“Why are they so sad?” I asked.“Well, they’re dead,” Carter speculated.”

“They know they’ve won,” Carter guessed. “They’re making a show of it.”“Yes,” Amos said.“Well, let’s blow up the boats or something!” I said.Amos looked at me. “Is that your strategy, honestly?”

“[Carter just asked when I became a ram whisperer. Do shut up, Carter]”

“The Ancient Egyptians were not fools, Carter. They built the pyramids. They created the first great nation state. Their civilization lasted thousands of years.”“Yeah,” I said. “And now they’re gone.”

“How do you have five children in a row, each on a different say?”“They’re gods,” Carter said. “They can do stuff like that.”

“In person, if possible, Anubis was even more drop-dead gorgeous. [Oh . . . ha, ha. I didn't catch the pun, but thank you, Carter. God of the dead, drop-dead gorgeous. Yes, hilarious. Now, may I continue?]”

“I found that things weren't going well upstairs. Carter was a crumpled heap of chicken warrior on the slope of the pyramid.”