Professor Mrad took a seat behind his desk, and motioned for his guest to take a seat facing him. Rafik left his ancient dagger on his desk drawer, although it was never too far from hand, as his guest's warnings about the glorious abomination kept him from abandoning such a potent talisman so soon. Doctor Frankenstein returned the professor's gaze, calm and cold as ever.
"Well Mister Mrad," Victor began, "you're the one who's so interested in my creation, why don't you start by disclosing who you are."
"As I said, my name is Rafik Mrad, professor of Egyptology. I was born in the south of Egypt, attended the university in Beirut, and have been working with the museum for the past few months."
"And who are you really? You honestly can't expect me to believe you're a simple academic after our little misunderstanding, now could you?"
"Certainly not. Although I must warn you that if anyone learns of my nature, I will assume you have betrayed my confidence and react accordingly," Rafik said with as much cold pragmatism as Victor.
"Of course. I have enough to deal with while handling Adam, I hardly need more enemies."
"Well, then that was far easier than I had expected. I must say that I'm glad to see that some Europeans understand the value of keeping secrets."
"Come now, you surely know that all true innovators must know how to keep their work from the public eye."
"I suppose you're right. Yes, but back to my own disclosures, which I'm expecting you to reciprocate in turn," Rafik, after which Victor nodded solemnly, before the professor continued, "My name, back when I was alive in the great land of Khem now called Egypt, was Jarha. Many a fool called me Jarha the Mad, for I struggled to understand the world in ways even the priesthood would not."
"You're a vampire I assume?" Victor asked, his curiosity stirred.
"Oh my, no. But I performed many experiments on vampires in my search for unending life."
"You too sought immortality then? I must say, we have much in common than I originally surmised."
"Indeed, I found a way to turn the finite life span into eternity itself. Ah, how those fools struggled to execute me. One executioner fainted when he saw my severed head mocking his efforts," Rafik said as though fondly remembering times gone past.
"Immortality and invulnerability before the age of modern science? I must say Mr. Mrad, I'm impressed."
"Ah, well. In it's time, it was a task that was hardly unheard of. What truly sealed my fate was how I had strayed into the ruins of a civilization far older than even Khem's. It was said to be an accursed place, inhabited only by ghosts and demons. The priesthood claimed the knowledge there was for no man to learn, but I defied their edict. However, this defiance was deemed worthy of what was to be eternal imprisonment."
"And what did you dredge up from these dreadful ruins that was worth dying for?"
"The potential for knowledge. Oh, I saw a few engravings and indecipherable text, but that was surely nothing compared to the wealth of secrets and lore that were just waiting to be unearthed."
"That sounds tantalizing to my curiosity as a man of science, I must confess."
"I've been dreaming about returning to those ruins for centuries upon centuries. And as the years wore on, I began to fear I would never be free of that tomb. But, a certain over zealous explorer blundered into my prison, and I was awakened."
"How fortunate for you," Victor said cautiously.
"It was a stroke of fate I hadn't anticipated. Then again, I have had many surprises since emerging, the most shocking of which was seeing how far what's now called science separated from what's now called mysticism."
"You mean to claim that once those disciplines were bound closer together? As though science and superstition used to be one in the same?" Victor asked, his tone demanding and filled with indignation.
"Calm yourself Doctor Frankenstein," Rafik said diplomatically, "Much of your modern science has roots in the occult. Why, alchemy birthed to chemistry and astrology shifted into astronomy. And you yourself know of vampires, I hardly find it impossible to believe you have discounted the supernatural entirely."
"Point well taken," Victor said, rapidly calming down in the face of his host's reasoned arguments.
"Naturally it took the sacrifice of life to give me this unending life, and I had to kill the entirety of my followers. But I'm sure you're well aware with such principles, as your own creation seems to be alive in way unlike any nature creates."
"Actually, my methods aren't quite so dependent on life. Indeed, one might say that Adam is a flesh and blood machine."
"A machine? Please, elaborate, as I am unfamiliar with these blasted devices of modern times."
"It's simple really. Adam is composed of dead body parts, his dead brain revived by a massive amount of inert chemical treatments and no small amount of captured lightning. Naturally the exact procedure is far more complicated when it comes down to the necessary details, and frankly I have yet to perfect it."
"A novel approach to an ancient problem, I must admit."
"It is the power of science made manifest. But as I said, the process is far from honed and perfected. There are still many shortcomings in my work."
"Shortcomings such as what? Your creation seemed to be functioning well enough in my eyes."
