Theodosia and the Staff of Osiris Page 9

  Instead, I dragged Will into my small closet, the one small piece of the museum that I claimed as my own. When I pulled him inside and lit the oil lamp, his eyes went immediately to the sarcophagus next to the wall. "Wot is this place, anyway?"

  I didn't think he'd understand about my need to sleep in the sarcophagus when I got stuck spending the night at the museum. It was the only thing I trusted to protect me

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  against all the curses and restless spirits that roamed the museum at night. "My room, so to speak. Listen, we haven't any time to waste. I've got an important message for Wigmere, but I've got a governess now--"

  "Whatcher got one of them for, anyway?"

  "Believe me, it wasn't my idea. Now, I need you to tell Wigmere that I found out why the mummies are here."

  His eyes grew wide. "Ye did?"

  "Yes. Tell Wigmere that I think I found the Staff of Osiris. Here. In our museum. Can you repeat that to be sure you've got it straight?"

  "Sure. You fink you found an Iris Staff--"

  "No, no. The Staff of Osiris. Oh-sigh-ris. Say it for me."

  "Oh-sigh-ris. Got it. What's that got to do wif the mummies, anyway?"

  Even though we were all alone in the room, I couldn't help but lower my voice. "It wields power over the dead, and that's what's calling the mummies. Although ... they seem to only be able to move at night."

  "The dead!" Will squeaked, glancing nervously at the sarcophagus.

  "Shhh! Yes, the dead. And I think that's why Chaos wants the staff. Now, can you remember all that or do I need to write it down?"

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  "Wot's wrong wi' my mem'ry, I'd like to know?"

  "Nothing! I was just checking, that's all. Now--" There was a rap at the door. "Theodosia!" We both froze. "I say, Theodosia? Are you in there?" Stilton called out. "Yes, I am. Just a second."

  I motioned Will toward the sarcophagus. He looked at me as if I were crazy. "I'm not gettin' in that thing!" he hissed.

  "You most certainly are," I hissed back. "If you don't, you'll be found out. What if they turn you in to the police?"

  Will paled but shook his head. "I ain't gettin' in no stone coffin."

  "Oh, don't be ridiculous! I sleep in there all the time, and nothing's ever happened to me."

  Will's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "You 'ave?"

  Stilton rapped again. "Theodosia?"

  "Yes," I said loudly, then whispered, "Now, get in!"

  Looking none too pleased, Will gingerly scrambled over the side and settled himself in the bottom of the sarcophagus. "Now, keep quiet!" I warned, then turned to open the door. "Hullo, Stilton."

  "I say, were you talking to someone?" he asked, trying to peer into the room.

  I maneuvered myself so that I partially blocked his view. "No, why do you ask?"

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  "I thought I heard voices." Still not convinced, his gaze wandered to the far corners of the closet.

  "Oh, that. Now that I'm to have lessons again, I was practicing my Latin verb conjugating for Miss Sharpe." Remembering how he had seemed stricken with her the day before, I added, "You haven't seen her, by the way, have you? She should be here by now."

  He pulled his gaze from the walls back to my face, a frown of concern wrinkling his features. "Now that you mention it, I haven't seen her. I wonder if she's stuck up in that mess out front?"

  "Most likely," I said.

  "Perhaps I'd better go check." Eager to help the lovely Miss Sharpe, Stilton turned to leave, then stopped. "Oh, I almost forgot. Your father would like to see you in his office. Right away."

  "I'll be right there. But do please see if you can find Miss Sharpe. I'd so hate for her to get put out with all this horrid business going on this morning."

  "Yes, of course," he said, then hurried away. I closed the door and breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay," I whispered. "It's clear. You can come out now."

  Shakily, Will climbed out of his hiding place. "I ain't never doing that again. That was downright creepy, it was."

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  "Never mind that! We've got to get you out of here and safely on your way back to Wigmere, and I've got to go see what my father wants."

