May raced down the halls trying to find some way to escape. She could hear the lions getting closer and then she noticed what sounded like hoof beats racing towards her. She glanced behind her and saw a horse pulling a man in a chariot, passing the lions. The man slowed the chariot just a little, reached out his hand and yelled to her to jump in. As he got up next to her she caught his hand and jumped, she landed on the back edge of the chariot but lost her balance and started to fall. Luckily the man was able to pull her farther in to the chariot and she grabbed the front edge of it. They raced through the halls until they were back at the African mammals room. As they entered the room the man yelled something in a language that May couldn't understand to what looked like Attila the Hun. As the lions came in to the room behind them Attila shut the gates. When they got through the second door a man who looked just like the Theodore Roosevelt figure stepped up and closed the second gate just as the lions jumped at it.
As soon as the chariot stopped May jumped off of it and leaned against the wall trying to catch her breath and figure out if she was having a really weird dream or if this could possibly really be happening.
She looked up and saw a crowd of what looked like a bunch of the display figures from all over the museum gathering to see what was going on. The only one she didn't recognize was the man who had rescued her.
Once she had caught her breath and was about to ask what was going on, the man who had saved her stepped forward and asked, "Who are you, what are you doing in the museum and where is Larry?"
She hesitated a moment wondering what they where going to do to her and finally said. "My name is May Kreager and I'm the new night guard until the director finds some one else. Larry was hit by a car while saving a little girl and is in a coma. No one else could stay tonight so I volunteered."
Everyone looked horrified and Teddy said, "How bad is it, do the doctors think he'll make it?"
"He has a broken leg and hit his head really hard. The doctors said that if he doesn't wake up in the first forty eight hours he may never wake up," she told him.
"He's a strong man, I'm sure he'll pull through," Teddy said.
"I hope your right. Now will someone please tell me what is going on here," she turned to the man who had saved her, "and who are you?"
"I am king Ahkmenrah."
May just stood there for a moment staring at him. He certainly was dressed like an ancient Egyptian pharaoh but how could this be possible? Ahkmenrah was a three thousand year old mummy, how could this handsome, very alive looking man possibly be him? She glanced around her and thought "what's not to believe I'm standing here surrounded by a bunch of statues that have come to life, why not a three thousand year old mummy that looks like he's alive too." She finally said, "And how is it exactly that you all are alive?"
"I'm sure you have seen the gold tablet that hangs above my sarcophagus," Ahkmenrah said. May nodded, "It has magic and that is what brings us all to life."
"Okay, magic tablet that brings everything in the museum to life. There's got to be more of a story behind it tha-" May jumped back gasping as one of the lions suddenly lunged at the closed gate next to her, "Why don't the lions try to eat the other animals that are in there with them? May asked.
"It takes them a while to get use to new people or animals, give them a week or two to get use to you being around and they'll be as friendly as house cats. Until then though it is best to keep them locked up," Ahkmenrah told her.
"Okay. Another question, how did Larry's son, Nick, know about you guys. He called right before midnight and tried to warn me about the lions. I understand Larry would have to know about you, but how did Nick know?"
Ahkmenrah looked at Teddy and said, "Would you mind answering this one I wasn't around for the first few nights Larry worked hear?"
"Of course I wouldn't mind," Teddy said.
May looked at Ahkmenrah and said, "Wait a minute; I thought you had been here for over fifty years."
"Suffice it to say we made a terrible mistake and he was locked in his Sarcophagus until Larry came to work here," Teddy said.
"You were stuck in your sarcophagus for over fifty years? That's horrible, how did you keep from going crazy being locked up like that?" May asked.
"Fifty-eight years, four months and twenty three days actually. I'm not entirely sure I didn't go crazy. Who but a crazy person would have kept attacking the inside of the sarcophagus trying to get out for that long? You have no idea how surprised and happy I was when the lid actually came off." Ahkmenrah told her.
The rest of the night was spent telling May about what had happened since Ahkmenrah had been brought to the museum.
They had just about finished when Teddy said, "I'm afraid it's nearly sunrise, we need to get back to our places. Perhaps we can talk more and introduce you to everyone else tomorrow, if you plan on returning."