"You're too kind, but you have no idea what that fiend's put me through. He rebelled almost from the moment I gave him life, and soon enough he escaped from me. Then," Victor said bitterly, "he began a campaign of assassination against my family. I hunted him down, seeking only to destroy him for his crimes against my blood. But again he eluded me, until he disappeared to the northernmost reaches of the world."
"And why do you now travel with him after what he did to you?"
"His travels deactivated him somewhere along the line, and his body was picked up by a whaling ship. It was sold as part of a sideshow until it came to my attention by chance. I promptly purchased the abomination, believing I had perfected the reanimation techniques, and that Adam could turn his murderous nature to my advantage. However, I had not. Now I settle for keeping the beast under my control."
"How do you keep something so powerful at bay I wonder?"
"Oh it's rather simple really, this device," Victor said, motioning to his gauntlet, "allows me to send an electrical charge of varying strength in through a specialized receiver in Adam's skull. Should he step out of line, I can over load his system with electricity. If I'm feeling merciful, he suffers terrible pain. If I'm not, his existence is over in an instant."
"Ah, you are as clever as I had been anticipating. Tell me, how did your fellows react to the research that surely preceded this wondrous technique of yours?"
"Poorly. They said I was trying to do the impossible, violating the will of God."
"You mean the populace continues to hold the advancement of knowledge in dread because of an ignorance enforced by the priesthood."
"Aye, they continue to do so, and never ceased. It's as if they've never understood that all things require sacrifices on some level, if not trading life for life."
"And I had such high hopes when I awakened. I had been bound for all time because I struggled so long and hard to further the arcane arts."
"It would seem then that we have much in common, particularly that we've been forced to suffer for our respective visions."
"My thoughts exactly. Perchance an exchange of ideas and information is in order then?"
"I'd certainly hope so. We could definitely aid each other in our individual endeavors, and perhaps even find common cause," Victor said.
"Yes, I suppose we could help each other. Although I'm curious as to what particular cause we share, save a shared passion for unearthing knowledge."
"Tell me Professor Mrad, did you slay a European who wandered into your tomb?"
"Quite so," Rafik replied with a polite nod.
"And did you remove his heart afterwards?"
"Again, yes," Rafik said, hints of polite annoyance seeping into his tone, "Where are you going with this line of conversation Doctor Frankenstein?"
"Have you ever heard of Count Dracula? Because I believe he's come to Cairo searching for you," Victor replied gravely.
"I know nothing of this Drah-cue-la, but may I assume that his intentions for me involve more ill than good?"
Victor only nodded.
"Well Mister Mrad," Victor began, "you're the one who's so interested in my creation, why don't you start by disclosing who you are."
"As I said, my name is Rafik Mrad, professor of Egyptology. I was born in the south of Egypt, attended the university in Beirut, and have been working with the museum for the past few months."
"And who are you really? You honestly can't expect me to believe you're a simple academic after our little misunderstanding, now could you?"
"Certainly not. Although I must warn you that if anyone learns of my nature, I will assume you have betrayed my confidence and react accordingly," Rafik said with as much cold pragmatism as Victor.
"Of course. I have enough to deal with while handling Adam, I hardly need more enemies."
"Well, then that was far easier than I had expected. I must say that I'm glad to see that some Europeans understand the value of keeping secrets."
"Come now, you surely know that all true innovators must know how to keep their work from the public eye."
"I suppose you're right. Yes, but back to my own disclosures, which I'm expecting you to reciprocate in turn," Rafik, after which Victor nodded solemnly, before the professor continued, "My name, back when I was alive in the great land of Khem now called Egypt, was Jarha. Many a fool called me Jarha the Mad, for I struggled to understand the world in ways even the priesthood would not."
"You're a vampire I assume?" Victor asked, his curiosity stirred.
"Oh my, no. But I performed many experiments on vampires in my search for unending life."
"You too sought immortality then? I must say, we have much in common than I originally surmised."
"Indeed, I found a way to turn the finite life span into eternity itself. Ah, how those fools struggled to execute me. One executioner fainted when he saw my severed head mocking his efforts," Rafik said as though fondly remembering times gone past.
"Immortality and invulnerability before the age of modern science? I must say Mr. Mrad, I'm impressed."
"Ah, well. In it's time, it was a task that was hardly unheard of. What truly sealed my fate was how I had strayed into the ruins of a civilization far older than even Khem's. It was said to be an accursed place, inhabited only by ghosts and demons. The priesthood claimed the knowledge there was for no man to learn, but I defied their edict. However, this defiance was deemed worthy of what was to be eternal imprisonment."
"And what did you dredge up from these dreadful ruins that was worth dying for?"
