“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“I’m worried about Jonathan. We shouldn’t have let him go,” she replied, “I can’t help but think what Imhotep would do to him if he caught him. Or, even worse, Lock-Nah, he had no qualms at shooting Charlie and he’s likely to want revenge as Jonathan was at Ahm Shere.”
“Oh Evy, I wish I could tell you he’ll be ok. We’re just going to have to hope he is.” He hugged his wife and kissed her on the forehead.
Zahrah turned to Ardeth.
“Ardeth, Kareem is back, he may know what is happening,” she pointed and Ardeth looked to where she was pointing, Evy and Rick also looked.
“He has Jonathan with him, and a girl,” Ardeth said.
“It’s Josie,” Evy said, “Oh, thank God.”
They watched as they got of the horses, Jonathan helped Josie down. She ran over to where the others were sat with Jonathan following her, although slower.
“Where’s Charlie?” she asked as soon as she got to them, “Is he alright?”
Evy hugged her brother and then turned to Josie.
“He’s ok; he’s sleeping at the moment. The doctor says he will be fine when he wakes up, he just needs a rest.”
“Where is he? I want to see him,” she demanded.
Zahrah stood up.
“Come with me, I will take you to him. I am the doctor.”
Josie went to follow her and then turned to Jonathan.
“Jon,” she asked, “Come with me.”
Jonathan hesitated slightly; he wanted to go but didn’t want to leave Evy. Evy noticed his pause.
“Go with her Jonathan,” she squeezed his hand, “I know you are safe now.”
He nodded and went with Josie.
Zahrah led them to the medical tent and took them inside to Charlie. Na’ima was still with him and he was asleep. Zahrah addressed Na’ima in Arabic and Na’ima replied, also in Arabic. Zahrah then turned to Josie and Jonathan.
“He is alright. He woke up not long ago, sleeping peacefully now. He’s been asking for you. We shall leave you with him. Na’ima!”
They left Josie and Jonathan with Charlie; they sat on the floor beside his bed.
“Charlie?” Josie whispered, taking hold of his hand, “Wake up! Please.”
“Let him rest, Josie. He’ll wake when he’s ready.”
“Oh Jonathan, what’s going to happen?” she laid her head on his shoulder and he put his arms around her. She buried her head in chest, he could feel her shaking.
“Hey! Don’t cry!” he said, she shook her head, “Not crying,” she mumbled. Jonathan moved her away from him so he could see her face. It was streaked with tears; he wiped some away with thumb.
“Silly girl,” he said affectionately, she put her head back on his shoulder, “Come on, let’s see if we can wake that brother of yours.”
Kareem sat down with Ardeth and the rest.
“Kareem, did you see Imhotep?” asked Ardeth.
“No, emir, but we did see the fact that he has the temple surrounded. By Lock-Nah’s men,” Kareem replied.
“Where did the temple come from?” Evy asked, “we only though there was a tomb there.”
“Imhotep has many powers; he probably can make ruins into whole again or turn them into a great building. We do not know what he is capable of.”
“But Ardeth, this prince had nothing to do with Imhotep, why him? I know it said a return of old enemies but why is it always him?”
“Egypt, Evelyn, is full of mystery. We, the Medjai, have been here for thousands of years and even we still have a lot to understand. Now, we must make plans. Kareem, tell me what you saw.”
“He has the place guarded though most of the men are easily distracted and incompetent. The girl says that they have gone to find Anck-Su-Namun; I think they shall look at both Hamunaptra and Ahm Shere. She thinks they have both the Book of Amun Ra and the Book of the Dead, they must have got hold of the books somehow.”
“We need to get the books,” Evy said.
Rick looked up to see Jonathan and Josie coming towards them, along with Charlie who was looking rather unsteady on his feet, his arm in a sling. They sat down with the others.
“Charlie, should you be up?” asked Evy. He shrugged his shoulders, immediately wishing he hadn’t done as he put his hand to his injury. Josie, watching her brother, noticed this.
“See, it is hurting!”
“Only because I moved my shoulder. It’s perfectly fine otherwise.”
“No it’s not!”
“Yes it is! Look, it hurt then!”
“Only because I moved.”
“So what are you going to do, not move your left arm at all? Admit it Charlie, it hurts.”
“It does not hurt.”
“Piffle. It hurts, that’s why you’re so grumpy.”
“I’m grumpy because I’ve just been shot.”
“You’re grumpy because you’re in pain. You’re always like that.”
“I am not in pain.”
“Yes you are!”
“No I bally well aren’t.”
“You are!”
Evy, seeing that this was getting nowhere fast and imagining they were likely to carry on like this for a while, interjected:
“For goodness sake, will you two stop squabbling. You’re like a pair of children. Now, can we get on with the matter in hand?” Josie nodded. “Charlie?” Evy waited.
“Yes, alright.”
“Thank you.”
“You’d make a very good schoolmistress, old mum.” Jonathan smiled at her.
Ardeth turned to Josie.
“Miss Mackenzie-Watson, Kareem said you have seen what you think is the Book of Amun Ra and the Book of the Dead.”
“Yes, I wasn’t sure at first but after Jon described what they looked like to me I’m also certain. Imhotep had them, he had two of the men in red bring them to him.”
“And what of Anck-Su-Namum?”
“Is that his dead mistress?” Ardeth nodded. “He went to get her. I heard the man who shot Charlie telling some of his men to look for her at Ahm Shere and Hamunaptra. Jonathan has told me why they are so important.”
“I know I’m not going to like the answer but if he’s getting his dead mistress why does he need Josie?” asked Charlie.
“He needs a sacrifice to bring her back from the dead. The first time it was Evy,” Rick answered.
“Oh good God. What are we going to do?”
“Get the book. Both if we can but definitely the Book of Amun Ra. We can then make him mortal, and then we can kill him. Ardeth?” Rick turned to him.
“Yes. I think with Imhotep gone, Lock-Nah and his men will also cease to exist. Rick, you will be going with us I presume?”
“You bet. Jonathan you coming?”
“Yes.” Rick and Ardeth looked at him in surprise. “Don’t look so shocked or I might change my mind.”
“I’m coming.” Evy said.
“Evy, I’d prefer it if you didn’t. I nearly lost you last time; I don’t want that to happen again.”
“Rick I’m coming. You need someone who can speak ancient Egyptian. I’m coming. I can’t wait here, I need to be with you.”
“I’m coming too,” Josie said.
Jonathan looked at her, “No, Josie, it’s too dangerous. Stay here with Charlie.”
“Who says I’m staying here. I’m…” he looked at his twin, “we’re coming.”
“You are not. I told your father I’d look after you.” Evy told them.
“We are. And if you don’t let us come with you we’ll follow you. Either way we’re coming,” Josie said. The others looked at the twins, both had identical look of determination and defiance on their faces. Rick looked at Josie, she reminded him of Evy and he knew that like Evy she would get her own way and where Josie went so would Charlie.
“Is that settled then?” then, not waiting for an answer, “We shall go tomorrow. Imhotep is occupied, he will do little today and we need to rest. We will go to the temple tomorrow. Is that alright?”
The others nodded their agreement and they all went to prepare for the next day. Charlie was forced to rest and Josie went with him. They would face Imhotep in the morning.