The bearded man sighed, “It’s a pity the temple is closed now. Your priority should be finding a place to stay and then enjoying the wonders tomorrow.”
“Oh, I see. Can you recommend a good hotel in Petra?”
“Of course! Since we met today by chance, why not join us for some Arabian drinks?” the bearded man warmly invited.
“That sounds great. Thank you for the invitation. Drinks are on me tonight, no one should fight me for the bill.”
The bearded man laughed, “Alright, my friend from Atraria, we won’t be shy then.”
The group continued forward as the sunset painted the sky red, trying to hold onto Petra’s fading magnificence.
After about ten minutes, the caravan arrived at their lodging. Looking up, they saw a hotel brimming with Arabian charm.
Built into the mountainside, this hotel stood out with its modern vibe compared to other ancient-style buildings.
The hotel’s name was in Arabic, which Leo couldn’t read.
As soon as the caravan stopped, an Arab man with a dark complexion, curly beard, and strong build came running out of the hotel. He bore a striking resemblance to the bearded man.
“Dear Abbot, welcome back,” the man from the hotel greeted warmly.
Abbot, naturally, was the name of the bearded man.
Abbot dismounted his camel and gave the man a warm hug, laughing, “Amar, my dear friend, we’re here to trouble you again.”
“Haha, you’re welcome to trouble me every day!” Amar’s joy was evident. “Come in quickly. I’ve prepared the best Myrtle Wine for you. I’m sure you remember its fiery taste.”
Abbot licked his lips hungrily and said, “I’ve missed it for half a year! By the way, Amar, let me introduce you to a friend.”
Abbot pointed to Leo, who was just getting off his camel. “He’s from Atraria. I can’t remember his Chinese name, so I gave him an Arabic name, Mac. He’s a great guy.”
Leo walked over to Abbot’s side. Amar stepped forward and hugged Leo warmly, saying, “Welcome to Petra, my friend from Atraria!”
Leo smiled back, “Thank you. The beauty of Petra, the wonders of Allah, and the hospitality of Petra’s people have called me from faraway Atraria.”
Abbot and Amar both laughed at Leo’s words.
Amar enthusiastically gestured, “Come on, my friends. Let’s drink some strong Myrtle Wine and enjoy the fiery dances of The Romany. You’ll be enchanted.”
After a few steps, Leo suddenly remembered something and turned around quickly. “I almost forgot; my bag is still on the camel.”
Amar laughed, “Don’t worry, my dear friend. The hotel staff will safely bring your bag to your room.”
Abbot patted Leo on the shoulder and laughed too. “My friend, there’s no need to worry about safety here.”
As they spoke, several young Arab men emerged from the hotel. They skillfully unloaded the luggage from the camels and led the camels to a designated area.
Leo was only concerned about his bats being discovered but figured that the hotel staff wouldn’t rummage through guests’ bags. So he followed everyone into the hotel.
Entering the lobby felt like stepping into daylight.
The hotel’s decor was luxurious to the extreme. Various Arabian-style murals adorned the interior, making it look like a splendid palace.
This clearly indicated that this hotel was of high class.
Faintly, there were sounds of commotion coming from ahead on the left.
Amongst the noise were rough male laughter and charming female giggles.
After checking in, Leo followed everyone around a corner to a large arched hall.
Inside the hall, music played that was sometimes soothing and sometimes intense. The lights were colorful and dazzling. It was packed with people and buzzing with excitement.
On stage at the front were three tall women wearing veils, dancing passionately to the music.
The men in the hall had their eyes glued to these dancers, occasionally letting out sharp whistles.
Some even got up from their seats and swayed to the music under the influence of alcohol.
It was Leo’s first time seeing such an exotic nightclub.
Amar arranged a table near the front for Leo and his friends and gestured for them to sit down.
As soon as they sat down, three beautiful Arab women came over with large cups of Myrtle Wine. Young Arab men also brought large plates of delicious lamb.
The lamb was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Just smelling it made one’s mouth water.
Amar raised his glass first and said boldly, “Friends, welcome! Let’s drink this Myrtle Wine to our hearts’ content!”
After clinking glasses, Abbot and his friends downed their drinks in one go as if it were water.
Leo followed suit and took big gulps.
The wine slid down his throat like fire rolling into his stomach-a feeling that was hard to describe.
“Great wine! Strong stuff!” Leo said with a thumbs-up.
“Of course! This Myrtle Wine is a secret recipe passed down in my family for hundreds of years. It’s definitely top-notch in Petra,” Amar said proudly with a thumbs-up.
“I believe it,” Leo said with a smile as he raised his glass again. “Come on, friends, let’s drink more.”
“Praise be to Allah!”
They all drank heartily once more.
After setting their glasses down briefly, everyone’s eyes were already red from the surging alcohol.
“Come on, have some tender lamb,” Abbot said as he reached for the meat first.
Everyone grabbed pieces of lamb and started chewing vigorously.
Their mouths were soon greasy with oil-refreshing and hearty.
Leo couldn’t resist any longer either. He grabbed several pieces of meat and chewed them voraciously until his mouth was filled with fragrance and oil dripped from his cheeks.
One word: satisfying!
As they drank and ate heartily, there was suddenly some commotion nearby.
The men kept whistling and shouting hysterically.
Leo turned his head in surprise to see those beautiful dancers coming down from the stage while dancing-bringing their radiant charm closer to the audience.
Men are indeed lustful creatures; Leo thought with a smile and shook his head.
“Hahaha…” Amar laughed too. “I wonder who will get lucky tonight?”
“Hopefully it’s me,” Abbot said with gleaming eyes as he watched The Romany dancers approach closer.