by Overton, Max
"Stop!" she called, and the men let go of the body and stood up, confusion on their faces as they realised they had obeyed the foreign woman without question instead of their commanding officer.
Dani knelt beside the body and bent her head in prayer. Consciously, she was ignorant of the proper words to use as the inscription had been silent on that point, but she framed the request respectfully, calling on Asar to release his subject Marc Andrews into her care as promised to Scarab, beloved of Atum. She prayed to Geb too, the god of living things, asking that any injury Marc had suffered might be healed. For long seconds, nothing happened and then, between one of Dani's heartbeats and the next, Marc drew a shuddering breath and his eyes flew open.
"Aaah...oh, god...what...where...? Dani?" Marc struggled to sit up, the blue colour draining from his face as he drew breath after breath, shuddering as he looked around him.
The soldiers who had been about to bury him leapt back in consternation, fear in their eyes. Behind her, Dani heard exclamations and curses, prayers to Allah and expostulations of wonder, as well as a distinct 'Well done, lass' in a Welsh accent. In herself, she felt joy and relief flooding through her, and hastily offered up thanks to Asar and Geb.
"By George," Nick said. "It's a bloody miracle."
"Extraordinary," Zewali murmured.
"Never seen anything like it," Maroun added.
"What is going on?" Sarraj demanded. "I thought that man was dead."
"He was," Bashir muttered. "And now he is not."
"That's nonsense," Sarraj declared. "When a man is dead, he's dead. If he appears to return to life it only shows he cannot have been dead in the first place. This is nothing more than trickery."
"For what purpose?" Bashir asked.
"You said it yourself," Sarraj said. "To give the man who escaped time to work mischief."
Daffyd, Nick, Zewali and Maroun gathered around Marc who, with Dani's assistance, had risen to his feet. They uttered exclamations of concern and it was Nick who asked what they had all been thinking.
"What was it like to be dead, old chap?"
"Was I dead?" Marc frowned, thinking. "Yes, I suppose I was. I remember eating my breakfast, and then a shot went off near me and I jumped. I couldn't catch my breath...it was...terrifying. And then everything went red and faded out."
"Nothing more?" Nick asked.
"You sound disappointed," Daffyd said. "What were you expecting? Choirs of angels? A bearded white gentleman speaking perfect English?"
Nick smiled wryly. "Well, I've never met anyone who's died before. I'm curious."
"Enough of this nonsense," Sarraj said. "Give me the scarab, Dr Hanser."
Dani ignored the colonel. "How are you feeling, Marc?"
Marc hesitated, as if running his mind over every part of his body. "Actually, I feel fine." He sniffed and drew a deep breath. "Even my cold's disappeared. How did that happen?"
"Dani used the golden scarab," Daffyd said.
"You got it back? That's marvellous. Where did..." Marc's voice trailed off. "What do you mean, Dani used the golden scarab?"
"Remember the gifts that were given to Scarab," Dani said gently. "Tefnut gave water, Nut gave direction, Geb gave healing, Asar..."
Marc went pale. "Asar brought people back to life," he whispered. "But they died again an hour later."
"We don't know that's going to happen."
"You didn't. Please tell me you didn't raise me from the dead for an hour and I've got to go through that all again." Marc clutched at Dani, his eyes pleading. "How could you? It would have been kinder to let me go."
"I'm sorry," Dani whispered.
"There's a good chance it won't happen," Daffyd said, putting his arm around the younger man. "When Scarab did that, the man she revived was stabbed and cut and couldn't have survived anyway, but you only choked. You suffered no lasting injury. We removed the obstruction and Geb has healed you of any ill effect--even your cold--so there's no reason you won't continue to live when the hour's up."
"But you don't know for certain?"
"I'm confident," Daffyd assured him.
"Yeah, but I'm the one who has to die...might have to die. How long have I got?"
Nick looked at his watch. "About forty minutes, give or take."
"Shit, and there's so much I wanted to do--travel, drive fast cars, get married--you didn't know about Jenny did you? Just met her before we left. Lovely girl. I wanted children too...and now I'll never even see her again, or..."
