“Consort?”
“Yes, Zahra always considered herself a queen, and naturally, she needed a consort. Her ancestress had taken many important men as consorts, and she eagerly followed in her footsteps. I had enough power in Maldara to be fairly impressive, and she thought I’d be a good enough match.”
Eve frowned. “Ancestress?”
“Oh, you didn’t get that much in depth? Zahra only acknowledges two of her ancestresses, and only one earns her reluctant respect. One is Kiya, the founder of the Kiyani family. The other is Kiya’s mother.” He smiled. “But to get to the answers, you have to travel on the Great Journey. I can’t tell you how often Zahra bored me with looking at her map of that journey.” He took out his phone and pulled up a Google map of Maldara and the rest of northern Africa. “We sit right here above the Congo and directly northeast is Ethiopia, then South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.” His index finger touched a destination on the Mediterranean coast of Egypt. “And here is the city of splendor that is no more. At least in its original state. Don’t you think it’s a fine birthplace for our Queen Zahra’s ancestors?” He smiled. “Now reverse it, and we have the Great Journey that’s now Kiyani history, whether or not it’s true.”
Eve looked at the city. “Alexandria? Zahra is claiming Egyptian heritage?”
“She will be soon. It serves her purpose right now to please the nationalists here in Maldara, but there’s a certain glamour to the stories connected to the Great Journey, and Zahra will want to take advantage of them. Maldara is a small fish compared to Egypt. I’d bet Zahra will start climbing as soon as she makes her position unassailable here.”
“The Great Journey.” Eve was frowning. “I don’t understand any of this, and you’re making my headache worse. Tell me what you’re talking about.”
“I’m getting there. I told you that you’d have to go back to Zahra’s favorite ancestress for clarity. Work it out for yourself. Who would Zahra accept as an acceptable predecessor?”
“I’m not ready to play games. You’re enjoying this too much.” But she was intrigued and thinking in spite of herself. “An ancestress who started her journey in Alexandria and traveled south to the jungle country of Maldara.”
“Go on.”
“Why would she do that? Alexandria was a queen city for thousands of years. It had the greatest library in the civilized world and the Pharos lighthouse, which was one of the seven wonders of the world. It had famous scholars and scientists.”
“Which Zahra would not appreciate as you do, Eve. What would make that city acceptable as a place of origin for her? You said it in that first sentence.”
Her eyes widened. “Queen city. The Pharaohs had their palaces on the bank of the Mediterranean.” She took the next giant step. “And the most famous queen was Cleopatra. Zahra actually thinks she’s related to Cleopatra?”
“By George, I believe you’ve got it. Not thinks, knows. She couldn’t be more certain.”
“She’s got to be nuts,” Eve said flatly.
“Perhaps. But you have to accept that she believes it, so you’ll understand who she is. All her life, she’s identified with the royalty of Egypt and particularly with Cleopatra VII. You can either call it bullshit or you can use it to manipulate her.”
“Which did you do?”
He smiled. “I did what I had to do at any given moment. But I’m afraid you’re too honest to follow my lead. Jill had problems doing it. Though she did become interested in the literary aspects of Zahra’s fantasy. But then, Jill’s a storyteller.”
“So I’ve discovered,” Eve said dryly. But she couldn’t deny that her curiosity had been aroused. “What literary aspects?”
“The Great Journey wasn’t only a map, it was a journal. It was passed down from generation to generation in the Kiyani family.”
Her gaze flew to his face. “Whose journal?”
He chuckled. “Not Cleopatra. Gotcha.”
“No, you didn’t. I’m not that gullible. Everyone knows how Cleopatra died. And it wasn’t on a Great Journey to this steaming jungle in the middle of Africa. Whose journal?”
“Does everyone know how she died? Zahra would disagree.”
“Gideon.”
“Just a little food for thought.” He grinned. “And a warning not to take anything for granted in this world. You’re right, it isn’t Cleopatra’s journal. But it was written by an ancestor of Zahra’s whom she viewed with a certain respect and tolerance. Her name was Kiya.”
