by Wend Petzler
Copying him, Kate pushed with all her might. Grinding, the door shifted, opening slowly as they shoved harder. On the other side, exposed by their flashlights extended a corridor.
The labyrinth!
"Well, I'll be damned! The legends are true,” Kate exclaimed, hugging Mike who laughed, holding onto her as she jumped up and down excitedly.
"Ok, ok, calm down. We still have to find the tomb. Where's the map?” Taking it, he held it as she shined her flashlight on it.
"Hey, doesn't that look like another false wall indicated there?” Pointing at the drawing on the parchment, Kate asked, trying hard to keep her excitement minimal, not wanting to get their hopes up.
"Sure does. It's gotta be close.” Taking down the pitch-soaked torch resting in a metal holder attached to the wall, he dug out his Zippo lighter from his jacket and lit it. “Here, take it. Our flashlights aren't gonna last much longer.
Walking over a hundred feet down the wide passageway, Kate saw a group of bare-chested priests, wearing black sarongs, hurry to slap mud mixture over a wide door, concealing it. Blinking in surprise, Kate rubbed her eyes. Clutching the torch tight, she watched them work, seeing the fear in their eyes. The vision dissipated in shimmering waves before her, disappearing completely.
"Mike, I think I'm losing my mind! But, I believe we're here.” She glanced at him for support.
Taking a deep swallow from the bottled water, he looked down at the map then back again at the wall in front of them. “Damn, I think you're right.” Running his fingers along the edges worn away by thousands of years, he felt the shape of a door under the crumbling dried mud.
Laying her hand flat against the wall, she grew astounded when she felt another hand touch hers. Jerking away, she glanced at Mike to see if he had felt it, too. He appeared unaware.
Strange, she thought, why do I feel as if my destiny awaits me on the other side of this wall?
Body stiffening from working and walking during the last twenty four hours, she knelt and grabbed her tools out of her backpack, stilling when she heard the faint sound of man's voice. Looking up at Mike, who was busy getting his tools out, she realized the stranger spoke in an obscure Egyptian dialect. A faint whisper, the deep, powerful voice bore such heart-wrenching loneliness and bitter agony, calling out to her. Whipping around to see who spoke, her gaze settled on the wall in front of her.
Nervous, Kate offered Mike a faint smile. “I guess we chisel away the mud."
"Looks like it.” Mike grabbed his own chisel, and they got to work removing the dried mud sealing the doorway from anyone entering.
An hour later, drooping from utter exhaustion, they finally freed the door. Mike collapsed on the ground, rubbing his face, drained. More torches were lit, casting long shadows down the silent corridor. Quickly coming to the conclusion they needed more help, Mike knew Kate was totally wrung out, too.
"We've got to call Theo and the team."
"I know. What if there's nothing behind the door?” Staring at the door apprehensively, Kate felt as if she was going crazy, but someone was on the other side, pleading with her to release him. The dry, dusty smell of the ancient hall made it surreal. Was her mind playing tricks on her or just her tired imagination kicking in overdrive?
"It's a chance we've got to take.” He reached for his walkie-talkie, depressing the button pad. “Theo? Can you hear me?"
"Mike? Where the hell are you? Is Kate with you?” Theo shouted, furious his best people were missing from the Temple ruins.
"We are currently under the Black Pyramid and have made a spectacular find. Can you gather the team and meet me at the entrance? More man power is definitely needed to get into the chamber."
"Oh, my God, you found the tomb! We're on our way. Good work, you, two."
"We read ya.” Mike looked over at Kate, who stared intently at the uncovered door, her head tilted to the side as if she were listening to something. “Hey, are you going to be all right if I go on up and meet the team?” Worried when she looked at him as if she hadn't recognized him, Mike touched her shoulder.
Trembling, she blinked until she saw Mike clearly. “Yes—I'll be fine.” Smiling to reassure him, she playfully shoved him to get going. “Go on, I'll get some sleep while you go on up to the surface."
"No more working until I get back,” he ordered before smiling at her, knowing Kate wouldn't listen to him.
