Author's note: this story takes place before the boys have met their lady loves and are footloose and fancy free. So this is a pre-saga series tale. Which I know will make some of you very happy. Thank you to Ripon for her wonderful and informative messages about Egypt, to Sierra Sutherwind for help with my atrocious French, and jkkitty for her unfailing support!

"The See the Pyramids Along the Nile Affair"

Their BOAC jet landed with a screech as it's tires hit the runway, somewhat late as it taxied along the runway until it came to a stop beside the small newly renovated facility at the Cairo International airport in Egypt. The had only carry on luggage and that afforded them some time as the the two agents set about the task of getting themselves transportation into the city.

Illya whistled loudly, then called in Arabic, hailing one of the black and white Mercedes 200D taxis to come to a stop in front of them as they waited on the sidewalk in front the terminal; telling the driver their destination, the Shepheard Hotel in the heart of Cairo.

The Russian always eager for reading material of any sort had picked up a brochure for the hotel in the airport; devouring it's contents during the forty-five minute drive into the city.

"Listen to this Napoleon" he said reading the list of the who's who that had graced the doors of the hotel." The Prince of Wales, King Fiasal, the Aga Khan, King Ferdinand of Bulgaria, Prince Erik of Denmark, The Maharajah of Jodphur, the British P.M. Winston Churchill, and the last name T.E. Lawrence bringing a smile to Illya's lips as he remembered having once masqueraded as Lawrence of Arabia's son to escape from being sold into slavery in a Bedouin encampment, but then images the Shiek Sulador's overly zealous and amorous daughter Sophie came to mind, causing him to shudder.*

"Oh yeah, I remember," Solo answered teasingly" that's when you wore a dress."

Illya responded with a bit of indignation in his voice. "It was not a dress, it was a traditional galibaya."

Napoleon chuckled; pleased that he could still raise the Russian's ire with just a single word.

Kuryakin went back to his reading, noting to his partner that there was a special place waiting just for him at the hotel.

"Ah this is too perfect, the 'Napoleon Bar' is located downstairs. I am sure you will manage to find trysts of the nocturnal type there." he smirked." it is a full moon after all."

Solo made a face at his partner, then ignored his further jabs; opting to watch the pedestrian traffic out the open taxi window on as they drove through the crowded city. People moving to and fro int their long flowing robes, camels, donkeys bicycles, scooters all amid the car traffic, making travel a congested journey. Cairo, called the 'city of a thousand minarets; a the moment there were hundreds of the golden and multicolored towers just within Napoleon's view and he could hear the prayers being called over loud-speakers, echoing through the air calling the faithful, as it was a predominantly Muslim country.

"I am still at a loss as to how we were booked accommodations in an expensive hotel like 'The Shepheard', "Illya said. "accounting will have something to say about it, I am sure."

"We've got a good hotel for once and you're still complaining? You know it's because we're looking into personal business for the 'old man' and besides it's only a ten minute walk from the Egyptian museum, so we're saving on taxi fares and car rentals to say the least, I don't think he really cares in this case."

They were there to meet with the curator of the museum, Dr. Mustaffa el-Hazziz, a personal friend of Alexander Waverly. The man's daughter had been reported missing, along with several other daughters of prominent residents of the city and now the 'old man' had his two best agents looking in on the case.

Illya studied his partner for a second, surprised that he knew the hotel was so close to the museum.

Napoleon saw the look Illya was giving him, then laughed. "Tovarisch, I've been here before."

"On assignment?"

"No a vacation actually. I wanted to see the pyramids, and I met a beautiful woman that..

"As have I" Illya answered," been wanting to see the pyramids that is."He cut his partner off from regaling him about one of his many conquests. "perhaps if things go well we could put in a little sight seeing, yes?'

"Yes." Napoleon smiled, amused at his partner's avoidance of the topic of women. It was a rare opportunity that they ever had to visit any place of interest while on assignment and so this one was not as official as their normal missions; it made sense to indulge his Russian friends wants for once.

