Guatemala Maxx
and Eye of Horus
A story by Tygon Panthera
After an idea by Pflarrian Collifox
This story is © 2005 by Marc-Dennis Horn. This story may not be sold or used for commercial profit in any form or fashion. This story may not be modified in any way. This story may not be posted on a mirror site or any other Internet site without the written permission of the author. This story may not be distributed on print, magnetic, electrical, optical or any other mediums.
David ‘Guatemala Maxx’ Celis © by himself
Michael Joseph Regan III and IV © by themselves
Pflarrian Collifox © by Brian Empanger
Markus White © by Mark White
Victoria Panthera © by Joshua Fox
All other characters are © by Marc-Dennis Horn
Chapter 1
- Furnet College, Columbus, Ohio, USA
2:30 pm, Friday, 10th of May, 1939 -
A long, black stretch limousine stopped in the street directly in front of Furnet College’s main building. The co-driver’s door opened and a canine in a black suit stepped out. The Doberman quickly walked around the car and opened the back door on the walkway’s side. Out of the luxurious car stepped a large feline. He wore a gray business suit over his black striped, tawny fur. His red, mane-like headfur was combed back and in impeccable order.
The big cat looked around for a few moments. Then he motioned for the Doberman to stay at the car and walked towards the entrance of the building. Just as he was about to climb the steps towards that door it flew open and a group of young furs almost ran out of the building.
The cat was bumped several times as he waited the youths to pass. He looked after them with an expression of contempt before he turned and entered the college building.
For almost a minute he stood in the hall, looking around as he waited. Then a cheetah hurried around the corner.
“Mr. Panthera,” the cheetah said, panting softly as he extended his paw towards the other cat. “I’m terribly sorry for being late. I had an important meeting.”
The striped lion gave the cheetah a disapproving look and then shook his paw very firmly. “I hope Dr. Celis is more punctual than you, Mr. White,” he said, not even trying to be polite.
“Well,” Markus White said, his ears folding back with embarrassment. “Dr. Celis’ class will be over in a few minutes. Why don’t you wait in my office and I’ll get him as soon as he’s available.”
“Very well,” the big cat said and waited Markus to lead him to the office.
#
After the striped lion was seated in his office, Markus hurried through the hallways of the Furnet College to the room where Dr. David Celis’ archeology class was held. The cheetah slowly opened the door and entered the classroom, trying to be as silent as possible. Dr. Celis was just writing a word on the chalkboard.
“Archeology is the search for facts,” the orange tabby cat said and underlined the word. “Not for the truth. If you’re interested in the truth, Dr. Fox’s philosophy class is down the hallway on the right.”
A small ripple of laughter went through the class and even Markus had to chuckle.
“80 percent of an archeologist’s work is done in the library or in the laboratory,” Dr. Celis went on. “So forget any romantic ideas of sunken temples somewhere in the jungle.”
A loud ringing announced the end of the class. All the young furs in the room jumped up. They grabbed their stuff and hurried out of the room. It didn’t take a minute and David and Markus were alone in the room.
“Markus,” the tabby said. “What can I do for you?” Dr. David Celis was a tall orange tabby feline with brown eyes. His head fur was kept rather short, for practical reasons, as Markus knew. Dr. Celis was a practical feline, at least as long as he was in his teacher’s suit. He purposefully ignored the fact that he was much better known under the name ‘Guatemala Maxx.’ Most of the most rare pieces in the College’s museum collection had been recovered by him over the last few years, most of the time under not exactly ‘harmless’ circumstances. Ironically that was the reason why so many students took his classes. They all hoped to hear about Guatemala Maxx’s famous adventures. However, so far they had all been disappointed.
“Panthera is here and he wants to talk to you, Maxx,” Markus said, calling his friend by the nickname he had gotten years ago.
“Panthera?” the tabby asked a little surprised. “What does he want?”
“I don’t know, but we mustn’t let him wait. I told him you’d meet him as soon as the class is over.”
Tygon Panthera was a former student of Furnet College and one of the biggest beneficiaries the college had. As such, he easily got away with getting such preferred treatment. Maxx did not like that at all, but unfortunately he could not do anything about it. “Okay, then. Where is he?” he asked.
“In my office.”
Markus led the way through the building to his office where Tygon Panthera was sitting in a comfortable chair, obviously not pleased with having to wait. The striped lion stood up as soon as he saw the two other felines.
“Mr. Panthera,” Maxx said, extending his paw to the other cat. “I’m very pleased to meet you again.”
“So am I, Dr. Celis,” Tygon said, retuning the pawshake very firmly. Maxx motioned for him to sit down and started to speak as soon as all three cats were seated.
“Please let me thank you for everything you have done for Furnet College,” the tabby begun. “Your donations have always been very generous.”
“I’m pleased to see that my money is not entirely wasted here,” Tygon replied unimpressed.
Not entirely wasted? Maxx couldn’t believe it. As he glanced over to Markus he could see that the cheetah’s jaws had dropped open.
The tabby was about to say something but Tygon cut him short. “Let’s stop with the pleasantries,” the striped feline said. “I want something from you, Celis.”
“I’m listening,” Maxx answered, trying to stay cool.
Panthera leaned back. “Have you ever heard of the Eye of Horus?”
“Everyfur who has seen Egyptian Hieroglyphs has,” Maxx started to explain. “It is one of the most common symbols the Egyptians used.”
“I am not talking about the symbol,” Panthera said in an annoyed tone of voice. “I am talking about the actual Eye of Horus.”
