The Time Travelers' Club: Chapter 66 -- The Search

In the middle of a busy avenue in Ancient Alexandria, Bruno, Tinean, and Dreda appeared.  Their mission to search the ancient city to find Mrs. Steers and Sam.  They walked through the ghosts of Ancient Egypt without care. They found a shady spot under a portico.

"This sucks." Bruno complained, shrugging his shoulders, then scratched his crotch.  "How are we going to find them? Look at this place. It's packed with people. Do you have any idea how big this city is?"

"No," said Dreda.  Annoyed, she looked up at him. "Just how big is it?"

"I dunno know.  That's why I asked."

"I realize that this city is many years old.  And they could be in any time or any place in it."  Dreda shook her head.   "Let's just walk and see what's going on."

She thought to herself as they meandered along the wide avenue, trying to stay in the shade away from the hot sun.  Stupid Doctor.   I mean really...  How in the name of St. Teresa are we supposed to find them? He knows Bruno can't use the migration spell... And I'm not telling him I can... Of course, I can always lie to Bruno.

Bruno mumbled as he lumbered along.   "This is crazy.  I don't know who he thinks we are."

"I don't think we are looking in the right place," said Tinean sarcastically.   "Wherever Cleopatra is, is where we will probably find our prey."

Rolling her eyes, Dreda sassed him.  "Thank you for that great observation.  I didn't realize that teh great Sherlock Holmes was traveling with us."

Tinean sneered back at her, however, he knew better then to get smart with her.

"Let's pop over to Cleo's house," said Bruno.

Again, Dreda rolled her eyes.  Morons.  I work with morons.

They appeared outside Cleopatra's mausoleum.  Dreda quickly spied Mrs. Steers, but remained silent.  Mrs. Steers saw them arrive then turned to Sam.  He disappeared with only Dreda seeing him.  Being in a mood, Mrs. Steers approached them.

"What do you goons want?" Mrs. Steers stood firm, ready to confront them.

"We're just enjoying the afternoon sun," said Dreda.  "And what are you doing here, Grandma?  Taking in the scenery?  Waiting for Red Riding Hood?  Ideas for your flower garden?"

"Grandma!  I'll show you grandma!"  Mrs. Steers' temper flared.

"Hold on there, Grandma,” said Tinean.  "Don't get your stockings in a twist."

That did it.  "I may be old, but I'm not too old to take on the likes of you three!"

Bruno was the first to burst out laughing.  He was also the first target of her ire.  Mrs. Steers leapt up and cracked both of his shins at once.  Bruno buckled in pain as Mrs. Steers leapt back.

"Why is it always my shins," cried Bruno, tears rolling down his cheeks as he bent down to rub them.

Tinean and Dreda watched amazed at Mrs. Steers' moves.

"So, you thought I would be an easy take-down, did you?" laughed Mrs. Steers.  "Guess again."

Next, Mrs. Steers whirled around to face Dreda.   Backing up, not really sure what to expect, Dreda hunched over a little in preparation.   Tinean reached down, pulled a knife out of his right boot, and readied himself to throw it.

"Are you pulling a knife on me?" asked Mrs. Steers, eyeing him.  "Wait until you see what I've go in store for you."

Without seeing him, Bruno grabbed her from behind and picked her up.  Unaware of Mrs. Steers agility ability, she dug her heels once again into his shins causing Bruno to spin around just as Tinean threw his knife.   His aim was for Mrs. Steers, but the knife ended up in Bruno's right butt cheek.

Screaming in pain, Bruno dropped Mrs. Steers.  He fell to the ground clutching at the knife handle.   Dreda ran over to him.

"Great job, bonehead," shouted Dreda at Tinean.  "You hit a target, but the wrong one."  Dreda took hold of the knife and pulled it out.  Bruno screamed again in agony.   Blood soaked the spot where the knife had penetrated.   She grabbed his arm and they disappeared.

Tinean turned to Mrs. Steers and hissed.   "It's just you and I, Grandma."

"Ha!  I've dealt with worse."  Mrs. Steers began to literally run circles around him.  Tinean tried to home in on her, but she was fast.

Mrs. Steers laughed.  "You never would have guessed a 76-year-old Grandma could do this could you."

Tinean became dizzy.  He grabbed his whip from his belt and aimed it at her.

Kerrrrwack...  Missed!  Kerrrrwack... Once again, he missed!  The whip curled in front of him.

"Good luck," Mrs. Steers kept running in circles.

Tinean posed himself, preparing his whip.  Just as she came around, he cracked it.  The last foot of the whip wrapped itself around her lower arm.   Mrs. Steers grabbed it and kept running.

Before Tinean had a chance to act, she had wrapped part of the whip around him.  Quickly, he began to turn to try to keep from getting wrapped up too tight.  Mrs. Steers got one good round of whip around his chest before she stopped in front of him.

"Had enough?"

Tinean sneered at her.  "I spit on you."

Mrs. Steers spoke like a fragile old woman for a moment.  "Wrong thing to say to a poor old Grandma like me." She grabbed the whip and gave it a mighty tug.   Tinean spun around and rolled on the ground.  Before he had the chance to get up, Mrs. Steers had the whip.

Kerrrrwack...  Over and over she snapped the whip near him.  Tinean scrambled to get away, but he didn't have a chance.   Mrs. Steers' aim got him twice, once on each cheek.  Tinean grabbed his face.  Lesions appeared and blood oozed from the scrapes.

"Damn!"  Tinean staggered up still holding his cheeks.

Mrs. Steers could feel herself tiring.  The potion began to wear off.  I hope he's done... she thought to herself.   I won't be able to go on much longer...

Tinean backed up.  "You bitch."   And then he disappeared.

He left not a moment too soon.  His comment angered Mrs. Steers even more.  She staggered over to a nearby stone wall and leaned against it.  She slowly recoiled the whip.

"I'm glad that's over.  Thank goodness Sam wasn't here.  That would have required a lot of explanation."

Mrs. Steers slid down the wall, eventually sitting on the ground.   Taking deep breaths, she tried to relax.   Closing her eyes, she rested.   She rubbed her arm, the one she had used to crack the whip.

"Lottie, you're too old to be fighting like this anymore.  You're not a spring chicken."  Mrs. Steers snickered at herself.

Looking over at Cleopatra's mausoleum, she made a quick decision.   "Sam will be alright.  I hope I don't regret this, but..."

She uttered the incantation to take her home.