EATER OF SOULS
Chapter Sixteen After about a half hour, Rose finished applying the ointment to the Doctor’s back. He gave her a grateful kiss while she gathered up her things. “Amisi gave me her room for tonight,” Rose said to him. “It’s down the hall. She’s going to go sleep on the roof with Ahmose. I guess this is his bed you’re sleeping in. I told Amisi that I didn’t want her to sleep up there, but she insisted. I just hate turning them out of their own bedrooms. “That’s their decision though,” the Doctor said. “Egyptians sleep outside all the time. It never rains here, and it’s very cool and comfortable at night. They’ll be alright.” He gave her a kiss. “Just relax, and don’t worry about me. I’m sure we’ll be safe. If anyone comes here, I’ll handle them, so just go to sleep and get some rest. It’s been a long day for all of us. Rose nodded. She laid her hand against the Doctor’s cheek while he rubbed her side. Then, slowly, she rose and headed towards Amisi’s bed. The Doctor lay awake staring at the ceiling. He was mulling things over in his mind. What had killed Amenemhet and his men? He was sure it wasn’t Ammit, or at least Ammit, as the Egyptians understood him. He considered Rose’s theory that it might be an alien. He had once watched the Stargate movie where an alien had possessed a boy, posed as the sun god Re, and enlisted ordinary humans as soldiers. The soldiers posed as Anubis and Horus to fool the humans Re had enslaved and keep them in line. It was an intriguing theory. He knew that aliens had helped humans in the past when they had been more accepting of them. But, to his knowledge, no aliens who visited Earth, and lived among the humans, had deliberately passed themselves off as a god, although, that didn’t stop humans from thinking they were, and worshipping them. If this Ammit was an alien, what was the purpose in devouring human hearts? More importantly, was it acting on its own, or was it in the service of someone else? And, if so, what would its master have to gain by killing humans? He continued to ponder these questions and others, while the hours passed by. He was so engrossed in his thoughts that he didn’t realize at first that someone was in the room until they were right beside the bed. He started and rolled onto his side. “It’s me,” Rose said. The Doctor relaxed and rolled back onto his back. “What’s wrong?” he asked. “I couldn’t sleep. The bed is uncomfortable and it’s too quiet. I’m used to the TARDIS,” she said. The Doctor scooted over and tugged on her hand. Rose lay down on the bed and turned on the side facing him. She reached through the darkness, found his face, and rubbed his cheek. “What are you thinking of?” she asked. “Just thinking about this Ammit, and what it might be,” he said, softly. “You can’t sleep?” The Doctor shook his head. “No, I’m not tired,” he said. “I’d rather spend my time trying to figure out what this thing is, and how to stop it.” “Do you have any ideas?” “Just what you suggested, that it might be an alien that people are mistaking for a god.” “Do you think it might really be a god?” The Doctor frowned. “I don’t think so. I mean, the idea of a crocodile, hippo, leopard thing eating the hearts of the dead seems very farfetched to me.” “Slitheen seemed farfetched to me, until I saw them.” “Yes, well, Slitheen aren’t running around posing as gods. I get your meaning, that there are many strange things in the universe, but I really don’t buy the concept of Ammit. If there is an afterlife, I don’t really see souls being forced to pass through a dark, dangerous underworld after death and having their hearts weighed on gigantic scales by a jackal-headed god, while a ibis-headed god writes the verdict down, and if they’re deemed unworthy, a crocodile thing eats it, and that’s that. Nah, it’s gotta be something else.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “Problem is, while we sit here and think this over, more lives might be lost. If this thing did kill Femi, then I don’t want anyone else to have to go through the anguish of having someone they love die. It’s bad enough Ahmose and Amisi lost their daughter. They’ve been so kind to us, taking us in, and feeding, and giving us a place to stay. I want to return the favor by finding out who killed their daughter and why, and then, stop them from killing anyone else again.” Rose nodded. The Doctor pulled her closer. “But, enough talk. Get some sleep. I’m right here, and I’ll see you in the morning.” “I love you, Doctor.” “I love you, too. Good night.” “Night.” Rose closed her eyes, and sighed, as she snuggled up against the Doctor. The Doctor rubbed her back, lulling her to sleep, while he continued to think and try to find a solution to the problem he was now faced with. “Rose?” “Hmmm?” “It’s morning, Rose. Ahmose and Amisi are up. I can hear them. We better get up too. Egyptians don’t sleep in, as a rule.” “Crap,” Rose muttered. The Doctor chuckled. “You can take a nap when we go to the TARDIS later today. It’ll take about an hour or two to heal my back, so that’ll give you some