The Cult of Osiris

by Andy McDermott

B4

  Giza

  'Hey,'joked Eddie, 'didn't they get smashed up by the Transformers?'

  T am so never letting you choose the movie again,' muttered Nina as she gazed in awe at the three enormous monuments before them. The Great Pyramid of Giza was the only survivor of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the others lost to time and conflict millennia ago. Part of the reason for its endurance was sheer size; though Khufu's pyramid and its companions, the slightly lower Pyramid of Khafre and the markedly smaller - but still massive - Pyramid of Menkaure, had long since lost almost all of their white limestone outer casings, their colossal cores of sandstone and granite remained intact after more than four and a half thousand years.

  Macy was less impressed. Her hair hidden beneath a baseball cap and her face partly covered by a pair of oversized sunglasses, she ground an impatient foot into the gritty sand. 'I've already seen the pyramids. Like, every day I was here. Why aren't you talking to Dr Berkeley?'

  'Partly because he's not here yet.' Afraid of being recognised, Macy had not gone with Nina and Eddie to the Sphinx compound, where they unsuccessfully tried to persuade the IHA team to grant them access. 'He's doing some TV show in Cairo, talking about the dig. He won't be back for a couple of hours. And partly because . . . well, I'm not coming all the way to Egypt and ^of visiting the pyramids!'

  They set off up the road along the compound's northern side. Eddie peered over the wall at the construction site below. 'This shaft, it's down there?'

  Macy joined him. Yeah. In that tent.' She pointed it out.

  He made a mental note of its position, also taking in that it was better guarded than Macy had described. Two men in uniform - though not that of the Tourist Police, suggesting they were private security contractors - were on watch

  Macy looked towards the Sphinx. There are more guards than before.'

  Making sure nobody else cocks up their dig/ Eddie said. 'Might be a good thing, though.' How?'

  If they've brought in new guys, there's less chance of someone recognising you.' He ran his fingers along the underside of the stone slab topping the wall as if testing its weight.

  Something?' Nina asked.

  Just planning ahead. So, we going to get some pyramid power?

  The Great Pyramid's base was only about a quarter of a mile from the Sphinx, though the massive area it covered, the bottom of each face over 750 feet long, meant the walk needed to reach the entrance on the northern side was close to twice that. The entrance itself, where several dozen people were already waiting, was gated and watched by the Tourist Police and official guides. Access to the pyramids' interiors was only allowed twice a day to small numbers. Even exhausted by the eleven-hour flight from New York, Nina had insisted they be there the moment the ticket office opened.

  When the gate opened, some discreet but firm blocking by Eddie allowed Nina and Macy to be the first to scale the stone tiers and enter. 'It's steeper than it looks in pictures,' Nina commented. The narrow, smooth-walled passage descended into the heart of the pyramid at almost a thirty-degree angle, and the ceiling was uncomfortably low.

  Eddie caught up, squeezing past an annoyed tourist at the entrance. Christ, it's cramped,' he complained. Guess the pharaohs were all short-arses. So, where does this go?'

  There're two routes,' said Macy. If you keep going down you end up in the original burial chamber, but it's kinda boring, there's nothing there. They decided to use a different chamber while the pyramid was being built/

  Must've pissed off the architects,' Eddie said, grinning. I can just imagine it. "He wants to do what? But we're already halfway finished. Fucking clients!" '

  After sixty feet the passage split, one leg continuing down while the other, its ceiling even lower, headed upwards at an equally steep angle. Though she wanted to explore the entire place, Nina opted to take Macy's words to heart and follow the latter route. Even this early in the morning, the air in the tunnels was hot and stifling. Leg muscles protesting at the floor's steepness, she headed up the passage, bent low.

  So did this place have any booby traps?' Eddie asked.

  Booby traps? Shyeah,' said Macy sarcastically. 'You only get those in Tomb Raider games.'

  Oh, ya think?' Nina said, prompting a surprised look from the other woman. 'You should try reading the International Journal of Archaeology rather than just magazine articles sometime.'

  I do read the IJAV Macy insisted. 'Well, the interesting bits.' It's ^//interesting,' said Nina, affronted.

  Right, like finding sixteenth-century Mongolian toothpicks compares to discovering Atlantis.' Behind Macy, Eddie laughed, annoying Nina even more.

