The driver gave Adira a small, heavy package, and she placed it in her bag. “It’ll be ready for us in the morning.” She checked her wristwatch. “It’s late. I suggest we check in, get some rest and meet out front at oh-six hundred.”

*

Matt sat in the bar; his beer as yet untouched in front him. He was tired, but knew sleep would be impossible, and hoped that some alcoholic anesthetic might help. He smiled dreamily and watched a bead of condensation run down the side of the green bottle. He followed it with his eyes, preoccupied.

The Al Azif, The Necronomicon, The Book of the Dead, whatever they called it, it had become the key to everything. Would it even be real? he wondered. Not long ago, he would have laughed at the suggestion, but now…

Well, we have all our eggs in one ancient Middle Eastern basket now, he thought, so it damn well better be.

He remembered reading the words of the copy of the Book, and that, as he read, images had formed in his mind – magnificent and horrible in equal measures. They had conjured up scenes of beauty, monstrous wonder, and decrepit horror. He had been a scholar of languages and words all his life, and he still didn’t know how words, marks on a page really, could actually do that.

Matt knew some writing was bland and informative, and that some was powerful and persuasive. But this went far beyond that, into the realm of words as magic. And if what he had seen had that effect, what would the Celestial script, the actual speech of the gods, be like?

“Penny for them.”

He jolted at the light touch on his shoulder.

“Jumpy tonight.” Tania Kovitz slid onto the stool next to him.

He half smiled and shook his head. “I’m okay, just thinking about the day ahead.” He nodded at his drink. “Get you something?”

“Sure, one of those’ll be fine.” She looked around at the remaining people sipping drinks late at night in the hotel bar. “I didn’t think they’d serve alcohol here.”

Matt shook his head. “There’re a lot of purists who want to make Egypt totally alcohol free, but there are also a lot of businesses that rely on the tourist trade. No alcohol, covering of women, segregation of sexes might just detract from the fun in the sun holiday lifestyle. So we’re okay…at least for now.” Another beer arrived on a coaster, and Matt reached out and lifted his drink. “Enjoy it while you can.”

“Salut.” Tania lifted the small green bottle and clinked it against Matt’s.

He sipped, looking at her and smiled. He watched her soft lips just close over the top.

She smiled as she sipped, and held his gaze.

*

Matt woke about four, and lifted Tania’s arm off his body. The room still smelled of perfume, sex, and beer. He winced as he moved, feeling the scratches on his back.

“Hellcat,” he whispered.