| CHAPTER 8: Where lies the Cure It was a little after lunch by the time the small plane carrying the O�Connells landed in Alexandria, and without much delay Rick and Jonathan got the suitcases unloaded from the plane, and loaded into a taxi. When they were all ready, he went back into the plane to get Heidi, surprised to see that she was very much awake as she rested on a cot which they had set up for her use. She was listening to Alex tell her about the Pyramids, and her breathing didn�t seem as labored as it had been. Evelyn was gathering Heidi�s toys, though looked up as she saw Rick standing at the door, and followed his gaze to their two children. Quietly she walked over to him, and wrapped her arms around him. �See, I told you this is where we needed to be,� she whispered after they kissed. It seemed as though Evelyn was right, though he was too afraid to really believe that she was right. �I hope so,� he said as he gave her lips one last kiss before going to the cot. Once there he knelt down next to Alex. �Are you ready to go to the ship?� he asked both of his children. �Yes, I told Heidi that the best part is getting to sit on the top deck, and watch the land go by,� Alex said moving so his father could get his sister ready to be moved. Rick didn�t have the heart to tell Alex that Heidi wouldn�t be allowed to go there, that she still had to stay in their quarters. Gently he placed his hand against her back then sat her up holding her steady as he wrapped a blanket around her. It was warm outside, but there was a breeze blowing in from the water, and he didn�t want to risk getting her any more sick than she already was. �I walk,� she said softly as Rick lifted her into his arms, cradling her so that they could see one another. �When you are better you can run and play, but right now you need your rest,� he said as he kissed her soft forehead. When he turned, Alex was there, and put her favorite teddy bear in her arms, before turning and walking out of the plane to find his Uncle Jonathan. ~*~ In the middle of the night, Heidi woke up unable to catch her breath. She was resting in between both parents, propped up against several pillows, and had been sleeping peacefully. Not being able to breath easily panicked her, and made matters worse. She screamed, and got choked as Evelyn sat up lifting her onto her lap. �Heidi listen to momma, you have to be very quiet,� Evelyn said as Rick came to sit beside them. Heidi shook her head, and screamed more, then gasped for breath, at the same time coughing. All the noise brought Jonathan, who left immediatly to bring the ships medical officer. She continued to fight both parents efforts to try and calm her down, so Rick reached for her, and took her in his arms, holding her gently against his chest. �Heidi, you need to breath baby, I know it hurts,� he said as he started to rock her. �Take a breath like daddy now,� he said. Rick took in a small breath, and let it out, then another, and felt Heidi do the same. She gasped, but took another breath, then another until she was again breathing the best she could. Evelyn heard the soft tap on their door, and let the medical officer in, telling him what had taken place. She led him to their bed, and stood by as he examined their baby. �This child should be in a hospital,� he said as he closed his black medical bag. �All I can do is give her a shot of penicillin, and urge you to get her to the hospital as soon as we reach Cairo,� he said. In his arms, Rick felt Heidi tense, and continued to rock her. �Shh, the medicine will make you feel better,� he said. �Hurts,� Heidi whispered as she struggled to lift her head from her father�s chest. The energy she had shown earlier in the day was now gone, and all she could do as the doctor prepared to give her the shot was to cry. As he had done countless times since this whole ordeal began, Rick held his baby in his arms as the shot was given, then he and Evelyn did their best to soothe her as she continued to cry. This time, Heidi cried for a long time, neither one of her parents efforts seeming to help soothe her. It was well near three in the morning, two hours after her fit began, that she finally went to sleep as Evelyn sat in a near by chair rocking her. Watching as her daughter struggled to breath, Evelyn had never felt more helpless in all of her life, and as she rocked her, she couldn�t take her eyes from her soft face. She sensed, rather than saw her husbands approach, and couldn�t even look him in the eye. �You can say it if you need to,� she whispered, not wanting to wake their sleeping child. In front of them, Rick knelt down. �Say what?