Chapter 5

"YOU NEW DUM DUM, YOU BRING ME GUM GUM!"

McKenzie shrieked as she leaped back into the pharaoh's arms. "What is that?!"

Ahkmenrah suppressed a laugh as he gently disengaged her from himself. "Merely a friendly, immobile statue. He did not mean to frighten you- every night, he requests gum for reasons we have yet to understand. You will get used to him, I promise."

As nonchalantly as possible, McKenzie dusted off her woolen sweater, acting like nothing had happened. Her posture and mortified expression reminded him of his first tour, during which he'd nearly bowled Teddy over from terror of the Jumbo natives. He smiled wistfully.

"What?" The girl now glared at him defensively. "It's not every night one encounters a sentient Easter Island Head!" Ahkmenrah hadn't realized he was still grinning; was she worried he was mocking her?

"Nothing, I was only remembering my first tour. Do not worry- everyone's first night here is overwhelming. Shall we continue? As an old friend once said, we must keep up a vigorous pace if we wish to see more." Visibly calmer now, McKenzie followed him to the Hall of African Mammals. Attila and his gang followed closely behind.

"You're awfully quiet," McKenzie snapped him out of his daydreaming. "Should not a proper tour guide be supplying an endless monologue of the museum's finest historical figures? Or perhaps some of the artwork, if you have any?"

"Forgive me, of course you deserve the grand tour! Please allow me to provide it. This is the bust of Sir Isaac Newton, one of the world's most renown scientists and the sole reason humanity discovered gravity. Ah, and here is-" He proceeded to point out every possible item along the way, alive or not, from the mundane to the exotic. By the time she'd heard the lions' roars, McKenzie ears were humming so badly that she was sincerely regretting her teasing comment. Clinical note: despite being an ancient ruler, he understands the rudiments of sarcasm. And knows how to use it.

Yet all clinical thoughts and professionalism vanished the instant Dexter approached her. McKenzie let out a squeal, barely resisting the urge to pick him up and cuddle him. "Oh, he's adorable! And what might your name be, my dear fellow?" Dexter rewarded her admiration with a well-practiced bow and dignified chattering.

"Now, be on your best behavior, friend," Ahkmenrah whispered to him sternly. At the Capuchin's feigned look of confused innocence, he sighed and shook his head. "I implore you, none of your tricks tonight- she is still learning her way around here, and we do not wish for the Guardian to get in trouble if something happens to her."

Relax, buddy. I promise I'll put my best face forward!

True to his word, Dexter behaved like a gentleman towards McKenzie throughout the entire tour, even screeching at some of his playmates who were laughing at her. Ahkmenrah released a breath of relief; maybe he was gentle with all newcomers (though he doubted Larry would agree). Or perhaps just the women; he'd never seen Dexter bother Rebecca when she visited after hours. How he missed her! Before she moved to Oregon, she used to bring him novels and older textbooks after he'd finished reading Teddy's entire collection of history books. He could now confidently say he had caught up with World History.

"You are rather quiet. Care to share?" Silence. "All right, the strong but silent type. I'll make a note of that."

"Forgive me, I have a lot on my mind."

"Hence why I'm here." One moment she was cooing at the adorable primates and cowering away from potential predators, the next she was serenely adjusting her spectacles and squinting at him like a mango she found lacking. "This tour has been enlightening and all, but shall we get started?"

Ahkmenrah peered at her suspiciously. "With what?"

She smiled for the first time since they'd been introduced. "It's time for your first therapy session."

The instant they'd passed through the lounge's doors, McKenzie yanked out a stack of papers from her bag and handed them to Ahkmenrah. "Before we begin, please fill out this questionnaire- it will help me come up with a more thorough diagnosis."

Not exactly what he'd been expecting, but if it helped erase the visions and the gnawing dread in his gut, he'd comply. Settling himself down on his favorite spot on the sofa, he began to read the questions, most of which he found repetitive. What was the point of rewording four or five questions? Was she testing his intelligence as well his trauma?

It didn't help that McKenzie was perched on the love seat nearby, scribbling in her notebook; he assumed they were notes on their conversation and the tour. The way she hunched over her notebook, squinting and licking her lips as she wrote, reminded him strongly of... best to remember her only as Her. Amazing how anxiety could bring back undesired memories so sharply.

"What?" McKenzie asked, looking up. "Are you done?"

Ahkmenrah nodded and handed her the papers.

"Excellent! Here's the next one."

It was proving to be a rather long evening.

By the following evening, Ahkmenrah could no longer restrain himself from fidgeting- this was proving to be a colossal waste of time. Horseback riding or martial arts would surely be more therapeutic! The only tests he'd mildly enjoyed were the arithmetic and vocabulary ones, all of which he was confident he'd done reasonably well in. Currently, far from experiencing relief, he was full of the nervous type of energy he'd believed only coffee could provide.

"Exactly how are these supposed to help ease my anxiety?" Ahkmenrah sighed as he tossed aside another inkblot index card.

He wasn't the only one growing frustrated. "Your brain is supposed to interpret the inkblots into varies images, which are reflections of your personality." Personally, McKenzie had always felt the ink blot test was somewhat trivial, but she might as well be thorough. "So what do you see?"

"I see an ink stain." Noting the fuming expression on her face, he quickly backpedaled. "I see a morphing butterfly recently freed from its cocoon, flying off the card."

She groaned and flung the card aside- the pharaoh had seen the same morphing butterfly on the last twenty index cards. Was he messing around, or did he truly not understand the treatment? Probably the latter, judging by his growing fluster.

Relief for both arrived with a single knock. "Excuse me, didn't mean to interrupt you two, but I'm afraid I must borrow Ahk for a moment. Those Vikings are insisting you interceed on their behalf in a territory agreement! And none of us want a war between them and the Iroquois," Teddy said. Ra be praised, duty called!


Ah, the wonders of therapy: a million questions, reflections, ink blots! Who doesn't want more of that? XD

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