The next morning, we arrived in Karnak in the late afternoon. Rick and I were anxious to get off the ship. Izzy tied the ship down as Rick and I ran to the train that the red robed people were on as Ardeth ran to the temple. I cleared one of the rooms while Rick cleared the other half.
"They're gone. We've lost them." I yelled to Rick as I hopped out of the locomotive car. I joined Rick on the outside of the train just as I heard Evy yell.
"ARDETH!" She screamed bloody murder. Jesus fuck Evy. We sprinted to meet her in the temple. I walked in surrounded by all the once beautifully embezzled walls stroking my hand across them wishing I could read what all of the pillars said but that would take forever and we didn't have that kind of time.
"Alex left us his tie... And he made us a little sand castle. It's the Temple Island of Philae. They've gone to Philae." I smiled, my nephew was one smart cookie. just like his mother.
"Attaboy, Alex. Come on!" Rick said running back towards the ship. We hopped aboard. The ride to Philae was pretty short, I didn't get off this time instead I stayed and admired the view from where we were, I knew if Alex was leaving these breadcrumbs it wouldn't be long until we found them. Philae was beautiful, maybe a spot for a future vacation I smiled to myself as the thoughts consumed my head. Once Rick, Evy and Ardeth got back on board they told us we'd be going to the temple of Abu Simbel. Ardeth wrote a note and sent Horus on his way to the 12 tribe leaders. Soon we were surrounded by rock happily cruising through the beautiful landscape.
"That's the Blue Nile down there." Rick pointed out the obvious as he looked over the side of the ship.
"We must be out of Egypt by now." Rick said feeling confident we were getting closer to Alex.
"In ancient times, all this still belonged to the upper kingdom. The oasis must be around here somewhere." Evy said feeling the same way I was. I was getting very impatient as we drew closer, I longed for the ground and to be in action again. I hated being in the sky for so long although I knew this was the quicker way to get things done and to find Alex sooner. But by god if I wasn't on the ground soon so help me I was going to attack someone or throw myself off the ship, this time literally.
"Don't worry. We'll find him. He's a smart kid. He'll leave us a sign." Rick said once again trying to soothe my sister in this stressful process. I smiled. Suddenly, I had this horrible feeling come over me. It seemed like paranoia so I brushed it off, then I saw Izzy's face portraying the same thing. Oh no… I started to hear something coming for us. Whatever it was I had no idea but immediately I saw it from the back of the ship. My family had been at the front. I was paralyzed, I couldn't move as I saw the giant wave of water with Imhotep's face in it.
"We're in trouble!" Izzy screamed alerting us to the danger.
"Wow." I heard Jonathan breathe out amazed to see this giant wave of water coming towards us. It took us a while to actually register what was happening.
"Horus, fly!" Ardeth said immediately the bird took off knowing he needed to get away from the water that would soon overtake our airship.
"Izzy, come hard right! Starboard! Starboard!" Rick yelled eager to get us away from this the threatening water wave. Just as the face attempted to swallow us Rick ran to me and grabbed my waist so I wouldn't fall down as the ship propelled forwards and Izzy guided us to safety. Even with Izzys best efforts the water splashed over us. Promptly soaking Rick and I. Shit, wet. I shivered as we recovered Rick kept his arms around me trying to warm me up with his body heat.
"Was there a little something you forgot to mention? Hmm…?" Izzy said glaring at Rick and I.
"People?" Jon asked drawing our attention to the beautiful scenery before us. Rick guided me towards the front of the ship. The Oasis. Oh my god. I couldn't believe the beautiful sight before me. It was stunning, jungle surrounded the lone pyramid out in the middle of nowhere. Cascading waterfalls were flowing down the rock with no end.
"Ahm Shere." Ardeth breathed out happily. Rick got a spyglass and looked at the pyramid.
"Right." He said putting the glass down.
"He's back!" Izzy yelled drawing our attention to the back of the ship once again.
"Hang on!" Izzy yelled as he was about to propel us forwards again, Rick grabbed my waist in preparation. The face roared at us ready to take us down. Izzy's little trick did propel us forwards for a good 3 seconds then nothing everything stopped.
"Izzy!" I yelled concerned what the fuck was happening. The face drew closer.
"Well, that's not good." He said matter a factly. Izzy ducked below the controls.
"Hang on!" Rick yelled as we spiraled downwards out of the sky. We hit the ground with good impact but the ship made the slide a lot better. I quickly changed out of my wet clothes in the corner of the jungle where no one could see me. Happy I was finally dry-ish I walked back over to the gang.
"We're gonna go their son. Then were gonna want to get out of here fast, so make this work, Izzy." Rick said as he handed supplies to Ardeth, Evy and Jon like an assembly line. Jon was complaining but I was just happy to be back on the ground.
"You dont understand. This thing was filled with gas. Not hot air, gas. I need gas to get this thing in the air. Where am I gonna get gas around here? Bananas? Mangoes? Tarzans ass? Maybe I could finagle it to take hot air.…" Izzy rambled on trying to get Rick to see the problem but eventually realizing something needed to work.
