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But I couldn’t keep it from him I’d invaded his mind and learned his secret name The least I could do was be honest with hi else Set wanted you to know Zia’s village was named Makan al-Raain "You just forgot to mention this?"

"Re helpful He volunteered the information because he wanted to cause chaos between us"

I could already tell I was losing hi current that had been pulling hi since January--the idea that he could save Zia Now that I’d been in his mind, I kneouldn’t rest--he couldn’t rest--until he’d found her It went far beyond liking the girl He’d convinced himself she was part of his destiny

One of his darker secrets? Deep down, Carter still resented our father for failing to save our h she had died for a noble cause, and even though it was her choice to sacrifice herself Carter simply could not fail Zia in the same way, no matter what the stakes He needed someone to believe in him, someone to save--and he was convinced Zia was that person Sorry, a little sister just wouldn’t do

It hurt ree with hiue It would only push him farther away

"Makan al-Raood But Hareed "Al-Ramal means ‘the sands’"

Carter’s eyes widened "The Place of Red Sands! The voice at the Brooklyn Museum said Zia was asleep at the Place of Red Sands" He looked at e That’s where Iskandar hid her We have to find her"

Just like that: the fate of the world goes out theWe have to find Zia

I could have pointed out several things: He was going on the word of an evil spirit that was probably speaking directly from Apophis If Apophis knehere Zia was kept, ould he tell us, except to delay and distract us? And if he wanted Zia dead, why hadn’t he killed her already? Also, Set had given us the naood He was clearly hoping to divide us Finally, even if we had the nae, that didn’t mean we could find it The place had been wiped out al at Carter, I realized there was no reasoning with him This wasn’t a reasonable choice He saw a chance to save Zia, and he was going to take it

I sie being forced to play the responsible sibling

Carter turned to Bes "Could you find this village?"

The dwarf god tugged at his Hawaiian shirt "Maybe, but it would take tiot a little more than two days left The equinox starts the day after to to the oasis of Bahariya is a full day of travel Finding this ruined village--easily another day--and if it’s on the Nile, it’s in the opposite direction Once you’ve got the Book of Ra, you’ll need to allow another day at least to figure out how to use it I guarantee awakening Ra will mean a trip into the Duat, where time is always unpredictable You’ll have to be back with Ra at dawn on the equinox--"

"We don’t have enough time," I summed up "It’s either the Book of Ra, or Zia"

Why did I press Carter, when I knehat he was going to say?

"I can’t leave her" He looked at the sun, now dipping toward in the horizon "She’s got a part to play, Sadie I don’t knohat it is, but she’s important We can’t lose her"

I waited It was obvious what had to happen, but Carter wasn’t going to say it

I took a deep breath "We’ll have to separate You and Bes go after Zia I’ll track down the scroll"

Bes coughed "Speaking of bad ideas…"

Carter couldn’t look me in the eyes I knew he cared about me He didn’t want to be rid of me, but I could sense his relief He wanted to be released from his responsibilities so he could hunt down Zia "You saved o alone into the desert"

I unclasped o alone Walt offered to help"

"He can’t," Bes said

"But you won’t tell me why," I said

"I--" Bes faltered "Look, I promised Bast I’d watch you, keep you safe"

"And I expect you to watch Carter very well He’ll need you to find this village As for e"

"But--"

"Whatever Walt’s bloody secret is, whatever you’re trying to protect hioing to let hi if he could yell BOO! and win the argument I suppose he realized I was too stubborn

He sighed in resignation "Two young people traveling alone through Egypt…a boy and a girl It’ll look strange"

"I’ll just say Walt’s my brother"