"All very interesting, I'm sure," Sarraj broke in. "But I'm in charge here, and you will do as I say. Get back in the vehicles; we are leaving for the tomb immediately."
Marc drew another shuddering breath and then exhaled, visibly calming himself. "Funnily enough, Colonel, you think you're in charge, but you're not. The Guardian is."
Daffyd raised his eyebrows. "Guardian?"
"Yes, I've just remembered. When I was...when I died, I saw someone. This man approached me and spoke...no, not spoke exactly. It was all very strange and I was trying to work out what had happened. He said...or thought at me...that he was the Guardian."
"Is he here now?" Dani asked.
Marc looked around, saw the soldiers crowded round hanging on every word, his friends with looks of worry or amazement, and the frustration and anger on the faces of Sarraj and Bashir. He shook his head. "No, or if he is, I can't see him."
"What did he look like? Did you recognise him?" Nick asked. "I've researched the Near Death Experience. People often see a close relative."
"Well, it wasn't my uncle Bert," Marc said, a trace of a smile on his lips. "I'd never seen him before, but he told me who he was."
"And?" Daffyd said after a brief pause. "Who was it?"
"Khu."
"What?"
Tears glistened in Dani's eyes. "It was Khu? What's he doing here? He should be at ease in the Field of Reeds, not wandering the desert."
"Who is Khu?" Zewali asked.
"Khu, son of Pa-it, a farmer of Akhet-Re. Companion, friend, lover and husband of Scarab, who was the consecrated king of the Two Lands after the death of her brother Smenkhkare."
"I don't know of any Scarab in the king lists," Maroun said.
"There is a lot in conventional history that is wrong," Dani said.
"And this Khu chappie is still here?" Nick asked. He looked around avidly.
"He offered to guard the tomb while he lived, and the gods extended that after his death. He's been guarding the tomb for over three thousand years."
"Aah, my beloved," Dani whispered.
"There's love for you," Daffyd commented. "Faithful unto death and beyond."
"Er, how is this Khu chappie actually guarding the tomb?" Nick asked. "Should we be concerned? I mean, is he just going to jump out shouting 'Boo!' or...or what?"
"He intimated that those that tried to plunder the tomb had died," Marc said.
"This is all nonsense," Sarraj said loudly. "Take no notice--he's merely trying to frighten you. He has no power; he wasn't raised from the dead; there is no ghost."
"Jebel Shabah--Ghost Mountain," muttered one of the soldiers.
"Be quiet," Sarraj snapped.
"I think we should be cautious, all the same," Bashir interjected. "We could perhaps hang back and send a scout forward to check out the tomb."
Daffyd grinned. "For once, Minister, you're making sense. In fact, let's take it a step further and return to Luxor. You don't want to risk everything by braving the Guardian."
"There is no Guardian," Sarraj shouted. "This is all a ruse. Put these people in the vehicles, Captain Massri. That's an order. We are leaving for the tomb right now and if anyone or anything tries to stop me, I'll kill them."
"I'm not sure you can kill a ghost," Nick observed.
"You won't need to anyway," Marc said. "Khu says he will allow the bearer of Atum's holy scarab and her companions to approach the tomb."
"When did he say that?"
"Just now, but...he's not here. I...it
just entered my mind."
"If the bearer of the scarab is safe..."
"Just so. Hand it over, Dr Hanser." Sarraj held his hand out.
"No."
"I will take it by force if I must, but I cannot then guarantee you will be unhurt."
"I'd be careful," Daffyd said. "People who attempt violence on a scarab bearer tend to get hurt. The god Set promised that."
"Utter nonsense."
"Don't say you weren't warned."
"Dr Hanser, the scarab--now."
"The answer's still no."
"Captain Massri, secure that artefact."
Massri snapped out an order to two of his men, who moved forward reluctantly. One reached out for Dani's arm, stumbled and cannoned into his companion, both falling to the ground.
"Ha!" Daffyd crowed, stepping back from the sprawling men. "Set strikes again." Massri frowned and stepped forward himself, and Daffyd held up a hand in warning. "Set protects her. Any action taken rebounds on the evildoer."
