Page 9 of Escape to Egypt

“Yes, the hobbits!” Zayed said, clapping his hands together. “Such delightful creatures. I’ve always wanted to see the Shire with my own eyes. But I cannot take Snickers with me, and he is my only companion, my friend. Will you take care of him?”

Jack shrugged, still munching on his banana. “Sure, why not? We’ll keep an eye on him. Right, Charlotte?” He glanced at me, a teasing glint in his eyes.

I hesitated, eyeing Snickers, who had his leg lifted and was busy grooming himself. “We will?” I said, unsure. The thought of taking care of a monkey, especially one as mischievous as Snickers, wasn’t exactly appealing. But Snickers made a silly face, reminding me of Palmer, and I found myself smiling despite my better judgment. I adjusted the neckline of my blouse again though, just in case.

Zayed’s face softened with gratitude. “Thank you, my friends. Snickers means the world to me. I am indebted to you for this kindness.” He bowed his head slightly, and Snickers copied him, giving a mock bow of his own, which made us all laugh.

“Well, since we’re doing you this favor,” I said, shifting gears, “can you tell us what you know about the Path of the Gods? We need to find those artifacts.”

Zayed nodded, his expression turning serious. “I will tell you what I know. The Path of the Gods is an ancient secret. It is said that the entrance lies hidden, known only to those who can decipher the clues left by the ancients.”

He paused for a moment, as if gathering his thoughts, then recited in a sing-song voice:

“By the light of Ra and Hathor’s grace,

Seek the shadow’s secret place.

Where two lines cross beneath the sun,

The hidden door will come undone.”

I listened intently, repeating the rhyme in my head, trying to make sense of it. A riddle. Of course, it was a riddle, because why not? This was beginning to feel more and more like a treasure hunt out of a storybook. A magic flying carpet would probably appear next to whisk us off.

“Thank you, Zayed,” I said, committing the words to memory. “We’ll figure it out.”

Zayed nodded, his gaze becoming thoughtful. “Most interestingly, you are not the first to ask about the Path of the Gods. In fact, someone else was here this very morning asking the same questions."

My heart skipped a beat. “What? Who? What did they look like? What did they say?”

The old market seller shrugged. “They were completely covered up. Big sunglasses, head wrapped. You could barely see any skin. They spoke in a whisper.”

I felt a shiver run down my spine. “Did you tell them what you know?” I asked, dreading the answer.

Zayed shrugged again, looking slightly apologetic but not overly concerned. “Yes, I did. They paid me enough cash to upgrade my lodgings in New Zealand to a penthouse suite, get a personal chauffeur, and hire a masseuse. They even threw in a signed ‘Lord of the Rings’ poster, autographed by all the stars. I mean, can you blame me?”

I groaned, slapping my forehead. “Great. Just great.”

Jack put a hand on my shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Hey, don’t worry, sweet cheeks. This just tells us we’re on the right track. If the thieves are looking for the Path of the Gods, we can hopefully catch up to them and recover the artifacts.”

I sighed, trying to shake off the unease that had settled in my chest. “I hope you’re right, Jack. I really do.”

Zayed nodded sagely. “Remember the clue,” he said, his voice low and serious. “It is your key to finding the entrance. And be careful. Whoever this other person is, I feel they will stop at nothing to get what they want.”

Another shiver ran down my spine and I gulped, twisting my fingers nervously.

“That’s why she’s got me. To protect her,” said Jack, turning around and tripping over his untied bootlace. “Oops.”

“I have no doubt you will,” Zayed said with a wink. He patted Snickers on the head, and the monkey chattered happily. “Take care, my friends. And remember, the Path of the Gods is not just about the destination, but the journey itself.”

With that cryptic farewell, Jack and I left the stall, Snickers perched comfortably on Jack’s shoulder. The bustling bazaar stretched out before us, alive with color and noise. I glanced at Jack, who seemed lost in thought, and then down at Snickers, who was busy trying to grab my hand.

“Aw, you want to hold my hand?” I asked, offering my fingers to the little monkey. Snickers wrapped his tiny fingers around mine, his grip surprisingly strong. It was sweet, in a strange sort of way. But as I walked, I couldn’t help but wonder how it would feel to hold Jack’s hand instead. The thought sent a warm rush through me, and I quickly pushed it away, focusing on the riddle instead.

My stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence as we walked. Jack glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “Hungry?”

“You think?” I said, my voice tinged with sarcasm. The banana Snickers had given me had barely taken the edge off.

Jack laughed. “Come on, let’s get you something to eat.” He led me through the maze of stalls and people, finally stopping at a small outdoor café tucked away in a corner of the bazaar. The aroma of spices and grilled meat filled the air, making my mouth water.

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