The Wolf Man Meets the Mummy

"Is there a view like this in all the world? The real Egypt. Can we really be in this dreadful modern Alexandria?"

William shrugged. The view did nothing for him: Just miles and miles of sand on one side and water on the other. The lights of Alexandria burned in the night while the waves of the Mediterranean lapped nearby. He didn't like this country; it was too damn hot. But Dr. Mansori seemed to get lost in the landscape every time she looked around, and now and then William had to snap her out of it. She was a sharp woman, as far as he could tell, and he'd never get by here without her, but he'd be lying if he said that kind of thing didn't get on his nerves.

"They're late," he said.

"They have a few more minutes." Nobody came to this old, rotting dock anymore, from the land or from the sea. The only work done here anymore was dirty work, like when someone like Dr. Mansori wanted to rob her own museum. Whatever the Countess had on her it must be good for her to risk her career and reputation getting mixed up in something like this to deliver the last relic. But William didn't pry; so far she'd stayed out of his business, and he was more than happy to stay out of hers.

They both heard it: the crunch of tires, as a truck with no lights on pulled up. Dr. Mansori traded a few words in Arabic with the drivers, and then they hopped to it, unloading the crate from the truck and dumping it in the sand. William's heart raced. Dr. Mansori paid the men off and their shadowy truck trundled off into the night, as if it had never been here. Dr. Mansori looked at the crate and began plucking at the lid. William pushed her aside and tugged the lid so hard it broke apart in his hand. He shrugged and tossed it aside. There it was: the mummy. The thing he'd traveled halfway around the world for. He gripped the scroll in one hand and the potion in the other while Dr. Mansori inspected the wrappings. "Is it him?" William said. She nodded.

"Prince Kharis," said Dr. Mansori. "When the Princess Ananka died, Kharis' devotion was so great that he stole the secret of eternal life for her, daring the anger of the ancient gods. For that sin he was buried alive, but first they cut out his tongue so the ears of the gods would not be assailed by his unholy curses. For over three thousand years Kharis has remained in his tomb on the Hill of Seven Jackals, waiting to bring **** to whomever tries to defile Ananka's tomb...for Kharis never really died." She looked over her shoulder at William. "That's the legend, at least. Are we really going to do this?"

"I sure as hell am," William said. "You don't even want to know the things I've done to bring these relics together. The scroll, can you read it?"

Dr. Mansori started to tremble when she saw the scroll. "These are the magic words with which Isis raised Osiris from the dead..."

"Can you read it?" William said again, and he must have sounded appropriately urgent this time, because she began to read. He had no idea what she was saying and for a moment he was afraid: What if it didn't work? What if the magic wasn't even real? What would he tell the Countess? But then he saw it: the mummy's eyes opened! Its hand moved. With a groan, the ancient body stirred, its wrappings falling away. Dr. Mansori gasped. William put himself between her and the crate as Kharis stood, swaying uncertainly on his feet, his dead eyes regarding them in the Egyptian moonlight.

"Can you speak any language he'd understand?"

"I can try..." said Dr. Mansori.

"Then translate: Tell him that the scroll has animated him again, but that this tanna potion can make him truly live. It will even restore his speech. Tell him!"

She did, and the mummy appeared to understand. It held out one withered hand. William gave him the phial and watched as the creature fumbled with the stopper before lifting the sacred potion to his lips. What happened next was nothing short of amazing: Like a tiny desert storm, the mummy seemed to fly apart, dust and sand whirling around him. William feared that the potion might somehow have destroyed him, but when the commotion settled what was left was a handsome man with a dark complexion and a singular look of awe on his face. He took a few steps, testing his legs and finding them young and strong. He swung his arms back and forth, testing them as well, and then he laughed, delighted. Dr. Mansori watched him from over William's shoulder, terrified but fascinated. William cleared his throat. "Well, he's alive..."

"Yes, I am," said Kharis. "And I understand you, although I'm not sure how. I live again, after three thousand years."

"So you do," said William. "Now die."

He flicked his lighter open, setting fire to the Scroll of Thoth. Dr. Mansori actually screamed. Kharis, eyes wide, flung himself at William, and they landed in a heap on the sand, rolling over one another, thrashing. William lost his grip on the scroll, still in flames. As it burned away, Kharis' power should dwindle too, but William found that the reincarnated mummy would not give in so easily. William let loose, transforming into a snarling beast, and for a few seconds werewolf and mummy grappled with each other before they both finally pushed each other right off the dock and into the Mediterranean.

Dr. Mansori looked at the surface of the water, then back at the smoldering remains of the scroll, and then again at the water. Neither of them had come back up. She held her breath, waiting, but there was no sign of them. The priceless scroll, the greatest treasure of the ancient world, was utterly destroyed, and now it seemed William was gone too. What did it mean? What would she tell the Countess? What would happen to--?

And then he surfaced, spitting water and looking human again. Dr. Mansori helped drag him back to shore. He was half-drowned and beaten nearly to ****, but alive. She waited until he'd shaken himself off to ask, "Where's Kharis?"

"Poof." William made a gesture. "One minute he was holding me down, trying to drown me, the next, gone."

Dr. Mansori looked doubtful. "So he's dead then?"

"He should be. The scroll was what gave him life again. Without it, he can't exist. That's how the Countess explained it, anyway." Even William could tell he sounded doubtful, though. He watched the dark waters, waiting to see if anything else emerged. Nothing did, but what if he was still there, waiting just beneath the surface...?

"But why?" said Dr. Mansori. "All that trouble to kill a man who was already dead?"

"As long as the mummy existed, there was the chance he'd live again. The Countess wanted him permanently destroyed, and this was how we did it. The wrath of a woman scorned: She never forgave him for choosing Ananka over her."

Dr. Mansori started. "But Kharis was thousands of years old?"

"And so is the Countess. Anyway, the job's done now. You're in the clear, doc."

"And you?"

William sighed. "One last trip, back to Transylvania, to get what's coming to me."

He turned, but Dr. Mansori caught his hand. "William, wait. Don't go. Stay here."

He looked at her. "That's a nice offer, but you really don't want to get mixed up with a guy like me."

"You don't understand: The Countess can't be trusted."

"I know that better than anybody."

"Then why go?"

William looked up at the moon. "What could she do that's any worse than being what I am already?"

He let her hand go and started the long slog through the sand. He was sore and tired and, though he didn't want to admit it, a little afraid, but there was only one thing to do now. The only thing he was certain of: Like everything else about this job, the last part wouldn't go easy.