Chapter Ten
Under a brilliant morning sun, the Nile river sparkled a brilliant blue. At the end of a narrow pier that jutted out into the water, a golden barge waited for the arrival of Imhotep. Bedecked with garlands and colorful banners that flapped in the breeze, and a pavilion which was set up in the center of the deck for the comfort of the high priest and his slave, the ship was fit for pharoah himself. Priests stood along the sides of the ship, chanting and burning colored inncense, while toward the stern the slaves chained to the long oars even seemed excited by the festivities.
Amanda walked beside Imhotep, her identity hidden under the cloaked robe of a priest of Osiris, arriving without fanfare. Imhotep motioned for her to wait while the priests following behind them in procession were allowed to board the galley first. Amanda seized the opportunity to gaze at her surroundings. The royal city of Thebes far exceeded anything she'd ever imagined or seen in paintings or sketched. Here she was experiencing the sights and sounds of ancient Egypt first hand, something she'd never dreamed possible, but yet it was happening. She turned back to the Nile and watched the fisherman at work with their nets and smaller sailing boats gliding through the water.
In her eagerness to see everything, she bumped into Imhotep and caught the flash of her eyes under the hood of his robe. He caught hold of her arm. Pulling her behind him, he walked down the pier, passing the galley, and stopped. He pointed at a small, sleeker, nondescript boat with a large, single sail. With a sly smile, he motioned for her to follow and climbed into the boat. She joined him and sat down beside him beneath the sail, watching as several sailors dressed in loincloths jumped into the boat with them and quickly shoved off. The wind immediately filled the sail and soon the boat was speeding out into the middle of the river, leaving the grand city of Thebes and golden galley far behind.
"Why didn't we take the galley?" Asked Amanda, hoping her ancient Egypt was accurate.
"It is a decoy. My enemies will believe I am on the galley so that we may arrive at the temple without incident."
"That will be hard when Senmut knows your every move in advance," said Amanda. "Every palace has its spies."
Imhotep jerked his head toward her, obviously surprised she'd spoken to him. She neither lowered her gaze, nor showed fear as she stared back at him. He studied her at great length before he spoke. "You have changed since last night. Yesterday, you were a barbarian, wild and untamable, but today, I cannot describe it, but you have been altered. Perhaps by Osiris himself. I feel the change in you when I gaze into your eyes. You are not the Calista I knew, but a Calista reborn anew. It pleases me that you are happy."
"You have no idea."
Amanda gazed out at the water, enjoying the cool breeze coming off the water. On the opposite bank she saw several pyramids in the distance, along with a long caravan, and momentarily distracted, she was surprised to feel a hand on her arm. She looked up to see Imhotep leaning toward her, concerned. He reached out, opening the front of her robe at her neck and withdrew the ankh he'd given her, palming it, before dropping it and motioning for her to speak.
"Have no fear of me, Calista. You must tell me what occurred last night in the temple."
Amanda closed her eyes, expecting Calista to surface and attempt to fight her for control of the body, but she felt no intruding thoughts. She relaxed, letting her arm press against his shoulder, and sighed contentedly. He nudged her, smiling thinly.
"Why do you not speak? Do you not trust me?" Asked Imhotep. Amanda's eyes dropped to his lips, watching him as he spoke. "I saw the cobras sent by Anubis to kill you, yet you were able to slay both. How did you accomplish this, Calista? There was no weapon or blood."
"It is hard to explain."
"The truth is never hard to speak."
His words momentarily amused her, for she couldn't think of one man in her own time who thought the same way about telling the truth versus lies. The warmth in his dark eyes gave her the encouragement she needed, though somewhere in the back of her thoughts she heard Calista's warning her to be careful.
"Osiris, the great god of the dead, sent two of his warriors to protect me. Warriors are not from this time, but from far into the future," said Amanda, with all sincerity, though in part it was a lie. "It was they who slew the snakes and three priests of Anubis who entered the temple, sent by Senmut to murder me. Osiris bids me to warn you to not trust or believe in the words of Senmut, for the hig priest of Anubis is ridden with jealously, and he will do whatever is necessary to turn the Pharaoh against you and to desecrate the Temple of Osiris."
