The Amulet of Power - Mike Resnick [2]
“I read your father’s paper on ancient Sudanese artifacts just last month,” said Lara as the pain began to subside. “It was brilliant.”
“On his behalf, I thank you. The Sudan’s become my field of study, too.”
“Then what were you doing here in Egypt at the Temple of Horus?”
“The Sudan is my specialty, but my field of study encompasses all of North Africa. I felt it was time for a change, so I came to Egypt.” He smiled again—a very handsome smile, she noted. “It’s a damned lucky thing I did. The temple is off-limits to tourists while they’re restoring some of the hieroglyphs. It was all but empty when the tomb collapsed.”
“Lucky is an understatement,” she said.
“Maybe it wasn’t all due to luck,” he amended. “You keep yourself in remarkable condition. Most people wouldn’t have survived.”
“I’ve survived worse,” she said.
He raised an eyebrow. “I believe you, Ms. Croft.”
“I think you’ve earned the right to call me Lara, Dr. Mason.”
“Kevin,” he said.
“Tell me, Kevin. What were you looking for at the Temple of Horus?”
“Oh, nothing in particular,” he answered with a shrug.
Nobody digs for “nothing in particular,” she thought, studying his expression. Oh, well, there’s no reason why you should share any information with me. I’m certainly not going to grill you. You saved my life; that’s more than enough.
As if reading her thoughts, he said, “One never knows what rare and beautiful artifacts might turn up in these old temples. They’re always worth a visit. After all, I found you, didn’t I?” He smiled again, and continued, “I’ll stick around Cairo for a day or two to make sure you’re all right, and then I’ll go back to work.”
“I’m fine,” she said. “There’s no reason you have to stay.”
“I’ve never settled for half-measures as an archaeologist, and I won’t settle for them as a hero,” he said wryly. “As long as I’m responsible for your life, I’m going to make sure it’s properly restored to you.”
“I appreciate it, Kevin, but . . .”
He held a hand up. “It’s settled.”
She was going to protest again, but the pain returned, and she just lay still, waiting for it to subside.
“I know why I was at the Temple,” Mason said after a moment, staring at her intently, “but I’ve no idea what you were doing there.”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” she said, remembering how Set had screamed in rage when she’d returned the evil god to his prison.
“I won’t ask what you were searching for—that’s your business. But if you left something behind in the wreckage, Lara, I’d be happy to look for it. It would remain your discovery, of course,” he added hastily.
“I appreciate that, Kevin, but there was nothing, really.”
“That was quite a bump on the noggin you received. If anything should come back to you, I assure you I don’t steal artifacts or credit from my peers.”
“I’m sure you don’t.”
He got to his feet. “They have this ridiculous policy at this place of only feeding patients, so if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go out for dinner. I’ll be back in a few hours to see how you’re doing.”
“You’ve done enough already.”
He smiled. “Don’t make me lecture you again.”
“All right.” Then, “You have a very nice smile.”
He looked embarrassed. “So do you. I think. Perhaps someday I’ll actually get to see it.”
She tried to smile, but her dry lips started to split, and she groaned instead.
“No hurry,” said Mason. “Let’s not rush anything—not even a smile.”
Then he was gone.
2
Lara drifted in and out of sleep. She kept dreaming of spiders that turned into Kevin Mason—or perhaps it was Kevin Mason turning into a spider. As if that wasn’t bad enough, the slightest movement sent pain shooting up and down her arm. Soon her head was aching again, and sleep was impossible. She made an effort to sit up despite the pain, but the IV tubes in her arm made movement difficult.
With a sigh she gave up the struggle and lay back on the soft pillow. There was so much noise outside the door, so many people walking up and down the hospital corridor. Didn’t