  Will was only too glad to leave my little closet and scurried out into the hallway. I led him back to the side entrance. "Now, you're sure you can remember everything I told you?"

  "Yes, miss. I ain't going soft in the 'ead."

  "Sorry. It's just excruciatingly important."

  "So you said. More 'n once."

  "Right. Well, goodbye." Will opened the door, looked out, then jerked back inside and slammed it behind him. '"Ave you got another exit, miss?"

  "Yes, of course. But what's wrong? You're as pale as a sheet!"

  "Nuffink. Just want to go out a different way than I came in. That's all."

  "Well ... we've another entrance on the west side of the building. Or you can use the delivery entrance."

  Will paused a moment. '"E prob'ly won't know about that one. Let's use the delivery one."

  "Very well." I led Will across the hall, trying to think of a way to get him to tell me what was wrong.

  "Theodosia!" Father's voice came from far away, and it didn't sound happy.

  "Come on." I grabbed Will's hand and broke into a run.

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  "We've got to get you out of here before we both get in loads of trouble." When we reached the loading dock, it was empty. No doubt everyone was still in the foyer, being questioned by the police.

  I led Will over to the exit, and he poked his head out to look around. "All clear," he announced, then slipped outside. "Good luck wiv your father. 'Ope you're not in too much hot water."

  "I'll be fine. Now, remember! Wigmere needs to get that message as soon as poss--" But before I had finished my sentence, Will had disappeared.

  I shut the door, then headed for Father's office. As I approached, I heard raised voices coming from within. One of them was Inspector Turnbull's.

  "If you're not involved with these stolen mummies, Throckmorton, do you care to tell me why the Grim Nipper's been hanging around?"

  "Who? I have no idea what you're talking about! Who is this Grim Reaper fellow?"

  "Grim Nipper." Turnbull spoke slowly and loudly, as if addressing a deaf person. "He's only one of the most notorious kidsmen in all of London. Known for moving hard-to-fence stuff, too. My constable spotted him outside in the crowd this morning."

  "Well, he's not here at my request, I can assure you of

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  that! Now, where is that daughter of mine? Theodosia!" He poked his head into the hallway. "Oh! There you are! What took you so long?"

  I stepped into the room, only to find myself scrutinized by Grandmother Throckmorton, Admiral Sopcoate, and Inspector Turnbull. Luckily, there was no sign of Miss Sharpe.

  "Where on earth have you been, child?" Mum rushed forward.

  "I was on my way to the reading room, trying to keep out of everyone's way."

  "And where is Miss Sharpe, then?" Grandmother asked.

  "I don't know, Grandmother. She hasn't been in yet this morning." Which wasn't a lie. Exactly. She hadn't been inside the museum yet.

  "Hmph," she snorted, and I must say, it was quite pleasant to have her snorting at someone else for a change.

  "Yes, well, the admiral has invited us to tour his battleship, the Dreadnought, today," Father explained. "Obviously your mother and I can't go because of all this unpleasantness, but your grandmother wants you to go anyway--"

  Grandmother interrupted him. "It will be an excellent educational opportunity. With or without Miss Sharpe," she added.

  This felt like a most inopportune time to be away from the

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  museum, what with Inspector Turnbull breathing down Father's neck and Grim Somebodies being spotted outside.

  At my hesitation, Grandmother brought her cane down on the floor, the effect somewhat muffled by the Turkish carpet. "Nonsense. Of course you're
going. You'll not throw away an opportunity to see Britain's shining star firsthand. Now, what are you waiting for? Go get your things. We haven't got all day."

  Knowing arguing would be futile, I said, "Yes, ma'am," then hurried to get my coat.

  And my hat. I knew only too well Grandmother would just send me back for it if I left it behind.

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  CHAPTER THIRTEEN THE DREADNOUGHT

  ***

  ONCE WE WERE SETTLED in Grandmother's carriage, Admiral Sopcoate rapped on the ceiling, signaling the driver to be on his way. As we began down the street, we passed a small, familiar-looking figure racing along. With a shock, I recognized Will. I started to wave, then stopped myself. Grandmother would never approve. A short distance behind Will I spotted an even shorter figure nearly swallowed up in a too-large morning coat and an equally oversize bowler. Snuffles.

