Anubis Nights (16 page)

I raised my leg and rested it on the bed. She poked and prodded the flesh around my kneecap. It hurt but I’d been through worse.

“Put your foot on the floor,” she said.

She got out of bed and knelt before me so she could work on my knee.

The pain kept me from reacting to her nudity, but I pulled some linen over to cover myself anyway.

She massaged my leg and my knee. “I wish I had some ice,” she said.

“I don’t think they have ice around here,” I said.

“Not this time of year. They did make ice, but only when the night temperature would drop low enough to freeze water.”

“Just my luck. We’re here at the wrong time of year.”

“Could be worse. We could be here during the inundation.”

“That might have been better. We could have already left here to go after Winslow.”

“If we can get a boat, we can make the trip down the Nile, but if we’re on foot, you’re going to need a few days before you can do any real walking.”

“Great. How are you holding up?”

“Better than you,” she said.

“That’s not an answer.”

“Sure it is but you want a more detailed answer. I can handle any threat we might face here.”

“Well, you handled the warriors yesterday morning, but I think you felt that.”

“I don’t feel pain even now,” she said.

“I want you to feel a hundred percent again,” I said. “Not for me, but for you.”

She rested her arms on my knees and grinned up at me. “That’s the sweetest thing you’ve said to me in weeks.”

“Leave the sarcasm to me.”

“Right. So other than the knee, are you functional?”

“I’m okay,” I said.

“In that case we should get cleaned up before we go check on Tut. I don’t want you putting any weight on that knee right now, so I’ll help you shower.”

She rose and pulled me to my feet. The linen cloth fell away, and she put an arm around me to help me walk to the bathroom. I was conscious of her right breast pressing against me, and I felt a flutter in my nether regions.

Kelly grinned at me. “You’re waking up,” she said.

“Sorry,” I said.

She laughed. “And you’re blushing.”

I shook my head. “I can shower myself.”

“Suit yourself but we’re going to shower at the same time.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You shower with Rayna, right?”

“Yeah, but—”

“We’re both adults, Jonathan. We’re not going to be having sex. We’re just getting cleaned up. What’s the problem?”

“It’s too . . . intimate.”

“And sleeping in that bed isn’t intimate?”

I stopped trying to argue, and I tried not to stare too much while we showered.

Once we were clean, she helped me back to the bedroom. I sat on the bed. I felt like pulling her into bed with me and kissing her, and for a moment, I thought she wanted me to make a move, but that moment passed.

“I’ll get our clothes,” she said.

I sat there and thought about Rayna. I missed her but she felt so far away. Kelly was right here. I needed to shake off that feeling right now.

***

Kelly worked on my knee a bit more that morning then had me stand on it. It held but it felt as though someone were driving a piece of glass under my kneecap.

“I think you’ll be okay,” she said. “It’s going to hurt a little, but you can walk on it now.”

“It’s going to hurt a lot.”

“Try not to look injured, though. We may not be calling ourselves gods, but we want to seem invincible.”

“I’ll try.”

“Good. Let’s go check on King Tut.”

As we walked through the palace, my knee felt a little better. It hurt with every step, and I limped while Kelly and I were alone, but I found that if anyone else was near, I could walk on it without seeming to be injured. It hurt like a son of a bitch, but I could do it.

We ran into Tuya, and she led us to the bedchamber where Tut was surrounded by three physicians and Ankhesenamun. Sweat beaded up on his face and forehead. One of the physicians changed the linen bandage on Tut’s knee, and I saw the horrific wound up close. It was swollen and discolored. I suspected it was infected, but they didn’t have any antibiotics. He looked to be in severe pain, but he was toughing it out—not that he had much choice.

Ankhesenamun saw us. “Is there anything you can do?” she asked.

The physicians looked at us, hope in their eyes.

They wouldn’t understand infection. Bacteria were invisible so to them this was the gods being angry.

“You need to keep the wound clean,” I said because I couldn’t think of anything else.

“We are doing what we can.”

I nodded and pulled Kelly aside as another thought struck me. “What do you know about maggot therapy?” I whispered.

“Nothing. As a Sekutar, I don’t normally get infections. I was trained to kill, not to heal.”

