Antiquity

Chapter 5-- Auburn's Travels


Menefer stood over Auburn's grave, staring at the foreign bold writing carved into stone. He didn't know what it read…he didn't understand by he was buried in the ground and not put in a big sarcophagus…but it was beautiful. Harley had bought him tulips to put on the grave, kneeling down and resting them on the soft earth.

~*Hello Aubbey…It has been a long time."*~Menefer said lowly, running his hand over the marbled stone. ~*"You remembered your promise to the very end, my love…I'm here. I'm safe."*~

"What's he saying?"Harley whispered.

"He's saying a little memorial…Don't be nosey…unless that's a family trait?"Amonen huffed.

"No, it's not…Though it might become one soon enough…"Harley sighed, watching as Menefer petted the stone.

"So long as you keep your nose out of my own business, I don't care what you do. And don't think I didn't hear what you were talking about…Menefer may not know what's going on but I speak three language fluently…"Amonen said, poking Harley in the chest quite hard. Harley rubbed the spot, smirking and moving forward to the headstone.

Menefer looked up at him, smiling softly."It's quiet here…Not even the wind whispers…"He said with a shrug.

"It's a good place…My grandmother is buried right beside him there…Uncles, Aunts, cousins…It's a very peaceful place."Harley said, tilting his head a little as he bent down to remove some debris from around the base of the headstone next to his Grandfather's.

"What was your Grandmother like?"The crouched man asked.

"Kind…but I knew that there was something missing that couldn't be replaced by my Grandmother…Gramps used to sit me on his knees and show me a photo album…Never really smiled in one of them unless he was talking about traveling."Harley sighed, patting his Grandmother's headstone and rising up again.

"I know what he was thinking about…It was all over the apartment…in the Antique shop…on his grave…It's my fault he wasn't really all that happy…."Menefer said as he plopped his bottom down on the newly grown grass since Auburn's burial.

"How can you tell? From that special touch of yours?"Harley asked.

"Yes…Places have stronger memories than the people themselves…Aubbey was…heartbroken. After your grandmother died, after finding out that those people had found me…Knowing that, as he got older, he could never travel again…And knowing that he would be putting you in danger as well…It was very difficult for him to express that in words."Menefer said as he adjusted a little bit and rose to his feet. Brushing off the back of his tunic and the long brown jacket he wore, he turned away from the headstone. "Though…coming here has brought me some peace…"

"That's good. Gramps is really happy to see you."Harley said, patting Menefer's shoulder and starting to walk back to where Amonen stood idly by, his hands shoved into his pockets. Menefer smiled to him, brushing his hand against his arm briefly as he passed by.

"Thank you for coming too Amonen…"Menefer said with a modest little crooked smile. "I appreciate it."

Amonen grumbled something, turning on his heel and following Menefer down the hill. Harley stayed for a moment, watching the two stumble a bit down the incline, looking over his shoulder. The name on that tombstone haunted him. It just reminded him of his vulnerability and just how much he was becoming like his grandfather…Minus the wrinkles and incontinence.

"If you've possessed me Old man…speak now and hold your peace…Or I'm drinking a full gallon of Holy Water…"Harley smirked. There was an odd silence, a cold breeze, then nothing once more. Turning back around, he headed down the hill where Amonen was leaning against the truck with Menefer trying to climb into the bed without using the door in the back.

And failing badly at it.

"If you're done, let's get in the truck…Cemeteries creep me out…"Harley said as he pulled open the driver's side door and pulled himself in. Amonen gave Menefer a small smack to get his attention, the smallest man stopping his efforts, hopping down and climbing into the truck through the passenger's side.

Snuggled well between the two others, he lulled his head back and relaxed. The truck jumped to life with a heavy shudder, wheeling down the hill slowly. "What do you guys want for dinner? Any American foods you want to try?"He asked, pressing on the brake as they paused for a red light.

"Well…I can't think of anything…but you can take us anywhere…"Amonen said flatly.

"Oo! Oo! The talking box showed something called a 'Cheeeeseburger'. Can we try one of those?"Menefer said with a smile, hopping up and down in his seat a little.

"I don't see why not…We'll go through a drive-thru."Harley sighed. He wasn't looking forward to spending more money but he was entertaining guests. Really old guests. Harley pulled up to a McDonalds, ordering them both something they could probably stomach and then pulled into a parking lot so they could eat.