  But her irritation vanished as she arrived at another section of the pyramid's interior. A horizontal passage branched off the one she was ascending, but it was the continuation of the climb that caught her attention. Though little wider than the tunnel from which she had just emerged, it was far taller, almost thirty feet high. The Great Gallery was a long vaulted chamber constructed from massive limestone blocks.

  Now this is more like it,' said Eddie, stretching as he emerged from the passage. What was it for?'

  There's a theory that it was part of a counterweight system to lift blocks up to the top, but. . . nobody really knows,' Nina admitted. Like so many aspects of the pyramids, the Great Gallery's exact purpose was a mystery. She looked down the horizontal passage. "That's the Queen's Chamber down there, right?'

  Yeah,' said Macy as more tourists entered, most of them opting to take a break from the climb by going along the flat corridor. Although there was never a queen in there - her pyramid's a little one outside. It'sjust another boring unfinished burial chamber.'

  Another one?' said Eddie. 'Christ, the architects must have been throwing down their papyruses by now.'

  Even if it's empty, it's hardly boring,' Nina objected as she continued up the steps that had been added to the Gallery. The workmanship - of all of this - is amazing even by today's standards, and they did it all with just simple tools.'

  And loads of slaves.

  Nuh-uh,' Macy countered. The builders were actually all skilled craftsmen. They got paid. The slave thing's just a lie that the pharaohs who came after Khufu, or Cheops, whatever you want to call him, spread to make themselves sound better. "Sure, we could have built an enormous pyramid too if we'd used loads of slaves,'' kind of thing. Khufu wasn't any worse than any other pharaoh.

  So why'd they decide to build pyramids in the first place?' Eddie asked. 'What's so special about that shape?

  'Nobody knows,' said Nina.

  I'm going to hear that a lot, aren't I?'

  It's probably symbolic, something of religious significance, but nobody's come to any agreement on exactly what. But it's a shape they spent a lot of time and effort trying to perfect, even in the earliest dynasties. The pyramids back then were stepped like ziggurats, one layer on top of another, but as their engineering skills improved they started building them with smooth sides. A pharaoh called . . . Sneferu, I think?' Nina glanced back at Macy, who nodded, pleased to be asked. 'He built the Red Pyramid at Dahshur, which was the first "true' pyramid. It was pretty big - but the pyramid built by his son was a lot bigger. And we're in it.' She swept out her hands to take in the vast structure surrounding them. As for whythey were so determined to build pyramids . . . like I said, nobody knows.'

  They reached the top of the incline, Nina pausing to recover her breath. To her mild irritation, Macy appeared completely unfazed by the climb. Another low horizontal passage led deeper into the tomb, opening into a taller chamber after just a few feet. Eddie peered inside, seeing deep grooves running up the far walk What's this?

  Anti-theft device,' said Macy.

  Thought you said there weren't any booby traps?'

  It's not really a trap. More like a vault door. They built it with three huge stone blocks hanging from the ceiling. Once Khufu was buried, they dropped the stones so tomb raiders couldn't get in.'

  They entered;
the room was completely empty. 'So where are the stones?

  Tomb raiders got in,' Macy chirped. 'They smashed the stones, then walked right into the burial chamber. It'sjust through here.' Another hunched traversal of a short stone tunnel, then . . .

  The King's Chamber. The burial vault of the pharaoh Khufu, sealed over four and a half thousand years before.

  This is it?' asked Eddie, disappointed. The rectangular room was almost forty feet by twenty, dominated by the remains of a large granite sarcophagus - but apart from the lidless coffin it was completely empty. Not even the walls bore any decoration. T was expecting something a bit more flash.'

  It did get Lara Crofted,' Macy pointed out, a little condescendingly. If it was like Tutankhamun's tomb, the whole room would have been full of treasure/ Her eyes lit up at the thought.

  It wouldn't all be treasure,' Nina reminded her. 'A lot of it would have been items for Khufu's journey through the Underworld to be judged by Osiris - food and drink, things like that. But yeah, there would still have been plenty of treasure.'

  Eddie stood aside as other tourists entered, leaning against the granite wall. He watched as Nina examined the sarcophagus, after a minute saying, T don't think he's in there/

  I know that. I just don't get many chances to see things like this in person any more, do I?'

