Chapter Eleven

Mr Montford winced as the sting from the antiseptic burned the deep wounds. Tears sprung to his eyes but he swiftly blinked them back, offering a shrug to Ash.

"A bit like garlic, the smell makes the eyes water."

The room Marie had taken them back to had been the office of the security officer. The glass front gave an overview of the entrance and the additional monitors, now a haze of silver static, had meant he could observe the rest of the building. The small space reeked of coffee, spilled over the equipment in his haste to flee, and the undertones of sweat and antiperspirant.

Ash smiled slightly, shifting uncomfortably. The smell did indeed bring tears to the eyes but the pain in those watery orbs showed it was much more.

He didn't comment on it, focusing on the patterns on the monitors that made his head feel strange.

"Suck it up," Marie elbowed Mr Montford gently as she tossed the soiled cotton into the overflowing bin. "You'll live longer, that's what my ma always told me. Considering my job, it's a good thing she did, you'd be amazed at the hazards you encounter even being a cleaner."

"I can imagine," Mr Montford disguised his wince with a small shudder. "I remember reading tales of what cleaners find in hotel rooms. Highly unpleasant."

Marie nodded. She had never worked in hospitality and had never wanted to, not after hearing complaints from friends of hers.

She continued in silence, crafting a makeshift dressing from her handkerchief, the scraps of bandage in the box frayed and useless. They would only stick into the wound and cause more pain and possible infection. The handkerchief was crisp and clean and would do for now.

"That's the best I can do," she said weakly as she stepped back, looking at the white covering that was already tarnished his rusty blood and the flesh wept. "As soon as we can we need to find you a real doctor, that could..."

Mr Montford wafted his hands airily and jumped up from the sunken chair. He paused for a second as his head span, sending his sight into nothing for a grey vortex. Feeling Marie's grip on his arm he laughed weakly and flapped her away.

"Time enough for that later! Right now, I need to get to my office and see what's left in there," he said, stumbling towards the door. "I'll admit I've been proven wrong on the existence of Gods but I still stand by my Uncle's words, don't wait for God, if he's there he's busy enough." He held the door, leaning his weight against it, the blood loss had taken its toll and weakness coursed through his muscles. "He was an odd one, had a perpendicular burial, rather intriguing."

"Why would anyone want that?" Ash stood close as he exited the room, ignoring the irritated glare as he took his elbow. "If you can't lie down when you're dead then when can you?"

"Always one for space saving, my uncle," Mr Montford groaned as Marie flanked his other side. "Not like me, anyway, you'd best focus on keeping yourself standing right now."

It felt humiliating as they slowly returned to the stairs, to be seen as an old man whose limbs refused to support him and had it not been so urgent, he could have pushed both away, steeling himself and continuing regardless of his burdens. Seeing the coagulated gore lapping at the lower steps silently reiterated that this was no time to wallow in personal pride and argue.

And outside the storm raged on, shards from the windows and domed ceiling hurtling to the ground like missiles as it shook to the foundations.

________________

Shu waited impatiently, arms folded and tapping his foot in thin air above the wispy clouds, as the ibis sought to catch him up in a flustered flapping of feathers. Yahya aimed as pointed glare at the hovering God, the bird hadn't the speed of the deity and exhaustion was something that plagued him also.

Seeing the expression Shu softened and gave him an apologetic smile. "Forgive me, I tend to forget that my flight is far beyond the capacity of most creatures."

The bird made no sound but the stiff poise seemed to relax as it hovered, working with the wind and looking towards where the air seemed to contort, rippling occasionally to show the transparent outline of a building. The aura was strong, cold and unwelcoming and its heart trembled.

"Fear not," Shu held out his held to soothingly touch the bald head, slipping the pen into the roll of paper. "He is not there; I would not allow you to even approach if he was. You will come to no harm, I promised Thoth that and I always keep my promises. Be bold, scared one, I shall repay you some way and surely Atum will also."

At the mention of both Thoth and Atum, Yahya gave a sharp flap of its wings, bolstering himself before surging forward. There was a loud crack as his body penetrated the field of energy that concealed the dwelling from human eyes and a small static shock prickled his feathers, sending an uncomfortable itch to the skin beneath.

Light surrounded him, an all-encompassing halo as he hurtled through the glassless window and landed with a soft whimper on the floor.

Isaac almost dropped the cup, juggling it also comically before guiding it back to the table.

"What on...?"

Yahya craned his neck, fluffing his chest out to rid his nerves of the tingling that ricocheted about his body still. He lifted his leg, shaking the pen and note free.

Isaac watched the crumpled parchment roll towards him, hesitating before edging forward to pick it up, his eyes fixed on the interloper and glazed with utter bemusement as his fingers closed around it.

So many questions played on his lips and it seemed foolish to voice them; the bird could not answer. Yet several spilled free, the silence and the constant beady gaze unnerving.

"I suppose someone sent you," he said, feeling idiotic as soon as he did so. "How else would you come? I wish you could talk, but I suppose that's more Narnia than Egypt."

Moving to the table he pushed the jug aside and unfolded the note, squinting at the handwriting. It took him a moment to figure out the script, handwriting wasn't something read that often anymore. Even the notes with the shipments were typed, albeit often crudely.

"Thoth..." He whispered, unconsciously leaning to place the cup on the floor, offering the water to the ever-watching ibis. Yahya strutted over eagerly, throwing his head back to allow the cool droplets to soothe his throat.

Answering might not be possible. The note read. Yet anything you can give will be to your benefit and that of those below. Am Heh is ruthless but clearly you were taken for a reason. Think hard and recall what you can, write down whatever information you have, however inane you may think it is. Yahya will bring your reply back.

But your survival depends mostly on you. Until something is found it is not wise for another God to approach.

"Am Heh," Isaac's fingers clenched, almost tearing the note as the name resonated through him again. Images of sights like this, heated sands and breezes that billowed warmth and sultriness. His heat throbbed and the paper dropped from his hands as his clutched his screaming temples, breath heaving from panicked lungs that felt as if they were drowning in the air.

"I have...have to tell them this," he moaned lowly, sinking to the floor as the world span around him. "Even if it might...just be all in my head."

Reaching out he found the pen, pausing to admire the craftsmanship before putting it to the back of the paper. His writing was uneven, his eyes unable to properly focus and words pouring from him. There was so much he wanted to say and yet it was hard to explain it.

He ended up writing far more than he intended, his letters small and squashed at the end. He could only hope it was decipherable.

His breath was ragged and long drawn as he finished, sweat blistering on his brow. Yahya moved over, picking the paper up in his damp beak, looking at Isaac as if concerned.

He smiled weakly.

"I'm fine," he tied the pen against the bird’s leg. "I have to be right?" He pushed back the dark curl that fell damply over his eye. "This is just another bump in the road, or maybe I ought to say clouds?"

The bird gave a chirrup of apparent amusement and flapped its wings.

"Be careful," Isaac added as is took off to the window. Hearing him he paused, looking back for a short moment and Isaac could almost hear the well wishes he sent in return before taking flight.