High Time for Heroes

by Mary Pope Osborne

  “Thank you,” said Jack. He was relieved to have someone else in charge.

  Mustafa brought the packhorse over to them and carefully lifted Annie and Koku onto the saddle. Then he helped Jack climb onto the back of the donkey.

  “Good. Now let us go,” said Florence. She blew out the flame in her lamp. Mustafa tied it to the saddle of the packhorse, along with the canteens.

  By the light of the moon, Mustafa led the animals through the chilly night. Florence walked beside the donkey, staying close to Jack.

  They all traveled silently over the barren, stony ground until they came to the statues of the ancient pharaoh. The giants looked like faceless gray ghosts in the moonlight.

  As the group headed down the dirt road toward the Nile, Jack did his best to sit up straight on the donkey’s back. But every step the animal took brought Jack more pain. Once or twice he couldn’t help crying out.

  “Jack,” Annie called to him in a soft voice. “Remember what it felt like to be rock climbers?”

  Though the words might have sounded strange to Mustafa and Florence, Jack knew exactly what Annie meant. “Yes,” he breathed. He worked hard to remember what it had felt like to be a great rock climber, to feel calm and centered. He tried to block out the pain in his arm and shoulder by closing his eyes and concentrating on the sounds of the night.

  Jack heard Koku making her baby baboon noises. He heard the cornstalks whispering in the wind. He heard the baaing of sheep and bleating of goats.

  As they came closer to the Nile, he heard the rustling of reeds and croaking of frogs. He heard the HEE-HAW of donkeys.

  Jack’s eyes shot open. “Honey?” he said.

  “Bunny?” Annie called out. “Is that you?”

  “Hello! I have your two donkeys here!” Ali called, rushing toward the travelers. “They are safe! I am so glad that you are safe, too!”

  “Can you please help us, Ali?” said Florence. “We must get Jack and Annie back to the Bracebridges’ boat.”

  Ali quickly took the reins of the packhorse and donkey. Mustafa and Florence helped Jack, Annie, and Koku dismount. With Florence’s help, Jack climbed into the rowboat. Mustafa picked up Annie and Koku and set them down next to Jack.

  “Good night, Ali,” said Florence as she and Mustafa finally climbed into the rowboat, too. “Your grandfather will be back soon to take you home.”

  “Good night, Miss Nightingale,” said the small boy.

  Mustafa’s oars dipped into the water, and the boat started gliding across the river. As he rowed, the guide sang his rowing song in time to the splashing of the oars. The Nile waters sparkled, reflecting the moonlight. Jack loved the peaceful, mysterious feel of the ancient river.

  When they reached the opposite shore, Mustafa tied up the rowboat at the water’s edge. “Please help the children out of the boat,” said Florence. “Then you must hurry back to Ali. It is surely past his bedtime.”

  Mustafa nodded.

  Florence turned to Jack and Annie. “I will be back in a moment with Charles and Selina,” she said. She climbed out of the rowboat and hurried away.

  Mustafa helped Jack, Annie, and Koku onto the grass. “Thank you,” said Annie.

  The old Egyptian nodded again. Then he got into his boat and began rowing across the glimmering Nile, heading back to his grandson.

  “Are you okay?” Annie asked Jack.

  “Fine,” he breathed. He was in too much pain to say anything else.

  Jack heard voices coming toward them. Florence was hurrying down the riverbank with Selina and Charles.

  “Oh, my poor dears!” cried Selina. “And Koku! There you are!”

  “Did the countess come looking for her?” said Annie.

  “No, she sent word asking us to keep Koku for the night,” said Selina.

  “Oh, good. And—and can we stay, too?” Annie asked shyly. “We’ll meet up with our parents tomorrow morning.”

  “Of course! Here, let me help you,” said Charles, leaning down. “Put your arm around my shoulder.”

  Annie did as Charles said. He lifted her and carried her back toward the moored sailboat.

  “We’ll follow them, Jack,” said Florence kindly. Florence and Selina walked on either side of Jack up the riverbank, and Koku clamored behind, shrieking and making noises. Jack imagined she was talking about their scary adventure in the dark hills.

