Joe stepped onto a deserted veranda, looking for Poppy. He saw her coming up the stairs, followed by a young boy and a middle-aged man.

“Talk about perfect timing,” said Poppy to him.

Joe smiled at her and pushed his glasses back up on his nose. “There you are! I was looking for you!”

He walked up to Altan, extending his hand. “Hello! I’m Joseph Southill, Poppy’s uncle!”

“Nice to meet you, Joseph. I am Altan Baltu, and this is my nephew, Ile Ulugan,” responded Altan while shaking his hand.

Poppy moved closer to Altan and whispered, “My uncle is a wizard.”

Altan touched his chin and whispered back, “in that case, hiding the truth from him will be pointless.”

Altan put his left hand behind his back, and the lamp reappeared.

Joe, who was getting acquainted with Ius during those few minutes, suddenly pointed at Altan’s left hand. “Beautiful lamp you have there! Can I please have a look?”

Altan nodded and handed the lamp to him. They all look furtively at each other, but Joe was too busy inspecting the object to notice.

Joe, oblivious to what was happening around him, said excitedly, “this is amazing. I cannot believe my eyes! I don’t know where you found this lamp, but you’ve just stumbled on a treasure!”

Altan smiled. “Actually, it was not me who found the lamp. It was Poppy! She found it in one chamber in the Pyramid. They were both showing it to me just now.”

Joe raised his eyes and stared at his niece, who managed a nervous grin. “Wow, Poppy! Impressive! You’ve just found a scarce object, darling! I am so proud of you!”

He placed his hand on Poppy’s shoulder, “As great as your find is, however, you shouldn’t have taken it, darling. The lamp belongs to the Egyptian people.”

Poppy frowned and covered her mouth with her hands; she then said, “I am sorry, Uncle Joe, I wasn’t thinking”.

Joe smiled, “It’s okay, sweetheart, we will return it. No harm done.”

He then turned the lamp over, started reading the inscription, and frowned.

‘’ Actually, I think this lamp shouldn’t be returned to the authorities,’’ he mumbled, passing a finger on the inscription. He kept on talking to himself, getting more and more excited as he examined the lamp. He adjusted his glasses again.

He noticed they were all looking at him in silence. He smiled before saying, “Sorry, everyone! I got distracted.’’

He looked at Altan. ‘’ Would you mind if I keep the lamp for another day? I would like to examine it closer, take a few photos and notes before we send it over. Apart from being a lecturer, I am also a sort of collector.”

Altan said, “No need to apologise, Joseph! It was refreshing seeing how passionate you are about ancient artefacts. But when you say sort of collector, don’t you mean a sensor?”

Joe’s goofy smile evaporated, and he stared at Altan and Ius.

“Uncle, you don’t need to pretend. Altan and Ius are Jinns,” said Poppy with a soft voice while grabbing his hand.

Altan promptly reacted. “Do not be alarmed. Let’s go to dinner and I will explain everything.”

Poppy looked at her uncle, and Joe replied, “Yes. We would love to. Thank you!”

Altan nodded in approval. “All right then. Let us find a place to eat. The hotel has a restaurant, but we can always go out.”

“I would rather go out,” said Joe while looking at Poppy, who nodded.

“It’s decided then! Oh! And I guess we won’t need to return this?’’ Joe jokingly asked Altan while waving the lamp. ‘’ I’m sure you have an interesting story about this too.’’

‘’ You do not know!’’ blurted out Ius with a smile.

‘’ Shall we?’’ politely asked Altan while guiding everyone inside.

“I am thirsty. I hope they have more of that lotus flower juice! It was delicious!” said Poppy to Ius who was following her.

Ius and Altan grimaced, “Arrgh! That drink left a bad taste in my mouth! I’ll have fresh-squeezed orange juice instead,” said Ius

‘’ Really?’’ Asked Joe. ‘’ I love it!’’

While they were enjoying their drinks, Poppy heard Hanane speaking to a hotel guest. “The Harris family has checked out early on their own accord, sir.”

The guest answered loudly, “I am related to the Harris family. Paul is my brother. He would never leave with his family and not let me know.”

Poppy turned around and saw Hanane and the gentleman. They were facing each other.

“Mr Davenport, I assure you he has checked out; The manager of the hotel is out at the moment, but if you give me a few hours, I will get him here, and he will show you the hotel records and their credit card receipts.”

“Oh yeah, then explain to me why I can’t get him, his wife, or even the children on the phone?” asked an angry Davenport.

Hanane raised her shoulders and said, “I do not know; I am sorry, sir.”

“I want to see their room; I also want to talk to the police,” yelled Davenport.

Hanane nodded “Of course. Selma will contact the police while the hotel security will escort you to your brother’s room.”

Poppy turned to Ius. “Did you hear that?”

He nodded. “I wonder why they left.”

“That’s unfortunate,” said Joe.

“Yes, it is. Alright, let me ask the doorman to find me a cab,” said Altan.

“Why don’t you two take a sit in the lobby? I’ll come to get you when the cab arrives,” said Joe to Ius and Poppy.

They barely sat on one of the lobby’s sofas that Poppy extended her arm, pulling Ius closer to her, “The Harris’ had just started the tour. Why leave now?”

Ius pushed his head back and raised his brows. “I don’t know, and I don’t care to know.”

Poppy pushed him gently, “come on! Don’t you find it odd? They left without saying a word to anyone? Not even his own brother? Look at where we are! If this is what they can afford, then they wouldn’t have enough money to go anywhere else.”

Ius looked around, then shrugged, “Stranger things have happened.”

Poppy was about to say something when Joe waved, beckoning at them.

They quickly made their way toward him and jumped into a taxi. Altan sat in the front and Joe in the back with them.

Meanwhile, in the hotel, a furious Hanane barged into Selma’s office. “His brother? You took the cargo but left his brother behind?”

Selma slowly got up from behind her tiny desk. “What are you yelling about?”

“The Harris’” replied Hanane.

“What about the Harris'?”

“Davenport is his brother; you brainless mammoth,” yelled Hanane.

“What? But they don’t have the same surname,” blurted out Selma.

“He took his wife’s name; Harris’ bachelor name is Davenport,” said a furious Hanane.

Naima hit Selma on the leg with her hand fan. ‘’ You didn’t check? They came together. How can you be so careless?’’

Selma shrugged. “So Davenport is his brother; it changes nothing. He will never find them.”

“Are you brainless or just trying to piss me off? They are blood-related; Davenport will never stop searching for his brother. He already asked to speak to the police,” she said while pacing around.

Selma’s eyes widened, her sister’s words were sinking in, and she placed her hands on her mouth. “What are we going to do?”

Hanane stopped pacing, turned toward Selma and said, “we take the Davenport family out tonight before they have time to contact the British embassy or worse, the authorities.”

Selma nodded. “Tonight it is then.”