My half-realized attempts at minimalizing his symptoms vanished, tamped down by the seriousness of his condition. Common sense and practical Lilliana took over. I squeezed his hand. “Of course you do. You are far too young to die.”
Everything suddenly fit into place. He was still lost, but now I knew that he was also terminally ill.
The organ business was likely because he was in organ failure, and he must have been put on heavy medication, which made him a little loopy.
Testing alternative healing methods would explain his obsession with healing and energy transfer. Someone probably hadn’t kept an eye on him, and he had wandered off wearing nothing but a white sheet, which had likely come from his hospital bed. That also explained the bare feet and the hair loss for a guy so young. I wondered if he had gone to the museum as a dying wish.
“Lily?”
His simple utterance of my name made the spinning wheels in my mind come to a complete stop. “Yes, Amon?” I replied softly, with an apologetic sort of smile.
“I sense your thoughts. Though it is true that my body is weakened, there is no sickness in my mind. I do not have much time in your world, and the ceremony must be completed while I have strength. If I can raise my brothers, they will help me finish what I must do, but to do that I need your help finding them.”
“You want me to help you find your brothers?”
“Yes.”
Relief flooded through me. “Of course. I’ll do whatever I can. Were they at the museum with you?”
He shook his head. “They are lost like me.”
So he wanted to reconnect with his brothers. Well, if he needed help with his bucket list, then that was something I could do. Leaving him in the sun, I headed back into my room and returned with a pad of paper and my trusty mechanical pencil.
“Okay, let’s start with names.”
He nodded. “One is named Asten.”
I penciled in Asten.
“He is the son of Khalfani.”
“Right. Last name Khalfani.”
“No. His father’s name is Khalfani.”
“Okay, good. That’s very good, Amon.” I smiled brightly. “What’s his last name?” I asked slowly.
Amon’s eyes narrowed, but he answered my question. “He is known only as Asten, but sometimes he is also called the Celestial Magician or the Cosmic Dreamer.”
“Um…okay.” I jotted down possible magician/check Vegas, and then asked about his other brother.
“He is named Ahmose, and he was once the prince of Waset.”
“Waset. Is that a country?”
“It was once a great city.”
“I see. Go on,” I said as I wrote possible politician.
“He is the Great Healer, and the Master of both Beast and Storm.”
“Gotcha.” I adjusted my notes. Crossing off possible politician, I wrote veterinarian or perhaps weatherman.
“When was the last time you saw either of them?”
“It’s been a millennium.”
“Uh-huh.” For a moment the only noise was the scratching of my pencil.
Closing my book with a pop, I said, “I think I have a good place to start.” I put my hand on Amon’s bare shoulder and squeezed gently. “I promise I’ll do my best to find your brothers and get you where you need to be.”
“Thank you, Young Lily.”
“You’re welcome. Now, how about some sustenance?” Pausing briefly, I added, “Can you eat solid food?” I should never have fed a cancer patient a hot dog. What was I thinking?
“Do you have a hot dog?” he asked, as if reading my mind.
“Hot dogs aren’t very nutritious, and it’s unlikely there’d be any here, but I’ll order something for you. Something soft that will be easy on the stomach.”
“My teeth are sound. I do not require mush. My arrival is often celebrated with feasting and song, but you can sing for me at another time. I confess that at the moment I am hungrier than an outcast jackal and would not put off a feast for any entertainment, no matter how riveting.”
“Right. I’ll hold off on the riveting singing. A feast, though, I can arrange. You just stay right here in the sun until I get back.”