"But do you know how many cubic meters I'd need? Its too big!" He went on.
"If anybody can fill this thing up with hot air, Izzy, its you." Rick replied to him coming over to stand next to me.
"Come to Daddy." I heard Jon say from beside me as he stole back his golden stick. I rolled my eyes at him. He was determined to take this thing back with him. We all grabbed a portion of our supplies and headed off into the jungle.
"Horus." Ardeth called and once again sent the bird off on his way to tell the tribe leaders where to go.
"So, Rick, what's the plan?" Jon said getting to the point.
"Let's find some higher ground." He answered from behind him. Rick had a good plan in place it seemed. A shot rang through the air. My brain wracked itself to what was happening I check my person, no, no I was fine.
"Horus!" Ardeth screamed, when the bird didn't reply or come back he turned to us.
"I must go." Evy went forwards to reason with him.
"Wait, no you can't go." Evy pleaded with him.
"To tell the commanders where we are. If the Army of Anubis arises—" Ardeth said struggling between his son and his job.
"Ardeth, this is our son. I think they'll understand." Evy tried to reason. He gave her a look of longing.
"You're right, this is our first priority." Ardeth said. He kissed Evy on the cheek to make her feel better.
"Thank you." She whispered to him. He ran forwards to lead our group further into the jungle. Day quickly turned to night almost too quickly for my liking, I wasn't too prime on the jungle with all the bugs that were trying to bite me but I was just happy to be on my feet and with my weapons once again. We soon found a place to settle for a bit and camp out for the night.
"You hear that?" Rick asked Ardeth as he started loading his weapons.
"What?" Ardeth asked him.
"Nothing. Absolutely nothing." He replied putting his pistol away and loading a shotgun next. I was loading my own and sharpening my knifes, my favorite blades were sharper than needed but that's how I chose to fight. If I cut myself, that was a good thing.
"My word! I say, chaps, look at this. Shrunken heads. I'd love to know how they do that…. Just curious." Jon said to us as he showed us a shrine of shrunken heads. As he threw his torch in the ground to light up the ground before us. We all looked at him like he was insane.
"You any good with that?" Ardeth walked up to Jon asking about his rifle.
"Three times Fox and Hound`s grand champion I'll have you know. You any good with that?" He countered the question back on Ardeth. I laughed knowing he had an awakening coming from Ardeth.
"You'll know soon enough... Because the only way to kill an Anubis warrior is by taking off its head." He replied twirling his sword at Jon and resting it at his neck. Jon gulped.
"I'll remember that." He said to Ardeth backing down from his original argument. Ardeth nodded at him. I walked up to Evy throwing her one of my shotguns, she caught it with little trouble.
"Try to remember to... Just keep it tight in the shoulder and... Lead the target a little bit,
and then squeeze the trigger- Don't pull it." I told her promptly. She looked at me.
"I wont miss." She told me. I nodded, smiling at her. Rick walked over to me, staring down at me, he grabbed my hand pulling me over to the side so we had privacy.
"I love you." He said, a strain in his voice.
"What's wrong?" I asked him. He shook his head.
"I love-" I started, trying to tell him I loved him too. He cut me off mid sentence kissing me. I wrapped my arms around his neck happy to be in his arms again. It'd been so long since we had this kind of tenderness. Always being on the move kind of hindered us from being so close with each other. It was a different kind of closeness we shared. Just as we started to deepen the kiss he pulled away and left me standing there as he ventured off with Ardeth into the forest. I looked down at the ground and sighed. I knew he would be back. He needed to come back, I couldn't live without him. Evy came over to me after Ardeth had given her a quick kiss, Jon came up next to us. Our little family back together. Jon hugged both of us.
"It's gonna be fine loves." He said to both of us.
"Jonathan.." I said.
"That's my husband down there and my son down there. Make me proud." Evy said cocking her weapon ready for a fight.
"Todays that day, Evy." He said nodding at me as we watched Rick and Ardeth travel into the jungle to find Alex. Evy took a knee while Jon and I remained standing. All the red clothed men were moving very slowly I had lost track of Alex with the grass being so tall. Rick and Ardeth were stealthily moving towards them. Very slowly red men started disappearing beneath the grass being pulled down by some unknown source. Shooting broke out among them but no one from our side was shooting, so what were they shooting at? This may actually work to our advantage. Panic broke out and everyone started running different directions. Rick and Ardeth finally broke into the clearing. Shooting at everything that moved the fight was very sloppy. I started shooting at the people who would end up getting in their way to Alex. Suddenly, two people popped up behind Rick I quickly took them out as he was taking out his two hand guns. Alex was cornered and suddenly Rick came to his rescue running away from Lock Nah with Alex on his shoulder. Ardeth took over the fight with Lock Nah. Lock Nah kept attacking as Ardeth was defending himself. Evy, Jon and I were debating whether to move down with them or not, I decided to take little steps towards everyone.
