Page 21 of Troy Story
Crisis averted. But for how long?
* * *
Dusty had beenon so many digs that she’d lost count, but one thing never changed. The first day in the field always sucked. Before they could even think of lifting a shovel, they needed to take measurements and set up the trenches. Then they had to dig through the layers of modern dirt covering the site. Even with the Turkish laborers assisting them, the work was hot, filthy, and exhausting. While the breeze provided some respite from the heat, it also blew the dirt into their faces, forcing most of them to cover up with face masks or bandannas.
Rather than troop back to the café to take their morning break, they stayed at the site to save time. A few of the laborers erected a makeshift canopy and set out a patchwork of large striped blankets underneath it. This would serve as the crew’s breakfast area and a place to rest if they got overheated during the day.
Dusty joined the others in washing up, using one of the large water jugs they’d brought from the field house. She was about to sit with TJ and Emilia until she noticed Clarissa seated by herself. Why wasn’t Stuart hovering over her the way he had all morning?
She bit back her resentment.Stop judging him. He’s just doing his job.
If anything, she was the one who should make an effort with Clarissa. She loaded her plate with breakfast fixings: a hard-boiled egg, some cheese, three slices of tomato, a cluster of grapes, and two pieces of flatbread. After refilling her water bottle, she went to sit beside Clarissa.
Only then did she notice Clarissa wasn’t eating. “Are you okay? You should grab some food while you have the chance.”
Clarissa closed her eyes and let out a sigh. “The heat has sapped my appetite and my energy. Not like the rest of you.” She glanced at a group of students. Crowded together on one of the blankets, they were laughing over a shared joke.
“In a few days, you’ll be used to the heat. Give yourself time to adjust.” Dusty piled the cheese and tomato on top of the bread and took a bite. Delicious.
“I didn’t realize you were an archaeologist, too,” Clarissa said. “Stuart said you were the site illustrator.”
“I’m both. My mom trained me to work in the field since I was a kid, so I can do either, though I prefer drawing.” She popped a few grapes in her mouth, then held out a handful to Clarissa. “Try some. They’re so good.”
Clarissa took the grapes and ate them. “Thanks. They’re really sweet.” She cleared her throat. “Um…can I ask you something?”
As long as it’s not about Stuart. “Sure.”
“Do you think I could help you illustrate the finds? It would be nice to feel useful. Right now, I feel anything but.”
Though Dusty didn’t appreciate Clarissa edging onto her turf, she could sympathize with her for feeling out of place. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. This is only the first day. But if you’d like to help, I’d need to train you. When you illustrate artifacts, you have to use certain conventions so that they can be included in our site reports.”
“Do you draw everything freehand or use a tablet? I’m totally comfortable with graphic design software like Adobe Illustrator and Procreate.”
“That’s great. I usually start with pencil sketches, then transfer them to my tablet to fill in the detail, like the shading and the stippling. I can walk you through the whole process.”
“Thanks. How’d you learn? From your mom?”
“Hardly. She doesn’t have an artistic bone in her body. Stuart’s mom taught me. When his dad worked with my parents in Egypt, he used to drag his whole family along. Since Stuart’s mom didn’t have much interest in helping in the field, she kept busy with her artwork. If she wasn’t drawing our finds, she was painting watercolors of Egypt. She also made the time to take me under her wing.”
Under Judy Carlson’s gentle guidance, Dusty’s talent had flourished. Though she and Stuart had spent a chunk of each day studying with their tutors, once they were done, they could help on-site however they chose. Stuart always wanted to jump in and get his hands dirty, but Dusty was happiest when she was drawing or painting.
“You were lucky to have her,” Clarissa said.
“I really was. She was like my second mom.” And a lot more compassionate than her own mother had been.
“Stuart told me you grew up together, and now I see what he meant. You really are like a brother and sister.”
Ouch. Dusty swallowed back the pain with a swig from her water bottle. “As kids, sure. Now he’s one of my best friends.”
And the object of my dreams.
But she wouldn’t revealthattidbit anytime soon.
CHAPTERNINE
No matter how many places Dusty had worked, she always took a solid week to adjust to the conditions. A new project meant a new crop of people, a new set of expectations, and a new boss. While she had no problem taking orders from Stuart or Kerim, Dr. Hughes was another story. With every imperious command he issued, she battled the urge to snap at him in response. But after the warning Stuart had given her, she’d kept her temper under control.
By the second week of excavation, the crew had dug down to the Late Bronze Age settlement, which was dated between the fourteenth and the twelfth century BC. Now that they’d reached the layer of history they wanted to study, their next step was to expand their trenches horizontally, to reveal as much of the lower city as possible.