May grinned and said, "Are you kidding? Of course I'll be back, even if I have to get down on my knees and beg the director to let me. This is a dream come true, I've always been obsessed with history and now I have a whole museum of historical figures to talk to. I should warn you though, if you really want me to come back, I love history and I'll probably constantly be asking questions."
"Of course we want you to come back. It's quite nice to have someone new around to talk to and most of us wouldn't mind answering any questions you have," Ahkmenrah told her.
"Good, because you are probably going to have to put up with the most questions. Ancient Egypt has been one of my favorite history subjects for most of my life," she told him.
"It would actually be nice to have someone to talk to who wants to know about Egypt," Ahkmenrah said.
"Right now we really have to get back to our places, the sun will rise in only a few minutes," Teddy reminded them.
"I'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow," Ahkmenrah told her. He hesitated for a second as if he were going to say something else, but then headed to the Egyptian room.
May watched from the balcony as Teddy got on to his horse and rode back to where he belonged and the t-rex stepped up on to its stand as the sun light started to come in through the front windows and froze them in place.
When the director got to the museum he asked, "Did everything go well last night?"
"It was great; do you think I could just permanently take over as the night guard until Larry comes back? I really enjoyed it and there are plenty of people working in the library. Most of the time all we do up there is sit around hoping someone will come in, so it shouldn't be a problem having one less person. Plus it would save you having to find a new night guard," May asked.
"I suppose we could do that, although I would still have to find someone else to work when you have the night off."
"I could just work every night, I wouldn't mind."
"Why is it that every one I hire to be the night guard says that? It doesn't seem like it would be such an exciting job that no one ever wants time off."
"Well for me I just love history and this job gives me more time to learn about the different exhibits, time to get some extra reading in. Plus I've been teaching myself to read hieroglyphics so aside from walking around and making sure every thing is secure I can stay in the Egyptian room as long as I want to practice."
"Well then you can keep the job, but I think I will still try to find someone to come in just incase you ever get sick or need a night off."
May smiled and said, "Thank you so much. I should get home and get some sleep so I'm ready for tonight."
"Yes you should, I wouldn't want you falling asleep on the job. Get a good days sleep and I'll see you when the museum closes."
"I will. See you this evening."
When May stepped out the door a boy she had seen with Larry a few times ran up to her and said, "Are you May, the one they had working here last night?
"Yes. You're Nick, right?"
"Yes. Are you all right, you didn't tell the director about whet happens at night did you?" Nick asked.
"Of course not. I assumed since he didn't warn me about it that he doesn't know and he would have thought I was crazy if I said anything. Plus who knows what would happen if people found out about Ahkmenrah's tablet. Don't worry I won't tell any one and I already convinced the director to let me take over as the night guard. I had a little trouble with the lions chasing me, but Ahkmenrah rescued me and the others got the lions locked up. Thanks for trying to warn me about them."
"I just wish I had thought about someone having to take my dad's place earlier so I could have warned you before the storm took out the phone." Nick said.
"It's alright, I'm sure you had a lot more to worry about than what was happening at the museum. Has there been any change in your dad's condition?"
"Dad woke up this morning. The doctors want to keep him at the hospital a little longer, but he should be fine once his leg heals then he can come back to work."
That's great, but tell him to make sure his leg is completely healed before he tries coming back. I think I can handle things at the museum."
"Okay I'll let him know," he handed her a piece of paper with a phone number and said, "If you need any help you can call me, I come to work with my dad all the time so I know how to handle anything that might go wrong. Mostly just make sure the lions are locked up. Oh and did Ahkmenrah asked you to tuck him in?"
"What? No," May said.
"That's what I figured, took him a while to ask my dad. Over fifty years stuck in that sarcophagus left him a little claustrophobic. It embarrasses him that he's afraid of something that shouldn't be that scary. He'll leave the sarcophagus lid open and then after sunrise dad closes it," Nick explained.
"Oh the poor thing, I'll make sure he gets tucked in in the morning," May said with a smile.
"Good, well I'll see you later I have to get to school but I'll come back and see how you're handling it," Nick told her.
"I'll let you know if I need the help. See you around."