Mysterious Cairo (39 page)

Akh-Mal didn't know whether to strike her or leave. Never had a woman dared to speak to him so! His hand carelessly crushed the handle of his tea cup and he didn't even feel the ceramic edges cutting into the soft skin of his hand.

"Be silent woman! What would you have me do if I were here? We would sit in silence because there is nothing to be said! I should cut your tongue out!"

Just as the mathematician's outburst ended, young Assab walked in. Already dressed for school, he simply took his seat at the table, ignoring his parents' dispute.

Akh-Mal's rage dimmed at the sight of the young lad. Assab had made his father proud many times, both as a scholar and an athlete. He was destined for greatness, and the news of his son's scholarship was welcome news even if delivered in a venomous indictment.

"Your mother was just telling me of your scholarship. Congratulations!"

"Thank you, father. I wish I could have told you myself."

"Say it, Assab: 'but you weren't here.'" Khari was determined to drag the boy into an argument that was none of his business.

Rather than respond, Assab tried to disguise a pained grimace, but the intent was clear enough. Akh-Mal knew that his wife's words were true. His son seemed so distant now. He remembered when they used to be very close, but now, Akh-Mal felt more like an unwelcome visitor than a father and husband.

"Well, my work requires much study. I'll be out late again tonight. I must get ready for work."

The ancient building once held some of the most ancient volumes in the Arab world. Now it held research labs dedicated to one of the newest arts on Earth, that of Nile mathematics.

One of the oldest buildings owned by Cairo University, it was an historical monument of a sort. Supposedly the founders of the university first met on the site of this building. They envisioned an educational institution that would guide the Egyptian people to greatness. Under the guiding hand of the Pharaoh Mobius, they had wildly underestimated how great the fortunes of Egypt would be.

The odd architecture of the long, low structure attracted the attention of visitors and new students alike. Inside, its high, arched ceilings, with windows nearly fifteen feet above ground level, created an air of mystery and the unknown. It was only natural that the university decided to place the new mathematics department here.

With the start of the Possibility Wars, the Pharaoh's realm brought new potential to the land — magic and weird science. Things worked differently, and to Akh-Mal, the most fascinating field was that of mathematics. Akh-Mal had received his training in archaeology, and he was both proud and curious regarding his Egyptian ancestors. After the invasion though, he found the manipulation of these strange new energies easy. Through the logic and diversity of numbers, and his knowledge of the ancient rituals, he learned how to summon powerful forces far beyond even his own understanding. At times he felt like he was communing with the gods!

Akh-Mal's attention this morning was split between Angela and her mysterious necklace. A pile of musty tomes was piled high on his desk, with dozens of papyrus scrolls scattered about. He had a notebook and several mystic devices laid out in front of him. The necklace was right next to his notebook.

His research lab was quiet now that his assistants had stepped out for a brief break. Sometimes he found it so hard to concentrate with the commotion the two young men created.

On the far side of the room was a makeshift play room. There were several book shelves crammed with children's books, as well as several simple dolls and other toys. Angela sat in the corner, ignoring all of the things around her. Her attention was focused on the tattered and ripped black and white photo of her mother.

The girl truly puzzled Akh-Mal. His detection spells revealed that she held huge amounts of magical energy, yet she seemed totally unaware of this. She seemed to have no knowledge of magic rites, no spells or rituals, even expressed no interest when the subject was brought up. However, her energy levels were so high she could become a sorcerer of amazing power, capable of mastering even the most intricate spells with study. Akh-Mal's job was much easier for he only had to discover the source of her energies. Nile magic never seemed so easy and so readily available, yet this girl was an enigma. Someday she might even be returned home, but for now she was his responsibility.

The girl giggled for a second. Akh-Mal thought now might be a good time to see if he could learn anything. "Good morning, Angela. How are you doing today?"

The blond head quickly perked up at the sound of the mathematician's voice. The girl was very pretty, with sparkling blue eyes and a mirthful smile. Akh-Mal hadn't seen that smile much in the past two weeks, but this morning Angela seemed in much better spirits. "I'm doing good. When am I going to go home?"

Akh-Mal quickly strode over to the girl and patted her on the head. "We're going to send you home soon. There are still some things that we're trying to figure out ... from the accident."

"That's okay. I just want to go home to Mommy and Daddy."

This comment greatly disturbed the mathematician. The girl seemed incapable of accepting the truth. He leaned down and grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. "Angela, I've told you before, your parents are dead. They died in the accident. I'm sorry you miss them, but that's what has happened."

The girl's eyes widened in fear. She somehow pulled from his grasp, tears welling in her eyes. "They're not dead! I know they're not! Someday I'll be with them — someday soon." The girl turned away, but Akh-Mal could tell that she again pulled out that ragged picture of her mother; he heard soft sobbing.

Akh-Mal had nothing else he could say. He turned and walked back to his desk.

By late afternoon, Akh-Mal's lab assistants had completed their tasks for the day and departed. Angela had been taken to her room across the campus. He hoped the nannies would do better with her than he had. She had sobbed all day.

His attendants had recorded another violent outburst earlier in the day.
He
was perusing their comments. Today's tantrum involved ripping the heads off her dolls and screaming something about "everyone dying." Sometimes the girl would go into a rage, seemingly with no prompting. Other times she seemed withdrawn, almost catatonic. The child definitely couldn't distinguish reality from what she wanted to be real. Thankfully she had been escorted back to the Children's Center a little while ago.

As the sunlight coming through the opened windows dimmed, the fatigue of the day, and the night before, finally caught up with him. He slid his books aside for a moment, and just closed his eyes. He heard the door creak, and from the heavy foot steps he knew it was Nehrav. Akh-Mal didn't even look up.

