The Cult of Osiris

by Andy McDermott

  It was on the ceiling - a zodiac, a star map about six feet in diameter, the constellations carved into the stone in the form of the ancient Egyptian gods. Nina knew of others - there was one in the Louvre in Paris - but unlike them this was still painted, as its creators had intended.

  But it was no longer complete. It had been dismantled, desecrated. Only one part remained on the ceiling, a roughly triangular section running from its southern edge to just past the centre. She could see the circular outline of where the rest had been clearly enough; power tools had carved away the surrounding stone, then pieces had been carefully and precisely cut from the ceiling. A man wearing goggles, a facemask and ear protectors was using a circular saw to free the final piece.

  Another masked man was also working on the ceiling, but with much less sophisticated tools - a hammer and chisel. Nina was puzzled, before realising what he was doing: knocking dents into the perfectly flat swathes cut by the saw. All he had to do to remove any evidence that the zodiac had ever been there was roughen the newly exposed circle to match the limestone ceiling. With so many other treasures in the Hall of Records, nobody would pay any

  attention to a discolouration of the roof. She appreciated the ingenuity of the operation . . . even as she was utterly appalled by it.

  The man Hamdi was addressing stepped into Nina's view. She recognised him from his picture.

  Sebak Shaban.

  She also saw that Macy hadn't been exaggerating about his facial scar, which dominated the right side of his face from the top lip to the nub of the ear. She couldn't help cringing at the thought of the pain he must have endured.

  But that didn't earn him her sympathy. He was still a thief, stealing one of the world's greatest archaeological treasures.

  The saw's screech died down, its user gesturing to a third man - Gamal, who had helped to carry the case from the tent. Now she was sure what it had contained: a piece of the zodiac. The cramped vertical shaft made it impossible to remove the map intact, so it had been cut into more manageable sections.

  That, and the care being taken not to damage the last piece, suggested the thieves intended to reassemble it. Maybe it could still be restored.

  But for that to happen, the conspirators would have to be caught.

  Give me your camera,' she whispered to Macy, who passed it to her. 'How does it record?' Just press the button, then press it again when you want to stop/

  Okay.' Nina held the camera out past the lighting rig and started recording, watching the image on the LCD screen. To her annoyance, Shaban and Hamdi had turned to regard the zodiac, only the backs of their heads visible. Turn round, dammit,' she hissed. If she could get a clear shot of their faces, they would be heading to prison for a very long time.

  Eddie crept alongside her, straining to hear what they were saying. The discussion was in Arabic; he could make out some words, but not enough to understand the entire conversation. Is that the zodiac?'

  What's left of it.' And the last section would soon be gone. Gamal moved a piece of equipment into position beneath it - a support frame, padded bars mounted on a pneumatic jack. He operated a control, and a piercing hiss of compressed air echoed round the chamber as the jack slowly extended. Hamdi put his fingers to his ears and backed out of the camera's view.

  Shaban remained focused on the jack. The frame rose until it was just below the zodiac, then slowed, advancing step by tiny step until the pads touched the ancient carving.

  The jack's hiss stopped - but was quickly replaced by the whine of the circular saw as the masked man cut into the stone once more. With the jack supporting it, the last piece of the zodiac could be safely cut free of the ceiling.

  Diamondback said something to Shaban, and both men moved out of sight. Nina cursed. But at least the camera now had a clear view of the zodiac as it was being stolen. That would hopefully be enough to convince the Egyptian authorities—

  Movement forced her to duck back into the darkened room. A muscular Caucasian man with close-cropped grey hair started down the stairs. He was carrying what looked like a chainsaw, though its heavy teeth set it apart from the average lumberjack's tool: a piece of specialised stonecutting equipment. As he descended, he coiled up the saw's power cable, following it into the illuminated chamber.

  Looks like they're about to sod off,' Eddie whispered once he was out of sight.

  We probably should too,' said Nina. She stopped the recording, and they retreated through the two dark chambers - only to stop at the entrance to the first room.

  Buggeration,' Eddie muttered. The man was checking the jacks supporting the stone slab.

  We could just run past him,' Macy suggested.

  Yeah, but if he's got a gun, he'll have an easy shot at us in that tunnel. We need to get out without anyone seeing us.

