The Hamunaptra Chronicles: Part 21

Part 21: Back At The Camp...

"Perhaps we should work a bit more on your aim."

Alex glanced sheepishly at Ardeth Bay as he trotted back to the training field with his arrow. “Yeah, sorry about that. But as it’s just Uncle Jon, I really don’t think it should count against me.”

“I heard that!” Jonathan cried as he stumbled into view, clutching his chest. “It would be very funny if you gave poor Uncle Jon a heart attack when he’s in his prime, wouldn’t it?!”

Rick sighed heavily as he sat down in the sand. Listening to Jonathan complain wasn’t quite something he was in the mood for just now. Why was it that every time he thought his life was finally falling into place, something totally unlikely, such as the resurrection of a mummy, had to get in the way? And then there was this past life business. Certainly he had never asked for such a fascinatingly heroic past. Even if it was true, at any rate, why should he be bothered with it now? He buried his face in his hands. Having visions in the middle of the desert with his wife and brother-in-law, more than intriguing him, gave him the impression that perhaps he had shared one too many beverages with Winston back in Cairo.

He felt a hand on his arm and looked up to see Evelyn sitting next to him, looking concerned. He smiled slightly at her, trying to be more like himself. The look in her eyes told him she wasn’t deceived.

“You’re very upset about this whole past life thing, aren’t you?” Evy asked gently. Rick looked away.

“I feel like I’m going insane, Evy,” he said, in what he hoped was an offhand tone. He glanced up to see her smiling.

“And since I’ve had these visions for years, I’m already a lost cause, is that right?” she said, laughing.

He chuckled, but his smile quickly faded. “You and I are very different, Evy,” he said quietly.

She nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. “I know that, but we have known for some time that our past was less than ordinary. Once you accept that, I think this will be easier.”

He looked over at her and frowned. “You're starting to sound like Ardeth.”

She laughed again. “I’m sorry. His speech patterns do tend to rub off on one, though.”

Rick shook his head, and was about to reply when an arrow sailed past his ear. Evy started and he whipped his head around. Alex was standing ten feet away, bow lowered, with a guilty look on his face. “Uh, sorry, Dad,” he stuttered. “Having a little trouble hitting the...target.”

Jonathan stalked past them towards his tent. “Oh, yes, go on and apologize to your father. Uncle Jon almost loses an eye, but that’s quite all right. God knows why he was even brought to Egypt in the first place!”

At last Rick laughed. “Those two will never stop, will they?” he asked his wife.

She shook her head. “Probably not,” she replied with a smile. “I’d better go have a talk with Jonathan, though. I know he exaggerates, but I think he’s feeling a bit like a fourth wheel.”

Rick chuckled. “Yeah, I suppose I should talk to Alex about respecting his elders, too.” He rose to his feet and offered his hand to Evy, who followed Jonathan to his tent. As he walked towards Alex he muttered to himself, “If I can just manage not to hallucinate along the way, this might even turn out to be a decent day.”

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