Excerpt 2

Much to her surprise, Ali found herself thoroughly enjoying sailing with her father. She learned a lot during the voyage, becoming quite familiar with the yacht and the functions of all its working parts. This was mainly due to her asking lots of questions, while taking a full, hands-on approach under her father’s supervision. Ali seemed to be impressing her father somewhat.
Jim took the time to teach Ali the art of sea fishing during their moments of respite. Once she’d got the hang of it, Ali took great pleasure from reeling in every catch. Her father also pointed out the Israeli and Sinai coastlines to her, causing her to stare in fascination. The two of them continued sipping wine and watching the sunset together during the evenings.
On reaching Egypt they moored in Alexandria but would soon be entering and sailing down the Nile. They were to pick up Jenny and the new arrival in Luxor before sailing back out and round to the Suez Canal. Jim and Ali intended to spend a couple of days sightseeing in Cairo before heading south toward Luxor.
Ali’s father spent a lot of time drumming into her that she must only drink bottled water from now on, emphasising how important it was. He told her to check the top of every bottle she bought to make sure that it hadn’t been tampered with in any way.
“You must keep your body, arms, and legs covered all the time,” he warned her. “And not just to protect yourself from the heat. The sensible thing to do when visiting a foreign country is to familiarise yourself with its customs and traditions. It’s necessary to recognise the dangers and pitfalls before you venture out. As a female you’ll need to be accompanied by a male at all times in this part of the world. Therefore I don’t want you venturing out of my sight, do you understand?” he said loudly, as if to dramatise the point.
“Yes,” she replied.
Ali felt that her father was overreacting, and as a consequence, she felt that he was treating her like a child. I am a full-grown woman now.
After a good night’s rest, they set sail for Cairo. Once they’d reached the city and moored, they took a taxi to the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square. Ali was petrified throughout the journey; she had never witnessed such chaos on the roads! Every vehicle on the road was covered from end to end in dents, which slowly began to dawn on her. Arriving outside the museum in one piece came as a huge relief to Ali.
“Can we go back on the bus, please, Dad?” she asked.
“Of course,” replied Jim, with a big grin on his face.
All her fears were forgotten once they were inside the museum. She was completely overwhelmed by the artwork, grandeur, and sheer volume of gold that this ancient civilisation had used in its adornment and decor. The realisation that she was standing so close to Tutankhamun’s mask and sarcophagi had an awesome effect on her. It caused her to tingle all over, while the hairs on the back of her neck began to stand up. Ali remained speechless for at least a couple of hours. This was a relief to Jim and allowed him to relax; he no longer felt the constant need to amuse her. As they left Ali asked her father how they would know which bus to catch.
“Ask a policeman,” he replied. “We’ll need one to stop the bus anyway so that we can get on.”
“Why?”
“The buses in Cairo don’t stop; they just slow down. You have to grab hold of the person leaning out of the door with their arm extended. We could have a go at that if you want?”
“You’re teasing me.”
“No, just be thankful that were not travelling home by local train.”
“Why?”
“They’re the same. Between each platform at Cairo station, there are five lines. The lines that run alongside the platforms are for long-distance trains that go to places such as Aswan or Luxor. The three central lines are for local trains, and they do the same—they just slow down. As the local trains come through the station, the locals all jump down from the platforms onto the lines and then run alongside the train before clambering on.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Okay, here comes a bus; now watch.”
Ali’s jaw dropped as someone made a grab at an extended arm in the doorway and then leaped for all they were worth onto the bus.
“Okay, let’s find a policeman,” she said. “What do they look like?”
“Like other Egyptians but with a police uniform on,” quipped Jim.
“Ha-ha, very funny. What colour uniform?”
“All white, and luckily, most of them speak some English.”
Within five minutes a portly little man in a white uniform had stopped a bus for them. He quickly ushered them on, but gaining entry wasn’t as easy as it had first seemed. It proved to be a very tight squeeze. As with most buses in Cairo, it was packed like a sardine can. The bus began to move, and Ali realised that she couldn’t move a muscle. She began to feel the heat of the surrounding bodies pressed tightly up against hers. This, on top of the stifling heat outside, was profoundly nauseating.
Just a few moments later, Ali became aware that her skirt was being lifted at the back. She couldn’t even turn her head to see who the culprit was. A hand slid down inside the back of her panties and, within seconds, was forcing its way round to her gusset. Eventually the hand ended up completely cupping her mound, its fingers probing at her labia.
How she wished she’d worn trousers instead of a skirt. Why didn’t I listen to my father? There was no way of stopping the bus now, and she was too embarrassed to draw her father’s attention to what was happening. The hand was now forcing its way underneath her and between her legs. She squeezed them together as tightly as she could, but it was no use. Tears began to well in her eyes.