“I don’t know much about it either, and somehow I don’t think they’d want me to piss on his knee either. Might seem insulting.”

“It might.”

We returned to Tut’s bedside.

He looked up at me. “I’m going to the west.”

I held his gaze for a moment, glanced back at his wound, then gave him a quick nod.

“I will join my ancestors in the afterlife.”

Again, I nodded. I hated not having something good to say to him, so I finally said, “You’ll be remembered as one of the greatest kings in all of history.”

He stared into my eyes, nodded, then closed his eyes.

The vizier, Aye, stepped into the room. He pointed at me. “There is a man with skin as pale as yours. He just arrived at the palace. His magic is strong, but his words are foreign.”

I glanced at Kelly. “You don’t think Brand managed to come back here, do you?”

She shook her head.

Aye touched my shoulder. “Will you see if you can communicate with him?”

I nodded. “Lead the way.” I figured with the translation magic, I’d be able to speak to anyone, and while part of me hoped it was Brand, another part of me hoped it wasn’t. My feelings for Kelly were mixed up right now, and I wanted time to sort them out before seeing Brand. It also occurred to me that it could be Winslow. But why would he be here?

Kelly and I followed the old vizier through the hallways lined with priceless treasures. Outside in the courtyard, General Horemheb and four warriors stood with spears pointed at a mustached man in his forties. While his dark hair wasn’t slicked back, I recognized him from the picture Brand had given me: Henry Winslow. He wore an Egyptian tunic and what looked like a robe of some sort.

“Shall I kill him?” Kelly asked. “We can end this whole thing right now.”

I felt something tugging at me, a feeling that I should just move right up to Winslow, put a bullet in his head and call it good. I resisted that urge. “Tempting . . . but let’s get the lay of the land first,” I said.

Kelly furrowed her brow. “We may not get an easier opportunity. He won’t be expecting it.”

I shook my head. “He’s at his weakest here. If we’re going to defeat him when he’s stronger, it would be wise to learn as much about him as we can now. Let me do the talking.”

Kelly shrugged. “Your call.”

We approached our quarry. “Welcome to Egypt, Mr. Winslow,” I said.

His eyes widened and, for a moment, I thought he recognized me, but that was impossible. The look of recognition disappeared, and he stared harder at me. Finally he smiled. “You know my name? You speak English and you sound American,” he said.

“You’re three for three.”

“And you certainly aren’t dressed for Egypt.”

“You know this man?” Horemheb asked.

“I know of him,” I said to Horemheb. “This is the first time we’ve met. He’s the stranger we came to Egypt to find.”

“You have me at a disadvantage,” Winslow said. “May I inquire as to your name, sir?” Winslow asked.

“I’m Jonathan Shade. This is Kelly Chan.”

“Delighted to make your acquaintance, though I don’t understand why an American man and a Chinese woman would be in Thebes so long before the birth of Christ. In addition, I’m still curious why you know my name and why you would have come here to find me. How would you even know I was here?”

I thought again that I could kill him and we could move forward in time, but it didn’t seem prudent because I didn’t know how Horemheb and Aye would react to it. They might be cool with it, but they might think such an aggressive act meant I needed to die too. Of course, we might instantly disappear the moment he died, but I didn’t want to risk it. Besides, I was curious about him.

“How is it that we can understand you but not him?” Aye asked. “And why can he understand you but not us?”

I dismissed his question with a wave of my hand. “My magic is strong,” I said.

“For someone with strong magic, you seemed to be favoring one leg over the other when you came out here,” Winslow said. “Tell them I mean them no harm.”

“Is that true?” I asked. I had to be careful what I said because both sides could understand me.

“True enough for now. I’m simply exploring the country.”

“Why would you do that?”

“Because ancient Egypt has always fascinated me. Now will you tell me why you know my name?”

“I’m psychic,” I said.

“I doubt it,” Winslow said. “Did Persephone send you?”

I gave him a grin. “She’s dead,” I said.

“The only way you’d know that is if you’re from the Underworld.”

“Not true.”

He nodded. “Unless you’re the one who killed her.”

“That’s the way the story goes,” I said.

“What is he saying?” Horemheb asked.

“He says he’s just traveling through the country, enjoying the sights of the pyramids, the Sphinx, and the various temples.”

