Chapter Eight
With the sun over his shoulders, Imhotep, dressed in leopard skins, his skull shaven and gleaming with sweat in the sunlight, knelt on the stairs, his hands raised before him before Pharaoh Seti I, seated behind him on a throne, over which the statue of Osiris looked down. He suddenly frowned and squinted into the sun, a pain in his temple causing him to momentarily pause in his prayer and turning, he glanced toward the priests waiting in two lines behind him, those of Anubis led by Senmut, and those of Osiris that he resided over, then past them, to the crowd pressed behind the royal guards.
A stillness fell over the crowd. Imhotep looked back up at the Pharaoh, his eyes immediately transferring to the beautiful dark haired woman at his side. Seti's mistress, Anck-Su-Namum, had eyes were only for Imhotep and her smile was ready when he met her gaze, unaware that at her father's side, seated on a smaller throne, his daughter Neferteri missed nothing. Gritting his teeth, Imhotep cleared his troubled thoughts, unsure what had just befallen him, but aware there was a tremor in the atmosphere that meant the gods were restless. Nonetheless, he spoke in a throaty voice so all around might here.
"Homage to thee, O great pharaoh, lord of all Egypt, lord of the Niles, O thou who art diademed like Ra himself, verily I come to see thee and to rejoice at thy health and good fortune. The rays of Ra shine bright upon all of Egypt this day, for thine armies have triumphed over our enemies, for Your Majesty, your powerful might inspireth the terror of your enemies and the armies of the east fall before you. Your great power protects your humble people, for while Seti I lives and sits on the throne of Egypt, he shall overcome all our enemies and no evil thing whatsoever shall hath unto our land and children, for Pharaoh's light shines as bright as Ra's, for ever and ever."
A man late in his years, stately and impressive in his golden robes and black beard, Pharaoh Seti I lifted his hand and motioned for Imhotep to stand. The priest did so, allowing Seti time to lean toward his mistress and whisper something in her ear that made her laugh. She smiled and nodded as her lord spoke to her, though her beguiling eyes never left the handsome face of Imhotep.
Neferteri yanked on the chain to her newest slave, a girl captured taken from a captured Phoenician pirate ship, carrying slaves purchased from the barbarian tribes of the north across the sea and beyond. The moment she tugged on the slender gold chain, the golden haired slave with eyes the color of the Blue Nile, lifted her face to the sun overhead, shivering as she experienced a strange sensation that troubled her thoughts and made her body feel weak.
Dropping her eyes slowly, Amanda gazed upon the high priest, Imhotep, standing tall and majestically on the staircase leading to the pharaoh's throne. He was literally a dream come true. She felt overwhelmed by her emotions and sighed loudly, and with far more heart-felt emotion than she'd imagined herself possible of even making. The small sound was overhead by her mistress, Neferteri, and she turned to look at her slave.
"Be still," said the princess, in a disapproving voie. She was surprised to find her slave staring with wanton lust at the priest, even with love, for Calista having once been owned by Senmut, the high priest of Anubis, took no pleasure in the looks or touch of any man. She wanted no trouble, for her father had made it clear what was to be done with the slave, and tugging even harder on the chain, she snapped, "Look at the floor before you are flogged. How dare you look upon the high priest Imhotep with such familiarity. Do not lay your eyes upon him again."
Ankh-Su-Namun overheard and leaned back to look behind her lord and master's throne to stare at Neferteri and the barbarian from the north. She caught Neferteri's attention. The two women glared at one another with open dislike. Amanda saw everything. She was so excited, she couldn't help but smile to see the bitter rivalry between the two women, for she not only knew the outcome of it, she personally could call Neferteri family. Of course it was three thousand years in the future, but Amanda knew whose side she was on, and it was not the pharoah's beautiful but evil mistress from Thebes.
"Yes, Mistress," said Amanda, not only hearing, but speaking in ancient Egyptian without any difficulty. "I am sorry if I have offended thee, oh great princess." She added the last bit and took great delight in receiving a smile from known the legendary Neferteri.
All at once, Amanda Shaw knew that she'd traveled three thousand years into the past, yet, when she looked for the Orb of Osiris, expecting to find it on the ground at her sandaled feet, she found nothing. She was dressed in animal skins of quality and that her hair was long and hung in braids down her back. Thick silver bracelets engraved with markings similar to the Celtics that inhabited Europe after the establishment of the Roman Empire. She knew the bracelets came from her homeland, in Germanica, and that her name was Calista and how she'd come to belong as the pharaoh's daughter's slave. Yet, she also remembered, and far more strongly than her other memories, that she was Amanda Shaw of the 20th century and as the two personalities briefly struggled for dominance of the same body, she again felt the tug of her chain.
