Blueblood 3: The Others - 5. Plans For Eygpt

I went to get Mitch’s latte…and mine. Bertie quickly shooed me out of her kitchen and promised to bring us coffees. I went back to the library where Colin and Mitch were getting more acquainted. They were sitting apart as if Colin didn’t quite trust this new guest. I frowned at Colin as I sat beside him on the sofa.

“I hope you like a big coffee, I got us both large ones,” I said smiling.

“I do!” Mitch nodded. “At Starbucks, I get a venti every time.”

I smiled. “Wish they had venti, ventis.”

“So, you live in Charleston?” Colin asked.

“I was born here.” Mitch grinned. “Tony’s from New York. He grew up on Long Island.”

I nodded. “We spend half our time in Manhattan!”

Mitch looked surprised. “Really?” He looked at the house. “Well, I can see you’re pretty wealthy, so I guess the cost of living there is not a problem.”

“I have a lucrative business there,” Colin said smiling. “Pharmaceuticals.”

“Drugs?” Mitch grinned.

“More like treatments and yes…drugs. All prescribed and used to help.” Colin said carefully.

Mitch nodded. “I see it’s paid off.”

I noticed Mitch was still wearing a wedding ring. He was twisting it almost without thought as he sat there. “This program you have that translate...”

Mitch appreciated the subject change. Even though he’d lost Tony so long ago, he was still married to the man in his heart. “Yes, it’s very good. It is also a learning program.” He smiled.

“Learning?” Colin asked.

Mitch nodded. “Every language has dialects. There are words people will use uniquely for an area. That influences language and changes it. The program hears the accent and learns what words should be used.”

“Like truck and lorry. Loo and bathroom.” I chuckled. “We just experienced that.”

Mitch nodded. “And there are other words like the word can.”

“Can?” Colin asked.

Mitch nodded. “Am I using the word to say I can do something? Or am I referring to the metal container? Or am I referring to a bathroom or loo?”

I nodded. “Where’s the can? What’s in the can or…I get it.”

Mitch smiled. “So, as good as my program is…there will be times it will stumble.”

Stan came rushing in the room. “He’s here?” He asked and then stopped looking at Mitch and his eyes grew. He looked at Mitch and then me.

“Yes, he’s here,” I said rising and nodded. “We know we look alike.” I pointed to Stan. “Mitch, this Stan, our computer genius.”

Mitch nodded and stood up. “Yes, we texted and emailed each other.” He said shaking Stan’s hand.

Robert came in carrying a tray of the lattes. “Two vanilla lattes and one Death Wish.”

I took the lattes. “I could have gotten it,” I said to Robert.

“And what would I do? You hired me to do a job and I’m doing it. Don’t get me fired.” Robert smiled. He jabbed Stan in the side. “Wild, isn’t it?” He jutted his head toward Mitch and me.

I chuckled shaking my head again. “Thanks.”

Mitch took his latte, sat down and sipped enjoying the taste. “Now, hieroglyphics? That’s a first.”

Colin smiled at the question. “We’re…investigating some areas…”

“Which has a lot written in hieroglyphics.” I finished.

“So, why not get someone that can read hieroglyphics?” Mitch asked.

“We won’t have to. That’s why we’re getting your program.” I said. “Can your program do that?”

Mitch nodded. “It can. It’s a language. The algorithms can decipher anything. A lot of them have crumbled and faded, but it can understand and write it in English.” He smiled. “Depending on how bad, it can read it. If your scanning equipment is any good…”

“Buddy can read anything.” Stan boasting proudly, “even things that have faded.” He sat in a nearby chair. “The scanner we use can pick up anything. Latin, any language, living or dead languages.”

“Well, the program can translate.” Mitch smiled. “I suppose having something that can read anything would be better than hiring a bunch of people to read for you. And there is always human error. I had to include resources outside the program like the translated already done in the various museums and other resources. It may take a little while, but it will be translated.” He reached down beside his chair and lifted a black case. “It’s all right here.”

“He has it working at the United Nations and other government and private agencies or companies that need translators.” Stan nodded.

Colin grinned. “It has a proven track record.”

“It does.” Mitch smiled. He rose from his chair and looked at Stan. “So, it takes a few hours to install. Stan says memory isn’t a problem.”

I shook my head. “It isn’t.”

Mitch gave a quick nod. “Let’s get started then.”

After the two went to the computer room, Mitch taking his latte with him, Colin looked at me.

“You didn’t see any resemblance?” He asked.

“Between Mitch and me? I really didn’t.” I shook my head. “But he saw his husband in you.”

Colin nodded. “That is a shame that he lost Tony.”

I nodded. “But he’s still married to him,” I said sadly. “He still wears a wedding ring. He still loves Tony very much.”

“I guess we don’t need to talk about him much,” Colin said.

“Let him bring up Tony,” I suggested.

The programming was done pretty quickly. Buddy seemed to slurp it up. Even Mitch was surprised.

“Wow.” Mitch grinned as the download was taking less time than he thought it would. “This computer is fast.”

Stan nodded. “The fastest.”

Mitch gave a nod. “Well, the program is working to reconfigure the computer’s language…”

“Buddy.” Stan grinned.

Mitch shook his head chuckling, “…to reconfigure Buddy’s language protocols.”

I watched as Buddy was running the program to set things up.

“I won’t deceive you,” Mitch said. “This isn’t like on…” he thought, “…Star Trek where every alien language is heard in English and the alien hearing whatever language they speak. There will be a lag as the program works.”

Colin nodded. “This is great. If it works…and I don’t see why it won’t…that’s a big help.”

“How about staying for lunch?” I asked.

