Miss Alice Lovelady's Second Omnibus of her Inexplicable Adventures Page 4

  “In the Sphinx?” His hairy eyebrows climbed up under his extreme hirsuteness in surprise.

  “Yes, behind the throne in the chamber in the Sphinx.”

  “There’s a–?”

  “Just follow me with this, Sir Percival.”

  He looked over at Badru for some help but just received a shrug in reply.

  “And just what did you know about this, Badru?” he asked accusingly.

  Badru’s eyes flicked to his mother. “My mother is a priestess. A descendant of the priestess in charge of looking after–” his head indicated the pink-haired figurine I held.

  “And a god wishes to kill Miss Lovelady?”

  “It would appear so, Sir Percival,” he said quietly.

  “How do we stop it?” he turned to Badru’s mother.

  I could have hugged him, but decided against it.

  I, too, looked in her direction.

  She looked back at me, “You must right the wrong.”

  “What wrong?”

  “Killing a god.”

  The image of the snarling wolf’s head inches from my own and the feeling of the knife in my chest flashed into my mind. “But he killed me!”

  “It was not his time. The power of the old gods has waned over the millennia until barely no-one knows about them anymore. You took his life before it was due to fade from memory.”

  “How am I supposed to right that!?”

  “You must go back to when it happened.”

  I looked at Sir Percival in case he could make sense of what she’d just said.

  “Um, my dear–?” he began to ask her.

  “She must go back to the chamber and right the wrong or he will kill her.”

  “Isn’t he going to kill the me then anyway?

  “Yes, but it was your time.”

  I stood still looking at her. The words she’d used were so close to Katherine’s when she spoke to me in my vision that chills ran up and down my spine. I knew then I had to do this.

  Twenty

  We set out almost at once for the pyramids. I knew that if I was going to do this I’d better not have too much time to think about it; rather like one of the more ambitious aetheric experiments Sir Percival and I did back home. The camels were saddled as we changed back into daywear – the night was still warm enough for it - and Hasina had been told to run ahead and get the other lady ready. This time I was permitted to ride next to Sir Percival to quietly inform him of all that had been going on. He was rather excited to be entering into a pyramid and the sphinx - all his boyhood Egyptian dreams were due to come true. If there was a mummy involved as well then I’m sure his copious hair would spontaneously combust in excitement.

  The pyramids were huge black shapes blocking out the night sky as we left the sounds of urban Cairo behind us.

  We carried lanterns and it was rather romantic as we swayed unsteadily up to the massive structures. I could make out the Sphinx’s head by the way the lights of Cairo were obscured.

  This time we headed straight for the gap, and found Hasina and the other lady waiting for us.

  Shemei helped me down as Hasina helped Badru’s mother dismount, or rather kept out of her way as she was as nimble on a camel as a monkey in a tree.

  The knife and statuette were wrapped in the scarf and safe next to my body in a pocket. My trusty umbrella was by my side.

  The strange lady balked at seeing Sir Percival. I knew the feeling, but it turned out that it was because he was a male. After a whispered conversation between her and Badru’s mother she relented. Badru was apparently fine, probably due to being the son of a priestess. The lady manoeuvred the camels to prevent the lantern lights from being seen too much as we all headed between the massive stone blocks to the camouflaged door.

  Sir Percival almost exploded with excitement as we entered into the tunnel, so much so that I felt it only prudent to poke him with my umbrella and growl a warning when he loitered too long looking at the hieroglyphics.

  Again the lanterns aided my strange aetheric sight as we followed Badru’s mother through the labyrinth of tunnels. Even after this second time in them I’d still be completely lost on my own.

  The only sounds were our breathing and the sand under our sandals as we walked over it.

  After what felt like a shorter time we walked up the steps and into the chamber, where something most inexplicable was meant to happen.

  Twenty-One

  Like some over-excited dog with two tails and three noses Sir Percival rushed around the chamber with his lantern hither and yon trying to see as much of it as he could. I gave Badru’s mother an apologetic look and hoped he’d calm down shortly.

  “What do you want me to do?” I asked her.

  “Sit on the throne.”

  I had an inkling that would be required. I’d shied away from doing it the first time she made the request because of a strange doom-feeling. Maybe I’d be more prepared this time, after having found the knife and figurine, and had a further dream-type vision?

  While Badru stayed at the entrance, Shemei and Hasina walked either side of me with their lanterns with Badru’s mother following behind. It felt strangely like a procession as we approached the dais.

  Sir Percival seemed to have found some interesting carvings on the wall.

  I got to the first step and stopped with one foot on it. Shemei and Hasina continued up glancing at me as they went to stand either side of the throne. I turned to look at Badru’s mother. “Just to be absolutely certain of this, I am not meant to kill this Wepwawet, but he is meant to kill me?”

  “Yes.”

  “It feels sort of… one-sided? What if we don’t kill each other? What happens then?”

  She thought about it for a few moments and said, “I don’t know. I only know that he’s not meant to be killed.”

  Fine.

  With a sigh I continued up the steps and stood in front of the throne looking down at it. It didn’t look very grand, just plain sandstone carved into shape. Were there any other hidden drawers or sliding panels in it? Would there be anything to help me? I doubted it.

