Crude shelves dominated the small space. On them were shards, pots, fragmented sculptures, and the artifacts that von Raubritter had told us about during our first encounter. Everything was neatly labeled with a date and a location. Borchardt and Morgenstern had followed the canons of archaeological dictates. However, I doubted that Borchardt, before his departure due to a family crisis, had stockpiled a case of schnapps. Morgenstern was well prepared for the entire season. I could not recall any rumors that in the past he was unable to function in a professional manner because of his fondness for alcohol. (Egyptologists have been known to gossip, too.)

I decided not to attempt to reposition the door to the depository. There were no artifacts of great value. Arabs abstain from alcohol, so none of the workmen or idlers would be tempted to steal the case of schnapps. I fastidiously closed the front door, gazed in the direction of the site, and then walked back to the dahabeeyah. Emerson could compel the retreat of a horde of barbarians merely by raising his voice, often described as thunder in the sky. It has been said that he could part the Red Sea if motivated. When I suggested as much, I was treated with a lengthy tirade about the historical inaccuracies and skewed mythology in the Bible.

Fatima was standing by the gangplank. “Is all well, Mrs. Emerson? Have you reasoned with that German man? I do not think the Professor will welcome him back to the site.”

“I did the best I could,” I replied. “I was unable to thwart him, but I am confident that Professor Emerson will do so handily.” I continued into the salon, feeling inadequate. “I would like a light meal, whatever is easy. I am going to the top deck to study my notes.” Although it was not yet midday, I detoured to our cabin and changed into a loose robe and slippers to relax in the breeze. I would, of course, put on a fetching tea gown before Nefret and Emerson appeared, but my sharpest cognitive acuity arose when I had no restraints from my usual (and often necessary) work attire.

When Fatima came up the steps with a tray, I thanked her and said, “Did anyone pay a visit to Herr Morgenstern while he was recovering here?”

“Nefret made it clear that no one was to enter the cabin except Mahmoud, who brought trays of food and retrieved them later, and one of the girls to change the linen. That Englishwoman with the makeup of a . . . woman of ill-repute came by this morning after you, Nefret, and Professor Emerson had finished breakfast and left. I told her that she could not visit that man. She cried, but I was stern.”