artifact, we lose a piece of our history … forever.”
I felt ashamed that I had never taken the time to consider the real value of his work.
“The car is waiting to take you to the train station. If you wish to return to Cairo, I understand. Whether you stay or go, you must remember that you were given this prestigious fellowship for a reason.”
“Wyatt said the same thing. But, I still can’t help feeling like I’ve let everyone down.”
“Few people your age have such an impressive resume. You don’t acquire such a long list of achievements without possessing a great deal of inner strength. A person must be brave to do all that you have done. Do not forget that.”
“Thank you, Dr. Aziz.”
“No, thank you, Gannon.”
Dr. Aziz stood up. He patted me on the shoulder and walked from the tent.
I sat on the edge of the cot for a long time, trying to decide what to do.
Stay or go?
The car was waiting.
I could hear the engine running.
I was driving myself crazy, sitting there thinking. I kept picturing myself in that booby trap, the dirt sliding in all around me. I couldn’t take it anymore. To stay just seemed pointless. I needed to leave, slip out quietly, avoid goodbyes and all that. They’d be too difficult.
I grabbed my backpack and walked quickly to the car.
“We can go,” I said to the driver, and climbed in the passenger seat.
As the driver pulled away from the site, I tried my best not to make eye contact with anyone in the camp. Still, I managed to catch sight of my brother out of the corner of my eye. He was standing there motionless, just watching us drive away, like he couldn’t believe that I was actually leaving. As we came to the far end of the camp and turned onto the road, his head fell. To me, that said it all.
WYATT
FEBRUARY 26, 3:31 PM
32,471 FEET ABOVE THE DESERT
FLIGHT 523, EN ROUTE TO ALEXANDRIA
I wish I could say that Gannon returned last night. I wish I could write that he decided not to board the train to Cairo and instead took a car back to camp.
He didn’t.
I’ve had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach ever since he left. I like to think that I’m tough enough to handle any exploration on my own, but I’ve become used to my brother’s company. We go everywhere together. Obviously, I’ve been taking him for granted.
“Gannon just isn’t cut out for this kind of work,” James said, after he left. “He’s no explorer. Doesn’t have the guts.”
James had crossed the line, and I wasn’t about to let him get away with it. I got right up in his face.
“You have no right to talk about my brother that way,” I said. “You don’t know anything about him.”
“I know what I saw.”
“He’s twice the explorer you’ll ever be!”
“Stop!” Serene shouted, stepping between us. “Both of you!”
I was furious, but stepped back to gather myself the best I could.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” she continued, “and we’ll have to function as a team if we hope to achieve our goals.”
“Serene is right,” I said. “And for that reason, I’m willing to put this behind us. But if I hear you say anything else about my brother, we’re going to have a serious problem. You got that?”
James turned and walked away without answering, but I know he got the message.
“That kid can really boil my blood,” I said, pacing the room.
“Forget about it, Wyatt,” Serene said. “James sometimes speaks without thinking. You can’t let it get to you.”
“Easier said than done.”
“I know it is. But we have to stay focused.”
Since our experience in A1, tensions are high. It’s safe to say that we’re all really nervous about what we might encounter during our search for Cleopatra. Even Dr. Aziz has been on edge most of the day, which is understandable given all that’s at stake. Basically, his reputation rests on the success of this mission.
Before we boarded the plane to Alexandria, I found Dr. Aziz seated in a far corner of
I felt ashamed that I had never taken the time to consider the real value of his work.
“The car is waiting to take you to the train station. If you wish to return to Cairo, I understand. Whether you stay or go, you must remember that you were given this prestigious fellowship for a reason.”
“Wyatt said the same thing. But, I still can’t help feeling like I’ve let everyone down.”
“Few people your age have such an impressive resume. You don’t acquire such a long list of achievements without possessing a great deal of inner strength. A person must be brave to do all that you have done. Do not forget that.”
“Thank you, Dr. Aziz.”
“No, thank you, Gannon.”
Dr. Aziz stood up. He patted me on the shoulder and walked from the tent.
I sat on the edge of the cot for a long time, trying to decide what to do.
Stay or go?
The car was waiting.
I could hear the engine running.
I was driving myself crazy, sitting there thinking. I kept picturing myself in that booby trap, the dirt sliding in all around me. I couldn’t take it anymore. To stay just seemed pointless. I needed to leave, slip out quietly, avoid goodbyes and all that. They’d be too difficult.
I grabbed my backpack and walked quickly to the car.
“We can go,” I said to the driver, and climbed in the passenger seat.
As the driver pulled away from the site, I tried my best not to make eye contact with anyone in the camp. Still, I managed to catch sight of my brother out of the corner of my eye. He was standing there motionless, just watching us drive away, like he couldn’t believe that I was actually leaving. As we came to the far end of the camp and turned onto the road, his head fell. To me, that said it all.
WYATT
FEBRUARY 26, 3:31 PM
32,471 FEET ABOVE THE DESERT
FLIGHT 523, EN ROUTE TO ALEXANDRIA
I wish I could say that Gannon returned last night. I wish I could write that he decided not to board the train to Cairo and instead took a car back to camp.
He didn’t.
I’ve had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach ever since he left. I like to think that I’m tough enough to handle any exploration on my own, but I’ve become used to my brother’s company. We go everywhere together. Obviously, I’ve been taking him for granted.
“Gannon just isn’t cut out for this kind of work,” James said, after he left. “He’s no explorer. Doesn’t have the guts.”
James had crossed the line, and I wasn’t about to let him get away with it. I got right up in his face.
“You have no right to talk about my brother that way,” I said. “You don’t know anything about him.”
“I know what I saw.”
“He’s twice the explorer you’ll ever be!”
“Stop!” Serene shouted, stepping between us. “Both of you!”
I was furious, but stepped back to gather myself the best I could.
“We have a lot of work ahead of us,” she continued, “and we’ll have to function as a team if we hope to achieve our goals.”
“Serene is right,” I said. “And for that reason, I’m willing to put this behind us. But if I hear you say anything else about my brother, we’re going to have a serious problem. You got that?”
James turned and walked away without answering, but I know he got the message.
“That kid can really boil my blood,” I said, pacing the room.
“Forget about it, Wyatt,” Serene said. “James sometimes speaks without thinking. You can’t let it get to you.”
“Easier said than done.”
“I know it is. But we have to stay focused.”
Since our experience in A1, tensions are high. It’s safe to say that we’re all really nervous about what we might encounter during our search for Cleopatra. Even Dr. Aziz has been on edge most of the day, which is understandable given all that’s at stake. Basically, his reputation rests on the success of this mission.
Before we boarded the plane to Alexandria, I found Dr. Aziz seated in a far corner of
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