by Kevin Ashman
‘Steady,’ said the metallic voice, ‘wait for her.’
Sure enough, the girl walked forward and stopped before him. She glanced up nervously at the lights, before walking slowly around him. Samari realised he was sweating through nervousness, and although he knew he was safe, he still felt uncomfortable when she was out of his sight.
‘Don’t worry,’ said the metallic voice, ‘We are watching her. If she tries anything, we hit the fry button.’
A few seconds later, the girl came back into view and stood directly in front of him, staring into his eyes.
‘Oh, my god,’ said Samari, ‘her eyes are unbelievable.’
‘Yes, they are quite unique,’ said the voice. ‘Completely black.’
‘No,’ said Samari as he met her gaze, ‘not completely black, they have a slight tinge of red. It’s difficult to explain, but probably the darkest shade of red you could have on the spectrum, before it tips over into black.’
‘Really?’ said the voice. ‘We hadn’t noticed that. Well done, Doctor. You have been there two minutes and already we have new information.’
The girl raised her hand and touched the visor gently before touching her own face to feel the difference.
‘There is no doubt there is a high level of intelligence there,’ said Samari. ‘I’m going to try to speak to her.’
‘Okay,’ said the voice. ‘Recorders are on.’
Samari took a breath and speaking in Egyptian, greeted the girl.
‘Hello,’ he said.
The girl took half a step back and her head tilted like an interested puppy.
‘Hello,’ said Samari again. ‘My name is Doctor Samari. I am here to help you.’
The girl’s eyes narrowed and he could see her silently forming the words with her mouth.
‘Samari,’ he said again, ‘I am Doctor Samari.’
The girl’s mouth formed the words again, though this time she made a sound.
‘Doctorsamari,’ she said, the two words merging into one.
‘Yes, Doctor Samari,’ he replied, ‘it may be easier to just say Doctor.’
‘Doctor,’ she said, though this time much clearer.
‘You,’ he said, pointing at her chest, ‘what is your name?’
Again, her eyes narrowed as if deep in thought. Finally, she spoke again.
‘Nephthys,’ she said.
‘Good to meet you, Nephthys,’ said Samari and then clammed up, unsure what to say next. Before he could say anything, Nephthys broke the silence.
‘Are you a god?’
Samari was taken aback. Although the dialect was somewhat removed from modern Egyptian, he found he could understand the words quite comfortably.
‘No,’ he said, ‘I am a man.’
‘Why are you dressed so?’ asked Nephthys.
‘For my protection,’ said Samari. ‘In case you try to harm me.’
‘My mother is a goddess,’ said Nephthys, ‘A nightwalker who dominated these lands for more years than there is wheat in the fields.’
‘Who is your mother?’ asked Samari.
‘Sekhmet; bringer of death, granter of life, provider of immortality.’
‘And is she a goddess?’
‘She is a nightwalker,’ said Nephthys, ‘as am I. Why do you not know her name and cower in fear before me?’
‘It is a tale too long to tell at the moment,’ said Samari, ‘but tell it, we will. First, I would like to know you. Where have you come from?’
Nephthys didn’t answer, but kept staring at him.
‘How old are you, Nephthys?’ asked Samari. ‘When and where were you born?’
Again, Nephthys remained silent.
‘Why do you not answer?’ asked Samari. ‘Do you not understand?’
‘I understand your words, but the questions make no sense. I am of here and I am of now.’
Samari nodded, thinking furiously. Obviously her awareness seemed to have just continued from the time she had lost consciousness thousands of years ago. If he revealed any information regarding dates and circumstances, it would only confuse the issue. He knew he had to be careful in the way he framed the questions.
‘Have you always been of Kemet?’ he asked, using the ancient name for Egypt. ‘Or were you born in a different land?’
‘I was born in Kemet,’ she confirmed, ‘in Itjawi, burial place of the persecutor Amenemhat.’