"Senmut?" Imhotep did not sound surprised.
"....is a truly evil man, for the temple you built, in the future, is an unholy place desecrated by Anubis. Osiris sent these two fine warriors as a gift to aide you in your task to secure his temple."
"I should have killed Senmut when I had the chance," said Imhotep, angered. Yet, he seemed nervous. "Never before have I spoken with such openness to a common slave, but you are different, Calista. Osiris showed you to be in a dream long before. I knew when Senmut brought you to Thebes that you were the chosen one. I believe your words and will heed the warning you bring."
Amanda fell silent. She gazed at her hands and the strange rings and bracelets on her hands and wrists. "I do not remember very much about my former self. About....Calista. I am not who you think I am, Master."
"Until the Orb of Osiris is safely in my hands, I shall be able to defeat Senmut. He will try to reach the temple before we do and prevent me from completing the ceremony. Provided the wind remains strong, we shall arrive long before he does."
Suddenly, as if the mention of Anubis's name was an enchanted spell, grey clouds began to fill the sky and the waters of the Nile grew rough and choppy. The air turned chilly. Amanda clung to Imhotep, aware supernatural forces were at work around her, yet the high priest seemed concerned not afraid, and seeing him so confident brought her a short-lived moment of relief. Before Amanda could relax completely, one of the sailor's cried out and pointed out five galleys, moving fast through the water, pushed by large sails decorated with the head of a black jackal. Archers in black appeared along the sides as the ships gathered in the middle of the river, forming a blockage.
"Senmut," hissed Imhotep.
"But how did he know we weren't on the galley?" Asked Amanda.
"Anubis must be helping him or he could not have found us so quickly." Imhotep glanced back, only to see in the far off distance, his own galley smoldering in flames and smoke. "As I suspected, my own vessel is under attack. The blockade is meant for them. Osiris willing, perhaps there is time yet to elude Senmut's trap. Stay here!"
Imhotep joined the man at the steering oar, which required a man to stand for it was mounted on the stern and large. Moving the man aside, the high priest took charge, shouting orders at the sailors aforedeck. At once a second mast was raised and quickly secured, allowing the sailors to lower a second smaller sail. The additional sail was unfurled and caught the window, billowing out fat and roung, causing the small Nile sail boat to immediately pick up speed.
Imhotep headed right for the blockade. Arrows rained down upon them, several hitting the sails and sending one unfortunate sailor over the side of the boat. "Do not fear death, Calista! Osiris is with us!" Shouted Imhotep, laughing as spray shout up and over the prow, wetting the slave.
He focused on the wind and the current, bringing his own vessel dangerously close to the enemy, before tacking at the last second. The boat skimmed away from the blockade, rounding it, as the archers of Anubis ran to the opposite side of their boats, firing off a few more volleys that fell short of the boat.
"So much for you, Senmut," shouted Amanda, laughing as she turned back to watch the distance grow between their own vessel and the five slower moving ships. She caught Imhotep's gaze and smiled at him. "I had no idea you could sail a ship like that, Master. I really am impressed."
"Come here, slave," barked Imhotep.
Amanda got up, feeling nervous from his sharp tone, shook off her damp robe and crawled back to the stern of the boat to take a seat at Imhotep's side. The two sailors remained at the prow of the ship, keeping to themselves, sly creatures that hid under cloaks and kept their attention on the horizon for other traps, leaving Amanda and Imhotep in relative privacy. She leaned back against the side of the ship, looking up at the sails, and suddenly started laughing. Dipping her hands into the water, she threw back her damp robes from off her shoulders, exposing them to the kiss of the sun, and splashed herself, then the high priest.
"I do not understand," said Imhotep. He took no offense by her outlandish antics, but seemed mystically impressed by her alteration. "You are not the timid, shy creature that first came to Thebes. Fear is no longer in your heart, Calista. When Neferteri gave you to me, I anticipated your resistance, and that is why is asked beforehand for the princess to allow you visit me in my chambers. I hoped to gain your trust. Have I gained more?"