  Finally the group arrived at the large sailboat. “Home, sweet home!” said Selina.

  “Into my cabin,” said Florence.

  Charles and Selina helped Jack and Annie into the middle door of the long cabin. Koku followed and leapt onto a tall bed.

  Florence helped Jack take off his heavy long-sleeved shirt, his belt, and his hat. “Now, make room for the children, Koku,” Florence said to the baby baboon.

  Jack and Annie climbed onto the large bed, and Florence gently covered them with blankets. “It gets quite cold at night,” she explained softly. She draped mosquito netting around the bedposts as Selina lit kerosene lamps. Jack could smell the kerosene as the flames flickered and shadows danced on the green paneled walls.

  The boat rocked on the Nile, and a soft breeze came through an open porthole. Through the gauze of the delicate mosquito netting, Florence, Charles, and Selina looked like dream figures—or angels—to Jack. He closed his eyes, and finally, he felt safe.

  Uhh-woh?

  Jack felt Koku’s little hand on his ear.

  He opened his eyes. The mosquito netting had been pulled back. The baby baboon was perched on the headboard of the bed. She grabbed Jack’s ear and tugged. He started to push her away, but to his surprise, his right arm was pinned across his chest. It was tucked tightly into a cotton sling.

  “No, no, Koku!” said Annie. She pushed the baby baboon away from Jack. Florence Nightingale was sitting on the edge of the bed, wrapping a long piece of cloth around Annie’s ankle.

  “Hello, Jack!” said Florence with a lovely smile. “I hope you don’t mind your sling. I maneuvered your arm into it while you were in a deep sleep.”

  “Thanks,” he said.

  “I’m afraid you dislocated your shoulder,” said Florence. “It will be less painful if you wear the sling. As soon as you get to a city, you must see a doctor.”

  “I will, thanks,” said Jack.

  Florence finished pinning the cloth bandage snugly around Annie’s ankle. “There, m’lady! Your ankle will heal as well. But you must go very slowly for a while,” she said. She looked at Jack. “Your sister received a frightful sprain, but I’m happy to say she has broken no bones.”

  “Cool,” said Jack.

  Florence tucked Jack’s blanket tighter around him. “There, soldier. Warmer now?”

  Jack was confused at first; then he realized that Florence had thought he meant that he was cold when he said cool. He started to laugh, but it hurt his arm too much.

  “Miss Nightingale, you really are a great nurse,” said Annie. “What’s your secret?”

  “I have no secret,” said Florence. “I have only taken care of friends and relatives. As you heard from Lord Bickerson, my family does not allow me to work. But I would love to be a nurse. That is my greatest dream in life. It is why I found it so strange that you two thought I was a nurse. And now, through entirely unpredictable circumstances, I have been a nurse to you both! Is that not a remarkable coincidence?” Florence shook her head with wonder. “Well. Please excuse me, and I will pour your tea.” Florence stepped over to a small kerosene stove and poured water from a teakettle into two cups.

  “Good try,” Jack whispered to Annie. “She still doesn’t have a clue that she’s great. So how can she share her secret of greatness with us?”

  “I don’t know,” said Annie. “This is tricky.”

  “Here you are,” said Florence, returning with two cups of tea.

  She handed Annie one cup, and then helped Jack take the other in his left hand. Jack carefully brought it to his lips. The hot tea and honey tasted w
onderful.

  “So allow me to understand what you told me last night,” said Florence. “You both risked your lives to save Koku?”

  Jack and Annie nodded.

  Florence smiled and turned to the baby baboon. “Little one, I believe your two friends are great heroes,” she said.

  “Not really,” said Annie. “We’re not like you. You are the great hero.”

  “What? How silly. Surely no one would call me a hero,” said Florence.

  “But they will,” said Annie. “I know you’re not a real nurse yet. But someday you’re going to be the greatest nurse of all time.”

  Florence looked at Jack. “Did you actually see your sister fall from the cliff?” she said under her breath.

  “No. Why?” Jack whispered.

  “I worry she might have hit her head,” said Florence. “She does not seem in her right mind.”

