The Waters of Lethe
Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, just the original characters I've created. 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, just differently.
Warning: May contain movie spoilers, also bad language, violence, blood, death, and maybe sex.
Author's note #1: This series is hurtling towards 100 reviews and I thank each and every one of you who took the time out to click "submit a review". Your kind words make my days a little bit brighter.
30. Bad News - And More Bad News (Schlechte Nachrichten und Schlechtere Nachrichten)
Fortunately, Edward had contracted one of the milder strains of malaria, called vivax. Unfortunately, Edward also had little resistance to machine world diseases, and even this type ravaged his slight frame. He lay on his bed curled into a tight ball of misery, his body racked with fever, chills, headache, and nausea so severe he could barely keep down the one grain of quinine Daoud gave him every six hours.
After two attempts to feed him some warm beef broth ended in painful episodes of vomiting, Edward simply refused to eat. This worried Dr. Forbes to much he brought along an intravenous rig on one of his twice-daily visits to drip fluids directly into his bloodstream. If there was any good in this, Dr. Forbes had discovered Edward was well liked by the native Egyptian servants. And they had no lack of relatives who were willing to sit by his bedside all night and bathe his face with cool water.
Even the sight of his prosthetic metal limbs couldn't scare away his more determined nurses. For they just decided Edward was a djinn - a demon - in human form. If they cared for him now, he would exercise his demonic powers to bring them good luck later. When he twitched and muttered in the grip of a fevered dream, they interpreted the sounds as incantations to the gods of the demon world. Dr. Forbes was smart enough not to scoff at their beliefs, but he knew German when he heard it.
Edward slept fitfully, and when awake, he worried almost constantly. How long had it been since Rudolf had dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder and said Hallo, Shambalan? Probably time enough for him to go to the German embassy in Cairo and alert the Thule Society. Edward couldn't remember how many days it was since he had fallen ill. He was so sick he couldn't even lift his head off the pillow, but all his instincts were screaming RUN! For all Edward knew, Eckart herself could be headed to Egypt to retrieve him.
His guess wasn't far off.
Three days after the incident at the tomb, an official staff car from the German embassy crunched it's way up the circular gravel driveway of the Howard residence. When the doorbell rang, head butler Tariq opened the door to reveal a blandly pleasant-looking young man dressed in a dark blue suit, and a green tie despite the searing afternoon heat. His blond hair was cut short and and well oiled, and hooded eyes glittered behind wire-rimmed spectacles. "Good afternoon, " said the young man with a half smile which didn't reach those blue eyes, and this made Tariq rather nervous. "I wish to speak with Major Howard, is he in?"
"I am sorry, sahib, but the Major is out at his dig site in the Valley of the Kings, perhaps you could call again later?" responded Tariq in a polished, yet hopeful tone. How about never? was the unspoken follow up. To his shock, the young man did not back away, instead he advanced into the front parlor of the house, obliging the shocked butler to step back. He walked in as if he owned the place and proceeded to make himself comfortable upon the overstuffed damask sofa. The smile he threw at Tariq looked distinctly predatory.
"Then I shall wait for the Major's return. I have come out all the way from Cairo on business with him, and it's far too important for me to return to my lodgings in Luxor for just a few hours." He laid a small leather bound folder upon the coffee table before he sat back and looked expectantly at the butler. "Is there any chance for a cup of tea?"
Author's note #2: The vultures are beginning the circle, and one bold fellow has landed to roost!