(2) Will Evie Ever Learn
After dinner, Alex was sent to bed and Jonathan, drink in hand, decided to stay in and keep an eye on the lad. The others simply smiled and left knowing his aptitude for laziness. The mood was quiet as they piled into Rick's Bentley and drove to the British Museum. It seemed as if a pall surrounded them. The reasoning be that every time the 3 of them were together something happened. And that thought was not wasted. Parking near the entrance, they got out. Ardeth and Rick stared at the monolithic building as Evie took out the keys and opened the large doors. Now that she was curator, her comings and goings to the museum were of no surprise to the guards.
Walking past the exhibits, they went into the large basement which was filled with crates and artifacts not yet put on display. The trio walked over to one of them and Evie gestured to it. "Well this is the one, so you two strong men can open it up," she teased. Grabbing crowbars, Rick and Ardeth made quick work of opening it and carefully searched through the straw that was used for packing.
The first package found is a small jewelry box which Ardeth hands to Evie. They gaze in as she opens it and pulls out a small amulet made of gold. "This is beautiful," she gasps. "I wonder what time it came from?" Rick takes it and turning it over sees a small inscription. "Since I cannot read Egyptian I bet it doesn't say Made in China." Laughing Evie takes the amulet from her husband and carefully reads it aloud. "Awake from the swoon in which you sleep and a glance of your eyes will triumph over everything that is done against you." Almost as soon as the words are out of her mouth a cold wind blows through the basement. With a frown Rick stares around. "Evie, why do you KEEP reading those things aloud?" Out of habit, Ardeth grabs for his sword and begins to gaze around the empty basement. Soon they can all hear a low moaning, the sound so pitiful and sad it tugs at them all. Suddenly, a loud scream is heard coming from another of the unopened crates. This is soon followed by pounding sounds. Evie races towards it, followed by Ardeth and Rick. "Good Lord someone is locked in there. Get it open!"
The terrified screams can still be heard as they open the box. As the lid is lifted off they look down to see a body flaying wildly wrapped in old and filthy bandages. The trio, not knowing what is going on, steps back and watches as the figure claws at the bandages that are wrapped over the face. Soon, two large black eyes can be seen filled with fear. Without hesitation, Evie bends and helps removed the rest of the bandages and the face of a woman appears. Ardeth, standing back watches cautiously while Rick helps Evie. The woman, seeing them draws back in panic and tries to crawl from the box, the bandages making it difficult for her. "Who did this to you?" Evie asks. "How did you get here? We won't hurt you." Unable to back away any further the woman stops and stares, watching them cautiously. "Rick," Evie whispers, "get me a blanket from the shelf please and a glass of water." As he goes to fetch the items, Ardeth steps closer. The woman's head snaps up seeing him and she visibly relaxes. Tears flowing down her face as she reaches out to him. Unsure why, Ardeth steps over to her and kneels by her side. She says nothing but watches him as he helps to free her from the bandages. As Rick comes back the blanket is gently wrapped around her naked form and the woman leans into Ardeth's chest. Ardeth wraps his arms tightly around her in protection as loud sobs come from her. Evie and Rick watch on quietly, not sure what to make of this.
The woman stares up at Ardeth, a soft smile covers her face as she reaches up and strokes his cheek. Then a soft whispers escapers her just before she falls into a dead faint. Evie runs over to Ardeth. "We have to get her back to our home and get a doctor to tend to her. Then the authorities need to be called." Ardeth nods as he rises, cradling the unconscious woman close to his body. Rick follows them, keeping an eye out around the basement and then looks to Ardeth. "What did she say to you?" Ardeth looks at Rick, a frown on his face. "She said a name. She called me Khnum." Getting into the car they quietly drove back to the house, the mysterious woman oblivious to her surroundings.
After dinner, Alex was sent to bed and Jonathan, drink in hand, decided to stay in and keep an eye on the lad. The others simply smiled and left knowing his aptitude for laziness. The mood was quiet as they piled into Rick's Bentley and drove to the British Museum. It seemed as if a pall surrounded them. The reasoning be that every time the 3 of them were together something happened. And that thought was not wasted. Parking near the entrance, they got out. Ardeth and Rick stared at the monolithic building as Evie took out the keys and opened the large doors. Now that she was curator, her comings and goings to the museum were of no surprise to the guards.
Walking past the exhibits, they went into the large basement which was filled with crates and artifacts not yet put on display. The trio walked over to one of them and Evie gestured to it. "Well this is the one, so you two strong men can open it up," she teased. Grabbing crowbars, Rick and Ardeth made quick work of opening it and carefully searched through the straw that was used for packing.
The first package found is a small jewelry box which Ardeth hands to Evie. They gaze in as she opens it and pulls out a small amulet made of gold. "This is beautiful," she gasps. "I wonder what time it came from?" Rick takes it and turning it over sees a small inscription. "Since I cannot read Egyptian I bet it doesn't say Made in China." Laughing Evie takes the amulet from her husband and carefully reads it aloud. "Awake from the swoon in which you sleep and a glance of your eyes will triumph over everything that is done against you." Almost as soon as the words are out of her mouth a cold wind blows through the basement. With a frown Rick stares around. "Evie, why do you KEEP reading those things aloud?" Out of habit, Ardeth grabs for his sword and begins to gaze around the empty basement. Soon they can all hear a low moaning, the sound so pitiful and sad it tugs at them all. Suddenly, a loud scream is heard coming from another of the unopened crates. This is soon followed by pounding sounds. Evie races towards it, followed by Ardeth and Rick. "Good Lord someone is locked in there. Get it open!"
The terrified screams can still be heard as they open the box. As the lid is lifted off they look down to see a body flaying wildly wrapped in old and filthy bandages. The trio, not knowing what is going on, steps back and watches as the figure claws at the bandages that are wrapped over the face. Soon, two large black eyes can be seen filled with fear. Without hesitation, Evie bends and helps removed the rest of the bandages and the face of a woman appears. Ardeth, standing back watches cautiously while Rick helps Evie. The woman, seeing them draws back in panic and tries to crawl from the box, the bandages making it difficult for her. "Who did this to you?" Evie asks. "How did you get here? We won't hurt you." Unable to back away any further the woman stops and stares, watching them cautiously. "Rick," Evie whispers, "get me a blanket from the shelf please and a glass of water." As he goes to fetch the items, Ardeth steps closer. The woman's head snaps up seeing him and she visibly relaxes. Tears flowing down her face as she reaches out to him. Unsure why, Ardeth steps over to her and kneels by her side. She says nothing but watches him as he helps to free her from the bandages. As Rick comes back the blanket is gently wrapped around her naked form and the woman leans into Ardeth's chest. Ardeth wraps his arms tightly around her in protection as loud sobs come from her. Evie and Rick watch on quietly, not sure what to make of this.
The woman stares up at Ardeth, a soft smile covers her face as she reaches up and strokes his cheek. Then a soft whispers escapers her just before she falls into a dead faint. Evie runs over to Ardeth. "We have to get her back to our home and get a doctor to tend to her. Then the authorities need to be called." Ardeth nods as he rises, cradling the unconscious woman close to his body. Rick follows them, keeping an eye out around the basement and then looks to Ardeth. "What did she say to you?" Ardeth looks at Rick, a frown on his face. "She said a name. She called me Khnum." Getting into the car they quietly drove back to the house, the mysterious woman oblivious to her surroundings.
