Cairo

Cairo is both a staging point for the Throckmorton expedition and, briefly, a city Theodosia is determined to experience for herself. The family arrives tired and pressed for time, while the mission ahead keeps their stay from becoming an ordinary visit: the next day they are due to leave for Thebes, and Theodosia has only one day in which to explore.

Arrival and Accommodation

The journey from Alexandria brings the family by carriage to a large railway station, where their dragoman shepherds them toward the train. As it pulls out, Theodosia resolves to return to Alexandria when she can see its sights properly, but for now accepts being hurried along because she has a mission to accomplish. The train ride is punishing; her father, Alistair Throckmorton, answers her complaint about its jolting by pointing out that she had wanted the romance of travel.

In Cairo, the family stays at Shepheard's Hotel, an imposing four-story building occupying nearly a whole block. Enormous potted palms line its terrace; men in turbans lounge on the steps, one with a small brown monkey on his shoulder. The concierge greets Henrietta Throckmorton warmly but regards Alistair dubiously. Theodosia cannot tell whether this is because her father is irritable—perhaps because his leg hurts—or for some other reason. The family is already tired, has little time to dress for dinner, and needs porters to carry its substantial baggage to its rooms.

A Brief Window for Exploration

Early the next morning, Alistair and Henrietta leave for the Antiquities Services to speak with the officials responsible for granting access to Henrietta's dig. Henrietta leaves her dragoman, Nabir, with Theodosia. The adults expect the two to remain near the hotel and explore its gardens, but Theodosia has other plans: with departure for Thebes set for the following day, she intends to make the most of her single day in Cairo. Mosques, palaces, bazaars, and marketplaces all beckon, although persuading Nabir to accompany her takes some effort.

The Tram Journey to Giza

The tram carries Theodosia and Nabir to Giza, and the unexpected destination brings her closer to a sight she had hoped to see during the Cairo visit: the Great Pyramid of Giza. For the moment, she feels safe enough to turn her attention from the journey's uncertainties to the landscape. The three pyramids grow larger on the horizon as the tram approaches. After getting off, she walks toward the desert, climbs a sandy slope, and pauses in awe beneath the immense pyramid. The excursion gives Cairo a double role in her itinerary: it is the family's practical base for arranging the expedition, but also the point from which Theodosia briefly steps beyond its formal business into the wonder of Egypt's ancient monuments.