Page 45 of Ra
“I’m changing clothes and leaving. You’re staying here. Do whatever you want to do.”
“I am not staying here. I go where you go.”
“Ra, this is my job. It’s my career, my passion. You will not mess it up with your godly attitude.”
His scowl shifted immediately to a delighted smile. “You think me godly? I knew you saw me for all that I am, even without the…” he waved his hands in the air, trying yet again to access some of the powers he used to be able to call at will.
“I have to go,” she said, attempting to dart past him.
He reached out and curled a hand around her bicep, bringing her to a halt.
Azi looked up at him expectantly.
He looked down at her, then leaned forward purposely and kissed her. “Do not forget, dear Azi, I am waiting for you here.”
Azi’s face lit up as she smiled at him. “I won’t forget. I’ll be back as soon as I can. Eat whatever you want from the fridge or the pantry.”
“And then I will sleep more.”
She pecked his lips and hurried from the room. “I really like it when you call me Azi instead of Azenath. It feels more familiar.”
“Hurry up, you will be late!” he called out to her. He opened the fridge and moved things around a bit before coming across several bottles of the peach tea he loved so much. “Ah, these are mine,” he said, taking all of them with him back into the living room. He slipped his shorts back on and sat down on the sofa with the channel selector and his bottles of tea to find something to fill his time until Azi returned, or he fell asleep, whichever may be first. His foot knocked into something on the floor and he looked over the edge of the sofa to find the empty wine bottles. “No more wine, though,” he grumbled, picking up the empty bottles and setting them on the table as far away from where he sat as he could.
~~~
“Good morning! How are you today?” Azi asked as she breezed into Dr. Weaver’s secretary’s office.
“Dr. Clement! How nice to see you. We are all very excited about your presentation of the Tomb of Ra at the university tomorrow!”
Azi nodded, feigning excitement instead of nervousness. “Well, it should be fun. I’ll do my best, but to be honest, I wasn’t left with a lot of time to prepare.”
“Oh, you’ll do a wonderful job.”
“Thank you. I will certainly try.” Azi took a moment to look toward Dr. Weaver’s door. “Is Dr. Weaver available?”
“Oh, she stepped out for a little while. But she said to let you in. The artifact you’re taking with you for your presentation is being processed for shipment as we speak.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, again,” Azi said, moving toward the door. She let herself into Dr. Weaver’s office and laughed delightedly when a familiar face popped up to look at her from behind the throne. “Abasi!”
“Dr. Clement! I was told you may be stopping by to assist. I am very happy to see you.”
“I’m happy to see you, too! How’s it going?” she asked, gesturing toward the throne.
“Beautifully. You could not have picked a more perfect display. It sums up the tomb, the grandeur of the gods, the riches of the times, the regalia they lived with. Just without equal,” Abasi said.
“I was a little hesitant to ask for permission to take it. It is one of a kind.”
“Well, there are others that have been found in other tombs, but none quite so extravagant as this one. In truth, I believe that Dr. Weaver was just waiting for you to ask for it to accompany you.”
“It will be a hard one to outdo for the rest of the tour.”
“There will not be a need. Did Dr. Weaver not tell you?”
“Tell me what?” Azi asked.
“The throne will be accompanying you on the Tomb of Ra tour to each university and museum you visit over the next several months.”
“Really?!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