“The talisman the god Horus gave Pharaoh Khaeseth to prolong his stay in the world and was lost after he was betrayed by the High Priest of Anubis?” The tabby gave a bitter chuckle. “The Eye of Horus is a hoax of legendary proportions. Like every well of eternal life,” he added, almost as an afterthought.
“Not all of your colleagues seem to agree with you on that,” Tygon Panthera replied in a calm tone of voice. If Maxx’s words discouraged him even the slightest he did not let it show.
The tabby almost stood up, visibly agitated by what the bigger feline had said. However, he was able to hold himself back. “I know what you are playing at, Panthera,” he said, his voice quivering lightly. “Yes, Regan and I disagreed very much on the topic of the Eye. There is no clue whatsoever that it exists or even existed. However, several ancient texts, Roman as well as Egyptian state clearly that the Eye of Horus was nothing but a lie. Not to mention that nobody who looked for it ever found it.”
“That’s why I want you to look for it,” Panthera said with a slight smile on his muzzle. “You are the best in your field and thus the most likely to find it.”
“Forget it!” Maxx almost shouted. “Smarter furs than both you and I have tried to find it without success and the wiser ones never even try.”
“And your refusal, of course, has nothing to do with the loss of your mentor,” Tygon stated, still smiling.
This time Maxx was not able to hold back. He jumped up, claws extended and teeth bared. “How dare you!” he shouted but was cut short as Tygon threw something at him. Instinctively the tabby caught the small, brown object.
“Maybe this will change your mind.”
Maxx’s anger gave way to surprise and confusion as he examined the small book the bigger feline had thrown to him. A moment later the curiosity that was typical for most felines took a hold of him. Then his eyes went wide as he realized what he was holding in his paws. “Where did you get this?” he asked almost breathless.
“In Berlin. The Museum für Geschichte made an auction of some stuff they had in their stores and couldn’t use.”
“How could it have got there...” Maxx voice trailed off as he once more scanned through the small book.
“What is it Maxx?” Markus asked.
“It’s Regan’s diary.”
The cheetah jaws dropped open again. “Mike Regan’s diary?”
“E... everybody thought it was lost with him in Egypt,” Maxx stammered. “How could it have gotten to Berlin?
“He must have it left behind somewhere. I believe he had relatives in Germany,” Markus said
The silence that followed was broken only by the quiet rustle of old paper as Maxx skimmed through the small diary as if it was the most exiting mystery novel. Eventually though, Tygon Panthera spoke again.
“In addition to the expenses of the expedition I will pay you a honorary of 50,000 Dollars.”
Markus gasped as he heard that sum.
“The Eye of Horus will belong to me, of course,” the striped lion went on. “But I will lend it to the College for the Egyptian Exhibition should it be desired.”
“What makes you think I will go and look for the Eye?” Maxx asked, looking up from the book for the first time since he had found it in his paws.
“Because,” Tygon said with a smirk and got up to stand before the tabby, who had to tilt his head back to keep looking to the taller feline’s eyes. “Wherever the Eye is, Regan will be not far.” Then he turned and started walking towards the door. “Contact me when you know where to go and I will arrange everything,” was the last thing he said before the door closed behind him. Neither Maxx nor Markus tried to stop him.
Tygon was still smiling to himself as he made his way through the hallways. He knew the building rather well from his own college days, and thus the striped lion had no difficulties in finding his way out. He walked down the broad stairs and directly to his limousine where the Doberman still stood exactly on the spot where Tygon had told him to stay. The canine opened the door to let Tygon in. The great feline climbed in the car and settled down on the couch-like backseat. As soon as the door was closed a familiar voice reached his ears.
“Will he do it?”
“He has no other choice now,” he replied, tuning his head to look at the auburn Maine Coon Cat who had spoken. “It’s his only chance to redeem himself.”
The female feline chuckled coldly. “Guilt is such a wonderful thing. It makes furs so nice and predictable.”
“I love it when you talk like that, Victoria,” Tygon said.
Victoria raised an eyebrow. “I always talk like that,” she said.
“And that’s why I love you all the time.” He motioned his wife to come over and sit at his side. As she had settled down and leaned to him the big cat started nuzzling her throat. A purr of pleasure escaped her as she felt his tongue brush through her fur.
#
Maxx had dropped backwards into the seat as soon as Panthera had left. His sight was aimed at the book that was still in his paws but his eyes were looking at something much more distant.
“Are you okay Maxx?” Markus asked, leaning forward to look into Maxx’s face.
“Yes...” he said after almost a minute. “I think I’m okay.”
“Are you sure?” the cheetah asked, obviously worried about his friend.
“Yes. I’m sorry Mark, but I have to go,” the tabby replied, suddenly standing up. “I need to prepare. I need pack my stuff and find out where I have to go. I want to leave tomorrow morning.”
“Wait Maxx!” Markus called after the cat who had started moving and almost reached the door. “No need to hurry.”
“Markus, please understand. This is the first trace of Mike I’ve found in the last six years. I have to go after him.”
“Maxx, please, you know how unlikely it is that he’s still alive.”
The tabby looked down and clenched his paws into fists, his tail leashing out in a mix of agitation and frustration. He did not want to hear this, even if he knew that it was true. “That doesn’t matter. I owe this to him.”
Markus put his paw on Maxx shoulder. “I understand, but that’s still no reason to rush things. I mean, you still have no idea where to start. You need to study the diary first and make careful preparations. Mike would not want you to dash off unprepared,” he added after a moment of silence.
Maxx sighed and turned his head to look at the cheetah. “You’re right of course, Markus, but I still have to go. There is someone I have to talk to.”
“And who would that be?”
The tabby sighed again. “Mike Regan.”
End of Chapter 1
On to chapter 2
Back to the Index