It had been well over three hours of cruising down the Nile River before they finally neared the exit of the Delta. This late in the day, the sun hung low, and already the overhead sky was slowly changing into an iridescent blue.
Earlier, as they made their way along the idyllic waterway, they had passed pockets of estuaries or smaller canals that branched off the main feed of the Nile. Throughout these fertile marshlands, tiny farms and livestock crowded the edges of the muddy river banks. They even motored past a few bathing hippos or lazy crocodiles basking in the warm Egyptian sun.
Peggy could tell that Howard was frustrated at their sedate pace. But due to sections of the Nile being skinny in width, there were areas of shallow water that could run them aground. Until they cleared the channel, he dared not safely open to full throttle. Howard and his need for speed, Peggy thought with a snort.
Honestly, at the moment, she did not mind the slower rate. Lounging on the comfortable seated cushion, the wind flowed through her hair. Peggy smiled as the bright sun warmed her inner core. Between the heat that prickled her skin, and the cool breeze, it felt like the sweet caress of a lover.
She sighed and thought of Daniel once again. She missed him like the blazes. Chuckling to herself, she wondered how much of her amorous thoughts were due to her current relaxed state or the possibility that the lotus plant drug was still in her system. From her unexpected nap to the yearnings for her lover, she believed she must have ingested some of the tainted blue water during her stint in the depths of the Nile River.
Regardless, the lure of the picturesque view and the peaceful circumstances reminded her that she should relax whenever there was a lull in the action. Unfortunately, it was difficult for her to ever be completely at ease.
Prior to the war, she had seldom felt this way. Now she wondered if she could ever start savoring life without worrying when the next hammer would fall. After an exhale, she vowed to enjoy this trip whenever possible, especially since this mission was already becoming more dangerous than she had first imagined.
Concerned for her friends, Peggy quickly checked on Jarvis and noticed he was still asleep. He too had gotten as much of the impromptu lotus "tea" as she had. Satisfied that his sighing mumbles for his wife were not some nightmare, she rested her eyes.
Finally, they left the Nile River and entered the dark blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea.
Free of the meandering river, Howard goosed the runabout's engine, and they sped up.
Cruising along, the tall reeds beside the shallow embankment obstructed the view. Peggy lazily asked over the roar of the engine, "How much longer?"
Howard turned and said with a grin, "Stand up and look to the left, pal."
Frowning, she did as instructed. Sure enough, at this height, she saw an immense yacht in the distance. It was too large to be stationed near the Delta's exit, so it was moored further out.
Taking in the opulent vessel, Peggy noted that it was well over 300 feet in length, with two large decks stacked on top of each other. Like anything associated with millionaire inventor, it was of a sleek design. It was undoubtedly built for speed, though with something so big, she would have expected it to lumber along instead. But then, this was Howard, after all.
Still, this was an outlandish luxury, even for him. Though he claimed it was only a yacht, it was more like a floating hotel! Internally she fumed. So much for staying inconspicuous.
With hands on her hips, she chastised, "Don't you think this is a bit much, Howard? What happened to keeping a low profile?"
Howard laughed. "Come on, Peg, think of my image. Besides, everyone would be suspicious if I showed up stag and in a dinghy."
As they motored further into the deeper waters, dolphins suddenly swam and flipped about them. Howard commented with a smirk, "It is believed that being in their company means good luck and fortune upon us."
Charmed, Peggy laughed as she watched the joyful mammals and murmured, "Well, we can certainly use it."
Then Howard curved the runabout towards the nearing yacht, and the dolphins continued in the opposite direction. Peggy was sad to see them go.
After he let up on the boat's throttle, they drifted to the back of the yacht which had a large docking deck. Currently, a three-person crew waited for them on it. This trio of thick-shouldered men all looked like brothers.
Howard revved the boat in reverse, and they lightly bumped into the dock. Suddenly there was a flurry of activity as the crewmembers dashed around, tying the runabout to the landing. Once they helped the passengers off, they began unloading the suitcases. They hardly strained under the weight of the bulky luggage.
Patiently, they waited for the passengers to lead the way up the center staircase to the first level.
Howard motioned for Peggy to go up the steps first, so she quickly climbed upwards. Arriving on the lower deck, she was greeted by a ruggedly handsome Steward who held a tray laden with food and glasses of liquor.
