Chapter 3: Egypt

      The front of the pod eased open slowly letting in the bright sunlight and the smell of dusty sand.
      I smiled as the pod was now completely open and the whole desert was open to me.
      "This is Virgil to Tintin, take her out"
      "FAB"
      I pushed down on the accelerator and the jeep thundered forward and down the ramp and away from Thunderbird 2.
      I was now out in the open of the Egyptian desert and I was free of dirty dishes and smelly laundry for a while, well, except for my own.
      "This is Thunderbird 2, to Tintin, enjoy yourself and I'll see you soon"
      "Thank you Virgil, over and out"
      I pulled my glasses and hat from the glove compartment and put them on as I drove out across the hot desert.
      My destination was a campsite just outside Cairo, where I was to meet a Mr Ali Humana.
      From there we would go with his group of archaeologists to the far end of the Nile before it breaks off into the smaller rivers and there is an area there, which is where there maybe a place to claim some mysterious treasures.
      I was so happy; I drove along listening to "Dangerous game" on the radio, which kept me in a calm state of mind.
      I looked out over the vast desert and nearly screamed with joy when I could see the out skirts of Cairo.
      I pushed full down on the accelerator and the jeep shoot like bullet over the bumpy sands.
      I was soon near the camp; I could see the caravans clustered together near the main city.
      When I was in the camp, I stopped the jeep and looked out over all of the people around.
      I turned off the engine and climbed out the car, I stood pressed against the car door waiting to see if Mr Humana was going to come to me.
      No, didn't seem like it, I would have to find him.
      I trod across the camp area, there were a lot of Egyptian men who were camped there and I wasn't sure who was the man I am supposed to meet.
      I came to a big tent with a lot a people gathered; they all turned to me as I approached, I felt a little embarrassed.
      "Umm... excuse me, could you tell me where I can find Ali Humana" I was a little bit frightened.
      They all just looked at me with a stupefied look on their faces.
      Suddenly, a rather smallish and very tanned Egyptian man came to me; his arms flew out to the sides.
      "You must be Miss Tintin Kyrano," He said happily.
      "Yes, I am"
      "I am Ali Humana," He said, extending his hand "Very pleased to meet you Miss Kyrano"
      "Please, call me Tintin" I said as I shook his hand.
      "Ok... Tintin... we will set up camp here tonight and head to the excavation site in the morning"
      I liked that idea, I nodded and returned to my jeep and set up my caravan.
      At nightfall, the desert dropped in temperature rapidly, I sat at a campfire with Ali and his friends and we ate rice and vegetables under the beautiful stars.
      Ali turned to me after he finished a long conversation with his companion.
      "How is your food, Tintin" He asked.
      "It's lovely thank you, Mr Humana" I said as I finished off the last bit of rice.
      "Since, you don't want me to be formal with you, I'll say the same, you can just call me Ali"
      "Alright then... Ali, the food was lovely"
      He nodded with great satisfaction and turned back to his other companion.
      Suddenly, the camp was disturbed by an old woman that wore a long black cloak and a rather crinkled patterned dress.
      "You will walk into hells mouth!" She called out like a drunk; "The sands will not let you steal its treasures!"
      Everybody turned to her and started talking nervously among themselves.
      "The sand is alive and it doesn't want to be disturbed!" She bellowed on "It will swallow you whole if you dare destroy its habitation"
      Ali stood up, he was very angry with her.
      "Mina go away!" Ali shouted, "You are crazy... crazy as an old horse"
      The old woman known as Mina walked over to him and raised her arm at him.
      "You are a disloyal soul and the sand will punish you" Her voice was deep and tormenting.
      "Go away, get out of our camp you crazy hag!" He said pushing her away.
      She protested but was over powered and lead away; the commotion lingered with the whispers of the campers growing.
      Ali came back and looked at everyone.
      "I want to hear no more!" Ali bellowed, "We all know Mina is crazy, you shouldn't listen."
      They looked at him and the whispers died off, Ali came back and sat by me again.
      "You shouldn't listen to Mina, she is a stupid old fool" Ali told me.
      I looked at him and then out across the desert, boy, she sure knows how to make you nervous.
      I stood up and shook the sand off my clothes and turned to Ali.
      "I think I'll retire for the night, I can't wait to go to the site," I said excitedly.
      "That's the spirit!" Ali said, "Goodnight Tintin"
      "Goodnight Ali"
      I headed over to my caravan and opened the door, it was at a cosy temperature inside and I headed straight for the shower, the lovely cool water washed away the sweat of the hot and tiring day.
      After the shower I got changed into my loose silk nightdress and settled myself into bed.
      After the lights went out I lay listening to the quiet talking and the soft music outside.
      It was soothing and made me feel very relaxed; I closed my eyes, I couldn't get myself to sleep, I was too excited.
      Then I thought of Alan, I opened my eyes and sat up in bed.
      Oh, I missed him and his beautiful blue eyes and his soft, fluffy blonde hair.
      I stood up and looked out the window and up at the stars on the black sky.
      He was up there, so far away in Thunderbird 5, in the orbit of the earth.
      I closed my eyes and smiled softly before getting back into bed and letting myself drift off into a calm sleep.

On to Chapter 4: The Site.