"Well, frankly, I couldn't be happier at this moment. This is turning out to be an incredible aventure," said Amanda gazing out along the riverbank, shaded by palm trees. "I wouldn't have missed this moment for anything in the world. The way you handled the ship when we sailed around that blockade was so thrilling, I don't think I'll ever forget it. I'm so glad to be with you."
Imhotep looked at her oddly. "Ankh-Su-Namun is the only other woman I have seen excited from being in combat. She would not approve of a mere slave speaking so openly to her master. While you are untrained in the ethics of slavery, I find you pleasing to look upon, and you have kept me from being lonely on more than one occasion. Perhaps Osiris has indeed brought this wondrous change about in you so that I might know love is without the sting of a scorpion."
"Oh, I'm sure you'll win her over soon enough," said Amanda, sounding far more angry and jealous than she'd intended."
Imhotep fell silent and studied her intently. She felt awkward under his scrutiny. The expression on his face was not at all helpful. He revealed nothing. She couldn't tell if Imhotep was already Anck-Su-Namun's lover or still yearned to consumate their passion. The opportunity to talk to him privately was upon her. She took the ultimate risk and confessed her feelings to the high priest.
"I love you, Imhotep," Amanda said, speaking in a calm, steady voice. He seemed surprised yet pleased. "I loved you long before we met. When I was a child and I first heard your name mentioned, I knew that somehow, some day, we would be together. Perhaps I am only a slave, but I am also a woman who can feel love, and this love I have for you is stronger than time itself, so strong that if necessary, I am prepared to sacrifice my own life for you."
He looked at her thoughtfully. He believed her.
"Osiris truly has found you worthy," said Imhotep, mystified. "You have filled my heart with joy with this news. I prayed that you might willingly give your life when the time was right."
"Not so fast," Amanda replied. "Osiris has shown me the future, don't forget, which is why I must not only convince you of my love, but make you feel something for me as well. My love is your only salvation, great Imhotep."
"Osiris has indeed changed you, for this is the first time you have ever said this to me."
Amanda reached out and touched him, two hands flat on his chest, feeling his heart beating rapidly. "Take what is offered to you, Imhotep. Give Osiris a reason to find you worthy later of redemption, for you will be tested many times, but should you listen to me and heed my words, then Osiris will surely save your soul from Anubis in the future. I am the key, Imhotep, that will open the gates of eternity for you."
One hand slid up his neck in serpentine fashion, her fingers pressing into his skin and pushing down so that he had to dip his head, at the same time as she looked up and pressed her lips to his own. His lips tasted of honey and felt as smooth as the petals of a rose. His sun warmed skin smelled lightly of a mild, sweet-smelling inncence and his muscles were as hard as stone. She placed both arms around his neck, swooning at the feel of his nibbling at her lips and when at last he drew away, she felt herself drifting, as though the Nile was carrying her far ahead of the ship, and for a moment, she felt Calista's own thoughts. The slave was afraid and begged her to seek her freedom, yet Amanda was not interested in this tactic and pushed the other's worries aside. She tried to kiss him again, but he held his face away.
"The Night of Souls is but two eves away," said Imhotep, sternly. "I shall not be tempted by flesh to commit an act so unforgivable in the eyes of Osiris. You must remain pure for the ceremony. While I am amazed by this sudden change in you, I will not be misled into a false liason. Osiris would surely convey his thoughts to me, his priest, before he would to you, a mere slave. You will remain chaste for the ceremony, of this, I swear it shall be in the name of Osiris himself."
The moment the words were out of her mouth, Amanda felt Calisto try to over their shared body, but she fought her back, caught in a battle, muttering to herself in ancient Egyptian and English, until at last, the slave won.
Suddenly, it was Calista that gazed back at Imhotep, her eyes large with fear and an obvious hatred he'd not witnessed during the three times she'd visited him in his chambers. Memories of being forced to submit to his embraces and unwanted kisses filled Calista with repulsion for the high priest. She tried to push him away, but his temper roused, he grabbed her by the arm, keeping her at his side and compelled her to look at him.
