Outremer III

by D. N. Carter

  “Yes…yes I understand that fact,” Paul answered, but perplexed. Suddenly his head was full of images, some familiar of massive stone blocks sliding into place just as he had seen in his repeating dreams and at Kizkalesi Castle, and solid black granite stones fashioned in a circular layout being sealed containing large polished egg shapes made from granite with gold inlaid symbols upon them. But now he could see inside the Great Pyramid, its interior fully lit up by some artificial means as if daylight. Suddenly above his head he heard a hiss of air rushing over the sarcophagus, a pungent smell entered his nostrils as a white mist formed. Suddenly a blue spark arched across the room and, in an instant, it flashed a large gout of orange flame which then ignited all of the mist. Paul’s heart stopped, his eyes widening in sudden panic as the whole chamber seemed to explode in a ball of almost blue flame. He shielded his face with his arms as the flames came toward him, but there was no heat. Suddenly Paul was looking down upon another large white stone covered pyramid from above. It appeared to shudder and go hazy as if surrounded by a heat haze. A loud explosion report sounded out to his left and he looked to see the Great Pyramid, but it too was covered in brilliant white nummulitic limestone. It still had no capstone, Paul noted. A massive blast echoed across the fertile green plateau, not the dry desert sand surroundings Paul knew. Several large chunks of white limestone blew away from the Great Pyramid followed by several large internal sandstones. Suddenly an even bigger explosion hit Paul and vibrated him so hard his eyes could not focus for a minute as he returned his gaze to the other pyramid he knew to be that at Abu Rawash.

  A liquid looking bubble seemed to encapsulate the entire pyramid, then it shuddered as the bottom half bulged outward but still contained within the shimmering water looking bubble, but then the whole structure just folded in upon itself as if being swallowed into the ground, the bubble vanishing. All went quiet for a moment but the silence was soon shattered as a huge convulsive explosion shot upwards and outwards in a violent blast of stone blocks and limestone covering slabs. Wide eyed, Paul looked on stunned at the enormity of the explosion as a visible shock wave spread out like a blanket flattening palm trees and smaller buildings and walls surrounding it instantly.

  “It is at the deepest part of this ruin you will find a portal that will allow you to enter,” the woman spoke softly. “Now go there for it shall not remain open long.”

  Paul found he could now move and instantly sat up, but in the very dim light, he could not see anyone. He jumped out of the sarcophagus and immediately opened fully the slide cover on the lanthorn. As the light spread out he still could not see anyone. He knew where the remains of the Abu Rawash pyramid were and quickly gathered up his sack, slung it across his back and made his way out of the pyramid as fast as he could. When he rushed out of the entrance, the two guards laughed. They had seen many people stay overnight and leave in a hurry scared witless or in a state of shock. They laughed louder as Paul began to run away from the pyramid and toward Abu Rawash.

  Paul approached the remains of what was once a great pyramid, as big as the one he had just left. Two scruffy looking men wearing dirty white robes looked at him suspiciously as they chipped away upon a large piece of white stone ready to carry away for use in building another construction elsewhere. Most of the stone from the site had already been taken and now all that remained were a few blocks scattered about and broken red granite blocks. The last few remaining lower courses were systematically being removed and just a large outline remained protruding here and there through the sand. A deep gouge in the sand sank at a steep angle into the ground, its side walls of stone blocks the only visible sign it was once part of a large subterranean chamber. Paul stood upon several large paving slab stones. They were angled down toward the gaping gouge. Images of how it once looked flashed through his mind. Once, they had been laid flat and fitted flush against the base of the white stone covered pyramid. Now they lay broken and slanted down toward the ruined pit of the former pyramid interior. He sensed an overpowering emotion of loss and sadness as many of the images he had dreamt of in the past flashed within his mind like some long lost memory he was struggling to recall. He became aware of the two men looking at him again having stopped their work. The passage way down looked blocked and full of rubble and sand at the bottom, but the voice in the Great Pyramid said he must go there…and to hurry. Quickly Paul started to make his way down.

