Ch10-Good-Bye, Thebes!

CHAPTER TEN Good-Bye Thebes! "I'm afraid we should leave, too," said Annie. "It's almost time for us to meet up with our parents." "Oh, yes, of course," said Florence. "Where do you need to go?"

"Across the Nile," said Jack, "by the sycamore. We'll rendezvous there." Jack put on his shirt, his belt, and his hat. "Good," said Florence. "No doubt Mustafa and Ali are already sitting by the river, waiting to help travelers. We will shout for him to row across and pick you up." "Thanks," said Jack. "And you will need this, Annie," said Florence. She went to a small closet and took out a wooden crutch. "I always travel with a few medical supplies. It's not much, but it should help you a bit." "Great!" said Annie. She took the crutch from Florence and used it to help herself down from the bed. Jack climbed down, too, careful not to jostle his right arm. As they followed Florence out of her cabin, dawn was spreading its rosy glow across the Temple of Luxor, the anchored sailboats, and the waters of the Nile. Charles and Selina were already on the deck. Selina was sketching the temple, while Charles sat in a deck chair, reading a book. "Good morning!"

they both exclaimed when they saw Jack, Annie, and Florence. "Say good morning and good-bye to our new friends," said Florence. "Jack and Annie are leaving Thebes soon." "Oh, dear, we will miss these brave American children," said Selina. She put down her sketching tools and rushed over to give Jack and Annie careful hugs. "Good luck with your injuries, my dears." "Thanks," said Jack. "Thanks for helping us," said Annie. "Good-bye, old chap," said Charles, shaking Jack's left hand. "And, young lady, I'm sure you'll be leaping over barrels soon." "Righto," said Annie. Donkeys brayed across the river. "Look!" said Jack, pointing to Mustafa and Ali on the western bank. "They are already up and ready for work," said Charles. The Englishman stepped across the boat deck, faced the Nile, and shouted, "Mustafa!" He waved for the guide to come across the river.

Mustafa climbed into his rowboat, pushed off the bank, and started rowing across. "Come," said Florence. "I'll accompany you to the water's edge." "Thanks again!" said Annie, waving good-bye to Charles and Selina. Charles tipped his hat as Selina waved back. Then Jack and Annie followed Florence down the landing. In the glowing dawn light, a heron was standing on one leg in the water. "He looks like me," said Annie, hopping on one foot. Florence smiled. "There is more activity here in the first hour of cool morning than at any other time of day," she said.

Men in robes and turbans were sitting under a palm tree, smoking a water pipe. Two women were bathing small children in the Nile. Some girls were spreading wet clothes over rocks to dry. Jack heard someone shouting. He and Annie and Florence turned to look back at the sailboats anchored offshore. Lord and Lady Bickerson were on the deck of one of the boats. They were swatting and yelling at the flies. "Poor souls," breathed Florence. "The flies?" asked Annie. Florence laughed. "I like you both very much," she said. "I think we could be good friends."

"I think so, too," said Annie. "Me too," Jack added. His whole opinion of Florence had changed since she had tended to their injuries so kindly and he had heard her speak about her dreams. "Ah, here is your carriage," said Florence. Mustafa had arrived in his rowboat. He pulled it ashore. Then he and Florence helped Annie and Jack climb aboard and take their seats. "Good-bye, Jack and Annie," Florence said, standing on the riverbank. "You must visit me if you ever come to England." Jack was sad to leave her, and even sadder to think they would probably never see her again. "Good luck with everything," he said. "Hold on to your dreams." "We'll miss you," said Annie. Florence smiled her most radiant smile and waved. Then she turned and walked away. Mustafa used his oars to push off, then began rowing back across the River Nile. Geese flew overhead. A pelican was perched on the crocodile's rock. The old Egyptian sang his song. The words were still impossible to understand, but