"Osiris, the great god of the dead, shall reward you with eternal life in the hereafter, fair Calista," he said, his voice soothing and seductful. "You along out of thousands have been chosen to guard his temple. The Pharaoh himself will be watching when your Ka will rise from your body and surround the temple with a golden warm light. This is a great honor to bestow upon a slave. A far better honor than to know the pleasures of the skin and give your thoughts over to the feelings of lust and love.""
One of the sailors cleared his throat. Both Calista and Imhotep looked over at where the two men were seated at the prow of the ship. A familiar face peered at Calista from beneath the hood of the sailor's priestly robes. Calista recognized the strange man named Alex and his friend, Achmed, the Medjai. She took solace in their presence and let her obvious hatred for the high priest be hidden behind a coy smile. She turned back to Imhotep, her phoney friendly expression fading to find him glaring at her suspiciously, and with a cry of fear, she pulled free of his grasp. She moved to the far side of the boat, where she gazed back at Imhotep, prepared to throw herself over the side of the boat at any given moment. He looked troubled, even hurt, by her abrupt rejection of him, and he avoided meeting her gaze further, busying himself with steering the vessel and avoiding further conversation with the peculiar woman.
The journey to the temple ended as the sun made its final appearance on the horizon. While the sun sunk behind the hills, the priests of Osiris and tatooed Medjai filed out on the beach, torches lit and raised high, greeting the incoming boat with a joyous cheer. Imhotep's sailed up to a small pier. The two sailors remained on board, tidying up and securing the sails, while Imhotep, failing to convince Calista to take his hand, climbed out of the boat and walked to his men. He turned back, waiting for her to join him, and reluctantly, the slave came to her master.
"Secure the area and double the guard," ordered Imhotep. "There has been trouble with the Cult of Anubis. Senmut is on his way here. Send a messenger to the Pharaoh and request that he come straight to the temple instead of stopping at the villages along the way. If he asks why, then you may tell him that I am worried for his safety and that of his daughter's."
Several priests stepped forward, bowed low and took off down the beach, running fast. The Medjai under orders by the Pharaoh to protect his high priest of Osiris, separated, allowing Imhotep to lead his cowering slave to the temple grounds.
Calista kept her head low and refused to look behind the back of Imhotep's robe as he led her through down the tiled path, into the temple, and out to the large courtyard, lit by torches and filled with workers still putting finishes on painted images on every pillar. She had never seen the temple before and found it as terrifying as she'd imagined, filled with hideous images of strange gods and demonds, telling a story she did not understand.
"You will stay the night in the inner sanctum," said Imhotep. Calista refused to look at him. "Take her away!"
Calista never looked back at her master as she was led away by the priests, not being curious or desirous enough to see his parting expression. She was led down a passage into a large vaulted room, filled with paintings of the gods and lavished with expensive furniture and statuary that were intended as gifts for the great god of the dead. She was provided blankets and pillows, food and drink, and a guard at the door, otherwise, she was left alone in the chamber. She found a clay pot to relieve herself behind a statue, setting it aside, and returned to the pillows, sat down, curling her long legs under her and proceed to weep.
Movement at the door brought Calista's head up and she watched the guard come down the steps, but as soon as he reached his side, she recognized the face of Achmed. She jumped up and threw herself into his arms, sobbing loudly. He held her tight and proceed to try to calm her. Calista let him help her back down to the pillows and wipe the tears from her cheeks. She smiled weakly at him and received a broad smile in return.
"Good evening," said a cheerier voice.
Both looked toward the stairs, as Alex, still dressed as a priest, hurried down, carrying a large item in his hands, wrapped with cloth. He knelt down beside the pair. Calista stared at the mysterious item in Alex's hands. He seemed very protective of it and kept a told hold on the object.
"Funny," said Alex. "We've all been here before. Of course, the old temple looks pretty good." He glanced over to the left, wondering if he'd see a hole in the wall, like there had been in the present, and instead, he was surprised to see a small entrance way that led to another room. "Now that's interesting." He started for the entrance and tripped over a clay pot, nearly dropping his precious Orb.
