Birds of the Nile Read Online Free PDF

heard the fracas and broke away, walking smartly across. He was a young man in his late twenties, clean-shaven and heavily built. He had a soft round face, and although he lacked the aquiline features that accompaniedsome form of nobility, his bearing suggested he was still of good family. Dressed in Western clothes, he wore a dark suit over his white shirt and tie – a sure sign he was part of ‘the management’. He spoke in a dialect Blake did not understand, barked a few sharp words at the porters then, with a distinct motion of his head, signalled they should leave. They immediately backed off, a hand reached out and a small note was discreetly passed across. Their palms had been greased and all would be well. With this resolved, the young man could now turn to the lady and give her reassurance.
    “You must excuse my countrymen. They do not always understand Western ways.”
    Nor she theirs
, thought Blake.
    But if the young man had the same idea, he was far too polite to express it.
    “Your bags will be taken up to your cabin,” he continued. “Everything has been clearly marked. It is all arranged.” His English was perfectly phrased although delivered with an accent that marked him out as of Middle Eastern origin. “You have nothing to worry about, I assure you.”
    “But my jewellery box is missing,” the woman protested. “I should never have let it out of my sight.”
    “It will be found, I’m certain. The loading of the bus has been most carefully supervised.”
    “Well I certainly hope you’re right. It contains some valuable pieces.”
    “I’m sure of it. It will be delivered to you immediately. I will see to it personally. Now, what is the number of your cabin?”
    “Wait a moment. Here…”
    She fumbled in her shoulder bag for her travel documents and produced a booking confirmation which the young Egyptian inspected.
    “Aha! Number 12. The upper deck. An excellent choice. I will have the box brought up to you straight away.”
    “Oh thank you, thank you so much.” An emotion in the woman’s voice presaged tears. In addition to the paperwork she had also fished out from her bag a small handkerchief and proceeded to dab at her nose. “My husband would never forgive me.”
    Her eyelids fluttered a little more quickly than the situation demanded and Blake noticed a distinct lack of moisture. To the practised observer, she was clearly more artful than upset.
    But this feigned show of distress did not deter the young Egyptian from his duty.
    “Please do not concern yourself. This will soon be resolved, I promise you. Now, if you would like to follow this gentleman…”
    He guided her gently toward the gangplank onto the ship where a member of the crew stood waiting.
    Blake struggled to suppress a wry smile at the lady’s pantomime of concern. And as for the young Egyptian, you could not deny he had a certain adult charm, despite his boyish looks. As an exercise in mollification, he had to admit it had been expertly done.
    The lady in cream was now halfway across the gangplank and casting an anxious glance over her shoulder. Back on the shore, the young Egyptian bowed his head and smiled politely. He waited until she had disappeared on board, then turned smartly on his heel and marched briskly over to the bus where he began to snap out his commands.
    Blake’s attention returned to the whirling dervishes. For the time being the incident was over and the steady, if prolonged, process of embarkation could be resumed.

Chapter Five
    Blake’s cabin was on the lower deck. It was not as prestigious as the one accorded to the lady in cream but that didn’t concern him – he wasn’t planning to spend a lot of time in it. There were twin beds (he’d asked not to have a double) and he chose one to sleep in and laid his birding gear out on the other – his telescope, tripod, binoculars and the illustrated guide he’d bought especially for the trip. Against the far wall was a small dressing