  You should have asked the Egyptians when you were at the IHA,' Macy suggested. They'd have probably given you a private tour/

  Nina's mouth compressed into a sour line. 'Yeah, thanks for reminding me/

  So when will Dr Berkeley be back at the dig? We should get back there - the sooner you talk to him, the sooner you'll be able to check out the construction site.'

  She's got a point,' said Eddie.

  All right,' Nina muttered, reluctantly leaving the sarcophagus. 'I'm going to be pissed if you've dragged me out of here and he still hasn't arrived when we get there, though.'

  To Nina's annoyance, Berkeley indeed had not yet returned from his TV appearance when they got back to the Sphinx compound. He was expected in thirty minutes - thirty minutes Nina could have spent exploring the Great Pyramid.

  When he eventually did arrive, it was closer to fifty than thirty minutes later, which did not improve Nina's mood. But she put on a pleasant face, knowing she would need to charm him into allowing her access to the dig. Berkeley got out of a white-painted government car, its driver emerging as well. Hey,' Eddie whispered.

  What?'

  The other bloke, he's the one from Macy's photos. The one she clocked with her camera.'

  Crap, you're right.' Berkeley's companion was Dr Hamdi. She glanced past the Temple of the Sphinx at the more intact Valley Temple to the south. Macy, still in her baseball hat and sunglasses, was lurking amongst the milling tourists, as close as she dared come to the dig site. If Macy 's right, then he's not going to want anyone to go near that tent.

  Bit late to start wondering //she's right, innit?'

  Maybe we'll find out now - we'll see how this Dr Hamdi responds.' She approached Berkeley, Eddie behind her 'Hey, Logan! Logan! Hi!'

  Berkeley reacted with first surprise, then wary uncertainty when he realised who was calling to him. Nina? What are you doing here?

  Oh, just on vacation,' she replied airily. 'We wanted to drop by and say hello, seeing as it's your big event tonight.

  Tomorrow morning, technically - the live broadcast starts at four a.m., local time.' Berkeley's wariness was creeping towards outright suspicion, not believing for a moment that their presence was a holiday-related coincidence.

  Hamdi had an odd look of half-recognition. 'Friends of yours, Dr Berkeley?'

  Colleagues,' Berkeley said firmly. 'Ex-colleagues. Nina, Eddie, this is the SCA's representative at the excavation, Dr Iabi Hamdi. Dr Hamdi, Nina Wilde and Eddie Chase, formerly of the IHA.

  Nina noted that Berkeley had omitted her title from his introduction, but had no time to make a sarcastic correction before Hamdi spoke. 'Dr Wilde! But of course! How could I not have known?'

  Well, I did change my hairstyle.'

  He smiled. A great pleasure to meet you.'

  Likewise.' She shook the Egyptian's hand. 'And this is Eddie, my husband.' Husband?' said Berkeley, taken aback. You got married?' Don't worry, we weren't expecting a present off you,' Eddie said.

  Nina looked over the ruins to the Sphinx. I was wondering . . . would it be possible for us to see the actual excavation site?'

  Sorry,' said Berkeley, tight-lipped. Authorised personnel only.

  Again, Nina restrained herself from remarking on his dismissive attitude. Instead, she addressed Hamdi. That's a shame. Couldn't the SCA make an exception, Dr Hamdi?'

  The Egyptian was more polite, but just as unhelpful. Tm afraid not, Dr Wilde. Once the Hall of Records has been opened and everything properly catalogued, then perhaps, but for now we have to maintain strict security.' He nodded towards the guards at the nearby gate. We had some trouble on the site recently.

  So I heard.'

  Berkeley frowned. You did?

  Yeah. A girl called . . . Macy Sharif, wasn't it?' She watched their responses closely. Berkeley seemed stung that word had got out about something so potentially embarrassing -but Hamdi physically flinched, as though he had just received a real sting. 'Something about her stealing a piece of the Sphinx, wasn't it?'

  And - and assaulting me, yes,' said the flustered Hamdi, rubbing his nose.

  Berkeley's expression darkened. 'Where did you hear about that?' he snapped. 'It was Lola, wasn' t it?'

  No, it wasn't, actually,' she said, defending her friend. 'It was Macy.'

  Whatever had stung Hamdi was now draining the blood from his face. 'You've spoken to her? Where?'