"Al-Lex! Did you bring weapons to free me?" Asked Calista, rising to her knees, all excited. "May we leave now?"
Alex glanced at Achmed. "I thought you understood. We can't leave until after the ceremony." He put his hand over his heart. "But I swear to you, Calista, we will not leave without you." He stood up. "For now, we wait for the ceremony and stay out of sight. You know this would all probably go a lot easier for you if you'd let, well, if you'd let Amanda back."
Calista blinked at him. "I don't understand. I have never been to this temple before, yet you say I have. Even Imhotep has noticed that I have changed since last night. I fear that I no longer please him, otherwise, why has he left me here?"
"This is probably the safest place in the temple," said Alex. "And from what I saw on the boat, I think it's safe to say that you please him very much. If you would just relax and rest, I think you might feel better." He glanced at Achmed. "And maybe Amanda will be able to come back and take charge."
"I'm working on that right now. What are you going to do with the Orb?" Asked Achmed. "I thought we agreed to hide it somewhere else."
"I'm out of ideas. The temple is crawling with priests and guards. And since Akhenaton is escorting Seti and Neferteri, I didn't know where else to go but here." Alex pointed at the entrance to the small chamber. "You know what that is? That's the secret altar room where the Altar of Truth is contained, and that is where the Orb was found by Amanda."
"It is also the place where the demons of Anubis live."
"But only in the 20th century. Not now."
Achmed stood up, pulling Calista with him. She seemed very taken with him and, for a moment, Alex actually felt jealous. She suddenly went limp and feel, caught by Achmed before she hit the floor. He laid her back onto the pillows, covered her with a blanket, and joined Alex at the mouth of the entrance. It was gloomy within the smaller chamber. Achmed grabbed a torch and laughed to see Alex holding his hand out, waiting for his friend to go first. With a shake of his head, Achmed drew a sword at his side and entered the chamber, at his heels, Alex coming along close behind.
"There's the altar," said Alex, pointing out the black onyx shrine. He started to walk forward. Achmed grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "What's wrong with you? It's the perfect place to hide the Orb. This is where Amanda found it."
"This room is not safe. I can feel it."
"So?"
"So, I think we should hide the Orb elsewhere. Imhotep has surely rigged this place with traps to catch thieves. I would hate to fall into a pit or worse, Alex."
"Will you trust me? I know what I'm doing."
Alex made a straight line toward the altar, avoiding any tiles with paintings, moving with such grace and assurance, that Achmed was convinced his friend was a magician. He arrived at the altar, removed the lid and grinned at Achmed before placing the Orb inside. He placed the lid back and wiped his hands across his pants, but as he started back, the door to the room began to shut with a loud grating noise. Achmed raced for the door and came up short as it closed in his face. He turned around, his torch flickering, and glared at his companion.
"This is just what I warned you about," said Achmed.
"It could be worse."
Suddenly, the floor beneath their feet started to separate in the middle of the floor, at the base of the altar, separating slowly, revealing water beneath.
"Not again," groaned the Medjai. "This is your fault, Alex."
"I'm well aware of that, Achmed. Thank you."
Standing on opposite ends of the floor as it pulled apart, the two men desperately began seeking a way to climb the smooth walls. It was impossible. Finally, they turned to face one another as the floor went out from under them and plummeted down into the water with a loud splash.
The muffled sounds of their cries reached Amanda. Through a haze of images tumbling about in her mind of Calista's life in Germanica and her own life, she forced herself to wake of the dream-like slumber. Finding herself in yet another temple, yet one very familiar to her, she assumed she'd been brought there by Imhotep. She had no idea where Alex or Achmed could be, and the thought that they'd been left in Thebes, nearly made her panic. She took time to inspect everything in the room and eventually, worn to the bone and hungry, she sat down and ate sparingly and drank all the water in the pitcher. With a yawn, she finally stretched out on the pillows and soon fell fast asleep.