Nothing beat sitting in a pick up truck with fast food.

"Bleh, more green leafy things…Why do you put a lot of plants on you food? Meat and some of the other concoctions on here are just fine."Menefer said as he licked the corner of his mouth of mustard.

"It's good for you. You should at least give it a try before spitting it back out again."Amonen said, removing the pickles from his.

"And just what are you doing?"Harley teased.

"I don't like pickles. Too bitter and sour."Amonen said with a raise of his eyebrow.

"See, even Amonen doesn't like the green things. American food is like eating a forest."Menefer said, sticking his tongue out and sitting back with his drink. Harley made sure that he gave Menefer a Sprite instead of something with a lot of sugar and caffeine. The man in the middle of the truck seemed pleased enough with it though.

"Says the one who kept his pickles on…"Harley mumbled, munching on a fry.

They tossed their garbage outside into a trashcan, heading back to the Antique shop. Menefer stretched his legs, heading inside and immediately going to call Sophie. He and the cat had formed a special bond in which involved many of the little fish treats that Harley had bought for her. Amonen went upstairs and started to change into his 'evening attire' so he could just crawl into bed later.

Harley sat on his couch, watching a documentary on something when Sophie came barreling onto the couch onto his lap. Menefer trotted after him, cradling his hand.

"Silly kitty! I only wanted to put a pretty ribbon on your tail!"Menefer said, hissing a little himself as the scratch on his hand began to throb.

"She doesn't like that…or people touching her tail for that matter."Harley said as he gave Sophie a pet, lifting her off of his lap and going over to inspect Menefer's hand. He tsked, taking him buy the arm and dragging him to the bathroom. "We've got to take care of that scratch."He explained.

Menefer pouted, sitting on the toilet and watching Harley pull things out of the medicine cabinet. When Harley grabbed his hand, he whined and looked away, hissing when something was sprayed on it then something cool smeared along the three lines on his hand. Menefer peeked, Harley having started to put a large bandage on the spot.

"Now stop torturing Sophie."Harley said, giving the hand a smack enough to make Menefer yelp.

"Ouch! That really hurt!"Menefer whined, cradling his hand.

"But it taught you a lesson didn't it? No touchy Sophie. If you do it again, you're going to bed."Harley said as he put the stuff away. "Got it?"

"Yes, Yes, I understand…Can I pet the kitty?"Menefer pouted.

"Only if you're nice."Harley sighed, heading out of the bathroom with Menefer following at a trot. The Egyptian sat on the couch, eyeing the cat that had taken her perch on the back cushions, purring pleasantly. Harley sat back down, Sophie getting up and moving so she was nestled at the back of his neck, rubbing her head against the back of his head.

"Sophie love you…because your warm and give her food."Menefer smiled, wriggling a finger to get Sophie's attention.

"Is that from your touch again?"Harley asked, reaching up to scratch under Sophie's chin.

"Of course…It applies to animals too."Menefer grinned. "Though…they aren't quite as emotional as people…though they know how to show their affection. How do people here show their affection to people they like?"

Harley paused, looking back at Amonen who was leaned over a magazine, peeking up at them in curiosity. The pale, four-eyed caucasian sat pondering this…Well…He hadn't had a technical 'girlfriend' in a long time. Not since High school though there was a brief relationship through college. Yet, he wasn't an affectionate person to either…they just annoyed him.

"They…um…Well…"Harley started, scratching the side of his temple in thought.

"Oh? Has the cat-lover have no experience with seeing other people?"Amonen snidely commented from the dining room table.

"I-I have…just not many…"Harley said, crossing his arms. "They just weren't good people to begin with."

"They were women."Menefer commented with a nod.

"You were probing through my head?"Harley blinked.

"Well, you were emotional in the bathroom. Those ladies were not very nice were they? As much as they were 'pretty', I think you just wanted someone who had a…hm..what is it called..'A much bigger brain'?"Menefer said, rubbing his stubbless chin in thought. For some reason, he could never grow hair there and yet Amonen had a little patch on his and Harley had the typical dark shadow in the later evening.

Amonen made the sound of a chortle. "I think he wanted something else…"He jeered.

"Y-you shut up! I just want a person who knows a lot more than Women's studies and what they read in cheap marketed tabloids!"Harley steamed, glaring at him.

