Carolyn passed by once again. She had been able to sit for only the first 20 minutes of the trip. She now paced the passenger cars and was beginning to get on everyone's nerves. Amanda looked out the window, again, to the vast nothingness that surrounded them but what she saw was rich land, endless fields of sand that hid so many treasures and the answers to so many questions. To her this was the last wilderness, the one place that would uncover the answers that she sought. She could look out at the empty horizon for hours and never once would she see only the sand. As her mind extended out into the dunes she fell into a trance and did not notice when Evie stood up and followed Carolyn as she made her passage back into the car behind. Evie caught up with Carolyn as she stood on the narrow walk way between cars.

"Carolyn," Evie began, "What bother's you so that you must pace?"

"Oh, you think I'm nervous..." Carolyn said, "well, I'm not. It's just that...well, you've not been on one of Mandy's excursions. They are never the safest things. And in all reality I'm bored."

"Well, to ease the boredom...we should be there soon."

Carolyn nodded, "Does your son know what he's doing?"

Evie smiled, "Yes, a little too much maybe. He can definitely get into trouble."

Carolyn smiled politely, "What do you think is out there Evie? Do you believe the city my friend seeks truly exists?"

"Oh, I am sure of it."

"I'm going to go check on Mandy."

Evie smiled and headed into the other car.

"Hey," Carolyn said sitting next to her friend.

"Hey," Amanda welcomed back.

"You home sick already?" Carolyn questioned.

"Maybe a little. You okay?"

"I don't know Mandy. I don't think I completely trust these strangers."

Amanda shrugged, "They seem okay. Why?"

"I don't know," Carolyn said looking out to the quickly blackening sky.

"I am afraid we might be leading the way to the city."

"You think? I hope not Mandy. I don't want anything bad to happen. I don't want his to be like last summer."

"No way," Amanda shook her head, "This'll be better."

"No knights clad in armor threatening to burn us alive if we don't give stolen parchments back."

"None of that," Amanda smiled, "Hey Carolyn?"

"Yeah?"

"Have you ever seen a mummy?"

"Yeah, that one time with you in New York. Why?"

"I don't know. Rick asked me, and I just found the question extremely bizarre."

Carolyn nodded, "Hey Mandy...can we just break off on our own? I think they are really strange."

"No Carolyn. They have all the supplies with them. They're okay."


As the train began to slow in its approach to a small wooden station Carolyn gently shook Amanda's arm to wake her.

"Are we there already?"

"Yes, finally." Carolyn grabbed her pack and secured it on her back.

Amanda stretched in her seat and slowly began to close and gather the books and papers she had scattered over the table.

"How many days do you think it will take us to find it?" Carolyn asked with a challenging look on her face, which Amanda knew meant a bet was about to be placed.

"Three days by camel, five by horse and ten by foot," Amanda spouted. Carolyn smiled at Amanda's certainty.

Amanda smiled back, "How long do you think?"

"I don't think we'll find it."

"You don't?" Amanda asked disappointed.

"Nope. You guys are all for too certain we will find something that on one else has seen in a long damn time. It's not going to happen."

Amanda smiled, "Alright, if I'm right within two days, I get to supply you with one dare before we leave Egypt."

"Fine, and if I am right we go for a peaceful backpacking trip in the mountains on our next vacation."

"Done," Amanda stuck out her hand, and they shook on it.

"What is going on here?" Rick asked separating the girls' hands.

"Ah, nothing. Just a friendly bet in my favor," Carolyn said.

"Oooo, a bet," The man named Jonathan smiled. "Can I be part of this gambling?"

All three, Rick, Carolyn and Amanda told him, "No."