Kate waited until there wasn't any sign of Mike's torch. Rising unsteadily to her feet, she sought a way to open it before anyone else. A desperate need to find a way into the tomb arose inside her. Trailing the sensitive tips of her fingers along the gritty surface, she halted when she felt the odd shape of a carved figure in the rock. Grabbing a firm bristled brush, she carefully worked the dirt out, amazed by the emerging, distinctive shape of a star. Insight flashed, she dug into her backpack and retrieved the scepter. Grinning in triumph, Kate inserted the end into the star, elated when it pressed inward. Twisting the scepter around and around until it clicked, unlocking the door. Nervous, Kate pushed the door and watched in utter amazement as it continued opening on its own. The scraping of the door grinding along the sand strewn floor made the fine hairs on her arms stand up. Fear blended with curiosity, a deadly combination for Kate.
Holding the blazing torch out in front of her, shaking at what she might find, she frowned when an empty chamber greeted her. From out of the eerie silence came the faint ‘thump-thump’ of a human heart, the tempo increased with renewed life. Looking wildly about the chamber for the cause, her toe caught and she lurched forward, landing on her bare knees. Crying out from the pain, she plopped down on her bottom. Kate blinked when she realized she sat a several inches lower than the floor.
"It has to be a cover stone!” Grabbing her brush, Kate swept away the loose sand, searching for any identifying marks to who rested below her. When she uncovered the cartouche, the carved scarab wearing the Double Crown of Egypt emerged.
The Scarab King.
"Oh my gosh, you're real,” Kate spoke softly, in awe of finding the legend when so many others had failed.
Placing her hand flat on the smooth rock, she jerked back in alarm, feeling a hand actually touch hers through the slab of stone. Frightened, she scrambled to her feet. Kate pressed her back against the far wall, shaken. Some say the dead never leave where they were laid to rest. A horrible thought entered her mind. What if the man in the tomb had been buried alive?
Unable to stand anymore, she cautiously returned to the cover stone. Lulled by the steady beating of a human heart, she wearily laid down, using her backpack for a pillow. Exhausted, Kate fell asleep, feeling the warm embrace of ghostly arms around her.
Voices raised in excitement echoed through the corridors awakened Kate from dreams about a tall Egyptian dressed in a black sarong. His piercing, honey-gold eyes held her prisoner within the proud, arrogant depths. Frightened when she woke in the inky blackness, she rummaged through her backpack and yanked out her flashlight. Breathing easier when she switched it on and could see again, she grabbed the torch and lit it with the spare lighter she found in Mike's coat. Shouting from the corridor alerted Kate help had arrived.
Theo burst into the chamber, hoping to see treasure beyond imagination. Instead, he found Kate staring intently at the sandy floor. Looking about the chamber, he grew confused. There weren't any hieroglyphs etched or painted on the walls. If there truly was a sarcophagus resting below the cover stone, why place it here? His troubled gaze darted to Jaffe when the Egyptian entered the room, worried what he might say or do at finding an empty chamber. When the man looked as if he were about to cry and joyfully clapped his hands, Theo sighed in relief.
"Dwa-nTr en Amun Ra, em iw ii per-a'a Setti,” Sabni spoke softly, bowing his head. He crouched down, balancing his weight on the balls of his feet and reverently touched the Crowned Scarab.
Thanks to Amun Ra, we are with Pharaoh Setti at last, Kate silently translated. Jaffe walked around the chamber, staring at
the cartouche with an oddly triumphant gleam in his dark eyes.
Rising to his feet, an expression of elation lit Jaffe's dark features. “I am most pleased with your find. More men need to be assembled, and we shall remove the cover stone and raise the sarcophagus.” He turned to leave when Kate halted him.
"How do you know there's a coffin underneath there?"
Smiling kindly down at her, he laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Trust me, I know it deep within my heart, it is him."
"Who?” Awed by his profound conviction, Kate asked, wanting to know more.
"You call him The Scarab King, we know him by another name, one which cannot be spoken here."
The Egyptian hurried from the chamber, leaving them to stare after him. Theo was the first to speak, apprehensive about how the situation was proceeding.
"I guess I'd better follow him and help with the arrangements. Good work, both of you.” Theo scurried after Jaffe.