� he asked as he placed his hand against her left hand which rested on Heidi�s chest. �That you were right, that we should have just taken her back to the hospital in England.� There were several moments in the past few hours when he wanted to scream that to his wife, but he knew, even though he couldn�t voice it, that at home Heidi would die, and that at least here she had more of a chance of getting a cure. �I wanted to, back when she was screaming because she couldn�t breath, but I can�t say it now. Bringing her here is a risk, but if there is some chance that we can save her life, then I don�t think it was a bad idea,� he said finally getting her to look at him. �I�m so afraid Rick. I love her so much, I can�t imagine a life without her. I don�t know what to do if she leaves us,� Evelyn said as she started to weep softly while still holding their baby in her arms. Rick stood up and ever so carefully lifted Heidi away from her mum. That movement woke her, but she didn�t make any fuss as he carried her back to the bed. When he put her down, she slowly reached her tiny fragile hand out to his, and grasped it pulling it until it was resting on her chest, then she shut her eyes and continued to sleep. Once she was comfortable, Rick left her and returned to his wife. He reached out and took her hands, then stood her up and gathered her in his arms. �We are not going to lose her Evelyn. She is strong and stubborn like you, and I think she has alot of years left to live,� he said as he gently swayed with her. Being held in Rick�s arms made her feel safe, and Evelyn let the strength she felt there wash over her. Moments later she pulled away from him, though only enough so she could look at him. �Thank you,� she said. Rick looked down at her then leaned his head down and kissed her lips. �For what?� he asked. �For loving me, and putting up with me when I make irrational chooses.� �Your irrational chooses are what I love most about you,� he said as a grin spread across his lips. Evelyn smiled at him, then rested her head against his chest listening to his heart beating strong against her ear. She felt her eyes grow heavy, and as they were about closed, Evelyn felt him lifted her off of her feet, and in another moment felt herself lowered to the bed. She turned over, and rested her left hand against Heidi�s stomach, then went to sleep. ~*~ After the events leading up to Ahm-Shere, the elders of the twelve tribes of the Med-jai, voted that they had to keep an eye out for any talks of trouble within the city of Cairo. They had helpers both at the museum, and the docks to be their eyes and their ears, to bring any news of new developments, or interest in Hamunaptra, or even Ahm-Shere. On another hot afternoon, Ardeth himself was drawn to the city. There was not trouble to speak off, but in his dreams he saw shadows, and heard cries for help. When he spoke to Ahmose-Meryetamun, the tribal dream reader, she told him to go to Cairo in two days, and there he would find his answer. He arrived in the city almost before the sun was up, and had spent the morning wondering the busy streets, looking for anything which would help him find that which he was seeking. Ardeth had been to the museum, and spoken to Aziz, their helper who worked there. The young man had nothing out of the ordinary to report, so he made his way to the docks, and found Abasi, who also didn�t have anything to report. Now frustrated, the Med-jai leader made his way to the outskirts of town, and without realizing it he found himself in front of the home of his friends, a home that they used when visiting Egypt. The house which had stood empty for the past four years was occupied, and something drew Ardeth to the door. He knocked, and a moment later a tall skinny boy answered. �Alex?� Seeing his friend was a relief, and Alex surprised himself, as he hugged the strong Med-jai leader. �I�m glad to see you,� he said as they parted. �My sister is really sick, so mum brought her here, and dad too but she isn�t doing well,� Alex said as he tried his best not to cry. �May I come inside?