Mystery: Mau is cheating… She can't take short cuts!
Magna: She has a good reason I assure you!
)*()*( NATM )*()*(
Chapter 4
Teddy led the way to the temple/tomb of Ahkmenrah. She knew the way but Mau felt it would make Teddy feel better if he took charge for a bit.
Once they reached the entrance they stopped and looked ahead.
"Before you say it, yes, I know not to look the jackal statues in the eye. In the other timeline you told Larry, Skye and I." As long as they didn't look them in the eye and walked forward in a non-aggressive manor they wouldn't attack.
"Excellent, young lady, you know what I was going to inform you of before the information was provided. I never had given that information to the previous guardians. Now, let us calmly stroll in and proceed as planned."
The pair strolled past the Anubis guards looking forward as if nothing was going on other that taking a look inside.
"When I say three push, pull the pins and take refuge behind the pillars on the right side and I join you."
"Ahh, because your wax and won't be hurt if… Never mind. I hope you won't become a pin cushion."
"Just being a gentleman. One… Two…" They reached the sarcophagus and held up their hands to the stone, "Three!" Pushing the stone so violently off that it hit the floor and broke into pieces. They both pulled the pins and ran for the right side as the lid was thrown behind the sarcophagus.
The mummy inside rose ominously, Teddy looked as though he doubted he choice in believing Mau and she sighed.
"Pharaoh Ahkmenrah, we came to free you. Your guards unfortunately think we want to harm you. Please, call them off."
After a moment Ahkmenrah barked a command to his stone guards. Turning back is his rescuers he began to unwrap. Mau had seen it before so she wasn't alarmed, Teddy noticeably stiffened at the sight until a face appeared, the puzzled face of Ahkmenrah, coughing up dust.
"You would not believe ho- I have a feeling I have said this before to someone else. And you two look vaguely familiar."
Clapping her hands for joy Mau ran forward and gave Ahk a hug which surprised him. "I wasn't sure if the spells on your sarcophagus would protect your memories from the previous timeline because… Well… They didn't keep you from being taken from your tomb in Egypt. And your tablet might or might not help…" After spewing words emotionally at him Mau regained control of her emotions and backed away quickly.
The young pharaoh looked saddened at the loss of physical contact with another human after such a long time. Teddy stepped forward and offered his hand to shake, "Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of these United States at your service." Hesitantly he took the hand, enjoying the handshake and a hearty pat on the shoulder almost as much.
"You two do look familiar; however I have yet to remember so I will need both your names." He was looking at Mau in a way that made her uncomfortable. It made her wish the Larry watch would say something, but it was one of those times he decided to be silent.
"My name is Mau, Mau Skye Menzies. My brother Skye has the same name. We'd better let you dress and as you can see the tablet is mounted on the wall for you to claim. Could you lead him to where the display on Lewis and Clark when Ahkmenrah is done? My brother is trying to pick the lock on the display to free them and may need help if Attila shows up. We really need to talk him into helping out!"
"Guardian, where are you going? You have only just freed me after 54 years of being imprisoned." Oh, no. The puppy dog eyes he gave only Larry. Ahk had yet to remember everything so he was beginning emotionally attaching himself to Mau.
"Some of the more vulnerable, smaller exhibits need to be checked on. I'll be back in an hour. Should I fail to be you can find me in the Hall of Miniatures, probably doing a lot of explaining to a bunch of confused cowboys and Romans."
"God speed, young lady." Teddy gave her a salute and a laugh as she ran out of the Egyptian exhibit to the women's restroom.
A few minutes later Mau came out, wearing a baseball cap and her hand over her face like she had been blinded. She intended to act surprised for the trap the miniatures set and in turn surprise them. For that to work she had to hide her face and hair.
Stumbling towards the hall of miniatures past a few people, accidentally crashing into a potted plant, peeking through her fingers to avoid any more obstacles, slumping slightly she stumbled in the room, towards the bench then directly to the Wild West diorama, letting the Mayans trip her up so that she fell right into the diorama.
Head turned to face the tunnel she could hear Jed shouting to the men already throwing ropes over and tying her down. So her suddenly shrinking to the size of a miniature was a surprise to be sure. Railroad workers ran away in fear as Mau threw the baseball cap off. One or two acted like they might keep tying her up but stayed back, the ropes all laying asunder about the railroad tracks. Standing there on the tracks as the train was being slowly started up, hands on her hips, Mau looked Jed in the eye.
Time stopped as they recognized the face and the hair. Mau looked like Maureen, the western woman who died decades ago, but whose soul was actually the half that was Florus. Even the mayor had enough sense to shut up. It took the minute the train needed to start moving across the top track for anyone to say something.
It had to be Jed, who had been Maureen's boyfriend, "Maureen… Maureen?! You're dead! I saw ya turn to dust. Y-ya need to get off the tracks! Stop the train!"
"No, I'm not moving Jedediah and the name isn't Maureen, its Mau." The train was already in the tunnel leading to the bottom track.
"GET OFF YA FOOL WOMAN!" The cowboy was already had his horse going at a gallop, slowing he leaned over, pulled her up and galloped away quickly as the train pulled the break. The engineer jumped out, people ran from the tracks as the train came to a stop an inch from the mountain.
Once the drama was over Jed dismounted and roughly taking hold of Mau's arms.
"Why did ya refuse to move? Are you tryin' to get killed? Why are ya dressed like those dadgum giants? Wh-" Having had enough she placed a hand over his mouth.
"I will explain it to you and the others later in the museum lobby at the front desk. I will talk to you and one other here because he's important to what is going on too."
"Who?" Pulling out of Jedediah's grip Mau walked to the edge of the diorama and flew into the air. Ignoring the shocked gasps from above and below she landed on the floor face to face with a surprised Roman army.
"So it's your turn to take a shot at me, General Octavius." The army of men expecting a monstrously large man found themselves face to face with a woman their size. It wasn't until Jed dropped down from a rope that the Romans pulled themselves into sorts.
"Whoa, whoa there toga boy! She's on our territory. I-I think she's one of ours."
"I saw her enter as a giant and she wears the uniform of the giant guardians. Rome shall take her prisoner."
"Roma shall not!" Purposely slipping in the Latin pronunciation of Rome Mau stepped past Jed. "Don't worry Jed. If I have to I can make myself big again and run. Just please stay here; I need to talk to him."
Walking towards the General, Jed voicing warning to Octavius across the distance, Octavius returning warnings in kind she waited till she was face to face and men were waiting at the sides for the order to take her prisoner. "I am here to talk to you and you will not take me prisoner."
"Do you think because you are the incarnation of a dead woman I will not take you?"
"You forget she wasn't the only one who died that day." Speaking softly enough she knew Jed wouldn't hear. It would hurt her plan if he knew the truth beforehand. "NON sum quails eram… EGO eram, Florus." (I am not such as I was… I was, Florus.)
Stepping back to let the words sink in as the General considered his next move.
"I need to speak to you, Jedediah and several others together. In the museum lobby, at the front desk, you should know how to find it, gentlemen." Speaking loudly and clearly to both men she turn, returning to her normal size and left.
)*()*( NATM )*()*(
Mystery Voice: Larry was awfully quiet…
Magna: He's trying not to spook the others till it's explanation time.