Mitch smiled. “I’d love to.”

Shelly and Chuck had flown back to…wherever they lived to see family and friends there. We had security here, so, no problem. George and Burke had flown back to New York. Shelly and Chuck also needed to talk with Ruben Chance and update him. Gabriella, Alex, and Wayne were the only others there. We had the same reactions from all of them about Mitch’s and my similarities. It was going toward evening when Mitch said he needed to go home. Colin and I walked him to the door.

Mitch smiled at me and Colin. “When Tony and I married, it wasn’t legal in the United States yet, but we were married. I wanted to take his name, but…” he frowned. “I see that you two are very much married and in love. That devotion is so important.” He looked at Colin. “You look a whole lot like my Tony.” He gave a smile that was really sad. “But you aren’t Tony. He is one of a kind. Enjoy your time together. There is love here, I see that. Just don’t let go of each other. Cherish your time together.” He shook our hands. “Now, I have a crazy Russian coming to make dinner tonight. He and his husband are coming like they do every week.” He chuckled. “They worry about me, but they're family. I better go.”

We began reading some of the emails and posts from others around the world. The problem was the trust factor again. No one was too willing to tell about Amasis. He was wanting to meet us…under his conditions. He did say we would be welcomed but didn’t say much about himself. We didn’t tell this person what we were looking for except to bring us all together and give the serum to them. He told us we would be treated warmly. We met with Wayne, Stan, and Mark as we tried to make sure it was all covered. We were pretty relaxed right now. In fact, Mark was comfortable now with us and was tossing a tennis ball in the air and catching as he was listening.

I frowned. “I am not really sure about this,” I said to Colin and the others.

Colin frowned. “Not sure about what?”

“Egypt is not gay-friendly,” I said.

“I’m sure they aren’t vampire friendly either,” Colin said.

“We aren’t going in there showing we’re vampires, but we are a gay couple,” I argued. “We face more danger being a couple of fags than being vampires.”

Colin nodded. “Well, Amasis knows we’re married.” He waved at the many postings. “It’s written about us in the posts. He promises us we’ll be safe.” He looked seriously at me. “It is a Muslim country. They aren’t going to harm us if they want what we have, the serum. Gay people are discriminated there, but not really criminalized.”

“But will we see what we want to? We may not be free to look?”

Colin gave a shrug and a nod. “We have to get there first. We’ll deal with the other problems then.” He pointed to his own chest. “We have those data location things in us. Chuck, Shelly, Stan and Mark will know where we are.”

I grunted. “Well, we may need help getting out.” I blew a frustrated breath. “We may have to call on some more men and women here and in New York to come get us. George, Burke, Stan, Mark, you and I are in danger because we’re in same-gender relationships.” I felt uneasy. “But I just know we’ll find answers there. I can’t explain it.”

“What you said makes sense. It is an ancient population with a long history. There are vampires there.” Colin sighed. “I was startled at the number in England. I can’t imagine what we’ll find in Egypt.”

Mark let out a grunt. “You’re so missing the obvious!”

Stan reached out to take the tennis ball, but Mark snatched it away and instead tossed the ball against Stan’s head and caught it to which Stan frowned, but was unhurt. “You’re so smart, all of you…but you’re missing one key thing.” He grinned.

“And what’s that?” Stan asked annoyed.

“What are we doing when we’re there?” Mark asked leaning across the table, the ball in his hand.

“You know what we’re doing, numbnuts! We’re looking for the vampires!” Stan said exasperatedly.

Mark grinned and made the sound of a game show buzzer when you get the answer wrong. “Wrong!” He said and tossed the ball against Stan’s head again. “Error, does not compute.” Mark smiled as this time Stan grabbed the ball and took it away from Mark who wasn’t bothered about losing the ball. “What we’re doing is using a previously unused program on your computer!” He looked at us asking in his eyes why we didn’t see it. “It’s an untested program, reading those mummy writings for the first time! You…” he pointed to Colin, “…are a potential investor trying to make the program for public use and application. You’ll show it can work on hard to read mummy writings and will give the museums and universities a reason to buy! Those handheld devices also are untested. Take the fag factor out! We all here are fags!” He grinned a little evilly. “Take the vampire stuff out. Put the money in!” He waved at Colin. “You have a track record of proven investing. Not just with pharmaceuticals! You invest in hardware, now you may be investing in software.” He looked at Stan. “He has the money to back that up, right?” He looked again to Colin. “You just bought into that Thornwood place. I assume you have the money.”

Colin chuckled and nodded. “Yes. We do.”

“And!” Mark said like Stan did when he has a good idea he was excited about. “This guy from Delkenzie has a track record with the United Nations and other agencies! That’s proven!” He laughed. “You’ve got enough money to kiss Devon in the mouth in the middle of a major thoroughfare in Cairo!” He was getting louder and more excited. “Hell! Those eggheads at the museum would love to have access to that program and the computers! A cash register in every country sounds the same. Money! It's selling, buy, sell!”

I was grinning.

“Don’t sneak in.” Mark continued. “Land on the runway wearing all your fancy duds and make them see the green! They won’t give a shit who you’re having sex with!”

Stan chuckled grabbing Mark’s head and brought him in for a kiss. “You’re brilliant!”

Mark smiled kissing back. “So, I’m more than a pretty face, huh?”

I laughed. “I guess George isn’t the only one that can’t see the forest for all the trees.”

Colin kissed me. “When we go to Manhattan, you and I are going shopping!” He held a finger at me. “No arguments. You are looking GQ!”

Mark shook his head. “Forbes, Colin. Anyone can look GQ, you want Forbes magazine, baby. Mister Big Bucks is going to arrive!”