time to rest. But, for now, get your lazy bum up.” He laughed when Rose flipped him off. She opened her eyes and groaned, as she sat up on the side of the bed. “Ugh, wooden beds suck,” she said. “I don’t know how they slept on them or used those wooden head rests. I tried that thing, and after two seconds, I had a crick in my neck.” “Well, that’s because you aren’t used to it. That’s all these people know. They grew up sleeping on the beds and using the headrests, so it doesn’t bother them.” “Just the same, we need to introduce them to feather beds and fluffy pillows, so we can have something nice to lie on while we’re here.” “Nonsense, I would never introduce an object into a culture before it’s time.” Rose eyed him, as he sat up beside her. “So, the whole thing about introducing the banana daiquiri to France and giving Tommy a scooter that hadn’t been invented yet, those were just accidental things, eh?” The Doctor sighed. “How come you are able to counter everything I say?” “Because I can,” Rose said, smugly. “Yeah, yeah, yeah, get a move on, Tyler before they come back here looking for us.” Once they were up and out of the bedroom, the Doctor found Ahmose, sat down on the floor, and spoke to him while Rose went to help Amisi in the kitchen. “Your daughter, Femi, I assume she lived with you?” the Doctor asked. Ahmose nodded. “Yes, I also have a younger daughter, but Amisi sent her to stay with her father after I was arrested. And now, that Ammit is stalking us, she will stay there until it is safe to come home.” “This, Ammit, has there been any other instances where he has come among the living and killed people?” “Not to my knowledge. These are dangerous times, though. There are rumors that the might of the Egyptian kingdom is being challenged by outsiders, and the pharaoh, may he live forever, is leading campaigns to try to stop them. It is whispered among the people that he may not be able to defeat them and foreigners may take control of Khemet, may the gods watch over and protect us. The streets have become more dangerous, it seems. Murderers and thieves roam free. They kill and steal from the unwary. When I was a boy, you could walk anywhere in the city, and no one would bother you, it is not that way now. Now, I must escort my wife and daughters when they leave the house, lest someone try to take their virtue, or their possessions. We are a simple folk, Doctor, but we are not as poor as some people are, and there are those who are desperate enough to rob three defenseless women. I insist my wife and daughters let me walk with them when they traveled to make sure they were alright.” He sighed. “But, my daughter, Femi, wouldn’t listen to my warnings. She is extremely headstrong, more so than my wife and younger daughter. She insisted on going places by herself, unescorted, and staying out long after dark. I tried to put my foot down, but that only made her more rebellious.” “How old is she?” “Sixteen.” The Doctor smiled. “Trust me, Ahmose, you aren’t the first one who has tried to control a sixteen year old and failed miserably at it.” “I love my daughter. I love both my daughters, and I want only the best for them.” “Of course you do,” the Doctor said, smiling. “I can understand your concern, Ahmose, but teenagers are hard to control, let alone headstrong ones.” “I fear that headstrong behavior may have cost her life,” he said, sadly. The Doctor put his hand on his shoulder. “I promise, Ahmose. I will find your daughter and if she is dead, I will bring her killer to justice.” Ahmose stared at him. “Why do you care about us, so much, Doctor? You are not from Khemet, and neither is Rose. Why would two barbarians be so concerned about my daughter?” “We may be barbarians, Ahmose, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care. Both Rose and I travel around for a living, and we frequently help the people that we meet, simply because we both care about seeing justice prevail. We may not be from Khemet, but both of us are ready and willing to help sort this out. That is, if you will let us.” Ahmose smiled. “I would be honored to have your help, Doctor. I don’t know what it is about you. Normally, I would not look twice at barbarians, but you seem to be different. I trust both you and Rose.” The Doctor smiled. “Good, I’m glad to hear that. Both Rose and I will not leave until we figure out what is going on here.” “Then, I will return the favor by offering you both food and shelter.” The Doctor bowed his head. “Thank you,” he said, humbly. He and Ahmose looked over when Rose and Amisi entered the room. Rose was carrying a circular clay plate that had bread and onions heaped on it, and Amisi was carrying two clay jars of beer. They sat them between the Doctor and Ahmose and sat down with them. “Eat, my friends,” Ahmose said, gesturing to the food. The Doctor nodded and smiled. He and Rose took some food while Ahmose and Amisi waited patiently. Once they were finished, they took their share, and the four of them ate together in silence.
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