Evelyn
Carnahan genuinely enjoyed being a librarian, really. It was a nice,
steady job...quiet and unassuming. The resources here at the Museum
of Antiquities provided her with a never ending river of information concerning
Egyptian customs, the history and just about anything she'd like to know.
Yes, being a librarian was perhaps more than just a job, but a calling
for her.
But she wanted
more. She yearned to do more than just read about Egypt in a dusty
old book. She wanted to experience it...feel the crisp sand running
between her fingers while on a dig somewhere. And the thrill of discovery!
That was for her.
And if she
wasn't careful, she might just have to force her way into that world.
Frowning and looking over the library, she sighed. Dr. Bey was going
to kill her. Forget firing her...he was plainly going to have her
killed. Well, he'd have to find her first. Biting her lower
lip, she looked around and tiptoed from the room and into the display room.
Perhaps now was a good time for lunch...
*
Evy walked
down the sandy streets of Cairo, looking at the sidewalk stands
that lined
the streets. "Ah, the young librarian," a voice said and she
turned with
a smile.
"Muhammad,"
Evy greeted, heading back towards the stand.
"You weren't
about to pass without stopping, were you?" the middle aged
stand keeper
asked, giving her a sidelong glance. He handed her an apple,
which she
took without thinking. "Where are you headed?"
Removing some
coins from her change purse, Evy handed them over absently and
sighed. "I'm
not sure. I've made a mess in the Library and Dr. Bey is
going to be
very upset. I'm trying to lay low for a few hours...let him
cool off."
She offered a weak smile.
Muhammad laughed
and shook his head. "You'd better send someone to scope
the place
out before you return."
Evy laughed
and turned away, exhaling and biting into her apple. He was
right...perhaps
someone should go see how things are before she went back
in. She frowned
suddenly and turned slightly, looking back. She could
swear she
was being watched...
*
Bustling along
the busy Cairo street, Dr. Bey was
unconcerned
with the crowds about him as he weaved
his way towards
the Museum. His attention lay solely
in the letter
which had just been pused into his hand.
The connotations
of this news justified the strict code
of order he
lived by and had enforced his entire life, but
it also brought
with it a sense of terror! Never before
had they been
so close to the brink.
So engulfed
was he in his thoughts, that the surprise of
bumping into
Jonathan Carnahan was genuine, and timely.
The very man
he sought stood bumbling and apologetic before
him, requesting
the whereabouts of his sister. Obviously
she was not
where she should be. Dr. Bey sighed with
frustration,
the Carnahans would be the death of him! He
suggested
she might be taking her somewhat early lunch hour
in the small
courtyard near the rear entrance of the Museum.
As Jonathan
retreated down the cluttered lane, Dr Bey called
out for him
to wait, and taking long quick steps to catch up
with the Englishman,
he said "Would you be so kind as to step
into my office
once you've seen your sister? I wish to speak
on a matter
which may interest you." Jonathan smiled and waved
in agreement
as he turned and continued merrily toward the
courtyard.
He was hopeful this time...this time she HAD to be
impressed!
Jonathan was
completely unaware of the watchful gaze from his
most recent
victim. The tall American had been in pursuit for
the last half
hour.
*
Pandora Gaia
Caesar slept deep in the desert in the city of Hampunaptra. Her
form was laid
over a golden table and was still covered in the last garments
she had worn
from her mothers home. Her cheeks were flushed, but her breaths
were undidectable,
any who would see her would think her dead. The room that
held this
woman, this once and still protector of Rome and Egypt was not far
away from
the statue of Anubius. the door had since cracked and fallen
slightly open,
but none had entered the place in such a long time, she hadnt
much worries
of anyone finding her here..she would sleep like this..until
there was
an evil for her to protect the land against..
*
Evy sat alone
at the table, secluded away in the corner and wondering
what she was
going to do. Dr. Bey would be very angry when she
returned.
The library was almost hopelessly trashed by her own hand
and this week
she'd been a little negligent already with a few
things. This
would only make matters worse.
Biting her
lip, she took a sip of her coffee and looked out the
window at
the people that walked by. Well, she was going to have to
face him sooner
or later. With a sigh, she set her cup down and
tried to make
herself move, but couldn't. The threat of Dr. Bey
loomed on
her mind.
