Giza Port
Evy, Nubia, Hana and Jonathan walked to the ship after delivering some of their belongings to be taken to their cabins.
"I hope my uncle does not show up." Hana looks scared around her.
"Maybe he did not even notice your absence and the box with the map." Nubia walks by her side.
"I left a note." Hana says nervous
"And maybe because of your stupidity he has already noticed." Nubia grabs her arm and pushes her. "Calm down, were not you excited with this adventure?"
"I am, my parents always told me about Hamunaptra ... but it's the first time I run away from home." Hana says nervous.
"Really? You did not run away when you were thirteen years old to go see that festival but your uncle did not let you go?" Jonathan asks.
"Ok, the second time I run away from home."
"Calm down Hana, everything will be fine and what we find in Hamunaptra I am sure that Mr. Bey will be surprised and that you will forgive all four of us." Evy smiles. "... and I hope that with that he lets me keep my job." little nervous
"I hope so." Hana says nervous. "And Mr. O'Connell?"
"I don't know." Evy looks around as she stops next to the others near the ramp. "Do you really think he's going to show up?"
"You and Nubia saved the man's life," Hana reminded her. "I'm sure he will."
"Yes, undoubtedly, knowing my luck." Jonathan said. "He may be a cowboy, but I know the breed. His word is his word."
"Well personally I think he's filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel," Evy directed at Hana and Nubia. "I don't like him one bit."
"Anyone I know?" Rick said as he came up behind them.
They turned around and Evy eyes went wide. Her friends didn't blame her. Rick had gone through a massive transformation! His hair was cut and neat, he had good clean clothes on, he was clean-shaven, and it was like he was a whole new person
"Oh, um…" Evy stuttered, clearly embarrassed he had overheard their conversation. "Hello."
"Smashing day for the start of an adventure, eh O'Connell?" Jonathan said, patting him on the chest and shaking his hand, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yes, smashing" Rick answered wryly as he checked his pockets for his wallet.
"Oh, I'd never steal off a partner, partner!"
"Oh, that reminds me, no hard feelings about the, uh…" Rick motioned a small punch, obviously referring to when he had socked him in the face yesterday.
"Oh, no, no. Happens all the time."
"Good morning, Mr. O'Connell." Nubia said.
"Miss. Halsey."
"Mr. O'Connell, she is our friend Hana Jara, Hana, he is Rick O'Connell, he will accompany us to Hamunaptra". Nubia presents them.
"Hello." Hana smiles.
"Nice to meet you Miss Hana." Rick smiles.
"Mr. O'Connell." Evy told him. "can you look me in the eyes and guarantee me that this isn't some kind of a flim-flam? Because if it is, I am warning you…"
"You're warning me?" Rick said in disbelief. "Lady, let me put it this way. My whole garrison believed in this so much, that without orders, they marched halfway across Libya and into Egypt to find that city, and when we got there all we found was... sand and blood. Let me get your bags." he added in a much lighter tone. They stared at him as he boarded the ship.
"Yes, yes, you're right. Filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel. Nothing to like there at all."Jonathan says sarcastic.
"Bright, good morning to all!" a familiar voice called out. They turned and saw the warden coming to board the ship.
"Oh, no, what are you doing here?" Evy moaned.
"I am here to protect my investment, thank you very much!" He said and walked up the ramp as well.
"And who is that?" Hana asks confused.
"The prison warden." Evy muttered. "Nubia and I said he could have 25 percent of what we find in Hamunaptra."
"Don't worry about it, if we're lucky maybe he will fall over board." Nubia told them and they laughed.
After sunset, all passengers walk by boat, go to the restaurant or bar. Nubia finishes unpacking her things in her cabin and leaves her room to walk, but collides with someone.
"I'm sorry, I do not ... Isaac Henderson?" Nubia asks surprised to see in front of her a tall man with dirty blond hair and unshaven stubble, grip of a tight cowboy: with a white shirt and brown vest, chinos and light brown suspenders, leggings and a long handkerchief and hat.
