Chapter 25 – Last Night on the Boat
Robert sat, trying to process the information that Rick had just relayed. It was a fantastic tale. It would have been nearly impossible to believe if he didn't have those uneasy memories of that night in London with Meela Nais and her masked companion. "I've always known that my father had an interest in ancient Egypt, particularly Ramses II, that bordered on obsession," Robert said slowly. "You telling me that he thinks he IS Ramses II actually makes sense." He twisted his lips wryly. "God that sounds weird."
Rick dealt out another game of Solitaire. "This whole business is weird," he agreed. He moved the ace of hearts to its place above the other cards. "So you see why we're anxious to find your father."
Robert nodded. "I see why. Kind of reminds me of an experience I had a few years back." He related the story of the night he'd meet Meela and her friend.
Rick abandoned his cards and looked carefully at Robert as he spoke. "That's very interesting," he mused. "In London, you say? About two years ago?" Imhotep, he thought. The man met Imhotep and Anck-su-namun the night my son was kidnapped. This all probably happened not long after that horrendous bus ride. While Evie and I were panicking and making arrangements to go to Egypt, those two were calmly drinking brandy and confusing the hell out of this kid. Bastards. And that bit about being Imhotep's son that had died in the womb?
Robert watched Rick closely. "Does that mean anything to you?"
"Oh yeah." Rick answered. "Oh yeah."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Evie stared at the locked door of her cabin. What in God's name was she going to do now? She looked down at her right hand, which was still clutching the item she'd grabbed off the dinner table. It was a butter knife. Great, she thought, a butter knife. What good is that? Idly she turned it over in her hand. It had a lovely pattern of scrolling flowers and leaves on the handle. The blade was wide and thin. She traced her fingers over the blade – still a bit greasy from the butter it had been used to spread earlier. An idea came to her and she eyed the door speculatively. "I wonder…" she said out loud. She walked to the door and inserted the blade of the knife into the crack between the door and the jamb.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeth leaned against the rail and watched the moon rise over the Nile River. It was a peaceful scene, one that he would have enjoyed under any other circumstances. He sighed deeply and flexed his hands on the rail. Sooner or later he'd have to go below and try to sleep.
"Think you're being a little hard on our little buddy?"
Ardeth glanced at Rick who'd come up behind him. "Probably."
"Maybe you should lighten up a little," Rick said, leaning on the rail next to Ardeth.
"I'm having a hard time looking him in the face," the tall Arab admitted.
Rick raised an eyebrow. "Because he was Tia's boyfriend? Are you actually jealous of that pup?"
"She chose to spend her time with him. It's not like she was able to choose me."
"Because you carried her off into the sunset? Some women like that, you know."
"Rick," Ardeth said patiently, "I killed her companions in front of her eyes. Then I grabbed her, threw her over my saddle and threatened to kill her if she moved. It wasn't particularly romantic."
"I get that," Rick said.
"Then, when we reach my home, I tell her that she belongs to me and that if she didn't submit to me, I'd have to force her."
Rick looked surprised. "Did you? Force her?"
Ardeth looked away. "No."
"Because it wasn't necessary, or because you haven't gotten around to it yet?"
"It wasn't necessary."
Rick looked at him calculatingly. "But if she belongs to you, she doesn't have much of a choice, does she? After all, it's not like Robert Varne can possibly take her away from you. So why does it matter what she wants?"
Ardeth's head snapped back around, his dark eyes flashing dangerously. Then he caught Rick's grin and relaxed. "Bastard."
Rick chuckled sympathetically and clapped him on the shoulder. "You've got it bad, buddy.
"O'Connell, I value your friendship, but sometimes I wish I'd managed to kill you all those years ago in Hamunaptra."
"That's okay," Rick said consolingly. "Sometimes I wish you had too." He gestured toward the gangway that led to the cabins below. "Come on. There's something you need to know."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jensen picked up the tray of dirty dishes from the table in the salon and turned toward the door. Then he stopped dead. Evie O'Connell was standing in the doorway with a gun in her hand. "Where is Sir Randolph taking Tia DeWitt?" Evie asked grimly.
Jensen gaped at her. "Mrs. O'Connell! How did you…."
"Never mind," she said impatiently. "Where would Sir Randolph have gone, Jensen?"
"To the tomb, probably," Jensen said in a quavering voice, "He said it was time to lay the girl to rest."
"What tomb?" Evie asked sharply.
"Ramses, of course."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ardeth listened to Robert Varne's story with a stony expression. Inside, however, his thoughts were seething. So that's where Anck-su-namun and Imhotep had been after Alex O'Connell had been taken off the bus in front of their noses. They'd sent their flunkies to kidnap the boy while they had cocktails in her London flat with Robert Varne. He reached inside the collar of his robe and ran a finger over one of the scars left from that insane bus ride and the claws of the soldier mummies. He eyed Robert closely. So was this young man really the reincarnation of Imhotep and Tiye's unborn child?
Rick exchanged glances with Ardeth and cocked an eyebrow inquisitively. Should they tell Robert what it meant? Ardeth twisted his lips wryly. Poor kid. He was the reincarnated son of a truly evil man, and he was the modern son of a madman. Neither was a particularly admirable choice.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author's Note:
Not a single review for Chapter 24! Gee, I hope it wasn't that bad.