Gladiator Clash (Time Hunters, Book 1) by Chris Blake Page B

good enough for you,” said Tom, slightly annoyed.
    â€œI suppose it’ll have to be,” Isis said. She picked up the scrawny cat mummy. “We’ve been stuck inside that statue for a zillion, billion years. Cleo’s not much of a talker, unfortunately. I don’t think I’ve ever been so bored.”
    Tom looked properly at Isis. She didn’t seem quite so scary now that he knew she was just a ten year old like him.
Even though she looks in worse shape than my great-grandma and smells weird
, he thought.
But, despite the fact that he was fascinated by this mummy-girl, Tom started to edge towards the door. He had seen films about mummys coming to life and he knew they liked to eat brains.
    â€œLook,” he said. “I’m going to have to go home very soon. So… it was nice meeting you. Bye!”
    â€œYou can’t just leave me here. Take me with you,” Isis commanded, putting a hand on her hip.
    â€œNo way!” Tom said. “You’re an Ancient Egyptian mummy. My mum will go nuts if you drop bits of bandage all over my bedroom.”
    â€œBandage? My father was King of Egypt. These are
regal wrappings
, I’ll have you know!” Isis snapped.
    â€œLook, Your Royal Dustiness, I’m a lowly human boy with a brand-new carpet and a mum who doesn’t care much for mess. So that kind of rules out grotty, ancient house guests – even princesses.”
    Clomp, clomp, clomp
. Suddenly, Tom heard footsteps getting closer.
    â€œDad’s coming!” he said. “Quick! Hide!”
    Isis shook her head. “Hide? You must be joking! I’ve only just got out of that statue. I’m not hiding away again.”
    â€œTom!” Dad called out.
    In a panic, Tom glanced around the room. For a second he thought about bundling Isis and Cleo into the shadows. But that would never work. Isis was rooted to the spot, arms folded. Cleo wrapped herself around Isis’s ankles. Tom made do with hastily kicking some of the broken pieces of pottery behind a nearby display case.
    As Dad walked in, Tom stood in front of Isis and Cleo, desperately trying to make himself big enough to hide them both.
    â€œAh, there you are!” Dad said. “Having fun?”

    Tom looked at his dad’s face. He didn’t seem to have seen Isis or Cleo, even though they were both standing right behind Tom.
    â€œYep,” he said.
    Then Isis stepped forward and waved at his dad. Tom’s heart flipped over in his chest. He tried hopping to one side to hide her again.
    â€œI’ll be ready to go in five,” Dad said. “OK?” Then he shuffled off back to his office as though nothing unusual was going on.
    Tom breathed out slowly. “I don’t believe it. Dad didn’t even notice you. It was like you were… invisible!”
    â€œWell, that decides it,” Isis said merrily. “We’re coming home with you, whether you like it or not.” She clapped her hands together in a cloud of dust. “Lead the way! I haven’t got all day, you know.”

“Eek!” Isis shrieked, shrinking back in fear. “You didn’t tell me you were a sorceror.”
    â€œI’m not,” Tom said with a sigh, as he switched his bedroom light on and off. “It’s just a light.”
    Isis slowly stepped into Tom’s bedroom, looking round it curiously. The ride home from the museum had been interesting, as Isis was convinced that the car was a magic, horseless chariot. Tom had tried to fill Isis in on everything that had happened since she died, but the Egyptian princess had a thousand questions about the modern world. Tom was exhausted from his attempts to explain everything from electricity to aeroplanes.
    â€œI tell you what, let’s Google a few things on the computer,” Tom suggested. “Maybe we can find out more about your world too.”
    Tom sat at his desk and hit a button on the keyboard. The