Samari swallowed hard. This conversation was already opening up so many doors that he could hardly contain himself. Finally, he allowed himself to ask the one burning question, he wanted desperately to know.
‘Nephthys, you have been in this place a long time.’
‘I have.’
‘Then tell me this. What king wore the two crowns of Kemet when you last saw the sky?’
Nephthys’ eyes narrowed in anger and Samari could see he had touched a nerve.
‘Is he your master?’ she hissed. ‘The false god who has as many tongues as thrones. He is nothing but a serpent, and he will be cast into everlasting servitude at my kiss.’
‘I know no master,’ said Samari, gently, trying to calm her down. ‘You have been here for many years and a new king sits on the throne. I would like to know the name of the one who was king when you came here.’
‘Ramesses,’ she spat, ‘the second king who has borne that name. He of a treacherous heart and false tongue. He tricked us into this place, slew my sisters and condemned my mother and me to a thousand lifetimes in the dark with nought, but a single slave to sustain us. When I leave this place, I will unleash my wrath upon his form with the fury of a thousand years.’
Samari’s heart was pounding. If what this girl was saying was correct, she actually lived during the reign of Ramesses II. It was unbelievable. Here was someone who not only lived and breathed over three thousand years ago, but also experienced the reign of the greatest Egyptian king ever to have lived. Not only that, but she was conscious, sentient and understandable. The implications were incalculable, this creature would be able to recount stories that even the best Egyptologists could only guess at. The tinny voice came back over the air.
‘Is everything okay, Doctor?’ it asked.
‘Everything is fine,’ he said.
‘We can hear her talking to you. Do you understand her?’
‘I do,’ said Samari, ‘I will be out soon. Give me another two minutes.’
‘What are these strange sounds you make?’ asked Nephthys. ‘Are they the words of demons?’
‘I am speaking to others like me,’ said Samari, ‘in our own language.’
‘I see no others,’ said Nephthys.
‘They are beyond these walls and are able to hear my words through…um,’
‘Magic?’ she interjected.
‘Yes, sort of,’ said Samari, ‘we call it Radio.’
‘Then you are demons.’
‘No, we are men.’
‘My kind feed on men,’ said Nephthys.
Again, Samari gulped.
‘We thought as much,’ said Samari, ‘and that is why we are being careful. We want to talk to you, learn about you and find out what we can do to make your time here as comfortable as possible.’
‘Then why do you burn me?’ asked Nephthys glancing up at the lamps above the door.
‘It is only for protection,’ said Samari. ‘We know you can do us great harm, so if you attack us, it is our way of defending ourselves.’
‘It is the way of things,’ said Nephthys. ‘We are the predator, you are the prey. It has always been and the way it is now.’
‘But it doesn’t have to be,’ said Samari. ‘I and others like me are men of great learning. We have knowledge we can share with you and in return, you can tell us things that we don’t know. That is why I am here, to establish that you are willing to talk and not attack us.’
‘Why should I trust you?’ said, Nephthys. ‘When the last man we trusted betrayed us and wiped our sisters from the face of the earth.’
‘I understand your reluctance,’ said Samari, ‘but I am not Ramesses. His time has gone and we are now a land of learning. We want to understand and work alongside you in peace, learning from each other.’
‘Are these the words of your king?’
‘We have no king,’ said Samari, ‘though the highest among us here agrees with my explanation.’
‘And can you give me a throne to rule all men?’
‘I can’t,’ said Samari. ‘There is much for you to learn about this place, but it will take time. I am happy to teach you, but I need your trust.’
‘You ask for my trust,’ said Nephthys, ‘yet you come here with weapons of light and armour of cloth. Where is your trust, doctor?’
Samari stared at her for an age before replying.
‘If I display my trust,’ he said, ‘will it be offered in return?’
‘It will,’ said Nephthys.
‘Then I offer my ultimate trust,’ he said and started to unbutton the neck guards around his shoulders.
‘Doctor, what are you doing?’ asked the tinny voice.
