by Rai Aren
“Your Majesty,” one of the men spoke up. He cleared his throat, “If I may humbly suggest, Princess Anjia has been back with us for awhile now. It may help matters if she were to start taking on a more active role.”
“I agree,” another man said, nodding his head eagerly. “The Princess has been relatively well received. I think the people would respond well to her as the Chosen One.”
Traeus shook his head. “There are still those who fear her, some do not even believe she is who we say she is. With all that has happened, I am not sure I can blame them. We cannot place our burdens on her shoulders.”
“But those people are in the minority,” the first man said, leaning forward. “Only a few extremists say such things, and most reasonable Kierani citizens pay them no mind.”
Mindara though surprised at the suggestion, listened intently. She got up and stood beside her husband.
The King waved off the proposal, shaking his head. “My daughter has already been through too much at far too young an age. This could put her at risk.” He was ashamed that they would even ask this. His advisors were losing faith in him. He could not admit failure, not yet.
Mindara touched her husband’s arm, “Traeus, with all due respect, she is stronger than you give her credit for. I think she is ready.”
“I agree,” the second administrator said. “We must act before it is too late. Day by day our people are growing increasingly angry and frustrated.” The men were hesitant to give voice to what else the people were saying – that they blamed the King himself.
Traeus felt a terrible weight bearing down on him. He had let his people down and now they were asking his daughter to rescue him, rescue their society from events to which she was not responsible. He would not have it. He would find a way out of this himself.
“I will not ask this of her,” he said firmly.
Chapter 17
Secret Entrance, Present-day Egypt
MITCH checked over the equipment again. Whenever he felt nervous he would tend to check and re-check things. He and his friends had spent the previous days planning and preparing for tonight’s mission. Khamir had been waiting for the right time for them to proceed, and it was decided that they couldn’t wait any longer. They were now out of options. No matter what, they had to get the Pharom.
They knew that Maximilian and his team had already begun their excavations, and from the start he was pushing the rules, running longer days than previously agreed to, having more people around very late into the evenings to discuss and plan the next day’s activities. They couldn’t believe how fast everything had happened. Khamir thought they might have more time. Things were definitely not proceeding in any kind of normal fashion. It was a travesty how much disregard had been shown for proper channels, procedures, and safeguarding of the Sphinx complex.
“Ok guys, it’s time, let’s go meet Khamir,” Alex said, throwing her hair up into a ponytail. “He should be off work from Maximilian’s excavation at the Sphinx by now.”
They had also spent their time up to now trying to calm Bob down. Jack had managed to cajole his friend back to his old self a little. Reluctantly, Bob had admitted that their help was desperately needed and there was no other way. Very reluctantly.
“It’s ok, buddy,” Jack said, slapping Bob’s back, “just think, we’ll be seriously sticking it to old Dusty and that weasel Fessel.”
“Thanks,” Bob said, managing a half-smile, “that actually cheers me up a little.”
The four Americans, dressed in the dark clothes Khamir bought for them in Cairo, and sneakers, packed their gear and equipment into the van. He had left them keys to the van and to his house to lock up after they left. Everybody was quiet as Mitch drove to the predetermined meeting place with Khamir. The late evening traffic in Cairo was still bustling and chaotic. Mitch drove cautiously to avoid unwanted attention and because Cairo traffic frayed every nerve he had.
“There he is,” Mitch said, pointing in the direction of a figure stepping out from a back alley. He parked the van, and everybody quickly got out and picked up their gear. The plan was to walk to the Sphinx in the dark, with Khamir as their guide. He would know what to do about any potential obstacles they might encounter.
The sight of the Pyramids and Sphinx towering majestically in the distance always took Mitch and Alex’s breath away. It was truly magnificent.
“I was hoping you would not change your minds about this,” Khamir said, as he greeted each of them with a hug. “I know how nerve-wracking this is for you.”
“We’ll be fine,” Mitch said, patting him on the back, “we’ve got you.”
Khamir smiled. “Come, follow me.”
After walking in silence past the edge of Cairo and into the dark, cool desert, Khamir motioned for them to stop. “Over there, watch,” Khamir whispered, pointing to the silhouette of the Great Sphinx, just beyond the Temple of the Sphinx. The sets of lights strewn around the northern side illuminated Maximilian’s guards. “Do not worry, there are only four of them and they should be passing out at any minute now. I put something in their water after giving them some highly salted snacks to ensure they would drink. It will be most effective.”
