Death of a Pharaoh

  The Abbot performed the simple funeral rites with the congregation gathered around the casket. No eulogy seemed necessary; what could they have said. He prepared the Eucharist. His voice faltered during the consecration of the host when he intoned, “…for this is my body…”

  Father Josep walked to Ryan first to offer communion. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been to confession. It didn’t seem to matter.

  “The body of Christ,” the priest murmured out of years of habit as he offered the wafer.

  The words rendered them dumbstruck as they turned together and looked at the coffin only a few feet away. It was a moment of profound mysticism. Ryan barely managed to swallow with so much emotion. No one present that day would ever forget that communion.

  At the end of the service, they all filed past and kissed the coffin. Ryan and the others stood as solemn witnesses while a group of them lifted the casket and slid it into the dark void of the empty tomb. One of them connected two wires to the installed monitors and waited for the small green light.

  They struggled with the thick metal sheet to seal the lead lined shell. In pairs, they inserted long screws then tightened them to fasten it shut. Finally, they slotted a beautiful bas-relief, carved in translucent alabaster for a nearby quarry, on top. It depicted the Last Supper and Ryan thought it appropriate. They stationed a large candle on a sturdy wrought iron base at each end of the crypt. There would always be two burning as long as Poblet existed the Prior assured him. Jesus finally had a new home. A sudden gust of wind blew out one of the candles. Seems he had a sense of humor, as well!

  The sleek corporate jet was already well over the Mediterranean. The afternoon sun sparkled on the azure waters far below. Every few minutes it glinted off the deck of a freighter or ignited the billowing sail of a yacht. The onscreen map in front of Zach showed they were to the south of Sardinia and he glanced out a window to watch the coastline pass by. He was still getting used to riding in luxurious private airplanes and to seeing new countries. A few months ago in prison, he’d never dreamed he’d see Africa or Spain and in a few hours his fake passport would have a new stamp for Egypt.

  Everyone else was asleep; except the pilots, he hoped. Ethan never had a moment to rest on the ground as he was constantly in touch with headquarters in Philadelphia as well as teams in London, Dakar and Cairo. His job carried a lot of responsibility. Luckily, he had the ability to fall asleep anywhere, at any time. He was out before they left Spanish airspace. Zach felt jealous; he needed a relationship with his pillow to feel comfortable in a strange bed. It was a Linus thing.

  Ryan napped in the seat facing him. Zach was a bit worried about his friend and he could think about it now that he was asleep. Ethan had taught him tricks, a few mental exercises, to hide his thoughts from Ryan’s powers. He was his best friend and his boss but some things were private. Ryan was acting strange since the funeral that morning in Poblet. He was more serious and he barely spoke during the ride to the airport. Something happened in the monastery.

  He had changed so much since they first met in jail. It was like when you saw pictures of presidents after four years as the leader of the free world. They looked much older and Zach could see it happening to Ryan, mostly in his eyes. It was understandable. He had so much on his shoulders what with murderous priests on his tail, corporate thugs with private armies and the Gods on high reading his every thought. Not to mention that he was totally in love and about to be crowned Pharaoh of Egypt; just to make life even more complicated.

  “I’m not asleep,” Ryan whispered with his eyes still shut.

  “Sorry.”

  “No problem,” he assured Zach, “just hard to rest with an avalanche of concern at such close quarters.”

  “You’ve been acting weird lately.”

  Ryan opened his eyes. “My turn to apologize,” he explained, “something strange happened in the cloister.”

  “Like what?”

  “I think Jesus spoke to me.”

  “Maybe you can pick up thoughts from dead people too,”

  “No he was there,” he insisted. “I touched him and there was a bright light just like when my grandmother died. We talked.”

  Zach stayed silent waiting for Ryan to continue.

  “It freaked me out,” he admitted. “I mean, I’m talking about Jesus Christ.”

  “That’s heavy, dude.”

  “When I was a little kid,” Ryan went on, “I was confused about my powers and the nightmares so I used to pray to him every night. You know all that now I lay me down to sleep stuff?”

  “We all did,” Zach nodded.

  “Well it’s something else to have him show up in person.”

