All Roads Lead To Egypt
Chapter 4
Author's Note: Hello, here is chapter 4! Now I'm preparing to leave the country as I type this, but this chapter contains a rather dull cliché' so my apologies in advance. I'm fairly sure this chapter will alienate you all dear readers, and cause you to write me long and horrified flames. Well my apologies, but I want to write this fic this way.
Yup I'm back using Evy's POV, and I pick up where we left off.
It was probably the worst moment of my life, well maybe not quite as bad as when I first heard about the plane crash that had killed my parents, but I experienced the same shock, the same emotional numbness.
I could see Rick with his arms around another woman, it was almost unbelievable, Rick was not the "cheating" type. I don't think his eyes had wandered at all during our marriage, and yet here he was bold as brass with his arms around a Fernley! Of all people.
I had always accepted the fact that in the past, Rick had, well, that, he'd played the field a bit. But I had loved him despite this, maybe even because, it added to his 'roguish' charm. Yet, I'd always trusted him completely, known that he'd put Alex and I first, or so I'd thought.
'Go on then!' Alex urged his father.
Rick sighed, took a deep breath, and then paused, took another deep breath, glanced at Katherine (Who had turned away and was gazing fixedly at the wall.) And he began to speak.
'Evy, what do you know about my past?'
I was slightly surprised, this was not the penitent apology I had expected Rick to begin with. Still, I answered the question.
'Well, not that much really. You spent some time in a Cairo orphanage, you don't have any living family, and you were in the French Foreign Legion, you must have American blood and have lived there for long enough to acquire the accent. When I first met you, you were in Cairo prison for 'having a very good time' and you and Izzy have been involved in some rather questionable activities including bank jobs and liaisons with 'belly dancer girls.'
Fernley turned around at this, and raised an arrogant eyebrow at us. I glared at her.
'Well,' Rick began tentatively, 'Maybe it's time I should fill in some of the gaps.'
'Can't you just explain what was going on here?' Demanded Jonathon gesturing at Fernley.
'I don't think you need me anymore, I'm going back to my hotel.' Announced Fernley, before she walked calmly out of the room. Not even glancing back. She seemed calm enough, but her voice had shook dramatically.
'I'll get to that.' Rick muttered, and without further ado he began.
'I was actually born in Egypt; my father was an American raised in England, my mother was English. My father was a clever man.' Rick laughed sarcastically at this. 'He graduated with a degree in Archaeology and Anthropology from Cambridge University, married my mother and gallivanted straight off to Cairo.'
He paused slightly, and I almost wanted to hit him. I thought he had gone insane, and had decided to tell me my life story instead of his.
'My mother, from what vague memories I have, I can remember as being weak and silly a 'pretty' English woman. Anyway we all lived happily enough in Egypt for a while, until my father took up gambling. It took over his life, he couldn't be trusted with a penny, he'd bet on anything that moved, and play every card game known to man.
My dad lost every penny he owned, and our house in Cairo, his stroke of luck came when a dodgy pal of his, gave him a useful tip. My father discovered an Egyptian tomb that made him millions.
However it wasn't enough for my bloody father, gambling forgotten he found a new vice to cling to, alcohol. Although a pleasant enough man normally, the alcohol transformed him. He became a monster, and he took all of his newfound abusive rage out on me, and my silly mother. My baby sister he completely ignored.
By the time I was twelve I'd had enough of it, I ran away from home and ended up stuck in Cairo orphanage, which believe it or not was an improvement. About 10 years later I hear my dad died and Mummy dearest apparently committed suicide, I had no idea what happened to my sister.
I spent 3 years at the orphanage, until one day my father's brother-in-law George O'Connell turned up and bailed me out, and I went with him to America. I lived there with him and his wife Maud (my father's sister) until I was 18. They had no idea what had happened to my parents, and had only found me by accident.
After that I became the wanderer/soldier/thief you know today. I signed up with the French Foreign legion and the rest as they say is history. Now here's the cruncher my father's surname, which I ditched as soon as I could was "Fernley" and…'
Jonathon interrupted him at this point.
'Hang on! Katherine Fernley's not your bloody sister is she?' He sounded positively outraged.