  With Shemei and Hasina’s dark eyes watching me I turned round looking out over the dark chamber towards the far end, where Badru stood at the entrance. Sir Percival was examining hieroglyphics on the right-hand side of the chamber. Badru’s mother stood on the steps down to my left. I held the figurine in my right hand, the knife in my left. My umbrella was tucked under my right elbow.

  A feeling of ‘I shouldn’t do this!’ ran through me.

  I sat down.

  Twenty-Two

  In the blink of an eye the chamber went from near dark and virtually empty, to well-lit and full, but with a faint purple overlay. A crowd of women stood either side of the chamber to provide a walkway towards my throne in the centre.

  I jumped in surprise at sensing someone else in my head, looking through my eyes, feeling my feelings. I raised my hand and saw a faint purple glow around it. I was me, but someone else was me as well.

  Who are you?

  Alice.

  Are you a god?

  What? No. We share the same spirit.

  She seemed very calm about the situation. Maybe this was what gods did all the time?

  Why are you in my body?

  I’m here to stop something from happening.

  Why?

  In my time something bad will happen.

  Your time?

  I’m from your future.

  Future?

  It happens many, many years from this time.

  A sound came from the entrance breaking my internal conversation. I knew it was to indicate that someone had arrived.

  I felt our spirits merge, knowing what she knew, remembering what she remembered.

  A faint light caught my eye and I looked down to my left to see a hazy purple outline of Badru’s mother standing on the steps looking up at me. Another faint light was to my left and I turned to see the unusual spectacle of a strong female
guard somehow overlapping with a faint purple Shemei. Turning to my right Hasina shared space with another female guard. Was he? I looked to my right and saw a faint shadowy purple Sir Percival examining the wall.

  A male! Here!

  He’s with me. He’s harmless.

  He’s wearing a very strange wig. Oh.

  Indeed.

  Like a bird ruffling its feathers after being upset I felt her settle down.

  The crowd quietened in a wave from the entrance to the throne steps as everyone turned to see what was happening. Whispers began as a large wolf-headed figure appeared accompanied by guards to each side, one of whom walked right through a faint purple Badru. Wepwawet’s steps seemed to falter as he entered and headed towards me. Had he sensed Badru’s presence in my time?

  What was I meant to do again? Oh yes, let myself be killed.

  What! Why?

  I felt our bond stretch to almost breaking point. Somehow I knew that if broke I’d never get the chance to do this again!

  To prevent what happens in the future! I am you. You are me. Trust me.

  After what felt like a lifetime I felt our spirits merge again and she warily settled down, like a cat feigning sleep but ready to wake and pounce in an instant. It was the best I could hope for.

  The raw power of the god seemed to fill the chamber as he stalked towards me between my guards. I knew from her memories he was incredibly dangerous. The eyes of the crowd followed him as he came to a halt at the base of the steps.

  “Why have you come before me?” I said in a commanding tone.

  From the corner of my eye I saw Badru’s mother jump in surprise. At the side of the chamber the faint purple Sir Percival turned to look at me open-mouthed in shock.

  The wolf-headed man sniffed the air and looked around the throne. Was he somehow seeing the people from my time?

  “The Pharaoh wishes to see the end of us,” he growled.

  He looked at me turning his head from one side to the other as if examining me. The umbrella slipped from underneath my elbow and landed on the seat by my side.

  “What do you want me to do, Wepwawet? The Pharaoh has his own mind–”

  “Speak to him!”

  Anger burst in me at his insolence.

  He raised his head sniffing as if searching for a scent, and then looked over to where the purple ghost of Sir Percival was making his way towards me.

  “No! Your time is at an end!”

  He turned back to me, his red eyes looking as if he was trying to focus on an optical illusion.

  “Speak to him or your spirit will not find rest in the afterlife!”

  “You dare threaten me?” I hissed.

  “I say, Miss Lovelady!” Sir Percival said hurrying over from the interesting wall.

  Wepwawet’s voice roared, “I am a GOD! YOU WORSHIP ME!” his voice boomed around the chamber.

  “Did, Wepwawet. No more. Take him away!”

  His mouth began a snarl and his muscles tensed to begin the charge towards me but he was distracted by the purple shape of Badru’s mother scurrying across between us to intercept Sir Percival who was at the bottom of the steps.

  “Miss Lovelady! I feel this is a very badly planned experiment! Get off me woman!” he added trying to prevent Badru’s mother from pushing him off the steps.

  The closest of the crowd were looking at Wepwawet and trying to see what he was looking at.

  The umbrella dug into my side and I reached down to move it, but in the action forgot I was holding the figurine and it dropped to the stone floor where its head broke off. A part of me was saddened seeing such a beautiful thing broken.

  The guards to either side of Wepwawet caught hold of his arms preventing him from charging towards me. His eyes fell to where the figurine lay broken, and then he looked questioningly back up to me.

  “We gods see many things. But I have never seen anything such as this.”

  With the two female guards still holding his arms he looked at Shemei and Hasina to my sides who were now separate from my throne guards who had moved in front of me and levelled their spears towards him, then down to his side where Badru’s mother and Sir Percival exchanged rude words in several languages, and finally at myself.

