Chapter Five
"How can the Book of the Dead help us?"
"The Book of the Dead? Are you sure?" Ahkmenrah asked, but Tally only nodded. "I sure hope you realize the Book of the Dead is a road map through the underworld."
"Exactly."
"Oh, well, then. In that case..."
Jedediah and Octavius spotted Brunden a few more times before they resorted to shadowing him. That's how they ended up spending most of their time around the Egyptian wing, watching Brunden pace and mutter to himself while his fidgeting only got worse. They tried to hear what he was saying, but since his voice was so low, it was no use, so they continued to watch what he was doing.
"It can't go on like this forever," Jed whispered to Octavius. "The sun's gotta come up sometime."
"You sound like this night can't get over fast enough. Let Sol take his time."
"Well, I can't let this night get over before I know what's going on. I know something's up and I know you know, too."
"You're right, I do know, but I also know that he is only limited to his own knowledge, as we are limited to ours."
"Yeah, but there's two of us and only one of him."
"This is also true."
"So, what's the plan, General?"
"Right now, there is none. We just keep watching."
"Okie dokie. Sounds good."
Tally leaned against one of the walls of the Egyptian room, lost in her considerations of what Ahkmenrah had told her. "Okay," she finally said, "you're saying stuff that makes no sense to me. You're talking about when I die, and I don't plan to do that any time soon. I just need a way to avert or completely stop whatever force of evil is just around the corner."
"Oh, so you plan to survive?" Kahmunrah asked. "That changes the game entirely."
"So am I screwed or what?"
"Not unless you're a quick thinker."
"Then I have to be, because I'm not going to die tonight and just let the museum go to hell."
Shock distorted Kahmunrah's features, but Ahkmenrah remained calm. "If this is your world now, then I must trust your judgment."
"You're going to listen to her?" Kahmunrah asked, turning on his brother. "She's a woman."
"Hey! Shove it before I shove it for you," Tally barked, taking a step toward Kahmunrah.
"I have no choice," Ahkmenrah whispered, looking his brother straight in the eye
Kahmunrah sighed, but he couldn't argue. Arguing with the pharaoh would've been as fruitless that night, in the Egyptian room, as it surely was back in ancient Egypt.