The expedition
Arthur rose slightly from his seat seeing the long desert expanses, lowered his gaze as much as possible seeing that she had not woken up and was still sleeping leaning against him.
- Soraya - he lightly touched the arm he kept resting on the armrest - we are almost there.
- Um - she pulled her head away from his shoulder - this seat is really comfortable. Compared to the one in the first stopover. Have you rested?
- Not much, I will rest at the hotel.
Soraya leaned toward him and he kissed her, she smiled and said:
- I wanted to see the desert from above, you always know how to amaze me - she froze seeing him blush and leaned in again to kiss him, but he pulled away and looked away - What's wrong?
- Didn't you hear?
- No - she replied frowning - there are a lot of people talking.
- Th- the expedition ... they are talking about an expedition, I didn't understand where, but ...
- Arthur. There's really no need, I know that maybe my expansive manner is not to your liking. But I can't help it.
Arthur looked at her and shook his head, then whispered and said:
- Really, someone talked about an expedition, but I didn't understand where.
- Even if it was? It's none of our business.
- What if it is the same place where we are going? I don't want to put you in danger.
She leaned against his forehead, gently caressing his cheeks.
- Nothing will happen, we will try to be careful. Besides, it doesn't have to be our area, let's be optimistic.
Arthur approached, kissing her again, she gladly accepted, and when a vacuum of air jolted them she smiled in his direction and went back to make herself comfortable in the seat by taking his hand. Soraya was right, after all it might have been a benevolent expedition, why he should think he would get mixed up in something shady he did not even know. He needed to freshen his face, took her hand giving her a quick kiss and got up to go to the toilet; he bumped into a man who was returning to his seat, apologized but without an answer. She turned to look at him, but he had continued as if nothing had happened to put the cap back on his head, crossing Soraya's eyes again he sketched a smile in her direction. He had little time before landing, he could say he knew that air route like the back of his hand, he let out little water wetting his face and took two wipes to dry himself. He threw the tissues in the basket and went out returning to his seat, when he sat down she looked at him and said:
- What was wrong with that man?
- Do you really think he's staring at me now with the shipping thing? I know very well that it could also be a red herring, but do you know how many facts are concealed about expeditions that...you're doing this to tease me, aren't you?
- Actually yes, but just to let you know that we can joke without any problems.
Arriving at the hotel, Arthur threw himself on the bed; he was exhausted and needed at least a few hours of sleep. Soraya would take the opportunity to relax in the pool and steam room offered by the hotel and would waste time in unpacking.
His eyes wandered over the ornate ceiling, he did not understand why he was feeling so tired. He had not rested much in the last few days, between moving and faculty work he barely slept a few hours, and not forgetting the "pseudo relationship" he had started having with Soraya. The whole thing was pleasant and at the moment she had determined that it was nothing serious, but simply a deeper acquaintance. Certainly an open relationship was not one of his favorites, but at the same time it allowed him to have his own space when and how he wanted. He closed his eyes, inhaled deeply and slowly fell asleep.
He awoke a few hours later when the phone in his room rang; it was the front desk connecting him with Soraya's room. He waited for the connection and when he heard from the other end his breath he said:
- Soraya? I had fallen asleep.
- I bothered you, sorry, I wanted to know if you were having dinner in your room or wanted to make a reservation for that restaurant you were telling me about. < /p>
- Yes, let's go to the restaurant. I'll meet you at 6 p.m. in the lobby. What do you think?
- I'd like to take the opportunity to take a walk before dinner, just to be together.
- Soraya? I had fallen asleep.
- I disturbed you I'm sorry, I wanted to know if you were having dinner in the room or I wanted to make reservations for that restaurant you were telling me about.
- Yes, let's go to the restaurant. I'll meet you at 6 p.m. in the lobby. What do you think?
- Sure.
- So before we have dinner, let's take a walk. Would you like to?
- Sure. About the expedition have you calmed down?
- You find it ironic huh?
- Come on Arthur! I'm joking, don't take everything you are told too seriously.
