Chapter 17

"Veronica wasn't lying when she said this event was a big deal," Caleb said, glancing around in awe at the thousands of attendees as we wandered through the bustling Cairo AG Expo. "Do you think they're all farmers?"

"They certainly are!" a cheerful man with a thick accent said before I could respond. "Nearly twenty-five million Egyptians work in the farming and fishing industries." He gestured towards his display of agricultural products with enthusiasm. "Would you like to learn more about our latest irrigation systems designed to save water and increase yield?"

"Unfortunately, we are not farmers," Caleb answered. "We need to get to the main pavilion now for the morning program. Good luck to you!"

"Thank you!" the man said with a smile. "And to you as well."

The conversation with Veronica in the hotel corridor from last night lingered in my thoughts as I continued to walk with Caleb. I hadn't seen her this morning for breakfast in the hotel since she and Daphne had left early to meet with Abena. I glanced at my watch to see how much time we had before Veronica went on stage.

"How many times are you going to check that thing?" Caleb chuckled.

"She has the first program of the day. I want to be there early," I said, more sharply than I intended.

Caleb laughed, brushing off my tone. "Relax. Abena saved us front-row seats. Besides, we've got plenty of time. Hey, check that out!" He dragged me over to a booth displaying a high-tech refrigeration system that was almost as large as a city bus. "Maybe I could use this to keep my beer cold at the palace."

Normally, I'd laugh at something like that, but today, my nerves were as tight as piano strings.

"Do you think I did the right thing, telling Veronica everything?" I asked, wondering if it was wise to ask a guy ten years younger than me for relationship advice.

Caleb clapped a hand on my shoulder. "Absolutely. She's processing the information, remember? That's what she does. When I was born, she told my parents she needed time to ‘process' having a little brother. She was ten!"

That made me chuckle. I loved that analytical side of Veronica, no doubt. I loved everything about her, even all the way down to her little quirks that made absolutely no sense.

"Give her space," Caleb added. "She's done running, believe me."

Weaving through the expo, we passed right through the food area, which was surprisingly busy already, considering it was still a couple of hours away from my normal lunchtime.

"I need some of that!" Caleb said, pointing to the vendor selling baklava.

Where did he get all his energy from?

The man didn't even drink coffee.

"How do you have any room?" I asked. "You ate more than me for breakfast."

He paid for the baklava and turned to me with a grin. "Nothing wrong with a mid-morning snack, right?" Unwrapping it, he held it in my direction. "Care for a bite?"

I shook my head. "No, thanks."

He grinned and said, "Good, more for me."

A few minutes later, we entered the grand pavilion and found Daphne already seated in the front row next to the two empty reserved seats. Abena was off to the side of the stage, reviewing her notes. It looked as though they were getting ready to start the program, with just about every seat taken.

"Good morning, gorgeous," Caleb greeted Daphne, his voice dripping with charm as he sat down beside her.

"Good morning, handsome," she said with a smile, then wiggled her nose. "You smell like baklava."

He feigned innocence, licking his fingers. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

I leaned forward, then turned toward Daphne. "How's Veronica doing? I guess she told you what we talked about last night after dinner."

"She told me," Daphne nodded, her voice soft. "She's fine. Just give her a little time, August. She's processing it all."

Caleb grinned and nudged me with his shoulder. "What did I tell you? She's my sister. That's what she does!"

Abena stepped onto the stage, her presence commanding the room. "Welcome to the Cairo AG Expo!" she announced. "Today, we have a very special agriculture panel lined up for you, featuring some of the top experts in the field."

One by one, she introduced the panelists, each name met with applause. When it was Veronica's turn, I couldn't help myself—I cheered so loud she glanced our way, a half-smile playing on her lips.

That smile, even a slight one, calmed my worries, if only for a moment.

The session flew by, and Veronica was a standout, handling complex questions with the ease of a seasoned professional. Watching her, I felt an immense pride swell within me. She belonged on stages like this, sharing her knowledge, leading discussions that could change the world for the better.

Afterward, Veronica mingled briefly with attendees who were eager to speak with her and take selfies, then she made her way over to us.

