1 A Thousand Lifetimes
Part One: Preparation of an exhibit
Authors note: Aida and all its characters belong to Elton John and Hyperion Theartricals, etc.
„Damn it!" Chris mumbled. This was the third time he hit his head on the ceiling of this tomb. He had been in here for about an hour, looking at every detail and searching for anything that would help him to figure out how old this tomb was and what exactly it was used for. Artefacts always told a story, he knew that. If he only looked long enough he could figure it out.
Chris should know, he was the head archaeologist in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He had been working there for almost five years and this was by far the most interesting exhibition he ever had to prepare. They just got the artefacts a couple of days ago and as usual Chris was the first one to take a look at them and determine what age they were and where exactly they came from.
It was always the same procedure and for Chris this was merely routine. He unwrapped each package carefully and looked at every artefact very closely. Due to his experience he could mostly tell how old the artefact was and what it was used for. This time it was a little more difficult, though.
Ever since the packages arrived from Egypt Chris felt uneasy. Although those were the most beautiful artefacts he had ever seen and they all were in an excellent shape, he felt as if someone had put a rope around his neck and pulled it tighter the more he got to know about them.
Today was an especially "bad" day. Since he put his foot into this tomb he could hardly breath and a dizziness has grown up to his head.
Bumm!!! "For Christ sake!!" This was the fourth time. "Concentrate, Chris, what the hell is the matter with you!", he said to himself as he felt the bump that has grown on his forehead.
He decided it was time for a brake, since this wasn't getting him anywhere. There wasn't a lot of space in this tomb so he wasn't even able to stand up straight and since he was crouching for over an hour his knees and back felt numb. He took off his brown leather gloves and stepped carefully out of the tomb. Finally he could stretch and catch some fresh air. Chris was tall and his arms and legs were muscled, although not unattractively so. He kept himself in good shape by working out on a regular basis. Usually he went for a run in Central Park every morning. His work was very intense and exhausting and he needed something to compensate. Plus, since he was running on a regular basis his butt got into a really nice shape……
"Ohhh, this feels good", he thought as he massaged his neck. His dark-blond hair had gotten dusty from the work and the dirt itched in his blue eyes. He looked up to the glass ceiling. It was a beautiful day in September, the sun was shining and a light breeze was blowing. The leaves were moving slowly in the wind. So peaceful. So simple. He must have stood there for almost two minutes when he felt someone was watching him from behind. Chris turned around but there was no one there.
"Get a grip at yourself". He had felt like this before. Ever since he was working on this exhibition. Like someone was watching him from the dark.
Maybe he was just too lonely. He hadn't had a girlfriend in …….. he couldn't even remember. His job took most of his time, he was extremely devoted, after all he was the head of the archaeologist staff of the Museum. He made very good money, lived in a nice apartment on the upper West Side of Manhattan near Central Park, had great friends and …… he was lonely. There was just no time for a relationship. At least that was always his excuse when he met a girl and thought that it could get serious. He had a couple of one-night-stands but that wasn't very satisfying either. Of course, it would take off the pressure but afterwards he felt as empty in his heart as before.
Chris shook his head to get his mind of those unpleasant thoughts. He turned around to the tomb and just got ready to step back into it when a wave of emotions hit him.
Suddenly he couldn't breath anymore and he began choking. Words were ringing in his head.
"We'll put the world's misfortune far behind us…." What?????
They got louder and louder. A piercing pain radiated through his whole body. His head felt like it would explode in a minute. Why the hell couldn't he breath anymore? Where did those words come from? The pain almost got unbearable. He couldn't stand up straight anymore. The lights began to fait and his knees gave in.
"Christopher!!! Hey, are you alright?" David ran up to Chris who was by now laying on the floor. Suddenly the pain was gone, as were the voice in his head. The strength grew back into his body and he was able to stand up again.
"What…what happened?"
"I don't know, but I heard you screaming. As I looked around the corner you were laying on the floor. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think I'm fine. I don't know what was wrong with me. I've been feeling weird all day long."
"Well, have you eaten anything yet?" David knew his boss, he had been working for him for about 2 ½ years now, ever since they met in London – where David came from. Chris was visiting an exhibition which David had prepared and he was so impressed by his work, that he asked him if he wanted to join in his team in New York City. Of course this was an opportunity which David couldn't possible turn down. Chris had a great reputation as an archaeologist and to work for someone like him, looked very good on the resume. Over the years they had also became good friends and Chris highly appreciated David's work. Although at times he could get a little annoying, especially when Chris was so busy that he would forget everything around him, most of all essential needs like food.