  “Maybe he was lonely, after lying around in that coffin for two thousand years.”

  “His voice was amazing. I’ll never forget it.”

  “Does he speak English?”

  “I think so but I don’t know if that was him or my powers.”

  “What did he want?”

  “I think he likes me.”

  “Not as in like, like?”

  “Can you get your mind out of prison already?” Ryan insisted. “I got the sense he wanted to be friends and that our destinies are tied together somehow. I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  “He was Pharaoh once and human as well. You guys have a lot in common. What did he look like?”

  “Couldn’t really see his face, he was wearing a hood.”

  “Jesus in a hoodie, whodda thunk it!”

  Ryan gave him an exasperated look.

  “Maybe Mariam can explain what it all means. She tells me that after the Opening of the Mouth ceremony that my grandmother will be able to talk to me as well.”

  “Speaking of Mariam, how is everything going?”

  “We haven’t had time alone together since the attack,” he confessed, “but I think she’d make a wonderful queen.”

  “Have you told her how you feel?”

  “Are you crazy?” he responded. “Half the world wants me dead, it’s too risky.”

  “Danger can be sexy.”

  “You’re a big help.”

  “Still, once you’re crowned won’t they be expecting you to get married and produce an heir?”

  Ryan looked terrified at the thought.

  “You know like when Kate and William got hitched.”

  “It isn’t enough that I have to save the world, you want to add teething and diaper rash on top.”

  Zach started to laugh and Ryan joined in.

  “Can’t a guy get any sleep around here?” Ethan asked with mock annoyance.

  “Time for lunch anyway,” Ryan reminded them pressing the button for the steward. “I need my strength to support the weight of the crown.”

  “Will there be a party after all the serious stuff?”

  “Of course; the hotel is arranging a banquet with free bar and belly dancers.”

  “Don’t stare at their navels if Mariam is around,” Ethan suggested.

  “Other than the wine last night, I haven’t had anything stronger than tea since we left the good old USA,” Zach complained.

  “Sorry, my security team can’t drink alcohol,” Ryan decreed.

  “I’ve already arranged for replacements during the coronation,” Ethan countered without missing a beat.

  The atmosphere improved even more while they ate. Ryan detected that Zach was pleased with himself; even a king needed friends!

  Chapter Forty-one

  Princess Eshe Hotel, outside of Saqarra, Egypt, morning of November 13, 2016

  Everyone had arrived at the hotel except the guest of honor. Susan and Alex had already crammed in a full day of sightseeing with a visit to Luxor. Susan was beside herself on her first trip to Egypt. They still had no idea of the true nature of their visit. Eduardo Gonzalez and his wife, traveled from Seville in representation of the group of costaleros who contributed so much to the success of Operation Nazarene. Diego barely managed to receive a new
passport in time but checked in the evening before. In addition, there were eighty-two members of the Royal Council in attendance from all over the world as well as family of the late Chief Mbaye from Dakar.

  Mariam had already been in Egypt for several days organizing the ceremonies. Notable absences were Pablo Fernandez still involved in the aftermath of the deception in Spain as well as David and Ryan’s adoptive parents who regretfully elected to stay in the United States to guarantee the safety of Ricky and Manuel. Herbert Lewis landed on a flight from London just prior to the Pharaoh’s jet from Barcelona. He would travel in the motorcade to brief Ryan on the latest developments. Even though the hotel was not yet open to the public, Ethan’s team led by Hassan had fully vetted both the guests and the staff.

  With the imminent arrival of the Pharaoh, protocol staff isolated Susan and Alex in a small meeting room so that Ryan could explain the situation in his own words before they witnessed all the bowing and reverence that now surrounded their high school friend.

  They were enjoying some traditional coffee spiced with cardamom when the door opened and Ryan burst in followed by Ethan, Tony and Zach. There was a round of excited hugs and Alex especially seemed to approve of Zach who pretended not to notice. Susan chattered on about the Valley of the Kings and all the other marvels they had seen until Ryan invited them to sit down for a talk. Before he could even begin, Susan posed a question.

