Two months they traveled through the Peloponnese and now, with two mules loaded with their luggage and a donkey carrying the spoils of the journey, they had taken the road back home. But Mr. Edward did not want to return to Athens just yet; he wanted to pass through Lepsina to see the ancient ruins there as well. Ibrahim did not oppose. More days, more money. He turned to his younger traveling companion. "You look tired, Mr. John," he commented. "The heat exhausted me," John Cripps justified himself irritably, "but the teacher says I am overreacting and whining for no reason." "You're inexperienced!" laughed the Turk. "Hold on a bit, just down the road, just before we enter the village, there's a taverna, we'll stop there to water the horses and have something to eat ourselves..." "Oh! Thank God! Did you hear, Edward? Ibrahim says we're arriving at a taverna." Edward Clark nodded and smiled understandingly. He liked his young student, and although sometimes he behaved like a spoiled rich kid, he was a good and smart young man, and over time they had become friends.