'That's right, 12 years my junior. I only guessed she was alive when Evy first mentioned her name at breakfast that day.'
I was shocked, confused and horrified. I had inadvertently married the son of my father's arch-nemesis.
'Eric Fernley was your father?' I asked Rick, my voice quavering slightly.
He looked at me surprised. 'How could you know that?'
I began to explain, but just found myself making odd 'goldfish' mouth movements. Jonathon took over the talking.
'The thing is, Rick old chap. Your father and ours were once 'friends' but yours ran off from a dig he was on with ours leaving him almost bankrupt. Since then there has been great hatred and dislike between the Fernley clan and the Carnahan clan. That why Evy here and Katherine try and rip each other's throats out every time they meet.
'That's a slight exaggeration!' I interjected, as I suddenly realised with horror that I was now Katherine Fernley's sister-in-law and that my real name should be 'Evelyn Fernley'.
'That's why I was hugging her.' Rick finished lamely.
'Well,' judged Alex 'I suppose hugging your sister, is better than cheating on mum.'
'Depends on the sister.' Muttered Jonathon, who seemed as shocked as I was.
'Evy?' Asked Rick, his eyes pleading with mine. 'Can you forgive me for having a lousy father who I hate as much as you do?'
I sighed, it wasn't really his fault after all, he hadn't had a clue about the whole Fernley/Carnahan affair. And at least I knew he wasn't having an affair.
I crossed and put my arms round him and we kissed, Alex breathed a sigh of relief and Jonathon sunk into an ornate reproduction of one of king Tut's burial chairs looking flabbergasted.
'So we're Fernley friendly now?' He inquired as he fanned himself with a pamphlet about the day's lectures.
'Hey I'm an O'Connell NOT a Fernley.' Rick corrected angrily.
'But Katherine is a Fernley.' I said, musing again on the cardboard box mystery, now that my marital troubles were over.
'Well,' Alex suggested 'at least we know we can show her those parchment thingies, seeing as she's my Aunt and all.'
Rick nodded in agreement. Poor Alex, he's more or less destined to be an Egyptologist, his mother's the reincarnation of an Ancient Egyptian explorer and an archaeologist/librarian, his father's an explorer, his maternal grandmother was Egyptian, and both his grandfathers were Egyptologists. The poor child doesn't stand a chance.
'So what's the plan?' Asked Jonathon from his chair.
'Well, I guess we still show these things to Fern, er Katherine.' I suggested, it seemed rather cruel to refer to Rick's newly discovered sister by her surname even if she was still my academic rival.
'Well let's go then!' Urged my son, who got bored of standing around any place for too long; a bit like his father really.
'So back to the Regency then?'
When we reached the Regency a porter stopped me as we were heading upstairs.
'Mrs O'Connell?' He inquired, examining me with interest.
'That's right.' I answered, somewhat confused.
'There's someone waiting in the conference room to speak to you.'
My first thought was that it must be one of the scholars, but wouldn't a scholar have spoken to me back at the museum?
'Did they leave a name?' Rick asked the porter.
'Nah, odd looking chap, covered in weird tattoos and wearin' a right scruffy suit. The manger aint too happy about it, said that he would make the hotel look bad.'
I exchanged nervous glances with Rick and Jonathon.
'Where did you say he was waiting?'
'Conference room, next to dining room.'
'Thank you.'
'Jonathon, take Alex back to your room,' Ordered Rick.
'But Dad!' Exclaimed Alex, attempting to argue.
'No buts Alex, Evy and I'll go meet our visitor.'
When we reached the conference room, Rick pulled out a pistol and pushed the door open.
'Trying to shoot me again O'Connell?' Asked a familiar voice.
'Ardeth! What are you doing here?' I demanded as Rick holstered his gun in a concealed pocket somewhere in the depths oh his jacket.
'And what are you wearing?' Added Rick, taking in the Medjai's odd ensemble. His hair was still all wild, and he was still covered in his Medjai tattoos, but he was wearing an incredibly scruffy beige day suit, it was one of the strangest sights I've ever seen, and I've seen some pretty peculiar things.
'I thought I should dress in English clothing, seeing as I had to visit London.'
Rick and I exchanged another set of glances.
