I Just Can't Help Myself...Part One: Egyptian Adventure
Many years ago in a small town called Millerton, New York, a baby girl named Kiara Lynn was born. The first book she ever read was one on Egypt her mother had in the den of their home. Little Kiki was fascinated by the pyramids, the Nile River, and mummies. The story her father told her one Halloween especially caught her attention. She never knew whether to believe or not. But somehow it seemed like it might be real...
"Once upon a time there was a woman named Evelyn. She and her brother Jonathan lived together in Egypt. They were Brits, and Jonathan was what your Grandpa would call a 'bloomin idiot' in the words of a British man." Kiki had giggled at her father's words and stared, amazed by the story. "Jonathan stole a key from a man named Rick, who had been to Hamunaptra." Kiki's eyes widened. "Daddy, Hamunaptra is a myth!" Mr. Grant's eyes twinkled. "Maybe so, princess, but Rick had been there, or so the story goes. A group of Americans dug up the Book of the Dead and Evelyn read from it. The High Priest Imhotep had risen from the dead!" Mr. Grant's voice boomed loudly, sending chills of fear up Kiki's spine. "He tried to raise Anck-su-namun again, but Rick, Evelyn, Jonathan and a Medjai named Ardeth Bey stopped him and sent his soul back to the underworld." Kiki laughed and shook her head, trying to convince herself the story wasn't true. But something in the back of her mind told her it was...
Kiki Grant smiled happily at her parents as she walked down the long isle in her gown. Today was the day: she was graduating from college. Twenty-one year old Kiki had a degree in journalism and Egyptology. "Kiki, we have a surprise for you," Diane Grant greeted her daughter in a singsong voice. She handed Kiki a few slips of paper and watched her daughter's eyes widened. "Oh, Mom! Dad! I'm going to Egypt! You're the greatest!" She hugged them tightly, tears of joy slipping down her cheeks. "You deserve it, honey. Your flight leaves in an hour. Go home and pack!" Kiki grinned and ran for her car. "Egypt, here I come!"
Kiki flew up the stairs to her bedroom and flung open the door. Twenty one years worth of treasures covered and cluttered the room. Pictures of her and her best friend, Jilly; photographs and posters of Egypt; and Kiki's favorite, a small black statue of the dark god Anubis, brought back by her aunt Jennifer from a Cairo market. She threw shorts, t-shirts, pajamas, and everything else she needed into her suitcase. "Excited?" Diane stood in the doorway, a smile on her face. Kiki grinned and nodded. "Your Dad and I will be giving you a ride to the airport. Someone will greet you at the Cairo airport." "Let's hit the road!" Kiki thrust her fist in the air and charged down the stairs, Diane behind her, laughing.
"Miss Kiara Grant?" A dark haired man greeted her at Cairo's airport. Kiki nodded eagerly. It was ten hours later and she was finally in Egypt. The man exchanged a look with his friend standing beside him. An evil look, one Kiki did not notice. They planned to take the money she had paid them now and leave her to die in the desert. They hated foreigners. "We'll be riding on horseback through the desert." Kiki grinned happily. "Okay! Let's go!" They headed for the stable at the edge of Cairo where the horses were. As the drove toward the stables, Kiki eyed the sights she had seen from only from books before. She sighed and smiled happily.
Kiki leaned down and patted the neck of the dapple grey Egyptian Arabian mare she was riding. Egypt was Kiki's first love, horses her second. Kiki rode tall in the saddle, the mare's hooves kicking up hot sand around her. The first man suddenly stopped his horse by a small, scraggly tree. "We'll be making camp here tonight, miss." Kiki nodded and slid from the mare's back. She pitched her tent and fell fast asleep, dreaming of the adventures she might have tomorrow.
She yawned and blinked sleepily. The warm sun was shining on the tent and the wind whispered from outside. Kiki streched and slowly climbed out of her sleeping bag. She washed with water from her water bottle and pulled on clean clothes. She poked her head out of the tent and discovered the guides were gone, along with the horses, food, and supplies. "God damn it!" she shrieked. But her cries were lost in the howling desert wind. Kiki slammed her fist in her palm and packed up the few belongings she had left. She then began to trudge through the hot sand, not sure of where she was going. Then, just as she had given up all hope, she saw a building. Actually, the ruins of a building. Kiki sighed with relief and ran toward the building. She gasped when she realized where she was. HAMUNAPTRA!
