"Very well," the conductor said. "But be quick. The train leaves in minutes." With one last skeptical glance at Gadji, the conductor moved on down to the next compartment.
When he was out of earshot, I turned back to Gadji and nearly hugged him. "However did you find it?" I asked.
Gadji smiled. "Sefu. When he returns to me that afternoon, he is dragging this with him." He held the reticule out to me and I quickly took it back, relieved to feel the familiar weight. Wanting to make sure it hadn't been substituted for an orange or something, I quickly peeked inside. The orb sparkled back.
"Thank you," I said. "You've no idea how badly I needed this."
"Why is effendi miss carrying such a valuable Egyptian antikah?" he asked suspiciously.
"My mother is an archaeologist. That's her job, finding the lost treasure of the ancients."
Gadji frowned. "But they are our ancients, no? Should not the treasure be ours, then?"
Well. He certainly had a point. "I suppose they should," I said slowly. "But I don't make the rules. Neither does my mother. But here." I handed him the coins Mother had given me. "As a reward for returning my purse."
Just as his grubby hand closed round the coins, the train whistled, then lurched forward.
"Quick! You must get off!"
Gadji looked unconcerned. "I do not think so. Maybe I stay on this train and visit Luxor."
"But your family? Won't they be frantic with worry?"
Gadji shrugged. "No one but angry owner of donkeys back there. Besides, Gadji's family is from Luxor. Perhaps I will return and search for them. You," he said, his face brightening, "is giving me the means to do so." He gave me a nod of thanks. "Until Luxor," he said, then bowed and began making his way back to the third-class cars. Still trying to understand what just happened, I returned to our compartment, relishing the familiar thump-bump of the reticule now that it had been returned to me.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Introductions
IT IS A LONG TRAIN RIDE from Cairo to Luxor. Twenty hours or more, depending on the conditions. I could not help but be wildly grateful for our deluxe traveling compartment and thought often of poor Gadji, standing hip to jowl with scores of other travelers in third class. Try as I might, however, I could not come up with any reason to give Mother as to why an Egyptian boy she'd never met should travel with us. She had been unhappy enough about a cat.
"Theo, have you got all your things?"
"Yes, Mother," I said, wrapping the reticule string twice around my wrist for extra security. I gripped my satchel in one hand and Isis's wicker basket in the other and followed Mother off the train. Luckily, this station wasn't nearly as big—or as crowded—as the Cairo station. Nor was there a Nationalist demonstration going on just outside. Even better, Mother's dragoman, Nabir, was waiting for us, his dark face creased in smiles as he greeted Mother with a bow. "Welcome back, madams."
"It's wonderful to be back, Nabir," Mother said. "And you remember my daughter, Theodosia?"
His smile dimmed ever so slightly. "But of course." He bowed to me and I thought I detected a flicker of panic cross his face. I could not imagine why. Nabir and I had gotten on quite well last time, although I'd had to strong-arm him a time or two in order to carry on with my business. Surely he didn't hold that against me.
"Have you assembled all the workmen?" Mother asked.
"Most all, madams." He and Mother began walking toward the baggage car, discussing archaeological business. I hung back a bit, hoping to find Gadji. Score after score of dusty Arabs disembarked the train, but they were all adult size. Finally, a small figure appeared in the doorway, a monkey clinging to his shoulder.
As Gadji stepped onto the platform, I cast one more glance in Mother's direction, but she was still occupied with the luggage. Good.
"You made it," I said.
He gave me an odd look. "Of course Gadji makes it. Why would I not?"
"No reason. Do you have someplace to stay here in Luxor?"
Gadji shrugged. "Not yet."
"I thought you had family here?"
"Gadji used to have familys here," he corrected. "I am not knowing if they are still here until I look for them."
"Where will you spend the night?"
"I will find someplace. A barn, a doorway. If all else fails, I will sleep under the stars and let Nut watch over me."
I couldn't decide whether to be impressed by his trust in Nut, the Egyptian goddess of the sky, or horrified by his casual disregard for his circumstance. Horrified won. "But that's not safe, is it? How will you eat?"
Gadji shrugged again. "I will beg." He nudged Sefu and the little imp scampered under the collar of Gadji's robe and settled onto his back, making him appear misshapen.
"I don't think that's a good idea. Maybe you should come with us?" I suggested.
Gadji flicked a glance over in Mother's direction with a look of scorn. "You think she is being pleased with that?"
"I'll come up with some excuse," I explained, but before I could elaborate, Nabir spotted us and hurried over. He erupted into a quick spate of Arabic and tried to shoo Gadji away. Honestly, he wasn't a fly! Why did everyone insist on treating him so? Gadji flashed me a look as if to say, See, I told you so.
"It's okay, Nabir. He's with me."
Nabir's words stumbled to a halt, a look of wariness on his face. "What is he doing with you, miss?"
He had me there. I grabbed the first explanation I could think of. "I had promised that I would hire him to carry my things once we arrived in Luxor. Here." I shoved my satchel at Gadji.
Thinking quickly, he reached out and took it. Then he held out his other hand for Isis's basket. I hesitated. Conscious of Nabir's suspicious stare, I had no choice but to hand it over. "Do be careful not to jostle the basket," I told Gadji. "It contains very precious cargo."
He gave a surprisingly regal little bow. "I am carrying it most carefully, effendi miss," he said just as Mother joined our little group.
"What is going on, Theo?" she asked with a small frown. "Is he one of yours, Nabir?"
I jumped in before the dragoman could say anything. "No, Mother. He's the boy on the train. Remember? I'd promised to give him baksheesh, but you said that wasn't a good idea since it only encouraged poor behavior. So I took your suggestion and offered him a job carrying my luggage instead." I smiled brightly, as if this was the most brilliant idea she'd ever had.
"That was my idea?" she asked faintly.
"Yes, and it is much better than begging, Mother. You said so yourself."
"I suppose I did," she muttered. "Very well. Come along, then. Do we have everything, Nabir?"
"More than enough, madams." He threw an annoyed look at Gadji, then began herding us all toward the exit.
With both my arms empty except for the reticule, I couldn't help but feel as though I was forgetting something. I turned around to be sure I hadn't dropped anything and caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. A black-cloaked figure quickly stepped back behind a column. I sighed. With Mother having unwittingly told the Serpents of Chaos of our every planned move, of course they would be following us already.
That just meant we'd have to come up with some unplanned moves.
As I stepped out into the streets of Luxor, I braced myself for the impact of the magic that surely ran rampant in the city's streets. So close to the ancient monuments, it would be nearly overwhelming. Awi Bubu had warned me that this trip would be different from my first. On that first trip, I'd been wearing the powerful Heart of Egypt amulet, which had protected me from the worst of the old, powerful magic that hung over the land. This time, I had nothing but a few measly homemade amulets protecting me.