One Night - Night at the Museum

Eleven: The Task

"There you are!" They jumped a little when Amelia rounded the corner towards them. "I've been worried sick, sick I tell you!"

"No, we're fine," Larry answered, though he sounded panicked.

"So, what's our next move partner?"

"I don't know, but we've just got to get this tablet translated."

"Well lucky for us, one of us majored in Ancient Egyptian history." Nat took the tablet from Larry and studied the glyphs. "Okay... So we've got bird, man with a spear, a sideways fish, beetle, and vase."

"Okay, and what does that mean?" asked Larry.

"I don't know!" she cried, slamming the tablet against his chest. "I only know what each symbol means, not what they mean as a whole. Too bad the only other person we know here who can also read hieroglyphs wants to kill us."

"I have an idea," said Amelia. "Come, follow me." They followed her down halls and through corridors, back through the art gallery where they had been before.

Suddenly, giant tentacles blocked their path and the giant squid sat in front of them.

"Oh great this guy again," sighed Larry. "Look buddy we don't want any trouble-" However, following the squid's gaze, he found that maybe the creature didn't want any trouble either. Instead, it was eyeing a moving painting of the ocean. Passing the tablet back to Nat, Larry took the painting off the wall and dumped the water over the squid who squealed happily.

"Hmm, look at that," remarked Amelia. "Looks like our sassy cephalopod was just a big fish who didn't like being out of water. He's not such a ballywagger after all."

Just as they were continuing on, the tentacles wrapped around Larry and the squid cuddled him into a thankful hug.

"Oh - you're welcome," said Larry. "Glad you're happy." He wiped slime from his uniform.

"Help! Anyone? A little assistance!" called a familiar voice down the hall.

"Oh, hey, Teddy! Perfect!" cried Larry when they saw the bronze statue of the chest and face of Teddy Roosevelt. "Maybe you could help us."

"I'd love to help but first thing's first: my nose is itching up a storm and it's driving me insane. As you can see, I'm missing a few body parts, so if you wouldn't mind-"

"Oh, yeah, no problem-" Larry reached out and scratched the statue's nose.

"Thank you!" Teddy cried. "Theodore Roosevelt at your service."

"Twenty-sixth president of the United States, rough rider, founder of national parks and a bunch of other stuff," Larry added.

Teddy was surprised. "Have we met?"

"Oh no, we've got another Teddy over in New York."

"Really? What's he like, this other me?"

"Uh, well, he's pretty much the same except with..."

"With what? Say it. Except with a body?"

"Yes..."

"Oh!" Teddy cried, sounding wounded at this knowledge.

"And a horse-" continued Larry. Nat nudged him.

"Excuse me," Amelia interrupted. "We really need to translate what's written on this tablet. Do you read hieroglyphics?"