Princess Neferteri glanced in her direction and smiled in a friendly manner. Despite her harsh tone, Amanda realized that the princess was a kind woman and only pretended to be superior because it was expected of her. She was also the exact duplicate of her own Aunt Evelyn, the mother of Alex O'Connell, from the top of her head to her toes. Neferteri motioned for her slave to pay attention, turning her attention back to the high priest, watching as he came sweeping up the steps, his robes billowing out behind him longs the wings of a falcon. He came right up to Pharaoh Seti I and bowed low.
"Great Lord of the sun, stars, and moon, and Master of the universe, I bid thee fair tidings to you and all of those in your household. Blessings to you and your daughter."
"There is joy everywhere. All hearts are glad and every face is happy," said Seti to his high priest. "We shall celebrate in the Temple of Osiris in three days for my birthday on the Night of Souls. Make all the arrangements, priest, for I shall ask Osiris to embrace my brother, slain in battle this day against the Hittites, and for his soul to be transferred to heaven to sit at the right hand of Osiris for giving us victory against our enemies."
Imhotep pressed his hands together and bowed again. He smiled at Seti, Neferteri, then the pharoah's mistress. Pausing to stare at Ankh-Su-Namun for longer than appropriate, Imhotep realized his mistake and quickly let his eyes dart down to the slave at the feet of Neferteri. An appreciative look filled his soft, brown eyes that seen by Amanda, made her skin goose pimple.
"The preparations for the Night of Souls has already begun, my great lord," said Imhotep. "We shall travel by the Nile tomorrow to Karnak, and from there, it is only a short ride on camel to the Temple of Osiris."
"So, my temple is completed then?"
"It shall be ready in time, my great and wise master. There are a few ceremonies necessary to perform before the temple is purified, and I still await marble statuary from Memphis. But I assure you, the night will be glorious, my lord, Pharaoh."
"I expect nothing less," said the Pharaoh, rising with Anck-Su-Namum to retire for the afternoon. "Come with me, my love. We have much to discuss about tomorrow's procession through the city. It will be a long ride by camel to the temple. Everything must be perfect. I want you to be pleased."
"I am ready," said Ankh-Su-Namun, but she said it to Imhotep, in a lewd manner that many noticed and trembled to hear.
Imhotep glanced rather nervously at Seti's mistress as she walked by, gliding on her heels as if she could float through thin air. He noticed the pharaoh's suspicious gaze and quickly said, "May Osiris, Governor of Amentet, accept my sepulchral meals of oxen, and fowl, and incense, and wax, and gifts of great wealthy, so that you may always possess mastery over the Nile, and the power to see the sun daily."
Neferteri rose next, motioning for her slave to stand, taking pride that others admired the blonde female barbarian. In had been one month since she accepted the slave, Calisto, from her father. In that time, he'd met his mistress, born in Thebes a commoner, whom he'd picked out of the crowd as he went by in his chariot, leading behind a triumphant army. Unlike the other mistresses her father had in Thebes, Neferteri felt threatened by Ankh-Su-Namun's influential control of her father, as well as that of the two priests, Imhotep and Senmut. Of the two, Neferteri prayed that Imhotep would rise above the usual priest's lust for wealth and fame and truly help her father against the counsel of evil men like Senmut and his new mistress.
A large black eunuch holding a large fan made of peacock feathers, rose from his seat on a pillow, fanning Neferteri as she glided past, leading her slave as though she were a wild leopard, slowly into the palace. She'd wisely allowed Imhotep the use of her slave, privately and discreetly, on several occasions as a favor, though both knew it was a bribe. She knew he'd follow.
As Imhotep prepared to head after the princess, he heard a sinister hissing in his ears. "How you do like to hear yourself talk, High Priest."
Imhotep glanced over his shoulder. Senmut bowed low. Dressed in robes the shades of purple and black. His head was shaven clean, except for a side lock which represented his devotion to his god.
"Careful. If you begin to sound better than your lord and master, then I will have no other choice but to cut out your tongue and perhaps serve it to my jackals."
"Your jealously is a twisted as a cobra, Senmut. When the Pharaoh requested that I build him a worthy temple to his patron god, Osiris, and not you to build one for Anubis, I knew then that you would try anything to sabotage my efforts. Perhaps you will get your chance another and prove your value to Egypt."
