Chapter 28
"Pardon me, Guardian, but have you seen Mr. Harris?"
Larry frowned. "The night janitor? No, Ahk, sorry I haven't. Why?"
"No reason. If you should see him, could you... No, never mind." Ahkmenrah wondered off, having spotted the worker near the Hall of Miniatures. Initially, he had his suspicions, but eventually Harris had warmed himself to all the exhibits, including himself. Now, he didn't know what to think! How could Harris possibly know anything about the tablet? Had last night been a fluke? And yet there had been authority in the man's voice, knowledge behind the instructions that would not have come from merely dabbling in an artifact.
"Mr. Harris, good evening!"
Harris looked up from his dusting. "Ah, good evening pharaoh. And please, call me George, I prefer it. I trust the night finds you well?" He smiled, but beyond that Ahkmenrah found nothing other than congeniality. The absence of anything linking Harris to the man from the previous night was enough to stop him in his tracks- could he be mistaken?
"I- I was wondering if you had a moment."
"Anything for one of Larry's gang! What can I do for you?"
This was awkward. "I was wondering if... What do you know of magic?"
Mr. Harris blinked. "Ha, well, um, not much beyond this museum. Why?"
No, he knew something. He could tell from his sudden fidgeting, the way he longed to but wouldn't look away. "Mr. Harris, how can you claim not to know about magic after approaching me last night?"
His lips drawn into a tight line, Harris leaned his dustpan against a wall. "Shh kid, not here! This way," he guided him to a broom closet. Ahkmenrah refused to enter it, so he grudgingly settled on standing near it. "Honestly, I thought you were the sensible type. You can't just go blabbing about things like magic!"
"We live in an enchanted museum. Why can I not speak my mind of such things?"
"Let's just say there are subjects I'd like to keep private. Magic is one of them."
Ahkmenrah eyed him suspiciously until Harris started shifting around on his feet. "Anyway, what do you want from me, kid?"
"How do you know about my tablet?"
"Mr. Daley must have told me about it. Otherwise, I know as much as you guys do." He looked remarkably angry about this fact.
"You must have some knowledge; how else could you have helped me?" Ahkmenrah hissed. He felt remarkably defensive now, as if he were defending his very livelihood.
Mr. Harris snorted. "You think I was talking to you about your tablet, kid? What I said goes far beyond that, believe me. It extends to all magic, not just your little golden heirloom." He paused to inspect his nails. Ahkmenrah sensed he wanted to say more, but the man took his time.
"What else do you remember of the magical arts? Please, I would not ask, but-"
"You need some friendly advice? Some gentle guidance, direction?" Ahkmenrah nodded. "Can't blame you, after the 'progress' you've been making... But I hate to tell you, magic isn't always gentle or kind. Still, if my conditions are met, I'll help you all I can."
"And what are your terms?"
Here Mr. Harris paused in earnest, seemingly staring off into the distance (some small point above Ahk's right shoulder), but he was actually wracking his brains out. The last thing he needed was for the pharaoh to grow more suspicious of him, but he could see from Ahkmenrah's squint it was already a little late for that. On the other hand, Ahkmenrah must be desperate- otherwise he wouldn't be so persistent. And persistence must be rewarded. What he told him next could prove critical... Not too threatening, but commanding. "First, you will do what I say, when I say it, and not argue. Understand?"
He nodded, eager as a puppy for bacon.
"Second, not a word of this is to leave the museum. Everything we study is between you, me and yes," he added when the pharaoh opened his mouth to protest, "President Roosevelt and McKenzie are also included in our bargain. I wasn't kidding when I said I keep certain aspects of myself private. Trust me, there are folks out there who'd love to get their hands on me- I don't even want Mr. Daley to know too much!"
"Why should he not be included? He is our guardian, after all!"
"He's the guardian of the museum, not of me. Or you, for that matter." The last statement caught Ahkmenrah off guard, for all this time he couldn't imagine not having protections of some sort. Seeing his look of incredulity, Harris chuckled. "By the time I'm done with you, you won't need a guardian- not if you don't want one anymore. Sound good to you?"
Ahkmenrah frowned, mulling the rules over. Aside from Larry not being aware of everything, nothing sounded too strict. Hopefully Teddy would not mind the night janitor's inclusion. Reluctantly, he nodded. "Anything else?"
"Eh, I'm sure I'll think of something for a third term; that's how it's usually done, right? Three conditions? Anyway, are we agreed?"
Ahkmenrah hesitated, eyeing the extended hand. Harris had appeared so cuddly before, so soft and reliable. For the first time, he saw a hint of the steely interior beneath, almost like a whole different person. Who was this man? Could he trust him? Then again, did he have a choice? All it would take would be another accident to occur, and he might be powerless to assist. Still, there was something unsettling about the man's eyes as he studied him, a burning that uncloaked him utterly. Yet he promised him control... "Are we agreed?" Harris asked softly.
Ahkmenrah was about to respond, when footsteps interrupted them. "Oh! Hello, Mr. Harris!" McKenzie eyes roved back and forth between him and the pharaoh, a question blooming within them.
"Good evening, my dear! I was just showing Ahk here where the broom closets are, in case he ever wanted to clean up a mess and I'm not there. He's so hard working, reminds me of my nephew!"
"Um, I see. Well, I'd hate to break up your discussion, but Ahk's late for his session with me, so if you don't mind..."
"Not at all! I'll leave you two to it, then," he replied, making for an escape.
"Wait."
Even McKenzie looked stunned, for she'd never heard her client speaking with such authority before. Apparently he had no quams about her learning the topic of their conversation, a fact which pleased her no end. Disguising his own irritation, Harris turned around, adopting the air of someone mildly interested. "Yes, pharaoh?"
"There is no need for secrecy before one whom we will be working with, is there?"
Gritting his teeth, Harris shrugged.
"Then we have a bargain. I am tired tonight, but we begin my training tomorrow night. Are we agreed?"
Harris nodded, forcing himself to smile brightly. That bit with him throwing back his own words would not be forgotten. "Excellent! Tomorrow it is! Don't think I won't be working you hard, king or not," he teased, wagging his finger at him. "And hopefully this lovely damsel won't prove a distraction for you." He winked. McKenzie giggled while Ahkmenrah fought down a flush. Well, he'd won her over. "Do I have your leave?" Ahkmenrah nodded, his flush growing. With a mock bow, Harris wandered off to resume his chores.
"All right, so what were you talking about?"
Ahkmenrah's eyes followed the janitor's retreating back. "Nothing to worry about. I asked him to instruct me in my tablet."
"Wait, what? He knows about that, too? How?"
He shrugged. "I suppose everyone around here knows something of it. I should be used to it by now, would you not agree?" He filled her in on everything.
"So it will be you, Teddy, Mr. Harris, and myself in these experiments now? Are you sure we can trust him?"
Biting his lip, Ahkmenrah replied softly, "I certainly hope so."
Hey guys, I'm back with this one! I hope you enjoy, and don't worry, "Falcons of the Sun" will hopefully be updated either this or next weekend. As always, I look forward to all of your comments and reviews. ;)
To my fellow college students: good luck with finals! We will survive!
To everyone else: Summer approaches, or so the calendar tells us... I'm hopeful with the lovely weather we've been having this weekend. Gardening soon! Hopefully my chapters will give you something to do during the gray days. :)
