The Cult of Osiris

by Andy McDermott

  I did. It was . . . incredible.' He shook his head in near-disbelief. 'And I only had time to examine the entrance chamber. How much more is there?'

  A lot,' said Macy. 'All the way down to Osiris's tomb.'

  Incredible,' Assad repeated. T left a team from the Antiquities Special Protection Squad,' he nodded at the soldiers, lto secure the site - the SCA will send a full expedition as soon as possible.'

  Shaban won't be going back there,' Eddie warned. 'He's got what he wanted from it.'

  Yes, the canopic jar you told me about,' Assad said to Nina. Are you serious? You believe Shaban is going to use it to make a biological weapon?

  He certainly believes it,' said Nina. 'And he's got the resources of the Osirian Temple -well, the Setian Temple now, I suppose - to back him up. From what I saw in Switzerland, he might be able to do it.

  Assad frowned. Maybe so, but weapons of mass destruction are a little out of my field. And without proof, I can't persuade higher authorities to take action.

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was
manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' E
ddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  There's something that is in your field, though,' said Nina. 'The zodiac from the Sphinx. I'm sure Shaban has it - Osir would have shipped it back to Switzerland. He even had a space picked out for it in his Osiris memorabilia collection.'

  If Shaban has the zodiac,' Assad mused, 'that would definitely justify taking action. He's an Egyptian citizen, after all - and our government takes a very dim view of archaeological thieves.'

  Eddie regarded the soldiers. You'd send this lot in to extradite him?

  I'm afraid I can't comment on whether the ASPS have ever carried out missions outside the country,' the Egyptian said with a small but meaningful smile.

  And if along the way you also happened to find proof that he was manufacturing biological weapons,' said Nina, well, then you'd have to do something about it, wouldn't you?'

  I suppose I would. But first I would need proof that he has the zodiac.

  Nina looked at Eddie. 'Which means getting back inside the Osirian Temple's headquarters.'

  How are you going to do that?' Macy asked. T mean, we saw the place - it's like a fortress. Because it literally is a fortress! They won't let you walk right in this time.'

  Maybe not,' Eddie said thoughtfully, but there's someone they might. . .'

  29 Switzerland

  Soft lights washed across the high stone walls of the castle as the last glow of sunset faded behind the Alpine mountains. The pyramid dominating the courtyard took on new form as blue LEDs along its edges flicked on, the black glass building becoming a neon outline topped by an intense beam shining skywards towards the pole star: a pointer to the ancient Egyptian gods.

  More lights approached along the lakeside, turning on to the short spur leading to the castle and stopping at the gatehouse. A sleek black Mercedes S-CIass, windows tinted almost as dark as the paint. But it wasn't the chauffeur's window that smoothly lowered to respond to the voice from the intercom; instead, the rear window revealed the single passenger.

  'Hi there,' said Grant Thorn, flashing his movie star smile at the cameras. 'Khalid Osir invited me to visit the Osirian Temple. Well, here I am!'

  'What brings you here, Mr Thorn?' said Shaban, bland politeness barely covering his contempt -and suspicion.