*
Jonathan wandered
down the dusty roads picking his way around
questionable
mounds of questionable matter and even more questionable
people. The
heat of the midday sun had played havoc with his linen
jacket just
as his meeting with that odious Dr. Bey had rattled his
nerves.
To be fair
it wasn't all Dr. Bey's fault that Jon's nerves were
rattled. It
was...what...Jon shot his cuff and glanced at his
wristwatch...GOOD
LORD, it was only just past three thirty! He'd have
to wait at
least two hours before he could respectably take a drink.
Jon sighed
at the great unfairness of his life.
Where WAS
Evy anyway?
It wasn't like
her to disappear in the middle of the day.
Jon began
to stride with more purpose down the middle of the road
nimbley jumping
over a less than savory camel's souvenir. He darted
his eyes about
seaking his sister's slim figure.
*
Evy narrowed
her eyes, standing for the moment aside to watch her brother. He
seemed to be looking for something in the crowds of people that milled
around. She smirked as he bumped into a large man who scowled.
Pressing towards
him, Evy breathed, "Oh honestly," and smiled as she approached. "What
are you doing about?" she asked him cooly.
*
O'Connell followed
Jonathan into the lane, grateful
his chance
to pummel this weasel had arrived. The
crowds had
so far hampered any attempt he could
make at retrieving
his property, which this slippery
Englishman
made little attempt to hide. He had
continuously
pulled the trinket from his pocket to
admire it.
Since his return
to Cairo a week ago, Rick's memory
had been dimmed
by drink, but he remembered bits and
pieces of
the previous night, such as meeting up with
Winston and
Izzy and settling into a poker game before
Carnahan introduced
himself and joined the game uninvited.
Everything
after this was a blur. He recalled much whiskey
and vague
accusations of deck stacking followed by a brawl he
couldn't dodge.
There were images of himself and Izzy
dragging the
unconscious Winston out of the Casbah and away
from the authorities;
and one vivid memory of Carnahan
disappearing
through a side door. It wasn't until hours
later, when
the fuss had died down, that O'Connell realized
he had been
robbed.
Now the thief
was cornered and alone, this was going to be
too easy!
But before
O'Connell could retrieve his property, a heavy
blow to the
back of his head sent him thudding to the ground.
His hands
were bound behind his back and he was dragged away
by two large
and smelly Cairo Policemen.
*
His sister's
sudden appearance made Jonathan jump. Usually he wasn't
a jumpy chap,
it was just...
He reached
carefully into his pocket again and closed his hand around
the reassuring
solidity of the puzzle box before smiling sunnily down
at Evy.
"Hello, old
thing. Where've you BEEN? 'Can't imagine the tizzy you
put old Botany
Bey into. Why he even spoke to ME…and you remember,
after that
incident with the young lady with the big…er…eyes…he swore
he'd never…"
Jon took his
sister's arm and continued in this trivial, slightly
risque vein
for a bit before looking carefully down into Evy's
pensive face.
"Why so solemn?"
He asked softly, his eyes and voice betraying the
love that
had inspired him, while still a boy, to steal boxes of
chocolates
and hair ribbons to cheer his sister after their parents
had died.
Evy glanced
up and Jon crinkled his happy blue eyes a bit…and winked
at her.
*
Her form rested
deep within Hamunaptra protected from the places secrets,
yet should
anything become arie she would awaken. Almost a fortnight ago she
was stiring,
when men were at battle above and the beast itself stired, and
than there
was nothing so again she fell into deep slumber. The Magi, were
those whom
she knew, and knew of her story they protected the land, so the
beast would
not awaken. Little did they know how close the protector of the
lands was.
And as she slept, she dreamed of days when she was always busy.
She fought
the great battle of Gaul, She fought those barbarians who would
lay seige
to the great empire of Egypt. Made of two lands, Egypt and Rome,
she had the
best of both worlds. Egypts nurturing, and careing, as well as
eminse beauty
with Romes fierceness. Territorial and a warrior, everything
wrapped into
the chosen one. Who was now for the moment un-needed. and
watched constant
dreams of her glory days in battle..
