Chapter Twenty Four

Next, and final stop, was Karnak temple. Karnak temple was famous. Twice it had been featured in movies. For a James Bond movie in the 1960’s, then again for the Agatha Christie film, ‘Death on the Nile’. Karnak temple also had an Avenue of Sphinxes leading up to it. But these sphinxes looked like large rams crossed with dogs. Karnak translates into ‘Most beautiful of places’. It like Luxor temple was where people went to worship the people in power at the time. Each temple grew bigger and bigger as each god or king put their mark on the places. In the process, Karnak temple, was one of the largest and most magnificent temple complexes in the ancient world. The only way Luxor and Karnak temples were different, was that Karnak temple holds a lake. ‘A Sacred Lake’, as Ahmed, clipboard in hand told his group. Seb held his nose, ‘It…smells a little’ he whispered to Rowi.
‘Maybe it wasn’t built with a cleaning system’ Rowi, in reply, shrugged at this and sounded sarcastic.
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Back on the boat, everyone prepared themselves for the ‘Valentines ball’ that the boat was holding that night. All the girls, including Fara took long showers. De-fluffing various body parts, washed hairs and prepared themselves. They had each bought along several outfits and tonight, was the first chance to dress up and impress whoever they wanted to impress.
The boys did similar preparations. Shaving. Washing their hairs. Showering.
Urs wanted to look his best. He wanted to impress Fara. He spent ages in the small bathroom, shaving, washing his skin, getting ready. Sorting his hair. Washing it, drying it carefully and then gelling the curls and straightening the top part. Then he put on his aftershave, best suit, shirt and even wore a tie. It was purple in colour.
‘Wow!’ David whistled at him once they were both ready, ‘you look great’
‘Thanks’ Urs smiled, blushing slightly at this compliment he had just received.
‘Hoping to impress lots of lovely ladies?’ David asked, sorting his hair so it looked perfect.
‘No. Only one. Fara’ came Urs’ honest answer.
‘Good luck mate’ David gave his friend a friendly, consoling pat on his back.
‘I won’t be needing it’ replied Urs, ‘I know Fara loves me. I found that out today’
‘Oh?’ asked David, looking surprised at his friend.
‘I’ll tell you about it one day’ Urs smiled.
‘Ok’ David nodded at last, as they made to leave the cabin and go find their friends and loved ones.
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Fara looked at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Rowi, looking over her friends shoulder whistled.
‘That’s a knock ‘em dead outfit’ Rowi commented.
‘That’s, the idea’ Fara whispered, a nervous hand applying a sheen to her lips to make them look shiny.
‘You should wear dresses more often’ Rowi smiled at her.
‘I don’t know what made me buy it, let alone bring it with me…’
‘I do. Its because you look beautiful in it’ Rowi whistled again and this time added a wink. She sounded, and acted like a female version of Seb at that moment.
‘Thanks…’ Fara blushed.
The dress Fara was wearing, was purple in colour. Spaghetti straps held up a tight bodice then flowered out to stop just before her knees. It was a perfect dress.
Rowi was wearing a sleeveless waistcoat in pink and matching skirt. Together, it looked like she was wearing a dress.
Cydalia was wearing her favourite colour. Green. Short sleeves that showed off her tan. The dress reached midway down her thighs. Slowing tanned thighs and extra long legs with matching high heeled dainty sandals. Later, standing next to Carlos she towered over him easily enough. Not that Carlos minded about this. Because he didn’t. She was his and no one else’s. She was nearly as tall as David in her footwear.
Dany was wearing yellow. A corset top with deeper yellow flowing skirt. Her glorious tan looking perfect.
All the men wore matching suits but with different shirts and ties.
Carlos was wearing his favourite black shirt with a green tie. David a white shirt with blue tie. Seb wore a black shirt with a red waistcoat. Urs, of course, was wearing a purple tie and white shirt. Without meaning to - all the couples matched each other perfectly.
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As Fara walked down the stairs to the dining restaurant level she could feel a pair of eyes on her. She turned to see who it was and wasn’t surprised to find that it was Urs. She boldly walked down the stairs and walked right up to him. Urs braced himself for a slapping or for Fara to swear at him but he didn’t get anything. Instead, Fara smiled at him.
‘We match’ she noticed his tie.
‘So we do…’ he looked her up and down, ‘you look…beautiful’ he swooned.
‘Thanks’ Fara blushed.
‘I’m sorry about…’ Urs started to say.
Fara placed a finger on his lips, silencing him, ‘Ssshh’ she said.
‘But…’ Urs nervously licked at his lips. Fara tried not to groan as she watched this action.
‘Tell me tomorrow’ Fara smiled, ‘tonight its just you, and me. We have no past. No future. Only here, and now’ she said, offering her hand to him.
‘Ok’ Urs nodded, taking her hand and leading her into the dining area.
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At dinner no one mentioned Urs and Fara being together.
The dining room was made out to be like a romantics dream. Heart shaped ornaments hung from the ceiling. Rose petals were laying on the floor. Candles flickered. The lights dim and romantic music playing softly in the background. After dinner of fish and a gorgeous chocolate mousse, the couples went to the bar to dance in each others arms.
Carlos pulled Cydalia close, ‘I…I love you’ he told her. He had spent the entire dinner gazing lustily at her, wishing he could sweep her up in his arms and take her somewhere much more private.
Cydalia looked at him, then smiled, ‘I love you Carlos’ she replied, holding him even closer.
David and Dany danced cheek to cheek, holding each other close. They were so glad to have found each other and wanted everyone to know it, stopped every few minutes to kiss before carrying on dancing again. So did Seb and Rowi. Seb held Rowi in his arms and wondered just how great he must have been in another life to get such a wonderful woman as Rowi. He silently thanked his lucky stars and swooned, holding her close and whispering sweet nothings into her ear as they danced.
‘Dance…with me?’ Urs nervously asked Fara after he had spent the last ten minutes watch his friends holding their loved ones close, not caring who saw them all.
‘Thought you’d never ask’ she smiled back.
‘I love you’ Urs told Fara once she was in his arms.
‘Don’t Urs. Don’t ruin this’ Fara whispered.
‘But…’
‘No’ Fara silenced him again, ‘come with me’ she said.
‘Where to?’ Urs asked.
‘To the sundeck. I want to see the stars’ Fara smiled.
So Urs took Fara’s hand and to the sundeck they went.