"You were amazing," Caleb said, hugging her.

"I agree," Daphne said, wrapping her up in a tight hug.

I nodded. "You were like a total pro up there. You nailed it."

I wasn't sure if I was overstepping my bounds by hugging her since I told her I would give her some space, but I could not stop myself. Luckily, she didn't resist, then met my gaze steadily and thanked me. It was a good sign, no avoidance, no hesitation.

"We have just enough time to eat something before the tour to the pyramids," Veronica mentioned.

We wrapped up lunch quickly and headed back to the hotel to gather some essentials for the afternoon, including sunscreen since there was no shade where we were going. Within the hour, we were pulling up to the pyramids of Giza.

As we stepped out of the shuttle, the imposing sight of the pyramids struck us immediately—massive, ancient structures rising starkly against the clear blue sky. The sun blazed down, illuminating the golden sands that stretched endlessly around us. Each pyramid cast long, sharp shadows that sliced across the desert floor, adding to their enigmatic allure. The air was dry and carried a faint scent of dust and ancient stone. Nearby, the distinctive grunts and soft, shuffling footsteps of camels blended with the low chatter of tourists and vendors.

"It's inconceivable that the pyramids were made with no machines," Caleb said as we walked around the base of the Great Pyramid, his eyes wide. "Just pure manpower. Thousands of workers hauling these massive stones into place."

Daphne, snapping photos with her phone, chuckled. "Some people say it was the aliens, you know, not humans. Same with Machu Picchu in Peru."

"And you believe that?" I asked.

Daphne grinned. "No."

"I'm sticking with human ingenuity," Veronica interjected, her tone light but filled with respect for the ancient builders. "It's amazing what people can achieve when they put their minds to it."

As we continued walking outside in the heat, the excitement of being this close to one of the world's oldest wonders kept our spirits high.

"Imagine being a pharaoh and deciding one day, ‘Yeah, let's build a pyramid!'" I mused.

Caleb laughed. "I can barely decide what socks to wear in the morning."

Veronica laughed, then pointed to the entrance, a dark and looming gap in the smooth stone. "Ready to explore the inside?"

"Lead the way," I said, offering a bow.

We gave the employee our tickets, passed through security and the metal detectors, then entered the inside of the Great Pyramid. It was cooler than outside, a welcome respite from the sun. After another employee warned us again to not take photos, we made our way through the rough passage that was narrow, dimly lit, and sloping gently downward.

"It gets more impressive further in," a British voice chimed in as he came toward us going in the other direction.

"Any tips?" Caleb responded.

"Take your time and keep going until you reach the King's Chamber at the top. You don't want to miss it," the man advised with a knowing smile before passing by us.

"Thank you," I said with a nod.

Navigating the dimly lit passageway, Daphne and Caleb took the lead, their voices echoing softly ahead of us. The path twisted unexpectedly, a natural labyrinth within the ancient structure, giving the impression of a subterranean cave. Abruptly, it spilled into a spacious chamber, the ground beneath our feet uneven and strewn with age-worn stones that added an element of adventure to each step we took.

Caleb reached out for Daphne's hand with a cautious, "Careful."

"My, what a gentleman," she teased, taking his hand with a playful roll of her eyes, but still holding onto it even after the ground leveled out.

I reached out to Veronica as well. "Watch your step," I said, my hand finding hers.

She smiled, a brief but genuine expression, and squeezed my hand as she steadied herself. "Thank you."

Noticing the prolonged contact between Caleb and Daphne, I leaned towards Veronica when we stopped to let a couple walk past us in the opposite direction.

"Holding hands?" I whispered. "This is progress."

Veronica watched them for a moment. "When Daphne decides on something, she really goes for it. And from the looks of it, she's decided on Caleb."

"I think they make a great couple, but are you okay with it?" I asked.

She nodded and whispered back, "They complement each other well. I couldn't be happier."

I was happy for them as well. I agreed with Veronica. Their compatibility was as clear as the sky outside. Caleb and Daphne seemed to move in sync, a silent rhythm between them that spoke of growing closeness.

Now, if someone would just sprinkle some of that magical romance dust in Veronica's direction, I'd be one ecstatic prince.

