The Iron Man [Serial]

The Climb

"Julien." Alpha's voice drew me from the confusion of meeting Caroline Jewel. Even as I stepped aside to speak to my Captain, Caroline sent darting glances my way from her place on her brother's arm.

I think I started to make some apology.

"That," Alpha said, smiling, "is how I ended up engaged to Psyche."

"Pardon?" I lifted my eyes to Alpha's, staring in mixed disbelief and realization. I knew Psyche was someone with whom Alpha and Valentine were acquainted, and that Alpha had once proposed to a woman, but the connection had never been made.

Alpha touched a hand to my right arm. "That is the least important thing now. Julien. Murphy's awake."

I would have leapt upon Alpha and kissed him if he had not held me fast with both his hands. Murphy was awake! I was instantly giddy with joy. 

"When can we go?"

There were no words when Alpha looked at me. His eyes were the same green shade as Caroline's, but his gaze held no passion.

The thought of Caroline fixed my hearing on her. I became aware of the ongoing conversation in which the Jewels questioned whether David believed real magic existed, and when asked the same in turn, they insisted that, as Catholics, they must acknowledge the miraculous existed.

Alpha's hands moved over my arms.

"Can't we go?"

"Tyron...Murphy's refused visitors."

"Why?" I did not expect Alpha actually knew. It was clear from his hesitance in speaking and his attempts to comfort me that he had no answer. Still, I felt I should speak the question we both must be asking.  He and Murphy were closer to each other than I was to either of them.

"He's even sent Sina away," Alpha said, "but I heard it from her that he asked after you. He wanted to know you were safe and was informed you were here."

I nodded. "That's good." Yet, I could not feel this sinking feeling. "It's good. He's awake. We all wished for it. I should be thankful. I am."

"He only just woke this morning," Alpha said, "He's learning what happened to him for the first time."

I realized I had been so focused on getting Murphy back, of how it affected me, that I was not giving due consideration to how Murphy must feel. I shrugged Alpha's hands from me, no longer comfortable with being comforted.

"It's a good sign," Alpha said brightly, "If he's sent visitors away, then the doctor's must find him both conscious and competent enough to make his own medical decisions."

The thought that Murphy might have returned changed or in any way less competent had not entered my mind, until then.

"Your Highness," David called.

"Yes?" There was a pause, then Alpha continued. "No need for ceremony...." Alpha shifted, perhaps seeing the eyes of young Hakim and the Jewels on him. "Perhaps you may call me Antonia as my schoolmates did."

"Antonia. Was that notch always there?" David pointed a finger up towards the pyramid.

Along the north-east edge of the pyramid, there appeared a gap, like a nick in a great blade.

"It must have been," Alpha said. "Probaby a place from which greater number of stones fell away. I understand Khufu still had its casing stones into the middle ages. There was a quake in the mediterranean in the thirteen-hundreds that sent a tidal wave towards Alexandria. It was felt as far as Cairo, we know." 

Hakim stepped toward Alpha. "Pardon, Sultan, but there are stories of a room there."

"It is not mentioned in any of Dr. Hassan's writing translated into English," David said, "Could it have been known to other explorers?"

"It is true what the Sultan says," Hakim explained. "The pyramids were smooth when the Arabs came, and the doors hidden. That is why Al-Ma'mun's men had to dig the Robbers' Tunnel. There is some small chamber there, but it was known to those who climb Khufu, after the casing stones fell away."

"Can we climb it?" Caroline asked.

"There's no rule against it," Alpha said, "but it is better if I do not. Some in Egypt have strong feelings about its conservation."

"The European ladies do not often climb without many fellahin to help them," Hakim added.

Caroline pressed her lips together and looked to her brother.

"Mes chéris, the explorer ensemble is all for show." Thierry laughed.

"I will do it, if you help me out of my dress," Caroline said.

Thierry shrugged and then opened his umbrella between Caroline and the rest of us. It did not cover her, but disguised some of the reaching and wiggling Caroline must have done to be free of her fitted gown.

"Do they climb often?" David asked. "It looks steep, and I am not so young as I used to be."

"Around 51 degrees, if I recall," Chief Custodio said. "Julien should be agile enough."

"Me?"

The Chief grinned. "It rises in steps. Just keep your weight forward."

Thierry lifted his umbrella to shade himself; the sun was high, though not directly overhead.

Caroline stood dressed in chemise, corset, and long bloomers. Another time, I would have been shocked, but adventures with costume pirates and diving lessons had relaxed my own expectations of modesty, and I did not conform to Code myself.

"Very well."  I removed my jacket, which I passed to Hakim, and then my holster, which I gave to Alpha.

The lower stone blocks were massive, yet, of a size I might ascend using the strength of my arms to gain purchase. Caroline went before me, pausing to pick the best way.

At close distance, the blocks lost their uniformity. They differed in size and amount of weathering. Many had a layer of decayed stone across their uppermost surface. We found our path were blocks offered the best grip or foothold.

We came, finally, to that notch and found there was a flat platform to stand upon and a shadowy passage to some interior space.

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Chapter 68!

I put a youtube video of someone climbing the pyramid in the external link.

The media at the top is audio for Rihanna's song from the Home soundtrack 'Towards the Sun', which I liked for this chapter because it is very optimistic and I think Caroline and Julien both need to put some past regret and pain aside to move forward.

Which means, in a sense, they are using the pyramid as a vehicle for self-change and transformation and I'm being all deep and symbolic. ;)

Also, Murphy's awake! Finally. But, we haven't seen him. Some part of my slow updating was due to my struggle with how to address his return.  Sometimes, I pictured Julien would be there, as I think Julien also pictured. Now, I am excited, but also anxious about having his character return in the next few chapters. I even contemplated writing some interlude or bonus chapter or letter from his point-of-view to show what he's doing.

Do you think he'll be the same? What do you think Murphy's doing at the hospital?