  As he entered, the walls on both sides grew ever taller. According to local tradition the pyramid had never been finished and was simply abandoned before completion. Paul noticed the layers of large stone blocks were not set horizontal but angled downward towards the bottom of the passageway. At the end of the passageway he stopped and looked up at the open sky above him. The sun was rising fast along with the heat. He climbed up several blocks of stone and into a wider section. The floor was just rubble and sand. He walked around the entire area checking the steep walls for any sign of an entrance but there was none he could see. For over an hour he checked and rechecked but still nothing. Eventually he sat down in the shadow cast from the wall behind him, removed his sack and took out a leather water bottle. After a few mouthfuls he sat perplexed and shook his head. He took out his small drawing folder and rather than waste the trip, started to sketch the entrance and sunken passageway.

  Fig. 59: Abu Rawash Pit Entrance.

  There was something not right with the way the stones were set and he would show Theodoric later as well as ask him about Luke as the voice had advised. Two people peered over the edge carefully and looked down at Paul. He could not tell who they were as they were silhouetted against the bright sunlit sky. By midday, the sun was directly overhead and there was no more shade to shelter in. Paul wiped the sweat from his forehead and pulled his padded jacket off. He knelt down to pack it into his satchel backpack and as he did, he saw a bright light flash directly into his eyes. Momentarily blinded he instinctively shielded his eyes. When he lowered his arm again, a similar light flashed at the very corner of the wall where it joined with the sand. Quickly he rushed over to it thinking it could be some old jewellery or relic. As he wiped his hands through the sand, he found nothing. There was nothing on the stone wall either. He rested upon his knees, confused. Just to his left he caught sight of movement as the sand seemed to trickle away like it does in a sand timer. Slowly but surely the sand was draining away to somewhere beneath. Quickly he started to scoop and push away the sand. After a few minutes he revealed a small recess. He could push his hand through into a dark space. Excited, his heart now pounding, he scooped more sand aside and pushed the loose stone around the small hole. When it was big enough to put his head through, he lay down flat upon his stomach and very slowly edged his way so he could look inside. It was just big enough for his head to fit through. The sun’s rays flickered past his head and shoulders as he squeezed himself further in, but his satchel back pack stopped him going further. He started to roll onto his side so he could free his arms from it, but just as he moved onto his left shoulder, the stone directly beneath him gave way. In panic he tried to grab the sides but it was too late as he slipped headlong down an inverted narrow stone shaft, the sand causing him to slide faster. He frantically tried to push his hands, elbows and knees against the sides as he slid even faster. All that achieved was to create several scuff friction burns on his elbows, knees and hands. Suddenly he was free falling in the air in blackness save for the single beam of sunlight that shone down the shaft behind him. He braced himself in anticipation for the sudden stop as he would inevitably hit the floor. Almost instantly he hit a pile of sand that splayed out taking most of the force of his fall, but still hard enough to knock the wind out of him, his face burying itself into the fine sand. He rolled onto his back and spat out sand and blinked as he wiped more sand away from his eyes, his immediate concern being spiders, snakes or worse. He looked up at the shaft of light streaming in. It was at least fifteen feet above him. The sunlight beamed across the room, which he reckone
d was at least twenty feet, before ending in a starburst square of light on a smooth marbled wall. Paul felt around himself as the fine sand collapsed under his weight. For a terrifying minute he feared he would be swallowed up in the sand but then all movement stopped. The beam of sunlight started to thin as more sand from outside started to fill in the upper section of the shaft. It was pitch black except for the rod of light. Quickly he knelt up only now starting to breathe again, his chest hurting from being winded. He took out his sailing lanthorn, rapidly removed the two flints from the watertight section at the base. As quick as he could, his fingers fumbling frantically, he pulled out the emergency cotton, wool fibres and oil soaked wood fillings and placed them together in a small pile, took out the oil soaked cloth strips and placed them around it. He started to strike the two flints and as they sparked, he looked up at the ever thinning beam of light. Sweat beaded down his face as he felt the first sensations of panic start to well in his mind. He gritted his teeth and struck the flints harder. Eventually one of the sparks ignited some of the wool fibres and it started to burn. Gently he placed his hands around the kindling flame and started to push the cotton strips and oil soaked fibres onto the flame. As it grew, it shone brightly, but Paul knew he had to be quick before it burnt out. He opened the lanthorn’s slide cover, opened the glass access panel and exposed the oil soaked wick of the sea candle. He was shaking so much the flame missed the candle, but after what seemed an age, it finally lit. Quickly he slid the glass cover shut and gently placed the lanthorn into the sand so it stood upright. Breathing heavily he looked up as the light from the shaft flickered as something tumbled through it. Someone moaned loudly as they fell through into the room landing hard just a short distance from Paul. He grabbed the lanthorn back to protect it, the light from the shaft finally vanishing as sand and rubble from above sealed it. Hesitantly Paul moved the lanthorn toward the figure lying face down in the sand. The person moaned and Paul grabbed his sword ready to draw. As light fell upon the figure, Paul immediately recognised the dark green robe as that of Percival’s.

