The Time Travelers' Club: Chapter 60 -- Back to Egypt

The next weekend, Emily was surprised to see Sam in shorts and a button-up short sleeve shirt over a tee-shirt and travel bag in hand.

"Where are you going dressed like that?  It's the middle of November."

"I'm going downstairs to help Mrs. Steers. She told me to dress comfortably for doing lots of work."

"What kind of work are you doing?"

"I don't know," said Sam.  He lied.  They were going to ancient Egypt, but how could he tell his Mom that.  Sam decided that it was better not to tell the truth by just saying as little as possible.

"Alright.  I'm off to work."  Emily put on her coat.  "I'll be home by five.  Since you will be so busy, how about pizza for dinner?

"Sounds great.  Remember no anchovies..."

Sam hurried through the laundry room and down the stairs.  Mrs. Steers sat reading in her chair in the front parlor.

"Good morning, Sam.  Ready for your trip?"

 "Sure am."

Just as they prepared to go, Rose and Ari arrived with news about the Doctor preparing for another attempt at interrupting time.

"Apparently, they are going to try something in Venice in 1474, something with the first patent laws," said Rose.

"It's going to be fun," said Ari, nodding at Sam.

"Sorry, but we have other plans today," said Mrs. Steers.  "We're going back to Ancient Egypt."

Rose sighed.  "Very well.  We're off then."  Rose and Ari left.  Mrs. Steers turned to Sam.

"What... or who... do you have for homework this time?" asked Mrs. Steers.

"I have to write a report about Cleopatra," said Sam.   "I know she died around August 12, 30 BC.  I read about her and how they are not sure how she really died or where she's buried.  Someplace named Tapas is Mango?"

"I believe you mean Taposiris Magna.  It was an important temple to Osiris, the Egyptian God of the dead and the afterlife.  Hmmm... so would you like me to tell you how she died or see it as it happened?"

Sam shook his head.  "Telling me wouldn't be as exciting."  With that, Mrs. Steers got up and headed to the back parlor with Sam on her heels.

"But first, Sam, you need to practice your incantation," said Mrs. Steers.  "How about we go back to where we were the last time.  The building of the Pyramids."

Puzzled, Sam argued.  "Again? But we've already been there.  I really want to see Cleopatra.  I'd rather start there."

Paying no attention to him, Mrs. Steers sat down in her chair. "I think this will be a good time for you to practice. Have you memorized the spell?"

Sam slumped down in his own chair. "So why are we going back to the Pyramid again?"

Again, she ignored him.  She opened her travel bag.  "Looks like I've got what I need."

Sam could feel himself getting upset.  He really wanted an answer.  Mrs. Steers turned to him and began a staring contest.  Her eyes focused on his.  Sam realized this was not going to be an easy win and gave in.

Sam took a deep sigh. "Yes, I've been practicing."

Within a few moments, they stood once again on the sand near the construction site of the Pyramid of Khufu in Ancient Egypt.

This time, they arrived in the middle of the quarry.  The Pyramid was almost complete.  Workmen were moving the final stones into place way up at the top.  The highly polished casting stones of the Pyramid glowed in the sunlight.

Sam and Mrs. Steers experienced a hiccup in time. The blazing sun now sat on the other side of the sky and it was getting late in the day.

"It's your time to practice the migration incantation, Sam," said Mrs. Steers. "What or who you want to see?"

At first, Sam wanted to say Cleopatra, but decided to just let it go.  After some thought, Sam decided he would like to see someone becoming a mummy. Sam had read about it at the library and was fascinated. He took out his notebook and reread his notes while Mrs. Steers waited.

"How about Khufu?  Let's see him."

"Did you see mummies when you were at the Metropolitan Museum?"

"Yep," said Sam.  "Several."

"Ok.  Go to when Khufu was being mummified and see what the process was really like."

Just as he was about to recite the incantation, Sam asked Mrs. Steers. "How does it know where to send you?"

Mrs. Steers shrugged her shoulders in her usual response. "I don't know. My best educated guess would be that since history may already be recorded somewhere, that it may also be catalogued in some fashion. I try not to think about it.  Albert and I used to debate it all the time, until one day we just stopped.  I don't think anyone has ever come up with an answer."

Sam had no idea what she was talking about and didn't really care at the moment.

"Ok. Here goes," said Sam, hesitating. "Tolle mihi videre Khufu becoming a mummy."

Sam disappeared. Mrs. Steers made note of his whereabouts and waited. She wanted him to feel comfortable being alone in a strange place and time.