JM climbs gratefully aboard the boat. "Thank you for pulling us out of that mess.  Did we get all of the rest of the crew aboard safely as well?"

On the yacht the smartly uniformed crew seemed to be flustered by the plight of the sodden damsel in their midst.

The purser sputtered, "yes of course, madame and sir. A cabin? Right this way. We shall bring some clothing as well."

He showed Cynthia (and Molly) to a regal cabin belowdecks. It was sumptuously furnished in a European style with a canopy bed. The purser went to a large walk-in closet filled with women's clothing and began rummaging around. The styles looked both to be European high fashion (and not terribly out-of-date) and traditional Egyptian wear.

On deck the crew only managed to pull 1 of the 4 crew onto the deck. The other 3 seemed lost in the Nile waters. A distraught Alexander stayed at the railing, surveying the dark waters.

At least the mysterious storm seemed to be quickly abating. The yellow clouds overhead of dust blown off the Giza plateau began to dissipate as the hot wind died.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 718):

Molly waited for the purser to leave, as well as all the other men, and then helped Cynthia strip out of her clothes and into some dry ones.

"I'm not going to ask how they have such a nice selection of clothing for women.  You want European or Egyptian Cynthia?"

Molly stepped in closer so that nobody could hear them if somebody was listening.  "Do you have the girdle yet?"

Molly then stepped back and in a regular voice carried on just like if nothing else had happened.  "These clothes I have on are a little damp.  Perhaps I should change also.  Any good hats in there?  You know that I just love hats."

JM stayed up on deck with Alexander to try and retrieve more of the crew.  "Perhaps they made it ashore elsewhere.  If I were them I would swim like the devil to the shore."

In reply to Molly 'Mungo' Fuller (msg # 719):

Perhaps anticipating their needs, the purser picked out european outfits for both women that were perhaps a shade too large. Then departed. "I shall be outside if you need me."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 720):

"Praise God, yes!" he said, scanning the river. "Bismallah, let's hope they do." His eyes perhaps also scanned for the mysterious tentacles that had slithered out of the ancient depths of the river to assault them and sink his boat.

The Count to remained at the guard rail looking for the missing men. He stayed silent though as if processing what had just happened and the course of only a handful of minutes.

It was strange to think that such monsters exist in the darkest corners of the world. It also brings a realization of quite a lot of his own research, that the monster might just have been real.


-

JM remained on guard as well. "Let's get back to shore and away from whatever attacked us as quickly as possible."

"I feel the need for subterfuge has ended, and perhaps I would enjoy just a drop of sunshine on my skin while visiting the desert. Let's move to European."

Cynthia will continue audible evidence of frivolous clothes selection, while stripping off her sodden clothes and, most importantly, looking to see if the girdle is still attached around her waist.

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 725):

Molly will wait until Cynthia has changed before she will change.  She does stay in between the door and Cynthia in case somebody opens it up unexpectedly.  That way Molly hopes that she would stop them from seeing the girdle.  Of course Molly wishes, like Cynthia, to see that the girdle is still around Cynthia's waist.

No one bothered the ladies while they changed into something more presentable.

On deck, the freakish storm seemed to dissipate very quickly. There were no further sign of tentacles or other assailants.

Now that things were calmer the yacht captain, a florid middle-aged Englishman sporting a massive salt-and-pepper mustache introduced himself.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 727):

"Good evening, sirs! Captain Alexander of the motor yacht Bessarabian Queen at your service. Frightfully lucky we were here to lend a hand, eh what? Beastly weather for a swim! Too bad about your boat, and your chaps."

"Thank you Sir, your actions were both timely and greatly appreciated." The Count offers his hand "Baron von der Pahlen and my wife has gone to change out of her wet things."

-

JM stands nearby keeping a watch on the water both for swimmers and further trouble.

In reply to Count Sigismund Bathony (msg # 729):

"Yes, yes, I see! Er, ruddy shame about your boat," he nodded towards Alexander.

"Beastly weather! My word, I can't say I've ever seen it come and go so frightfully fast before!

"Would you like us to put in, or look for your men?"

In reply to Captain Alexander (msg # 731):

Alexander looked to Bathony and JM, then back to the captain.

"With such deadly weather, and crocodiles all about, I fear there isn't much we can do for them now. They're as good as done for.

"JM? Count? What say we head to shore now and search for my crew later?"

In reply to Alexander Hussein Mahfouz (msg # 732):

"Well if you are sure, then yes let us disembark." The Count kept a watch on the water until they were able to leave.

"Perhaps we should check on the ladies ?"

JM nodded reluctantly and turned back from the river. "Yes, I think we've done all we can for now."  He nodded to the count.  "Certainly, the ladies should have repaired the damage incurred in the water by now."

Night fell over Cairo. On the river lights came on, on both banks. The Nile itself remained dark and impenetrable.

The women finished changing. As they did the boat lingered a bit, looking for survivors, but ultimately headed back to shore as it was becoming too dark to see.

As their original plan had been to dock nearest the museum they could, the yacht pulled up to the crowded wharf next to the English Military Hospital. Just across some train tracks was the Egyptian Museum, where Perkins and the others had agreed to meet them if their decoy mission worked according to plan. Perhaps it had?

The wharf was crowded with fishermen hauling their daily catch ashore, bound for the evening markets. Throngs of Egyptians, most carrying baskets of fish, surged up the steps towards the streets, there bound for horse-drawn wagons and the market. There was much talk (in Egyptian of course) about the freak storm. Some fellucas and other small craft had gone down in the wind and waves but it seemed to the fishing crews the worst of it was localised in the middle of the Nile.

Meanwhile, the police were letting Perkins and company go after minimal questioning. It was assumed that bandits or separatist revolutionaries of the fledgeling Islamic Brotherhood was responsible for the gunplay.

JM offered to help both women up onto the wharf from the boat.  "Ladies," he smiled.

He scanned the crowds as he did looking for any immediate threats or anything out of the ordinary.  JM listened to the babble of Arabic around them for any signs as well.  "So... should we rendezvous with the rest at the museum?"

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 736):

A wet and tired Alexander nodded as he scanned the crowd. "I grieve for the crew I lost. But we had better regroup, make some additional plans. Yes, I think, to the museum."

Once sorted, Cynthia returns to the decks, a little quieter and more reserved than normal.

"Yes. Onto the museum. We will need to wait a little longer to mourn."

JM dried himself as best he could and neatened his appearance as the group gathered themselves.  "By all means Cynthia, action against these foes is the best means of mourning."

The museum was but a block or so from the river. They reached it in short order and were shown into the offices of Dr. Khafour.

They did not know the disposition of the decoys under Perkins. That group was supposed to meet them at the museum but had not yet shown up.

In reply to The Keeper (msg # 740):

Dr. Khafour was at his enormous desk, partially hidden behind stacks of paper and various ancient artefacts.

He stood up when the ladies entered. "Greetings, my friends. What news have you? Were you successful?

"I have just received word your other friends are all right. They got into a little scuffle with unknown parties. They are being released by police and will return soon."