Max and Gnome 4: The Facility

Chapter 3

"So how are we going to get to Cairo?" asked Doll.
"Haven't really figured it out yet..." said Max. "We could take another boat... It would have to be big to have enough fuel to get there, though..."
"What about an airplane?" asked Doll.
"Good idea, that's a possibility."
Max missed Gnome. He certainly would have recommended walking, driving, or something just as ridiculous.
"Seems like the people around this port just want to steal toys though. We should get back to the house or go to the airport," said Max.
"We're out of money," Doll reminded him.
"Darn... Where is the airport anyway?"
"I think it's like a half-hour drive north of here. I used to read the maps at Mendingbrew's when I was bored. We have to get on the highway."
"Well it seems like we're going to have to hop in a car", said Max. "Or on top of one."
They got closer to the highway, which wasn't far away. Before the highway led out of town, there was a red light. They waited at the side of the road and Max made a lasso. The next time the light turned red, they ran into the highway lane and Max lassoed the car antenna. They climbed on top of the trunk and Max spun the rope around the antenna, making it easier to grip.
"Hold on!" said Max as the light turned green. The car accelerated, pushing them back, but they held on tight. After the car reached top speed, it still took effort to stay on the trunk, and it was very windy.
"Hook your legs around the antenna if you have to," said Max. The car stayed in motion for an unbearably long time, and they thought they might run out of energy, but finally the airport came into sight ahead.
"Whew!" said Max, relieved.
"Now what?" asked Doll.
"We gotta get in the luggage," said Max nervously.
"How do you even know what country they're going to?" asked Doll.
"Oh... We have to get in the luggage of someone that's in the line going to Cairo," explained Max. They hopped off the car when it parked and went around a spinning entrance door, entering the airport. There were many check-in stations, and it took Max a long time to finally find the one that read 'DESTINATION: CAIRO'. There were many people in line. Max found one with slightly open luggage and the two of them hopped in. The inside was cramped with clothing.
"This is pleasant," joked Doll in a muffled tone.
When it was their turn, the luggage owner finally zipped the bag up properly. It was thrown on the baggage scale and then carried to a quickly moving ramp. After that, they felt someone throw them up into the plane luggage compartment where everything was quiet.
"How long is this trip?" asked Doll.
"Fifteen hours, I think," said Max.
"Oh gosh."
The thunderous engine started and the toys stayed inside the cramped luggage for a good while. Max and Doll eventually got bored and found the luggage zipper, pulling at it until they could finally escape the bag.
There were a ton of other bags in the compartment, and Max and Doll looked inside them, but they only found boring things like hairbrushes. Nothing particularly interesting was going on except the fact that there were a few dogs in kennels in the front of the compartment. Doll befriended them, a husky and a spaniel, and talked softly to them while Max thought about different things and strategies. After that, Max and Doll got to know each other and talked about Mendingbrew's house and the other toys that had been there. Max had never really met them, but he was happy that him and Doll got along well.
Max took a long rest and when he woke up, he paced around and did some yoga. After that, the plane started descending.
"We should get back in some luggage," said Max.
Max and Doll zipped themselves back inside the nearest luggage and the plane landed. They got unloaded from the plane, thrown on the baggage carousel, then rolled around loudly by the travelling owners.
"I can't believe we're really here," went the muffled voice of one of them.
"What should we do?" Max asked Doll. "Get out now?"
"No, I think they're gonna put us in the car soon, maybe we should just stay in and hope they drive closer to the port," said Doll.
"Yeah, airports are usually away from tall buildings and the port is probably by downtown Cairo. Not a bad plan," said Max.
They drove for half an hour and were loaded into a hotel in the middle of the city. It was sunset, so they stayed in the luggage until the family went to bed then quietly escaped. Max explored the hotel room, taking some soap which had a cool design printed on it.
"We should get going," reminded Doll.
"I want to take a bath," said Max, but then he realized Doll was right. Now was not the time for cleanliness. Now was the time for action. They needed to find the port and more importantly, they needed to avoid waking up the sleeping family.
Max roped the door handle and they escaped into the hotel hallway.
"Follow me!" he said, running around a corner by a nearby room door. The door to the first room opened again and one of the travelers looked around confused.
"Was I dreaming?" she muttered, trying to find anyone in the hallway.
Max and Doll continued to the escalator, but no one was using it so they took the stairs. The view out the 20th story windows was very impressive, with many medium-height buildings and unexpectedly green trees.
"Cool," said Max.
"Where is the water?" asked Doll.
"A few miles that way," said Max.
They took a long time to get down the whole staircase. After that they followed behind the busy pedestrians through crisscrossing streets and got to the Nile River before noon.
They walked miles down the Nile, which actually wasn't such an enormous river. There was no port for huge ships.
"Something seems wrong," said Max. There was a man dressed in traditional clothing fishing by the river in front of them. He looked over, surprised to see them. The fisherman said something they didn't understand.
"Hello," said Max.
"Hi?" he replied.
"We're looking for a port. Where the shipping ships ship?" said Max.
"Umm," interrupted Doll. "Where are the big boats?"
The fisherman seemed confused for a moment then realization dawned.
"Ah! Yes, the Suez Canal, Ismailia." He pointed somewhere far away to the east. Max and Doll looked at each other as the words sank in.
"Oh no," said Max. "It isn't even Cairo. This isn't the transportation route... How are we gonna get all the way to Ismailia?"
"Is there a train to there?" asked Max.
"Train? Yes."
"Where?" asked Max.
The fisherman shrugged. Doll looked disappointed.
They headed back to downtown Cairo and sneaked into a gas station which had maps of Egypt in the back corner. Max opened one up.
"You sure the big ship is even headed to Ismailia?" asked Doll, concerned.
"I hope so," said Max, terrified. "What else can we do?"
"I guess..." said Doll.
"We can't give up now," said Max, trying to be brave.
"So here we are," he said, pointing, "and there's the train station. Not too far away."

They walked a long time through the crowds and winding streets, eventually making it all the way to the train station after a few wrong turns. Doll liked the interesting new types of local plants. From the station they hopped into someone's backpack and got on the train to Ismailia. It was a pretty short trip compared to the flight, and before long, they were in the smaller port city.
"Gnome, we're coming for you!" said Max as they disembarked from the train.