John stepped off the ship, breathing deep the scented air of the city. Cairo, bustling with all the noise of the hawkers and children running about, was just as he remembered. The air, heavy with the smells of the waterfront, carried the promise of adventure. He had decided to take the river boat from Alexandria rather than the train just for this. He had had enough of the rapid pace of the civilized world and longed for the slower pace of the country.

His eyes clouded slightly as he recalled why he had left Cairo so quickly some months past. The news about the deaths of his parents came to him in a letter from his uncle. The circumstances behind their passing were suspicious, but nothing could ever be proved, nor could a finger be pointed at anyone. John left the United States after settling his parents’ estate.

On his return to the continent, he stopped at the small, French village of Belleau Wood. There was someone he had to see before he continued on to Egypt. It was early morning when he stood by the small grave, its simple cross bearing the name “Lynette”. John sat there for a couple hours, visiting with his lost love. The memories, though painful, gave him some solace, too, for there were many happy times to be remembered as well as that one, terrible moment. Finally, after a while, John placed a single rose on the grave, then kissed its headstone. As he turned to leave, he again heard her soft voice whipering in his ears.

“I will always be with you, my dearest John. You are my heart and my life. I love you.”

“I love you, too, my dearest, and you will always be with me,” John quietly replied.
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John quickly made his way to the Cairo Hotel, home of the Pyramid Club and the Egyptian chapter of the Antiquarian Society. When he entered the cool interior of the hotel, he was warmly greeted by Kadira, the manager of the hotel. As she welcomed him back, Henry, the house detective, also came out to greet the adventurer. As they shook hands, Henry whispered that he needed to meet with him as soon as he had settled in.

John weaved back a bit from the strong odor of cheap booze that permeated the clothing and person of the detective, but he agreed to get with him very soon.

“Mr. James, we have held your old room for you,” Kadira said. “We knew you'd be returning. It is good to have you back, sir!”

John, too, was glad to be back. He couldn't wait to catch up on all that had occurred in the months he was gone. New adventures were just around the corner, too. He could feel himself relaxing, now that he was once again back at the place he considered his home.