The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, I just like to play around in it's world and torture Ed for awhile
Author's note: Post series and very AU. Some movie events will happen, but differently
Warning: Movie spoilers, plus violence, death, bad language, and maybe sex.
Beta: Kittygirl109
24. In The Land of Dust and Secrets (Im Land des Staubes und der Geheimnisse)
Doctor Stein frowned when informed Edward had gotten away, and Captain Braun almost felt bad for disappointing the good doctor. "This young man has gained a small reputation as an escape artist. This is the second time he has slipped away after someone assured me he was well in hand.
Captain Braun made an exasperated sound deep in his throat, and he began to say, "It was a freak incident, someone who didn't know -" But Doctor Stein held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"I quite understand you, Captain, but I am worried about Herr Elric. I have seen only a photograph of him, but even from that it is evident he is in poor physical, as well as mental shape. I am most anxious to get him back to the Angelika and begin his treatments as soon as possible. Each passing day without medical care means he is slipping further and further into his delusion someone killed his father and now means him harm."
Two weeks later...
Edward leaned against the concrete railing of the balcony outside his small apartment and tilted his face up to better soak in the Egyptian sun. It was hot here in Cairo - not as hot as Risembool could get - but hot enough to make him forget the chill of Munich. The quarter of Cairo where he now resided was also very noisy. The air was full of the bleats of sheep and goats, whinniies of horses, barking of dogs, and most insistently, the babble of human voices in many languages. He stayed motionless and let the sounds wash over him.
Now he felt safe from pursuit, Edward could relax a bit, and indulge his curiosity. Egypt was an ancient country, with civilization rising upon civilization, each with it's own long-forgotten secrets. Secrets are the dust of centuries, Hohenheim used to tell him. Edward had spent many hours in the Cairo library, reading decades old books about alchemy. Books with crumbling, worm hole- riddled pages barely contained inside cracked leather covers, the bindings loosened with age. Some of the secrets of this world's alchemy were still beyond his grasp, but he felt he was very close to discovering if people in this world had been aware of his world.
Secrets are the dust of centuries.
Edward lived simply, but the question of how long his money would hold out niggled at the back of his mind. It niggled so much, he had made discreet enquiries at the famous Shepheard's Hotel. From there he had been directed to an employment agency with catered only to Europeans. Barely a week later, Edward had been offered a position as tutor to the children of an amateur English archealogist. The family would be arriving for the winter digging season in a few weeks, and the pay was reasonable. Plus, he would get room and board in the man's house near the Valley of the Kings.
Edward started as a loud call was heard from high above. A muzzein in a tower was calling the Muslim faithful to one of their daily prayer sessions. He blew a loud sigh and let the tension bleed away again as he turned his face back up to the Egyptian sun, the star the Pharaohs had worshipped as Ra.