Interestingly enough, one of her favorite foods was centered on the platter. She wondered if these were the same delicious scones that she had had at Howard's house once. Suddenly famished, she grabbed one and stuffed half of it in her mouth. As the buttery goodness went down, she realized that it was.
Howard plucked a large tumbler of whiskey off the tray and downed it in a single gulp.
Peggy stared at him, and he shrugged, "Come on, my back is killing me. And you look like you could use a relaxing bath." Then, realizing his error in telling her what she needed, he quickly amended, "No offense, pal, it's just been a long day, is all."
Unable to read her expression, a nervous Howard interjected quickly, "Seriously, Peg, part of this mission could be a vacation for you."
Though Peggy would never consider this an actual vacation, she recalled her earlier promise to enjoy the little things whenever possible.
And a bath would feel divine now. Once the drugged fugue from the crushed lotus petals had lifted, her body felt like one giant bruise. Besides, the grit from sliding down the Cairo street was probably gouged so deep into her skin that she could claim it was a suntan.
Not to mention those scones were delicious.
Seeing how she was eyeing the pastry treats, Howard indicated the pile of fresh-baked pastries. "Here, have another." He irritatingly soothed to her, "I had these made especially for you."
Sighing, Peggy relented, "Yes, thank you, Howard, and these are amazing." She then mumbled for his ears only, "Honestly, it is just sometimes hard for me to relax."
Not used to his friend admitting weakness, he shrugged, "Sure Peg, I get it. Now think of this yacht as your safe haven." Then louder, he stated, "Um, let me introduce you to the crew."
Going down the line, Howard said, "This is Captain Jasper, and next to him is his first mate, Reynolds. Then there are the brothers Matt, David, and Sam. And here is the best cook in all the land, Chef Louie, and his sous chef Phillipe. Finally, holding the tray is my Steward, James."
After each introduction, they bowed or nodded in greeting. All of them were very handsome, and Peggy wondered if Howard had gotten them from central casting.
Then Howard presented Peggy to his crew, "This is Flo, my … err, new protégé."
She had wondered how he was going to play this. It was good to know that he was still keeping up appearances.
Peggy tittered and said in her American accent, "Charmed, I'm sure."
As the men nodded and eyed her appreciatively, Howard hid his smirk at knowing how such gratuitous attention grated on Peggy's nerves. Smartly he continued.
"And guys, this is Professor Spencer," Howard indicated the older man, who seemed more interested in what James held on the tray than in being polite.
Spencer's grunt of response was ignored as Howard motioned two pretty maids forward. He wrapped an arm around each of their waists. Drawing them close, he grinned, "And I'd like you to meet Colette and Paulette. The best maids a man could ever hope for."
They giggled coquettishly as Howard leered at them. It was a good thing that she and Howard were not actually dating, or Peggy would have tossed all three overboard.
With the introductions over, Peggy was handed a mimosa by James, who cooed, "It would be a pleasure to serve you anytime, ma'am." It sounded like a come-on, which would certainly explain why some of the crew seemed so tactile.
Peggy nodded her thanks demurely. She then tried the refreshing drink and grinned pleased at the man who smiled seductively back at her. He then offered the tray to Professor Spencer, who greedily reached for the plate of her beloved pastries. Peggy grabbed another scone before he could gobble up the contents of the entire tray.
With all the introductions made, Howard gave the order to go underway, "To our special hiding spot, Captain Jasper. Oh, and then you can deal with the damaged runabout."
The Captain inquired, "The usual repair shop, sir?"
With a grimace, Howard nodded.
"Right away, Mr. Stark." While the Captain and his first mate headed for the bridge, the three brothers hustled away with their luggage.
Peggy whispered incredulously between sips of the marvelous fruity concoction, "Where do you think it is possible to hide this gigantic boat of yours, Howard?"
He replied in the same manner, "Yacht, Peg, yacht. Besides, do you think this is the first time I've had to hide in the Mediterranean? Please, you saw how those reporters were. Like vultures." He turned to the Chef, "Is dinner almost ready, Louie?"
The Chef's thick French accent was a bit difficult to understand, "Oui, monsieur. We can bring it out after everyone has had a chance to clean up." He eyed their disheveled appearance with an arrogantly raised eyebrow.