To make matters worse, she’d been so wrapped up in trying to prevent access to the prying fingers, that she hadn’t noticed anything else going on. It soon became apparent to her that an erection was being pressed up against her outer thigh. She managed to turn her head just far enough to see who the culprit was this time. A menacing bearded face grinned back at her.
The fact that she’d moved her attention to the new perpetrator caused a lapse in her concentration. The battle against the probing fingers was lost. She was being vigorously penetrated. They’re like a bunch of animals in heat!
The bus came to a momentary standstill at some lights. Ali noted that the doors were still open. She summoned every ounce of strength that she had and lunged toward the doors. The hand that was violating her had a phenomenally strong grip on her crotch though. Jim noticed Ali’s attempt to get off the bus and made an educated guess as to why. Being much stronger than she was, he was able to move more easily. As he grabbed her by the arm, both of them lunged at the doors together. Within seconds they were free, landing on the concrete just as the bus started to move off.
Ali burst into tears, and she continued to sob for quite a while afterward. Jim remained silent, waiting for Ali to calm down before he spoke. “You don’t have to say anything. I have an idea what probably happened,” he told her.
“They’re all filthy perverts!” she shouted.
“No, they’re not. Please keep your voice down; we’re in their country. It’s a different culture to ours. You shouldn’t judge a nation by the actions of certain individuals,” said Jim, as he went to put his arm around her. He hadn’t comprehended how severely she’d been assaulted though, and Ali pushed him away.
“Why didn’t you do anything if you knew?” she shouted.
“I didn’t know! Why do you think I tried to warn you about what to wear? You need to realise that if I tell you something, it’s for a reason.”
“We should tell the police.”
Jim suddenly realised that this must have been a lot more serious than just having her bottom pinched. “That would be pointless here; from what I’ve been told women have no rights as such. I’m led to believe that the only person who can press charges is a male relative, such as a husband or father,” he told her.
“So you could press charges.”
“First they would say that you are inappropriately dressed. Secondly I didn’t witness anything, and if I’m right, your word would not be as valid as a man’s.”
“You could say that you witnessed the whole thing though,” stated Ali.
“So why didn’t I stop it? I would also need you to tell me exactly what occurred. On top of which, even if they found someone, would you be able to recognise him?”
“Recognise him, I didn’t even see him!”
“Exactly, there you go then.”
“I hate it here.”
“No, you don’t; we just need to rethink our strategy. As nasty as this experience has been for you, you’ve learned a valuable lesson today.”
“Yes, to listen to you,” she said sheepishly.
“Well, that’s a start. At least it means that in the future you’ll be on your guard, so you can avoid situations that put you in such a vulnerable position,” he said.
“All suggestions will be more than welcome.”
“First of all I think we need to sort out your wardrobe—don’t you?”
Ali turned to her dad and hugged him. Even though she was still angry about what had happened, she could see the sense in this lesson. She was not going to let him out of her sight again. It was unfortunate that those perverts had managed to upset her so much, but she was determined that they wouldn’t ruin her entire trip. There was still a lot more of Egypt that she wanted to see, and thanks to them, she would now make sure that she was prepared for all eventualities.
“Where are we?” Ali asked.
“I’m not entirely sure,” said Jim, and they both started to giggle. “Perhaps we should get a taxi if you’re up to it.”
“I don’t think a taxi will be a problem from now on. I’ve learned to overcome my fears, which will allow me to make wiser choices.”
“That’s my girl,” said Jim, with a look of pride in his eyes.
After returning to the yacht and eating a good meal, Jim and Ali sat on the deck sipping wine, while taking in the lights on the river. They both retired early, feeling quite tired.
Ali woke up early the next morning. She dressed in a white blouse that had sleeves, white trousers, and a pair of sandals. “Well, Dad, how’s this?” she asked as she paraded in front of him.
“Better, much better,” he said applauding, happy that the message had slotted home.
“I’ll make us some breakfast,” said Ali.
“That would be nice. How would you like to travel today?” Jim asked, grinning.
“Taxi!” snapped Ali, as she landed a blow on her father’s arm.
Once again Ali had turned a funny colour by the time the taxi pulled up at Giza.
“Goodness, isn’t the Sphynx tiny compared to the images that we see in pictures and on the television?” Ali said.
“Yes, I’ve always thought that,” agreed her father.
After a short while looking around, they located a young guide named Mohammed. Jim negotiated a price for the round trip to Sakkara pyramids. He’d approached Mohammed because the boy had Arabian horses. Jim had ridden a camel before, so the prospect of doing it again hadn’t even crossed his mind. Just the thought of travelling the few miles to Sakkara and back on a camel was enough to make his eyes water.