"But look what the wind brought back to me, the most beautiful treasure in Egypt." Henderson smiles.
"I thought I would not see you again after your mysterious adventure." Nubia smiles.
"Well, I'm just going for an adventure, what are you doing here? Are you going for the group that left you days ago?"
"No, I'm going with some friends to do an investigation in an ancient and lost city." Nubia explains smiling.
"Seriously?" Henderson looks at her surprised. "Let's walk while you tell me." Nubia agrees "What a coincidence, I will also go to a lost city that everyone thinks is a myth."
"Really?" Nubia asks surprised. "Let me guess ... Thonis, Heracleion, Hamunaptra Canopo ..."
"Hamunaptra" Henderson responds and Nubia looks at him surprised. "I know, incredible." smiling.
"You and your friends will go to the City of the Dead?"
"It should be called the Lost Treasure City because that's why we're going."
"So you're just going for the treasure of Seti I?" Nubia folded her arms.
"If we meet again, believe me I will be one of the richest men in the world." Henderson grabs her by the waist. "And you and I can possibly have more fun than we will do these days on the ship."
"It will not be necessary, because we will spend more time together than you think." Nubia hugs him by the neck.
"Really why?"
"Because my friends and I are also going to Hamunaptra?" Nubia responds fun.
"Seriously?" Henderson looks at her surprised and Nubia nods. "WOW! But ... but what a coincidence, fate smiles more in my favor, I go for gold, but I already have the most valuable gold of all."
"Well, not only will I go for the treasure, I will use it to find names of pharaohs, queens or any other person that has been important but that was erased from history, especially that of The Princess Without a Name."
"If I've heard of a princess, but it's better that we forget it and eat something."
"Sure, but you invite."Nubia smiles. "But ... you and your friends can talk or read the ancient Egyptian? Because I doubt there is a translator in that city."
"Do not worry, we have it resolved."
Evy and Hana walk by and watch them.
"That man seems to be American." Evy says while watching them.
"Do you think it's the man that Nubia talked to us so much?" Hana asks smiling.
"I do not know, but Nubia does not have bad taste." Evy says fun.
"More than Mr. O'connell?" Hana asks funny.
Evy grabs her arm and pulls her quickly.
The moon illuminates the sky and many people are on the deck to contemplate it or there are others in the bar to drink and play. Hana walked calmly contemplating the nature that surrounded her, she does not remember when it was the last time she left Cairo, since since her parents died she did not travel again.
"Hi Hana."
Hana turns and looks at Rick approaching her with a large backpack.
"Hello, Mr. O'Connell." Hana smiles.
"Rick." smile. "Admiring nature?"
"I have not traveled since I was a child." Hana sees nature again.
"Do your parents do not like to travel?" Rick stands by her side.
"They died when I was nine years old and since then my uncle raised me." Hana explains with sadness.
"I'm very sorry about your parents." Rick says honestly.
"Thanks." Hana says without seeing it. "She and my father told me stories of ancient Egypt, cities, pharaohs and among them the stories of Hamunaptra."
"And that's why you want to go to Hamunaptra?" Rick asks.
"I never told anyone, but ... I feel a kind of connection with that city." Hana says looking at him.
"Do you feel a connection to the City of the Dead?" Rick asks surprised.
"Yes, I know ... it's weird."
"Pretty weird." Rick says.
"Hi guys." Nubia approaches them.
"Hi, Nubia." Hana says smiling.
"Nubia". Rick turns to see her. "I remember seeing you in the newspapers with an Egyptologist two years ago." seeing her.
"With the Italian Egyptologist Ernesto Schiaparelli?" Nubia asks smiling.
"Yes, the Egyptologist who discovered the tomb of the wife of Ramses II, the son of our beloved and deceased friend Seti I."
"Yes, he is my grandfather."
"Your grandfather?!" Rick asks surprised and Nubia nods. "Are you the granddaughter of Ernesto Schiaparelli?! ... but, is not he Italian?"