'Nice as it is to see you Ardeth.' I began, 'why exactly are you visiting us?'
'To make sure you got my package.' Informed Ardeth, as if it should have been obvious to me, that he was the sender of a mysterious cardboard box full of unreadable documents.
'Your package?' Asked Rick.
'Yes, my package. Those Siexson documents.'
'Why did you send them to me?' I asked feeling rather annoyed. In my opinion Ardeth visiting usually equalled extreme danger.
'The Medjai hoped you would be able to translate them for us.'
'I'm afraid not.'
He seemed upset by this news and he stood up and began pacing the conference room.
'Do you know anyone trustworthy, who would be able to? Believe me my friends this is of great importance.'
'My sister might.' Suggested Rick, he seemed to have completely accepted the news that his long-lost sister had just turned up.
'You have a sister?' Asked Ardeth sounding slightly surprised.
'Yeah, and she can read Siexson.' My husband casually explained.
'Well, if she manages the translations, you must send me them immediately, to this address.' (He handed me a card with a London address on it.) 'Guard those documents at all costs!'
There was an anxious pause, then turning to face us both Ardeth began:
'I do not wish to frighten you, but another chain of events has begun, which could lead to the …'
'Destruction of the world?' Rick and I finished ominously.
'Why?' Rick demanded, 'Do these things always happen to us?'
Ardeth actually shrugged! Stood, up said 'Again, please make haste.' And left.
'I have a bad feeling about this.' Murmured Rick, running a hand through his hair.
Rick and I raced upstairs to inform Jonathon and Alex of the details of our conversation with Ardeth. Neither of them took the news particularly well.
'This is going to be dangerous isn't it?'
'Not more mummies!'
I tried my best to calm them down, but to no avail. I couldn't really tell who looked more terrified my brother or my son.
'Right, we see Katherine, get these things translated, sent to Ardeth, and off our hands.' Decided Rick, obviously keen to avoid another O'Connell family "adventure".
'Alright, hang on does anybody know where Katherine is staying?' I asked, suddenly spotting the floor in our plan,
'Here, I think I saw her at breakfast.' Chipped in Jonathon, adding quickly 'though I didn't know who she was then of course.'
'Let's ask at reception.'
'Who is it?' Came my "new" sister-in-law's voice from the other side of the door to Room 87, as Rick knocked on it.
'Rick O'Connell.'
'Oh' there was a pause, and then Katherine opened the door. She took off a pair of reading glasses and starred at us as if we were exhibits at the British Museum.
'Ah so it's a family visit?' She asked in that scathing voice of hers.
'We need to talk to you about Siexson' I explained, trying hard not to sound too humiliated about having to ask her help in an academic matter.
'Oh well you've come to the right place.' Katherine seemed to be rather amused by my request, and she stepped aside to let us into the room. Which, in true historian style was full of books; she closed and locked the door behind us.
'Introductions first I think.' Rick began, the tension in the room was almost tangible.
'This is my wife Evelyn, but of course you two already know each other, my brother-in-law Jonathon and my and Evy's son Alex.'
'So you're my Aunt?' Demanded Alex giving Katherine a stern look up and down.
'I guess so.' Replied Katherine, returning the gesture.
'So anyway,' I began, turning the conversation back to business. 'A friend of ours gave me some documents, I think they might me Siexson.'
Katherine's face lit up, 'Can I see them.'
I opened the handbag I had hidden them in, and took out the cardboard box and handed it abruptly to her. She carried it over to her desk, sat down, took out a magnifying glass and began to examine the documents, her eyes furrowed in concentration.
The tension in the room only increased, Jonathon began to tap his fingers on the bed post, Alex sat down cross-legged on the floor, and Rick and I went to stand over Katherine's shoulder watching her progress.
'Well?' Rick asked after 10 minutes of silence.
Katherine dropped the magnifying glass and looked round at us.
'This is definitely Siexson, and I think what you may have here.' (Her voice was shaking with excitement.) 'Are the instructions that lead to the whereabouts of the treasure of King Amenhotera.'
'Treasure?' Asked Jonathon keenly.
'Are you sure?' Asked Rick, gazing intently as the parchments.