  But that soon became even less likely. Diamondback swaggered into the entrance chamber, wiping dust from his beard. The saw's noise died away, replaced by the hiss of the jack lowering. Before long, Gamal and the other man brought another case into the room, Shaban and Hamdi close behind them.

  That everything?' asked Diamondback. So what now?'

  Now,' said Shaban, 'we clean up.' He looked at his watch, then indicated the eastern entrance. 'We have just over five hours before the IHA open that door. Lorenz, how long will it take to seal the royal entrance?

  The grey-haired man looked up from the jacks. 'Once we've got everything out of here, about an hour to move the block back into position,' he said, his accent Dutch.

  There can't be so much as a footprint left behind,' Hamdi said, nervously regarding the tracks on the dusty floor.

  There won't be.' Shaban indicated some gas cylinders beside the compressor. We'll use compressed air to clear the floors - by the time the IHA get in, the dust will have settled.' A nod to the man standing with Gamal. 'Broma, get started.

  Shit,' Eddie whispered. 'We'll have to make a run for it after all. Soon as they go back upstairs for their gear, we'll leg it.

  They waited in the darkness as Broma began erasing stray footprints with blasts of compressed air. The other men moved away from the swirling dust clouds.

  Should we risk it?' said Nina.

  There's still that bloke by the door,' Eddie said, watching Lorenz check the jacks. When he moves away . . .'

  Broma suddenly stopped working, peering with a puzzled expression at the floor near the entrance to the dark chamber. Eddie immediately knew why.

  He had seen their footprints, freshly made in the dust.

  Back, back, back!' Eddie hissed. Broma followed the new tracks to the entrance. He squinted into the shadows.

  Eddie and Nina ducked down behind a section of the ruined pillar. Macy crouched beside a smaller hunk of broken stone as Broma swept a torch beam across the floor. He fixed the circle of light on one set of tracks and followed them.

  To Macy's hiding place.

  Frightened, she hunched lower - and crunched a small piece of debris under her sole. It was only a faint scrape, but it was enough to make Broma twitch. The torch beam locked on to the fallen pillar. He put down the air cylinder . . . and drew a knife.

  Macy froze. The beam exposed more of the pillar as he approached . . . then found the young woman hiding behind it.

  The knife snapped up—

  Crack!

  A five-thousand-year-old piece of pottery exploded into fragments as Eddie smashed it over Broma's head. The man fell to his knees against Macy's hiding place - and Eddie kicked the back of his head, cracking him face first against the stone. Broma slumped unconscious to the floor.

  In the entrance chamber, Shaban looked round sharply at the noise. 'Broma?' he called. No reply. He gestured to Lorenz. Check it.' Lorenz grabbed a pickaxe and hurried to investigate.

  Ninajumped up. 'Come on,' said Eddie, grabbing Macy's hand and quickly following Nina to the other doorway.

  Lorenz entered the room, seeing Broma's fallen torch - and the body slumped beside it. He looked round in ala
rm, spotting fleeing silhouettes in the faint rectangle of light across the room. 'Hey!

  Shit!' Nina gasped. She raced through the next darkened room, passing the light stand and glancing up the stairs. Nobody in the zodiac chamber, but there was no way out either. Instead

  she ran into the last room, a smaller repository of records with four supporting pillars lit by two more light stands. An opening in the east wall led back into the entrance chamber

  Through it, she saw Gamal running towards her with a hammer in one hand. Backing up, she almost collided with Eddie at the bottom of the stairs. 'This way's blocked!'

  So's that way!' Macy cried, pointing behind her as Lorenz charged after them.

  Up!' Eddie yelled, taking the steps three at a time. Nina and Macy dashed after him.

  Gamal and Lorenz reached the bottom of the stairs simultaneously, rushing up them to catch their cornered prey . . .

  Only to run back down even faster as a screaming Eddie pursued them, the circular saw shrilling in his hands. 'Come on, you fuck-sticks! ' he bellowed as he chased them into the illuminated room. Who wants some?'

  Gamal clearly didn't, sprinting back into the entrance chamber, but Lorenz turned to face him. He swung the pickaxe, trying to smash the saw from Eddie's grip. Eddie jerked back -and another swipe brought the sharp point alarmingly close to his head. Whoa!'