  A furtive movement behind Snuffles caught my eye. It was a tall man in a tattered top hat wearing an ... undertaker's coat! I peered more closely, not sure if the man looked

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  vaguely familiar or it was just the second undertaker's coat I'd seen in as many days.

  "We'll take the embankment route, shall we?" Admiral Sopcoate leaned back against the cab cushions, eyes shining. "The water levels from the recent flood have only now begun to recede back down the embankment. I'd like to see how they're coming along with the cleanup down there."

  He sounded suspiciously cheerful about surveying something as grim as flood damage, I thought. I was willing to bet those who'd lost their homes didn't feel quite the same way.

  At the look on my face, he quickly added, "Sorry. Can't take an appreciation for weather out of an old salt like me."

  I supposed that made sense. Weather was an incredible force, capable of creating plenty of chaos on its own. Unfortunately, the recent downpours that had caused this flood had had help from the Serpents of Chaos. The severe rains would never have occurred if not for the damage done when the Heart of Egypt had been in Britain's possession.

  "So, dear girl," Admiral Sopcoate said, changing the subject, "does the inspector have any theory yet as to why all these mummies keep showing up? He's had two days. You'd think he'd have figured it out by now."

  "He hasn't, sir. In spite of your valiant defense, he is still inclined to think Father's behind it."

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  Grandmother thumped her cane on the carriage floor. "Nonsense."

  "Of course it's nonsense, Lavinia. The inspector will figure that out soon enough. It hasn't helped any that there's been so much in the paper." He leaned forward, eyes bright with curiosity. "I say, is it true that one of the mummies was cursed and caused a porter to break his leg?"

  "Sopcoate!" Grandmother barked. "I don't need you encouraging her in this poppycock. She gets quite enough of that at home."

  "Quite right. So"--he clapped his hands together in a jolly manner--"what is it you do all day in that museum of yours? I imagine we saved you from a day of boredom, eh?"

  "Well ..."I glanced cautiously at Grandmother. "I study ancient Egypt and Greek and Latin and hieroglyphs. Sometimes Father lets me help out with maintaining the exhibits and whatnot. Right now, he has me cataloging the museum items down in the basement."

  "Sounds very dry and dusty to me," he said.

  I felt Grandmother's steely gaze boring holes clear through my forehead. "Yes, well, I do very much appreciate this chance to see your boat," I said politely.

  "Ship," he corrected. "I bet you're looking forward to having a new governess to study with. The one your grandmother's

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  found for you sounds like just the ticket." I wanted to ask which governess that would be--the prune, the one reeking of sherry, or the pincher--but all I said was, "Yes, sir."

  Grandmother gave a small nod of approval.

  Admiral Sopcoate frowned, as if something had just occurred to him. "Have you just been teaching yourself, then? All this time?"

  "Well, mostly--"

  "If you can call that teaching," Grandmother interrupted. "I think she's just been stuffing her head full of nonsense that no healthy girl would want to know about."

  "But Grandmother," I asked, "why is it okay for a girl to know about battleships but not Egyptology?"

  Grandmother's nostrils flared. "Because battleships have to do with the pride and glory of Britain. Every British subject ought to be well informed on that score. But no one needs to study a bunch of long-dead heathens."

  So that's what she thought of Egyptology. I'd always wondered. "Thank you," I said. "I understand now." She studied me to see if I was being impertinent, but I wasn't. I just finally understood her views on the subject.

  Satisfied that I wasn't being disrespectful, she turned back to the admiral. "Well, I think this is an amazing achievement, Sopcoate. It's not many members of the admiralty

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  who would have the foresight to put our crown jewel on display for all Englishmen to marvel over."