Howard must have been used to this condescending behavior because he grinned and stated, "Good idea, give us about an hour, then we will eat in the dining room." The Chef dipped his head. Then he and his assistant disappeared with the maids in tow.
With a dismissive wave, Howard motioned for the Steward to go also. Before he left, James winked suggestively at Peggy and crooned, "Would the lady like a rubdown before dinner?"
Her eyes widened at the bold solicitation, and she wondered what sort of hanky-panky she would be associated with by being Howard's date. "No, I am fine, thank you," she drawled.
The Steward shrugged and left them to it.
Oblivious to this indecent proposal, Howard led his small party along the exterior walkway toward the front of the yacht.
As they climbed the stairs to the second tier, Peggy asked quietly so only Howard could hear, "Can your crew be trusted?" She never did trust the help. Not after her family's housekeeper had ratted the teenage Peggy out about sneaking back into her room at an ungodly hour.
Howard barely hid his effrontery, "I pay my people very well, Peg. They have always been most discrete." Reaching the upper deck, he took them down the walkway to where all the bedrooms were located.
"Never stopped spies before," she grumbled, and Howard pretended not to hear her. Instead, he indicated one of the closed doors, "Here is your room, Flo. It should meet all your expectations and then some. Oh, and it connects to mine whenever you wish to visit me." He added loud enough to explain the pretext as to why they were not sharing a room.
After a forced smile, Peggy entered what had to be one of the most luxurious cabins she had ever been in.
As she closed the door, she heard Howard say, "Come on, Professor. Your room is further down."
With her door firmly shut behind her, Peggy gazed about the lavish room. She was just in the entry parlor, and it was bigger than her apartment in DC! There was a small table with a large vase of fresh-cut flowers and two plush chairs on either side of it.
Walking into the living room, she glanced about the nicely furnished area. But it was the amazing view in front of her that made her pause. Looking out the sliding glass doors that led to a terrace, she stared at the brilliance of the shifting colored sky above the azure sea.
After taking in the vision of the lovely blue waters of the Mediterranean, she sighed, knowing she had to hurry along. She turned away and saw that she had a choice between two doors on either side of the room. Taking a chance that it was not Howard's, she went to the one on the left. Thankfully, the door opened to her bedroom.
Like the previous chamber, this one was also magnificent. The huge bed was downright decadent. Tempting as it was to crash face-first on it to take a nap, Peggy forced herself to finish her tour. As she walked to the only closed door in the bedroom, she registered that her luggage had been placed next to a giant armoire.
Opening the lone door led to the bathroom. Much to Peggy's pleasure, there was a gigantic sunken bathtub. Peggy looked at it and then sighed forlornly.
Though desperately wanting to take a soak, it would just have to wait. She needed to take stock of her weapons before a quick shower. As she tossed her suitcase onto the bed, Peggy felt the yacht lurch slightly.
They were now underway.
With the sun lowering towards the horizon, thus signifying the end of their adventurous day, the huge vessel cruised effortlessly to its undisclosed location.
Unaware, a smaller motorboat exited the tall reeds and followed discreetly behind them.
Much to her consternation, it had taken Peggy far longer to shower than she would have liked. At first, the blue tint from the lotus plant refused to be washed out of her hair and off her skin. It had taken so much time that she feared she might have used up all the hot water! Though with how Howard was always over-prepared, she was sure she neededn't worry.
While she brushed her damp hair, she side-eyed the sunken tub with anticipation. The promise that she could soak in it for hours later this evening was the only thing that gave her sore muscles the strength to move. Frankly, after the day she had, Peggy felt as if she had run for 100 miles.
After getting dressed, Peggy felt much better. Though her body still ached, she was also exhilarated by today's success. Bumps and bruises aside, she hadn't had this much fun in ages. She had forgotten how much she enjoyed going on missions.
Exiting her cabin, she suddenly stopped at the railing. With darkness descending, the view of the sunset was breathtaking. The sky was a bright orange and yellow, capped by deep blues and purples.
Even the sea was a gorgeous dark cobalt. Above the horizon, a full moon was rising, and Peggy imagined swimming in the cool refreshing waters of this small bay they were now moored in.
She had mistakenly doubted Howard's word, but they had gotten to this hidden alcove without incident. The coastline of the Mediterranean Sea held many recesses where one could find shelter in.