"The potential for knowledge. Oh, I saw a few engravings and indecipherable text, but that was surely nothing compared to the wealth of secrets and lore that were just waiting to be unearthed."
"That sounds tantalizing to my curiosity as a man of science, I must confess."
"I've been dreaming about returning to those ruins for centuries upon centuries. And as the years wore on, I began to fear I would never be free of that tomb. But, a certain over zealous explorer blundered into my prison, and I was awakened."
"How fortunate for you," Victor said cautiously.
"It was a stroke of fate I hadn't anticipated. Then again, I have had many surprises since emerging, the most shocking of which was seeing how far what's now called science separated from what's now called mysticism."
"You mean to claim that once those disciplines were bound closer together? As though science and superstition used to be one in the same?" Victor asked, his tone demanding and filled with indignation.
"Calm yourself Doctor Frankenstein," Rafik said diplomatically, "Much of your modern science has roots in the occult. Why, alchemy birthed to chemistry and astrology shifted into astronomy. And you yourself know of vampires, I hardly find it impossible to believe you have discounted the supernatural entirely."
"Point well taken," Victor said, rapidly calming down in the face of his host's reasoned arguments.
"Naturally it took the sacrifice of life to give me this unending life, and I had to kill the entirety of my followers. But I'm sure you're well aware with such principles, as your own creation seems to be alive in way unlike any nature creates."
"Actually, my methods aren't quite so dependent on life. Indeed, one might say that Adam is a flesh and blood machine."
"A machine? Please, elaborate, as I am unfamiliar with these blasted devices of modern times."
"It's simple really. Adam is composed of dead body parts, his dead brain revived by a massive amount of inert chemical treatments and no small amount of captured lightning. Naturally the exact procedure is far more complicated when it comes down to the necessary details, and frankly I have yet to perfect it."
"A novel approach to an ancient problem, I must admit."
"It is the power of science made manifest. But as I said, the process is far from honed and perfected. There are still many shortcomings in my work."
"Shortcomings such as what? Your creation seemed to be functioning well enough in my eyes."
"You're too kind, but you have no idea what that fiend's put me through. He rebelled almost from the moment I gave him life, and soon enough he escaped from me. Then," Victor said bitterly, "he began a campaign of assassination against my family. I hunted him down, seeking only to destroy him for his crimes against my blood. But again he eluded me, until he disappeared to the northernmost reaches of the world."
"And why do you now travel with him after what he did to you?"
"His travels deactivated him somewhere along the line, and his body was picked up by a whaling ship. It was sold as part of a sideshow until it came to my attention by chance. I promptly purchased the abomination, believing I had perfected the reanimation techniques, and that Adam could turn his murderous nature to my advantage. However, I had not. Now I settle for keeping the beast under my control."
"How do you keep something so powerful at bay I wonder?"
"Oh it's rather simple really, this device," Victor said, motioning to his gauntlet, "allows me to send an electrical charge of varying strength in through a specialized receiver in Adam's skull. Should he step out of line, I can over load his system with electricity. If I'm feeling merciful, he suffers terrible pain. If I'm not, his existence is over in an instant."
"Ah, you are as clever as I had been anticipating. Tell me, how did your fellows react to the research that surely preceded this wondrous technique of yours?"
"Poorly. They said I was trying to do the impossible, violating the will of God."
"You mean the populace continues to hold the advancement of knowledge in dread because of an ignorance enforced by the priesthood."
"Aye, they continue to do so, and never ceased. It's as if they've never understood that all things require sacrifices on some level, if not trading life for life."
"And I had such high hopes when I awakened. I had been bound for all time because I struggled so long and hard to further the arcane arts."
"It would seem then that we have much in common, particularly that we've been forced to suffer for our respective visions."
"My thoughts exactly. Perchance an exchange of ideas and information is in order then?"
"I'd certainly hope so. We could definitely aid each other in our individual endeavors, and perhaps even find common cause," Victor said.
"Yes, I suppose we could help each other. Although I'm curious as to what particular cause we share, save a shared passion for unearthing knowledge."
"Tell me Professor Mrad, did you slay a European who wandered into your tomb?"
"Quite so," Rafik replied with a polite nod.
"And did you remove his heart afterwards?"
"Again, yes," Rafik said, hints of polite annoyance seeping into his tone, "Where are you going with this line of conversation Doctor Frankenstein?"
"Have you ever heard of Count Dracula? Because I believe he's come to Cairo searching for you," Victor replied gravely.
"I know nothing of this Drah-cue-la, but may I assume that his intentions for me involve more ill than good?"
Victor only nodded.