suppose someone might see riches in discovering an ancient remedy, or in keeping it out of someone else’s hands. It seems a lot of folks, for one reason or another, are searching for the secrets of the ancient Egyptians.”
“We’re not fully sure of its significance ourselves,” Summer said.
“History has a way of offering clues if you look hard enough. Sometimes, they’re even right in front of you.”
He rose and stretched his legs as the ferry began to slow. The dachshund also woke and stretched, following at the man’s heels.
“I guess we’ll be off,” the man said. “Good luck with your quest.”
“And you as well,” Dirk said.
The ferry pulled into Abu Simbel, bumping to a stop against the same concrete dock Dirk and Summer had departed from a few hours earlier. The old man gathered his camels and led them off the boat, then trudged across town with the dachshund following right behind.
“Crazy old coot,” Summer said.
“Crazy like a fox,” Dirk said. “He had some interesting insights.”
“And we’ve got potentially more.” She held up her camera. But her face turned to a grimace as she glanced across the inlet. The cabin cruiser that had tried to run them down sat beached on the far shore.
She turned to Dirk. “You think they’re waiting for us?”
He looked at the boat. There was no mooring line to shore. “Looks like a rushed landing. I suspect they’re long gone. Maybe Ozzie can tell us who they were.”
“He said the hotel was this way.” Summer stepped off the dock and up a dirt road.
Dirk caught up with her, shaking his head. “This is going to be a costly night’s lodging,” he muttered.
“How so?”
“Two rooms, dinner, and a speedboat. All on top of a brand-new Vespa.”
Summer laughed. “Remind me never to let you borrow my car.”
The wide grin on Ozzie Ackmadan’s face faded at the news of his lost boat. His joviality returned once Dirk offered to buy him a new replacement.
“I’m not sure what happened,” Dirk said. “I think the small white cabin cruiser at the dock may have accidentally rammed it while we were diving.”
“That is my cousin’s boat,” Ackmadan said. He was on the phone an instant later. After a brief yet animated conversation, he held the phone aside. “My cousin says he rented the boat this morning to two Cairo men who paid cash. He doesn’t recall their names. He’s waiting for them to return the boat and keys.”
“Did one of the men,” Dirk asked, “have his arm in a sling?”
Ackmadan relayed the question. “Yes,” he said.
“Tell your cousin they ditched the boat by the inlet, and it is not secured. I’ll bet the keys are still in it.”
Ackmadan hung up the phone a minute later. “My cousin is very angry. He said he was calling the police to report the men.”
“I doubt they’ll find them,” Dirk said with a glance at Summer. “I think his boat is okay.”
They were shown to their rooms, where they cleaned up for dinner. Summer retrieved a laptop from her luggage and waited for Dirk at a patio lounge that overlooked the lake. A leaky maze of overhead misters cut the baking temperature as the sun faded in the west.
“Is it safe to be seen in public?” Summer asked as he took a seat at her side.
“After all that swimming, I’m too tired to care.” He passed her a gin and tonic he’d collected at the bar.
“I’d like to know,” Summer said, “who these people are.”
“Tomb raiders of some sort.” He noticed an underwater photo appear on Summer’s computer and leaned in for a closer look. “Faras?”
“Just downloaded from my camera.” She scrolled through a dozen underwater images showing the temple courtyard and shrine, then stopped at a distant photo of the Tutankhamun marker.
“Nice image,” Dirk said, “but difficult to make out the hieroglyphics.”
“I snapped a few close-ups before we left.” She scrolled to the next three photos, each of which featured detailed views.
“Nicely done,” Dirk said. “Those should enable translation.”
Summer tapped at the keyboard, then closed the screen. “I just sent the photos to Hiram and asked him to have Max translate the inscription.” She took a sip of her G and T. “If the WiFi here isn’t as weak as the drinks, we should have a response after dinner.”
Dirk waved over a waiter, and they ordered grilled perch, fresh from the lake. Hungry from their ordeal, they both cleaned their plates. After they split a dried fruit and date compote called khushaf for dessert, Summer