Rebecca and Mr. Crocodile took their seats and watched the city of Crocodilopolis fall away beneath them as they followed the Nile to the north.
“We should arrive in Cairo a little before dark,” Mr. Crocodile said.
“For what should we be prepared?” Rebecca asked.
“Nothing,” he said, looking at the various passengers around them, stopping to further scrutinize one of another. “At least at first. We will likely not receive a formal summons until the next morning. If we’re lucky, the Antiquities Service will not keep us waiting for much more than a few days.”
“And the Khairataw?” she asked. As soon as she said the word, Rebecca felt the eyes of all the passengers on her. She stole a few glances at them and in the back of her mind wondered how many of them might be the real Khairataw agents.
“I’m sure they’ll have agents watching us from the moment we disembark. Then they will try to separate us and I will make sure that does not happen.”
“Could you really stand up to them?” Rebecca asked.
Mr. Crocodile leaned back and closed his eyes. “Torinre was right when she said the Khairataw cannot infiltrate the priesthoods of the old gods. They are not stupid and the gods don’t like such disloyalty. Although he is strongest in Crocodilopolis, Sabik is not a god to be challenged lightly.” His eyes flashed open. “And neither are his priests.”
“Attention passengers,” a tinny voice announced over the speakers. Rebecca shuddered as it reminded her of the shabti. “We have arrived in Cairo, please disembark in an orderly manner.” This, of course, sent everyone crowding toward the door.
Happy to be off the airship, Rebecca and Mr. Crocodile hailed a steam-rickshaw being hauled by a large burly Construct. “Our destination.” Mr. Crocodile handed him a paper and the next thing Rebecca knew the Construct was speeding—barely under control—through the streets.
When they had arrived at the inn, Rebecca had never been so grateful to have stopped moving. “That Construct could use some maintenance,” she said under her breath.
“Flesh and blood drivers are worse,” Mr. Crocodile said, watching the rickshaw vanish into traffic.
“Hey, Rebecca isn’t it?” Rebecca turned around to see the woman from the Nomarch’s banquet before they had left Cairo. Rebecca turned to face her, lest the woman’s wandering hands got the best of her.
“Nadjmit…?” Rebecca said, trying to recall her name.
“So you do remember. Depending on how long you’re in Cairo for we can have some fun together.” Nadjmit winked and Rebecca felt her face flush. She looked back at Mr. Crocodile, who regarded the woman with cold indifference.
“Unfortunately,” Mr. Crocodile said, stepping between the two of them. “Miss Rebecca is here on business.” Nadjmit nodded and then vanished into the crowds as Mr. Crocodile and Rebecca stepped into the inn.
“Rebecca Birch?” Rebecca turned around and there, standing next to the common room window was Simonetta Belzoni.
“I have received your letter,” Rebecca said softly, then louder, “I had not expected to see you here so soon.”
“Nor would I,” Mr. Crocodile muttered in the background.
“I told you I was staying in Cairo,” Simonetta said. “You are welcome to stay with me, in my room.”
“That would be…lovely,” Rebecca said, feeling her face flush.
“I do not think that would be a good idea…” Mr. Crocodile started.
“Mr. Emsah,” Rebecca said. “You are acting as my chaperone, and you are an honorable man, but it would be inappropriate for us to share quarters for the night.”
“You must be careful, Miss Birch,” Mr. Crocodile said, but Rebecca was already running after Simonetta.
They ran into Simonetta’s room and Rebecca closed the door behind her. “Miss Belzoni,” Rebecca said, smiling. Before she knew it, Simonetta had pulled her close and kissed her. It was everything Rebecca had dreamed of, even down to the taste of some kind of spice on Simonetta’s lips. Her entire body started to tingle as Simonetta led her toward the bed. “I…”
“No words, bellissima,” Simonetta said as she blew out the light.
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