Sands of Abydos

Chapter 5: Trip Extension

When Peter awoke, he was flat on his back, stretched out on the sand, and surrounded by the cliffs of Abydos. The sun was hanging low over the cliffs to the west.

"Welcome back," Neal said, crouched next to him. Mozzie was propped up on one elbow. They were once more in the khaki garments they'd worn before crossing into the ancient kingdom. Peter's familiar duffel bag had replaced the hemp bag he'd carried earlier.

"I rather miss my kilt," Mozzie said, plucking the sleeve of his shirt. "These clothes are much hotter. Do you remember anything about the trip back?"

"Not once we entered the water," Peter said. "How about you, Neal?"

"I was awake, but experienced no ill effects ... and didn't see any monsters. Within seconds we were back in the desert."

"Those gouges on your cheek are gone," Peter remarked. "How about the wound on your chest?"

"Healed as well."

Suddenly Peter remembered the reason for the trip. "The crystal?"

Neal pointed to his belt. "Still with us." He loosened the drawstrings of the pouch and pulled out the sparkling gemstone.

The jeep was in the same position where they'd left it, a confirmation they were back in the present. They were close to the portal on the cliff face. Neal said it was no longer visible. If it hadn't been for the crystal and paint specimens, it would have been easy to believe they'd been the victims of a mass hallucination.

How many days had elapsed during their time in the temple? They'd grown to learn that time within wormholes was often distorted. During the drive to town, they discovered they'd spent only a little over a day in ancient Egypt. It was now the evening of December 30.

Peter had selected a simple motel in Abydos for their home base. The accommodations were spartan but the rooms were clean and the owner trustworthy. Peter and other archaeologists frequently stayed there during digs.

An unexpected visitor awaited them in the reception area—Gideon Talmadge. He told them he'd grown concerned when they hadn't checked in the previous night and had flown in earlier that day. Peter arranged with the innkeeper for food to be brought to his room so they could talk in privacy. The last meal they'd had was over a day ago.

They sat cross-legged on the kilim woven rug on the floor to enjoy a feast of kushari, fava bean stew, and pita bread. The kushari was fragrant with coriander and cumin. Iced bottles of Egyptian wheat beer were in a cooler Peter had borrowed from the innkeeper. The tension of the past day dissipated as the ceiling fan whirled lazily overhead.

"The effect of your amulet on the priestess is particularly concerning," Gideon said. "I'd love to know the nature of her connection to Azathoth."

"She could be an early example of a Tirelian on Earth," Mozzie suggested.

"That seems the most likely," Gideon agreed. "Could you tell if she had any special abilities?"

"Nothing definite," Neal admitted. "Her perfume gave me a headache but that may have simply been an allergic reaction. Does Yidhra live on Tirelia with Azathoth?"

"I assume so," Gideon said. "There haven't been any reports on her since Abdul Alhazred wrote the Necronomicon. The Ymar can't use wormholes, but Tirelians may be able to. Lavinia and I have also speculated about the Ymar altering Tirelians."

Neal looked at him, startled. "You mean like Laban Shrewsbury and my grandfather were?"

"Possibly," he confirmed. "Celaenians injected your grandfather with their DNA. What if the Ymar can do something similar with Tirelians? Or they may have some other means to give them unknown powers." He grimaced. "There's no way to test the theory. Let's hope we don't need to reexamine the issue."