“Alas, we must end this delightful encounter. I believe I hear Emerson approaching.”

There was no doubt about it. Emerson’s stentorian shouts echoed from cliff to cliff. “Peabody! Where have you gone? Answer me! Peeaaabody . . .”

“You had better respond,” Sethos said, rising to his feet. “Please excuse me. I prefer to avoid him when he is in this frame of mind.”

“Where are you going?”

“Up,” he said succinctly. And up he went, climbing with the expertise of a mountaineer. He was out of sight when Emerson appeared, forcing his way through the fierce stream.

I raised my voice to the pitch that has been known to quell rioting mobs and family arguments. “Up here, Emerson!”

Emerson stopped, planting his feet firmly against the torrent and bracing himself against the wall. Only a man of enormous strength could progress so far, but although the water level was beginning to recede, Emerson was being battered by stones of various sizes.

“What are you doing up there?” he bellowed. “Curse it, Peabody—”

“Calm yourself. As you can see, I am perfectly safe. You are the one in danger. Please join me.”

“That seems sensible,” Emerson admitted. He began to climb. Several times his foot slipped, but his grip on the rock face kept him from falling and he was soon at my side. His first act was to seize me in an embrace that squeezed the air out of my lungs. His second was to commence a diatribe, interspersing it with endearments and profanities, which I shall not reproduce out of courtesy to my more genteel Readers. Once he had run out of breath, he sat down next to me. I took out my handkerchief and wiped blood off his cheek.

“Oh dear,” I said. “We must get back to camp so that I can tend to your injuries.”

“Another shirt ruined,” grumbled Emerson.

I nodded. “It certainly is. Most of the buttons are missing, and there are innumerable rents and tears, not to mention quite a few bloodstains. I suppose I should have purchased more shirts for you in Cairo. You seem to go through them in short order. It might be more economical to purchase them by the gross.”

“You cannot divert me so easily, Peabody. Why did you go off without announcing your intentions?”

“There was a woman in the distance—”

“Or a figure swathed in anonymous black drape. Will you never learn?”

“That is what Sethos said.” I regretted the words as soon as they came out of my mouth, but to my surprise Emerson did not react as he usually did to the mention of that name.