Hawk sat near the prow of the papyrus boat as they made their way through the Saite Canal. His weapons sat back within reach of the boatman: Hawk’s mare’s laig pistol and tomahawk, next to Simonetta’s Very Large Gun. He could smell the smoke from the boatman’s cigarette, as he glanced down at the tomahawk. It also functioned as a pipe, but he doubted the boatman would be too happy if he went for the weapon just for a smoke.

The statues of the Pharaoh Ramesses XVIII held the lamps that lit the canal, making them appear like giant sentries guarding the way to Sais. The Pharaoh’s thousand year old granite face glared down at all who traveled past. Say what you will about the Egyptians, Hawk thought, they knew the meaning of grandiose. Not growing up in this land, Hawk had nothing to compare them to. He heard the British and other travelers say they were unnerving. Hawk could not help but smile at that thought. If the Egyptians could intimidate the British with their world spanning empire and imperial meddling, that had to be worth something.

He glanced back at Simonetta but she was huddled next to Rebecca in the back. Rebecca’s fine blue dress was covered with dirt and reeds. Her dark hair fell about her shoulders in a way no proper English girl would ever dare to be seen in public. Despite that, she had drifted off to sleep as Simonetta sat next to her. What were the chances of blundering into her in the middle of Naukratis of all places? Probably better than he wanted to admit to himself. Simonetta Belzoni had a habit of turning up when you least expected her. Or maybe the gods were just having a laugh at his expense.

Hawk reached into his pocket and pulled out the piece of paper that Wallis had given him. An unreadable hieratic scrawl with a transliteration written by an associate of the Professor’s that he only referred to as Mr. Crocodile. Whoever Mr. Crocodile was, he was supposedly a powerful wizard. A spell to find the woman you’re looking for, the Professor had said. He looked back at the paper in his hands. I did not think this would bring Simonetta to me as well, Hawk thought to himself, as he folded the paper and slipped it back into his pocket.

“Simonetta,” he muttered under his breath before the glow in the distance caught his eye. The lights of Sais. Hawk felt the boat shift underneath him and then Simonetta sat down beside him.

“Buona notte, Hawk,” she said. “Surprised to see me?”

“If I let you surprise me, winchinchala, I never have the time for anything else,” Hawk said. Simonetta’s teeth shone in the night as she smiled.

“You want to ask me about Alexandria,” she said. “I did try to find you. I heard that you took an airship south to Thebes.”

“I thought it best to make a fresh start,” Hawk said, looking back at the statues again. Simonetta was silent for a few moments before she spoke.

“Professor Wallis hired me to find his niece as well, as soon as he heard she was flying into Naukratis.”

“He’s thorough,” Hawk said.

Simonetta shrugged. “He has Antiquities Service money behind him. Beside a girl like that would not have lasted much longer in Naukratis if we hadn’t found her.”

“Actually, she found me.” Hawk looked back at Rebecca, still asleep in the back of the boat. “Sitting in the tavern and she just walked in through the door, looking half panicked.”

As if she heard them talking about her, Rebecca suddenly sat bolt upright. “Where…?” she started.

“It’s all right,” Simonetta said, leaving Hawk’s side to attend the girl. Hawk watched Simonetta walk back, her body silhouetted against the light from the Pharaoh’s lamps. He sighed to himself remembering other nights he had seen her body silhouetted by the night lamps. Hawk forced the memories away, focusing his attention ahead down the canal.