Khamir and the four Americans watched while off in the distance the guards, one by one, staggered and dropped to the ground within mere seconds of each other.
“We should hurry,” Khamir said as he led the way in the dark. “We will not have much time before they regain consciousness.”
The group hurried through the cool desert, carrying all their equipment while being as stealthy as they could. As they approached the Great Sphinx, they could see that Maximilian had the area leading to it taped off. ‘Do not enter’ signs, written in both English and Arabic, were posted everywhere. They could see the heavy machinery in place.
They spotted the area where the excavation was underway at the Sphinx’s side.
“You weren’t joking when you said Maximilian planned to dig his way to the secret chambers,” Jack said.
“No respect,” Mitch said, frowning.
“Dustimaine never had any real respect for archaeology,” Alex said, grimacing at the sight. “He’s only ever cared about himself. Same with Fessel, that spineless little weasel.”
Finally they reached the giant monument and stopped directly in front of it. The lighting next to it gave it an otherworldly glow.
Mitch and Alex looked up at the face of the Great Sphinx, admiring it once again. Eighteen months ago, they were at this same location, looking to solve one of archaeology’s most enduring mysteries. Now they were back to trying to protect the world from sinister forces who wanted to exploit their discovery.
They walked even closer to the Sphinx, stopping to stand below the head and between its paws, in front of the impressive Dream Stela, carved with hieroglyphs.
“I don’t know about you Alex, but at this moment I feel very small,” he said, his shoulders sagging a little at the undertaking in front of them.
“Yeah, I know, and yet here we go again,” Alex sighed.
“I remember struggling to move the Dream Stela back into place last time,” Jack said, sounding worried. “It’s heavy. Really heavy.”
They set themselves to their task. Khamir had brought equipment along to safely move and secure the Stela. Their experience with it last time had taught him what to do. With straps and levers, and a support base, he prepared it to be moved. It was a technical feat that didn’t require a great deal of force, only the strength of deliberate and careful movements. All five of them helped to move the large and very precious object.
Mitch and Alex turned on their flashlights. The guards were still out cold. They searched the strata of limestone behind the Dream Stela for the familiar, differently colored section.
“At least this time it won’t take us several hours since
we know what to look for and how to unlock the mechanism.” Mitch looked around. “Ahh, here, it is,” he said, spotting it. “Jack, Bob, would you guys mind keeping your flashlights focused here?” Mitch asked, pointing to a section of rock.
They did as he asked.
Khamir helped him pull out the segment of loose rock, several inches thick, and made of solid limestone.
A rectangular opening was revealed.
“Let me see if I can remember where the lever was,” Alex said.
Mitch and Khamir moved aside.
She lay flat on the ground, reached out and put her hand through the opening. Closing her eyes, she tried to focus on what she was feeling. “If I remember correctly, the Kierani symbol for ‘power’ was carved on the bottom of the opening.” Her fingers traced the surface, seeking the familiar outline. “Here it is!”
“Great stuff, Alex,” Mitch said. “Now you know what to do.”
She took a deep breath, and then pressed down on it. The rock that had been underneath the Dream Stella creaked and hissed as a fissure opened.
“Cool,” Jack said, grinning.
“Yeah,” Bob said, trying to hide his nervousness. He kept looking over their shoulders for any signs of movement. “But let’s keep it moving, alright? Those nasty Stasi won’t be napping forever you know.”
“Agreed,” Khamir said as he quickly cleared away the dirt around the fissure.
“There,” Mitch said, pointing, “that section of rock also moves.”
He and Alex pushed it forward a couple of feet, widening the opening enough to allow them to squeeze through. The narrow passageway led to a short set of stairs, and then to the tunnel that would take them to the secret chambers. It had been agreed that Mitch and Alex alone would retrace their steps to the Pharom’s hiding place.
“Ok guys, don’t seal us in,” Alex said, shaking a finger at them. “We’ll be back as quick as we can.”
“Make it faster!” Bob added.
“Right you are,” she laughed, giving him a pretend salute.
Flashlights in hand, two duffel bags draped over their shoulders, and tools strapped to their waists, Mitch and Alex squeezed down into the chamber below.
Alex turned and waved.
“May you be protected and find good fortune,” Khamir said, waving his hand.
“Good hunting,” Jack said.
