Time Benders (4 page)

Zack didn’t answer. He had his duffel bag open and was busy taking out equipment. “Look, Jeff, my laptop computer still works.”

“Do we have to do this now? I was thinking, since our lives aren’t in danger anymore, we could go but and have a look around. I thought we might check out some of the pyramids or the Sphinx or something.”

“I don’t know. Did you see the way that Horemheb glared at us when Tut made you a wise man?”

“The king’ll take care of him. What’s he gonna do anyway?”

“If I remember my history right, Tutankhamen only lived into his late teens. When they found the body, his skull had been bashed in. The prime suspects were an elderly uncle, the queen, and Horemheb, who later became pharaoh.”

Jeff cocked his head. “Did you say
queen
?”

Zack nodded. “Tut’s married.”

“To a girl?”

“Of course to a girl. He married a twelve-year-old princess when he was nine or ten. They got married real young back then.”

“I’ll say.” Jeff sat down on the hard wooden bed. “What makes you think Horemheb has it in for us?”

“He just strikes me as the kind of guy who doesn’t like anybody to get in his way. To be on the safe side, I think we should get out of here as soon as we can.”

Jeff sat for a few minutes watching Zack
hook some wires up to the computer. He sighed. “Since one of us doesn’t seem to be of much use here, I’m going to go look around. But don’t worry, I’ll stay out of trouble.”

Before Zack could protest, Jeff was out the door. He found a doorway to an open courtyard and was about to step into it when he saw a girl about his age sneak across the flower garden and stop at the gate. She carefully looked both ways and then slipped through.

Jeff trotted across the courtyard after her and peered over the gate. He saw the girl’s back disappear through a door in the side of a large building down the road.

It took two full seconds for him to decide to follow her.

The door she’d gone through led to a dim corridor lit by a single torch at the far end. Jeff could hear muffled voices coming from somewhere in front of him, and he moved toward them.

From out of nowhere a small hand slid into his and began pulling him through a hidden
door. He started to protest but the girl put a finger to her lips.

She led him up a flight of stairs to a dark balcony from which they could clearly see the room below. General Horemheb was talking with several men dressed like priests in white robes.

“Isn’t it enough that his father was a heretic? Why can’t you use that against him? The people will revolt.”

“My Lord Horemheb,” the oldest priest replied. “As you are fully aware, we are behind your efforts to unseat the boy. Egypt is far too great a prize for a child. The problem is that he is a favorite among the masses. They consider his reign to have brought good luck and prosperity to the land.”

“Are you saying,” Horemheb stormed, “that you will not help me denounce him?”

“We are merely suggesting, O wise and merciful general, that if the people were to perceive the young king as bad luck they would more readily turn against him.”

“Hmmm.” Horemheb paced the floor. “We
will start immediately. The work on the tomb will be stepped up and food rations will be lowered. Grain prices will be increased and there will be stiffer penalties for nonproduction.”

“Excellent plan, General.” The old priest coughed. “And when you have done these things we will step in and blame the boy. His days as ruler will be limited.”

“Then, as vice-regent, I will be forced to take over as pharaoh.” Horemheb laughed. “And, of course, to assure my position as the new king I will naturally marry the grieving royal widow.”

The girl pulled Jeff back into the hall, then led him through the courtyard to a maze of rooms and into a luxurious suite.

“These are my private quarters, Brown Jeff Brown. We will not be disturbed here.”

“How do you know who I am?”

“Very few things can be kept a secret in the palace for long. I understand that you are a great magician and wise man from a distant land.”

Jeff shifted uncomfortably as he looked at the girl sitting gracefully on a leather chair in
front of him. She was gorgeous. Her hair was thick and black and her large eyes reminded him of dark pools.

“The gods must have sent you to help me, Brown Jeff Brown. I am Ankhesenpaaten, wife of the pharaoh Tutankhamen.”

“You’re the queen?”

The girl nodded. “And now that you have heard for yourself the vicious treachery planned by the king’s trusted servant Horemheb, will you aid me in foiling his evil plans?”

Jeff scratched his head. “That’s a tough one. You see, I promised my friend I’d stay out of trouble, and besides, he wants to leave as soon as …”

A large tear slipped down the queen’s perfect face. “I suppose all is lost, then. I will simply have to adjust myself to the idea of marriage to … to General Horemheb.”

“I don’t get it. Why don’t you just tell the king what’s going on?”