"Yes, but he dedicated his life to Egypt, he married an Egyptian woman and he had my mother who went to live in England, where she met my father." Nubia explains. "My parents are in charge of the investigation of Medieval times and of the crusader knights, I am interested in Egypt and its history, especially those that were important and the Pharaohs tried to erase them from history."
"So you do not go to Hamunaptra just for the treasure, you want to find someone erased from the story." Rick asks
"Exactly, have you heard of The Princess Without a Name?" Nubia asks.
"That name sounds to me." Rick answers not very sure.
"Seti's son, Ramses II, murdered that girl the night his father and his sisters died, but he regretted what he did to her and ordered to build monuments in her honor, but the children he had with Nefertari felt the same jealousy that her mother had her that they ordered to erase her name and destroy her face ... but also her face may have been destroyed over the years. "she explains as she returns to see the water.
"That was cruel, but ... how would you know what she is?"
"Because all the statues have the same necklace of the goddess Hathor, a unique necklace with which no one else was painted." Nubia explains while taking out a notebook and the photo of one of the monuments. "If I find a monument that has that necklace, it's definitely her." smiling.
"I wish you luck, what do you think if I invite you to drink something?" Rick ask.
"Sorry, I don't drink." Hana says nervous.
"So, what do you think I'm inviting you for a lemonade?" Rick asks and she nods smiling. "Let's go." He offers his arm and Hana accepts it.
"Wait for me!" Nubia follows them.
The three went to the bar where people were sitting and drinking together. Rick nodded toward Jonathan's direction, Hana and Nubia rolled their eyes, not too surprised to see him play.
"Oh, O'Connell, sit down!" Jonathan invited. "We could use another player...hey girls."
"I only gamble with my life and never with my money." Rick replied.
"Really?" Hana asks surprised. "I would not bet either one of them."
Nubia smiles recognizing three Americans, especially one and behind them was an english man she easily recognizes, the Egyptologist Dr. Allen Chamberlain.
"Nubia, do you remember my friends?" Henderson says getting up. "David Daniels and my glasses friend Bernard Burns".
"How to forget them, hello guys" Nubia smile.
"Hello Nubia, it's good to see you." Burns smiles.
"Good thing you're here, Henderson does not stop talking about you." Daniels says funny and Henderson taps him on the back of the head.
"Nubia, I present to the Egyptologist Dr. Allen Chamberlain."
"We already met before, in a speech that her grandfather gave about what he found in the Valley of the Queens." Dr. Allen says smiling falsely. "I'm glad to see you again, Miss Halsey."
"It's been a while." Nubia smiles.
"Her grandfather?" Henderson asks confused.
"You know them?" Jonathan asks confused.
"Yes, I met them when, when that Egyptologist and his group abandoned me." Nubia explains something annoying. "They comforted me."
"Especially Henderson." Burns says funny and Henderson looks at him badly. "By the way, who is your beautiful friend?" watching Hana.
"She is one of my best friends, Hana Jara."
"Hello." Hana smiles.
"Nice to meet you." The Americans smile at her.
"What beauty, are you single?"Burns asks quickly.
"Excuse me?" Hana asks surprised and nervous.
"Just ignore Burns." Daniels said. "Say O'Connell. What if I was to bet you five hundred dollars we get to Hamunaptra before you?"
"You're looking for Hamunaptra?" Hana and Rick ask surprised.
"Damn straight we are." Henderson grinned.
"And who says we are?" Rick asked.
"He does." All three Americans pointed at Jonathan.
"Jonathan!" Hana hissed. He laughed nervously.
"Well, how about it? Is it a bet?" Daniels ask.
"Alright, you're on." Rick replied, smiling.
"What makes you so confident, sir?" Dr. Allen ask.
"What makes you?"
"Well, we got us a man who's actually been there." Henderson replied.
"Oh what a coincidence because O'Connell…" Before he could finish, Rick's bag collided with his head. "Whose play is it? Is it my play? I thought I just..."
"Gentleman, we've got ourselves a wager. Good evening Jonathan." Rick said, clamping his hand down on Jonathan's shoulder as a warning to say no more on Hamunaptra. "Let's go." watching the girls.
