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The sa behind the desk He looked up as I approached

"Is the roo?" he asked

"It’s fine," I said "I came to ask you if there are any pawnbrokers near here?"

"Hmm That depends on what you mean by ‘near’ There are several, but they are situated more centrally"

"Distance is not a problem," I said "Could you please write down the address of the nearest one, and would you also have ame curiously He reached beneath his desk and pulled out a blank piece of paper, and a map of Cairo Once he had written the address on the paper, he drew an "X" on the map where the street was located

"Thank you" I said, taking both iteuesthouse I could run so fast now, I guessed that it would takethings went sed to find a pay phone, I would be back in no time

I tucked the map and the piece of paper into the deep pockets ofinto a sprint I kept referring to theto check street names

I ran so fast, I arrived in fifteen minutes I wasn’t even breathless either

I looked up at the signpost of the shop Cleopatra Jewelers Adjusting , I looked down at the wound I’d caused by cutting myself It had almost entirely healed by now

I stepped into the shop I was the only customer, which I was thankful for, and there was just one e behind the counter I walked up to him and placed my backpack on the table I undid the zipper and pulled out just a handful of the gold coins

I explained to hiold for cash His eyes widened a little as I handed him the preciousthe gold, until finally, about half an hour later, I alking out of the shop with a backpack stuffed with cash It was so full, the zipper was close to breaking

The first thing I had to do was buy a new bag I found a bag shop in the second street along and, once I had chosen a bag and paid for it, I placed er one, then put that on , Ias I reached for the receiver and inserted a coin My heart pounding, I dialed randfather’s nu Ring