Chapter Twenty-five
As a new moon with a the circle of a fairy's ring crept into the dark grey of the summer night sky a small army of men loaded two trucks in the Rosecrest drive. The men worked quietly at a cumbersome job, but they were on orders to be as silent as possible because the lady of the house was gravely ill.
Uncle Toby and Oded stood on the west terrace and watched the final truck pull out. The evening had been a jumble after Evelyn's newest bout of illness. Emma stayed with her while Alex was sent to fetch the doctor again.
Evie had lapsed into a semi-comatose state before Dr. Anderson had arrived. Not being able to wake his mother Alex wanted to stop the expedition until she awoke, but with Toby's urging the plans were going on for Toby feared if they waited to long his niece would never waken.
"Well, my old friend I guess it is time to say goodbye" said Oded still watching the last of the red tails lights fade into the night.
"I prefer not to say goodbye" said Toby "if that is alright with you. I am feeling very superstitious at all of this. I must say that the thought of what we might face in the desert has me a little shaken. And, of course, that is if Alex and I make it that far."
"You mean if any of us make it that far" answered Oded. "There is danger all around with this war raging, but I know what you mean. At least there facing a living enemy you know who you are fighting and how to fight them. I too am hesitant at even speaking. I don't think I have ever been this – unsure."
"I know" said Toby with a firm grip to his friend's shoulder.
The men were interrupted by Jonathan and Alex coming out to the terrace. Both men were dressed in old suits bearing a rag tag look.
"Captain Blaine asked me to come and get you" said Alex. "It is time to go."
"I just want a last look at Evelyn and I'll be right along" said Toby going toward the French doors. "Until we meet in Cairo old friend. And, Jonathan please take care and please keep your mind on what is at stake" said Toby,
"She's still deeply asleep, but Dr. Anderson said her breathing is better and her pulse is stronger" Jonathan replied ticking his chin into his chest so he wouldn't have to look his great uncle in the eyes.
"I just don't think I can leave her Uncle Toby. I just feel with Dad not here that I should stay" said Alex stopping the old man short of the door.
"If we stay I am absolutely sure that we will loose her. We must go find the source of all this evil and get rid of it once and for all and it is going to take all of us. The plans are made" said the old man as he went into the dark house.
"Alex you know how these things can work and you know what evil is. You faced it ten years ago" said Jonathan putting his hand on his nephews shoulder. "I really never wanted to see anything like that again. To tell the truth Imhoteph and that that woman of his scared me half to death. And when she stabbed Evie I thought -- I had never realized until that moment that anyone could really be that unfeeling and full of evil."
"Did you look into her eyes? It was like looking into the eyes of a snake only a snake has more warmth." The three men stood for a moment more and then followed Toby into the house and to their departure.