Jim and Ali were both at home in a saddle. Nevertheless, the skill and agility of young Mohammed, who was prone to a bit of showing off, was amazing. Occasionally he would drop down to one side and pick up small objects from the sand, while still at full gallop! He invited Jim and Ali to try, but neither of them took up the challenge.
Initially Ali was very reluctant to press her horse into a gallop across the Sahara. She presumed that it would be a form of cruelty in this heat. Mohammed managed to convince her that his Arabians were used to it though. They did seem quite happy, and they were obviously well cared for.
Jim commented that these were the fittest horses he’d ever ridden and an absolute pleasure to ride. No effort was needed, and the horses made the riders feel as if they were being held in the saddle. These horses were also very sensitive, responding immediately to any slight tap on the reigns.
When they reached Sakkara, Ali gave her mount a generous slap and hug before handing the reigns to Mohammed, who then led the horses off into the shade to rest. She thoroughly enjoyed the guided tour of the pyramids, marvelling at some of the paintings on the walls in the tombs, but she held onto Jim tightly throughout the whole tour.
When they’d completed the return journey, Jim and Ali said good-bye to Mohammed and the horses before heading off toward the great pyramids of Giza. Once again they did the sensible thing and hired a guide. Ali remained awestruck throughout the whole tour.
After clambering into a taxi for the journey back to the yacht, Ali collapsed into a heap on the backseat and was dead to the world. The taxi pulled up as close to the yacht as it could. Jim paid the driver and got out before lifting Ali off the backseat and carrying her aboard. On the way he told the young lads who had been keeping an eye on the boat for him that he would be out to pay them shortly.
Jim struggled for a while trying to pull back the cover of Ali’s bed, so he could lay her down on the mattress. The heat was still quite intense, so before he covered her, he would have to remove some of her outer garments. Jim didn’t want to risk any chance of her suffering heat exhaustion. He undid the buttons of her blouse and opened it, attempting to make it easier to remove when he lifted her torso.
As he looked down, Jim realised that this was no longer his little girl. She was now a full-grown woman. Suddenly he felt quite embarrassed and quickly buttoned the blouse back up. He decided that she would be fine with her clothes on, but he would leave the cover off. Jim leaned down and gave her a peck on the forehead and then left her to sleep.
By the time Ali woke up the next morning, they were already moving down the river toward Luxor. “Fancy something to eat, Dad?” she shouted up.
“Yes, please, Kitten,” Jim answered.
“You haven’t called me that in years.”
“No, I don’t believe I have.”
“Dad, do you love me?”
“What brought this on?”
“Do you?” demanded Ali.
“Of course, you are the most important thing in my life now.”
Ali came up onto the deck and gave her father a hug. The two of them held onto each other for quite a while. It was the first time in many years that she had felt as if she was part of a family.
It would take them a few days to reach Luxor. Both Ali and her father decided to enjoy a peaceful and relaxing journey, while sharing the responsibilities between them. The two of them were enjoying the exceptional sunsets in Egypt, and the views on the river at dusk and dawn were awesome. For some reason it felt quite a bit cooler on the river than on the bank. They enjoyed a good giggle with their evening wine before retiring to bed each night. The bond between them seemed to be growing.
During the voyage Ali managed to surprise her father with her culinary expertise on numerous occasions. She became aware that she was no longer missing anyone, not during the time spent with her father anyway.
On the evening that they were due to arrive in Luxor, they passed a group of people on the riverbank. Several members of the group were playing some sort of homemade drums, while the rest were dancing around a fire. The sound, along with the river scene and motion of the boat, was intoxicating. It all helped to create a magical atmosphere, oozing the essence of Africa.
“They’re more than likely Nubians,” said Jim.
“They’re fantastic,” said Ali, not taking her eyes off them until they disappeared out of sight. She went to bed early, leaving Jim on his own to sail into Luxor and moor up for the night.
To make amends Ali left Jim to sleep in until noon the next day. Besides, they still had at least thirty hours until Jenny and the new arrival were due to join them. She spent the morning cleaning, making sure that everything was spick-and-span. Ali wanted everything to look respectable when the new arrival came aboard.
Once Jim was up and the two of them had eaten, they walked into Luxor. The first places that they visited and explored were the Karnak temple and the Luxor temple. Ali was dumbfounded. How had a three-thousand-year-old civilisation managed to carve, move, and stack stones of the size that she’d seen in these pillars? The pillars were huge, and all of them were made of perfectly cylindrical blocks stacked on top of each other. Those blocks must weigh about fifty ton each, she thought. There were also some intricate carvings of all sorts of mythological creatures, which were huge.