Khamir, Jack and Bob took up positions to stand watch.
Mitch and Alex quickly descended the set of narrow stairs, cut from the surrounding rock.
“Here we are again,” Mitch murmured. “It feels like we were just here.”
“It does, doesn’t it? I’ve traveled this path countless times in my memory, trying to remember every detail,” Alex remarked, as she shone her flashlight down the narrow, sloping corridor.
They headed in. At the end of the 30-foot long passageway, they reached a set of bronze-colored metal doors, smooth and carved in painstaking detail with Kierani glyphs. The doors were also equipped with a circular apparatus. Mitch and Alex knew from their previous visit that it was an ancient Kierani combination lock. It was roughly five inches in diameter, inset with a three-inch round centerpiece. All around the apparatus were smaller, intricate glyphs.
They briefly took note of the larger glyphs carved into the doors, ones for heaven or sky, as well as travel or move, and finally ones for beginning and power.
“We’d better focus on the lock,” Mitch said pushing aside his archaeological intrigue.
Alex nodded in agreement. She examined the smaller glyphs around the circular feature. “If I remember correctly, the code for this door is ‘Warrior of Light’,” Alex said as she rotated the lock to the corresponding Kierani symbols.
There was a snapping sound, as two handles, one on either side of the lock, popped out of the door.
Alex jumped slightly, even though she had been expecting it.
Mitch pushed on the handles. The thick, heavy doors groaned as they opened up to the darkness beyond.
They shone their flashlights ahead. The beams cut through the inky blackness.
Mitch and Alex walked into the chamber beyond the metal doors. The sight again took their breaths away, even knowing this time what to expect. Four immense limestone columns soared ten feet to the vaulted ceiling above. The walls were beautifully decorated with Kierani figures and scenes from Kierani life. In the center of the room stood a limestone obelisk, five-feet in height, and ornately carved in Kierani glyphs, with an opening at the top, in the shape of an inverted diamond.
“I’ve got to remind myself that we need to hurry,” Alex said. “It’s hard not to want to linger here.”
“Stasi,” Mitch replied.
“Right.”
They hurried across the chamber to where it narrowed at the far end. This time, a single bronze-hued metal door, with a similar lock stood in their way. Mitch quickly turned it to the symbols for ‘Carrier of Light’. The handle sprang forth as expected, and they pushed the heavy, thick door open, through to a smaller chamber.
“The platform for the Pharom,” Alex whispered, shining her light on the only structure in the room. It was nearly four feet tall, with a Kierani inscription carved into the front of it. She looked to the back wall. “We don’t have the crystal to help us.”
“That’s ok, I think I remember approximately where it is,” Mitch said. “Let’s see if we can find traces of the edge of the opening.” He walked over and shone his flashlight over the wall. He felt the wall for the familiar groove.
When they had entered this chamber the last time they were in Egypt, they needed to shine a light through a crystal positioned within an opening in the obelisk, to help them find the cleverly camouflaged entrance to the final chamber. The light shining through the crystal revealed an image of a lion’s head and a sparkling effect on the wall, which was nearly undetectable to the naked eye. The entrance, sealed tight up by a thick stone slab, was part way up the wall. The slab was all but indistinguishable from the surrounding rock. Only the barest hint of a hairline groove separated it. Unfortunately, they had hidden the crystal away in that last secret chamber, and resealed it so it could never be found again, in the hopes of keeping the Pharom safe.
Alex came over to help. The two friends searched feverishly in the shadowed chamber. Their hearts raced and sweat poured down their backs. They knew they didn’t have much time before the guards awoke. Their lives depended on this.
“Here!” Alex exclaimed, after spending what felt like an eternity looking for the edges of the rock-covered entrance.
“Ok, let’s work it free, just like last time,” Mitch said, reaching for a pocket knife. He carefully traced the fine outlines of the opening with the knife. Once he had the edges revealed, they each took a side and worked to pry the heavy stone free.
“I do recall I didn’t like this next part very much,” Alex said, taking a deep breath, steeling herself what lay ahead.
“Me neither,” Mitch said shining his light into the dark, cramped tunnel. “It looks even smaller than it did before.”
“Well, it’s not going to get any wider,” she said patting his back. “After you.”
Mitch groaned. He pulled himself into the tight opening. His shoulders brushed both sides of the tunnel. He was glad to not be claustrophobic.
Alex followed.