It was around nine when they arrived in Sais. The pilot brought them up to the nearest dock as they climbed out. “Hey!” he shouted. “Two gold dibans!”

“The Antiquities Service will pay—” Hawk started.

“No credit!” the pilot said. “Two gold dibans!”

“Here. Naneh?” Simonetta said, dropping two ring-shaped coins into the pilot’s waiting hand.

“Aha,” the pilot said with a smile, flipping the coins through his fingers. They started away as the reed boat started chugging back toward Naukratis.

“I’ll find the telegraph office,” Hawk said.

“And I’ll get Rebecca some decent clothes,” Simonetta said.

“This dress is velvet and—” Rebecca started but Simonetta cut her off.

“And marks you as a shemmo and it’s too warm in the day anyway,” Simonetta said. “Now would you prefer a peasant dress, or…”

“I rather like what you are wearing. Trousers are so daring,” Rebecca said. Simonetta Belzoni wore a tattered jacket of the Egyptian Infantry that seemed to be missing any kind of insignia, and pants from some other uniform that Hawk had no idea where they had come from. Hawk doubted the professor would be too pleased to see his niece dressed like Simonetta, but the mental picture did make him chuckle.

“Let’s see what we can find,” Simonetta said.

“I’ll be here,” Hawk said, walking toward the telegraph office. Professor Wallis should still be in Cairo, he thought to himself. He looked up and saw the office was decorated with images of the goddess Isis. “The holiday, you’re getting ready for it?” he asked.

“You’re lucky you arrived here,” the telegraph operator said, smiling. “I close up in about an hour and I am closed all day tomorrow…”

“The Feast of Isis is the day after tomorrow,” Hawk said. “Today is only the fourth of Hathor, right?”

“I leave tomorrow to be with my family in Tanis,” the clerk said. Hawk nodded. He had never been one to live on the white man’s exact timing anyway.

“I just need to send a quick message,” Hawk said. “And get a response as well.”

“I close at ten, regardless,” the operator said, checking his pocket watch.

Hawk handed the message over. The operator glanced at it, and then Hawk listened to the clicking as he tapped out: Have retrieved your niece Rebecca. Simonetta here as well. Hawk Ramsey.

No more than a few minutes later, the response came. “Someone was waiting for you,” the operator said. He scribbled down the message and handed it over. Hawk dropped some silver dibans on the counter in front of him. “May the Lady of Magic watch over you.”

“And have the wonderful feast yourself. Ougay,” Hawk said as he left. He stood outside the telegraph office for only a few moments before Simonetta returned with a young woman wearing a kalasiris sheath dress like an Egyptian. She wore a fancy purse and had the usual Egyptian kohl around her eyes. Only her dark hair was still done up in a fancy English hairdo that marked her as a foreigner. It took a moment to realize that she was in fact Rebecca.

“You look quite lovely, Miss Birch,” Hawk said. Rebecca gave a demure smile.

“Simonetta was quite helpful, but I do hate to give up that dress,” Rebecca said. “It was velvet you know.”

“I received the message already from your uncle,” Hawk said, handing it over.

“Wonderful news,” Rebecca read aloud. “I look forward to seeing you all. Take the next airship to Cairo.”

“It looks like we need to find an airship,” Simonetta said.

“Ain’t nothing is flying out at this time of night,” Hawk said. “We should take a room.”

“Two rooms,” Rebecca said. “It would not be proper for you to room with us, Mr. Ramsey.”

Hawk opened his mouth to protest, but remembered Professor Wallis and the Antiquities Service would pay regardless.

“I’ll keep a watch over her, Hawk,” Simonetta said.

As they made their way south to find a cheap inn, Simonetta hung close to Hawk as Rebecca walked in front of them. The girl seemed amazed by the sights and sounds of the city.

“We did not get to finish our conversation in the boat, Hawk,” Simonetta said. “I know we did not part on the best of terms…”

“We were passionate lovers until one day when you disappeared. Ain’t never find out why,” Hawk said. “Two years later, we meet in Naukratis.”

“I killed a man. Long before I ever met you,” Simonetta said. Hawk stopped and turned to her. “There was some unpleasantness in my past. It came back to haunt me in Alexandria that day. A dead man’s brother. I had to defend myself.”

“Man was dead in the end,” Hawk said. Simonetta nodded. “You ran.”

“I ran,” she said. “By the time I returned, I heard you went south to Thebes. I just want you to know what really happened.”

All the questions Hawk had were suddenly answered. It was a strange feeling really. There was nothing Hawk could say to her about it. He had killed men in battle and did not really care if Simonetta’s killings were justified or not. That was her business. “It’s all right,” Hawk said. Before he realized it, Simonetta had embraced him.

“Grazie! I’m glad you understand, Hawk!”

“What are you two doing?” Rebecca asked as she stood there, looking back at them.

“Clear the air on a few things,” Hawk said.

“Simonetta,” Rebecca said, glaring at Hawk. “It’s getting late and we should find an inn.” Maybe he misread Rebecca’s expression, but it almost looked to Hawk like she was angry at him for talking to Simonetta.

“Of course,” Simonetta said, taking Rebecca’s hand in hers as Hawk followed up after them. Hawk shook his head as he fell into step behind them. It was getting late and he had been up too long.