“Kiya? That’s right, you mentioned Zahra respected her. You’re saying a woman made her way from Alexandria to Maldara and founded the Kiyani dynasty?”
“I didn’t say she was alone. She had slaves and at least one consort. That was in a day when a woman had to be able to use a man to get what she wanted. That was why Zahra had respect for her in spite of her many flaws. But Kiya was powerful enough to pull things together and set up her household and family to suit herself.” He paused. “And it was her name that remained on all the record books from the time she crossed the Maldara border.” He smiled. “Kiya, beloved daughter of Cleopatra VII.”
“What? It was actually true?”
“Perhaps. If it wasn’t, Kiya told a good story.”
“You said record books. Not just her journal?”
“Come on, what do you think? It was over two thousand years ago. The records were only vague references other than Kiya’s accounts. And the Kiyanis became almost as savage as the natives who attacked them when they invaded their territory. But they were smarter, and they had more civilized methods of torture and murder than the tribes had seen before. So they beat them back and started to build their empire.”
“Which evidently was no Alexandria. It’s pretty much as undeveloped now as when they came here.”
“They had several obstacles to overcome. A few Zahras and similar male counterparts appeared over the centuries. They were low on family values and high on world domination.” He was driving off the highway and onto the bumpy dirt road that led to Robaku. “Like most families, good and bad. But with the Kiyanis, it just seems to be exaggerated. They go up and down like a roller coaster.” He pulled up to the museum and shut off the car. “Here you are.” He got out and ran around to open the door for her. “See? What else could you want? Chauffeur service, and I even provided you with entertainment to keep you amused.” He was unlocking the door to the museum. “Now I’ll get you settled and make sure that it’s okay to leave you.”
“Of course it’s okay.” She got out of the car and joined him as he opened the door. “I only have a little headache now.” And her knees were still damnably weak. But she ignored both because she was still fascinated by the story with which Gideon had been regaling her. “Did Zahra ever show you this journal?”
“Of course.” He nodded. “Not the original. But it had been copied multiple times over the centuries.” He smiled mockingly. “It was at a time when she was still enthralled with the idea of me as a consort and wanted to impress me.”
“And were you impressed?”
“It was…interesting. But her take on it was even more interesting.” He stepped aside for her to enter. “Now story time is over. Sit down. You’re not as steady on your feet as I’d like.”
“I’ll get a cup of coffee and an aspirin and I’ll be fine.”
“I’m sure you will.” He turned on the lights. “Go sit down,” he said again. “I’ll make the coffee. I could use one myself. I seem to have been telling you tales like some male Scheherazade all the way from Jokan. Do you suppose Scheherazade got hoarse from talking all night?”
“She had motivation. She was under a death sentence if she didn’t keep the sultan entertained.” She dropped down on her stool. “And you’re no Scheherazade, Gideon.” She suddenly chuckled. “Sorry, I just had a vision of you dressed up in a veil and harem outfit. I may never be able to look at you again without seeing it.”
He flinched. “You really know how to hurt a guy.” He was pourin
g water into the coffeemaker. “Oh, well, I have enough confidence in my manly vigor to be able to suffer through it.” His gaze went to the reconstruction of Amari, which was still on the dais on her worktable. “He’s still here. It seems a long time since I brought Hajif and Leta here last night.”
“It was a long time.” Her gaze shifted to Amari. “A lot happened…” She suddenly straightened on the stool. “And Hajif must have wanted to get in here to get Amari. They were so eager to take him home. But the door was locked, and we weren’t here. I thought I’d be back before they were ready for him.”
“And then you were so rude as to develop food poisoning and kept them out. I believe they’ll forgive you.”
“But I’m back now, and there’s no reason why they have to wait any longer.” She got to her feet and steadied herself on the worktable for a minute as that blasted weakness swept over her. “I’ll go down and tell them that they can—”
“No,” Gideon said firmly. “I’ll go down and get them if you don’t think they can make it through the night.” He pushed her back down on the stool. “Rest.”