Amanda felt certain she'd only just fallen asleep when she heard voices and opened her heavy eyelids. She sat up with a start and glanced over at the stares to see a procession of priests in gold enter the chamber. She was offered food and drink. She was given a fresh white robe to replace the one she wore. The priests watched as she changed in front of them. No one spoke to her as she ate a light meal, but once through, she was beckoned by a priest to follow the others outside.
Amanda walked outside to the sounds of hammering and chiseling. She noticed workers busy at the walls, finishing paintings and work on carvings throughout the temple. The royal caravan had not yet arrived. She was filled with questions but the priests were so sullen and withdrawn, she knew they would not answer anything and would be offended if she spoke to them. She followed the priests out of the temple, into the courtyard, and down a path lined with flowers and palm trees to the sacred pool.
She remembered is as a murky pool overgrown with vegetation, but what she saw was a manicured garden and a platform that overlooked the blue water, where four statues of Osiris guarded, freshly arrived from Memphis. She stood on the same platform far in the future and she did so again, spreading out her arms wide, lifting her face to greet the morning sun. As she lowered her head, she noticed the priests withdrawing, leaving her alone at the pool.
"Now what am I supposed to do?"
Amanda looked around. Athough she heard the sounds of the few hundred Hebrew slaves at work, she could not see them, nor did she see any priests. The sun rose swiftly, along with the temperature, and despite the sheerness of her robe, she felt prespiration rolling down her spine and along the curve of her back. She felt an overpowering deja vu as she gazed out at the pool, admiring the blue of the water and its glassy smoothness.
"Well, when in Egypt, do as the Egyptians do."
A smile on her angular, tan face, Amanda stripped off her robe, dropped it to the tiled platform and gracefully dove into the water. She slid beneath the water, keeping her eyes open, looking for and finding the very same tiles and the eye of Horus which she'd seen painted on the bottom of the pool in her vision. She felt a sense of great joy as she swam through the water, slowly returning to the surface and poking her head about the water. She swam across the pool on her back, taking her time, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face and the peaceful splendor of the water.
"Calista!"
The deep manly voice of Imhotep floated across the water to Amanda. startled, she rolled over, facing the platform while treading water and immediately caught her breath. In the full sun light, in all his glory, a cloaked Imhotep stood on the platform steps leading down to the sacred pool. She paddled in place, unable to take her eyes off of Imhotep, and as he spread his arms wide, allowing his robe to slip off his shoulders, she let out a moan to behold his magnificent bare body.
Holding her eyes captive, he walked down the steps and sank into the water. He swam toward her, slowly, across the pool, until he was at her side. He remained silent as he drew her into his brawny arms and lowered his head to kiss her. Her arms slid up his shoulders, around his neck, her lips crushed beneath his own, until his mouth parted and his tongue slid within to entangle with her own. She clung to him, thinking of nothing else but the glorious of feeling of holding him in her arms, his wet bare skin pressed to her own, hot and smooth, while he kissed her almost languidly, as though to savor every moment. Finally, he drew his head back, smoothed the damp hair from her eyes with a long finger and smiled at her in a warm, friendly manner.
"Your kisses are sweet as honey, Calista. Before I have only tasted your tears and resentment. I see how you tremble now at my touch and see the love in your eyes. Were it not for the desire of Osiris that we join together as one, then I would never have known such a rare delight, for it is our custom to abstain from relations with women during our period of service to our god."
"I thank Osiris for giving us the time then."
"How you please me, my little golden bird. Your gentle touch eased the sting of the scorpian that has filled my heart with booth great agony and wonderous joy. Never did I hope that you might feel love for me. I almost regret what I must do."
"Must we think about the ceremony? I'd rather....."
Amanda paused, feeling slightly light-headed and unsure of herself and what she really wanted. Imhotep held her so gently and gazed at her with such tenderness that she too was nearly convinced that he had tender feelings for his slave. For her, she reminded herself, knowing it was the mystery behind her sudden show of bravery and strange pattern of speech that intrigued him. But as he pressed against her, she knew beyond any doubt that he also felt a strong physical attraction to her, which in turn, made her realized that his heart did not yet fully belong to Ankh-Su-Namun. It seemed impossible knowing the passion that propelled the lovers later to murder Seti that she might have possibly reached Imhotep before he fell blindly in love with Ankh-Su-Namun. Perhaps the were not yet lovers, she thought, easily conving herself that this was the case from the way he held her in his arms, having sought her out in the sacred pool of Osiris. She could not resist the sudden urge to scatter kisses upon his handsome face.