Ankhesenpaaten wiped at her cheek. “It is not as easy as one might think. Horemheb was a great general under the king’s father. It was
the old king’s dying wish that the general become the young king’s vice-regent. Tutankhamen would never believe that Horemheb would betray him.”

“So the only way Tut’s gonna believe the guy is a traitor is if we find some way to expose him.”

“We? So you agree to help me?” The young queen gently took Jeff’s hand.

“Hold on. First I have to talk to Zack. If he goes for it then we’ll see what we can do. But don’t get your hopes up. How can I find you to let you know?”

“Don’t worry, Brown Jeff Brown. I will contact you.”

“Zack, the most incredible thing just happened.” Jeff raced into the room and stopped. Zack’s computer, which was attached to some sort of mini–satellite dish, was on the wooden bed. Zack’s watch was hooked to a clamp, which was connected to the keyboard.

“Wow. You’ve been busy.”

“I think I’ve got it, Jeff. Not that this system can take us back or anything. The best we can hope for is to try and contact Dr. Cranium’s Time Bender and tell it to come get us.”

“How soon, do you think, before it will be ready?”

“You sound like you’re not too sure you want to go.”

“It’s not that. I met this girl …”

“Relax. There are plenty of girls back in our time.”

Jeff sat on the other bed. “It’s not like that. This girl is married. In fact she’s the queen of Egypt.”

Zack folded his arms. “I thought you said you were going to stay out of trouble.”

“I’m not in trouble. She is. Or at least she might be if old Horemheb has his way. We sorta accidentally overheard the general say he was gonna get rid of Tut and marry the queen.”

“Come on, Jeff. We can’t get involved. If we go around changing history who knows what kind of effect it could have on the future?”

“We wouldn’t be changing it, just helping it. Besides, I thought you said Tut had a few good years left to rule.”

“According to the history books, he does.”

“Then what do you say? We do this one little thing and then we can go?”

“Do you have a plan?”

Jeff shook his head. “I was hoping you’d be able to help in that department.”

“Why don’t you just tell Tut what’s going on?”

“No good. The queen says he won’t buy it.”

There was a soft tap on the door. Jeff hopped off the bed and pulled the door open. A young servant girl stood on the other side.

“My mistress begs me to tell you that the great pharaoh Tutankhamen and his faithful queen, Ankhesenpaaten, will be giving a dinner in your honor this evening. She especially asked me to convey the information that the vice-regent will be in attendance.” The girl bowed and left.

Jeff closed the door. “She must think we can use this dinner to expose the general. But how?”

Zack snapped his fingers. “I’ve got an idea. I just remembered an ancient Egyptian custom. Come on, we’ve got some quick remodeling to do.”

“Pass me some of that fruit, Zack.”

“What’s the matter? Don’t you want to try a big hunk of that calf’s head? The eyeballs look delicious.” Zack laughed.

“Ugh! You try it, then. I’m sticking with food that doesn’t stare back at me.”

Tutankhamen turned his attention to his two guests. “General Horemheb was just telling me that perhaps we are too soft on our servants. Tell me how they treat slaves in your country.”

“We don’t have slaves,” Jeff said between
bites. “Everybody pretty much takes care of himself where we come from.”

“What an interesting idea.” The king leaned forward. “And who builds your tombs and temples?”

“Oh, we have workers,” Zack said. “But they have good hours and get paid pretty well or they don’t work. Of course we know that’s the way Your Highness does things here too. I mean, you wouldn’t want people to go around saying you’re trying to cheat them or anything.”

Horemheb’s face turned red with anger. “Pay no attention to these foreigners, Your Majesty. They would ruin Egypt with their alien thinking.”

“Here’s our chance,” Zack whispered. He stood and pounded on the table. “Are you insulting an honored guest of His Royal Highness?”

Horemheb was flustered. “I was merely—”

“Sorry, pal. My friend and I take your words as an insult. We challenge you to a contest.”

The queen touched Jeff’s arm. “According
to our law, the loser of a challenge will automatically be imprisoned for life. Does your companion know what he is doing?”

Jeff swallowed. “I sure hope he does.”

Horemheb was on his feet. “I gladly accept. Name the contest.”

Zack turned confidently to Jeff and folded his arms. “Basketball.”

At either end of the dining hall Zack and Jeff had placed tall poles with woven baskets tied to them.

“Your Majesty, I ask you, has anyone ever been challenged to a … a game before? It isn’t done,” Horemheb sputtered. “Command these foreigners to choose a more honorable contest.”