Senmut came to a halt. Amanda not only heard their raised voices, she felt the tension behind her and quickly turned around on her leash, to see a man with oddly colored grey eyes, glaring at Imhotep. Then she knew that this was Gregory Maxwell, but he did not know who he was, other than the ancient priest. Yet, she remained Amanda Shaw. She wondered if anything was left of William Landers as Imhotep looked at her. He looked amazed to find a slave gazing boldly at him and she looked away, for there was no spark of William Landers in his brown eyes.
"A moment, Your Majesty," said a richly robed, bearded man, bowing before Princess Neferteri. The princess paused and allowed her slave the length of her chain, whom in turn, took the opportunity to glance back at Imhotep. He still watched her.
This was Imhotep, thought Amanda, the figure of all her childhood fantasies come to life. She tried not to panic and lowered her eyes when he started to walk over to them. Her gasp was audible when he took Amanda's chain out of the hand of Neferteri and placed a finger under her chin to push it up to gaze upon her face. She wondered suddenly if she was still back in the cave, perhaps unconscious, merely having another vision.
But at his gentle tough, she knew she was back in ancient Egypt. The Orb had brought her there. She took a gamble on her good looks and looked up at Imhotep, love shining in her eyes, willing him to see something more than a mere slave.
"You are sure?" Replied Imhotep, questioning the princess. Neferteri nodded as she gazed upon the pair with satisfaction. "You are giving me your favorite slave? She does meet the qualifications that I specified, does she not?"
"Yes, she does, Imhotep. You asked me for a slave innocent of corruption and pure of heart, and I bestow upon you thus gift, given to me by my father. You know as well as I that slaves from Germanica are hard to find. Calista is a willing sacrifice."
"Calista," echoed Imhotep, sending shivers down Amanda's back as she heard the name, but while Calista was afraid, she was not and basked in the sound of his voice, her love apparent on her face.
"You act as though you've never seen her," laughed Neferteri. Amanda closed her eyes. He'd seen something in her that he'd not noticed before. She only hoped she could play her role well enough, walking through the pitfalls of translating English into ancient Egyptian and not give herself away.
"I thank you, Princess Neferteri," said Imhotep. "Should I require her do so, I am sure I shall be quite pleased. Your choice is exceptional. But I am told that Senmut gave her first to your father? Of course with the arrival of his new mistress, I doubt he noticed he had such an flawless gem among his concubines."
"Ankh-Su-Namun is beautiful, to be sure. However, Osiris requires the offering of a lamb, not a viper," said Neferteri, her meaning well understood by Imhotep. She suddenly started to take the leash out of Imhotep's hand, then noticed the look on the slave's face and paused, reconsidering. "Calista has been blessed by our priests and has drunk the anointed waters. She has prayed in the temple of Osiris and has slept at the feet of the god's statue in his sanctuary for five nights. I have done everything that you requested. For my father's sake. I want this birthday celebration to be one he always remembers."
"I am certain you do," Imhotep replied, gamely. "I am pleased with Calista. I accept her, Princess Neferteri. However, she be purified again. Properly. I shall take her to the Nile and perform the ceremony myself."
"Take care not to abuse the gift that I give to you out of the love in my heart for my father." Neferteri placed her hand on the slave's arm and squeezed, then softly said to her, "I have kept my word to you. I have fulfilled your vision quest and given you to the priest foretold in our dreams. May the destiny you seek with Imhotep be the one who hoped for, and may Isis protect and look over you, child, for I shall not be able to once I leave you in his hands. Is this what you want?"
Imhotep looked surprised. "You ask a slave for approval?" He tugged on the chain, forcing Amanda to look at him. "Her eyes are blue as I requested. If there are no complaints and no further doubts, then it is time that I depart, fair Princess of the Nile. There is much to be done before the Night of Souls."
"It is done then." Neferteri waved farewell to Amanda and smiled a strangely familiar smile. She seemed to regret her decision but said nothing further as she turned to leave.
Somewhere inside Amanda's head a voice told her to grovel on her knees, but she merely bowed low and remained in a state of submission until the princess disappeared from view. She felt a tug on her chain and fell into step behind Imhotep, admiring his hips clothed in leopard skin over a white loin cloth, as he walked bare foot across a courtyard, down a tiled path shaded on either sides by palm trees, and into a private garden. His strides were long, testimony to his urgency to reach his intended destination on time, and Amanda found he often yanked on the chain when she slowed down to stare at the magnificent surroundings around her.