“Where is he from?”

“Across the sea,” I said.

“Should we kill him?”

“I’ll tell you as soon as I know,” I said. I considered just saying yes because they might be able to get rid of him for us. Unfortunately I sensed he had great power either inside or at least on his person. I could feel the hum of energy. “So, Mr. Winslow, have you picked up any souvenirs on your journey?”

He smiled. “Nothing they’ll miss. How did you kill Persephone?”

“With great skill.”

He grinned. “Playing it close to the vest. I can understand that. And what brings you here?”

“Perhaps the same souvenir you found.”

“The tablets are mine, but you told them you were after me.”

“What did he find?” Horemheb asked.

Shit. I forgot they could understand my side of the conversation. “He bartered for an amulet.”

“How is that possible? He doesn’t speak Egyptian.”

“Tell him I got it in Nubia,” Winslow said.

“I didn’t say he bartered for it in Egypt,” I said. “He simply said he picked up an item on his travels. I would guess he got it someplace where he speaks the language.”

Horemheb nodded.

“Is he dangerous?” Aye asked.

I gave Winslow a sly grin. “Are you dangerous?” I asked.

“Why would I be dangerous? I’d simply like to find a place to rest before I continue my journey. These men accosted me in the street.”

I turned to the vizier. “He says he’s not dangerous and that he’s just passing through but needs a place to stay for a short time.” I turned back to Winslow. “How long?”

“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug.

“He doesn’t know how long,” I told Aye.

“Perhaps he can find a place to stay in the city.”

I didn’t want him to get away. “I think he should stay here,” I said.

“Very well. He will be your responsibility,” Aye said. “He will stay in your residence, and when you leave, he must leave as well.”

I wasn’t sure I liked the idea of him staying in our residence. I just wanted him close enough that we could keep tabs on him. I glanced at Kelly and she frowned.

“What did they say?” Winslow asked.

“You’re to be our guest,” I said. “Do as we say, and you’ll be fine. Disobey us, and we’ll have to kill you.”

“I’m yours to command as long as you don’t try to take anything from me or return me to the Underworld,” he said. “I can’t go back there.”

“Keep that in mind.”

Horemheb gave me a grin. “I may start to like you,” he said. “You speak to him as I would, and from your eyes, I know you’re telling the truth.”

I gazed into Horemheb’s eyes. “Honesty is the best policy,” I said.

“Except when it’s not,” he said.

BRAND EASTON

Brand and Esther went to breakfast, but Priscilla and Edward weren’t at their table. Perhaps Priscilla was sleeping in. Brand ordered a big meal and watched the people in the dining car. He couldn’t help thinking that in his time, all of these people had been dead for decades and in some cases for more than a century. Yet here they were, alive and going about their lives, oblivious to the man from the future and the ghost who had yet to be born.

“You look lost in thought,” Esther said.

“Yeah, sorry,” Brand said softly. He didn’t want anyone at a nearby table to hear him talking to himself. “I was hoping Priscilla and Edward would be here.”

Esther shrugged. “I’m not trading ectoplasm with that crazy ghost.”

Brand grinned. “Edward and Priscilla are very much in love, so that won’t happen even if you wanted it to.”

“What?” Esther asked. “You don’t think I could steal a dead man from a live woman?”

“That’s not it,” Brand said. He was going to continue, but the waiter brought a tray of food over.

“Here you are, sir,” the waiter said.

“Thanks. Has Miss Scarlet been in yet?”

“No, sir. She sometimes keeps odd hours. Shall I tell her you asked after her?”

“Sure. You wouldn’t happen to know which car she’s in, would you?”

“I can check the passenger list, sir.”

“Thanks,” Brand said, surprised. He’d expected the man to say it was confidential. Times had changed.

When the waiter left, Esther said, “You were saying?”

“About?” Brand asked.

“You didn’t think I could steal Edward away from Priscilla. Does that mean you think I’m ugly?”

Brand shook his head. “Love is blind, Esther. If Edward didn’t love Priscilla and it was a choice based solely on looks, you’d win every single day and twice on Sunday. If you were corporeal, I’d be all over you, and you’d be trying to get a restraining order on me.”