"You wanted bigger something or others…."Amonen teased, tucking when Harley threw a wad of paper at him from a bunch of junk mail on the couch's end table.

"Or others…"Menefer mumbled, looking down. He peeked down into the inside of his shirt, frowning a little. Fidgeting he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Oh, uh…Not those Menefer. I just like someone who is smart and knows what's what…It's not about…you know…"Harley said, apologizing and shooting another glare at Amonen briefly. "You are fine the way you are."

"Really?"Menefer sniffed, his jaden eyes growing large in awe.

"Really."Harley smirked, bringing his hand up and petting some of Menefer's wildly tossed dark hair down some. The smaller man smiled, leaning his head up into his hand like Sophie would do, spreading into a grin. Amonen grumbled, slamming the magazine shut and lurking off back to his bedroom.

Why couldn't Menefer show the same interest? He had known him so much longer than Harley by at least a decade and yet, he was so far behind in the game. Maybe he needed to think about trying to gain Menefer's attention the same way Harley was barely trying…which would be hard. Taking a detour, Amonen went into the kitchen to the book shelf that held a bunch of different recipes.

Maybe tomorrow he could try to make something new to get his interest going? Show off a little of his skills from working for the boss? Leaning against the counter, he flipped through one of the books, though finding that it was just pages and pages of handwritten stuff. Stopping at the very end, he recognized the one name in the entire book.

Menefer.

"Oye. Harley."Amonen called from the kitchen.

Harley harkened the call and leaned against the door frame, Menefer right behind him. "What is it?"He asked, looking to the book in his hand. "An old journal?"

"It's not your handwriting is it?"Amonen pointed out.

"No, that's way too fancy for mine. It must have been Grandpa's. Here, I'll sit and read some of it if you're curious."Harley said, extending his hand and receiving the journal. Amonen pointed out an entry that stood out to him, all of them sitting around the dining room table again.

"In my final days of research, I made sure to remember the final days of Egypt. Underground, the walls on the temple of Ra, tucked into the back corner there was an epitaph or a tablet containing the ultimate knowledge: where to locate the Key who would open the door to grant the Rebirthing God passage into the mortal world and rituals to opening the gate. Why the ancient egyptians allowed this horrible secret to exist, I will never know. It's a mystery. However, upon following the directions inscribed there, I found the true key. In a small, unmarked tomb was a young man there who contained the secret carved on the walls. Yet, this man was only just slightly older than I was in my hay-day…awfully much thinner though. Taking him back to my camp, he spoke no language that even my guide could recognize.

However, teaching him to write with a pen, he wrote hieroglyphics that could be translated. He told us, just through that, that he was from the area but many years ago, he fled to escape being found by people who had come raiding his home. This was about twenty five years ago before I could even speak nor understood the meaning off all of this. In truth, I thought it bizarre that such a person existed with the knowledge that was centuries years old…but then I recall the tablet. This man could be thousands of years much older than we first guessed! His proof of knowledge from those times were absolute proof.

However, yesterday in my tent, he came with yet another surprise. He started to speak a few words in plain as day English. Now, I know that learning new languages is difficult but how he could say and recognize things was at the rank of a three year old. So, Akheb and I taught him some words in english.

With that, we finally learned his name. For the longest time we started to call him 'Ka', the ancient word for one's soul but now over the few months, we've come to know his name as 'Established and Beautiful'…Also called, 'Menefer' in his native tongue." Harley read, his eyebrows raising. The taller male's looked to Menefer who was staring at the book like he would burn a hole through it. Slowly, his shoulders began to sink, folding his arms on the table and resting his head on it.

"Do you remember all of this?"Amonen asked him. Menefer was in a dreamy state.

"I do, I do…They were my first friends….He was such a good teacher and a wonderful man…Oh how I wish I could go back to that time."Menefer sighed dreamily. Harley stared at him, slapping the journal closed and setting it on the table.

"Why?"Harley questioned him, sitting back against his chair. "You told them your home, the 'tomb' you lived in was being raided…Why would you want to have a life like that again?"

"It wasn't that…it was the feelings I had then…I was happy when two random strangers came in, knew what I was and accepted me for it…They gave me a name, then I gave them my real one…I was happy for the first time in a long time."Menefure mused, sitting up and drawing his legs up onto the chair. Wrapping his arms around them, he settled his chin on top. Men like Amonen and Harley couldn't understand…Even both of them COMBINED couldn't match his total age.

