"Behenu. Look at this. Do you know what this is?" you ask as you gesture toward Tess, who stands between the two of you on the table. Tess, pretending to be inanimate, is almost certainly cursing you under her breath.
"It's... a figurine?" she asks, inquisitively. You smile. She must recognize the myth about magicians animating wax figurines. She must be excited to see this happen herself.
"Yeah, kind of. It's, um, a doll. Of a kind. I don't know, I guess, do you have dolls?" you ask.
"We have dolls. But they're very different from this one" she says, pointing to Tess. Her hand hovers near Tess excitedly.
"Well. That's because I've used my magic on this doll. Go ahead, touch it. You'll see it doesn't move. It is posable, and you can bend it and make it do whatever you want. But it's just a doll" you say. Behenu gleefully reaches for Tess, who is, thankfully, following your lead and staying absolutely still. You're impressed. If these roles were reversed, you'd absolutely have run the second you figured out what was going on. You'd have to buy Tess a beer - a real beer - once you got back to your time. You suppress a laugh as you watch Behenu toy with Tess, turning her over in her hands, bending her arms and legs, and otherwise, well, treating her like someone would a toy. Tess frowns at you every time she is turned away from Behenu, mouthing what were probably obscenities or threats at you. You can't help but smile. Benehu seemed interested in how "well made" the doll was, and was curious about the overalls it wore.
"Ok, that's enough. Can you put it down?" you say. Behenu complies, setting the "doll" down on the table in front of her, facing her.
"It's nicer than any of the toys we had as children" she says, smiling.
"Well, it gets way nicer. Watch this. With magic powers that I have obtained through years of study, I can give the doll... life" you say, dramatically. You're kind of hamming it up, but you hope she won't notice.
You snap your fingers, and at that, the "doll" suddenly comes to life.
Tess springs into action, jumping and striking a friendly stance, waving at Benehu, who laughed with delight. Tess began strutting around the table, miming a wind-up toy marching around in a circle.
"But that's not all" you promise. "I gave it life, and have power over it. See as I make it dance!" you say, snapping your fingers again.
Tess seems confused for a minute. Perhaps she's expecting you to play her music. You almost prompt her to dance again when, to your surprise, she begins to do the "Walk Like an Egyptian" dance, striking stereotypical poses similar to those found in Ancient Paintings. You glance up at Behenu, who seems a little confused at the dancing the "doll" is doing, but no less entertained.
"And, with another snap of my fingers, I take life... away" you say, snapping your fingers. Tess picks up on your intent and strikes one final pose, freezing in place with her arms making a "Z" motion.
What a trooper. She played along expertly. After all of this is over, I'll have to buy her a beer. A real beer. you note mentally.
You look away for one second, pondering what your next move will be. Maybe the invisibility cloak? You could try convincing her you can communicate with spirits... but that would require a partner - specifically, unshrinking Tess and getting her to play along. And the second you unshrink her she might not be so willing to play along...
"Eeeeek!" you hear a tinny scream and snap back to attention. Tess is walking backwards, alarmed, trying to get away from Behenu's reaching hands. She turns and tries to run, only for Behenu to quickly dart her hand in front of Tess like a short walll, causing her to run directly towards it and trip, losing her balance. Behenu, delighted, grabs Tess by one boot, dangling her-upside down. She smiles at Tess, who dangled precariously from two of Behenu's fingers. Tess flailed and tried to push away Behenu's other hand to no avail, who cooed and tried to pet the tiny "doll" with her left hand.
"I thought you took the life from this figurine?" she asks, looking up at you with her dark, round eyes.
"I guess I have some explaining to do..."
--- Some time later ---
"So... you're not really magic?" Behenu asks. After much coaxing, she finally set Tess down on the table. Unfortunately for Tess, she was still being touched and pet by Behenu constantly.
"Right. It's all technology." you explain. "You know. Like, uh, the wheel. Or boats. But it's way, way more advanced, to the point where for most people it's indistinguishable from magic. It's probably better for me not to over-explain it." Especially so I don't leave behind too much information and alter the timeline too radically. you think to yourself.
"I'm not really a figurine. I'm alive. And (INSERT YOUR NAME HERE) had nothing to do with me coming to life. But they did shrink me to this size. I used to be about your height" Tess says, trying and failing to push away one of Behenu's fingers. "It's not magic. Just science."
Behenu sits quietly, grappling with everything you just explained to her. Time travel, size changing, the timeline - she doesn't look confused or lost. Rather, she looks like a student, trying to make sure she memorized all of the important details.
You remember you have your memory neutralizer in your pocket. You consider whether or not you should use it. Does she know too much? Maybe. But, Behenu seems quiet and thoughtful. You wonder who she'd tell about the stranger time travelers who came to her - one of whom was just larger than her hand. As amusing as it might be to read about this little encounter in a history book someday, wiping her memory might be expedient.
Or... maybe I should shrink her? you think. Behenu is just so pretty, and she'd make a fun little toy to keep around your lab. She'd be like the coolest souvenir ever! Though you're not sure Tess would approve of you shrinking and kidnapping any locals from history.
You decide talking more to Behenu would help you decide. If it seems like she knows too much and that could alter the timeline too much? You could wipe her memory and go somewhere else. But maybe... maybe if she doesn't impact history as much... you could shrink her for yourself. Or maybe it would be fun to take her back to your time!
"So" Behenu says, breaking the silence once more. "You are certain I cannot keep Tess?"
Tess's jaw drops, and she looks to you for assistance, unable to form any words herself.
You laugh. "Well, no, you can't keep her. She, um, belongs to me. She works for me."
Behenu seems disappointed, her lips pouting. "Oh. I see. I just thought she would make a fun companion. I'm here alone, you see."
You feel bad for Behenu, but this is the perfect way for you to learn whether or not to wipe Behenu's memory.
"You don't have any siblings? Or any parents?" you ask, trying to sound sympathetic.
"My sister was married to a merchant in Memphis, and I rarely get to see her." she explains. "My family has always been poor, so she tried to marry for money. I don't think she likes her husband very much. He doesn't let her visit us."
Behenu grabs Tess, overpowering her with ease, and toys with her as she speaks.
"My brother went to become a laborer, but he was still poor for years. So he tried to become a mercenary. He was always very strong, you see. They say he went to fight for the Pharaoh in against the Hyksos, but I have not heard from him in a year. I think he's been killed or captured. And my parents? They have always been simple farmers. They have been in Memphis for a few weeks. They were supposed to be back days ago, but they aren't."
"Are... they ok?" you ask.
"I don't know. They went to petition a wealthy man in Memphis to arrange a marriage for me. A marriage I do not want" she says, disdainfully. Kagemni is... not bad, I suppose. He lives comfortably. But I don't love him. Or really even like him." she says, the entire time, toying with Tess's arms. Tess, for her part, seems to have finally given off fighting Behenu's hands.
Based on what she's saying, it sounds like nothing about Behenu makes it to any historical records. Surely, if you were to shrink her, you wouldn't alter the timeline too badly... but can you shrink a young woman and take her away from her family and life? Or maybe there's something else you can do?
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