Read Online Theodosia & the Eyes of Horus by R. L. Lafevers - Free Book Online 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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adults to realize Awi Bubu and I knew each other well enough to have had an actual conversation.
"Perhaps they forgot," the Egyptian magician said. "For I would never have entered had the door not already been open." He turned to Mother. "And may I compliment you on your excellent collection? It is one of the finest I have seen since I left Cairo."
"Even so," Turnbull said, "I can take you in on vagrancy charges. Constable!" One of the men stepped forward to grab Awi Bubu, but Mother stopped him.
"Cairo, you said?"
85
Awi bowed deeply. "Yes, ma'am. I am far from my native land."
"Indeed you are. And have you no place to stay?"
He spread his hands. "I have been evicted from my lodgings, ma'am. While Egyptian magic is much in fashion in London, I am afraid actual Egyptians are not."
Mother's face softened. "And how do you come to know so much about museum collections, Mr. Bubu?"
"I had occasion to work for Gaston Maspero at the Antiquities Service in Cairo."
Mother's face brightened as if someone had just dropped a prettily wrapped gift into her lap. "Really, Mr. Bubu?"
"Oh no, Henrietta!" Father grabbed her arm and walked her a few paces down the hall. I inched after them. "Whatever you are thinking, forget about it," he whispered.
"But Alistair! He's worked for the Antiquities Service in Cairo. Just how often does a professional acquaintance of the director's land on our doorstep? It's a wonderful opportunity. He may have suggestions that would help us present our case to them!" Mother's eyes were bright, her cheeks pink. I risked another glance at the Egyptian; he was staring intently at Mother, his lips moving silently. A ticklish sensation ran up my back. Not quite as strong as when I was in the presence of a curse, but strong enough to let me know that some form of magic was being worked.
86
"Stop!" I shouted. Awi Bubu's mouth snapped shut and he turned to look at me. So did everyone else.
"Stop what, Theodosia?" Father asked, annoyed at the interruption.
How was I to explain? Glancing around frantically, I spied Henry. "It was Henry. He was pinching me."
"Was not!" Henry said, outraged.
"Were too," I replied, desperate to create a diversion from my inexplicable behavior. "Silence!" Father barked.
I bowed my head, shame heating my cheeks. But Awi Bubu was no longer muttering his chant.
"Not to worry, guv'nor," one of the constables said. "Young'uns will be young'uns."
"Now," Turnbull said, "I suggest you allow us to press charges against this vagrant and be on our way."
"No, Inspector," Mother said. "That will not be necessary. I think we can all agree that there were extenuating circumstances in his situation. After all, one cannot expect a man to willingly subject himself to a beating when there is an open door at hand."
Inspector Turnbull was clearly not happy with this. "But ma'am ..."
Awi Bubu bowed again. "Thank you, madam. I only hope I can return the kindness someday."
87
"Well, actually ...," Mum replied. "If you wouldn't mind, I would like to talk to you sometime about your work at the Antiquities Service in Cairo."
"But of course. Whatever madam wishes."
"Perhaps you could come tomorrow at two o'clock?"
Awi Bubu bowed yet again. "As you wish. Until tomorrow then." With that, Awi Bubu gave one last bow and walked toward the door. We all stared after him until he disappeared. Then Inspector Turnbull said to my parents, "I'd be careful of that one, I would. Who knows what someone of his kind might be up to."
"Someone of what kind?" Mother asked frostily.
Turnbull blinked. "Someone who spends his nights in parks and museums, madam," he replied, just as icily.
"We'll take all due care, Inspector," Father interjected before we all got frostbite. "And thank you for your quick response."
While the adults exchanged goodbyes, I slipped away down the hall. As soon as I was out of their sight, I burst into a run, determined to catch up to Awi Bubu. When I stepped outside the museum, he was
"Perhaps they forgot," the Egyptian magician said. "For I would never have entered had the door not already been open." He turned to Mother. "And may I compliment you on your excellent collection? It is one of the finest I have seen since I left Cairo."
"Even so," Turnbull said, "I can take you in on vagrancy charges. Constable!" One of the men stepped forward to grab Awi Bubu, but Mother stopped him.
"Cairo, you said?"
85
Awi bowed deeply. "Yes, ma'am. I am far from my native land."
"Indeed you are. And have you no place to stay?"
He spread his hands. "I have been evicted from my lodgings, ma'am. While Egyptian magic is much in fashion in London, I am afraid actual Egyptians are not."
Mother's face softened. "And how do you come to know so much about museum collections, Mr. Bubu?"
"I had occasion to work for Gaston Maspero at the Antiquities Service in Cairo."
Mother's face brightened as if someone had just dropped a prettily wrapped gift into her lap. "Really, Mr. Bubu?"
"Oh no, Henrietta!" Father grabbed her arm and walked her a few paces down the hall. I inched after them. "Whatever you are thinking, forget about it," he whispered.
"But Alistair! He's worked for the Antiquities Service in Cairo. Just how often does a professional acquaintance of the director's land on our doorstep? It's a wonderful opportunity. He may have suggestions that would help us present our case to them!" Mother's eyes were bright, her cheeks pink. I risked another glance at the Egyptian; he was staring intently at Mother, his lips moving silently. A ticklish sensation ran up my back. Not quite as strong as when I was in the presence of a curse, but strong enough to let me know that some form of magic was being worked.
86
"Stop!" I shouted. Awi Bubu's mouth snapped shut and he turned to look at me. So did everyone else.
"Stop what, Theodosia?" Father asked, annoyed at the interruption.
How was I to explain? Glancing around frantically, I spied Henry. "It was Henry. He was pinching me."
"Was not!" Henry said, outraged.
"Were too," I replied, desperate to create a diversion from my inexplicable behavior. "Silence!" Father barked.
I bowed my head, shame heating my cheeks. But Awi Bubu was no longer muttering his chant.
"Not to worry, guv'nor," one of the constables said. "Young'uns will be young'uns."
"Now," Turnbull said, "I suggest you allow us to press charges against this vagrant and be on our way."
"No, Inspector," Mother said. "That will not be necessary. I think we can all agree that there were extenuating circumstances in his situation. After all, one cannot expect a man to willingly subject himself to a beating when there is an open door at hand."
Inspector Turnbull was clearly not happy with this. "But ma'am ..."
Awi Bubu bowed again. "Thank you, madam. I only hope I can return the kindness someday."
87
"Well, actually ...," Mum replied. "If you wouldn't mind, I would like to talk to you sometime about your work at the Antiquities Service in Cairo."
"But of course. Whatever madam wishes."
"Perhaps you could come tomorrow at two o'clock?"
Awi Bubu bowed yet again. "As you wish. Until tomorrow then." With that, Awi Bubu gave one last bow and walked toward the door. We all stared after him until he disappeared. Then Inspector Turnbull said to my parents, "I'd be careful of that one, I would. Who knows what someone of his kind might be up to."
"Someone of what kind?" Mother asked frostily.
Turnbull blinked. "Someone who spends his nights in parks and museums, madam," he replied, just as icily.
"We'll take all due care, Inspector," Father interjected before we all got frostbite. "And thank you for your quick response."
While the adults exchanged goodbyes, I slipped away down the hall. As soon as I was out of their sight, I burst into a run, determined to catch up to Awi Bubu. When I stepped outside the museum, he was
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