Flora's War Read Online Free Page A

pyramids.
    ‘Can we have Egyptian food?’ I asked eagerly.
    Fa grinned. ‘I’ve been looking forward to that myself.’ He ordered platters of mezze with flat breads and tahini and hummus, and grilled meats. We loved Egyptian food.
    ‘Gwen says Professor Travers has bought a motorcar,’ I said casually. ‘She says he finds it very useful for going to and from his excavation. Fa, I was just thinking …’
    ‘Yes?’ Fa said warily.
    ‘If we bought a motorcar, you could use it to get to your excavation,’ I said. ‘And,’ very casually, ‘if I learned to drive, I could run you backwards and forwards, couldn’t I?’
    Fa eyed me. Sometimes, I thought, he really wasn’t as vague as he seemed. ‘You could drive it?’ he said.
    ‘I could,’ I said. ‘Lots of girls drive now.’
    Fa looked at me steadily.
    I had to laugh. ‘Well, not lots . But girls do drive! I’m sure I could learn. And Mr Hussein will teach me.’
    ‘Will he?’
    ‘That’s if you approve, of course,’ I said. ‘Which you do, don’t you?’
    ‘Oh, why not?’ said Fa. ‘Talk to Khalid about it. He’ll know where to find a motorcar.’
    Yes! I could see myself already, speeding along in an open-topped motorcar. Possibly with a long scarf trailing behind me. I knew Mr Khalid would find just the right sort of motorcar. Mr Khalid could do anything.
    ‘Fa?’ I said. ‘Just how does Mr Khalid get everything done? Whatever we want, he can arrange.’
    Fa laughed. ‘I wouldn’t be brave enough to enquire. I know he has contacts everywhere. I’ve heard he’s related to some very important families indeed. He was educated in England, at a very reputable school, did you know that?’
    I shook my head. Mr Khalid’s impeccable English should have given me the hint. His English was more correct than my own.
    ‘I’d say he’s involved in everything, in one way or another,’ Fa went on. ‘Some of the archaeologists he acts as agent for aren’t quite on the up and up. I suspect he might sometimes sail a little close to the wind. But it’s none of my business. Ah! Here comes our dinner.’
    I smiled brilliantly at the waiter bringing our dishes of food. This was going to be a wonderful year!
    As we ate, I looked out at the view from the terrace. It was very nearly dark and the pyramids loomed huge and black against the sky and stars. But I was reminded that something had changed. In previous years, the desert between our hotel and the pyramids had been empty. Now, there were thousands of little lights dotted between the Nile Palace and the pyramids – campfires of the huge Australian army camp.
    This year, I realised, might be wonderful – but it was also going to be different.

Chapter 3

    We spent the next day at the Egyptian Museum and at the offices of the Antiquities Department, where Fa renewed his connections with the Egyptian curators, archaeologists and officials. Mr Khalid had already paved the way, of course, and Fa’s excavation plans had been considered and approved. It was important, however, to observe the courtesies.
    ‘Flora will be my assistant on our yearly excavations from now on,’ Fa said proudly to Mr Mehmet, the head of the Antiquities Department.
    Mr Mehmet regarded me rather as if I was a particularly disappointing specimen found in a tomb. ‘A lady assistant?’ he observed sceptically. ‘There are not many ladies working on excavations.’
    I smiled at him brightly. ‘I’m sure there will soon be many more,’ I said. ‘After all, we’re living in modern times.’
    Mr Mehmet looked dubious.
    As Fa and I entered Shepheard’s Hotel for our dinner engagement with the Travers family that evening, I saw at once how different things were. Shepheard’s, one of the oldest and most fashionable hotels in Cairo, had always been busy. Now it was full to overflowing. The lobby and all the restaurants, coffee rooms and lounges were crowded with the usual clusters of archaeologists, but also with soldiers and,