disasterlibrarianâ:
@keeperofmaatâ cont. from here
Evy winced a little at Ardethâs words â less at the reminder that she was the one whoâd woken Imhotep and almost caused the end of the world than at the fact that Rick had apparently felt the need to make sure the Medjai was aware of this. âYes, it was all my fault. How kind of Mr. OâConnell to tell you,â she said, surprised by the sharp edge to her own voice. She and Rick barely knew each other; this shouldnât have felt like a betrayal, yet somehow it did.
However, she doubted her personal problems were of any consequence to the Medjai, so she pushed them aside for the time being and forced a smile. âBut we stopped it, didnât we? Imhotep is back where he belongs.â
He⌠has misstepped somewhere. He is uncertain where. It is not often that he deals with those outside of his own people, and the feelings and egos of the English and the Americans are so⌠fragile. Or, at least, so it seems to him.
He is uncertain whether feelings or ego have been injured here, but always he has possessed a keen eye for people, their reactions, their words.
It has something to do with OâConnell, that much he can say. Had the man betrayed a confidence in his half-amused, half-exasperated explanation of how it had all come to pass? Had he been sworn to secrecy? That Ardeth cannot know and so he says nothing of it.Â
If, however, he curbs his still lingering irritation over the entire ordealââthey had neutralized the threat, they had stopped the end of the world, and he had safely returned homeââand instead attempts something that might have been a smile in turn were it not so grim, not so weighty had the casualties been fewer or meant less than what they did.
âYes. Yes, it is true that you did, and for that you have my gratitude.â
And then the look turns a bit more wry.
âThough if we might avoid the necessity of righting such a situation the next time you choose to go on adventure, that also would be much appreciated.â