  Even though his canine mouth was unable to form the correct syllables I distinctly heard him attempt to say, “Miss Lovelady?”

  I nodded. “Goodbye, Wepwawet.”

  He stood for a moment in contemplation, as if seeing his future, and then allowed himself to be led out of the silent chamber (apart from Sir Percival and Badru’s mother exchanging, I believe, rather salty language).

  Would he have killed me?

  Yes. And you would have killed him.

  This has prevented what happens in the future?

  I believe so.

  I see you have found Shemei and Hasina.

  What did she know about them?

  Um, yes?

  I felt her smile.

  Go in peace.

  With a sigh of relief I stood up and found myself back in the virtually empty chamber. A strange sense of calm stole over me marred only by the exchange of rudeness down to my right.

  I walked a few steps and turned to look at the carving behind the throne. The pink-haired female and the wolf-headed god now seemed slightly friendlier towards each other, or at least knives weren’t in evidence.

  Twenty-Three

  It appeared that our sojourn with Sir Percival’s school-hood chum was at an end. Possibly due to Sir Percival’s interruption I still lived, or the me then lived and somehow disrupted something or other. I’m sure Mr Verne would’ve had most interesting thoughts on the matter.

  Whatever it was Badru’s mother made it quite clear that our presence was unwanted in the house. Badru, as his priestess-mother’s son, could but comply with her wishes.

  And so it was that we finally headed towards one of the rather nice looking hotels strung along the Nile (not before I looked deeply into both Shemei and Hasina’s dark seductive eyes and gave them both lingering kisses hidden behind my trusty umbrella, and whispered that they were very welcome to come visit me. Bathing was optional, but most definitely on the cards).

  Badru led our camels and donkey (with our luggage) to the hotel he recommended and dropped us off at the front entrance.

  While he and Sir Percival exchanged promises to keep in touch (unlikely) a bell-hop came out and passed a sealed envelope to me. How did he know me?

  Quite flummoxed by the situation I opened it and read that the Department wished us to return immediately and that we were to get the next available airship back home.

  First Sir Percival and now the Department were preventing me from staying at a luxurious hotel!

  I would most certainly have words!

  ***

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  Vengeance in Venice

  After the airship we’re travelling on is damaged by a storm Sir Percival and I find ourselves in Venice. I decide to make use of the unplanned stop to achieve two of my dreams - riding in a Gondola, and going to visit the Venice Preservation Society, where the machinery preventing Venice from sinking is located.

  But things don’t go as planned as we soon discover that terror stalks the canals. The Men of the Cog, the group responsible for the death of Katherine, my lover, are using kidnapping, blackmail, and murder, to gain power in the city.

  Determined to begin the fight back against the despicable group, Sir Percival and I join with one of Casanova’s female descendants, and the ladies of Venice, in an attempt to wrest the Floating City from their evil clutches.

  One

  The chair I sat upon sank below me yet again. With a slight cry I held on to my teacup while hearing others in the dining room Sir Percival and I sat in smash on the floor. I had never travelled on a transcontinental airship while going through a storm before, and I was thoroughly sick to the back teeth of it.

  Sir Percival (curse him) just sat in front of me amiably munching upon a
slice of rather excellent Victoria sponge. Once the airship and my stomach regained their equilibrium I’d inform him that most of the cake was in his beard, but for now I’d just be grateful for saving the contents of my teacup. Thankfully I had already gained my ‘airlegs’ (as Sir Percival so quaintly termed them) on the journey back from Cairo so I was almost ready for the storm we met somewhere over the Adriatic Sea.

  With my back to the overly large viewing windows I was among the first to notice a rattled-looking gentleman in an officers uniform enter the dining room. Nervously he looked around the large dining room, watching the white-coated waiters clearing the mess up, then slicked back his dark salt & pepper hair and tugged at his uniform. Vaguely I wondered what this presaged as the number of gold bars on his cuffs indicated he was someone of importance.

  A flash of lighting and a loud BOOM! of thunder over-rode the sounds of the straining engines, eliciting more screams from the fainthearted among the passengers also valiantly trying to enjoy afternoon tea.

  “Who’s he?” I leant over to ask Sir Percival, indicating the officer with my pink-haired head.

  “Hmm?” he said, looking around.

  The airship levelled off, or at least as near as damnation. “Most of the cake is in your beard, you know?”

  “He appears to be the Captain, Miss Lovelady.” He then held up his copious beard and eyed it speculatively, but I speared him with a glare before he could do something unutterably foul, like sucking the cake crumbs from it. “Do you think I should request some more?”

  To my lesser dismay he began brushing the crumbs from his beard onto the linen tablecloth. But before I could remonstrate with him about his lack of table manners the Captain cleared his throat in one of the quieter moments.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have your attention?”

  Carefully I turned round, making sure my eyes didn’t catch the sight from the overly large windows that surrounded the dining room. If I could try to convince myself that I was on a rather nicely fitted out ship floating upon the ocean, and not flying unnaturally through the air attached to a large gasbag (and sharing afternoon tea with one, to boot!), then I would.