Theo wasn't the only one to feel uneasy about Jaffe. Mike and Kate stared at one another for a moment before she squatted down, starting the long process of uncovering the stone slab. “Do you think it odd how Jaffe claims to know who is buried beneath us when we haven't even opened the grave yet?"
Mike withdrew his own brush. “If you ask me, I think he's searched a long time for the Scarab King."
"Maybe you're right. Let's help him raise the sarcophagus and see for ourselves. You know, it just might prove to be Amenemhet the Third and not the Scarab King.” Blowing a stray lock of hair out of her way, she shook off her fatigue and got down to work.
"Maybe."
An hour later more men entered the tomb carrying chains. A makeshift lift was quickly assembled to help remove the cover stone. Jaffe possessed a half-mad gleam in his dark eyes. The helpers heaved, pulling the thick slab of stone upward. Jaffe, Theo, and Mike helped the men push the stone slab until it flew sideways. The workers let go and it crashed to the ground. Everyone rushed forward, bright torches held high.
Peering over the edge, Kate gasped at what stared back at her.
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Chapter Seven
Fascinated, Kate stared at the bold, beautiful face shimmering out from the darkness. Frowning when she saw the crowned scarab etched into Pharaoh's golden body, right above the Sacred Crook and Scepter. Shock riveted her. Her gaze flew to Pharaoh's face again, realizing she'd seen the exact likeness on another sarcophagus during her college studies in Washington D.C.
"What's going on here? Isn't that Amenemhet the Fourth?” Glancing over at Jaffe, she caught the calculating gleam in his eyes. When he realized she stared at him, he turned away, whispering to his assistant who nodded before rushing out of the tomb.
Theo adjusted his glasses, confused. “Where's the other three cover sarcophagi? Why is there only the one holding the mummified remains laid to rest here?"
A shout from the corridor soon had the hired workers scurrying inside. The strain incredible, the workers chanted and pulled, slowly the golden coffin rose from the dark pit. Setting it upon solid, wooden rollers, they continued to pull and push until the sarcophagus rested in the main corridor. A flat cart was pushed into position and chains from the hand winch were hooked to the heavy coffin. Taking turns cranking, the men finally had the coffin settled on the cart. Grabbing the long ropes in front, the workers pulled while others gathered behind the cart and pushed the sarcophagus down the corridor.
Theo stepped forward, demanding, “Where are they going? The pyramid is in the other direction."
"My men are leaving by the Temple's entrance."
"Jaffe, where are you taking our find?” Kate glared at the man, her hands planted on her curved hips.
A smooth smile curved his thin features as he tried to placate the irate, American woman. “Do not worry. We are taking the Scarab King to Cairo where we can honor Pharaoh properly."
Angry at the calm Egyptian, Mike shouted, “You have no right to make such decisions about our find!"
"Ohh, but I do have the legal right. When all is done, you may have the sarcophagus. Pharaoh will no longer have need of it.” With that said, he left the chamber, followed by his men who warily watched the trio, making sure they did not make any threatening move toward their employer.
Kate grabbed her backpack, a determined gleam in her eyes. “Darn it, I didn't go through all this just to get an empty coffin. I want to see what's inside it!"
"What do we do?” Theo yelled, rushing after her and Mike.
"Come on! We've got to get our sarcophagus back,” Mike snapped over his shoulder.
The original entrance of the labyrinth proved to be a gaping hole above their heads. The equipment stood abandoned, the golden coffin gone. Kate climbed up the rope ladder, pulling herself up onto the sand. Shielding her eyes from the bright glare of the sun, she glanced at her watch, shocked to see the time past ten o'clock. Amazed at the efficiency of the workers, the sarcophagus was quickly crated and loaded on the backend of an older truck. The camouflaged canvas dropped, covering it. Jaffe glanced briefly their way before he and his assistant slid into the black Mercedes and sped away. The truck roared down the dirt road, kicking up dust.
Cursing their bad luck, Theo kicked at a clump of sand. “We'll call the police and have Jaffe arrested for stealing what is rightfully ours.” he shouted, growing bright red from being denied the treasure he searched so long to have.
Kate knew they should call the police, but the inspector from last night gave her the creeps. She wanted no part of the man. “Mike, we need to go after them."