"I guess, I haven't. I forgot". Chris knew that look in David's face very well.
"I will go to the cafeteria and grap a bagel, how about that?", he quickly said before David could even open his mouth to lecture him about food again.
"Very nutritious, but better than not eating at all, I guess."
Chris picked up his bag and walked out the great doors to the hallway. This part of the exhibition wasn't open to the public, yet and he had to walk all the way across the museum to get to the cafeteria. While he was walking he looked into his bag searching for his wallet. Not noticing where he was going he pushed another door open and bumped into someone.
"Gee, I'm sorry!" Chris mumbled as he hit the young woman. His bag fell down and its inlets spread out on the floor.
"Ex….Exc……Excuse me….." Was he stuttering?????
He must because he was looking into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. They were as black as the night and the woman they belonged too was simply gorgeous. Her skin was dark and she was wearing a white tank-top and blue jeans. Her body was slender, yet her arms were toned. Her hair was cut short which complimented her pretty face.
"Ar…..ar…..are you al….lright?" Gosh, he was stuttering again. What was wrong with him? He wasn't really a womaniser but never too shy to talk to an attractive girl. Until now.
"Yes, I'm fine" this voice, so soft, her intonation so…….familiar.
"How about yourself?"
"I ….. I…..I'm alright too, I guess." This was getting very embarrassing. Just don't blush, he thought.
"Good, next time you should take a better look of where you're going."
"I… I will, th….thanks."
"Are you sure you're alright? You've got a huge bump on your head."
Chris put his hand up to his forehead. "I know. I'm …ah….I was….I'm working here. At the museum. I mean, of course at the museum. Ah….Otherwise I …. ah ….wouldn't be here….ahm…."
The girl lifted one eyebrow and put her head to one side. This guy was kinda strange but cute. 'He's got beautiful eyes' she thought while looking at him and listening to his hopeless ramblings. She had to smile because whatever he was saying didn't make any sense at all. 'Maybe I should release him from his pains'.
"I'm Rachel." She put out her hand.
"I'm, ahh……." What the hell was his name???
"Christopher!!!!" A voice yelled from behind. Right. Now he remembered. Chris turned around. David was running towards him screaming his name and waving his arms up and down. He looked kind of goovy.
"Christopher, you've got to take a look at this. I found something. It's amazing!"
'Not now!' Chris thought. Rachel was still standing there looking at him and smiling.
"I'm….. I have to…… Excuse me." That's all he could say than David graped his arm and dragged him across the hallway through the doors. There was just enough time to pick up his bag and throw a last glimpse at Rachel.
'I'm never gonna see her again' were his lasts thoughts when he entered the hall with the exhibition in it.
The next thing he saw took his mind off Rachel. Like so many times before, his devotion for his work wouldn't allow any romantic feelings. No more stuttering, no more beautiful women, no more longings and unfulfilled dreams. His head was all of a sudden completely occupied with what he saw in front of him.
He saw - a wonderful statue. It was a life-sized figure of a beautiful woman.
She was made of stone and her cold eyes stared down at Chris.
"Isn't she fabulous?" David asked. He was all excited and couldn't hold still for a minute. He kept on walking around the statue looking at her with a huge smile on his face. His cheeks were glowing in all different shades of red.
"She must have been someone important – look at all the details in her face and look at her dress. Maybe she was the wife of a pharaoh, or the daughter of one, or….." While David kept on speculating who this woman could be, Chris was strangely drawn towards her. He looked up into her eyes and he could swear she looked back at him. He felt as if she pulled him into her world as if he could see behind her face of stone. He was able to see her long blond hair as it softly floated around her neck, he was able to see her blue eyes that looked into his. They looked so incredibly sad. He was also able to see how she opened her mouth to say something….
"….. or maybe she was a servant for the pharaoh" David's voice seemed so far away.
"or maybe….. Christopher are you listening to me?" Chris showed no reaction. He stood there as if he was hypnotized.
"Christopher!" David pulled his arm. All of a sudden Chris was back in the real world.
The statue's face had turned into stone again. Her blond hair was grey limestone as were her eyes. Her lips didn't move. There was no emotion at all.
"Come on, Christopher get a grip at yourself. Tell me who do you think she was?"
"Amneris, the great pharaoh of Egypt!" Chris said in a monotone voice not taking his eyes of the statue.
"Ok. I know you are good in your profession but how could you possible know that?"
