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“With any luck we won’t need to test them. It will only be an extended day trip,” Amrita said.

“I’ll be right with you!” Will called down through the open door to the balcony. He was standing on a bit of scaffolding above them. They heard footsteps, then a pause as Will hung his head down over the balcony and executed a rather graceful flip to lower himself onto the deck. Once inside the main cabin he caught sight of Buffalo’s luggage and frowned.

“We’re doing a quick retrieval, Buffalo,” Will said. “Ideally we’ll be in and out in a few hours.”

“I’m aware.” Buffalo grinned.

“But you’ve packed for a fortnight. How much does that thing weigh? I’d like to have a word with your new PA.” As Buffalo’s former PA, Will was always finding fault with his replacements. None of them had yet to stick.

“I fired the last one and packed by myself,” Buffalo huffed. “You know I like to be prepared for anything, Will.” Buffalo patted the large case. “But of course I’ll defer to you, Captain.” He bowed his head. “If you want to leave my bags behind, I can arrange for someone to pick them up. On this ship I don’t want you to think of me as your old boss, Buffalo. This is your territory. I’m here to help in any way you need, and I’ll do whatever you ask. Think of me as your humble servant.”

Will opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

Amrita wondered if she should say something as well. After all, she was tagging along too. But she was still the director, and as far as the others knew, she was here on official business. It wasn’t prudent to make a speech.

Finally, just as the silence began to feel awkward, Zani swooped in.

“The extra weight shouldn’t be a problem. As long as it’s not in anybody’s way. We should probably go over the porting safety information, though,” she said firmly. She placed a hand on Buffalo’s elbow and redirected him toward one of the blue quilted banquettes. “This will only take five. Takeoff’s in fifteen minutes. You can both stash your bags afterwards.”

Amrita noticed Zani catching Will’s eye over Buffalo’s shoulder, just before Will ushered her towards the seating group. Will mouthed something. Zani shook her head. He mouthed something else. She gave him a pointed look that ended the conversation.

Amrita had no idea what any of it meant, but she was certain it had something to do with her, and her oversized companion.

It was becoming obvious to her that in the eyes of these two much younger people, she and Buffalo were already being perceived as complicated, difficult passengers. The type who would require constant supervision, and careful management. And they hadn’t even lifted off yet.

How could this be? She’d spent close to four decades being the most competent person in any given room. It was a rude awakening to suddenly be asked to sit down and watch a seatbelt demonstration.

Amrita had traveled great distances with a porter before, so she thought she knew what to expect. But traveling through space and time, aboard a porting vessel, was a new experience. Will and Zani had warned that porting aboard the dirigible could feel a bit strange at first.

One moment they were sitting at the table, floating above the shopping mall. Then the shopping mall disappeared. There was a flash of light, as there always was when portals were accessed but there was also a jolt, and then the brief sensation of falling, then floating. She was warm, and not at all uncomfortable with this in-between state. It felt so loaded with possibilities. Almost as if all the distance between here and there, now and then, had been folded down to the width of a single breath, and she was rocking in a hammock, passing through them all. It reminded her of the sleepy state between one’s dreams and waking.

Sitting beside her, Buffalo said, “Oh!” He placed his hand on top of hers.

She glanced at him. He was sitting straight and tall, his shoulders squared and his head high. The binoculars were swinging against his chest. He did not seem frightened, but his eyes were both wide with wonder and wet with tears. She looked away before he could see her studying him.

“Brace yourselves!” Will called from the helm.

She had the sensation of braking, then sliding, and spinning as the ship steered into a skid. This re-entry, Zani had warned them, was the most disorienting part.

They slipped through the fold again. Amrita could hardly believe she was seeing the twilit skyline of the ancient Alexandrian harbor below them, complete with the flame of its wondrous lighthouse shining bright.

It was early evening. They’d arrived only an hour earlier than intended, a fact which Will noted with immense pride and satisfaction.

“I’m getting better at this!” he exclaimed.

“The cloaking spells are holding,” Zani noted from her position on the bridge. “I think it’s safe to get closer.”

The harbor was there, below them, exactly where the star charts and ley lines said it would be, a broad curving arm of blue, with calm waters. They floated past the port to hover over the city. All the homes and structures were arranged in a grid. The streets were wide with beautiful buildings.

“Look at the way they’ve aligned the streets on an angle to take advantage of the breeze and cool their homes naturally.” Buffalo leaned into the window. He raised his binoculars to his eyes.

“It looks so modern,” marveled Amrita. “All that’s missing are the cars, and the streetlamps.”

“That’s the Library,” Zani pointed to a sprawling structure, not far from the port. “Right where I suspected it would be. I believe that is a theater next to it. And there, on that peninsula, is Cleopatra’s residence.”

“Oh?” Buffalo said again, differently this time. “You mean, the Cleopatra? Any chance we’ll be meeting her?”

“Yes, well, I’d suggest we all pop over to say hello, but I suspect she might already have plans this evening. It’s short notice and Caesar’s in town.” Will’s voice was dripping with sarcasm.