� he asked, realizing now that the dreams had been drawing him to somehow help his friends. When Alex nodded his head he followed the young boy into the parlor. He sat down to wait for Alex to bring his parents, and looked around. The parlor was small filled with several volumes of books published on Ancient Egyptian History. He stood up and walked over to a shelf full of books, looking at the titles, when he heard Rick greet him. He turned around and saw instantly how exhausted his friend looked. His face was etched with worry. �Alex told me your daughter is ill,� he said. Too exhausted to stand, Rick took a seat on one of the many sofas. �She wont wake up. Evelyn thought bringing her here would better her chances for a cure, and for a while I thought she might be on to something, but we were both wrong. I�ve made arrangements for a private plane to come get us in the morning and get her back to London,� Rick said. Ardeth listened to this with growing concern. �May I ask what is wrong with her?� �Pneumonia in both lungs,� Rick said as he lifted his left hand to his forehead to wipe away the perspiration. He watched as Ardeth stood up, and then remembered his question. �So what brings you here?� he asked. �I may be able to help you and your daughter. Don�t leave Egypt,� he said. Then he was gone. ~*~ Evening came, and in the master bedroom, Rick lay with Heidi on his chest. Her tiny head was pressed against his heart, and it seemed as long as she was there, she didn�t have any panic attacks. Ardeth had not returned to them, and he and Evelyn had fought over whether to stay or leave. It was Jonathan who coaxed her out of the house, to get some supplies, and Rick was grateful for that. He was angry at her, at both of them, for taking such a risky chance of coming here. As he was about to go to sleep he heard the door squeak open, and opened his eyes to find his son standing there. �Come here,� he whispered. Alex did as he was told. He was more afraid than he had ever been, even when his mum had died. Then he had realized they could use the Book of the Dead to bring her back to him. This time there wasn�t anything that could help if Heidi died, and he felt guilty. �She�s going to die isn�t she?� Rick felt his throat constrict, and it took a moment for him to form words, to think of an answer for his son. �I don�t know pal. I don�t want to say she will, because that would be giving up too easily, but she is so sick,� he whispered as he moved himself over enough for Alex to lie with them. �I heard you yelling at mum earlier. Did you mean what you said?� he asked as he rested his cheek against the right side of his father�s chest. �I was angry at both of us for bringing your sister all this way, and when I�m mad I say things I don�t really mean to say. I�ll talk to her when she and Jon get home,� he said holding Alex with his other arm. He felt guilty for going back on what he said on the ship. Evelyn had asked him to tell her she was wrong, and then he had not said so. Just an hour earlier he had blamed her for risking Heidi�s life for some stupid native cure, and that was when she had run out crying. ~*~ As they were arriving back at the house, Evelyn and Jonathan found several Med-jai on horse back, with three horses to spare. One of them dismounted from his horse, and walked toward them. When he drew closer, they both recognized Ardeth Bey. �We need to get you and your family to our Village,� he said. Evelyn left her brother to get Rick and Alex, and bundle Heidi up. When she arrived in their room, she found her husband and two children asleep on the bed. For a moment she watched as they slept, then felt a hand on her shoulder, and turned to find Ardeth there. �Whomever is going to carry your daughter can wear this. It will keep her covered and secure while we ride to the village,� he said. Once he was gone, Evelyn walked to the bed, to the side Alex wasn�t laying on. She sat down then leaned forward kissing Rick�s brow. �Rick wake up,� she softly said. Instantly he did, for a moment disoriented. �What is it?� he asked. �Ardeth says we need to come to his village, all of us. He gave us this harness to hold Heidi, and I think she needs to stay with you,� Evelyn said. As she was standing up, Rick reached out and took hold of his wife�s hand. �Evie I never meant what I said.� She sat back down and kissed him again. �You were angry and frightened, and I know that you love me,� she said, though his words still hurt her, at this moment they didn�t have time to really talk about what he had said earlier. While he sat up, and got Heidi ready for travel, with as little movement away from his body as possible, Evelyn woke Alex and helped him get a few things packed for their journey. A half hour later they were ready to ride into the night, Heidi secure in the harness Rick had around his chest, wrapped in several blankets, and as well with a veil over her nose and mouth so she wouldn�t breath in too much of the cold air. Their Journey to save her life had started, and no one knew what path lay ahead of them. ~*~ More soon |