She probably weighed that he did not want to kiss her, or that he was stalling for any, but that was not the case at all. He wanted to kiss her, but sometimes her behaviors held him back or perhaps it was the reality of an unstable relationship that irritated him at this point he agreed that it was preferable for him to continue to be alone rather than share his "pseudo girlfriend" with anyone.
- Are you still there? Arthur?
- I'm here, I was thinking that for the first few days we concentrate on surveying the excavations, but then we can go to Luxor to the Khonshu temple.
- Khonshu sure...
His tone was flat, as if the phone call had suddenly become heavy:
- Do you find that strange? It sounds like an answer to cut the conversation short.
- Absolutely not, it's just that I'm back from the Turkish bath, so I'd better go wash up otherwise by 6 p.m. I'll never make it in time.
- Then I'll see you later, if you feel like it, don't feel constrained.
- I asked you Arthur I don't feel constrained.
She was right, so far the only decision she had made was to go to Khonshu Temple for the rest she was always the one to make the first move.
- I understand, see you at 6 p.m.
Arthur hung up the line and got out of bed, a shower would wake him up and cushion the symptoms of jet lag. He went to the bathroom and put his clothes inside the dirty clothes bag that was resting on the bathroom floor, he sensed a presence behind him, turned around but saw only that it was the effect of the curtains fluttering because of the wind. He turned back, but he kept having that feeling of being watched, he shook his head, it had to be the dizziness due to tiredness.
It was ten minutes to 6 p.m. Arthur went down to the lobby and sat on one of the small sofas in front of the reception desk. He was slightly hungry and when he saw his other colleagues he nodded his head in greeting. At 6 p.m. sharp he saw Soraya coming out of the elevator wrapped in a cream silk caftan, when she saw him she raised her hand to greet him.
- Well, you look slightly rested compared to before. I'm sorry I woke you up, you probably would have preferred to rest more.
- I will do that tonight. Shall we go? I've already had a cab called.
- All right.
Arthur reached out his hand to take Soraya's and they left the hotel, the taxi driver was already ready outside the hotel and when he saw them he signaled for them to get in. Arthur opened the door and made Soraya sit inside and got in his turn, looked at her and said:
- You put on a nice dress. Very Egyptian, I can't say the same, I have the classic clothes I wear even in faculty. Just for the day I opted for something in linen, by now I have a box of clothes that I use only when I come here.
- I certainly won't wear this during the dig, but I thought I had to wear something nice, you Arthur don't need to emphasize your figure you are already charming in normal.
He made a smile to minimize the embarrassment the compliments caused him and changed the subject:
- I didn't book that restaurant I was telling you about, but a particular one that I hope you like.
- All this makes me curious. Have you been there yet?
- No, but I only caught a glimpse, but today when I was trying to contact the other restaurant I was reminded of this other one and what better opportunity than with you.
Arriving in the Cairo district on the banks of the Nile, the cab stopped in front of a giant cruise ship.
- Are you planning to go on a trip?
- it's the restaurant cruise, we're going to take a tour of about an hour and a half maybe two I didn't quite understand, on board there's...I won't tell you anything I don't want to spoil the surprise.
Soraya did not minimize the expression of excitement on her face and got out of the cab, Arthur paid for the ride by tipping the taxi driver.
Arthur stood at her side and pointed to the ship, it had a giant, golden eye of Horus on the side, looked at Soraya she was literally dumbfounded and said:
- You weren't kidding? I thought you were making fun of me.
- No - she laughed for the first time heartily - it really is a restaurant cruise. Let's get on board.
Soraya dragged him by weight, almost running towards the ship, they climbed the steps and when they were in front of the man at the entrance in Egyptian clothes with lots of makeup he said:
- I can't believe it! I can't believe it!
Arthur told the man about the reservation and after checking the book let them through. Soraya saw the whole Egyptian-style setup and looked at it and said:
- Thank you, you couldn't have given me a better surprise, I will be talking about this for years with my friends I bet no one has ever received anything like this.