The captain hesitated, and Sarraj cursed, drawing his pistol. "Last warning, Dr Hanser. I won't hesitate to use this. I can take the scarab from your dead hands."
Dani smiled. "No."
Sarraj swung his outstretched arm toward Daffyd. "Will you risk your friend?" The pistol swung now toward Marc. "Any of your friends?"
Dani's smile vanished and she hesitated, then "I cannot pass the gift of the gods into the hands of an evildoer. Set will protect him."
Sarraj snorted and pulled the trigger. The pistol cracked loudly and the bullet zipped past Marc and slammed into the halftrack. Sarraj stared and corrected his aim, firing again, and again he missed, the bullet clanging into the vehicle. Smoke trickled from under the bonnet, and soldiers rushed to attend to the stricken halftrack. The Colonel snarled and strode forward, lifting his gun. He tried to club Dani with it, but he uttered a cry of pain and clutched his arm, the gun falling from his hand. Nick grabbed for it, but Massri beat him to it, slipping it into his belt.
Massri helped Sarraj to a rock and sat him down, helping his commander knead away the sudden cramp in his arm. Sarraj pushed him away and got to his feet with an oath.
"Where is my gun? Massri?"
"Perhaps violence is unnecessary, sir," Massri pleaded. "He said the bearer and her companions may approach, so are we not all companions and may approach with her? Dr Hanser, is this not so?"
"Don't ask me," Dani said good-naturedly. "Ask of the Guardian."
"He says all may approach and offer respect," Marc said. "Uhh," he staggered and almost fell, Daffyd supporting him. "I...I feel odd...dizzy."
"The hour is up," Nick said softly.
Marc drew a deep breath and exhaled slowly, then again. He looked around at his friends, his eyes wide and filled with apprehension. "Am I going to die again?"
"I think you'd already be dead if you were going to," Nick murmured. "If the hour is literal."
"I...I feel fine."
"Then give thanks to Geb," Dani said. "He has healed you of that which killed you. You won't die today."
"Don't be too sure of that," Sarraj growled.
Gradually, the realisation that Marc would live swept over them. As the tension eased, Sarraj regained control of his men and he ordered them to prepare to break camp, loading his captives into the jeeps, with two soldiers in each one to guard them. Then he discovered that one of the bullets he had fired had shattered the alternator of the halftrack and there was no spare. Swearing, he ordered his men to set out on foot, and the three jeeps started on their way westward, toward the green mountain and Scarab's tomb.
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Chapter Thirty-Eight
The journey over the last few miles should have taken no more than three hours, even allowing for the broken nature of the terrain, but the pace of the soldiers on foot slowed them to a weary trudge through sand and broken rock. At first invisible, lost among half a hundred other elevations, the mound they sought slowly rose to prominence, and by the time the sun sank behind it, they looked up at the green mountain from the jumble of boulders at its base.
"I don't bloody believe it. I've been here before," Marc said.
"You, or Khu speaking through you?" Daffyd asked.
"Well, obviously him, but I have too. When Muammar and I escaped from that bastard Ali Hafiz, we wandered in the desert all day and eventually came to a place where there was water and shelter. It was this place, I'm sure of it. What are the chances of that?"
"Maybe you were guided," Daffyd suggested. "As one of the companions of Dani, the true bearer of the scarab."
Marc shook his head wonderingly. "I felt the presence of Khu even then. Both of us did. It was as if we were being watched."
"I hope you are right when you say there is water here," Captain Massri said. "Our supplies are limited."
"Why do they call it 'green'?" Nick asked. "It's just black and yellowish brown, like the rest of this desert."
"It was green once," Dani said. "The water of the goddess allowed vegetation to clothe it, even when the surrounding desert was dry and barren."
"Nothing left now though."
"Despite there still being water," Marc said. "See the ledge about half way up? That shadow there..." he pointed. "...conceals a shallow cave, and the water seep is round to the left. We found a few straggly plants and grasshoppers. We ate those." He grimaced. "Never again."
Bashir wanted to immediately climb the slope and explore the cave, but Sarraj urged caution.
"My men are tired and it's getting dark. We should wait for the dawn."