"So, what did you accomplish today, hm? Anything? Is that simple little girl still a puzzle?"

Akh-Mal wanted desperately to lash out at the lazy, corpulent man. He didn't dare.

"I don't know what to do. She defies all of the theories, all of the practices. There is no correlation between her ability and how we understand magic to operate. The nature of her magic is in some ways similar to Aysle, in that it seems inherent, but she has no demonstrable talent—no skills, no arcane knowledge. She's also very unbalanced, and she needs therapy. We should make sure she's happy before we try to figure out this strange magic. The girl is potentially very dangerous."

"Hm ... that is curious. You look tired; go home to your wife and get some rest."

Akh-Mal looked up for a second with a pained look on his face. "Rest is what I need most, but I've been having these horrible dreams lately."

"Well, my friend, you had better learn to get over them. You've already spent two weeks with this child with no sign of success. I don't care about her emotional problems, and neither does the University. She's too powerful to wait until she's happy. The University and the Lesser Dean are impatient. I can't protect you from them forever. It is time for results."

Nehrav turned and strode out of the room. The door echoed as it clanged shut.

"So, your true colors show, Nehrav. 'Protect' me ... by all that's holy, I'm sure you've been doing your best to undermine my work, you jealous beast."

Akh-Mal pulled out his case and pulled out the books he needed to bring home. Frustration overwhelmed him. He then heard the knock on the door.
Oh, now he is coming to add salt to the wound.

"Come in."

He turned his back to the door and continued packing his bags. Then he heard the soft, comforting voice of his lover Mersah. "Akh-Mal, hello. I had to come and see you."

He whirled, half angry, half excited. "I've told you before, you cannot be seen here. If people found out that I was being unfaithful ."

The young woman smiled, melting away Akh-Mal's reserve. Her beauty entranced the hapless man — her perfect brown eyes, perfect red and full lips, perfect face, perfect body. He felt like a school boy when he was around her.

"Akh-Mal, you sound like such a child. No one will notice me here ."

Akh-Mal couldn't contain himself, and rushed over to embrace her. A lingering kiss stopped the young woman's explanation.

"I've needed you, too, Mersah. Those dreams I've been having; I had it last night as well. I didn't get any sleep. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to die. Those dreams have gotten the best of me."

"Oh, nonsense. Would I be seeing someone who was destined to die? Hush! The reason why I came is because you have a date tomorrow night. A huge party on the northern side of the city. You can be my escort!"

Akh-Mal was worried, and much as he loved the woman, sometimes he seriously doubted her judgement. "Mersah, we cannot be seen together. What if people begin to talk?"

Mersah smiled again, and simply put her fingers across his lips to silence him. "Be quiet. No one will know who you are. This is a different crowd. They're exciting! They're fun to be around! You'll have a good time."

Akh-Mal couldn't resist her. Rather than admit defeat, he just smiled and nodded. He grabbed his case. "Just a minute. Let me get my work together." Reaching across the table, he grabbed the necklace. "I cannot forget this! Look at this necklace! I feel a breakthrough coming on. There is some reason it's imbued with magic, and I'll figure out why and what it does."

Mersah pulled away, twirling on her toes and turning her back to him. "You really take work too seriously, lover. Let's go."

Akh-Mal felt the cloth being pulled across his arms. Then his legs. The light nearly blinded him. Then a strip of cloth was pulled across his face.

I'm being mummified! Someone stop this! I'm not dead!

Through the one layer of cloth he could see the thin hands. Then he saw who was wrapping him.

Mersah! Don't do this! I thought you loved me!

She smiled. It seemed so kind. "You tired old man! You interest me now, but you should know that soon enough I'll be bored with you. And you'll be alone again."

The jackal-headed god approached again.

"You will not be remembered."

"Mersah! Stop!"

Akh-Mal was again sitting up straight in bed. The sweat chilled his body, his heart felt like it would burst from his chest.

"So that is her name, Akh-Mal. You will burn in hell."

Khari shifted slightly. Akh-Mal felt desperately alone in the bed next to his wife. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He wanted to die.

Breakfast went poorly. Akh-Mal barely had the courage to face his wife. Khari was silent for a time, but her outburst was ... spectacular. She waited until Assab was in the room in an effort to shame him before his son.

Assab showed no reaction, merely shrugging. Her arrogance was too much and he was forced to strike her. He didn't tell her that he would be home very late.

Mersah's excitement was too much. She couldn't stop talking about who would be at the party and how much fun it would be. The names blurred together in an endless stream of chatter. Akh-Mal was deeply troubled. He couldn't tell her about the dream or the confrontation with his wife. She just wouldn't understand.

After a time, he eased his Bekhrob sedan into a parking spot not far from the party. The neighborhood was one of an unsavory nature, and it made Akh-Mal nervous. Mersah, in typical fashion, dismissed his concerns. "You worry too much! This is supposed to be fun. No one will bother us."

Akh-Mal felt invigorated by the brief walk. Perhaps Mersah was right.

The party site wasn't exactly what Akh-Mal expected. It was a run down two-story building. Mersah went up to the door and knocked three times. A slit in the door moved aside, behind it two eyeballs. "It's me, Mersah! Let us in!"

The door opened to reveal a short hallway, painted a bright red, with another doorway at the end. The party was already in full swing as the noise drifted into the hallway.

As the first door was slammed shut behind them, the second door opened to reveal a small, cramped, smoke-filled room. There were dozens of people crowded into the room, barely the size of Akh-Mal's living room. Bottles of liquor were everywhere, and through the smoke, Akh-Mal could see roulette and craps tables. Akh-Mal tried to inconspicuously whisper to Mersah, "What kind of place is this? What kind of
party
is this?"