The Moses Legacy

Chapter 92

‘Excuse me, I know this is going to sound awfully silly, but I was looking for some friends of mine. I was supposed to meet them here, but I got a bit delayed.’

Sarit was talking to a woman behind the counter at the Petra visitor centre.

‘We get so many people passing through here.’

She had been about to tell the woman the names of her ‘friends’ – but the initial response made it clear that this would serve no useful purpose.

‘One of them is quite tall.’ She made a gesture with a raised arm and right-angled hand to indicate height.

‘Oh, wait a minute, yes, I remember them. They went with Sheikh Ibrahim.’

‘Sheikh Ibrahim?’

‘Yes. They wanted a special tour with someone who really knows the history.’

‘You mean like a private tour?’

‘Yes.’

‘Well, do you know where they went?’

‘Not really. I mean, knowing Sheikh Ibrahim it’ll be well off the beaten track.’

‘But you don’t know where.’

‘I’m afraid not. But I can give you his mobile phone number.’

‘Oh, er… thank you.’

She hadn’t expected that. Less than a minute later she was outside trying to get a signal. She had to move a few yards away from the building, but eventually she got one. She called the number. It rang for such a long time that she expected it to cut out and transfer to voicemail. But eventually a man answered.

‘Hallo.’

The voice sounded rasping, like he was in some place where he couldn’t speak freely, like a church or a library.

‘Sheikh Ibrahim?’

‘Who is this?’

‘My name is Siobhan. You don’t know me but I’m-’

‘Help me,’ the voice croaked.

Sarit froze. The pain in the voice sounded real.

‘Help me,’ the voice said again, in a muted rasp. It sounded like he was struggling to speak.

‘Who is this?’

‘Ib… Ibrahim.’

‘Where are you?’

‘Snake Monument.’

She tried to ask him more questions, but was greeted by silence. She realized that she would have to go there, with or without a guide.