"God knows when they'll be at Assouan!"
Isaacson found himself saying that. And he felt as if, as soon as the Fatma rounded the bend of the Nile and crept out of sight on her slow way southwards, the Loulia would untie and drop down towards the north. He felt it? He knew it as if he had seen it happen.
"Hassan!"
When Hassan answered, Isaacson bade him tell the Reis that he and his men could rest all the afternoon.
"I'm going to Edfou again. I shall probably spend some hours in the temple."
"Him very fine temple."
"Yes. I shall go alone and on foot."
A few minutes later he set out. He gained the temple, and stayed in it a long time. When he returned to the Fatma, the afternoon was waning. In the ethereal distance the Loulia still lay motionless.
"We goin' now?" asked Hassan.
Isaacson shook his head.