"OFFENSE ARDETH OFFENSE!" I yelled to him my position hidden by the trees. He picked up his pace and finally had the adventage in his fight with Lock Nah. Ardeth didn't waste much time, he quickly cut his hand off and right after his neck his head slowly falling off as his body hit the floor. I smiled he was safe. Now to find out where Rick got to with Alex. A shot rang out as I was making my way down the hill. I looked up at my siblings they nodded that everything was fine.
"Let's go" Evy said acknowledging the fight was over.
"Thank god for that." I heard Jon say as my siblings joined me and we all started running off to see where everyone had gone. We finally met up with Rick and Alex with no idea where Ardeth had gotten to.
"Rick!" I said throwing myself into his arms and kissing him wholly. Him being surprised by my reaction was stunned but quickly kissed me back dipping me into a salsa like move.
"Mom!" Alex said. Evy and him embracing.
"Alex!" She said happy to have him back.
"Nice shootin`, Tex." Rick said to Jonathan after he had set me back on my feet.
"What were those creepy pygmy things?" Jon asked him we had noticed a few when we were running but didn't think much of them.
"Just the local natives." Rick said waving his hand at the matter.
"Are you sure?" Jon asked unsure of himself and Rick at that moment.
"I'm sure. It was nothing." Rick told him. However, I knew his tone in that said I'm not worried unless they get a hold of you.
"Come on, Mom. Come on, Uncle Rick." Alex started yelling.
"We have to get to the pyramid. I have to get the bracelet off now!" He said almost belligerent.
"Leave it on Alex. Looks good on you." Jon said to him resting his weight on his gun.
"No, you guys, you don't understand. It'll kill me if I don't get inside the pyramid before the sun hits it... Today!" he said worried. Oh my god.
"Oh, my God." Evy and I let out a sigh, I couldn't believe this was happening to us.
"Time to go!" Rick yelled to us as there was movement in the bushes behind us.
"I thought you said it was nothing!" Jon yelled at Rick as we all started running back on a trail that would get us to the pyramid I hoped.
"Where`s Jonathan?" Evy yelled looking back at me.
"He's-" I looked behind me, ah shit he was right behind me. What the fuck Jonathan, now was not the time to go gallivanting off on your own.
"Wait for me!" I heard Jon yell once again behind me, we had just crossed a huge crevasse with a river at the bottom and a fallen tree that lead us across it.
"Hurry up, Jonathan!" Evy yelled as he made his way across the bridge.
"What's that for?" Jon asked as Rick lit some dynamite and threw it to our pygmy friends.
"Oh nothing, just something in case of an emergency." He said as they caught it ad we caught our breath. The bridge blew up and the pygmys fell to their death. OH my god I was out of breath I was not in shape for this. Too. Much. Running.
"Rick." Evy breathed out his name as she saw the sun rising.
"Let's go, Alex." He said taking his arm and running a little ahead of us. I came up the rear ready to fight off whatever came at us. Finally, we got to where Rick and Alex were. Happy with how things turned out Evy ran up to them smiling her head off I stayed where I was letting them have their moment.
"They made it." I smiled happily to Jon.
"Yes. Great. Fabulous." Jon said taking off his backpack staring in awe at the pyramid. I took in all it's beauty. Suddenly, there was a sharp pain in my stomach. Before I could take in what was happening I looked into the eyes of Anck-Su-Namun. That motherfucking bitch that she was. She twisted the knife inside of me, I yelled out in pain. Then she pulled it out. I was going to reach for my gun and shoot her ass but I couldn't, I was in too much pain. Oh my god this was one of the worst feelings ever. I fell to my knees in absolute agony.
"NO!" Rick yelled and ran up to me catching me before I fell to my back.
"JOE." Rick said to me looking in my eyes, his voice was starting to fade and everything around him starting to turn white.
"Joe, no. You're real strong. You're gonna make it. You're fine." Rick tried to reassure himself. A tear started to fall from my eyes I briefly took a look over to Alex, Evy and Jon. I loved them, Evy looked at me hugging Alex's head. Jon had gotten up from where he was thrown by Imhotep and rushed back over to Evy and Alex.
"What do I do?" Rick asked me.
"I'm so sorry Rick." I apologized slowly to him my eyes begging to take me towards the beautiful white light that awaited me if I finally closed them.
"Sweetheart, no." He begged with me.
"I love you." I told him smiling sadly, I knew this was it.
"Joe? Joe… No. Come back, Joe. Come back." That's all I heard as I shut my eyes for all eternity I didn't have the strength to urge another word to Rick to make him understand all was going to be fine. There were so many things I needed to say to him, to my siblings, to teach Alex… But no this was it. No more Imhotep, no more Anck-Su-Namun, no more Rick, Evelyn or Jon, no more Josephine Rose O'Connell. I was dead and I was alone.