“Don’t worry. To this day the world’s greatest scientific minds haven’t managed to work out how they did it either. Some things achieved by the Egyptian civilisation are even more astounding than this,” said Jim, as if understanding what was on her mind.
“Such as?” asked Ali, wondering how her dad had known what she’d been thinking.
“Well, apparently, they found the latest pyramids by studying astronomy.”
“But how would astronomy help?”
“From what I’ve been told, the layout of the pyramids on the ground is an exact mirror of well-known star formations. I believe that the great pyramids of Giza are supposed to be constructed in the precise layout of Orion’s Belt.”
“How were they so exact?”
“Nobody knows, but they have been much more precise than that.”
“In what way?”
“You remember the burial chambers in the great pyramids?”
“Yes.”
“Each one has three tiny tunnels travelling to the outside walls, all of which are perfectly straight. They each line up with an exact point in the sky.”
“Why?”
“It is believed that on the precise night the pharaoh was buried, each one lined up perfectly with one of the three main stars in the sky that night.”
“But the pyramids must have taken years to build.”
“Yes, which is why the boffins are still bewildered today.”
“It means that the time of a pharaoh’s death would have to be known years in advance.”
“Goodness, clever girl, I hadn’t thought of that,” admitted Jim.
“Wow, a compliment and from the walking encyclopaedia himself. You’re the perfect companion to have on a trip like this because of your knowledge, Dad.”
“Now, now, I’m just glad that you’re interested. At least there’s something that you’ve inherited from me.”
They moved on to tour the Valley of the Kings before returning to the yacht. Their conversation about Egypt continued with fervour when they were back onboard. The country and its history fascinated Ali. Jim was relishing the fact that some of his interests had surfaced in his offspring. He hadn’t really thought of her as such in the past. She’d always appeared as an obligation or responsibility to Jim, but now she was an intelligent young companion.
“I’m sorry that I couldn’t take you to Abu Simbel, the Aswan dam, or Elephantine Island,” he said. “I’ll have to bring you back sometime.”
Jim spent the next hour or so telling Ali all about the statue of Abu Simbel. He told her how they’d moved it from its original site when the Aswan Dam was built. If they hadn’t, it would now be in the centre of Lake Nasser. Next he explained about the natural rock formation in the shape of a perfect elephant’s head that had given Elephantine Island its name. Ali listened intently as he rambled on about the mummies and weird plants on the island. Eventually she leaned back against him and rested her head against his shoulder.
“Thanks, Dad.”
“What for, Kitten?”
“Well, apart from the bus ride, for a few of the most enjoyable days in my life.”
“No, thank you, Kitten. You’ve given me a second chance to be the father that I should have always been. I’m extremely proud of the young lady that you’ve turned into,” he said, giving her a squeeze and kissing the top of her head. “We’d better get some sleep now. We’re going to have quite a voyage ahead of us, once we’ve picked those two up.”
“Where are we going when we get through the Suez?” asked Ali.
“We’ll follow the Sinai coastline round to Dahab in the Gulf of Aqaba. We can do some snorkelling and diving off the reef when we get there.”
“Is it a reef like the one in Australia?”
“It’s a bit smaller, but I believe that it’s definitely as beautiful as the Great Barrier Reef.”
“Fantastic!”
“You’ll be able to swim with all sizes and shapes of brilliantly coloured fish. Some actually nuzzle you, but you must stay close to me.”
“I’ve learned my lesson. I’ll do as you say.”
“Good. Because when we go over the edge of the reef, it drops suddenly, becoming extremely deep. It’s the most shark-infested water in the world!”
“Oh,” said Ali.
“Don’t panic; they won’t come right up to the edge of the reef, but there are other dangers. I personally don’t like moray eels or jellyfish.”
“I think I’ll go to bed now,” said Ali, uneasy at the thought of sharing swimming space with so many dangerous and frightening things. “Good night, Dad.”
“Good night, Kitten,” Jim replied, grinning. He realised that he’d ensured Ali’s use of caution in the water. She would definitely stay close to him now.

Chapter 19
Jim got up early the next morning, or so he thought. As he strolled onto the deck, he saw Ali dangling her legs over the side. Jim realised that she was holding a fishing line in her hand. “I wouldn’t do that before full daylight if I were you,” he said.
“Why not?” asked Ali.
“Because you’ll attract water snakes. Look,” he said, pointing three or four feet beyond the end of the line. “Anyway, some of the fish in the Nile aren’t very pleasant either.”
Ali spotted two snakes directly where her father had been pointing. They were holding their heads about a foot above the water as if nosing around. She let go of the line and quickly got back onto the deck. “Yuk, I’ll cook something from the galley then,” she said.
“I think that would be a safer option,” agreed Jim, laughing.
“I’m glad you think it’s funny,” said Ali, beginning to laugh herself