He was out the door before she could protest.
Gideon was being a little too protective, she thought with exasperation. It wasn’t as if she were tottering on the edge of death. She might as well have had Joe here. No, Joe would not have been that obvious. He would have been subtle and warm and…Joe.
Damn she missed him.
She looked at the clock. Eight-ten. No, it wasn’t time to call him yet. She usually waited until she was sure he wasn’t at an evening session at the Yard. That was about ten or eleven Maldara time.
And she needed that coffee if she was going to keep alert until it was time for her to make that call. She got to her feet and went to the cabinet where the coffee was brewing.
She’d just poured herself a coffee when Gideon came back into the museum.
“Caught you,” he said. “What didn’t you understand about the word rest?”
She was frowning. “Where are Hajif and Leta?”
“They weren’t quite ready for him. They said they’d see you in the morning.” He came to the coffeemaker and poured himself a cup of coffee. “So sit down. You don’t have to be hostess to me. We’re way beyond that, aren’t we?”
“Yes.” She was still staring at Amari. “I don’t understand. They were so eager and Leta said only a few hours…” She shifted her gaze back to Gideon. “Unless you gave them the impression they wouldn’t be welcome?”
He grimaced. “I wouldn’t do that when I know you’d have my head. I was charming and caring, I just explained that the reason we didn’t show up earlier was that you’d been very ill and had to go to the hospital.” He held up his hands. “All very truthful.”
“And you knew Hajif and his family probably wouldn’t go to a hospital unless they were dying.”
“It did occur to me that might be the effect.”
“But you knew I wanted them to come.”
He nodded. “People make their own decisions, Eve. I just gave them the facts.”
And he was so clever that he knew just how to shade them. “I could go down to the village and bring them back with me,” she said coolly. “I don’t appreciate manipulation, Gideon.”
“I know. Even if I didn’t realize it, Jill told me. She was afraid that it might be the one thing that would keep you from coming here.” He said quietly, “But I told you that if you left the hospital and came back to Robaku, I’d take care of you and you wouldn’t suffer for it. I was acting instinctively with Hajif to keep that promise.”
“Because you want me to rest?”
“Partly.” He smiled. “I imagine it’s difficult for the people around you to take care of you without a little manipulation and sleight of hand. Admit it. Doesn’t your family have to resort to it on occasion? What about your husband?”
“Joe and I are honest with each other. Besides, that’s different.”
“Which means that you try to be honest with each other.”
“Which means that you don’t have the same rights and privileges.”
“Unfortunately.” He chuckled as her eyes widened. “I told you I liked intense women.” He shook his head. “I’ll back down now. You left yourself open, and I couldn’t resist. I know you’re as faithful as Penelope was to Odysseus.”
He was impossible. “Now you’re delving into The Odyssey? First, it was that wild tale about Kiyani, and now you’re into mythology?”
“Well, I did minor in English Lit when I was at Oxford. And there was a two-headed female monster in The Odyssey. When you think about it, there might be some connection with Zahra Kiyani.” His smile faded and he added soberly, “But I’m really still trying to distract you as I’ve been attempting to do since we left the hospital. That’s not being fair. You’ve had a rough day, and some of it was my fault. You like honesty, and I should give it to you.”
Eve frowned. “Distract me?” She didn’t understand any of this, and it was beginning to frustrate her. “Distract me from what?”
“Any number of things.” His lips twisted. “That’s been my main duty since Jill called me into this with you. Protect and distract. I’m very good at both though you’d never know it by today. But Jill says she can’t take any more, so evidently there’s a change coming. I might as well begin again now. Yes, I did want you to rest, but only because you’re going to have enough with which to contend when Jill gets here. That should be in about ten minutes. You’re going to get all the honesty and absence of manipulation you can stand.” He grimaced. “Which is completely wrong for the situation. I’m surprised Novak is letting her do it. I guess he thinks she deserves it. She paid the price.”
