The Mummy Read Online Free

and the sun was shining brightly.
    When she was ready to leave, Lana walked over and looked out the window. Seti reached out his paw and patted the glass.
    â€œI don’t know if you can go outside. I’ll be gone all day. But then you’ve been living outside by yourself, if you’re truly a stray.” Lana didn’t want to think about someone coming and claiming Seti. She had gotten attached to the sleek black cat in a very short time.
    Her mother hadn’t much liked it, but Lana had often let Muffy come and go through her bedroom window. The big cottonwood tree was so tempting for climbing. Lana had often scrambled to the top when she was younger.
    Tugging the window up to make an opening, agile-cat size, she unhooked the old screen. There was a tear in it; but she didn’t want Seti making it bigger. Quicky, Seti slipped through the open window and out the screen. He stepped onto a huge limb of the ancient tree and hunched down over his feet to watch and wait.
    Grabbing a lightweight jacket, Lana set out for the museum. She lived just a few blocks away, easy walking distance. Their neighborhood was made up of old homes, most small but brick, two-story. Just a few blocks over was the posh Park Hill neighborhood, more old homes but estate size. Many of Denver’s rich lived there.
    Lana felt lucky that she and her mother had a house at all, since her father had died when she was very young. Fortunately, her mother was a great money-manager and had made the best of her father’s insurance. She felt bad that her mother had to work today. She had counted on her being in one of the first tours.
    Thinking about other things, Lana had walked two blocks when she realized that Seti was following her. “Oh, no, Seti, you can’t go with me.” She glanced at her watch, scooped up the cat, and ran back. Seti complained about the bouncy ride, but she didn’t care. He shouldn’t be such an explorer. Thank goodness she hadn’t gotten all the way to the museum before she saw him.
    While she didn’t have to cross Colorado Boulevard, the streets were busy enough. He wouldn’t be safe roaming so far from home. Unlocking the front door, she tossed Seti inside, locked up again, and ran. So much for his dignity.
    She was hot and sweaty when she reached the museum, just the bad start she needed today. Marge was in the bathroom. She laughed when Lana flew in.
    â€œDon’t tell me you overslept. You’ve been looking forward to today for months.”
    â€œNo, never mind. It’s a long story.” Lana dabbed at her face and neck with a wet paper towel. Fortunately her eyebrows and lashes were so dark she didn’t have to wear any mascara that would have run. She brushed her shiny hair and let it swing back and forth to fall in place. “No one will look at me anyway.”
    â€œWant to bet?” Tugging on her special, ornate vest of red, black, and gold that the volunteers would wear, Marge led the way to the upstairs hall where the Egyptian exhibit had been set up. Lines were already forming, waiting for the doors to open. The guard let Marge and Lana slip into the big front room.
    â€œLana, hi. I wondered where you were.” A tall, dark-haired boy with brown eyes smiled at Lana.
    â€œRodney, hi. Can you believe that as excited as I am, I was almost late? I have a new cat, and it was his fault.”
    â€œSure, blame it on some innocent animal.” Rodney grinned, his picture-perfect teeth white against his tanned face. He and his family had made a return visit to Egypt in late September, so Rod’s dark skin was even darker.
    For years his parents had worked for the World Health Organization, and Rod had grown up in Cairo. Talk about someone who knew a lot about Egypt’s history. Lana had known Rod for a couple of years, but the first time he’d been friendly to her was while they’d been in training for working at the museum. In fact,