Chapter 2

Larry Daley stood by the sarcophagus a few seconds longer, almost expecting the screaming and banging to resume when he closed the lid. However, it remained silent as, well, a tomb. Remembering his other duties, he left Ahkmenrah's crypt-he needed to talk to a certain president.

He found Teddy with Sacagawea, saying their goodbyes. Both men rehashed the night's events, with Teddy congratulating Larry for uniting the museum for the first time ever. Indeed, considering the theft that had almost happened, Larry had to pat himself on the back. Everyone was safe.

"See you tomorrow night!" Called the former President as he mounted Texas. Taking in the lovely mess around them, the night guard groaned inwardly. "I don't know about that, Teddy. It's gonna be kind of hard to talk my way out of this one." He completely missed Teddy's response as his mind reeled-the pharaoh! In his promise to Ahkmenrah, he'd forgotten the likely possibility of himself getting fired. Once he was replaced, Ahkmenrah would probably stay locked up again. Unless...

"Hey Teddy, could you do me one last favor? Tomorrow night, if I'm not here, please let the pharaoh out."

Teddy looked at him in surprise. "Release Ahkmenrah? I'm not sure if I should do that, Lawrence."

"Why not?" Larry had not expected Teddy's reluctance at all; out of all the museum's inhabitants he'd met, he was the steadiest and wisest. Why would he object to this one, simple request?

"We don't know what could happen..."

"Nothing bad happened tonight when I freed him. Actually, if it weren't for him, Nicky and I would have either been locked up all night, or been impaled by angry jackals, and Cecile would have gotten away with the tablet. By extension, you guys wouldn't be coming to life anymore, and I'd have been framed for theft." He paused. "There's something you're not telling me, isn't there? That first tour you gave me, you showed me to his tomb. Even though we both heard him, you shouted at him that he wouldn't be getting out that night. Teddy, why has he been locked up all these years?"

Teddy couldn't seem to meet his gaze as he explained, "Your predecessors warned us against him, Lawrence. We were told never to release him, or he might try to take over. And did it ever occur to you that he only aided you because he wanted his tablet back? Who knows what he's capable of? He's not like the rest of us, Lawrence, he's not made of wax or stone. He's the original." Larry listened, absorbing this revelation. Meanwhile, the former president continued, "Pharaohs were not known for their kindness-they were known largely for their military prowess, building monuments to themselves, and being revered as gods on Earth. Do you really wish to allow someone like that to walk freely among the rest of the inhabitants?"

He hated to admit it, but Larry knew Teddy might have a point. Still, Ahkmenrah had seemed neither very warlike, nor tyrannical. Didn't everyone deserve a chance? In the end, a promise was a promise.

"Look, I understand why you're a little afraid of him. But have you ever actually met him? Did you ever talk to him face to face, before deciding he's dangerous?"

At that, Teddy could only hang his head. "No."

"Teddy, I made a promise. Didn't you say once that a man is only as good as his word? Just go with me on this one, I have a feeling that this is the right thing to do. Give him a chance, all right? We all owe him that much." He added, "And if there's any sign that he could be dangerous, let me know right away. Ok?"

After a moment, Teddy nodded. "I will do as you ask, Lawrence, if only as a final promise. But if he arouses my suspicions even slightly, I will personally drag him back to his tomb and lock him away."

Larry knew that was the best he could expect. He trusted Teddy's judgement about the museum and its inhabitants, but he hoped that the man really would give the young pharaoh a chance. For now, though, he had an entire museum to clean up. "Goodnight, Teddy, and thanks."

"No, Lawrence, good day!" As he watched the transformation from warm skin to cold, hard wax, Larry wondered if this would be his last night working with his new friends.