The garden opened to a courtyard that ended in steps that went down to the riverbank of the Nile. Cranes rested in the tall reeds and on the outer sand banks, hippo rolled about in the water, snorting and roaring loudly. A line of priests belonging to the cult of Osiris, in white garments, stood beside the river, burning incense, chanting, and tossing lilies into the water, which caught in the current, went out to the middle of the river to swirl around, caught in a number of eddies.
Amanda felt the fears of Calista rising inside and fought them back as she witnessed the high priests step into the water, their chants growing louder, as the turned around to watch Imhotep and the slave approach the riverbank. Imhotep stepped into the water, leaving his slave on the tiled steps, and holding his face up to the sun, he knelt down, touching the water and anointing his forehead, shoulders and lips. He turned around to Amanda, his eyes dark and mysterious, as he drew the length of chain into his hand, forcing her to enter the water and stand beside him.
"Homage to thee, O Osiris, the lord of eternity, the king of the gods," said Imhotep, gazing into her eyes, while the priests reached forward and removed her clothing. He dabbed the waters of the Nile on her eyelids, forehead and lips, while saying, "Thou who hast many names, whose forms of coming into being are holy, whose attributes are hidden in the temples, whose names are most venerated. Thou art the Chief of Tettu, the Great One who dwelleth in Letopolis, the lord to whom praises are offered in the name of Athi, the Chief of the divine food in Heliopolis, and the lord who is commemorated in the City of Truth. Thou art the Hidden Soul, the lord of Qereret, the holy one in the city of the White Wall in Memphis, the soul of Ra, and thou art of his own body."
Stripped of all her clothes, Amanda felt her own panic rise as the priests placed anointed oils on her head. Her hands and feet were held by priests, while Imhotep placed his hand on her forehead and pushed her under the water, saying loudly, "We, your humble priests, purify our offering to your satisfaction and bestow the gift of an innocent soul to you, to serve you in your holy temple, oh great lord of the Great House in Khemennu."
Amanda came up sputtering for air. She was pulled out of the water by the priests and dressed in a white robe. Imhotep continued to chant while his priests bound her hair up and anointed her with scented holy water, then drew symbols in gold paint upon her forehead and cheeks to ward of evil. As the hands touched her body, she felt someone touch her neck and she realized that she was not wearing her magical ankh.
"Thou art he who is greatly feared in Shas-hetep, the lord of eternity, the Chief of Abtu, thy seat extendeth into the land of the Underworld, and thy name is firmly established in the mouth of mankind. Though has made the earth in thy hand, and its waters, and its air, and its green herb, and all its cattle, and all its birds, and all its fishes, and all its reptiles, and its four-footed beasts. The desert is thine by right, O son of Nut, and the two lands are content to make him to rise up upon the throne of his father like Ra. Thou risest in the horizon, thou givest light through the darkness, thou makest light to spread abroad from thy plumes, and thou floodest with light the two lands. Thy crown pierceth heaven, thou art a brother of the starry gods, and the guide of every god, and thou dost work by decree and word, O thou favored one of the company of the gods, who art greatly beloved by the Lesser Company of the gods. Praise be unto thee, Osiris, lord of eternity."
Imhotep then produced a necklace from a pouch hanging at his side, drawing forth a gold ankh on a chain, which he placed around Amanda's nack, and for a moment, she let the thoughts of Calista invade her own mind. The slave knew the ankh was a magical totem against evil and that Imhotep was a great and powerful man at the royal court. She also knew that she was to be a sacrifice on the Night of the Souls and she felt pity for Amanda. The feeling of her other self made Amanda feel cold inside and she considered running for her life, when from out of the corner of her eye, she noticed two men waving at her, in the guise of priests of Osiris. She assured Calista that death did not await her, and assuming control of her own thoughts and the body belonging to the other, she looked away from Alex and Achmed before she gave them away.
Imhotep fastened her leash back onto her collar and led her back toward the palace. He took another path that led past a number of chambers, his priests in tow, and entered an open court that led to a temple. The public were able to watch from the side streets, partitioned off by the armored palace guards carrying large spears, tossing flower pedals as the priests and the slave marched past. In single file, they entered the temple, where the public could not go beyond, lit by torches on the walls.
