Nile Shadows (The Jerusalem Quartet Book 3) by Edward Whittemore

Author:Edward Whittemore [Whittemore, Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
ISBN: 9781480434110
Publisher: Open Road Media Sci-Fi & Fantasy
Published: 2013-07-23T05:00:00+00:00

15

The Sisters

FLOWERS, BOOMED AHMAD…. FLOWERS are the keys to this particular queendom, therefore you must select the makings of your nosegay with special care. These two old dears are shamelessly sentimental and always have been.

Ahmad raised his head and solemnly sniffed the air, considering the matter further.

Or better yet, take two nosegays, he said to Joe. They may be twins and they may be in their nineties, but that doesn’t mean they’ve always gotten along in every respect. They’ve had their differences over the decades and I suspect there’s still a certain sisterly sense of competition, especially when a man comes to call.

On second thought, why not let me prepare your nosegays? Although it’s been awhile, I’m familiar with their tastes and also with the color schemes on the houseboat. I did their interior decorating, you know, the last time they had it done, which must have been around the turn of the century. I don’t recall exactly when it was, but one of them would surely remember. Between the two of them they remember everything. In fact there used to be a popular saying in Cairo which was a great favorite among boatmen, particularly.

Fear not, nothing can be lost on the Nile.

For what the Sphinx forgets, the Sisters remember.

In other words, mused Ahmad, see all … hear all … speak what? In some respects, you might say, these two old dears are rather like the Nile itself.

And with that Ahmad’s massive face swayed majestically with the beginnings of a smile.

Two nosegays.

A darkened dilapidated houseboat, a rambling pleasure barge of yesteryear, where memories included everything.

Two tiny ancient women, twins, whose shadowy floating realm on the Nile had gradually come to be Joe’s ultimate destination in his search for the truth about Stern.

The prospect of Joe visiting the legendary Sisters had even caused Liffy to emerge from his somber mood. Either that or Liffy had brought all his acting abilities to bear for Joe’s benefit and was staging a bravura performance, laughing and joking and dipping into a variety of roles to encourage Joe.

The three of them, Ahmad and Liffy and Joe, had met for a strategy session in the narrow courtyard behind the Hotel Babylon, late in the afternoon as the sun was sinking. There amidst the creeping vines and the hanging flowers, the rustling old newspapers and the heaps of debris crumbling in the corners, they sat beneath the single palm tree as the shadows gathered in the slums of Old Cairo, Ahmad solemnly serving tea from a heavy silver tea service that had once belonged to old Menelik, the tea service resurrected by Ahmad from the epic clutter of his dusty little closet especially to mark the occasion.

Ahmad’s manner had never been more dignified. Obviously to him an official visit to the Sisters, a social call by Joe or anyone, was an event of the most profound significance.

Ahmad poured.

Teatime, he announced in his ponderous voice, gesturing at the cups. Tea in time and need I point out that

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