They caught the boat and Giza in good time and settled down for their two-day journey down the Nile to their landing point, a small village on the riverbank. There they would get the camels and other supplies they needed for the three-day journey to their excavation site.
Charlie sat on the deck, reading, when Evy joined him. She had spent time on both of the boat journeys speaking to Josie but hadn’t really had chance to speak to Charlie so she decided she’s take the opportunity now to get to know him better.
“Hello,” she said.
He looked up and gave her one of his rare smiles. He moved to allow her to sit next to him.
“How are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m ok, I’m not a great lover of boat journeys though. I’ll be pleased when were get back on dry land.” He went back to his reading, Evy looked at him, she was determined to get him talking, he had pretty much stayed by himself and rarely spoke to the others.
“I was at school with your sister,” she said.
He looked up at this, “I didn’t know that. I knew our parents worked together. Elizabeth, I suppose?” he asked.
“Yes. I remember you and Josie being born, was quite an event.” Charlie looked at her, puzzled.
“Twins were not uncommon but two sets in one family were.”
Understanding flooded his features, “Henry and Harriet,” he said.
“Yes, you were quite famous for awhile. There’s more of isn’t there, I seem to remember quite a few little Mackenzie-Watsons.”
“Madeleine, Kenneth and Véronique,” he told her, “There is quite a lot of us.”
“Yes. She was also marvelling at the length of name you in particular was given, there is what, three middle names?”
“Charles Alastair Theodore Darcy,” he confirmed. “Bit of a mouthful I know, I only ever use Charles Alastair and sometimes Darcy, it was the name of Father’s brother who died young. I find it too long but it was quite the norm among the boys I grew up with.”
“Very long,” she agreed. Then, changing the subject, “How are you finding your degree?”
“Fascinating. I think it’s what I’ve been waiting for my whole life. I could have started a few years earlier but Father wouldn’t let me. He says that under 18 is too young for university.”
They chattered for a while after that, Charlie relaxed and became less formal and reserved. After a while Rick joined them.
He sat down beside them; Charlie almost immediately fell silent and reverted back to his usual self. Evy noticed this change with some interest. She saw that he seemed to become nervous and was very quiet. After Rick arrived it wasn’t long before Charlie left.
“He’s done it again!” Rick exclaimed, “Whenever I go near him he clams up and then leaves. I find it damned rude.”
“I think you scare him,” Evy told him.
“What?” Rick said in disbelief.
“You scare him. For some reason he’s scared of you,” she said.
“Aw, come on. What have I done to scare him?” he asked.
“I don’t know. You are twice his size though,” she said.
“No, Evy, it’s not because he’s scared. It’s rudeness and I’m sick and tired of it. He’s spent the whole journey so far sulking. I find him very spoilt.”
Evy looked at her husband and shook her head. She was afraid that the tension between the two would cause problems and she hoped it wouldn’t.