It was quiet and peaceful, and she vaguely wondered if Daniel would enjoy life at sea. Probably not. Like her, he would grow antsy if he didn't have anything to do after a while. But then Peggy was sure she could keep them occupied for at least a month, she thought with a salacious grin.
When her stomach rumbled, it reminded her of more important matters. So, she continued along the walkway and down the stairs. She used the sound of clinking glasses and muffled voices to guide her way.
Entering the dining room, Peggy spied her small party and strolled towards them. As she neared, her keen gaze took in the dinner table. She marveled at all the expensive china plates and crystal glassware upon it. Fine linen cloth was underneath this plethora of sparkling wealth.
And, of course, Howard had the biggest painting of himself behind him on the mantle. This reminded her to take down the one she had in her cabin before going to bed. It always unnerved her how those portraits' eyes always seemed to track her movements.
Jarvis nodded to her as she approached the table. Ever the gentlemen, the butler pulled out her chair and assisted her in pushing it back in. Smiling her thanks up to him, she glanced at her dinner companions.
Across from her, Professor Spencer was already stuffing his face with food. And Howard was at the head of the table, staring off into space, sipping on no doubt his third whiskey.
Peggy delicately cleared her throat, and both men looked at her. Grinning, she said, "My Howard, you have certainly outdone yourself."
He did his classic smirk and nodded his reply.
Spencer frowned and then went back to shoveling food into his mouth. Bits fell out when he went to say something. Peggy's glare shut his trap before he could spew anything more. She swore the manners of some Americans were most downright appalling.
Jarvis brought over a dinner plate for her that had a fresh-caught fish on it. Next to it was a baked potato overflowing with butter and sour cream. The addition of locally grown steamed vegetables added to the magazine-like quality image. And all of it smelled divine.
She looked at the butler and silently indicated the seat next to her as if to ask if he would join them. Quietly he replied, "I have already dined, Miss Carter."
Frankly, she did not know how he squeezed so much into so little time. By his impeccable appearance, he had already freshened up, changed his attire, put away Mr. Stark's clothes, and eaten dinner. Later she would have to ask how he did it all. Truthfully, she had been lucky to finish most of her unpacking, and she was still late for dinner.
Before she could start her meal, whiskey was poured, and she joined Howard in toasting to their first day of success.
Professor Spencer finally stopped eating long enough to clink his glass of sparkling water against theirs. It seemed he was also a tea tootler. At least he did not disparage their drinking.
After taking another sip of whiskey, Peggy asked, "So, Professor, have you looked at our latest clue?"
Spencer frowned and wisely gulped down his food before answering. He sounded a bit peeved, "Actually, I have been rather busy unpacking to do anything. Regardless, no one told me that this would be so dangerous," he scowled at Howard, who shrugged good-naturedly.
Before Peggy could comment, Howard injected, "But I did warn you at the beginning, Professor. Besides, that huge check I wrote you should cover any trouble."
The Professor snorted in response.
Howard smirked and cajoled, "Alright, Professor, how about I promise to build a new wing for your department? We can even name it after you."
Spencer seemed somewhat mollified by this proposal. Though the Professor's attitude usually irritated her, Peggy knew that Howard had probably played off the danger as being inconsequential.
Wanting to reassure the man, Peggy said what Howard should have, "I promise you, Professor that today will have been the worst of it for you. From now on, you will stay on the yacht. Is that alright?"
He seemed satisfied with her compromise and nodded. Exhaling, he stated, "And I promise that I will work on your latest clue first thing in the morning."
Peggy smiled and replied graciously, "Thank you, Professor." But this did bring up a good point about how dangerous things were for them. She then addressed everyone present, "Actually, gentlemen, I believe some new ground rules need to be followed if we are going to survive this mission. Therefore, from now on, I will do the remaining tasks by myself."
Howard rolled his eyes, and Jarvis huffed, offended, but Spencer laughed before either could loudly protest, "You, my dear? Mr. Stark's crew should do it. They look to be more capable of handling such things."
"I assure you, Professor, Peggy here is one of a kind and can certainly take on anything thrown her way," Howard stated matter-of-factly.
"Thank you, Howard. But I can answer for myself," Peggy replied brusquely.
Instead of being offended, the inventor grinned and raised his glass of whiskey in salute.