"Sure, good night." Hana follows Rick.
"Hey Nubia, come and join us." Henderson pulls a chair next to him. "Perhaps you'll be my lucky charm."
"Alright, I don't see why not." Nubia sits next to him.
"You know, Rick, I'm a little tired, so I'd better go to sleep." Hana says something exhausted.
"Sure, rest because later we'll travel a few days on horseback or on camels." Rick says. "Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
Hana walks to her room, but a fully covered Medjai grabs her from behind and covers her mouth by dragging her into a room.
Evy was reading quietly until a suitcase falls on the table in front of her scare her.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you." Rick apologized.
"The only thing that scares me, Mr. O'Connell, are you manners." Evy snapped at Rick.
"Still mad about the kiss, then," Rick winced.
"If you call that a kiss." Evy shot back.
Rick sighed and unrolled his weapons case on the table.
"I'm sorry, Did I miss something?, Are we going into battle?" Evy asked, thoroughly confused.
"Lady there's something out there. Something under the sand." Rick said while working with his gun.
"Yes well. I'm hoping to find a certain artifact, a book actually. What do you thinks out there?" Evy asks.
"In a word… evil. The Bedouin and the Tuaregs believe that Hamunaptra is cursed." Rick responds while preparing his weapon.
"I don't believe in fairy tales and hokum, Mister O'Connell, but I do believe that one of the most famous books in history is buried out there, The Book Of The Living It's what first interested me in Egypt as a child. It's why I came here, sort of a life's pursuit. " Evy said.
"And the fact it's said to be made out of pure gold makes no never mind to you?" Rick asked.
"You know your history!" Evy exclaimed happily.
"No, I know my treasure." Rick replied.
"So…um… W...why did you kiss me." Evy stuttered, curious.
"Well I was about to be hanged it seemed like a good idea at the time," Rick laughed.
Evelyn's eyes widen, furious, she turns and storms off. Rick looks up, watching her leave, a bit perplexed.
"What? What'd I say?"
"I only play once and lose, luckily I made a very good bet and I did not lose much". Nubia approaches Rick. "I saw Evy getting angry, what happened?"
Rick was about to respond when they both heard a laugh. He let out a growl and went to some boxes where he took out a man who was hiding there.
"What a surprise! My good friend, you're alive!" the man declared with a nervous chuckle. "I was so very, very worried."
Well if it isn't my little buddy Beni," Rick said.
"Do you know him?" Nubia asks surprised.
"Unfortunately, but I think I'll kill him." Rick's voice became angry as he put his gun to Beni's neck.
"Wait! Think of my children!" Beni wailed his excuse.
"You don't have any children."
"Someday I might."
"Shut up!" Rick demanded. "so you're the one who's leading the Americans. I might have known. So what's the scam? You take them into the desert, and leave them to rot?"
"Unfortunately, no. These Americans are smart. They pay me half now, half when we return to Cairo. So this time I must go all the way." Beni sighed sadly.
"Them the break's, uh?"
Beni sorted out his clothes after Rick released him.
"You never believed in Hamunaptra O'Connell. Why are you going back?"Beni asked.
"You see this girl." Rick points to Nubia. "And the girl who is there." pointing to Evy who was caressing a camel. "Both saved my neck."
"You always did have more ball's then brains O'Connell." Beni laughed.
Rick stated to laugh falsely with Beni.
"Goodbye Beni." Rick said while dumping Beni over the side of the boat.
"O'CONNELL!" Beni sputtered from the water.
"Yes, he is an idiot." Nubia says fun.
"You have no idea, warn your American friends about Beni, it's not reliable." Rick says as he closes his backpack.
Rick looks at a few traces of water on the ground, looks again at the river, checking that Beni is still in the water and then goes back the steps checking that they are heading to Evy's room.
"How many weapons." Nubia says surprised.
"Nubia, go look for Jonathan and Hana." Rick says as he runs to Evy's room.
"What, but why?" Nubia asks confused