by Peter Vegas
“So, what now, Sam Force?” Mary asked as they watched the rescue chopper drift down the Nile toward Al Minya.
Sam shrugged his shoulders. “Uncle Jasper believes in the pyramid network. He’s keen to get to Belize.”
“Well, I know my father would be more than happy to have another believer on his books.”
“How about two?” asked Sam.
“You’re going to need my help.”
“You can start now. Where is Belize?”
Mary laughed. “Central America. Don’t worry, I’ll get you some books. But I’ll make sure they’re nice little ones, because I know how you hate to study.”
“Think your dad would spring for business class?”
“Probably not. Your bum isn’t big enough.”
Sam smiled. He was still staring at the Nile, but his mind was already thousands of miles away. His uncle had been right: The clues to the ancient mystery of the pyramid network led to Belize. But someone out there was hunting the same prize, and they would all be in danger. Sam also knew that those people held the answers to the other mystery. He hadn’t said anything about the Short-Haired Man’s claims that his parents were still alive. Not to Jasper or to Mary. He would, of course, but he needed time to himself. Time to get his head around the implications. A trip to Belize was definitely in the cards. But it would be about far more than hunting for a pyramid.
THE END . . . OF THE BEGINNING.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
LIKE BUILDING A PYRAMID, IT took many people to construct this book. The foundations were laid when the real-life Jasper Force, a seven-year-old obsessed with all things Egyptian, told me a strange fact about Ra the sun god. My thanks and some Moroccan mint tea must go to my good friend Gary Herbert for acting as my sounding board and critic in the shisha cafés of Abu Dhabi. To my favorite Iranian, Mo Aram, thanks for being Sam’s artistic hand and good luck with designing that glowing dress for Beyoncé. I also owe a Pharaoh’s ransom in thank-you’s to my agent, Mandy Hubbard, for believing in this story from the start, and Michael Strother at Aladdin for his enthusiasm and guidance as the book came to life. Finally, my love and gratitude goes to the two ladies at the center of my universe—my daughter, Frankie, and my wife, Kirsty. I love the friends I have gathered on this thin raft—especially you two.
PETER VEGAS lives in Auckland, New Zealand, with his wife, daughter, two dogs, and his motorbike. Peter has been practicing the dark arts of advertising for more than twenty-five years. In his spare time, he draws, writes, and rides his motorbike. You can find out more at petervegas.com.
ALADDIN
SIMON & SCHUSTER, NEW YORK
authors.simonandschuster.com/Peter-Vegas
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This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
ALADDIN
An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division
1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
www.SimonandSchuster.com
First Aladdin hardcover edition August 2016
Text copyright © 2016 by Peter Vegas
Jacket illustrations copyright © 2016 by Nigel Quarless
Interior illustrations on pages 1, 10, 32, 37, 70, 90, 108, 164, 192, 221, and 248 copyright © 2016 by Mohammad Aram; interior illustrations on pages 42, 43, 96, 100, 124, 151, 159, 195, 205, 207, 241, and 243 copyright © 2016 by Simon & Schuster, Inc.; map on page 77 copyright © 2016 by Shutterstock/zju; submarine on page 296 copyright © 2016 by Shutterstock/Gino Caron; ark illustraion on page 224 copyright © 2016 by iStockphoto All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.
ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
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Designed by Karin Paprocki
Names: Vegas, Peter, 1968- author.
Title: The Iron Tomb / Peter Vegas.
Description: First Aladdin hardcover edition. | New York : Aladdin, 2016. |
Series: Pyramid hunters ; 1 | Summary: “Following the various clues his uncle left behind, using the same knowledge of Ancient Egyptian history, culture, and religion he once hated, Sam makes his way across Egypt trying to solve the mystery of his uncle’s disappearance and, eventually, the secret of the Iron Tomb”—Provided by publisher. Identifiers: LCCN 2015043253 (print) | LCCN 2016019389 (ebook) | ISBN 9781481445788 (hardback) | ISBN 9781481445801 (ebook) Subjects: | CYAC: Mystery and detective stories. | Adventure and adventurers—Fiction. | Missing persons—Fiction. | Uncles—Fiction. | Egypt—Civilization—To 332 B.C.—Fiction. | Egypt—Fiction. | BISAC: JUVENILE FICTION / Action & Adventure / General. | JUVENILE FICTION / Mysteries & Detective Stories. | JUVENILE FICTION / People & Places / Africa. Classification: LCC PZ7.1.V44 Ir 2016 (print) | LCC PZ7.1.V44 (ebook) | DDC [Fic]—dc23