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Christina's skirts as she and John boarded the ship that would carry them to Cairo. Christina was shown to a small cabin that she would have to share with another woman. John would be in the cabin directly across from hers. After their luggage was brought aboard, Christina went on deck for a last look at her beloved England. As she watched the seamen preparing to cast off, she recalled the frantic haste of the morning.
    Christina had been awakened from another restless sleep by loud pounding on her door. Her brother entered the room and stood beside her bed, a forlorn expression on his handsome face. She noticed the paper he was holding as she wiped the sleep from her eyes.
    "They came this morning, Crissy. I'm afraid I'll have to leave immediately."
    "Who came?" she yawned. "What are you talking about?"
    "My orders. They came sooner than expected," he replied, handing her the paper.
    Christina read it slowly, shaking her head in disbelief. "Cairo!" she exclaimed. "But that's more than four thousand miles away."
    "Yes, I know. I have to leave in an hour's time. Tm sorry I won't be able to escort you 'home, Crissy, but Howard said he would be glad to go with you. I'm going to miss you, little sister."
    A smile crossed her lips. "No, you won't, big brother. I'm going with youl I decided a long time ago."
    "That's ridiculous, Crissyl What would you do on a military post in Egypt? The weather is miserable. It's blazing hot and very unhealthy. You'd ruin your complexion!"
    Throwing back the covers, Christina jumped from the bed and faced John, hands on hips and a stubborn tilt to her chin.
    "I'm going, John Wakefield, and that's all there is to it! It was miserable at home last year with you gone. I won't stand it again. Besides, we won't be in Egypt all that long." She spun about, seeing her belongings scattered about the room. "Oh, Fm wasting time! You get out of here while I pack and get dressed. I won't be long, I promise."
    Christina pushed John out of the room and called Mary to help with the packing. She had to hurry so John would have no excuse to leave her behind.
    She was dressed and ready to leave in less than an hour. John made no more objections and even told her he was glad she was coming.
    And now they were about to cast ofi for a strange land that Christina knew very little about.
    Looking over the other passengers, she thought it strange that her brother was the only army officer on board.
    "Crissy, you should have waited for me. I don't want you on deck alone againl"
    Christina was startled at his words, but relaxed as John joined her at the rail. "Oh, John, you're being a mother hen. I'm perfectly all right up here alone."
    "Nevertheless, during the journey I'd rather you not come on deck without an escort."
    "Very well, if you insist," she gave in. "I was just thinking how strange it is that there are no other officers on board. I thought replacements usually traveled together."
    "They usually do. I was wondering the same thing, but I won't know the answer until we reach Cairo."
    "Maybe they want you for something special!" Christina ventured.
    "I doubt that, Crissy, but we'll find out when we land." John put his arm around Christina's shoulder, and they watched England fall behind them as the ship sailed out to sea.
    It -was a long, boring journey foT Christina. She hated confinement, and the ship offered few pastimes. She made friends with her cabinmate, a Mrs. Bigley. Mrs. Bigley had been visiting her children at school in England, and now was returning to Egypt. Her husband was colonel of the very regiment where John was posted. But Mrs. Bigley couldn't tell Christina why her brother was being sent to Cairo. She knew only that the other replacements wouldn't be leaving for a month.
    Since there could be no answers until the journey was over, Christina put the mystery out of her mind until then. She spent much time reading in her cabin or on deck. When she had exhausted all the books she had brought with her,