Amanda recognized the pharaoh's personal temple to Osiris, a humble building compared to what Imhotep had built for him along the Nile near Karnak. The walls were brilliantly painted and a treasure was nestled stacked up around the vaulted chamber, along with an enormous statue of Osiris in human form, wearing the crowns of both upper and lower Egypt. Trays of food and burning incense were placed at the feet of the statue and the priests lined up in three rows, kneeling down, as Imhotep unfastened the chain from Amanda's throat and motioned for her to kneel. She did as requested and lay at the feet of Osiris.
"O Lord, though knows what exists in the hearts of men, and women, and gods, and spirits, and the dead," said Imhotep, bowing low before the statue. "May dominion be given unto thee in Annu. Mayest thou have manifold risings like the sun in Abtu. Mayest thou gain the victory over the mighty Powers. May the fear of thee be made to go throughout the earth, and may the princes stand up upon their stations before the sovereign of the gods of the Tuat, before thee the mighty Sekhem of heaven, the Prince of the living ones, the king of those who are in his train, and the Glorifier of thousands in Kher-aha. The denizens of heaven rejoice in thee, O thou who art the lord of the chosen, we make this offering to you."
Amanda sighed heavily. Imhotep looked down at her.
"Silence, slave. You dare speak in the temple of Osiris?"
She shook her head.
"Very well. Tonight you shall be judged by the gods, and if deemed worthy, you will live to see the morning sun and shall prove worthy to make the journey to Karnak."
Imhotep motioned for his priests to stand. The priests filed out of the temple, one by one. She heard the great doors shut from the outside and turned around in sudden fear to herself alone. She jumped up and ran to the doors. She tried to open them but they were bolted on the other side.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Amanda asked herself out loud. She turned around to face Osiris. "I'd ask you but I suppose you're not in the mood to talk. If you could show me wear the Orb of Osiris is hiding, then maybe I could get out of here."
"You and us both," said Alex O'Connell. He stepped out from behind a statue and threw off his priestly garments. He wore the exact same clothes from the future and was armed with guns. "Come on out, Achmed. You no longer need to hide."
"I wasn't hiding."
Achmed came out around a pillar and tossed his priestly robes aside, only to reveal his blue robes of the Brotherhood of Osiris. His scimitar hung at his side. He came over and hugged Amanda, then set her back, embarrassed to find the cousins grinning at one another over his display of emotion. Pushing back hair from his eyes, he walked over and took a seat on a black ebony box. He noticed gold coins in a nearby offering tray and scooped them up in his hand.
"This is real."
"Don't touch anything," said Alex, sternly.
Amanda took a seat beside Achmed. She took the coins from out of his hand and placed them back in the tray. "Where are we going to find the Orb of Osiris? It could be anywhere."
"We have other things to worry about." Alex pointed at the statue. A door opened at its feet and two king cobra were released into the room. "One bite from those and you'd never make it to morning, Amanda." He lifted his gun.
"You can't shoot them. They'll hear," said Amanda.
"Through those doors?" Alex fired at the first cobra, killing it. The sound echoed through the chamber. He aimed at the second, but Achmed jumped up and used his scimitar to severe it into two pieces. "I could have managed."
"You make too much noise," said Achmed. He contracted what he said and started to rumage through the chests in the room, making in a mess in his haste to locate the Orb. "Well, isn't anyone going to help me?"
Alex joined him. The two men scoured the room, while Amanda stood in front of the statue, gazing up at Osiris, but it was a search that produced no results. They finally came over to stand on either side of her. She remained transfixed on the statue. Alex poked her in the side. She didn't move. Achmed tugged on her long braid, but she merely teetered forward and had to be caught by Alex to prevent her from falling to the floor.
"She's hypnotized," Alex said.
"The god is speaking to her."
"I really don't need to hear that, Achmed. I suggest you be on the look out of snakes. I'll tend to my cousin."
Leading her over to a throne, he set Amanda down, lifted her legs onto a chest, and careful set her head back. She continued to stare up at the statue, showing no signs of breaking the spell on her own, so Alex pulled up a chest and sat next to her. His eyes grew heavy as minutes turned into hours and he was about to doze off when he heard what sounded like a door opening. He glanced up to see Achmed, in the light of the torches, his scimitar in hand, waiting as the first priest of Anubis entered the room, apparently coming to kill Imhotep's slave.