Shaking her head, Peggy then stared at Spencer. In moments he began to squirm uncomfortably from her piercing gaze. Calmly, she stated, "Professor Spencer, I have been through countless perilous situations over the many years and have lived to tell the tale." She then looked to her trusted companions, "Thus, I will take care of things solo."
Jarvis' voice was stern, "Miss Carter, we have had this discussion before, and that is not an option. You will need my help out in the field."
"You will need all our help, pal," Howard reiterated.
She shook her head, "Thank you, but no, Howard. And though I appreciate your willingness, Mr. Jarvis, you have a wife."
Adamant, he stated, "And she would expect nothing less than my being by your side."
Howard's grin was not one of compromise, "Yeah, Peg, you won't get rid of us that easily."
"But I cannot risk losing any of you," she explained. Though she certainly trusted them with her back, this mission had already proven hazardous. She could never forgive herself if something happened to them. She already had enough blood on her hands as it was.
Jarvis spat, "So we sit back twiddling our thumbs and watch from the grandstand while you risk your life and limb? How do you think we could ever do that, Miss Carter?"
Howard added, "Besides, your odds of survival are better when we're all involved."
Peggy pursed her lips at his words. It was true that the number of unknowns she was facing would make this mission more difficult if she acted alone.
Before she could mull it over more, she heard Spencer openly scoff, "I still say that you think too highly of yourself, my dear. Those robots nearly killed us."
Turning to face him, Peggy's grin became feral, and this time Spencer gulped loudly.
Clutching the butter knife, she then threw it with such precision that it landed perfectly in the center of his baked potato, blunt tip down. There wasn't even a splash of butter.
"Peg, please don't ruin the good china," Howard admonished while grinning the whole time. "Even if he saw you in action, the good Professor will never truly understand your particular skill set. As for us not helping you on these little adventures, you don't have a say in the matter. Besides, the Colonel told me you were supposed to lead this mission, not do everything yourself."
When Howard saw the stubborn set of her chin falter a moment, he followed through with, "So are we all in this together, or do I need to call Chester?"
Finally conceding, Peggy replied, "Alright, if you two insist, but you must do as I say."
"Of course," Jarvis answered as if he expected nothing less.
"Good, now maybe we eat before the grub gets cold," Howard said with a wink to Peggy.
Peggy smiled. Then looking at those around the table, she vowed to do everything in her power to protect them.
Beyond famished, she tucked in and enjoyed her meal. During the repast, their dinner conversation became a banal affair of trivial discussions mitigated by long stretches of silence as everyone contentedly chewed.
Peggy was nearly full after two servings of the delicious fish and vegetables (one baked potato was enough).
Knowing the reputations of French Chefs, she had made sure to save room for dessert. Peggy relished the thought of what new flavorful delight they would receive next.
The Chef personally entered the dining room with his assistant trailing behind him. The young lad was carrying a large covered tray. Chef Louie grinned at Peggy when she joined the others in gushing over the remains of their magnificent feast.
"Then you all will certainly enjoy this," he said in his thick French accent. He then directed his assistant to remove the lid. Underneath were small ramekins that were then placed in front of everyone.
An overjoyed Peggy 'oohed' when she spied the crisp crust of the Crème Brulee.
She tapped her dessert spoon against the toasted egg crust and nearly swooned when she tasted the exquisitely rich and elegant custard dish. It was so delicious that she almost licked the bowl clean.
Pleased, the Chef excused himself. His assistant dutifully followed behind, and they exited the room.
After finishing their decadent dessert, Peggy and the others soon withdrew to the attached sitting room that faced the rear of the ship. The sliding doors were open, revealing the wide expanse of the hidden cove that they were moored in. The full moon was up high now, and the reflected light illuminated the rocky shoreline on either side.
In front of them, the view showed off the spectacular Mediterranean Sea, and the dim lights of a coastal city sparkled off in the distance.
Professor Spencer instantly nabbed the most comfortable chair in the room and reclined, feet once more up.
Peggy shook her head, unsurprised by his discourteous actions. It didn't matter. The view was better elsewhere. She took one of the lounge chairs that faced the open deck. Following her tactic, Howard sprawled on the one next to hers.
Jarvis walked around with a tray that had a bottle of old whiskey, a decanter of brandy, and a box of Cuban cigars on it. Howard certainly knew how to relax, Peggy thought as she indicated the brandy with a nod of her head.