"Though you do not hold the moon's mysterious dark beauty in your luminous eyes," he said, catching her face in his hands, drawing her back to gaze upon her fully. "Nor is your hair the color of night or as soft as the wing of a falcon, yet, I find beauty in your golden hair, for it is the shade of Ra's golden rays, and your eyes are the color of the Blue Nile. As I gaze into your eyes, it as though I gaze upon this sacred pool, and I could almost forget what lays ahead of us."
"Do you doubt what you feel in your heart to be true? You would not have sought me out if you felt nothing for me. You must know that Osiris wants us to be together. In your heart, you know."
"Dare you look into my heart, slave?"
Amanda sighed as he released her. He moved away from her, turning up to face the sun, his thoughts far from the pool. She swam over and placed her hand upon his warm shoulder. The feel of his hard body as she pressed up behind him was overpowering. Se wrapped her arms around his chest, beneath his arms, and boldly kissed the back of his neck chewing at his earlobe. He shivered and lifted up his hands to holds onto her arms, while he turned his head back to look upon her.
"Osiris is watching us, testing us, my golden bird. If he has shown to you that we are to be lovers, then as his chosen high priest and the protector of his city of the dead, I can do nothing less than abide by the command of my god."
"Oh, yes. Love me, Master."
Imhotep turned her around in the water to face him and looked at her curiously. "You do not fear me this time?"
"Not this time. I fear only Senmut. And Ankh-Su-Namun."
His eyes turned stormy and he grabbed her arms. For a moment, she feared he would hold her under the water and drown her. She fought back as her own fear rose in her throat, a trapped scream unable to hatch, but at the feel of his lips upon her own, she forgot everything but his touch and growing passion. She swooned as his lips brushed across her cheek and told him everything, wording what she said careful so not to sound too alien or cryptic. She wanted him to understand fully what she had to offer.
"I am not the Calista that you left inside of the temple, for on that night, Osiris past his devine judgment upon me, and finding it wanting, he summoned my spirit reborn from another time. Know then that Osiris brought the being you see before you from another time and another place. My name shall be known to you in private as Amanda Shaw."
"Aman-Da-Shaw," he repeated after her. She smiled.
"I have come from three thousand years in the future out of my great love for you. I am here to ensure that you are given a second rebirth, for it is Anubis, not Osiris, who later will damn you to eternal suffering."
"Speak not his name in this place, golden bird."
Imhotep placed his hand over her mouth. He knew that it was the Orb of Osiris that had made it possible for her to cross over the boundaries of time and that she knew where it now was kept. Yet he also knew what Osiris expected of him and wanting to please his god, and the woman, he embraced her tenderly and kissed her until she was breathless and limp in his arms. He drew her along into the shallows, laying beside her on the sandy bank, and with precision deftness, his skilled fingers played upon her body, until he took her at last, filling her with his very soul.
When his muscular body shook and his eyes closed, he fell upon her limply and allowed her to roll him onto his side, so she could rinse him with cool water. He revived immediately and took her back into his arms, loving her once more, taking his times as minutes turned into hours. Finally, his energy spent and his lover craddled in his arms, sedated and tranquil, showing no signs of wanting to leave the water, he roused her with a light tap to the face. He kissed away her look of concern.
"There is much yet I much do in preparation of tomorrow. Come with me to my tent, Aman-Da-Shaw, and there you shall take nurishment and rest for the night. The royal caravan will not reach us until tomorrow. There is time yet for us to be together."
Amanda placed her hand over his heart. He touched the ankh hanging around her neck, his gift, and smiling, he drew her into his arms for a passionate kiss, pausing only when a flock of cranes noisely flew overhead.
"A good omen," whispered Imhotep.
She sighed, watching the birds wing away, feeling an odd sense of peace, then followed him out of the water.