  The spinning blade was producing a gyroscopic effect, making the bulky and heavy saw even more awkward to wield. Sweeping its trailing power cable out from under his feet, Eddie hefted it, watching Lorenz's movements closely as the two men circled. He would have to be fast.

  Lorenz lunged—

  Eddie twisted away from the metal spike - and jerked the saw upwards. There was a brief skzztl as the blade sliced effortlessly through the pickaxe handle, the head flying across the room. He grunted, annoyed. He'd been aiming for Lorenz's hands.

  It had the desired effect, though. Lorenz dropped the handle's stump and rapidly retreated into the entrance chamber. Eddie glanced back at Macy and Nina. Think I've got this under control!' he shouted over the noise of the whirling saw. 'You two get ready to run, Til - oh, shit!'

  Through the passage he saw Diamondback at the workbench, donning his snakeskin jacket and drawing a revolver from inside it - but the more immediate danger was Gamal, running back past Lorenz with the chainsaw in his hands!

  8

  106

  Eddie scuttled backwards as Gamal ran into the room, his weapon's cable whipping behind him. The chainsaw was smaller and lighter than the circular saw - and its blade was much longer. 'Go round the other way!' he shouted to the women, only to realise they had separated. Nina was at the doorway to the stairs, but Macy had jumped the gun and was halfway round the room before she froze as she saw the new threat. Eddie was now between them - and with Gamal coming straight for him, Macy was cut off.

  Gamal thrust the chainsaw at Eddie's stomach. He swung his clumsy weapon downwards to protect himself, and the two blades clashed against each other. The circular saw was almost wrenched from Eddie's hands as the edge of his blade momentarily caught in the chainsaw's teeth, spinning metal coming perilously close to his leg. With a strained roar, he hauled the saw back up -as Gamal stabbed at him again.

  Sparks sprayed as Eddie's weapon rasped along the chainsaw's flat blade before snagging in its teeth once more. The jarring impact knocked him backwards, and he almost tripped over the jack's air hose. Gamal advanced.

  Lorenz re-entered the chamber. He saw Macy trapped in the corner and moved towards her, fists raised. 'Uh, little help?' she cried.

  Nina was about to try to reach her when she saw Diamondback running towards the room, gun raised. She dived back to the foot of the stairs as a bullet shattered a scroll container.

  Macy backed towards the light stand as Lorenz closed in. Eddie moved to interpose himself, but if he tried to attack Lorenz, Gamal would be able to get a clear strike with the chainsaw.

  The hose—

  He swung the saw - not at Lorenz, but at the floor, slicing through the air line. There was a ringing shrill as his blade carved a groove into the stone, but it was nothing compared to the earsplitting hiss as compressed air surged from the hose's severed end, sending it whipping insanely about the chamber.

  It lashed Lorenz, opening a deep cut in his cheek as it struck him and blasted gritty air into his eyes. He screamed, staggering blindly away from Macy - to smack head first into a pillar. He dropped to his knees, groaning.

  Gamal backed away from the demented hose - blocking Diamondback's aim. 'Turn off the compressor!' the Egyptian shouted.

  Go round, get out!' Eddie told Nina, gesturing for her to escape through the darkened chambers.

  'Not without you!'

  Til catch up, just go!'

  The writhing hose abruptly died, slapping lifelessly to the floor. Diamondback had shut down the compressor. Nina saw him dart back to the doorway, gun at the ready. She turned and ran as another Magnum round smacked into the wall.

  Gamal went back on the attack. Eddie swung his saw defensively, the blades grinding with another shower of sparks. Macy shrieked and took cover behind a pillar as the two men passed, Gamal driving his opponent into a corner.

  Something brushed her foot. She looked down, seeing the saws' power cables shifting as their wielders moved. A memory from the entrance chamber flashed through her mind - the junction box, equipment plugged into it.

  Including the chainsaw . . .

  Both cables were orange - but the chainsaw's seemed a deeper shade. She grabbed the darker of the two lines at her feet and reeled it in.

  Diamondback was about to pursue Nina when his attention was caught by the saw fight. He took aim at the Englishman - but Gamal, back to him, unwittingly obscured his sight as he lunged at Eddie once more. The American released the trigger, impatiently waiting for another opportunity to fire.

