Chapter Eight
And by "now" Anubis really meant now; the O'Connells and Jennifer didn't have time to pack or anything. Anubis led his prisoners to the outskirts of London where they were startled to find that Anubis had a train -yes a train waiting for them. It seemed, like the O'Connells' old buddy Imhotep, that the God of the Dead had "connections" with mortals. Standing by the train was a young woman, no older then Jennifer but no younger either; her hair was long and midnight black and she wore Egyptian style robes to shield her from the sun. When she saw Anubis and his prisoners approaching she walked to meet them. She eyed the O'Connells, especially Jennifer; Anubis turned to face his "helper".
For once the large jackal decided to be "polite". "This is Sahure." Was all the jackal said.
Sahure faced the prisoners. "This train will take us to Amh-Shre, with your direction. Cooperate and you will live." Sahure said. And with that she and her master boarded the train.
Anubis turned around. "Aboard the train. Now!" Anubis commanded.
The four prisoners -and one bird- did as they were told. To Alex, the train looked just like the once Imhotep and his mistress and had taken him captive on. The cars were long and all looked the same; the seats were pressed against the sides of the cars. Red, plush cushions provided some comfort; aside from the engine car, everything looked the same.
Jennifer didn't know how long the train tracks went but she knew that the train wouldn't take them all the way to Amh-Shre. They would have to do some walking, in the hot desert but until then, she would enjoy the train.
Sahure entered the car the O'Connells and Jennifer were in; she shut the main door to the car. Jennifer heard a large, solid "click" telling her the car door was locked. Sahure told the prisoners that until the train tracks ran out, they would not leave that car. And "that's a promise"; Jennifer watched her leave, heading to the engine car where she was sure Anubis was.
Jennifer sighed and sat down on one of the seats pressed against the side of the train. Horus climbed off her shoulder and down her arm; he screeched and looked around. Jennifer looked up at the O'Connells, who were still looking around the car. She could tell Rick and Evelyn were already thinking of a way to get them out of the car. Jennifer didn't dare say anything to the O'Connells, especially Rick. Rick was certain that this was all her fault -Jennifer was sure; he was right, as far as she was concerned, if it wasn't for her, they would still be in London living their normal lives. But she had to come and turn everything upside down, and she wasn't even there for more then two days.
Alex looked over at his aunt; he sat down beside her. Beneath them, Anubis's prisoners could feel the train start. There was a soft vibrating, it was almost soothing, and the rumble of the wheels against the metal train tracks. Jennifer stared out the window; sand was all that could be seen, all there was to see. Jennifer shut her eyes and listened to the sound of the moving train.
Hours later, the light was fading from inside the car. There were no working lights in the car so the only light was the sun, which was sinking below the horizon. The sky was a brilliant pink, blue and golden color; Jennifer had never seen a sunset so beautiful. For the past three or four hours they -Jennifer and the O'Connells- had been trying to find a way out. Rick and Jennifer had also gotten in several arguments, all put to a stop by Evelyn, who hardly ever yelled but had been doing a lot of yelling for the past three or four hours. Alex had stayed seated, with Horus in his lap, while all the fighting and attempts to escape were going on.
Now, Jennifer was seated on the floor watching the sunset. The attempts to escape had been given up upon ten minutes ago. The prisoners had tried everything; the car door was locked tightly, the windows were bolted. They were trapped in the train, heading to Amh-Shre.
And by "now" Anubis really meant now; the O'Connells and Jennifer didn't have time to pack or anything. Anubis led his prisoners to the outskirts of London where they were startled to find that Anubis had a train -yes a train waiting for them. It seemed, like the O'Connells' old buddy Imhotep, that the God of the Dead had "connections" with mortals. Standing by the train was a young woman, no older then Jennifer but no younger either; her hair was long and midnight black and she wore Egyptian style robes to shield her from the sun. When she saw Anubis and his prisoners approaching she walked to meet them. She eyed the O'Connells, especially Jennifer; Anubis turned to face his "helper".
For once the large jackal decided to be "polite". "This is Sahure." Was all the jackal said.
Sahure faced the prisoners. "This train will take us to Amh-Shre, with your direction. Cooperate and you will live." Sahure said. And with that she and her master boarded the train.
Anubis turned around. "Aboard the train. Now!" Anubis commanded.
The four prisoners -and one bird- did as they were told. To Alex, the train looked just like the once Imhotep and his mistress and had taken him captive on. The cars were long and all looked the same; the seats were pressed against the sides of the cars. Red, plush cushions provided some comfort; aside from the engine car, everything looked the same.
Jennifer didn't know how long the train tracks went but she knew that the train wouldn't take them all the way to Amh-Shre. They would have to do some walking, in the hot desert but until then, she would enjoy the train.
Sahure entered the car the O'Connells and Jennifer were in; she shut the main door to the car. Jennifer heard a large, solid "click" telling her the car door was locked. Sahure told the prisoners that until the train tracks ran out, they would not leave that car. And "that's a promise"; Jennifer watched her leave, heading to the engine car where she was sure Anubis was.
Jennifer sighed and sat down on one of the seats pressed against the side of the train. Horus climbed off her shoulder and down her arm; he screeched and looked around. Jennifer looked up at the O'Connells, who were still looking around the car. She could tell Rick and Evelyn were already thinking of a way to get them out of the car. Jennifer didn't dare say anything to the O'Connells, especially Rick. Rick was certain that this was all her fault -Jennifer was sure; he was right, as far as she was concerned, if it wasn't for her, they would still be in London living their normal lives. But she had to come and turn everything upside down, and she wasn't even there for more then two days.
Alex looked over at his aunt; he sat down beside her. Beneath them, Anubis's prisoners could feel the train start. There was a soft vibrating, it was almost soothing, and the rumble of the wheels against the metal train tracks. Jennifer stared out the window; sand was all that could be seen, all there was to see. Jennifer shut her eyes and listened to the sound of the moving train.
Hours later, the light was fading from inside the car. There were no working lights in the car so the only light was the sun, which was sinking below the horizon. The sky was a brilliant pink, blue and golden color; Jennifer had never seen a sunset so beautiful. For the past three or four hours they -Jennifer and the O'Connells- had been trying to find a way out. Rick and Jennifer had also gotten in several arguments, all put to a stop by Evelyn, who hardly ever yelled but had been doing a lot of yelling for the past three or four hours. Alex had stayed seated, with Horus in his lap, while all the fighting and attempts to escape were going on.
Now, Jennifer was seated on the floor watching the sunset. The attempts to escape had been given up upon ten minutes ago. The prisoners had tried everything; the car door was locked tightly, the windows were bolted. They were trapped in the train, heading to Amh-Shre.