Chapter 30
HONK!
Ahkmenrah jolted awake in his coffin, accidentally smashing his forehead against the lid. What in the god's names had made that racket? HONK! He threw the lid aside (with perhaps a bit more force than necessary), massaging his sore forehead, only to be confronted by a suspiciously cheerful-looking Mr. Harris holding a bugle.
"About time you were up," he said cheekily.
"I rise with the tablet. There is no need for such- unwholesome noise. You will frighten the others!"
"Eh, they'll be up anyway. Come now, no time like the present!" Harris strolled off nonchalantly, for he knew the pharaoh would follow. Ah yes, he sighed contentedly as he heard the swish of the king's cloak behind him. Just like old times.
0o0
"Keep it up, come on! What did I say about concentration?" Harris stooped over Ahkmenrah, the latter barely comprehending his instructor's movements as he focused on his latest task. "All right, now release the image. Good!" Ahkmenrah slumped back, pleased with his recent renovation- the marble, ionic column capital now looked like it had never known a day of wear-and-tear. "Should we rest?" Harris raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"If it is possible, could we continue? I am only just beginning, and there are other parts of the museum-"
"I'm proud of your zeal, son, but it's best if we take a break once in a while. Don't want to wear you out, do we?" Harris asked, slinging an arm around his pupil's shoulders.
Ahkmenrah looked down in disappointment. "No, I suppose not."
"Excellent! Shall we say ten minutes? Mustn't let you get too lazy, either!" Patting Ahk's back, the janitor ran off before anyone could assent or dissent.
"He's right," Teddy said, settling down beside the pharaoh. "You're doing very well, especially considering only last week we knew next to nothing about the tablet!"
"I hope so. I am trying," Ahkmenrah replied shyly. Checking to make sure Mr. Harris wasn't around, he motioned for his friend to come closer. "Here, I discovered I can do this last night." A modest, golden glow spread between his palms.
Teddy's mustache poked upwards at the corners, his joy reaching his eyes. "Remarkable."
The light faded. "I have been practicing."
"He's not overworking you, is he?"
"No! I am all right, I just get... Overexcited, at times." Staring into his hands, which were now folded neatly in his lap, he added, "Do not fear for me, Teddy. Were something amiss, I would tell you."
Teddy remained silent- Ahkmenrah was more likely to "grin and bear it" than divulge anything he feared would make the inhabitants uncomfortable. Hopefully through McKenzie's sessions, he would learn it was ok to speak up. "I'll hold you to that. Now if you don't need me, I'll be off- I promised Sacagawea dinner this evening."
"On the roof?"
Teddy nodded bashfully.
"Good. I'm glad your love life is picking up again- you two have not been able to enjoy each other's company lately."
"True. We've both been occupied-"
"You mean worrying about me."
Teddy began to protest, but Ahkmenrah cut him off. "No, do not deny it. I know you worry, everyone does. But you no longer need to fear for me; I can take care of myself. Mr. Harris promised to teach me defensive spells once I have mastered the basics."
"Wonderful! One never stops living until one stops learning, so I'm grateful to him for teaching you. Especially when I failed to."
"You have never failed me, Teddy."
The president flushed. "And you have never ceased to impress me." A pause. "Lad, there's something I-"
He was interrupted by an eager voice. "Ready to resume, Ahk?" Mr. Harris's perky face peered in through the doorway.
Sacagawea giggled, her earrings twinkling in the peach candlelight. Teddy chuckled warmly- how he loved making her smile! All because of a single joke! Though he never would have believed he possessed a gift for humor, Sacagawea's admiring glow was all the assurance he needed that, at least for her, he was enough.
Every movement she made was a dance- the way she lifted her wineglass, smacked her lips after a morsel, picked up a napkin. Until tonight, he would not have considered eating an art form. Then again, he was probably biased.
"It's wonderful to have you to myself again," Sacagawea said, tucking in to the stew.
"The honor is mine, my love."
"So what has the great guardian been up to lately? How are the halls you so diligently patrol?"
"Larry is smoothing some rough edges of the Night Program; he's doing well, though as anxious as ever. So eager to please!"
"And Ahk? How is he doing?"
Teddy shoveled the food on his plate around. "I think he's improving- that Mr. Harris is proving wiser in magic than I would ever have guessed, and he is teaching Ahkmenrah patiently enough. Though that young man's enthusiasm gets the better of him, I dare say!"
"I don't believe Harris will succeed in curbing that; Ahk loves learning."
"An admirable quality, but sometimes he over extends himself. Still, it has been months since I noticed a spring in his step!"
"As it should be. That tablet is his legacy- his pride, his contribution to our museum. Without it, we wouldn't exist as we do now."
Teddy pondered this. "I know."
"Do you remember how we once feared them?"
Teddy cringed. "His bangs and screams still haunt my consciousness. To think we left him all those years!"
Sacagawea reached across and lay her hand on top of his. "It wasn't your fault. You did what you thought was best for all of us. Any of us could have let him out! We just didn't know, and trusted the wrong people."
"And he suffered for it."
"What good does beating yourself up over it do? All we can do is move on, for his sake as much as ours."
Teddy gazed into the eyes of his beloved. "Well said, my dear! As always!" A kiss sealed their truth.
Hello!
Sorry for the late update, I've been very involved with writing my other story, Falcons of the Sun. A little more inspiration cropped up for the one though, so... enjoy!