Many years ago in a small town called Millerton, New York, a baby girl named Kiara Lynn was born. The first book she ever read was one on Egypt her mother had in the den of their home. Little Kiki was fascinated by the pyramids, the Nile River, and mummies. The story her father told her one Halloween especially caught her attention. She never knew whether to believe or not. But somehow it seemed like it might be real...
"Once upon a time there was a woman named Evelyn. She and her brother Jonathan lived together in Egypt. They were Brits, and Jonathan was what your Grandpa would call a 'bloomin idiot' in the words of a British man." Kiki had giggled at her father's words and stared, amazed by the story. "Jonathan stole a key from a man named Rick, who had been to Hamunaptra." Kiki's eyes widened. "Daddy, Hamunaptra is a myth!" Mr. Grant's eyes twinkled. "Maybe so, princess, but Rick had been there, or so the story goes. A group of Americans dug up the Book of the Dead and Evelyn read from it. The High Priest Imhotep had risen from the dead!" Mr. Grant's voice boomed loudly, sending chills of fear up Kiki's spine. "He tried to raise Anck-su-namun again, but Rick, Evelyn, Jonathan and a Medjai named Ardeth Bey stopped him and sent his soul back to the underworld." Kiki laughed and shook her head, trying to convince herself the story wasn't true. But something in the back of her mind told her it was...
Kiki Grant smiled happily at her parents as she walked down the long isle in her gown. Today was the day: she was graduating from college. Twenty-one year old Kiki had a degree in journalism and Egyptology. "Kiki, we have a surprise for you," Diane Grant greeted her daughter in a singsong voice. She handed Kiki a few slips of paper and watched her daughter's eyes widened. "Oh, Mom! Dad! I'm going to Egypt! You're the greatest!" She hugged them tightly, tears of joy slipping down her cheeks. "You deserve it, honey. Your flight leaves in an hour. Go home and pack!" Kiki grinned and ran for her car. "Egypt, here I come!"
Kiki flew up the stairs to her bedroom and flung open the door. Twenty one years worth of treasures covered and cluttered the room. Pictures of her and her best friend, Jilly; photographs and posters of Egypt; and Kiki's favorite, a small black statue of the dark god Anubis, brought back by her aunt Jennifer from a Cairo market. She threw shorts, t-shirts, pajamas, and everything else she needed into her suitcase. "Excited?" Diane stood in the doorway, a smile on her face. Kiki grinned and nodded. "Your Dad and I will be giving you a ride to the airport. Someone will greet you at the Cairo airport." "Let's hit the road!" Kiki thrust her fist in the air and charged down the stairs, Diane behind her, laughing.
"Miss Kiara Grant?" A dark haired man greeted her at Cairo's airport. Kiki nodded eagerly. It was ten hours later and she was finally in Egypt. The man exchanged a look with his friend standing beside him. An evil look, one Kiki did not notice. They planned to take the money she had paid them now and leave her to die in the desert. They hated foreigners. "We'll be riding on horseback through the desert." Kiki grinned happily. "Okay! Let's go!" They headed for the stable at the edge of Cairo where the horses were. As the drove toward the stables, Kiki eyed the sights she had seen from only from books before. She sighed and smiled happily.
Kiki leaned down and patted the neck of the dapple grey Egyptian Arabian mare she was riding. Egypt was Kiki's first love, horses her second. Kiki rode tall in the saddle, the mare's hooves kicking up hot sand around her. The first man suddenly stopped his horse by a small, scraggly tree. "We'll be making camp here tonight, miss." Kiki nodded and slid from the mare's back. She pitched her tent and fell fast asleep, dreaming of the adventures she might have tomorrow.
She yawned and blinked sleepily. The warm sun was shining on the tent and the wind whispered from outside. Kiki streched and slowly climbed out of her sleeping bag. She washed with water from her water bottle and pulled on clean clothes. She poked her head out of the tent and discovered the guides were gone, along with the horses, food, and supplies. "God damn it!" she shrieked. But her cries were lost in the howling desert wind. Kiki slammed her fist in her palm and packed up the few belongings she had left. She then began to trudge through the hot sand, not sure of where she was going. Then, just as she had given up all hope, she saw a building. Actually, the ruins of a building. Kiki sighed with relief and ran toward the building. She gasped when she realized where she was. HAMUNAPTRA!