  Eddie tried to slash at Gamal's arm, but the uniformed man easily countered, the chainsaw bitting a chunk out of the circular saw's casing. Eddie flinched as plastic fragments spat into his face. The sheer mass of the machine was rapidly wearing him down - and behind his adversary he saw Diamondback, revolver tracking him. Gamal jabbed the chainsaw, forcing him back. He could feel the heat of the lamps on the back of his head.

  Cornered—

  Macy felt the cord pull taut. She yanked it as hard as she could. In the next chamber, the plug popped out of the junction box . . . And Eddie's saw fell silent.

  The chainsaw's electrical flex wasn't darker. It was just dirty- and she had taken hold of a similarly grubby section of the circular saw's power cable.

  What the fuck?' Eddie yelped. He looked at Macy, crouched with the cable in her hands and a guilty expression. 'Macy!'

  The blade was still spinning, but slowing - and Gamal had already seen his opportunity, stabbing the chainsaw at him. He jerked up the dead power tool like a shield—

  The chainsaw's teeth ripped through its casing and smashed the blade's axle assembly. The steel disc shot across the room like a lethal Frisbee. It clanged off a pillar, whipping at the passage - and forcing Diamondback to dive backwards to avoid being decapitated. The blade shot over him and bounced off another pillar in the entrance chamber. Shaban ducked and Hamdi screamed as it flew between them.

  Eddie hurled his useless weapon at Gamal. He hoped the other man would make the mistake of trying to deflect the heavy piece of machinery with the chainsaw and knock his own blade back into his face, but the security chief spun out of the missile's way and faced his target again.

  His defenceless target.

  The chainsaw swung, forcing Eddie back against the light stand. Gamal grinned, driving the saw straight for his chest—

  Macy pulled the other cable.

  The unexpected tug was just hard enough to throw off Gamal's aim. The blade's tip slashed through the shoulder of Eddie's leather jacket, drawing blood - but the wound wasn't enough to stop Eddie from grabbing his unbalanced enemy and fl
inging him round—

  Into the light stand.

  The chainsaw carved through the high-powered bulbs - and their power lines. Glass exploded and crackling blue flashes arced as Gamal took the full force of the electricity through his body. Muscles paralysed, unable even to scream, he crashed on to the tripod. Smoke coiled from his nostrils and eve sockets as he was cooked from the inside out.

  Eddie jumped clear. Bright spark,' he said as he pulled the horrified Macy upright. 'Come on!'

  Nina ran through the dark rooms. In the glow from his dropped flashlight she saw Broma woozily pushing himself up - and stomped on his back as she vaulted the fallen pillar, slamming him back down.

  She reached the short passage. Shaban was by the royal entrance across from her, Hamdi leaning breathlessly against a nearer pillar, ghost-pale. He saw her, and reacted in shock. 'Dr Wilde?'

  Dr Hamdi,' she replied. 'I think you've got some explaining to do. He came towards her. If you think you can—'

  She punched him in the face and continued towards Shaban, leaving the Egyptian official squealing and holding his nose. A crowbar was propped against a pillar; she picked it up, holding it like a sword. Shaban seemed unconcerned, a slight smirk twisting his scarred lip.

  Dunno what you're grinning at,' she said, indicating the case. You're not taking that out of here.'

  He didn't answer, but his brief glance to one side warned Nina that something was wrong. She turned her head towards the western exit - and saw Diamondback returning.

  Aiming—

  A bullet blew a chunk from a pillar as she leapt past a light stand to take cover behind the ornate column. Kill her,' Shaban ordered.

  In the second dark chamber, Eddie heard the shot. 'Hide in here,' he told Macy before running into the first unlit room. Broma was struggling to rise again, so he trampled him back down, then saw his knife glinting in the spill of torchlight and snatched it up.

  Nina kicked the light stand. Top-heavy, it crashed to the floor, the bulbs shattering and plunging the room's eastern end into darkness. She ran to another pillar near the sealed entrance. Diamondback jogged towards her. Behind him, Lorenz stumbled into the room, blood on his face. The shadows wouldn't hide her for long . . .