  The admiral chuckled and patted her arm. Honestly. These two were getting nearly as bad as Mum and Dad. "It would never have been possible without the recent floods, Lavinia. But once it was clear that the higher water line was here to stay for a bit and we could get her through, I realized what a fine opportunity it would be."

  "I'm sorry, but I don't quite understand why a ship would be a crown jewel."

  Grandmother flinched at my words. She looked as though she was going to remind me that children should be seen and not heard, but the admiral spoke first. "Why, of course you wouldn't! You're only a child. And a girl, at that. I bet you your younger brother, Henry, could tell you all about the Dreadnought."

  Oh, how Henry would have crowed if he could have heard this! If it had been anyone other than the admiral who had said it, I would have taken great exception. But he'd been so kind and jolly, and helped Father with the police, and kept Grandmother from being too beastly, so I let it go. "Do you really think it's our crown jewel? Why?"

  "Because it's only the greatest battleship ever built, young lady! Outclasses everything else on the ocean today and renders

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  all other battleships obsolete. It assures Britain's position as the greatest naval power in the world."

  "But I thought we already were the greatest?"

  "Good girl," he said, looking quite pleased. "You're right. We were and are. But we like to be twice as great as any other two countries combined, so we mustn't rest on our laurels."

  I supposed that made sense. Kind of like Father wanting not just to have a better collection than the British Museum, but a HUGELY better collection.

  "Besides," Grandmother Throckmorton muttered darkly, "someone needs to keep that Kaiser Wilhelm in check. That dreadful man thinks to knock us from our pin, no matter what he says otherwise."

  My ears perked up at the mention of Kaiser Wilhelm. Von Braggenschnott had talked about him, too. He claimed that the Serpents of Chaos were feeding the Kaiser's drive to compete with Britain in order to bring about chaos and disorder. And I must say, it had almost worked.

  Which brought my thoughts right back to the Staff of Osiris. I desperately needed to find out more about its history, not to mention finding a better hiding place for it. If Wigmere was correct and the Serpents of Chaos were back in London, it wouldn't take long for them to discover the staff's location.

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  [Image: Battleship.]

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  Especially if mummies kept showing up every morning!

  I squirmed in my seat. I needed to find a way to keep the mummies from returning the next day. I was afraid Turnbull would arrest Father if they showed up again.

  I rested my aching head on the cool glass of the carriage window and looked outside.

  All sorts of rubbish littered the street where the floodwaters had spilled over. Driftwood, old leaves, rags--all were pitched up against the edges of the buildings. People's furniture sat out on their stoops, drying off in the brisk ai
r. Even the sandbags were still up where they'd been piled high to prevent more flooding.

  Looking at how much damage the Serpents of Chaos had accomplished with severe rains, I shuddered to think what they would do if they had power over death in their greedy, grasping hands.

  ***

  As we arrived at the Royal Albert Dock and traveled past miles of docks and quays, cargo containers and pulleys, the Dreadnought came into view. She was larger than any other ship in sight, her hard gray lines etched darkly against the lighter gray sky, all masts and funnels, cabling and turrets. A long, thick-plated, armored beast that towered over everything.

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  We got out of the admiral's carriage, and he led Grandmother and me toward a gangplank with thick rope rails. There were two sailors posted there, dressed in smart blue uniforms with white piping on the collars and smart sailor hats. At the sight of the admiral, they snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir!"

  Their action startled me so badly that I found myself saluting back in reflex--only, I aimed too high and managed to knock my hat clear off my head. It rolled onto the dock, then fluttered along the ground for a second before going over the side into the water.

  There was a moment of stunned, embarrassed silence in which I was afraid to even look at Grandmother. Then one of the sailors winked at me. "Don't worry, miss. I'll fetch it for you." He hustled over to the side, fished out the hat, and held it up to me with a flourish.

  "Thank you, sir!" I said, taking the soggy hat from him and holding it gingerly between two fingers. I wasn't quite sure what I was supposed to do with it now, but it had been very kind of him to save it for me, even if he didn't know how much I loathe hats.