  In New York,' she said casually. 'She told me an interesting story about what was going on here.' Her gaze hardened, fixing on Hamdi. And after what happened when I met her, I'm inclined to believe her.'

  What did happen?' Berkeley asked.

  Things went a bit Michael Bay,' said Eddie. 'Gunfights, car chases, explosions - the usual.' Whatever she told you is a lie,' Hamdi said, a little too quickly.

  Nina indicated the wall below the road. There's an easy way to find out. Logan, there's a tent over there. If you take a look inside, I think you'll find something interesting.'

  Like what?'

  Like a shaft that leads to a second entrance to the Hall of Records. Somebody's trying to beat you to it'

  Berkeley stared at her. Absolute horseshit,' he finally said. Excuse me?' said Nina, affronted.

  This is pathetic, quite frankly. Maureen told me you'd been to see her with some holier-than-thou protest about the opening of the Hall being televised - as if you've never taken advantage of the media when it suited you! The cover of Time? Appearing on The Tonight Show?' His face curled into a sneer. 'Well, now it's someone else's turn in the spotlight, and you just can't take that, can you?'

  It's nothing to do with me,' she growled. 'It's about protecting an archaeological treasure -and maybe even saving you and the IHA from a huge embarrassment.

  Berkeley rolled his eyes. 'Oh, please. The only embarrassment to the IHA is you, Nina. I suppose after that Garden of Eden garbage you were spouting last year, whatever nonsense Macy came up with to cover her ass was probably right up your street.

  Nina could tell that Eddie was on the verge of punching Berkeley, and moved to block him, though she was sorely tempted to take a swing herself. I wasn't "spouting" anything - that was a smear job. Not that I expect you to believe me. But you don't have to believe me about this either. Just look in that tent. I'll even wait right here, so if I'm wrong and there's nothing there you can call me an idiot to my face! How about it?'

  This is ridiculous,' blustered Hamdi. There is no shaft, there is no robbery.

  Well, you would say that,' said Eddie. 'Seeing as you're on the take.

  The Egyptian's eyes bulged in outrage. 'That - that is slander!'

  Easy way to prove it, isn't there? Loo
k in the tent/

  Hamdi scurried for the security gate. 'Dr Berkeley, I refuse to stand here and be insulted. I will see you at the excavation - and I am very tempted to have these two removed from the plateau!' One of the guards raised a hand to stop him, apparently unaware who he was, but the other said something and he stood back.

  Berkeley shook his head. 'You know, it's really sad that you've come down to this level, Nina. I don't know whether I should pity you or laugh at you/

  One of 'em'11 hurt vou a lot more than the other,' Eddie rumbled.

  Berkeley looked decidedly uncomfortable at the not-so-veiled threat. T always thought you were too close to the edge,' he sniffed as he followed Hamdi. 'Guess I was right.'

  Yeah? And I always thought you were an asshole, and guess what - I was right too!' Nina called after him. This time, both guards stepped forward, not letting him into the Sphinx compound until he presented his ID. With a final glare back at Nina, he headed after Hamdi.

  That went okay, I think,' said Eddie with a half-smile.

  Nina was more aggravated. God damn it! All he has to do is look in the tent, and this whole thing'll be over!

  Well, he can't say you didn't warn him. And Rothschild too. They'll be the ones who'll look like tools if the place really does get robbed.

  But if these guys are smart and connected enough to organise something like this, they'll be able to clean the place up and cover their tracks before Logan opens the entrance. Nobody'll even know there was anything there to rob. Oh, God.' She looked tiredly towards the Valley Temple to see Macy waving impatiently at them. 'Great, and now we're being summoned.'

  What happened?' Macy demanded when they reached her. Is he going to look?' Take a guess,' said Eddie.

  He's going to look?' Guess again/ Oh.'

  And also, he hates us/ added Nina.

  From Macy's expression, the possibility of failure hadn't occurred to her. 'But . . . No, no way! Now what do we do?'

  What can we do?' Nina asked rhetorically. Logan won't listen to us, Hamdi's involved in it, and we can't get inside the compound to find the thing ourselves.

  Macy delved into a pocket. 'I've still got my ID,' she said, producing a card. If the guys at the gate are new, they won't recognise me, so I could get in.'