As he was entering "Frenchy's" Bathony noticed there was a pair of headlights approaching on the road from Cairo to Suez. As it got closer he could see by the light of the half-full moon that it was a lorry.

Keeper's Note: And yes, I did determine that on this particular night there would be a half-full moon over Cairo. We live in an age of miracles and wonders!

JM laughed and nodded.  "They seem to be deep in conversation.  The only two things I know that will keep Karlheinz so well engrossed will be airplanes or beer.  Hopefully the latter."  He walked over with Matt to where Claude and Karlheinz were speaking.

"It seems we are all making our acquaintances he said as he stepped over to the table.  Let's start with beer all around.  I'll defer to Karlheinz on what is best.  Then I think we can talk a bit of business."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 80):

"Not sure that any of the beer is any good here, it all tastes like it came out of a hyena but it's better than nothing. And if you're buying it will taste just fine." Matt grins broadly.

Chalky shakes hands with everyone as he's introduced and raises his glass to them in salute.

"To new friends" he says, having a sip. "Now, Karlheinz here says you've run into a spot of trouble. Do want a hand? Anything for a mate."

In reply to Matthew 'Matt' Clancy (msg # 81):

"Nien, I do not think the beer here is any good. Unless it is imported! And to find that you would need to go to one of the finer Cairo hotels. Frenchy here... when he serves is drinkable. Barely. But it is at home where we should be drinking beer, yes?"

In reply to Karlheinz Bergmann (msg # 83):

"To be fair it's not the worst beer in Africa but it is still rotten. Anyway, as Chalky says, what's your bother and how can we help sort it?" Matt asks.

In reply to Matthew 'Matt' Clancy (msg # 84):

Outside the lights of the lorry receded into the darkness, heading on its way to Suez. In the quiet Bathony could hear the drone of countless insects from the surrounding fields.

Inside, the weathered Turk barkeep poured beer and wine for the unexpected late-night customers.

JM raised his beer to the toast.  "To new friends."  He made a face at the taste of the beer and laughed.  "Karlheinz, as usual you are quite right about the beer.  It's not worth the price though to go into those fancy hotels to get better though.  Besides, they tend to look down on mere beer drinkers."

He looked around at his two old friends and the one new one. "Well, it's a bit complicated." JM took a long pull on his beer. "We're hunting missing explorers and ancient artifacts.  A very important artifact has been stolen and the nutters are planning to use it in some kind of twisted ceremony.  We have to stop them and get the artifact back before they kill even more people.  I... we," he indicates the others at the bar.  "Need some help, some help that is good with guns and not afraid to mix it up."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 86):

"Sounds like fun! I've been leading Chalky in to gun and knife fights since the war ended. Mostly accidentally. So where are we going first?" Matt doesn't seem at all peturbed by the threat of possible violence.

JM laughed and raised his glass to Matt. "Another round of beer for everyone!"  He clashed his mug against Matt's.  "Well said Matt, I knew I could count on you.  We're headed up to one of the pyramids about 45 miles away across the river."

"Brilliant!" Says Chalky, "a stoush!" He takes a sip and adds "are we going to fly or drive there? If you go across the sands there's little in the way of law out there, we might get jumped."

Cynthia interrupts when she can; "please understand, this isn't just a scuffle. The risk is... significant. Some of us will not return alive. I don't want to dissuade you. We need the help. But I want you to go in with your eyes open."

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 90):

Matt shrugs "Not that I am unafraid of death or anything, but people have been trying to put bullets through my hide since 1917. So it all seems like a normal part of life now."

The Count listen to the others as they went back and forth, the rest of those in their group had outlined the plan well enough so he just "enjoyed" his drink. Winkling his nose at the aroma of the interesting beer he glanced over to Mr. Perkins who seemed to be unfazed by the brew in front of him.

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This message was last edited by the player at 21:34, Mon 19 Nov 2018.

JM nods as Cynthia speaks up. "It's close enough to drive.  There aren't any landing sites nearby that would make sense and we'd still need a car to get us to the location."  He frowned.  "It's dangerous for sure and the cultists are insane.  They are so insane that some of the things that they do rival the worst horrors of the trenches."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 93):

"Sounds like they need to be put down, like a rabid dog."

"Indeed. These people will not yield, and have lost all humanity. There is nothing left to do for them but to put them down.

"Do you," she nods to all the men at the table, "need to plan further, or can we set off immediately?"

In reply to Cynthia Jane Holloway (msg # 95):

"Me and Chalky need to get back to our lines and pick up our gear, I reckon we could head off as soon as, really."

JM finished his beer. "Put down without mercy."  He rose.  "Let's be off then as time is not our friend here."

"Rightyo!" Says Chalky, draining his beer. "Let's toddle along then. I'll pick up the old three oh three if it looks like there's going to be some biffo and a spare shirt." He slams the empty glass down on the bar and stands up to leave.

JM nodded.  "Bring plenty of ammunition when you load up."

In reply to John-Marc Falcon (msg # 99):

Matt grins "I'll bring all I've got, I don't suppose we're going to be passing a gun store on the way to get a bit more?"

JM chuckled. "The Brits have the modern weapons sewed up tight to keep the tribes from causing trouble.  We'll have to pull some strings in Cairo to get anything useful."

From outside, Matt and Chalky could hear a lorry pull up in front of the bar. It seemed unlikely, it being midnight, that more airmen were arriving for a nightcap. It could be that more friends of JM and Karlheiz were arriving.

"Huh," Says Chalky. "Another truck outside. I wonder who that is, all the flyboys are back in barracks by now."