Frowning, the key of an ancient God rose from his seat after uncoiling himself. "Not that you two would understand this anyway…I'm going to bed."He sighed, drifting off towards his bedroom and closing the door with a soft click. He had definitely locked the door as well.

The other two sat in an odd silence. Harley's eyes fell on the journal again, picking it up and moving towards his bedroom. "There's an extra blanket in the hall closet…I'm going to bed…"Harley grumbled. Something about reading the journal set him off unpleasantly. Like he was just reading about someone's life, not hearing it…as much as it annoyed him…There was a curiosity to what his Grandfather was researching about Menefer and the God of destruction.

Sophie gave a cry about his ankles, nudging her head against his bedroom door until he opened it. She trotted in, taking her ownership of head the bed on her personal pillow. Smiling softly, he took his own place, Sophie slinking down to his hip as he flipped open the journal again.

"April 14th, 1951. My guide and I traveled by desert to the tomb of Nefer Teptumkatumun, a man of meager wealth but a great roll in the temples of Ra thousands of years ago. However, upon arrival, we noted that there were scattered belongings everywhere along the valley that possibly scavengers had gone raiding through some of the lesser tombs in the area. However, none of the artifacts seemed to stay intact from the desert conditions. When we arrived at the tomb, the stone doors that closed it off to the world had a hole in it, a flap of fabric covering it.

We assumed that maybe the raiders had come back but upon investigating the entrance but found that it was just a single being in that entire tomb. He had been asleep on some ratty make-shift matting from reeds when we startled him. He began to jibber on in a foreign tongue, my guide fleeing from the tomb and coming back with some bread and camel butter. The man instantly stopped and began to warm up to the idea that we had some fresh food to share with him. After a few days, we coaxed him to our camp we had set up outside the tomb, finding that he enjoyed looking at some of the hieroglyphs scribbled in a notebook. It became more apparent to us that he understood their meanings."Harley read out loud to himself, petting Sophie in thought.

So Menefer was staying in a tomb the entire time when he was in Egypt? What a shame…He would have thought that who he was would have brought him some form of respect from the people there. However, the culture had changed drastically over thousands of years. What did the ancient man think of all this change?


Meanwhile, Menefer had his ear pressed against the wall, listening to the sound of Harley's melodic voice read another passage out of the journal. Sliding down the wall, he sighed, crawling away and sliding into his own bed. That leather journal would be filled with joyful memories, memories he couldn't read but he could very well fantasize about them all over again. Down between his legs, his member gave a small jump to life.
Oooh, Harley's voice…Harley, Harley…

Sliding out of bed again, he pressed his ear against the wall. Harley was reading again, this time about some of his first experience with what was 'modern' at that time. Leaning against the wall, he slipped a hand down between himself, grasping his member through the cloth slit in his pants, stroking himself with a drawn out breath.

Harley…He breathed in, holding himself in a vice as he stroked himself slowly. "He is a true wonder and beauty of this desert…"The voice behind the wall read out. Menefer bit his lower lip. It was such a dreamy tone. "Clothes traded from a native camp suited him well…They were a little see-thru but it would protect him from the sun and flatter his olive skin."

'Oh sweet Isis…Keep talking.'Menefer mentally begged, stroking himself a little faster.

"Taking him back to the museum proved to be a treasure. He told us, in some not so well spoken English, about the artifacts."Harley read, Menefer panting and gripped himself a little harder, pumping. His hips thrusted a little bit forward, lifting off of the wood floor a little. The more Harley read about him, the faster his hand moved. He felt a hard pull in his stomach, the pressure welling incredibly until he came hard into his hand, letting it dribble through his fingers and onto the wood floor.

Slumping back down, he sat on the floor panting, mewling in the after effects. A knock on the door of the bedroom made him jump. Wiping his hands on the inside of his shirt and pulling the carpet over his fluids, he went to answer. Amonen stood there, sleepy.

"It's my room too you know…"He mumbled.

"Sorry…I just wanted a little time to myself. Come in, I'm about to climb into bed."Menefer said, stepping to the side and heading to his own bed, pulling back the sheets and hopping in.

"Right…"Amonen yawned, closing the door behind him and flopping down on his bed across the room.

"Amonen?"Menefer whispered. He got a grunt. "Nothing…Good night."