"My thoughts exactly. What are we going to do about Theo?” He looked askance at the older man, worried when their leader plopped down on the ground and placed his head in his hands and cried.
"Tell everyone to go back to the hotel and get Theo drunk. We're going to Cairo,” Kate whispered, watching the truck disappear with their sarcophagus.
"I'll let them know, then I've got to go below and get my tools. I forgot them in the tomb.” Grim about the new plan, Mike left her and talked to a couple of the men. They nodded, went over and urged the faint Theo to his feet and helped him into the nearest air conditioned car.
Tek, an Egyptian archeologist who joined the team a month ago, approached Kate after Mike disappeared into the labyrinth. “Don't worry about Theo. We'll take proper care of him. Good luck, we'll be praying for you.” He was about to turn and leave, but stayed, looking worriedly at Kate. “Watch your back. Sabni Jaffe belongs to the cult of Amun Ra and can be quite deadly, if made angry."
"How do you know about him?” Dubious, Kate watched the Egyptian's eyes shift from her then to the direction Mike went.
Wearing a guarded look, he shaded his eyes from the glaring sun. “When I was a young lad, my grandfather told me about the Lost One, a man cursed to exist between the land of the dead and living."
"Why was he cursed?"
"The legend goes, the Scarab King planned to defy tradition and take a commoner for his queen after he was crowned pharaoh. SobeKnefru made sure he wasn't around to claim his crown and displace her as ruling queen.” Checking around him, making sure no one close, he whispered, “Trust no one! The Shedty seek to possess the coffin we found today. Because they fear the Scarab King's resurrection, the Shedty want to destroy him before he has the chance to seek vengeance upon the Pharaoh Queen SobeKnefru."
Her brow furrowed, puzzled by what he said. “Why would a queen who lived three thousand years ago fear the mummy we found today?"
"There's a mystical book rumored to exist containing spells, some powerful enough to raise the dead. Khet ne Kemit shoit—the Black Book of Fire. Given to the first priest blessed by the Gift of Ra, what we would call a psychic, Anubis granted possession of the Black Book as medium ground between Heaven and Hell, to balance man and the Universe. Beware, whoever reads from the Black Book takes the chance of losing their soul. Anubis is a rather unforgiving god when it comes to punishing those who dare his wrat
h."
Dubious, Kate frowned, “What you're telling me is people are actually planning to resurrect mummies?"
"Both sides are vying to raise the dead. Who will be first—the Scarab King or SobeKnefru? My money is on Sabni since he has found the Scarab King. All he needs now is the Black Book."
Tek left her and ambled over to the car waiting for him. When he removed his handkerchief from around his neck, Kate saw the tattoo of Amun Ra's Eye etched in his skin. Seeing her reaction, he boldly winked at her before climbing in. Clenching her jaw in determination, Kate went to her Jeep and got in. Starting the engine, she jumped when the passenger door swung open and Mike climbed in.
"Kate, are you feeling all right?” Worried by the dazed look in her eyes, Mike wondered what happened while he was gone.
"No! I believe the Shedty are going after our coffin, too.” Deciding to keep silent about Tek, she knew he was a good man and would never harm her or their dig site.
Wide-eyed, Mike asked, “What does the ancient Shedty have to do with our sarcophagus?"
"I believe they plan to destroy whatever is in it."
"What do you mean?"
"I believe the cult of Amun Ra wish to resurrect a pharaoh while the Shedty want to give immortal life to a queen. If they are so determined, those men are going to kill each other to claim the Scarab King."
"Don't they need some kind of special book to raise the dead?"
"Yes and it's called the Black Book of Fire. Guess where the Black Book rests—within the Scarab King's sarcophagus!” Kate fastened her seatbelt before she pressed the accelerator down. What was it about the two identical sarcophagi that bothered her so? If she were to hide something of great importance like a book reputed to raise the dead, she'd hide it where none would think to look. In a sudden flash of insight, the answer hit her. “The Black Book isn't in the coffin with the Scarab King. It's hidden in Amenemhet the Fourth's pyramid!” She hadn't realized she'd spoken out loud, elated by figuring out the puzzle.
Confused, Mike tried to keep up with Kate's wild train of thought. “What makes you think that?"