Egypt

Read Egypt for Free Online

Book: Read Egypt for Free Online
Authors: Patti Wheeler
palm trees and farmland dominate the landscape instead of buildings and roads and cars. South of the city, most of the land is divided up into small, fenced-off plots where people farm. There are cows in some places, mostly thin with bones showing through their skin. There are men working these small plots of land, taking care of their crops, some with water buffalos pulling plows. There are also women in burkas and little kids helping in the fields. Other children are playing along the shore, some with dogs that are skinny like the cows.
    Our boat is ignored by most adults, but the children always show interest. Whenever I wave they always wave back and shout and jump around with big smiles on their faces.
    This is all so great out here on the river and I feel good and mostly relaxed, but I know the toughest part is ahead of us and I have to admit, nerves are starting to bubble up in my stomach again. My fear, I guess, is the unknown. Exploring unexplored tombs and all the dangers that go along with that kind of thing—the narrow tunnels and the dark chambers and the bats and rats, the snakes and booby traps, the curses and mummies… Jeez, I’m totally ruining this cruise by worrying about things that I might not even have to deal with.
    I think it’s time to put away the journal and enjoy the scenery. I mean, how many times in my life will I be aboard a boat cruising down the Nile River? I’m guessing, not many. If I can just ignore all these troubling thoughts, just put them out of my head completely, this cruise will be one of the memories of Egypt I’ll cherish most.

    Sunset over the Nile River

PART II
AN ANCIENT SECRET

WYATT
    FEBRUARY 24, 10:56 PM
    NORTH OF AL MINYA, EGYPT
    24° CELSIUS, 75° FAHRENHEIT
    SKIES CLEAR, WIND 5-10 MPH
     
    E arlier tonight we learned of Cleopatra’s Secret.
    James, Serene, and I sat in the boat’s dining area, playing cards as we moved south along the Nile. It was getting dark, as Gannon came down the steps from the boat’s deck and joined us at the table.
    “Be honest, mate,” James said to me. “Do you really think we’ll find Cleopatra?”
    “Hard to say,” I replied. “But I’m optimistic.”
    “But this is Dr. Aziz’s sixth season excavating the site and he hasn’t found anything that proves without a doubt that it’s Cleopatra’s burial place. What if he’s made a mistake? Some archeologists believe he’s digging in the wrong place. They say Cleopatra’s tomb isn’t anywhere near Alexandria.”
    “Don’t you worry,” Gannon said, “he’s digging in the right place.”
    “How do you know?” James replied with sarcasm in his voice. “Did the Sun God, Ra, come down from the sky and give you this information?”
    “Very funny,” Gannon said. “Actually, Wyatt and I met a man whose grandfather was close to finding Cleopatra and he was digging in the northern deserts just outside Alexandria.”
    “So he said,” I added, as a disclaimer. “We have no proof that what he told us is true.”
    “You’ll believe just about anything won’t you, mate?” James said to Gannon.
    “I know it’s true,” Gannon said. “Check it out. He gave me this.”
    Gannon reached into his satchel and removed the relic the man had given him.
    “See the profile,” he said. “That’s Cleopatra. The shopkeeper’s grandfather found it near her tomb.”
    “Oh, he was a shopkeeper,” James said. “That explains it. They’ll tell you anything to sell their junk.”
    “It’s not junk. Besides, he gave it to me. For free. Thought it might help us in our search.”
    “Can I see it?” Serene asked.
    “Sure,” Gannon said and handed her the relic.
    Serene examined the piece. Running her thumb along the broken edge, she studied the profile.
    “This is from the Ptolemaic period,” she said, “which was the time of Cleopatra’s reign.”
    “Oh, come on,” James said. “Really?”
    “Yes,” she said with confidence. “I’m sure. We have a collection of

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