More Pernods and Dikkais at their next meetings. Greta's gold lame gown barely covered the lower half of her cantaloupe-size breasts. Naym looked at her admiringly. "You remind me of a flower that grows near my home," he said. "We call it kondal, the daughter of the sun. It is exquisite but too delicate. It dies if human hands touch it."

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"I'd die if they didn't," Greta said archly, then in a confiding tone, "Tell me Naym, have you ever known an American woman, intimately I mean?"

Silence then, "I don't know how to answer that. Intimate has several meanings. One can be intimate with thieves," he shrugged then turned to Earl, "I'm leaving tomorrow night for Luxor. I shall be there two days. Will you be here when I return?"

"Luxor! What an amazing coincidence!" Greta gushed. "Why that's where we're going tomorrow night."

Earl had to change their reservations so they could and remembering the look in Nayms eyes when he asked "will you be here" he blessed Greta for lying.

Luxor, more a river bank village than a city. After noisy, sprawling Cairo its serenity a welcome change; its lush green park along the Nile an oasis in the restless carpets of sands spreading their destruction to the distant hills; sands that had reduced magnificent Thebes to a jumble of broken pillars and walls.

Earl and Greta had a superb view of the Karnak ruins from their hotel windows but Greta lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. She hadn't slept on the train nor had she been able to cream her skin, a major calamity. To Earl's suggestion they inspect the ruins she protested that she desperately needed to rest. "If I'm to look decent when that Nubian comes tonight."

Earl walked down to the river. He saw a good looking youth stretched out in a dhow. Except for a ragged, dirty pair of white knee length shorts he was naked. His cafe au lait skin glowed warmly in the brilliant morning sun. He grinned at Earl and motioned for him to get into the boat. Earl did and without hesitation.

Along the Nile's bank fields were being plowed with bent sticks drawn by lazy, arrogant bullocks that were guided by equally lazy fellaheen. A lone camel hitched to a water wheel tramped a perpetual circle. Nearby squatted an old Egyptian with a long stick to prod the animal if it stopped. And there were barefoot Mohammedan women swathed in blue cotton going to and from the river with large earthen pots on their heads.

His eyes never leaving Earl's face, the youth alternately sang and whistled. Earl forgot time. When he finally looked at his watch it was noon. He motioned to the youth to turn around but he didn't. Instead he dropped his oar and dove into the water. After a short swim he climbed into the dhow then stripped off his shorts and beat them against the boat. Earl wagged his finger reproachfully and held out his hand. The youth, puzzled. handed them to him then laughed as he watched Earl wring out the water. He gestured for Earl to strip. Earl shook his head. Going back he found it difficult to watch the scenery instead of the slender brown body that tensed and relaxed in the graceful action of rowing. It was not until they came in sight of the hotel that the youth pulled on his wet shorts. Earl handed him two one dollar bills. Wide eyed he stared at the money then seized Earl's hand and squeezed it. He followed him to the door of the hotel but Earl pretended not to see him.

Greta in a diaphanous blue chiffon opened the conversation at dinner by asking Naym if he had ever been married.

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