  “By the Lord in heaven what are you doing here?” Paul asked, surprised, and began to help him sit up.

  Percival wiped his eyes and spat out sand.

  “I promised Ali I would keep an eye on you,” he coughed and wiped his hand across his face. “When I saw you vanish, I just dived in after you.”

  “Are you mad…now we are both trapped down here and no one knows we are here,” Paul exclaimed and looked back up toward the now closed shaft. The room was deathly quiet as Paul listened out for any other unwanted occupants. Percival’s eyes widened as he listened intently. “No snakes or scorpions that I can hear.”

  “Thank the Lord for small mercies” Percival remarked and laughed nervously as he wiped his nose.

  “We are trapped, my friend. I have several spare candles but after they are gone…”

  “Well…let us see if we can find anything to climb out of here with or if there are passages out…better than sitting down to die,” Percival said and stood up brushing himself down.

  “Why did you not go and seek help rather than dive straight down after me?”

  “Did not have time to think…I just did.”

  “Thank you. Thank you,” Paul said grateful for Percival’s act. Only then as they both stood in the darkness, just their faces lit up from the lanthorn, did Paul suddenly realise the importance of the green knight symbol that had been written upon his chart parchments as given by Niccolas. It represented Percival all along. Knowing this filled him with optimism. “We shall get out of this, my friend…of that I have no doubt. Now come, there will be passages I am certain.”

  6 - 2

  “I pray you are correct…Nyla will kill me again if we do not!”

  Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191

  “Well they obviously get out or we would not have the sword now would we?” Peter stated and pointed to the sword.

  “Clearly…but it was the nature of their escape and what happened that should interest us,” the old man replied politely as Stephan placed some fresh ale and honey cooked bread in front of him. “Thank you.”

  “What manner of power could totally destroy such a massive structure like a pyramid…or was it as the traditions stated never completed?” the Hospitaller asked as he smelt the fresh bread with a smile.

  “A very large amount of power, my friend. And Paul felt confident of their escape as he recalled the time lines upon his parchment,” the old man explained.

  “So Percival is the actual knight of the symbolic green knight that was on them all along?” Gabirol asked.

  “Yes. It gave Paul great comfort to remain calm and not panic,” the old man answered and broke a small piece of bread off.

  “So how did they get out?” Sarah asked.

  “Well they soon established that the room they had fallen into was rectangular and built from granite slabs,” the old man began to explain. “In the far north eastern corner they discovered a tiny square exit mainly covered in sand. After clearing it away, they managed to wriggle into a long three feet by three feet square tunnel. Of course Percival was terrified but he kept his head despite shaking visibly and feeling very sick. It took the time of one complete candle to crawl along its length before they entered into another vaulted V shaped room. It was devoid of any markings but the walls had a thin layer of what appeared to be salt deposits.”