They made camp by the boulders at the base of the hill and settled down to wait through the hours of darkness. Sarraj faced the problem of how to secure his prisoners, as most of his men were too exhausted to reliably remain awake. He decided to bind them hand and foot with rope, but Dani pointed out that no one would be permitted to bind her, and if she remained free then her companions would soon be released.
"Just leave us unbound," Dani reasoned. "We came here to find the tomb too. We're not going to run off."
Sarraj reluctantly agreed to leave them unbound, though he insisted one person remain awake and on guard at all times. He even took a turn himself in the early hours of the morning, glowering in the darkness at his peacefully sleeping captives.
Everyone was awake with the dawn and stood transfixed as the rays of the rising sun struck the top of the mound, reflecting a many-faceted dazzle that lasted no more than a few seconds before fading first to a glow and then to nothing more than sunlit rock.
"What causes that?" Nazim mused.
"There must be crystals in the rock," Daffyd said.
"Muammar said it was mica crystals," Marc said.
"A damn good show, whatever the cause," Nick commented. "So what happens now?"
"What happens now is that you stay out of our way as we reconnoitre the hill--especially that cave."
"Need I remind you, Colonel, that if there is the slightest chance of that cave concealing the entrance to a tomb, you must stand down and let the Department of Antiquities take over," Zewali said.
"Indeed," Maroun added. "We have a duty to secure the site against all intrusion."
"Under normal circumstances, that would indeed be the case," Sarraj said, smiling faintly, "However, I have reason to believe that cave is being used by the bandits I am pursuing, which gives me, as the local military commander, the authority to deal with it. I will not endanger any non-military persons by allowing them to interfere with my military duties."
"I am willing to sign a document absolving the army of blame--should that cave indeed hold bandits and I or Dr Maroun were injured."
"I think any bandits would certainly have run off by now with all these soldiers milling about," Nick said.
"I cannot allow you near the cave," Sarraj reiterated.
"Then I insist that Dr Maroun and I examine the cave as soon as your soldiers have ascertained there are no bandits present
."
"You are in no position to insist on anything."
Zewali drew himself up. "I am the Director of the Luxor Museum."
"So you say," Sarraj murmured. "However, I cannot be certain of your identity until we return to Luxor, so..."
"This is arrant nonsense," Zewali said. "Mr Manouk here has consulted me at the museum, and Minister Bashir can vouch for Dr Maroun."
Bashir would not meet the archaeologists' eyes. "There is a strong resemblance," he said, "But I cannot swear to it."
"Mr Manouk?"
Nazim shuffled his feet. "I'm sorry, Dr Zewali..."
"You see?" Zewali said triumphantly. "He knows me."
"He is mistaken," Sarraj said. "Furthermore, Mr Manouk has already proven himself unreliable and dishonest. Now, this discussion is at an end. You will all remain down here under guard, or I will have you restrained." He turned and strode away, barking orders to Captain Massri.
"I do not feel like clambering about in the sun," Bashir said, "So I shall keep you company, Dr Hanser, gentlemen."
"Imagine how overjoyed that makes us feel," Daffyd murmured. He went and found a comfortable place to sit, out of the sun, and after a few moments the others joined him. Two soldiers remained on guard by the vehicles, keeping a watchful eye on the civilians. The other men, under the direction of Captain Massri and Colonel Sarraj, quickly worked out the best route up the hill to the ledge. Some continued up to the summit, others ran along the ledge in both directions, seeking out its limits, and one or two, under Sarraj's critical gaze, disappeared into the cave.
"What do you think they'll find?" Daffyd asked.
"The entrance to Scarab's tomb...and Smenkhkare's," Dani replied.
"You're sure? You've used the scarab?"
"I don't need to. It's there, though I dare say the passage is blocked."
They sat and watched the activity of the soldiers for a while. Sarraj emerged from the cave and lit up a cigarette, staring back into the depths as he smoked. The soldiers busied themselves within the cave, staggering out with lumps of rock and pitching them down the slope, raising a small dust cloud that hung in the still, hot air.
"I do hope they are not destroying anything of value," Zewali complained. "You can be sure I will be having words with Sarraj's superiors when we return to Luxor."