land, either. It’s over an ocean. Have you ever seen the ocean?”
He nodded. “I have seen the great seas that are fed by the Nile.”
“Believe it or not, Amon, that great sea is actually small when you compare it with others.”
Amon looked away and said quietly, “I have not had much opportunity to explore the world.”
A melancholy expression stole over his face, and I found myself missing his warm smile. “Amon?” I touched his hand and scooted closer so he could see my phone. “Look.” I showed him a picture of Earth. “We are on this continent called North America. Egypt”—I used my fingers to turn the globe and then zoom in on Africa—“is way over here on the African continent. So you can see you are a long way from Kansas, Dorothy.”
“What is this box of magic?”
“Uh, it’s called a phone. It has apps that work kind of like a computer.”
“I do not understand.”
“I can seek answers to questions with it.”
“It is like an oracle?”
“I suppose in a way.”
“How did you acquire this gift of the gods? Did you defeat a monster in battle?”
“Not exactly. Pretty much everyone has one.”
“May I look?” I handed him my phone and he scrolled his finger across the world map, watching in fascination as the perspective changed. “We are truly on the other side of the world?” he asked.
“That’s right. And don’t forget, we are assuming that your brothers are still
in
Egypt. Actually, they could be anywhere—China, France, the U.K.—Egyptian exhibits are very popular.”
Amon ran his hand over his bald head as he said thoughtfully, “This is why my power could not take us to them.” His eyes met mine. “I cannot use my power to cross over great waters. The desert sand becomes too heavy when it meets the water. It would sink us into the bottomless ocean.”
I swallowed. “Well, technically the ocean isn’t bottomless, but I get the picture.”
Playing with the phone, he began pressing various buttons and exploring different apps. I was shocked at how quickly he was picking up modern technology.
“There are too many oceans, you are right,” he declared. “But if we could get to Egypt, I could ask Anubis for aid.”
“Can’t you ask him for aid from here?”
“No. The ritual to call upon him must be performed in a certain place.”
“Right.” The idea that this perplexing, fascinating man from another time was leaving was a relief, but at the same time, I’d be very sorry to see him go. How often does a girl get to go out with an Egyptian prince?
Amon was looking at me expectantly. Biting my lip, I suddenly realized what he wanted.
The date isn’t over yet.
“Um…look, Amon, I’m not packed for an extended vacation, and I can’t just go gallivanting across the globe. My parents wouldn’t approve, and I have school next week. Spring break is over on Monday, you know.
“Why don’t you just hypnotize some guy at the airport who is going to Egypt and you can borrow his ‘inner workings’ until you get there. Then, presto changeo, you sandblast your way to your brothers, raise them from the dead, finish your ceremony, and dust your hands of it all, so to speak.”
“What is an airport?” he asked.
“An airport is a place that has lots of white chariots that can fly in the sky, even over great waters.”
Amon rose immediately. “Yes. We will take a flying chariot to Egypt.”
“Whoa, wait a minute,” I cautioned as he pulled me to my feet. “What happened to connecting with some other person who’s already going?”
He lifted my bag and secured the strap across his chest before taking both my hands in his. “I can connect to only one person, Lily.” I’m sure he saw the alarm on my face, because he quickly added, “Do not worry. Once the ceremony is complete, our need to be connected will be gone and you may return home to your family and your school. At that time I will have my full power and I will be able to manipulate time
He nodded. “I have seen the great seas that are fed by the Nile.”
“Believe it or not, Amon, that great sea is actually small when you compare it with others.”
Amon looked away and said quietly, “I have not had much opportunity to explore the world.”
A melancholy expression stole over his face, and I found myself missing his warm smile. “Amon?” I touched his hand and scooted closer so he could see my phone. “Look.” I showed him a picture of Earth. “We are on this continent called North America. Egypt”—I used my fingers to turn the globe and then zoom in on Africa—“is way over here on the African continent. So you can see you are a long way from Kansas, Dorothy.”
“What is this box of magic?”
“Uh, it’s called a phone. It has apps that work kind of like a computer.”
“I do not understand.”
“I can seek answers to questions with it.”
“It is like an oracle?”
“I suppose in a way.”
“How did you acquire this gift of the gods? Did you defeat a monster in battle?”
“Not exactly. Pretty much everyone has one.”
“May I look?” I handed him my phone and he scrolled his finger across the world map, watching in fascination as the perspective changed. “We are truly on the other side of the world?” he asked.
“That’s right. And don’t forget, we are assuming that your brothers are still
in
Egypt. Actually, they could be anywhere—China, France, the U.K.—Egyptian exhibits are very popular.”
Amon ran his hand over his bald head as he said thoughtfully, “This is why my power could not take us to them.” His eyes met mine. “I cannot use my power to cross over great waters. The desert sand becomes too heavy when it meets the water. It would sink us into the bottomless ocean.”
I swallowed. “Well, technically the ocean isn’t bottomless, but I get the picture.”
Playing with the phone, he began pressing various buttons and exploring different apps. I was shocked at how quickly he was picking up modern technology.
“There are too many oceans, you are right,” he declared. “But if we could get to Egypt, I could ask Anubis for aid.”
“Can’t you ask him for aid from here?”
“No. The ritual to call upon him must be performed in a certain place.”
“Right.” The idea that this perplexing, fascinating man from another time was leaving was a relief, but at the same time, I’d be very sorry to see him go. How often does a girl get to go out with an Egyptian prince?
Amon was looking at me expectantly. Biting my lip, I suddenly realized what he wanted.
The date isn’t over yet.
“Um…look, Amon, I’m not packed for an extended vacation, and I can’t just go gallivanting across the globe. My parents wouldn’t approve, and I have school next week. Spring break is over on Monday, you know.
“Why don’t you just hypnotize some guy at the airport who is going to Egypt and you can borrow his ‘inner workings’ until you get there. Then, presto changeo, you sandblast your way to your brothers, raise them from the dead, finish your ceremony, and dust your hands of it all, so to speak.”
“What is an airport?” he asked.
“An airport is a place that has lots of white chariots that can fly in the sky, even over great waters.”
Amon rose immediately. “Yes. We will take a flying chariot to Egypt.”
“Whoa, wait a minute,” I cautioned as he pulled me to my feet. “What happened to connecting with some other person who’s already going?”
He lifted my bag and secured the strap across his chest before taking both my hands in his. “I can connect to only one person, Lily.” I’m sure he saw the alarm on my face, because he quickly added, “Do not worry. Once the ceremony is complete, our need to be connected will be gone and you may return home to your family and your school. At that time I will have my full power and I will be able to manipulate time
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