‘Don’t worry;’ said Samari into his microphone, ‘I know what I am doing.’
‘Doctor, stop. That is an order; do not remove your protection.’
‘Be quiet,’ snapped Samari, ‘this is my choice.’
‘Doctor,’ said the voice, ‘if you remove your protection, she will kill you.’
‘I don’t think she will,’ said Samari, staring into the girl’s eyes.
‘Stand by for sunburn,’ said the voice.
‘No!’ snapped Samari. ‘Leatherman, if you are listening, stand down your men. Do not go to sunburn, I repeat, do not go to sunburn. It is essential we stay on moonlight if we are to gain her trust. If I am wrong, then I will pay the price, but that is my decision.’
Outside the Cell, the technician turned to face the back of the room where Leatherman stood alongside another man who had entered the room at the last minute. A quiet conversation took place between Leatherman and the visitor before Leatherman made his decision.
‘Give him what he wants,’ he said.
A silence followed before Samari spoke again over the intercom.
‘Well,’ he asked, ‘what’s it to be?’
‘We have had confirmation from Mr Leatherman to maintain moonlight,’ said the technician. ‘I hope you know what you are doing, Doctor Samari.’
‘So do I,’ said Samari and continued to unclip the helmet.
----
Finally, all the clasps were undone and Samari spoke again in the language that Nephthys understood.
‘You asked me to display my trust, Nephthys,’ he said, ‘so I will entrust you with the most precious thing I have.’
‘And what is that?’ asked Nephthys.
‘My life,’ said Samari and lifted off the helmet.
Both people stared at each other, meeting the other’s respective gazes. Nephthys stepped closer and leaned slightly forward, her nose twitching as she took in his scent.
‘It has been a long time since I tasted the blood of man,’ she said hoarsely and moved in closer.
Samari felt the sweat running down his back, knowing that if she struck now, there would be no time for the staff to save him, sunburn or not.
‘You have no idea how much I desire to rip out your throat, Doctor. To enjoy the flow of your blood pumping into my mouth while your heart still beats, and to taste the saltiness of your flesh as I tear through your muscle to feast on your organs.’
‘Then I ask you not to take out your hunger on me, Nephthys,’ he answered, his voice shaking, ‘For if you make me your victim, then those who watch will know they can never trust you again and you will be locked in this place for evermore.’
Her face drew close to his and her tongue emerged to lick the side of his neck.
‘I can hear your blood, Doctor. I can see the pulse as your heart sends it through your veins.’
‘Don’t do it, Nephthys,’ he said.’ You asked me for my trust and I have given it freely. You have many things we desire, and in return, I can help you get out of here.’
Nephthys stepped back and stared at him.
‘I have been in this place for a long time, Doctor. Why would you let me out?’
‘You don’t belong here, Nephthys,’ he said. ‘You belong back in Egypt amongst our own people. We will look after you there and our people can learn many things from you.’
‘We are not in Kemet?’
‘No, we are in a place far removed, and it is wrong.’
‘Then we will work together to kill those who imprison me,’ said Nephthys. ‘When will you set me free?’
‘Nephthys, I have to go,’ he said, ‘my people are expecting me, but I will return as soon as possible. In the meantime, promise me this. Do not attack anyone who enters here. Be subservient to their whims and cause no concern. I will try to ensure they burn you no more, but you must cede dominance, for they have more ways of killing you than you can imagine. This is just the beginning, Nephthys, there is so much more to come. The next time I come, I will wear no armour, but will bring gifts of information. This way we will win the trust of others and as you grow stronger in body, you will grow stronger in knowledge. You ask me to demonstrate my trust, Nephthys, now I need yours.’
After a few moments silence, where Nephthys’ eyes seemed to bore into his soul, she finally spoke.
‘I have waited an eternity, Doctor, living only in my dreams. A little while longer makes no difference. Go in safety and return in safety. I will not take your life, but there are more questions, than there are stars above Kemet. I would have answers.’
