The Moses Legacy

Chapter 59

Daniel had initially assumed that Walid was a local Luxor man, because that was where he had boarded the felucca. But in fact he turned out to be a lot more well-connected than Daniel had imagined. He seemed to know everyone in Cairo, or at least everyone in the lower classes, from the waiters to the road-sweepers.

He also seemed to know quite a few of the Bedouin, including this group of five who were making their way across the Sinai Desert. Their original destination had apparently been Sharm el-Sheikh where they were going to ply their trade to the tourists, offering them camel rides.

But Mas’ud, the youngest member of the group, was planning on getting a job as a waiter in the hope of making his fortune or getting lucky with the younger female tourists. In some respects he was a bit like Na’if. When they were asked if they could change their plans and accompany the couple to Taba, he had been the first to point out that there were plenty of tourists there at this time of year, because it wasn’t quite as hot as Sharm. And he for his part was quite happy to try his chances there first instead of Sharm.

Of course, with or without a change of plan, escorting the pair to Taba was a service and therefore payment was due. This time Walid bargained on their behalf, promising them he would get them the best possible price. And so, 1,500 Egyptian pounds lighter, they set off on camels, with a five-man escort, from the fringes of Cairo to Taba, travelling when it was cooler, from sunrise till midday and then again from late afternoon till some time after sunset. They slept from late night till sunrise and rested – with or without sleep – from midday until the afternoon sun was low in the sky.

The Bedouin escort rode in formation with two in front of them, several yards ahead, and three a similar distance behind. The three behind were also leading four additional camels that followed by herd instinct without being tied or tethered. As Daniel and Gabrielle were also dressed in Bedouin robes (for an extra 100 Egyptian pounds), anyone in the military manning a checkpoint would have spotted a group of seven Bedouin with eleven camels and thought nothing more about it.

Being positioned in the middle gave Daniel and Gabrielle the opportunity to talk in private.

‘The Samaritans are basically concentrated in two communities. There’s an Arabic-speaking community in Kiryat Luza in the West Bank, and a Hebrew-speaking community in Holon, inside Israel.’

‘And which community are we going to visit? Kiryat Luza or Holon?’

‘Ideally Kiryat Luza. It’s actually located on Mount Gerizim, their sacred mountain, overlooking the town of Nablus. They used to be based in Nablus itself, but they fled to Kiryat Luza in the 1980s during the first intifada because they came under attack.’

‘Then wouldn’t it be safer to meet the ones in Holon?’

‘That’s probably what we’ll have to do initially. I think that most of their priests are in Kiryat Luza. But if we talk to one of their leaders in Holon, that can get us an introduction until we can meet the high priest and put our appeal to him.’

‘And you really think they’re going to show you their most sacred documents?’

‘If I can show them that I can translate them and reveal the sacred truths, then yes… I think they will.’

‘But how are we going to get across the border?’

Daniel lowered his voice. ‘I have a plan – but it’s risky.’

Neither of them noticed that in the group of three bringing up the rear, Mas’ud was taking an unhealthy interest in their conversation.