"Do you think they ever imagined tourists would walk through here thousands of years later?" Daphne wondered aloud, her voice echoing slightly off the stone.

"Probably not," I replied, gazing up at the looming stone structures. "I think they built these as gateways to immortality, more like sacred places, not attractions."

We wound our way through another long passage, then came to another opening with a set of stairs.

"Okay, looks like it's time to go up," Daphne said.

We began the climb, and the further we ventured up, the more ominous the silence grew, broken only by the distant echoes of other voices. Passing the locked gate of the queen's chamber, we continued the ascent.

"It's a good thing I'm not claustrophobic," Daphne said as we finally reached the top of the grand gallery, a little out of breath.

We admired the notched walls and ceilings, then ducked into the final limestone passage that opened up into a larger room, the King's Chamber. The chamber was stark, except for a large granite sarcophagus, which was believed to have held the remains of King Khufu before the pyramid was looted. Dim lights cast long shadows, giving the room an eerie, timeless feel.

"So, this is the king's chamber?" Daphne said, spinning around slowly to study every part.

"August, I had no idea you had a room here," Caleb joked.

"I'm not king yet." I chuckled, looking around the empty chamber. "It's a bit more minimalist than I prefer, but it's good to know I've got options if the palace renovations go sideways."

Veronica glanced around and nodded, her eyes wide with fascination. "This was the most sacred place in Egypt."

"I think, for many, it still is," I said.

We spent about an hour inside while Veronica read fascinating facts from the tour brochure. Finally, we made the long descent out of the pyramid, the bright Egyptian sun forcing us to shield our eyes for a moment.

"What now?" Daphne said, looking around.

"I would really love to see the Great Sphinx," I said.

"Lead the way, oh great explorer," Daphne said with a grin, gesturing grandly towards the path we needed to take.

The Great Sphinx of Giza was another sight to behold, about as tall as a six-story building and almost as long as a football field. Carved from a single block of limestone, the immense statue sat with a majestic presence, its lion's body stretched out along the sand, and its human head gazing eternally toward the east. Over the centuries, the Sphinx has suffered considerable wear from erosion and humans. Despite the damage, including the missing nose and beard, it was absolutely breathtaking and awe-inspiring.

We wandered around the elevated platform that provided a close-up view of the Sphinx, marveling at the imposing statue. Powerful gusts of wind continued to whip up the sands around us as we stopped to take photos, our conversation drifting back to the rich history of Egypt.

"Careful there, it's slippery from the sand," I cautioned Veronica as she moved closer to the edge of the deep ditch that surrounded the Sphinx like a waterless moat.

"I'm good," she assured me, capturing the moment with her camera before turning to share a warm smile with me.

Seizing the moment, I reached for her phone.

"Let's get a selfie, for old times' sake," I suggested, stepping in close beside her for the shot. "Got it. That was a good one." I grinned, handing back her phone.

Veronica seemed to be deep in thought again.

"How are you doing?" I asked softly, hoping to tread lightly around her feelings and not make her feel like I was pressuring her to open up if she wasn't ready.

"I'm okay," she responded, her voice carrying a hint of something unsaid. She looked up, seemingly about to delve into a deeper conversation with me. "About last night …"

It looked like I was finally going to find out her feelings and where our relationship stood. But just as she opened her mouth to speak, a sudden interruption—a child's shrill scream—cut through our quiet moment. A young boy, attempting to dash between us, collided with Veronica instead. Her footing slipped on the sandy surface, and she teetered dangerously close to the edge.

Adrenaline surged through me as I instinctively lunged in her direction to grab her, then yank her to safety. Yet, the force of my action had its consequences. In my bid to spin her around to steady her, I lost my balance just as a gust of wind hit me hard.

Veronica's eyes flared with panic, her hand shooting out towards me as my foot skidded on the loose gravel. My arms windmilled in a desperate attempt to regain my balance. A visceral sense of vertigo seized me as the ground seemed to drop away. The final image burned into my mind was Veronica"s horrified expression, a silent scream etched across her face, as I fell downward into the ditch and the world went black.