Ch8-Moon over the Nile

CHAPTER EIGHT Moon over the Nile Jack took halting steps, supporting much of Annie's weight as she hopped on her left foot. His shoulder hurt terribly, but he tried to hide his pain from Annie. The Valley of the Queens felt spookier than ever. The jackals must be close by,

Jack thought. And what about those tomb raiders that Ali had mentioned? "Do we know the way back?" Annie asked. "From the top of the cliff, we could see the moon rising over the Nile," said Jack. "So, if we walk toward the moon now, we should come to the river." "Good thinking," said Annie. Heading toward the moon and holding on to Annie, Jack kept walking slowly. "Oww!" Annie said softly with each hop she took. Annie's hopping jostled Jack's body, sending pain through his shoulder and arm. But he gritted his teeth and tried not to make a sound. He was afraid Annie wouldn't let him help her if she found out how much he was hurting. After only about fifty yards, Jack knew he couldn't support Annie's weight much longer. "Okay—let's stop for a minute and rest—" he said. Koku screeched. She let go of Annie's hand and bounded away. "Koku!" cried Annie. "Come back!"

Oh, no, not again! thought Jack. Did she hear jackals? "Look, there's a light!" said Annie. She pointed at a flickering light moving toward them. "We have to be quiet," Jack whispered. "It could be tomb raiders." "Tomb raiders?" said Annie, peering into the dark. "I don't think so." She called out, "We're here! We're over here! Help us!" "Children?" a woman called. "We're here!" Annie cried again. Koku screeched and came running back toward Annie and Jack. She chattered and jumped up and down. Out of the dark, Florence Nightingale appeared on her donkey. She was wearing a shawl and holding a lantern. Mustafa followed behind her on his packhorse. "It's us, Jack and Annie!" cried Annie. "Thank goodness!" said Florence. "We've been looking for you! When we arrived at the river, Ali reported that your donkeys had returned without you!"

"We were trying to save Koku from jackals," said Annie. "She escaped from them and then got stuck on top of a cliff. We got up there okay, but we fell coming down!" "You poor things!" cried Florence, climbing off her donkey. "Please bring water for them, Mustafa!" Mustafa dismounted and untied two canteens from his saddle. Florence carried her lamp over to Jack and Annie. "Are you hurt, my dears?" she asked in a soft, comforting voice. "Yes, I hurt my ankle," said Annie. "But I think Jack's in worse shape, even though he says it's no big deal." "It's just my shoulder and my arm," Jack said to Florence. "Oh, my goodness, you are lucky—both of you —to be alive!" said Florence. She gently felt Jack's shoulder and arm. He winced with pain and groaned. "Can you move it, dear?" she asked him. "No," he said. Mustafa handed Jack a canteen and gave one to Annie, too. While Jack and Annie gulped down water, Florence spoke softly to Mustafa. "Let's

take them straight to the boat," she said. "Jack can ride my donkey, and Annie and the little baboon can ride on your horse." Then she turned back to Jack and Annie. "Mustafa and I will walk alongside you." "Thank you," said Jack. He was relieved to have someone else in charge. Mustafa brought the packhorse over to them and carefully lifted Annie and Koku onto the saddle. Then he helped Jack climb onto the back of the donkey. "Good. Now let us go," said Florence. She blew out the flame in her lamp. Mustafa tied it to the saddle of the packhorse, along with the canteens. By the light of the moon, Mustafa led the animals through the chilly night. Florence walked beside the donkey, staying close to Jack. They all traveled silently over the barren, stony ground until they came to the statues of the ancient pharaoh. The giants looked like faceless gray ghosts in the moonlight. As the group headed down the dirt road toward the Nile, Jack did his best to sit up straight on the donkey's back. But every step the animal took

brought Jack more pain. Once or twice he couldn't help crying out. "Jack," Annie called to him in a soft voice. "Remember what it felt like to be rock climbers?" Though the words might have sounded strange to Mustafa and Florence, Jack knew exactly what Annie meant. "Yes," he breathed. He worked hard to remember what it had felt like to be a great rock climber, to feel calm and centered. He tried to block out the pain in his arm and shoulder by closing his eyes and concentrating on the sounds of the night. Jack heard Koku making her baby baboon noises. He heard the cornstalks whispering in the wind. He heard the baaing of sheep and bleating of goats. As they came closer to the Nile, he heard the rustling of reeds and croaking of frogs. He heard the HEE-HAW of donkeys. Jack's eyes shot open. "Honey?" he said. "Bunny?" Annie called out. "Is that you?" "Hello! I have your two donkeys here!" Ali called, rushing toward the travelers. "They are safe! I am so glad that you are safe, too!"