Chapter Text
As the flap of the tent opened, the gentleman remained engrossed in his book, not even bothering to look up. He was a tall man with a lean frame, dressed in a beige suit that had seen better days. His hair was slicked back, revealing a receding hairline, and his sharp features were accentuated by the dim light of the tent.
"Did you deliver the mummy to the Cairo Museum as instructed?" he asked the young Egyptian man standing at attention. The young man was shorter than the gentleman, with a muscular build and dark skin that hinted at years spent under the scorching sun. He wore a white robe and a red scarf around his neck.
"Yes, sir. It was given directly to Evelyn Carnahan," the young man replied, his voice respectful.
"I heard it's Evelyn O'Connell now," the gentleman said, still not bothering to look up. He flipped a page of his book, revealing a yellowed parchment filled with cryptic symbols.
"I'm not certain, sir," the young man replied, his expression unreadable.
"It doesn't matter. I'm confident that she'll decipher those hieroglyphics and lead us to the temple and the creed," the gentleman said with conviction. He closed the book, revealing a golden emblem on its cover that glinted in the dim light.
A perplexed look crossed the young man's face. "Sir, do you really believe in the stories?" His voice was tinged with skepticism.
The gentleman finally looked up, assessing the young man's trustworthiness before answering. "I believe that something will happen, Bomani. We have very little information on the cult of Hemsut, and I think there's a reason for that." His eyes gleamed with a hidden agenda.
He rose to his feet, retrieving a scroll that looked like it belonged behind a museum glass case instead of in the desert. The scroll was made of aged papyrus and was adorned with intricate drawings of gods and pharaohs. "Come here, Bomani," he motioned to the young man.
"This scroll is all we have on the cult. Evelyn kindly interpreted it for me over a year ago, but she was too focused on finding the Book of Amun-Ra to fully comprehend its significance."
He unrolled the scroll, revealing a series of hieroglyphics that seemed to pulse with a hidden power. "I was able to decipher most of it easily enough, but these were giving me the most trouble. Essentially, this scroll is what initiated our year-long search for the last known resting place of the Hemsut cult high priestess."
Bomani's eyes widened with awe as he gazed at the scroll. "So the mummy we found was the high priestess?" His voice was filled with reverence.
"Exactly. And on that sarcophagus, we'll find the location of the temple and the creed. In the end, we'll have the power of Hemsut herself," the gentleman said, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He rolled up the scroll and placed it back on the table, his fingers lingering on its edges.
"But is it wise to let Evelyn and her American hero get to the temple and the creed first?" Bomani asked, sounding concerned.
"At this stage, we need to work smarter, not harder. It would be wiser to let them open the gate first and deal with whatever comes out. Let them do the heavy lifting for us," the gentleman said, closing the scroll and returning it to its place.
Bomani's face betrayed his inner turmoil as he listened to the gentleman's plan. "But what if O'Connell and Carnahan fail to retrieve the temple and creed? What if something goes wrong?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
The gentleman's lips curled into a wry smile. "If that happens, we'll have a second chance to get our hands on the power of Hemsut. But I don't anticipate that we'll need it. O'Connell and Carnahan have a remarkable ability to overcome obstacles. And if they do manage to obtain what we're after, we'll be well-positioned to make our move."
Bomani's expression grew even more troubled. "But what if they decide to keep the power for themselves? What if they become too powerful for us to control?"
The gentleman's features hardened at the thought. "That won't happen. We have measures in place to ensure that they don't outpace us. And if they do attempt to keep the power, we'll find a way to take it back."
Bomani nodded slowly, his expression betraying his acceptance of the situation. "Yes, sir. I understand."
"Good," the gentleman said, his tone softening. "You've been a valuable asset to me, Bomani. And when we secure the power of Hemsut, you'll be rewarded accordingly."
Bomani's face brightened with gratitude. "Thank you, sir. I won't let you down."
"I know you won't," the gentleman said, patting him on the shoulder. "Now, let's get some rest. We have an important day ahead of us."