Chapter 6 #2
“Yes, I see.” She straightened. “Oliver.”
The edges of his vision softened, and he licked his suddenly dry lips. “Y-yes?”
“Can you pass me that glass sample jar on the workbench there behind you?”
“Oh… Of course.” The jar rattled gently against the bench as he grabbed it. He held it with both hands as he passed it off to Dr. Brennan.
“Thank you,” she said.
He retreated back to the bottom corner and wiped his palm across his sweaty forehead.
“This is a small, palm-sized pouch that appears to be made from the same material as the bandages.” She used a forceps to pluck the item from the coffin and dropped it into the jar.
“Vera, once Samira has secured the scroll, please make notes about both items in the log and take photographs of each. I’ll need you to run tests on this pouch to determine if it contained whatever we were exposed to, and a chemical breakdown of the material.
” Dr. Brennan met each of their eyes, Oliver and Robin’s as well.
“Keep track of any physical or mental changes you may experience. I wasn’t expecting that kind of exposure, or I would have insisted on body suits. ”
He rubbed the pads of his thumb and index finger together as he shared a look with Robin. What the hell had gotten all over them?
The team moved with an impressive rhythm.
Each member documented a specific detail, taking measurements, photographs, and even small clippings of the bandages.
It was fascinating to witness, but Oliver’s heart pounded and sweat slicked his back as he watched.
Would he be called out for touching it? What would be the punishment?
Expelled from classes? Fined an exorbitant amount of money?
He shifted his weight often, crossing and uncrossing his arms. He tried to pay attention to what Dr. Brennan and the others were doing, but after an hour, he couldn’t handle it any longer.
If he left before they understood what the smudge across Amenmose’s forearm meant, they might not think to blame him for it.
Leaning in toward Robin, he whispered, “I think I’m going to go.”
Robin’s eyes were drooping, most likely their body coming down from all that caffeine. They whispered back, “Thank God. Me, too.”
He cleared his throat. “Dr. Brennan, I appreciate you allowing me to witness the opening of such an important find, but I do need to be heading out.”
She studied him. “Are you feeling ill? You appear flushed.”
He shook his head. “No, nothing like that. I just…need to be somewhere.”
“I’m feeling fine, too,” Robin said. “But I was going to leave as well.”
“Very well,” Dr. Brennan said. “Does someone on the team know how to get in touch with you?”
“Yes, I do,” came a voice over the intercom. “Robin and I are friends.”
“Very good, Beryl. Please keep me apprised of any physical or mental changes you’re made aware of.”
Oliver’s face heated, and his throat went dry. “Oh. Do you anticipate us having reactions?”
“Nothing is anticipated,” she said. “But one never knows. Just keep Beryl informed of any changes. Thank you again for your help.”
“Sure, yeah. I was happy to do it. I hope your research returns amazing results.”
Dr. Brennan gave a single nod before returning to her work. Oliver gave the mummy one last look, then followed Robin into the control room.
“Dude, nice save.” Ricky held out a fist.
“Oh, thanks.” He bumped his fist. “It was all just reflexes.”
“Good ones, though.” Beryl gave Robin a once over. “What got on you guys?”
“Not sure,” Robin said, looking down at themself. “Dust, I guess.”
“Feels like more than that,” he said. “And I really want to get home and wash it off.”
“Should have been wearing the suits,” Beryl said, shaking her head as she turned back to the control board.
“Definitely,” Ricky agreed.
“Good suggestion,” Oliver said dryly. “Now.”
They left, both quiet as they walked down the empty hall. Outside, the sun had set and shadows skulked in the depths of bushes planted along the base of the building. The fresh air of the May evening encouraged Oliver to stop and pull in a deep breath.
“Trying to clear your lungs?” Robin asked.
“Yeah.” He started toward the car. “What did you think of the experience?”
“It was pretty sweet.”
“But?”
Robin made a face. “But it felt…I dunno…kinda wrong. You know?”
“Like grave robbing?”
“Yeah, maybe. But also, like, let the guy be at peace. I mean, when I’m dead and buried, I don’t want some dickhead three thousand years from now whose essence is walking around inside an AI chatbot robot shell digging me up and poking at my bones.”
Oliver laughed. “Good comparison. Although some days it would be nice to be able to send an AI chatbot robot out into the world instead of having to go myself.”
“That would be fire. Glad I thought of it.”
“Now you just have to build it.”
“Right.” Robin was quiet for a bit. “What do you think got on us?”
“I don’t know. I hope it wasn’t some kind of ancient virus.”
“Yeah, right? Or some kind of curse.”
He shivered even in the mild evening air. “I guess we should have expected something like that, based on all the movies with this exact scenario.”
Robin laughed. “I know, right? Man, I love those old monster movies. What about you?”
“I do. But I’ve kind of gotten away from them now that I’m older.” And, he thought, when you’ve survived your own personal monster movies more than once.
They reached his car, and Oliver unlocked it with the key fob. “Thanks for inviting me. It didn’t turn out like I’d hoped, but it was still pretty cool.”
“Yeah, sorry about that.”
“You couldn’t have known.” Oliver looked around the empty parking lot. “Oh, you don’t have a car, do you?”
Robin shrugged. “No. I’ll catch the bus.”
“No way. Get in, I’ll drive you.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know, but I want to. You’re in Thorndale, right?”
“Yeah.”
“It’s on my way home. Come on.”
Robin was quiet as they left the parking lot. When he glanced over, Oliver saw them gripping their knees tight.
“You doing okay?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Robin rocked forward and back in their seat.
“Still feel it on you?”
They made a face. “Yeah. It’s kind of freaking me out. What if we turn into zombies or something? Have we been roofied by a mummy?”
They laughed together, but Oliver wondered if maybe they had a point. What kind of effect would that stuff have on them?
They were quiet after that until they entered Thorndale’s city limits. Robin directed him to a brick colonial on a nice, tree-lined street. The front porch light was on, and the downstairs windows glowed.
“Nice house,” Oliver said.
Robin smiled. “It is. They’ve been really great to me.”
“I’m glad. Everyone deserves to have a safe space to live.”
A moment of silence, then Robin said, “Will you text me if you start feeling weird?”
“Absolutely. You do the same.”
“I will.” Robin got out. They leaned down and said, “I’m totally going to send you stupid memes, though.”
“Not at all surprised or upset by that.”
Robin laughed and pushed the door shut. They ran up to the door and once Oliver saw they were safely inside, he pulled away from the curb. As he headed for home, he ran his right hand up and down his denim-covered thigh.