While she sipped her drink, Howard took a whiskey and joined Spencer in puffing on the pungent cigars. With the doors wide open, the smell did not bother Peggy. Instead, she enjoyed the beautiful moonlit sky and the taste of smooth liquor. If it weren't for Howard hosting the proceedings, she would have thought this was one of the most romantic evenings she had ever had.
Wistfully, she thought she could get used to this sort of thing.
Always on duty, Jarvis sat in one of the stiffer chairs behind them. As usual, he was ready in case they needed anything.
In the silence, they mulled over the day's adventure. Already Peggy was feeling lethargic, and the brandy wasn't helping. And oh, did she feel aches in so many places. After all that good food and drink, she wanted an aspirin and a nap.
While Howard contemplated their day, he absently crunched on the ice from his almost empty tumbler of well-aged whiskey. As if coming to a decision, he warned, "We could be in trouble, Peg."
Peggy took a sip of her brandy and then waved it dramatically, "How so? Oh, you mean what we are up against." She weakly laughed and then finished the glasses contents off quickly. The heat warmed the very tips of her toes. Lazily, she let her eyes droop and would have gone to sleep had Howard not stood up and begun to pace.
As he made a circuit around the sitting room, Peggy noticed that Howard's eyes flared in thought multiple times. The man could never sit still for more than a minute.
Unlike her now relaxed state, Howard was still buzzing from the afternoon's adventure. Peggy wouldn't be surprised if he stayed up all night inventing some gizmo. That was fine. She understood nervous energy. She usually cleaned her weapons when she felt that way.
But that meant that he wouldn't be up until noon. That would undoubtedly put them behind schedule. Peggy wondered if she should slip something into his drink to help him sleep when he circled past her again.
Out loud, he stated, "They are definitely some kind of unique artificial machine." Smiling, he added, "Those female robots certainly were amazing."
Peggy clicked her tongue in disapproval, "Now is not the time to admire their lines, Howard."
Ignoring her quip, he asked her, "I've been thinking a lot about this. Have you ever heard of the Synthetic Man?"
"Of course, I believe he is also known as the Human Torch." Frowning at the possible implications, she wondered aloud worriedly, "You don't think these robots are the works of their maker, do you?" She had heard wonderful things about the inventor Phineas Horton. But then, this was not the first time a scientist had gone mad with power.
"No, it's just a reference point. Since those women are highly developed androids, I am sure I can devise a way to stop them."
"Too bad your electric mollifier didn't work," Peggy reminded him.
Sighing, Howard nodded, "Yeah, I was thinking about that. I wonder if they wore some sort of specialized suits under their outfits. Much like the suction boots they wore, they needed a quick way to adapt, and that would have been the fastest method to achieve it."
When he stopped beside her, Peggy stared up at him, and she stated pragmatically, "Alright, then we will continue to attack their eyes."
After downing a big gulp of whiskey, Howard shook his head, "Like their ears. I am sure that some sort of protective means will be added to their ocular region. It would help if we could get our hands on one of them."
Nodding, Peggy asked, "Well, until we can, do you have any other ideas on how we can stop them?"
When he went to sit down at the foot of her lounge chair, Peggy quickly moved her legs out of the way.
Then, matter-of-factly he replied, "We just need to adapt, like how they did with their footwear, but only faster. If we can keep one step ahead of their programming, we will stay on top. Or, in human terms, evolve faster than they do."
She commented drily, "Doesn't that usually entail species dying off until one gets it right?"
Howard chuckled.
Peggy smiled her thanks when Jarvis refilled her glass with brandy. After a sip, she stated, "So we need to anticipate what they haven't learned yet and then use it against them."
The inventor smirked, "Exactly."
As she rolled her eyes at the futility of the situation, Howard held up a hand.
Dramatically, he lowered his pinky, "Also, at the Smithsonian, there were five women, and now there are only four. Stabbing its "brain" with the artifact must have done enough damage to that one that it could not be repaired."
"Well, hopefully, the two I had short-circuited back at the Marketplace will be out."
Howard grinned at the thought.
Smirking, Peggy also recalled the one that had sunk in the Nile River, hopefully never to be seen again. Hell, maybe with each confrontation, they could whittle down the enemy's numbers until none were left.