'Yes.' Katherine replied, 'however I'm afraid I can't translate them without all of my notes.'
'And where are your notes?' I asked.
'Well, home of course.' She replied, not looking up from the pages.
'Where's home?' Asked Rick.
'Fernley manor in Somerset.' She explained, finally looking up at us. 'It's about three hours away. But I can't just leave the lectures…'
Rick cut her off. 'You might have to, I'm sorry but we REALLY need to know what these things say and quickly.'
'Why?' Asked Katherine suspiciously, 'look I'm not just translating these so that you lot can run off on some blasted treasure hunt.'
I felt rather affronted. 'Miss Fernley, believe me, treasure hunting is the last thing on our minds, a friend of ours fears that the treasure may be dangerous, and that he needs to know where it is so it can be protected.'
'A friend? Thinks the treasure is dangerous?' She asked sceptically, raising her eyebrows. (Which seemed to be her token gesture of sarcastic disbelief.)
'Listen Katherine, I'm about to tell you something which you probably wont believe.' Rick said desperately, 'This treasure is cursed, and I have reason to believe with a very dangerous curse.'
'Please, don't tell me you believe in curses?' She replied.
'Well we do, and they exist.' I said firmly.
'Yeah it's true and mummies can come back to life too!' Alex yelled at his Aunt.
'What!' She explained turning to stare at him in obvious disbelief.
'Yeah, that's true too.' Said Rick matter-of-factly.
'Yeah.' Agreed Jonathon.
Katherine's face resembled what mine must have looked like the first time I saw Imhotep staggering around like it was the good old BC days.
'You're all crazy!' She stammered finally.
'You'll find out the hard way that you're wrong if you don't translate these things.' Said Rick almost threateningly.
'Fine!' Snapped his sister in a similar tone, the first time I noticed even a slight resemblance between the siblings. 'I'll have to ring Professor Dukely and quit the lectures, which will be most awkward.' She sighed, and at this point I realised that I too would have to drop out of the lectures, my face fell.
'I'll meet you back here in an hour and a half.' Said Rick finalising the details. 'Have you got a car with you Katherine?'
'Of course.' She snapped back, still obviously annoyed by her "mad" brother.
'Right then, Evy and I will go with you, Jonathon, you follow with Alex.'
'Bossy aren't you?' Inquired Katherine sarcastically.
'Whatever it takes.' Rick answered calmly.
An hour later I had packed everything up, and had rung Professor Dukely, the poor man seemed rather upset, when I blamed an ear infection for my sudden disappearance.
'Oh, I'm sorry to hear that Mrs O'Connell, why poor Miss Fernley called me, not 5 minutes ago to drop out because of a sudden throat infection.'
I sunk down on the bed, my mind was reeling. This morning my only thoughts had been about my academic work and general stress free happy family life, now it felt as if I was standing on the edge of a chasm and was about to fall in.
'Are you alright honey?' Asked Rick, sitting down next to me.
'This is going to be dangerous isn't it?' I muttered, leaning my head on his shoulder.
'I hope not' He replied genuinely.
'And just getting used to having your sister around is going to be difficult.'
Rick sighed, 'Yeah, who knows we might all end up best friends.'
I didn't say anything, but somehow I thought that was deeply unlikely, there was far too much bad blood between me and Katherine just to sweep it all away because I'd discovered that I'd accidentally married her brother.
He kissed the top of my head.
'I'm sure it'll all turn out alright honey, it usually does.'
End of chapter 4
Author's Second Note: Eek, was the siblings thing a shocker? I know it's a cliché but I swear Katherine is very much a secondary character, and as Evy is my favourite character there is no way this will turn into a 'Mary Sue saves the world, Yay!' Type of fic, also I'm hopeless at writing fluff so this wont become a 'happy family Christmas fluffy rabbit.' Type story. Anyway thanks for reading.
Coming in chapter 5:
Katherine translates the documents.
And the dangerous bits begin (Start ominous music.)
Note to leuska: Yay you were right, Katherine isn't really all bad, just a bit pompous. And thanks for pointing out my off spelling of 'Medjai' in the last chapter, there are times when the spell checker does far more harm than good (Grins, but I've corrected it now.) Thanks for reviewing.