“Who is Novak?” Then she remembered. “CIA. Jill gave me his name to pass on to Joe. What has he got to do with this?”
“You can ask Jill. I don’t know how honest she’s going to be. If she tells you about Novak, then you’ll probably have the entire picture.” He moved toward the door. “Now it’s time I went into protection mode again. This time for Jill. She wants to make sure that Robaku isn’t being watched. She doesn’t want anyone to know that she’s coming to see you tonight. I’ll see you later, Eve.”
He left the museum.
What the hell?
Eve put her coffee cup down and leaned back against the cabinet. Her knees were still shaky, and she hadn’t needed those enigmatic words from Gideon to make her any dizzier. She hadn’t understood what he was talking about, but she didn’t like the sound of it.
Well, she would soon find out and handle it. She just wished that Jill Cassidy hadn’t picked a night when she was feeling this weak and vulnerable to spring something of which even Gideon seemed to disapprove.
Forget it. Stop dwelling on something she couldn’t change until she was confronted with it. She went back to her stool and began to prepare Amari for his final trip to Hajif and Leta tomorrow.
Then she stopped as she realized what she was doing. Not questioning, just accepting what was happening to her no matter how strange she thought it. Meekly going back to this work she had chosen to do.
Or that had been chosen for her to do.
And Jill would be coming in that door soon, and, in spite of what Gideon had said, the reporter might try to manipulate her once again.
No way.
Clear your head and get ready for her, dammit.
* * *
“It’s wonderful,” Jill said quietly from the doorway behind Eve, her gaze on the Amari reconstruction. “Or should I say he’s wonderful. Your Amari seems almost alive again.”
Eve looked over her shoulder. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it? You wanted him to come alive so that Hajif and Leta would have something besides a DNA report to file away? That’s what I wanted, too.” She turned on the stool to face her. “And I did it. But that isn’t all you wanted, is it, Jill? That isn’t why Gideon is outside cruising around in his ‘protective mode’ to be sure no one will know
you’re here. By the way, you’re twenty minutes late. He must have been worried. Or maybe he isn’t as efficient as he told me he was.” She added coolly, “But what can you expect when you choose an errand boy who was born with a silver spoon in his mouth?”
Jill went still as she studied Eve’s expression. “Gideon did his job. It was my fault. I had to make sure I wasn’t followed.” She crossed the room toward her. “I didn’t want to ruin everything because I was having an attack of conscience. There was still a possibility that I could salvage bits and pieces even if you socked me, then threw up your hands and took the next flight out.”
“You seem to think that a possibility. I probably will, too. Particularly since Gideon was talking about honesty, which was clearly lacking, and manipulation, which was obviously present. Though I’m not surprised he brought them up. I’ve known since the day I met you that you were very good at luring people into doing what you wish.” Her lips tightened. “And yet I didn’t realize that you were lying to me. I consider myself a good judge of character, and when you answered my questions, I would have sworn that you were telling me the truth.”
“I was telling you the truth. I just couldn’t tell you everything.” Jill shook her head. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have come, and we had to have you here.” She continued in a desperate rush: “And I thought it would be okay. I was sure we could keep you safe. I didn’t expect this to happen. There was no reason.”
“You mean that the food poisoning was no accident? I tried to tell myself that it didn’t make sense that anyone would want to hurt me. But I’ve been sitting here waiting for you and trying to put everything together from what Gideon said, and that stuck out in living color. He was very tentative, but he didn’t really deny it. I might have been too woozy to figure out the whys and wherefores, but the fact that it was intentional became crystal clear as I thought about it. Evidently someone believed they had reason not to want me here. Zahra?”
“I’m not…sure. I knew Zahra wouldn’t want you here, but I didn’t believe she’d feel strongly enough to actually strike out at you. She just wants control of Robaku. She’s very careful of her image, and there’s no way she’d want even a suspicion touching her.”
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