The trip to Egypt was uneventful. Even the dreams that Charly had been having seemed to disappear. In the morning they had left for to catch a ferry that would take them across the English Channel to France. During the ride over she got to spend a little time with her nephew Alex. He told her a story about him getting kidnapped by a mummy a few years before. She listened to his story, letting him have his fun with his tall tale. It was very intriguing and vivid. She noticed Alex took after his Uncle with the story telling. He finished just as the ferry pulled into dock. They walked back to their group and picked up the bags. Jonathan found her and took her hand as the walked off the ferry. They remained hand in hand and together until they reached the train station. When Rick and Evy saw they gave confused glances but were too busy to question what was happening. When they got on the train they all settled into their private car and waited for the train to roll out of the station. Jonathan decided it was time to get a drink and he asked if Charly wanted to join him. She accompanied him to the restaurant car then they had some sandwiches, then Jonathan enjoyed some whiskey and Charly had some white wine. A few hours later Rick came and joined then for a drink himself. Charly saw this as her time to exited and went back to the car. Alex was sprawled out on one side, asleep and Evy was reading near the window on the other. She beckoned Charly toward her when she entered. Charly sat down next to her.
Evy set down her book and asked. "So what is going on between you and my brother?"
"I like him, and he likes me. I guess that's it."
"Well that's lovely. You know I have never seen Jonathan so straight and sober in his life. He must really like you. How did this begin?"
"Well I guess it began the other night at the party, but we really got together yesterday at the piano and dinner,"
"That's wonderful. Your relationship has started off better then mine."
Confused, Charly asked, "What do you mean?" Evy began to explain her history with Rick. "He was in just kissed you? What did you do?"
"I just backed up. I was in shock. I thought he was cute and wanted that to happen, but he was a common criminal in my eyes then. I was so very confused."
Then she went on to discuss Hamunaptra. When she had finished that story she, Charly looked bewildered, "You know, Jonathan told me a story just like that yesterday. Does this mean it's true?"
"Yes, it is."
"What about Alex getting kidnapped by a mummy because of a bracelet and you dying? Alex told me that one this afternoon."
Evy shuddered being reminded of the chaos at Ahm Shere. She nodded, "Yes that one is correct as well. Now do you understand why we didn't want you to travel to Egypt alone?"
"I guess. But common, Egypt can't be that bad? I wasn't planning on going on a dig and reading ancient curses."
Evy smiled, "You could say that, but I though no harm could come from reading a book." Leaving Charly confused she reopened the book she was reading and engrossed herself in it.
"Well thank you Evy. I am going to go get some water." Evy nodded and Charly got up and walked out. She was halfway to the restaurant car when she saw Rick. "Hi"
"Hey! Is Evy still awake?"
"Yeah, we were talking."
"Great." He gave her a smile and walked away. Charly wondered why he seemed so cold to her. She shrugged it off, figuring he was tired and continued walking. She found Jonathan as he was leaving the restaurant car. "Where are you going?"
"To find you" he answered smiling at her. They walked through that train until they
found an empty private car and sat down inside. They talked about what had happened when the separated. Rick and Evy had obviously planned their
talks with them, and followed through. Then they fell asleep in each other's arms and stayed there until
morning when they got up and trudged their way back to the original car to
collect their stuff for when the train got to station. Rick and Evy looked at them suspiciously the
entire time, but they hardly seemed to notice it.
They then had to catch a boat that would cross the Mediterranean Sea and take them to Egypt. They spent their time on the boat in a leisurely manner. Evy read her book, Alex and Rick played checkers and Jonathan and Charly played poker. Charly won most of the time.
By the time they arrived in Cairo they were exhausted. They went to the hotel they were staying at went to their room and fell fast asleep.
That night Charly's dream returned. This time she was in her old bedroom in Boston. She was lying on the bed and rolled over. Little Jonathan was sitting on the chair across from the bed watching her. "Hi" she said rubbing her eyes sleepily. He stared at her with a sad look on his face. "Are you ok?"
"I can't help you. I don't know how to fix it."
Charly stared back confused, "What? What do you mean?" Then the door to her bedroom opened. In the doorway was a very tall bald man. He had strong handsome features, and she was amazed by his immense stature. She turned back to the chair and found Jonathan gone. The man in the doorway walked around to the other side of the bed and sat down looking at Charly. She backed up slightly.
"You will help me." He said in Egyptian.
"Help you? Help you what?"
"You will destroy the Princess Reincarnate and her husband and their spawn."
"What?"
"I will find you tomorrow, and you will join me and help in my crusade." He reached his hand up and touched her cheek. She slapped his hand away. He then got up and walked to the door and left. Charly watched him as he turned and disappeared down the hall.
Now standing against the doorway was Beni. He smiled at her, "You will help Imhotep tomorrow. Get a good nights sleep."
From there her dream disappeared and she fell into a dreamless, restful sleep.