Chapter Three

Jed came to at sunset, realizing he was leaning into Octavius, his head on the general's shoulder. Octavius had wrapped his arms around him and was watching the cowboy with a soft smile. "Hey, Octy, you notice the tablet's been actin' weird, lately?"

"How so?"

"I dunno, just...fritzy."

"Fritzy?"

"On the fritz."

"Then why not just say so?"

"'Cause I'm a lazy ass." He and Octavius chuckled for a second.

"Actually, I have noticed a few strange goings on, particularly the one last night."

"Yeah. How'd they convince the huns?"

"Easy. Magic."

"Tally's specialty."

"That appears to be the case."

"So why'd we get pulled all the way down to D.C.?"

"Let me call a friend. Larry?"

"Yeah, guys?" Larry said.

"Do you know why we're here?"

"Uh...I think something about a circle used by some ancient cult to bring back a snake demon."

"Thanks, Gigantor."

"No problem."

"Now I don't feel so bad about it."

"Yes, we are certainly on a noble mission indeed."

Someone knocked at the door of the trailer and Larry answered. Tally climbed in and set her two paper bags on the floor. "This everything?" she asked.

Larry cross-checked her shopping list with everything that was in either bag. "Apples?"

"The lady at the shop recommended them to me. Dunno why, but she did."

"Okay then. Guess that's everything."

"Okay, good. Did Brunden come by yet? He was supposed to be here."

"Hey, sorry I'm late. Had some trouble finding you guys," Brunden said, walking over to the trailer. "Oo, nice. You five-finger it?"

"We're on a time-sensitive mission, so don't talk smack, boy."

"Time-sensitive?"

"The full moon rises tomorrow night," Ahkmenrah said from his place next to his sarcophagus.

"Okay, gotcha."

Tally looked around before hopping out of the trailer and walking over to the cab, where McPhee huddled, fiddling with his fingers. "Dude, you okay?"

"Am I okay? We just stole a truck and most of the museum exhibits. I had to close the museum until further notice."

"Look, we don't have much more time. The museum will be up and running again in no time."

"Yes, but do you realize I could never work in New York again?"

"So? Try Cairo, or Paris, or some other really exotic big city."

"You think it's that easy? You know what I stand to be charged with?"

"Grand theft auto, grand larsony of a museum, anything else?"

"I think that's it, and as it stands, my career is over."

"Listen to me, you doof. I told you I wasn't saying anything, and I'm pretty sure Larry knows better, and if Brunden pipes up, you can bet I'm shoving it for him. The other witnesses are museum exhibits brought to life every night by a magic tablet."

"You're gonna hurt me?" Brunden asked, affecting a look of some degree of innocence.

"You better believe it. It's my job to keep up all outward appearances, so if you say anything, I'm hunting you down and giving you a harsh beating."

"Okay, okay." Brunden took a few steps back and raised his hands as if in surrender.

"What are we going to do?" McPhee asked.

"We're going to close the circle, even if it takes us all night."

McPhee sighed and climbed out of the cab, still a little shaken, but a lot stronger. "Well, let's start now, then."