Time Meddlers on the Nile by Deborah Jackson

Author:Deborah Jackson [Jackson, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Deborah Jackson
Published: 2012-09-17T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

Disaster Averted, or Not

Matt took a deep breath as he waited for Taharqa’s decision. This could be it: the end or the restoration of their timeline.

“I will take my army and approach the Medjay,” Taharqa said. “Either we persuade them to join us or we defeat them, but at least we’ll be more prepared to battle the Assyrians.”

Matt exhaled slowly. Would there be a crack of electricity and a great rush of air like a hurricane as the failsafe opened a wormhole? Would he be swept back to Isabelle, along with Sarah? Or would he simply dissolve, become nothing? Would his dad and Nadine crumble in front of his eyes?

The air was still. Nothing happened.

Taharqa rose and waved to the priests that they were dismissed. They grumbled. Bakket eyed him malevolently, but Taharqa wouldn’t budge. “It’s the responsible decision and I stand by it.”

“And this boy had no influence?” snarled the priest.

“I listen to everyone’s opinion, but what this boy wants is insignificant compared to what I need to do. He’s a welcome addition to my army, but that is all.”

“Then why do you keep him at your side?”

“Because he amuses me,” said Taharqa.

Matt thought he should feel insulted, but for some reason he didn’t. The last thing he wanted was to influence a leader’s decision about a battle or war. Not this time, anyway. He’d rather be the prince’s fool than the prince’s advisor. He was pretty sure that neither his father nor Nadine had changed Taharqa’s mind either. This was what he’d wanted all along, so it had to be the right thing. But, nothing had happened. What did that mean?

Maybe they hadn’t reached the crucial moment. Maybe this wasn’t where life as they knew it ended or resumed.

After the priests had filed out, Taharqa turned to Matt and smiled.

“I lied,” he whispered. “You had the best counsel of all and I took your advice.”

Matt felt as if a bucket of ice water had been dumped on his head. “You-you listened to me? I just told you to go with your gut.”

Taharqa frowned.

“I mean ‘instinct,’” Matt explained.

“Exactly,” said Taharqa. “Sound advice. Now I think we should all bed down for the night. Tomorrow we’ll be taking the direct desert route, north, to my fortifications by the Second Cataract.”

“We’re heading north?” asked Matt. “Isn’t that what your uncle wanted anyway?”

“My uncle wanted me to keep going, straight up the Nile to the pyramids,” said Taharqa. “But we’ll make a stop that will be momentous. Trust me.” He patted Matt on the back, then turned and clapped his hands. Two men appeared instantly at his summons. “Take Matt, his father and— Do you want me to house the woman separately? She might find a nice bed of straw in the stable more suitable to her . . . current condition.” He indicated the flecks of vomit still clinging to her toga.

Matt smiled. “Yes, that would be perfect.”

“Matt,” Nadine protested. Her scowling face made her look even more hideous.

“Let Nadine stay with us,” said Matt’s dad, quite forcefully, looking the prince in the eye this time.

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