Read Online Theodosia & the Eyes of Horus by R. L. Lafevers - Free Book Online
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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shoulders. "Let's go find some dinner, shall we?"
81
CHAPTER SEVEN AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
***
WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE MUSEUM the following morning, we found a small gathering of constables loitering in the foyer talking to Flimp, the night watchman.
"Oh no, not this again," Mother muttered.
When Father saw Inspector Turnbull, his face grew bright red. Before Father could charge at him like a raging bull, the inspector stepped forward and greeted us pleasantly. "Morning, Throckmorton. Mrs. Throckmorton. Your night watchman sent for us. He caught someone wandering around uninvited last night. Normally, I'd leave it to the constables, but with the problems you had just a few weeks ago, I thought it best if I checked it out myself."
82
An intruder! My gaze went immediately to the wall, but there were no mummies lined up there like the last time Inspector Turnbull had come calling.
Father decided to accept Turnbull's pleasant greeting as a peace offering. His color returned to normal and he asked, "Where is he?"
"Right this way, sir." Turnbull led us down the hallway to a utility closet. Two constables stood at attention at either side of the door. My thoughts flew to the Emerald Tablet. Had Stilton broken his word and told Trawley about it? Had the supreme master himself come last night to take it?
"Well, open it up," Turnbull told them.
The constables hurried to open the door, then stood back. I gasped. There, sitting cross-legged on the floor among the mops and pails, was none other than--
"Awi Bubu?" I blurted out.
Six pairs of adult eyes zoomed in on me. "You know this man, miss?" Turnbull asked at the same time as Father said, "How the devil do you know him, Theodosia?"
I glanced from one outraged face to another. "He's a magician. He performs in a show at the Alcazar Theater. I saw a picture of him on a playbill once."
"What were you doing in that part of town, young lady?" Mother asked.
Sometimes she picked the absolutely worst moments to
83
turn into a concerned parent. "Isn't it rather more important to ask what he is doing here?" I countered, trying to divert their attention back to where it belonged.
"Yes," Father said, turning to the old Egyptian in the closet. "What are you doing here?"
Slowly, Awi Bubu rose to his feet. One of the constables reached for his billy club as if he expected the shriveled little man to attack him. Instead, the magician gave a deep, respectful bow. "I am sorry to have intruded. I was merely looking for a place to spend the night."
Turnbull looked sharply at Flimp. "Is that true? Did he have anything on him when you found him?"
"No, sir. But what person in their right mind would spend the night in a museum, of all places?"
It seemed impolite to point out that Flimp himself did just that every night.
"Well," Turnbull barked, "answer the man's question."
Awi--or would it be Mr. Bubu?--bowed again. "I was planning to spend the night in the park--"
"Vagrancy is vagrancy, man. Sleeping in the park isn't allowed either," Turnbull said.
"Even so, as I had no place to spend the night, I was going to try there, but before I reached it, I was set upon by thugs who did not like my foreign appearance. Wishing to escape them before I suffered too much harm, I sought refuge
84
behind the museum. I found one of the doors ajar and slipped in, hoping to evade my pursuers. When they did not follow me, I fear I was lulled into a sense of security and fell asleep."
Turnbull glared at Father. "Can't you keep this museum of yours locked?"
Father turned on Flimp. "Which door was it?"
"The entrance door back by the receiving dock, sir. I suppose it's possible that Dolge or Sweeny left it open." He scratched his head. "But I would have sworn I checked it last night, sir, like I always do."
Of course he had. And I had no doubt that it had been locked. I looked at Awi Bubu, only to find him staring directly at me.
I grew warm and flustered and looked away, not wanting any of the
81
CHAPTER SEVEN AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR
***
WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE MUSEUM the following morning, we found a small gathering of constables loitering in the foyer talking to Flimp, the night watchman.
"Oh no, not this again," Mother muttered.
When Father saw Inspector Turnbull, his face grew bright red. Before Father could charge at him like a raging bull, the inspector stepped forward and greeted us pleasantly. "Morning, Throckmorton. Mrs. Throckmorton. Your night watchman sent for us. He caught someone wandering around uninvited last night. Normally, I'd leave it to the constables, but with the problems you had just a few weeks ago, I thought it best if I checked it out myself."
82
An intruder! My gaze went immediately to the wall, but there were no mummies lined up there like the last time Inspector Turnbull had come calling.
Father decided to accept Turnbull's pleasant greeting as a peace offering. His color returned to normal and he asked, "Where is he?"
"Right this way, sir." Turnbull led us down the hallway to a utility closet. Two constables stood at attention at either side of the door. My thoughts flew to the Emerald Tablet. Had Stilton broken his word and told Trawley about it? Had the supreme master himself come last night to take it?
"Well, open it up," Turnbull told them.
The constables hurried to open the door, then stood back. I gasped. There, sitting cross-legged on the floor among the mops and pails, was none other than--
"Awi Bubu?" I blurted out.
Six pairs of adult eyes zoomed in on me. "You know this man, miss?" Turnbull asked at the same time as Father said, "How the devil do you know him, Theodosia?"
I glanced from one outraged face to another. "He's a magician. He performs in a show at the Alcazar Theater. I saw a picture of him on a playbill once."
"What were you doing in that part of town, young lady?" Mother asked.
Sometimes she picked the absolutely worst moments to
83
turn into a concerned parent. "Isn't it rather more important to ask what he is doing here?" I countered, trying to divert their attention back to where it belonged.
"Yes," Father said, turning to the old Egyptian in the closet. "What are you doing here?"
Slowly, Awi Bubu rose to his feet. One of the constables reached for his billy club as if he expected the shriveled little man to attack him. Instead, the magician gave a deep, respectful bow. "I am sorry to have intruded. I was merely looking for a place to spend the night."
Turnbull looked sharply at Flimp. "Is that true? Did he have anything on him when you found him?"
"No, sir. But what person in their right mind would spend the night in a museum, of all places?"
It seemed impolite to point out that Flimp himself did just that every night.
"Well," Turnbull barked, "answer the man's question."
Awi--or would it be Mr. Bubu?--bowed again. "I was planning to spend the night in the park--"
"Vagrancy is vagrancy, man. Sleeping in the park isn't allowed either," Turnbull said.
"Even so, as I had no place to spend the night, I was going to try there, but before I reached it, I was set upon by thugs who did not like my foreign appearance. Wishing to escape them before I suffered too much harm, I sought refuge
84
behind the museum. I found one of the doors ajar and slipped in, hoping to evade my pursuers. When they did not follow me, I fear I was lulled into a sense of security and fell asleep."
Turnbull glared at Father. "Can't you keep this museum of yours locked?"
Father turned on Flimp. "Which door was it?"
"The entrance door back by the receiving dock, sir. I suppose it's possible that Dolge or Sweeny left it open." He scratched his head. "But I would have sworn I checked it last night, sir, like I always do."
Of course he had. And I had no doubt that it had been locked. I looked at Awi Bubu, only to find him staring directly at me.
I grew warm and flustered and looked away, not wanting any of the
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