  Jack laughed. “Don’t worry, she’s fine,” he said. “What she says about you is true. We know it for a fact.”

  “Oh, dear, perhaps you both fell on your heads,” said Florence. “I appreciate your gratitude, children, but an ankle bandage and a simple arm sling should not convince you I will be a great nurse.”

  “Well, what do you think makes a great nurse?” asked Annie.

  “I—I have thought about that, actually,” said Florence. “I would have to say: discipline … quickness … and kindness.”

  Annie slipped her hand out from under the blanket. She and Jack glanced at the Ring of Truth. It wasn’t glowing.

  “Good try,” Jack whispered again.

  “It seems like you definitely have those qualities,” Annie said to Florence. “So why won’t your family let you be a nurse?”

  “They mean no harm,” Florence said with a sigh. “They only want me to be a proper lady. They will allow me to care for sick relatives and even some of the villagers. But they would never permit me to work in a hospital.”

  “That’s so unfair!” said Annie. “The world needs you!”

  “I don’t believe the world needs me,” Florence said, laughing. But then her expression grew more serious. “I do believe, though, that I need the world.”

  “What do you mean?” asked Jack.

  “I just feel that I must do something good for the world, for the poor and the sick.” Florence’s voice became strong and passionate. “I must lift the load of pain from the suffering. I must do more than walk around the garden, write meaningless letters, sit in drawing rooms, gossip about the neighbors, arrange flowers, and go to dances! I must! One’s work must be for the greater good of all, not just for oneself! I feel I must do something useful for the world, or I will go stark, raving mad.” Florence’s eyes shone.

  Annie and Jack glanced down at the ring. It wasn’t glowing brightly yet, but it was glimmering a little.

  “Uh … could you explain all that again in just a few simple words?” he said.

  “Let’s see …,” said Florence. “How to say it simply?” She stared out the window at the Nile. Then she spoke very clearly. “I truly believe, deep in my heart, that one’s life must have meaning and purpose.”

  Jack and Annie looked at the Ring of Truth. It glimmered more and more … then glowed as brightly as a burning ember.

  Koku shrieked and pointed at the ring. Annie and Jack both laughed. Annie quickly hid her hand under the blanket.

  Florence turned back to them. “Did that sound funny?” she said. She seemed embarrassed.

  “No, no!” said Annie. “It sounded …” She paused. “It sounded true.”

  “Meaning and purpose,” Jack repeated. “Do you think that’s a secret of greatness?”

  “Yes, I do,” said Florence. “Do you agree?”

  “Yes. Totally,” said Jack.

  “And we know you’ll find a way to do it,” said Annie. “Trust us.”

  A rooster crowed, then another, and another. The first light of dawn crept through the window.

  “Listen to them all,” said Florence. “It’s a brand-new day.”

  “Yes!” agreed Annie.

  The door to the cabin swung open. Countess von Kensky stood at the threshold, wrapped in her red shawl, her dark hair falling in curls around her shoulders. “Koku! My baby!” she cried.

  The baboon screeched, bounded off the bed, and leapt into the countess’s arms. The two of them waltzed around the room, the countess’s long curls swirling through the air. Jack, Annie, and Florence all laughed at the sight.

  Finally the countess put Koku on her shoulder and looked at Jack and Annie. “Oh, my!” she cried. “What happened to you?”

  “Koku ran away from jackals,” said Florence. “And they rescued her from the top of a cliff.”

  “Oh, my dear children, thank you!” said the countess. “Koku, you little rascal, causing these nice children to suffer so!”

  “We’ll be fine,” said Annie. “Miss Nightingale has taken really good care of us.”

  “Well, you are the best baby baboon caretakers in the world!” said the countess. “I would love to stay and admire you all day. But we must hurry away. Our boat is leaving for Cairo! Say good-bye, Koku. Say thank you to your wonderful friends!”

  Koku looked at Jack and Annie. Her dark eyes were soft and grateful. Uhh-woh, she said.

  “Uhh-woh,” Annie answered.

  “Good-bye, Koku von Kensky,” said Jack, waving with his left hand.

  “Farewell!” said the countess. Then she and the baby baboon headed out the door.

