INSHALLAH.

her  own  tea ,   served  in  a  glass  upon  its  little  porcelain  tray ,   sat  untouched .     steam  no  longer  arose  from  its  surface ,   and  she  was  sick  of  its  sweet  fragrance .     instead ,   she  elected  to  inhale  the  black  and  gold  cigarettes .          ❛  exactly  as  you  taught  me .  ❜

       the coffee is strong and the sun is stronger; he has forgone a hat to soak up the turkish daylight, perhaps even more so that he can look out upon the market square and pretend things are not quite as contentious as they are.

she  looked  up  to  her  most  highly - regarded  mentor ,   eyes  wide ,   dark  and  bright  all - at - once .     in  her  gaze ,   there  too  was  something  feverish ,   a  craving  as - it - were  to  discover  something  precious  and  to  charter  paths  never  before  imagined ,   let  alone  seen .     a  love  of  the  impossible .     he  hadn’t  needed  to  kindle  that  fire  within  her ,   for  it  burnt  bright  already ,   but  with  his  aid  it  was  a  lantern  with  which  to  guide ,   rather  than  the  destructive  force  it  had  once  so - infamously  been .

❛  treasure  more  extraordinary  than  a  tomb ?  ❜          Egyptology  was  not  quite  her  specialist  subject ,   but  there  was  something  to  be  said  for  her  analytical  process ,   as  well  as  that  un - rivalled  tenacity .     her  stubbornness .     that  natural  aptitude .     call  it  instinct .          ❛  so  where  to  first ,   Herr Professor ?  ❜

SHAWKY  TAKES  TO  LEANING  AGAINST  THE  CLOSEST  WALL  ,  stuffing  the  journal  into  his  inner  coat  pocket  and  hiding  a  tired  yawn  behind  the  back  of  his  hand  .  bad  night  ,  no  sleep  .  he’s  been  so  frantic  about  today  ,  too  concerned  with  getting  werner  on  board  that  he  hadn’t  any  time  to  count  sheep  .  ❝  i’m  absolutely  certain  .  beyond  positive  .  i  know  for  a  fact  the  hall  exists  ,  and  it’s  hidden  beneath  the  sphinx  .  the  dream  stele  at  the  foot  of  the  sphinx  holds  the  key                   i  need  access  to  it  ,  and  then  we  can  proceed  forward  .  ❞  he  watches  werner  with  careful  green  eyes  ,  pensive  and  studious  .  ❝  do  you  have  any  other  interested  parties  who  might  like  to  come  ?  ❞

         ❛  there are a few names --  ❜       oskar, most certainly, his oldest friend and most astute companion. not so much an explorer or historian, but handy in a pinch and twice as strong as an ox - a keen tracker, too. in the desert, the best weapon is a man who knows his maps. there is of course howard but with his health failing there may be no room left for exploration. one name does stick rather heavily in his mind, of course, but she’s young still and forever charging off into the unknown and if he were to bring her, it might mean interrupting her studies too soon. 

❝  I  WAS  PLANNING  ON  TRYING  HARVARD  .  they’ve  seen  my  latest  discoveries  .  might  back  us  up  .  ❞  he  follows  werner  ,  faintly  skittish  ,  a  bit  hasty  and  hurried  as  he  fixes  his  glasses  and  clutches  the  journal  in  his  hands  .  ❝  at  least  try  to  pry  away  .  come  with  me  on  this  .  i’m  very  certain  it  exists  and  i  need  people                    big  names  in  archaeology  ,  like  you                       to  back  me  up  so  i  don’t  look  like  a  downright  lunatic  .  ❞  shawky  thumbs  over  the  edges  of  his  journal  ,  a  frantic  little  action  .  ❝  have  i  ever  been  wrong  about  something  before  ?  you  do  trust  my  judgement  ,  don’t  you  ?  ❞

                             werner lets the books drop to the desk with an almighty thump, taking advantage of his free hands to wipe the thin sheen of sweat away from his brow; it’s unseasonably warm in london and though he longs for the peace of vienna, he cannot say he doesn’t enjoy the lighter weather.      ❛  of course i do.  ❜      there is so much to consider. this post is not permanent after all and in a year’s time, he will have to choose either returning to salzburg or finally finishing what he started in greece. shawky is offering a chance at something -- well. something else. ( there is an unfinished manuscript burning in the bottom of his desk drawer, the beating heart under the floorboards. )