towards the countryside. The bank was high in places, and some big houses could be seen in the distance, owned by famous people, or so they were informed by one of the sailors. He wore a turban and a long none-too-clean white robe, which stretched to his feet. His colleague was dressed similarly. They soon brought out jewellery and carved animals to sell, placing them on the shelf on the side of the boat. Aline watched with much amusement as Jan selected one or two bangles, put them on her arm, didn't bother to haggle, and paid with a small amount of notes. Achmed looked on, smiling.