  “But what was it that caused it to explode in the first place…if that is what happened?” the wealthy tailor asked as he pulled two large pieces of bread over to his plate and bit a large piece off.

  “All I can tell you is that some natural force from within, which also caused the salt deposits on the walls within the pyramid chambers, was over used…and consequently exploded. Similar marks and deposits can also be found within the Great Pyramid itself,” the old man explained.

  “That would make the very word pyramid very appropriate then,” Gabirol stated.

  “Why?” Simon asked.

  “Because pyramid is made up from two words that actually mean Pyr for fire and Mid for within the middle…fire in the middle,” the old man answered with a smile as Gabirol nodded in agreement.

  “So you are saying these pyramids were and are some kind of power generating system?” the Templar asked.

  “Yes they are also that. Both a real energy that can be harnessed but also other energies…but also as you now know, they contain knowledge and wisdom about the very earth we live upon, our place within our solar system and greater universe as a whole.”

  “’Tis too much for me to understand…but I believe you,” the farrier remarked, shaking his head.

  “Please…tell us how they managed to get out then,” Ayleth asked quietly.

  “That I shall,” the old man smiled.

  Giza Plateau, Cairo, June 1183

  “Percy…are you okay?” Paul asked as he hauled himself out of the cramped tunnel and stood up slowly. Percival pushed the lanthorn forward as he crawled out. Paul took it and raised it trying to see what kind of chamber they were in. “There must be a way out for there is air down here.”

  “Maybe, but the air smells odd to me so it may be stale…could run out.”

  “No…’tis too clean. That is not the smell of stale air for I have smelt that before. I just cannot remember where,” Paul replied as he moved to follow the edge of the wall. Just a very thin layer of fine sand lay upon the stone floor.

  Percival followed closely behind as Paul made his way along the wall. They had no idea of how big the chamber was as the small flickering light from the lanthorn did not reach any walls except the one they were stood beside. Suddenly the floor beneath Paul sloped away fast and he slipped onto his backside, his arm with the lanthorn raised. Percival instinctively grabbed it as Paul rapidly slid away and downwards. Percival stepped back holding the lanthorn, shaking with dread seeing the floor slab where Paul had been standing ease back up and into place. He
froze unsure what to do.

  Paul tried to stop himself as he slid down the smooth tunnel picking up speed. Fearful of a trap or spikes at the base or some kind of blade, he pushed out hard with his hands and knees but the sides of the tunnel were so smooth he just kept picking up speed. As he pushed his forearms and hands even harder, he used his feet to slow down. He finally slowed down enough and came to a halt, his hands burning from the friction grazes on them. He listened but all was silent.

  “Percy!” he shouted.

  Percival heard the muffled shout. Quickly he knelt down and looked for any sign of an opening. The marble floor had the faintest of lines just visible where the slab was located. He tried to push it but nothing happened.

  “Lord keep me sane!” Percival whispered to himself.

  “Percy!” Paul called out again in the pitch darkness, the blackness around him feeling like a tangible blanket wrapped tightly. His call echoed out in what was obviously a larger cavernous chamber below him. If he slid out of the tunnel into it, how big was the drop like the first chamber he had entered? Slowly he started to edge his way back upwards pushing hard against the sides to get some grip. “Percy…stay where you are I am coming back up!” he shouted.

  Percival placed his head against the slab to hear better. As he moved forwards on the slab, it suddenly dropped away and he fell forwards head first. As he threw his arms up, he let go of the lanthorn as he tried in vain to grab the side of the hole. As soon as Percival had fallen through the gap onto his stomach and started to fall head first down the tunnel, the slab slid back up into place cutting out the light from the lanthorn.