Missing in Egypt Read Free Page B

unknown!
     
    When I arrived at 7.30 pm on Friday Kareem was already there waiting for me.   I like people to be on time so that was another big tick in his favour!   It turned out to be a great night – the food was excellent, the wine Kareem chose was really good and he was fun to be with.   I had a wonderful evening and was really sorry when we finished our coffee.   It was only then that Kareem mentioned Ramy again and his trip to Egypt the next day.   He showed me a photo of his brother standing by a lake – a younger looking Kareem with the same eyes and eyelashes but with a more outgoing stance and a beautiful smile.   “He is very confident” Kareem explained.   “He likes new challenges and is very athletic. I have taken some leave. I hope I can find Ramy.   Apparently his credit card and bank account have not been accessed.”
    “Where are you going to start your search?” I asked him.   “I will go and see our aunt and uncle in Cairo first.   I doubt that there is anything they can tell me that they
    haven’t already told the Embassy.   However I should go and see them as I know they are very worried too.   Then I will fly up to Abu Simbel – that is where Ramy was going when he left Cairo .   From there…..who knows?   I will ask a lot of questions and see where they lead me.
    Can I see you again when I get back?” he asked.   I nodded my agreement.
    Kareem saw me to my car and his lips brushed my cheek as he said goodbye.   I could tell he was keen to see me again but that his mind was already turning to the task ahead of him. “Be careful and good luck – I hope you find Ramy quickly and that he is okay…. just having too good a time to contact anyone!”
    It was only ten days before I heard from Kareem again.   I had just arrived home from work when the phone rang.   “Its me” he said “Kareem .   I’m back in Australia .   I haven’t found Ramy – I had to come home, my father has had a heart attack.   I’m sure it’s the stress and worry about Ramy.   I saw him last night and he was so disappointed I hadn’t found him.   He has made me promise to keep searching until I track him down.”
    “I’m so sorry Kareem - about Ramy and your father.   How are you?   How was Egypt ?”   I added “I haven’t heard any more from Foreign Affairs unfortunately.”
    “I’m fine.   I’m not really surprised you haven’t heard from Foreign Affairs. Can we have dinner?” he asked.   “Then I can tell you all about my trip”.   We agreed to meet the next evening at the same restaurant as before.   All day at work I found myself thinking about the evening ahead and had to admit the prospect of seeing Kareem again excited me.
    I arrived just as Kareem was getting out of his car.   He came over and hugged me warmly.   “It’s so good to see you again” he said simply.   “How is your father” I asked.   “He’s much better” Kareem replied.   “They‘re talking about him coming home tomorrow”.
     
    Over our meal Kareem told me of his efforts to locate Ramy.   “First I went to see our uncle and aunt but they had still not received any message from Ramy.   They feel responsible for him, you know – he had been their guest and had disappeared.   I tried to reassure them that it was Ramy’s decision to leave their home and they should not feel that way. After staying the night I then booked myself on a flight to Abu Simbel . The place is amazing, I wish you could have been with me to experience it.   I had no idea Abu Simbel would be so imposing.   The statues are huge and they are in the middle of nowhere. They just rise out of the hillside and are so beautifully carved out of the rock.
    Anyway, after wandering around for a while I booked into a hotel and started showing the photo of Ramy around to the tour guides and the local shops, but to no avail.   I decided to go back to the temples for the light show that evening.   I took the photo