Death on Tour - Janice Hamrick [69]
She joined me. “Can they fix it?”
“Unlikely. She said they’d try, but I don’t think there will be time before we leave.”
“Well, be sure to take your passport with you. And the plane tickets. Oh, and that necklace. I don’t care what you say, I know that thing is worth a fortune. And what about your iPod?”
“Yes, Mom,” I said sarcastically, pausing to let Fiona and Flora precede us down the steps. Never get between two old ladies and their chow was my motto. Besides, this way if they fell, they wouldn’t take me down with them.
At breakfast time, the dining room was brighter and less formal. The buffet was set up at one side of the room, loaded with an amazing variety of fruits, cereals, rolls, and pastries. Steaming silver serving dishes contained eggs, sausages, bacon, and oatmeal. Once again, a chef stood behind a set of gas burners, ready to cook an omelet to order. Several people waited in line in front of giant silver urns of coffee and hot water, looking sleepy. The room was filled with the sound of voices and the clinking of flatware on china.
I started to limit myself to a couple of crusty rolls, then changed my mind and loaded up with a little bit of everything. Screw my weight, I thought, I’m on vacation. I balanced a glass of juice on one unoccupied inch of space on the rim of my plate and joined the group at one of our three tables. DJ, Nimmi, Keith, and Dawn were already well into breakfast and greeted us enthusiastically. Ben and Lydia were finished and still sipping coffee. To my surprise, their niece, Jane, was present, listlessly picking apart a roll. She looked miserable.
Kyla took the seat beside me and set her plate down. It contained a single croissant and piece of pineapple. I took a sip of my juice and then started in on my cheese and bacon omelet. It was marvelous. Kyla cast a disapproving eye over my breakfast, half disdainful, half jealous. I needed a distraction before she could start in on its nutritional value.
“Are you going to come with us today?” I asked brightly, turning to Jane, who was sitting to my right.
Instead of answering, Jane shot a nervous look at Lydia, who pursed her lips thoughtfully.
“You know, there’s no reason you shouldn’t. It might do you good to get off the ship,” Lydia said.
Was it my imagination, or did Jane give a little shiver? It might just have been the illness, but she looked almost frightened. Why should she be scared to get on a tour bus, escorted by a tour guide, tour group, and armed guard, to visit the Valley of the Kings, one of the most public and busy tourist destinations in the world?
“I just don’t feel up to it,” she said finally. “I think I’ll just stay here and read. I can go on the deck and get some fresh air if I feel like it later.”
“It’s a shame that you’ve missed so much of the trip,” said Nimmi sympathetically. “Perhaps you should let DJ take a look at you. He is a very good doctor. Very good. And he would not mind at all.”
Nimmi was busy cutting up several sausages as she spoke, and it looked as though she had already put away a pile of scrambled eggs and a cup of oatmeal. How in the world did she stay so tiny? Just then, DJ reached his fork and speared three or four pieces from her plate and popped them into his mouth. Ah.
“Yes, I would be happy to review your medicines. What are they giving you? Antibiotics? Those might be making you feel bad, you know,” he said.
“That’s very nice of you,” said Jane, “but really, I’m fine. Just a little weak still. I’m sure I’ll be able to go out tomorrow. The doctors said to expect I’d be tired.”
“Ah, well, then, I’m sure you are right. But let me know if you start to feel worse. I am glad to help. Very glad.”
“You know, you absolutely have to come back some other time