‘As would I,’ said Samari. ‘Now, you should go behind your screen until I leave or they may turn on the lights.’
Nephthys walked backwards until she reached the screen.
‘Do not let too much time pass before we speak again, Doctor,’ she said, and with that, she stepped behind the screen.
Samari turned and walked to the entrance.
‘Open the door,’ he said, ‘but remain in moonlight.’
‘Against regulations, Doctor Samari,’ said the tinny voice.
‘Screw regulations,’ he said, ‘I made her a promise, now let me out.’
The light remained blue as he stepped through the airlock and he stepped back into the auditorium to a round of applause from the gathered technicians. As the door closed behind him with a satisfying clunk, Samari bent over and promptly threw up on the floor.
----
Chapter Fifteen
Outskirts of London
Becky looked at Craig in confusion. Obviously he was worried, but why he was so wound up over a simple finger off a cadaver was beyond her.
‘What do you mean?’ she asked.
‘Becky, that sample you gave me earlier is either unique in this world, or the most elaborate hoax I have ever seen.’
‘Sorry, I don’t follow,’ she said.
‘Look, Becky, if you are part of something that I should be aware of, please have the courtesy to tell me. I will keep my mouth shut, I promise, but please don’t take me for a fool.’
‘Craig, you are making no sense,’ said Becky. ‘Why don’t you start at the beginning and tell me everything you have found?’
‘Okay,’ sighed Craig and took another sip of coffee before continuing. ‘After you left this morning, I finished the tests that I was doing and found I had some time on my hands, so I prepared the sample you gave me. I placed the finger in a sterile pod and sliced it in half, taking uncontaminated tissue from the centre. As soon as I confirmed the sample was clean, I ran a series of tests, thinking I would find one of three things. One, that the tissue was ancient and from a corpse long dead. Two, that it was no more than a few hundred years old and the result of a natural decaying process, or three, it is from a relatively modern body, altered to present a false aging process as part of some unknown hoax.’
‘And which did you find?’ asked Becky.
‘That’s the thing,’ said Craig, ‘basically, I found all three.’
Becky looked on uncomprehendingly.
‘I don’t understand,’ she said, ‘please explain.’
‘Well, first of all I did a tissue sample.’ said Craig. ‘I confirmed it was human tissue, and in the first results, it seemed that the subject probably died a few decades ago. However, further analysis shows there are cells present that are several hundreds of years old and on top of that, even more cells that are in a state of decay that suggests the sample is from a body that died thousands of years ago. It doesn’t make any sense.’
‘Do you think it is a fake and has been made deliberately to look like that?’
‘Absolutely not,’ said Craig, ‘the structure is perfect and far too detailed to reproduce, unless of course, you consider cloning, but the age of the cells preclude that.’
‘Then what do you make of it?’ asked Becky.
‘I had no idea,’ said Craig, ‘so I carried out a full suite of tests.’
‘And your results?’
‘Are astonishing.’
‘Do you have a report with you?’
‘I have better than that,’ said Craig, lifting his bag from the floor, ‘I have brought the experiment with me. Could we use your table?’
‘Of course,’ said Becky.
Craig opened his bag and pulled out an electronic microscope, passing the lead to Becky to plug in. Delving further into his bag, he pulled out a lidded plastic container and placed it alongside the microscope. He retrieved a blank slide and after pricking his finger with a pin, he smeared the blood on the glass and placed it on the shelf of the scope. After focussing the instrument, he stood up from the table so Becky could take his place.
‘Take a look,’ he said, ‘and then tell me what you see.’
‘I know what I will see,’ said Becky.
‘Humour me,’ said Craig
Becky peered into the viewfinder and focussed the microscope for her own eyes.
‘As far as I can make out,’ said Becky, ‘it is a collection of healthy blood cells.’
‘Good,’ said Craig. ‘We have established our benchmark. Now, how long do you reckon it will take for the cells to deteriorate?’