She sighed tiredly. Honestly, after all the trouble they had gone through just today alone, she did not envy the road ahead. Well, as long as the machines were knocked off and not her friends. That was all that mattered to her.
After barely stifling another yawn, Peggy heard Spencer snoring loudly. She side-eyed him and then stared at Howard. "I am off to bed. You should do the same."
He absently stared out to sea and mumbled, "Soon, Peg. Got some ideas I want to work on."
"Well, just don't stay up too late."
Now he trained his usual 'no problem' smile at her, "You got it, mom."
She growled something unpleasant and stalked off to bed. Maybe instead of a bath, she should take a shower to cool off, she thought, unamused.
*
The next morning their secret hideout had still not been discovered. Peggy did not know how long they had until the foreign Press found them, but she'd take the quiet any day.
While Professor Spencer was translating the newest rubbings below deck, Peggy ate her breakfast in the dining room. Thankfully she did not have much of a hangover even after mixing her alcohol the night prior.
Impatient, she glanced at her watch, hoping the Professor would finish soon. Any moment she expected to have those robots descend on them. She sighed after she finished her tea. At the rate they were going, things would never be accomplished today.
Realizing that stewing about this was not helping, she decided to relax on the top rear deck. Sunbathing and swimming while they waited for the good Professor to finish sounded rather appealing.
Before she could clear away her plate, one of the maids dashed over and took it for her. Nodding her thanks, Peggy headed back to her room.
Shortly, she exited her cabin, sunglasses on to protect against the sun's bright glare. After tucking the bathing cap under her arm, she ensured that the sash was tightly wrapped around her waist to keep her bathrobe from slipping open. The white terrycloth garment provided was rich and plush. It felt like a comforting hug against all the bumps and bruises she had earned yesterday.
Though still sore, the hot bath she had taken last night had helped. She recalled snoozing in the luxurious hot water and then awakening abruptly to snort out the tepid liquid after she had sunk under.
After coughing all the water-free, she crawled into bed, only to wake up at the crack of dawn. She marveled that her body clock had already recalibrated itself and believed this was partly due to her military training. That and because she had forgotten to shut the damn blackout curtains the night before. This close to the equator, the sunlight streaming in was rather blinding.
Reaching the top deck, Peggy was surprised to find that Howard was already awake and prowling the large area in a huff. But she was not shocked to see that he already had a martini in hand. He intermittingly glared at some yellow papers he clenched tightly in hand. He would then stare off into space, chomping on the end of his cigar as if it were his last meal.
She stopped in front of him, and he growled something unintelligible to her. Hands stamped on hips, she demanded, "Stop being so overly dramatic, Howard and tell me what is wrong."
A hungover Howard shoved the stack of telegrams at her. "Those are all the fines I had to pay for yesterday's trouble. I doubt the good Colonel will reimburse me for them."
Peggy winced at the dollar amount quoted. "My, we did quite a bit of damage." She tried to give them back to Howard, but he raised his hands in surrender. She supposed out loud, "Well, maybe this 'treasure' will offset whatever is owed."
Howard stared at her and then shook his head. "There's more." He nodded to Jarvis. The butler had just arrived with another martini for Howard and a steaming cup of hot tea for her.
After giving Howard his drink, a flustered Jarvis handed Peggy the local foreign newspaper and the warm beverage. Ignoring what she really wanted, she instead glanced at the headlines. Though she couldn't read Arabic, the caption in big, bold letters practically screamed something about an 'Amazonian.' It also had a picture of her gallantly defending Howard from danger by using the specialized umbrella as a shield.
Chagrinned, she sighed loudly, "I can't help what they write. And we knew we'd end up in the paper eventually." She tossed the messages and newspapers onto the nearby table. Raising the teacup, she sipped the perfectly temperate tea. Ah, Earl Grey, her favorite. She nodded her thanks to Jarvis, whose nervous smile creased his concerned features.
Howard scoffed at her flippancy, "Sure, but this isn't printed on the society page that is tucked in the back. This is front-page material. If it gets back to the Egyptian government that you are here and this was an unsanctioned SSR outing, they will never let us leave."
Peggy heard the rebuke in his tone. Nodding, she replied, "I agree, Howard. We need to be more careful about our actions when out in public. I best remember that I am supposed to be an actress and not your bodyguard."
