Theodosia & the Eyes of Horus by R. L. Lafevers Page A
Authors: R. L. Lafevers
Tags: Fiction, General, Historical, Children's Books, People & Places, Action & Adventure, Family, Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure - General, Magic, Fantasy & Magic, YA), Fantasy & magical realism (Children's, Children's Fiction, Ages 9-12 Fiction, Science Fiction; Fantasy; & Magic, Social Issues, Europe, Children: Grades 4-6, Girls & Women, Adventure and Adventurers, Siblings, middle east, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Legends; Myths; Fables, Museums, Ancient Civilizations, Adventure stories (Children's, Norse, Historical - Europe, Exploration & Discovery
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hurried over to the kettle, which wasn't boiling yet. Could water take any longer to boil? My imagination ran wild with the sorts of information Awi might be revealing to Mother that I was missing. In frustration, I finally decided that the water was close enough to a boil, grabbed the kettle, and poured water over the tea leaves in the teapot. That would have to do. We didn't have any milk or lemon, so I stuck the sugar bowl on the tray and grabbed two teaspoons, and I was done. I snatched the tray by the handles and began carefully making my way to the staff room.
Only to find that Mum had closed the door. Honestly! I glanced around, but there was no place to set the tray down
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so I could free up my hands. Finally, in desperation, I knocked with the toe of my boot. "Come in," Mother called out.
Gritting my teeth in embarrassment, I called back, "I can't. My hands are full." There was a low murmur of voices, and then Mum was at the door, apologizing. "I'm so sorry, darling! I forgot that you'd be carrying the tea. Here. Set it down on the table there in front of Mr. Bubu."
Carefully avoiding Awi's eyes, I set the tray down and tried my hardest not to feel like a scullery maid. However, if I had to play servant in order to stay and hear what they said, then so be it. I lifted the teapot and turned to ask Awi Bubu if he'd like sugar in his tea when Mother appeared at my side. "I'll pour, dear. You've already been helpful enough. You can run along and play now."
Play! When have I ever played, I'd like to know? My cheeks went hot with embarrassment at being dismissed like a child in front of Awi Bubu, but I ducked my head so Mother wouldn't see my annoyance, bobbed a curtsy, and said, "Yes, ma'am." I walked as slowly as I could in case they started to talk before I left the room.
They didn't, except to discuss how Awi Bubu would like his tea. Then I closed the door, and their voices were reduced to indistinguishable murmurs. Checking quickly to
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be sure no one was in the hallway, I hurried into the next room, crossed over to the wall, and put my ear to it, hoping I would be able to hear something. "A glass works better."
I jumped at the voice behind me and turned to find Henry sitting on the couch reading a book. He closed it and stood up. "Who is it and why are you listening?"
"It's Mother talking to that strange magician. I wanted to hear what they said."
Henry nodded, went to the cupboard, and got down two glasses, then came to stand next to me. He handed me one of the glasses and put the open end of the other one to the wall. He leaned close so that his ear rested on the bottom part of the glass. "Go on," he said. "Try it. This is how we stay two steps ahead of the bullies at school."
Marveling at Henry's previously unknown skills, I put my ear to the glass on the wall, relieved when I could clearly hear Mum's and Awi's voices. "It works," I whispered to Henry.
"Told you," he whispered back, looking awfully pleased with himself. I ignored his smugness and settled in to listen.
"... said you worked at the Antiquities Service, Mr. Bubu?"
"That is so, madam. I trained under Auguste Mariette, then had occasion to work as an aide to Gaston Maspero when he took over."
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"Excellent!" Mum said. "We were hoping you might be able to ...enlighten us on how best to persuade Maspero to grant additional firmins in the Valley of the Kings. He's given one fellow an exclusive commission to dig there and shut the rest of us out. Most frustrating."
"What does she want vermin for?" Henry whispered.
"Not vermin, firmins" I told him. "It's when permission is granted to excavate an archaeological site. Now, shh! I can't hear."
Awi Bubu murmured something sympathetic, then said, "Well, it has been a long time since he and I have worked together," he demurred.
"Yes, but since you did work for him, surely you have some insight to offer?"
"Perhaps if madam told me more about the work being done there, I could help devise
Only to find that Mum had closed the door. Honestly! I glanced around, but there was no place to set the tray down
128
so I could free up my hands. Finally, in desperation, I knocked with the toe of my boot. "Come in," Mother called out.
Gritting my teeth in embarrassment, I called back, "I can't. My hands are full." There was a low murmur of voices, and then Mum was at the door, apologizing. "I'm so sorry, darling! I forgot that you'd be carrying the tea. Here. Set it down on the table there in front of Mr. Bubu."
Carefully avoiding Awi's eyes, I set the tray down and tried my hardest not to feel like a scullery maid. However, if I had to play servant in order to stay and hear what they said, then so be it. I lifted the teapot and turned to ask Awi Bubu if he'd like sugar in his tea when Mother appeared at my side. "I'll pour, dear. You've already been helpful enough. You can run along and play now."
Play! When have I ever played, I'd like to know? My cheeks went hot with embarrassment at being dismissed like a child in front of Awi Bubu, but I ducked my head so Mother wouldn't see my annoyance, bobbed a curtsy, and said, "Yes, ma'am." I walked as slowly as I could in case they started to talk before I left the room.
They didn't, except to discuss how Awi Bubu would like his tea. Then I closed the door, and their voices were reduced to indistinguishable murmurs. Checking quickly to
129
be sure no one was in the hallway, I hurried into the next room, crossed over to the wall, and put my ear to it, hoping I would be able to hear something. "A glass works better."
I jumped at the voice behind me and turned to find Henry sitting on the couch reading a book. He closed it and stood up. "Who is it and why are you listening?"
"It's Mother talking to that strange magician. I wanted to hear what they said."
Henry nodded, went to the cupboard, and got down two glasses, then came to stand next to me. He handed me one of the glasses and put the open end of the other one to the wall. He leaned close so that his ear rested on the bottom part of the glass. "Go on," he said. "Try it. This is how we stay two steps ahead of the bullies at school."
Marveling at Henry's previously unknown skills, I put my ear to the glass on the wall, relieved when I could clearly hear Mum's and Awi's voices. "It works," I whispered to Henry.
"Told you," he whispered back, looking awfully pleased with himself. I ignored his smugness and settled in to listen.
"... said you worked at the Antiquities Service, Mr. Bubu?"
"That is so, madam. I trained under Auguste Mariette, then had occasion to work as an aide to Gaston Maspero when he took over."
130
"Excellent!" Mum said. "We were hoping you might be able to ...enlighten us on how best to persuade Maspero to grant additional firmins in the Valley of the Kings. He's given one fellow an exclusive commission to dig there and shut the rest of us out. Most frustrating."
"What does she want vermin for?" Henry whispered.
"Not vermin, firmins" I told him. "It's when permission is granted to excavate an archaeological site. Now, shh! I can't hear."
Awi Bubu murmured something sympathetic, then said, "Well, it has been a long time since he and I have worked together," he demurred.
"Yes, but since you did work for him, surely you have some insight to offer?"
"Perhaps if madam told me more about the work being done there, I could help devise
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