“I hunger!” repeated the great Lord of Egypt, and it took one step closer toward Her Ladyship.

Her Ladyship took one petite step back, wrung her skirts with both hands, but held her ground.

“I shall fetch the cook immediately!” she exclaimed. “What would you prefer, My Great Lord? We have partridges and pheasant in the larder, and I believe there has been a nice front portion of beef sent from the butcher’s—”

“I hunger!” repeated the Mummy for yet another time, and Lady Bertram used a bell pull to summon the servant.

Minutes later a young maid was curtsying at the doors, not daring to center this normally forbidden attic chamber.

“Come in, come in, Galston. Now, the gentleman, our noble guest, would like a bite to eat, so you must hereby inform cook we need—”

But Lady Bertram’s words were cut off by a piercing shriek as poor Galston peered inside and saw the monstrous figure of the undead Mummy.

“Oh, stop that. How ungracious, girl. Get in here and beg pardon of His Mummified Lordship!” Lady Bertram pushed her poor serving maid inside and closed the door behind them.

The Mummy turned, raising its arms forward, and beckoned to the maidservant. “Yes! Come!” it spoke, its mouth orifice moving akin to a pit of darkness, “I will feed upon your life.”

“If you please, only just a tad, Your Mummyship,” muttered Lady Bertram. “Galston is required for later, for the laundering tasks—”

The young girl approached, suddenly mesmerized, taking tottering steps toward the Mummy. No longer afraid, she heard only sweet music from a distant land, and a voice of her beloved, calling her. . . .

“Ahem!” said Lady Bertram. “Now then, that’s settled. Though, wouldn’t Your Lordship rather have a nice steak or a rack of lamb?”

The Mummy put its swaddled hand upon the maid’s forehead and suddenly there was a crackle of energy, bluish lightning in the air. The girl shuddered under the touch, and in a matter of seconds collapsed and fell.

“Oh, dear . . .” Lady Bertram muttered. “Whatever was that? Are you all right, Galston? What are you doing on the floor? Why is she on the floor? Will she be able to do laundry?”

“She has given me life,” replied the Mummy.

"Not all of it, I hope! She is, as I dare say, required. Begging all pardon of your Pharaonic Lordship, of course."

But the Mummy regarded Lady Bertram in momentary silence. He was changing.