He spat out the cigar stub into the sea and sneered, "Glad you feel that way, pal. It's one thing to face killer robots, but I don't want to spend my final days in an Egyptian prison."
"If you wish to return to the States, I understand."
Calming down, Howard shook his head, "You can't get rid of me that easily, Peg." He sighed, "This is just another situation that could prove problematic for our future."
Dreading his answer, Peggy asked, "Has the Colonel contacted you?"
"No, nothing from Chester… yet. But if he gets word—" His gaze shifted from the newspaper's salacious headlines to her, his apprehension evident.
Deciding that they could only control so much, Peggy stated smoothly, "Let us hope that this sort of 'news' is considered too low brow for anyone of worth to bother reviewing. Meanwhile, the paparazzi are proving to be quite the nuisance." She did not relish what Daniel would make of this if it crossed his desk.
Thoughtful, Peggy tapped her finger against her cheek, "I bet our mechanical friends' creator is using them to find out what we are up to. I know I would use whatever intel I could get my hands on easily," she added as an aside.
"You think that is how they knew we'd be at the Pyramids," Jarvis asked worriedly.
Peggy shrugged, "Perhaps, or used our flight plan. Or maybe something more nefarious is afoot. Someone had been told to expect our arrival before we had even left DC." She eyed one of the maids hanging around in the background, "And anyone can be bought."
Howard was too lost in his thoughts to counter her accusation. But Jarvis saw who she intimated and subtly bobbed his head. Unlike his employer, he worked among the hired help.
So, making a decision, Peggy nodded to herself. Setting her shoulders, her British pragmatism reared up, "Alright, this is only a minor setback. We will continue to carry on. Professor Spencer should be done soon, but until then, there is no need to worry about the future. We can only plan ahead so far."
Howard grumbled, "Says she who doesn't have to pay for yesterday's damage."
Sympathetic to his plight, Peggy patted him on the shoulder. She said earnestly, "Yes, that is very unfair, and I am sorry, Howard." She grinned, "If it helps, I can give you my government paycheck for the next 100 years."
He stuttered his head, "No, no, of course not. I can afford it. It was just a bit of a rude awakening this morning was all." He smiled, "Hey, I wonder if I could use this as a tax write-off."
Pleased that his dour mood had changed to the positive, Peggy chuckled at his comment. With things now looking up, she decided to work on her tan.
Quickly she shrugged off her robe and then draped it over the side of the nearest lounge chair. Tilting the chair back, she reclined and let out a very self-satisfied exhale of relaxation.
Howard glanced over at Peggy and then did a double-take. He stared aghast when he saw what she was wearing. The one-piece bathing suit was not the most flattering. The black color emphasized how incredibly pale she was – indeed, a very British thing. Not to mention how it highlighted the bruises and scrapes from yesterday's actions.
She was about to slather on a copious amount of Gletscher Crème sunscreen when she heard Howard's angry hiss, "Peg, you cannot wear that in public!"
Peggy peeked over her sunglasses at him, "This is a perfectly serviceable swimsuit."
He huffed, exasperated, "Exactly, I have a reputation."
"As do I. Those things in the closet were bloody indecent." She glanced at his less than formidable attire. At least he still wore his robe, though it being open was not a plus. "Hum, maybe you should wear one instead of that ridiculous handkerchief you have now."
Taking her words as a challenge, Howard let his robe fall dramatically to the deck, and he stood tall in all his splendor. The tiny briefs he wore left far less to the imagination. Snug would be an understatement, Peggy thought snidely. And at least she did not have some absurd farmers tan as he did.
"It's called a Speedo, Peg." He purposely strutted around in it like the silly peacock that he was.
She scoffed at his attitude. Deciding she had seen enough, Peggy stood. Howard was about to argue more about fashionable attire, but Peggy was already tucking her hair into her bathing cap. Ignoring his sputters, she walked purposely towards the rear of the deck open for diving.
Seeing her intent, Howard warned with a sneer, "Watch out for crocs, Flo. We might be anchored away from the Delta, but they could still come this far out."
Peggy hesitated for only a moment. Then, haughtily she replied, "Well, I'd rather cavort with the more reputable reptiles below anyway." And she dove into the beautiful crystal blue waters and swam away.