Alex slipped around the throne, making certain his gun was loaded, and took up a defensive position as several more priests entered the room. He glanced at Amanda, worried that she was in a vulnerable position on the throne, unable to protect herself in her current state. He noticed Achmed hanging back as the three priests entered the temple and slowly crept toward where Amanda was seated in the throne of Osiris. Achmed grabbed the last man in the line, put his hand over his mouth, dragging him thrashing to the ground, as Alex jumped up and pointed his gun at the two remaining priests.
He had little time to duck as the priests lifted dart guns to their lips and blew poisonous darts at Alex. He dove to the side and slid across the tiled floor, coming to a halt in front of the steps to Osiris' statute. Darts continued to rain upon Alex and he rolled across the floor, avoiding being stuck, but in his path was an unknown trap door which opened, depositing him in a pit filled with water. He looked up, treading water, his guns lost in the water, as the two priests peered down at him.
Suddenly, Achmed appeared behind the two priests, and with a single push to the center of either man's back, he pushed both into the pit. Alex moved out of the way as the two screaming priests hit the water.
"Stay right there," said Achmed. "I'll find a rope."
"It's not like I'm going anywhere," Alex shouted back. As the two priests bobbed up out of the water beside him, he hit the nearest in the face with a balled up fist, but as he turned to hit the second, he was stopped by the horrified look on the man's face. The priest was suddenly dragged beneath the water, not to return, while his companion, his nose bloodied, continued to scream and thrash in the water.
Alex dove under the water and watched in disbelief as the priest was rolled over and over under the water by a large crocodile. He noticed another creature swimming up from a partially grated tunnel in the pit that apparently continued on beneath the royal city of Thebes. Drawing a knife from his boot, he shot up to the surface for one more breath of air, before diving back down in time to see the second priest jerked beneath the water by the newest scaled arrival. Blood filled the water, making it impossible for Alex to see in front of him. He thrust out with the knife several times, hit one of the crocodiles in the side, but the creatures soon sped off with their prey locked in their jaws under the grate and he was forced again to the surface, now befouled with red blood.
"Achmed! Achmed!" Shouted Alex, treading the bloody water, fearing an attack at any moment. No one came to the side of the pit. He was about to shout again, but a body was suddenly thrown over the side of the pit and came up to float beside him. It was the third priest. He was dead.
"I am here," came the reply from above.
Peering over the side, his dark hair falling into his face, Achmed appeared, carrying material he'd removed the statue and tied together to make a rope. He tossed it down and Alex grabbed hold of it, and using all his strength, he started to pull himself out of the pit right as the third body vanished. He finally managed to reach the top of the pit and Achmed grabbed the back of his belt and yanked him up and over onto the floor of the temple. Soaking wet, Alex wiped his hand across his face and looked at disgust at his filthy clothes.
"I lost my weapons. They are at the bottom of the pit."
"If they are discovered," said Achmed, "you could change the course of history."
"Do you suggest I return to the pit and fight off a few crocodiles? I think not, Achmed. I'd rather risk changing the fate of the world than go back into the water." Alex stood up and stretched his sore, bruised limbs. "How is Amanda?"
"Still staring at the statue. I am worried, Alex. She might be poisoned. I fear the worst."
Alex returned to the throne where his cousin was seated, looking straight up with eyes wide open at the statue of Osiris. He waved his hand in front of her eyes. She never blinked.
"This is very bad," said Achmed, joining them.
"What do you suggest?"
"We can take her to the Medjai who guard the pharaoh. They are my ancestors and surely they will help us. There is a secret handshake that has been used by our brotherhood for thousands of years. I am sure we will be excepted. They will help us."
"If Amanda isn't here in the morning when Imhotep returns, you can forget us ever finding the Orb, Achmed. He'll turn this palace upside down, and if finds us, well, I'd really hate to think of what Imhotep would do to us."
The young Egyptian frowned fiercely. He rubbed a hand through his thick, shaggy hair, trying to think of a solution but able to think of only one.
"Then I suggest we find the Orb and return to our own time as quickly as possible. Amanda is the only reason we are here. This love of her's for Imhotep is irrational. I would not be surprised to learn that she is under a powerful ancient spell. In any case, we must reason with her and convince her to return with us."
"If I didn't know you better," said Alex, "I'd think you were jealous of Imhotep." He paused for a moment. "Well, are you?"
"Do not make light of what I have just said. Her love was strong enough to bring us back to this place. This blind loyality of her's to Imhotep is dangerous." Achmed lowered his voice, his tone filled with impending doom. "In fact, my friend, it might be worse than never being able to leave this place. We might yet get ourselves killed."
Alex could not argue with logic and merely nodded.