The Shepheard Hotel had been built on historical grounds known as Ezbeki and was surrounded by tropical greenery and rare trees. It had once been occupied by Napoleon Bonaparte's army as headquarters during it's invasion of Egypt in the 18th century. The hotel was known for it's famous terrace with it's wicker chairs and tables; commanding a lofty and shaded view of the comings and goings on Ibrahim Pasha street below.

It stood like an oasis in in a city nearly devoid of green life. The country's arid climate allowing for minimal plant growth; date palms, eucalyptus and citrus trees that were introduced and were not native.

The taxi arrived at the hotel, but was unable to park nearby as the traffic was too heavy. Solo paid a porter to lug their suitcases for them as it was as hot as hades. "

"So much for saving money." Illya laughed, as the cost of the porter nearly equalled the cost of the taxi ride from the airport. They had to watch themselves as they would be quickly cash-poor and have to rely on their expense accounts and in a country like this, cash was the preferred form of payment.

Napoleon stood at the front desk listening unhappily as the manager checked their reservations, speaking in a very clipped British accent.

"I am sorry sir, but the reservations were changed by your company from single accommodations. All we have in your name at present is a room with a double bed."

Illya flashed his partner an I told you it was too good to be true look as they walked towards the elegant flight of stairs, the bannisters flanked on either side by diaphanous statues holding long fluted trumpets. Surrounding the marble lobby were tall columns stylized after the Egyptian lotus pillars of the ancient ruins of Karnak. At the top of the stairs on the second floor was an atrium filled with plants and small palms.

They located their room, eyeing the single bed; the partners looked at each other and sighed. No matter, they had slept together in the same bed before. But the room was hot, having only ceiling fans to circulate the dry heat-laden air, making little difference in the comfort level. It would not a commodious sleep in spite of the elegance of the room.

Illya threw open the shutters, stepping out to the balcony, revealing a spectacular view of the Giza pyramids and the Sphinx, but when a gust of sand-laden wind hit him; he was not happy. He hated the heat, and the sand. He hoped this mission would be short with a successful completion, leaving a little time for some sight seeing and nothing more.

They both showered and changed into lighter clothing; Napoleon in a tan linen suit, Illya with a polo shirt and light cotton pants. He did however, bring a long beige, billowing hooded kaftan robe to protect him against the sun and cover his blond head from prying eyes. His appearance would make him stand out too much in a crowd; better he remained as invisible as possible until they had a better idea as to what was going on and what would be required of them.

Napoleon looked at his partner's style of clothing, " wearing a dress again?"

"Napoleon, it is a kaftan, and meant to disguise my obvious appearance; better I stay not so visible until we know what the situation is."

Napoleon shrugged his indifference.

The took the short walk in the hot midday sun, arriving at the large two-story red neoclassical building that housed the Cairo museum, with it's tall arched entrance. Upon entering, one looks towards the atrium and the rear of the building, bursting with a myriad of items on view, from shelves full of canopic jars of alabaster and ivory, painted busts, large black granodiorite carved statues of the Pharoahs, boats, chariots and weaponry and painted panels of hieroglyphs beside the elegantly curved royal throne and golden treasures of Tutankhamen. They proceeded to the upper level to the director's office, passing scores of frighteningly blackened mummified figures encased in glass or wrapped in aged linens in their ornately decorated sarcophagi.

Illya looked with discomfort upon the mummies as they passed them; their distinct musty odor of death still obvious after centuries; calling to mind the occasion that he himself was nearly mummified by a follower of the now extinct Greek cult of the Sons of Medea.**

Mummified corpses, sand, oppressive heat, young girls disappearing mysteriously; suddenly the Russian was not so sure he wanted to do that sight-seeing after all as the claustrophobic clutter of the antiquities that surrounded them gave him an uneasy feeling.

*ref. MFU "The Arabian Affair" ** ref MFU "The Alexander the Greater Affair Part II"of the