  “I’m afraid we should leave, too,” said Annie. “It’s almost time for us to meet up with our parents.”

  “Oh, yes, of course,” said Florence. “Where do you need to go?”

  “Across the Nile,” said Jack, “by the sycamore. We’ll rendezvous there.” Jack put on his shirt, his belt, and his hat.

  “Good,” said Florence. “No doubt Mustafa and Ali are already sitting by the river, waiting to help travelers. We will shout for him to row across and pick you up.”

  “Thanks,” said Jack.

  “And you will need this, Annie,” said Florence. She went to a small closet and took out a wooden crutch. “I always travel with a few medical supplies. It’s not much, but it should help you a bit.”

  “Great!” said Annie. She took the crutch from Florence and used it to help herself down from the bed.

  Jack climbed down, too, careful not to jostle his right arm. As they followed Florence out of her cabin, dawn was spreading its rosy glow across the Temple of Luxor, the anchored sailboats, and the waters of the Nile.

  Charles and Selina were already on the deck. Selina was sketching the temple, while Charles sat in a deck chair, reading a book. “Good morning!” they both exclaimed when they saw Jack, Annie, and Florence.

  “Say good morning and good-bye to our new friends,” said Florence. “Jack and Annie are leaving Thebes soon.”

  “Oh, dear, we will miss these brave American children,” said Selina. She put down her sketching tools and rushed over to give Jack and Annie careful hugs. “Good luck with your injuries, my dears.”

  “Thanks,” said Jack.

  “Thanks for helping us,” said Annie.

  “Good-bye, old chap,” said Charles, shaking Jack’s left hand. “And, young lady, I’m sure you’ll be leaping over barrels soon.”

  “Righto,” said Annie.

  Donkeys brayed across the river.

  “Look!” said Jack, pointing to Mustafa and Ali on the western bank.

  “They are already up and ready for work,” said Charles. The Englishman stepped across the boat deck, faced the Nile, and shouted, “Mustafa!” He waved for the guide to come across the river.

  Mustafa climbed into his rowboat, pushed off the bank, and started rowing across.

  “Come,” said Florence. “I’ll accompany you to the water’s edge.”

  “Thanks again!” said Annie, waving good-bye to Charles and Selina.

  Charles tipped his hat as Selina waved back. Then
Jack and Annie followed Florence down the landing. In the glowing dawn light, a heron was standing on one leg in the water. “He looks like me,” said Annie, hopping on one foot.

  Florence smiled. “There is more activity here in the first hour of cool morning than at any other time of day,” she said.

  Men in robes and turbans were sitting under a palm tree, smoking a water pipe. Two women were bathing small children in the Nile. Some girls were spreading wet clothes over rocks to dry.

  Jack heard someone shouting. He and Annie and Florence turned to look back at the sailboats anchored offshore. Lord and Lady Bickerson were on the deck of one of the boats. They were swatting and yelling at the flies.

  “Poor souls,” breathed Florence.

  “The flies?” asked Annie.

  Florence laughed. “I like you both very much,” she said. “I think we could be good friends.”

  “I think so, too,” said Annie.

  “Me too,” Jack added. His whole opinion of Florence had changed since she had tended to their injuries so kindly and he had heard her speak about her dreams.

  “Ah, here is your carriage,” said Florence.

  Mustafa had arrived in his rowboat. He pulled it ashore. Then he and Florence helped Annie and Jack climb aboard and take their seats.

  “Good-bye, Jack and Annie,” Florence said, standing on the riverbank. “You must visit me if you ever come to England.”

  Jack was sad to leave her, and even sadder to think they would probably never see her again. “Good luck with everything,” he said. “Hold on to your dreams.”

  “We’ll miss you,” said Annie.

  Florence smiled her most radiant smile and waved. Then she turned and walked away.

  Mustafa used his oars to push off, then began rowing back across the River Nile. Geese flew overhead. A pelican was perched on the crocodile’s rock. The old Egyptian sang his song. The words were still impossible to understand, but Jack felt he knew what they meant now. They celebrated the Nile and all the life around it—ancient and new, beasts and birds.