First of all: Sorry that it took me so long... I was pretty busy with exams and University that I had to put the story aside for a couple of weeks. Now that I enjoy my termbreak I'm ready to continue "Bastets Box".

Chapter 6

"Could we please get something to eat, I'm starving!" Howard yammered and let his head hang. His clothes were all sweaty and started to smell.

"Maybe we could get a little sandwich somewhere", Penny suggested but Sheldon interrupted her.

"A sandwich? A sandwich? Penny, there aren't any take a ways in Egypt where you can quickly buy some lunch without getting worried about it being your last meal" he made it clear. Amy wanted to avoid the worst case and so she tried to settle their dispute.

"Now that we got more information about Bastets Box we're able to continue our journey. We'll need to go by boat to Abydos. They have an excellent cuisine with Egyptian specialities on it" she had the feeling that this would please her American friends but Sheldon wrinkled his nose.

"I don't know if we can trust them. I mean they're just simple sailors, spending their life with bringing curious tourists from one port to the other. They won't have an idea of hygiene, nor are they washing their hands regularly. One can think of the dirt that is entrenched in every angle of their galley" he was shivering at the thought of it.

"Or we could stay hungry and unmotivated till we arrive at the temple of Ramses The Third just to please our genius", Leonard retorted. Sheldon darted a disparaging glance at the lector. He was looking out for the port and their mean of transport. "Miss Amy, do you know where the boat is going to take a rest? Is it a non stop journey to Abydos or are we invited to explore some of Egypt's coastal areas?" he wondered.

"I'm sure there will be a stop in Tell El-Amarna and if I'm not mistaken we'll have a break in Achmim before achieving our destination. But it's simply a speculation, they might of course have changed the route", she admitted.

"There is our ship! There is our ship!" Penny shouted and fetched her valises. She felt much better now and was the first one to queue up. "Really euphoric", Amy remarked and stood behind her. Penny's hair smelled like lotus blossoms which gave the young journalist a touch of freshness. "I'd love to try your shampoo", the librarian mentioned in passing. Leonard caught them up and was now clamped between two giant wealthy men. A monkey was sitting on one of the man's shoulder trying to delouse the lector's head. "Group hygiene" Howard chuckled and high-fived Raj.

"Hey! You better watch out" a bearded man forced Howard to walk a bit faster. The hot sun was burning and it wasn't until ages later when they finally assembled around a table. "A medium size boat I assume, with a maximum length of 16m" the mathematician pointed out. No one listened. They were sunk in the yellowing menu card. "Look at their offers" Raj's eyes widened. "They guarantee you an eating binge of fresh fish down here" Amy added and glanced over to Sheldon. He didn't even make the attempt of opening the card and choosing a meal. "I'd rather stay hungry for the rest of my life, which is of course an absurd idea but better than getting a food poisoning" he whispered and started to observe the travellers instead.

Particularly noticeable was a group of disguised men, all wearing black, engrossed in conversation. From time to time they looked up, making sure that no one was eavesdropping them. Sheldon didn't worry for the moment. He knew there were always funny birds among the tourists. "They appear to be Medjais, warriors who patrol the Sahara" Amy explained, the linguist nodded. "I heard of them too" Leonard piped up. "They are royal defenders and already existed three thousand years ago. Their duty is to protect the City of Dead" he went on, trying to catch Penny's attention. "Yes, we all watched "The Mummy", thanks Leonard" Raj murmured.

After the waiter had taken their order Sheldon decided to show all his knowledge about the eating habits of the Ancient Egyptians. "Did you know which foodstuff was highly appreciated back in Kemet, which is the Egyptian name meaning Black Country?" the linguist asked. Howard hold op his finger. "Onions and beer?" Amy grinned and waited for Sheldon to begin his speech. "Yes, besides onions and beer there was a huge amount of cereals, a lot of bread, and thin pointed cones, a type of flat bread. The offers on the menu card of wealthier people looked a little bit different, of course. They often served soup, beef, chicken, roasted goat, wine, dates and delicious figs" he added. "Are you sure you don't want to try any of these tasty dishes?" Penny challenged him. Amy turned to the linguist, waiting for him to change his mind. She had to admit that she felt slightly offended by his behaviour but strangely enough she seemed to forgive him.

"I think a warm broth wouldn't kill me" he replied. "Good choice" the librarian laid her hand on his. "No, no, don't do this!" Leonard shouted and she immediately pulled her hand back.

It was time for Leonard to speed up the thing between him and Penny, so he asked her if she'd like to take a walk on the deck of the ship. "As soon as I finished the introduction for my upcoming chapter, I'm ready to join you", her sweet voice from behind the door exclaimed.

Amy and Sheldon did already find the way out and were now strolling around. The night was chilly and both tried to make out a famous emblem of the next pier. The librarian who was wearing a simple shirt started to shiver from the cold. Sheldon felt cosy and comfortable in his outdoor jacket. "You should have brought a coat or at least a sweater with you" he said while fixing a dim light in the distance. How about offering me your clothes instead? Amy thought but didn't speak out loud. They stopped to rest for a while. "A state, originated in the desert, on the fertile banks of a beneficial river. The Nile means more to Egypt than just being a river: a wonder without whom its development wouldn't have been possible" Sheldon sighted and turned to Amy. They were silent for a moment. No one spoke; they listened to the different noises of the ocean, the waves lapping their boat.

What's happening now? Amy asked herself. She had to admit that Sheldon seemed to be a very handsome man in her eyes, despite the fact that he was extremely selfish and egocentric. He was just like Egypt, full of mysteries.

"Hey there", Penny ran towards them smiling all over her face. "Are you two enjoying the starlit night? Isn't it romantic?" she pushed the two closer to each other. Leonard lit his eyebrow. Was there something going on between his best friend and Amy Farrah Fowler? He made Sheldon understand to approach him. They left Amy alone for a second but still within the range of vision.

"You like her, right?" Penny pricked the linguist. "I think she is an adorable woman, you lucky dog" Leonard punched Sheldon. "Well I think she has a brilliant mind, not as brilliant as mine of course but it's filled with an enormous amount of knowledge" Sheldon wasn't sure how he felt about Amy. Her wisdom attracted him somewhat but he wouldn't call it an irrepressible appeal.

Just when Penny wanted to continue the questioning they heard a shout. Sheldon ran back on the deck but Amy was gone. He spotted a black cape disappearing around the corner. "Oh my God, where is she?" Penny's heart was racing.

Leonard, Sheldon and the journalist tried to find the trap but lost it very soon. Having turned to the left they bumped into Raj and Howard. "Did you see her? Did you see which direction they went?" Sheldon wanted to know. "Who went what direction?" Howard was clueless. He stared into three ashen faces. "You must have seen them, they went that way, and there was at least one man, covered in black!"

"What is going on here?" the mathematician wanted to know. "I would be very thankful if someone of you could enlighten me!"

"They kidnapped Amy!"