"I just know…"
To be continued…
Part One: Preparation of an exhibit
Authors note: Aida and all its characters belong to Elton John and Hyperion Theartricals, etc.
„Damn it!" Chris mumbled. This was the third time he hit his head on the ceiling of this tomb. He had been in here for about an hour, looking at every detail and searching for anything that would help him to figure out how old this tomb was and what exactly it was used for. Artefacts always told a story, he knew that. If he only looked long enough he could figure it out.
Chris should know, he was the head archaeologist in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He had been working there for almost five years and this was by far the most interesting exhibition he ever had to prepare. They just got the artefacts a couple of days ago and as usual Chris was the first one to take a look at them and determine what age they were and where exactly they came from.
It was always the same procedure and for Chris this was merely routine. He unwrapped each package carefully and looked at every artefact very closely. Due to his experience he could mostly tell how old the artefact was and what it was used for. This time it was a little more difficult, though.
Ever since the packages arrived from Egypt Chris felt uneasy. Although those were the most beautiful artefacts he had ever seen and they all were in an excellent shape, he felt as if someone had put a rope around his neck and pulled it tighter the more he got to know about them.
Today was an especially "bad" day. Since he put his foot into this tomb he could hardly breath and a dizziness has grown up to his head.
Bumm!!! "For Christ sake!!" This was the fourth time. "Concentrate, Chris, what the hell is the matter with you!", he said to himself as he felt the bump that has grown on his forehead.
He decided it was time for a brake, since this wasn't getting him anywhere. There wasn't a lot of space in this tomb so he wasn't even able to stand up straight and since he was crouching for over an hour his knees and back felt numb. He took off his brown leather gloves and stepped carefully out of the tomb. Finally he could stretch and catch some fresh air. Chris was tall and his arms and legs were muscled, although not unattractively so. He kept himself in good shape by working out on a regular basis. Usually he went for a run in Central Park every morning. His work was very intense and exhausting and he needed something to compensate. Plus, since he was running on a regular basis his butt got into a really nice shape……
"Ohhh, this feels good", he thought as he massaged his neck. His dark-blond hair had gotten dusty from the work and the dirt itched in his blue eyes. He looked up to the glass ceiling. It was a beautiful day in September, the sun was shining and a light breeze was blowing. The leaves were moving slowly in the wind. So peaceful. So simple. He must have stood there for almost two minutes when he felt someone was watching him from behind. Chris turned around but there was no one there.
"Get a grip at yourself". He had felt like this before. Ever since he was working on this exhibition. Like someone was watching him from the dark.
Maybe he was just too lonely. He hadn't had a girlfriend in …….. he couldn't even remember. His job took most of his time, he was extremely devoted, after all he was the head of the archaeologist staff of the Museum. He made very good money, lived in a nice apartment on the upper West Side of Manhattan near Central Park, had great friends and …… he was lonely. There was just no time for a relationship. At least that was always his excuse when he met a girl and thought that it could get serious. He had a couple of one-night-stands but that wasn't very satisfying either. Of course, it would take off the pressure but afterwards he felt as empty in his heart as before.
Chris shook his head to get his mind of those unpleasant thoughts. He turned around to the tomb and just got ready to step back into it when a wave of emotions hit him.
Suddenly he couldn't breath anymore and he began choking. Words were ringing in his head.
"We'll put the world's misfortune far behind us…." What?????
They got louder and louder. A piercing pain radiated through his whole body. His head felt like it would explode in a minute. Why the hell couldn't he breath anymore? Where did those words come from? The pain almost got unbearable. He couldn't stand up straight anymore. The lights began to fait and his knees gave in.
"Christopher!!! Hey, are you alright?" David ran up to Chris who was by now laying on the floor. Suddenly the pain was gone, as were the voice in his head. The strength grew back into his body and he was able to stand up again.
"What…what happened?"
"I don't know, but I heard you screaming. As I looked around the corner you were laying on the floor. Are you okay?"
"Yeah, I think I'm fine. I don't know what was wrong with me. I've been feeling weird all day long."
"Well, have you eaten anything yet?" David knew his boss, he had been working for him for about 2 ½ years now, ever since they met in London – where David came from. Chris was visiting an exhibition which David had prepared and he was so impressed by his work, that he asked him if he wanted to join in his team in New York City. Of course this was an opportunity which David couldn't possible turn down. Chris had a great reputation as an archaeologist and to work for someone like him, looked very good on the resume. Over the years they had also became good friends and Chris highly appreciated David's work. Although at times he could get a little annoying, especially when Chris was so busy that he would forget everything around him, most of all essential needs like food.
"I guess, I haven't. I forgot". Chris knew that look in David's face very well.
"I will go to the cafeteria and grap a bagel, how about that?", he quickly said before David could even open his mouth to lecture him about food again.
"Very nutritious, but better than not eating at all, I guess."
Chris picked up his bag and walked out the great doors to the hallway. This part of the exhibition wasn't open to the public, yet and he had to walk all the way across the museum to get to the cafeteria. While he was walking he looked into his bag searching for his wallet. Not noticing where he was going he pushed another door open and bumped into someone.
"Gee, I'm sorry!" Chris mumbled as he hit the young woman. His bag fell down and its inlets spread out on the floor.
"Ex….Exc……Excuse me….." Was he stuttering?????
He must because he was looking into the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. They were as black as the night and the woman they belonged too was simply gorgeous. Her skin was dark and she was wearing a white tank-top and blue jeans. Her body was slender, yet her arms were toned. Her hair was cut short which complimented her pretty face.
"Ar…..ar…..are you al….lright?" Gosh, he was stuttering again. What was wrong with him? He wasn't really a womaniser but never too shy to talk to an attractive girl. Until now.
"Yes, I'm fine" this voice, so soft, her intonation so…….familiar.
"How about yourself?"
"I ….. I…..I'm alright too, I guess." This was getting very embarrassing. Just don't blush, he thought.
"Good, next time you should take a better look of where you're going."
"I… I will, th….thanks."
"Are you sure you're alright? You've got a huge bump on your head."
Chris put his hand up to his forehead. "I know. I'm …ah….I was….I'm working here. At the museum. I mean, of course at the museum. Ah….Otherwise I …. ah ….wouldn't be here….ahm…."
The girl lifted one eyebrow and put her head to one side. This guy was kinda strange but cute. 'He's got beautiful eyes' she thought while looking at him and listening to his hopeless ramblings. She had to smile because whatever he was saying didn't make any sense at all. 'Maybe I should release him from his pains'.
"I'm Rachel." She put out her hand.
"I'm, ahh……." What the hell was his name???
"Christopher!!!!" A voice yelled from behind. Right. Now he remembered. Chris turned around. David was running towards him screaming his name and waving his arms up and down. He looked kind of goovy.
"Christopher, you've got to take a look at this. I found something. It's amazing!"
'Not now!' Chris thought. Rachel was still standing there looking at him and smiling.
"I'm….. I have to…… Excuse me." That's all he could say than David graped his arm and dragged him across the hallway through the doors. There was just enough time to pick up his bag and throw a last glimpse at Rachel.
'I'm never gonna see her again' were his lasts thoughts when he entered the hall with the exhibition in it.
The next thing he saw took his mind off Rachel. Like so many times before, his devotion for his work wouldn't allow any romantic feelings. No more stuttering, no more beautiful women, no more longings and unfulfilled dreams. His head was all of a sudden completely occupied with what he saw in front of him.
He saw - a wonderful statue. It was a life-sized figure of a beautiful woman.
She was made of stone and her cold eyes stared down at Chris.
"Isn't she fabulous?" David asked. He was all excited and couldn't hold still for a minute. He kept on walking around the statue looking at her with a huge smile on his face. His cheeks were glowing in all different shades of red.
"She must have been someone important – look at all the details in her face and look at her dress. Maybe she was the wife of a pharaoh, or the daughter of one, or….." While David kept on speculating who this woman could be, Chris was strangely drawn towards her. He looked up into her eyes and he could swear she looked back at him. He felt as if she pulled him into her world as if he could see behind her face of stone. He was able to see her long blond hair as it softly floated around her neck, he was able to see her blue eyes that looked into his. They looked so incredibly sad. He was also able to see how she opened her mouth to say something….
"….. or maybe she was a servant for the pharaoh" David's voice seemed so far away.
"or maybe….. Christopher are you listening to me?" Chris showed no reaction. He stood there as if he was hypnotized.
"Christopher!" David pulled his arm. All of a sudden Chris was back in the real world.
The statue's face had turned into stone again. Her blond hair was grey limestone as were her eyes. Her lips didn't move. There was no emotion at all.
"Come on, Christopher get a grip at yourself. Tell me who do you think she was?"
"Amneris, the great pharaoh of Egypt!" Chris said in a monotone voice not taking his eyes of the statue.
"Ok. I know you are good in your profession but how could you possible know that?"
"I just know…"
To be continued…