  “What the hell are we doing in Egypt?” she inquired with her usual tack. “Not that I’m complaining but aren’t you on the lam or something?”

  “More or less,” he responded, “you’re here for a very special ceremony. Tomorrow night a new Pharaoh will be crowned.”

  “Get outta here,” she proclaimed, “is this something they do for the tourists?”

  “Not at all,” he assured her. “There really are Pharaohs in modern times.”

  “So is he here now?” she asked surveying the small crowd looking for anyone decidedly royal in appearance.

  There was an awkward silence while Ryan formed a response. “Yours truly,” he announced pointing to his chest.

  Susan’s jaw dropped.

  “You could certainly pass for a Nubian,” Alex remarked.

  “Wait a minute,” Susan demanded. “You’re the new Pharaoh of Egypt and you never told me before.”

  “Afraid so, only found out myself a few weeks ago.”

  “Is this true?” she asked Tony.

  “Absolutely, may I formally introduce his Majesty Nkosana I, Pharaoh of Egypt, Defender of Ma’at and Beloved of the Gods.”

  Susan’s eyes widened.

  “I always knew you were special,” Alex confirmed.

  “This evening you will witness the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony for my grandmother, the last Pharaoh, and tomorrow I will be officially crowned.”

  “Can we wear costumes?” Alex begged.

  “I am certain we can arrange some traditional Egyptian clothes if you want,” Ryan acquiesced, “but nothing even vaguely like Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra.”

  Susan looked slightly miffed with the limitations.

  “I am telling you this now because the location of the ceremony is a secret and you will need to be blindfolded before you leave the hotel,” he warned them. “Tony will accompany you.”

  “He can even tie me up if he wants,” Alex offered.

  “A little decorum would be nice,” the Pharaoh insisted with a smile. “On a more serious note, my organization has some dangerous enemies and you must promise to keep everything you see and hear confidential. People would kill to find me and the last thing I want is for your lives to be at risk. Do you promise?”

  “Lips are sealed,” Susan responded emphasizing her seriousness by drawing two fingers across her mouth like a zipper.

  “I swear on Justin Beiber’s sweet white ass,” Alex added breathlessly. No one who knew him doubted the sincerity of such a commitment.

  “Good! You’ll need to be ready in two hours and I have meetings with my staff,” he told them. “I hear the pool is wonderful at this hour.”

  The door opened as if by magic and Ryan invited them to walk with him. In case any doubts lingered for either of them, they disappeared when they saw most of the people in the lobby turn and drop to one knee. It was a sea of bowed heads all around as the astonished pair gawked in amazement.

  After thirty minutes driving in circles, the van carrying Tony, Alex and Susan drove down the ramp into the underground parking area of the hotel only a few hundred yards from where they began their journey blindfolded. Security guards directed the vehicle to one of three secret entrances leading to the tomb complex. They didn’t need much time to adjust their vision to the dark interior.

  The ceremony would take place in an amphitheater hewn out of solid rock with seating for almost four hundred. Fannie’s high-tech coffin rested on a pile of sand brought especially for the occasion from outside the ruins in Memphis. Just to the right, there was a full color portrait of the late Pharaoh on an easel. An impressive two-ton bronze sculpture of the Eye of Horus hung from the ceiling on massive chains. A ring of gas torches provided a further touch of authenticity. Two Sem priests were busy purifying the area with incense and prayers. All the guests were in place and they expected the Pharaoh at any moment. The lights in the hall dimmed producing the same effect on the noise level among the crowd.

  Ryan entered from the back of the large room accompanied by Mariam and escorted by two royal guards carrying lit torches. He was dressed in the style of the ancient pharaohs with leather sandals, the pleated kilt worn by royalty called a shendyt and the headdress in shimmering gold cloth known as a nemes. Susan and Alex looked suitably impressed. Each guest had a program with an explanation of the different steps and translations, in over twelve languages, of the prayers and utterances that Ryan would pronounce in old Egyptian. A band with hand held drums, harps, reed instruments and traditional rattles began to play. Everything was ready.

  The first six steps involved the purification of the coffin to receive the ka or soul of the late Pharaoh. One if the priests carried a large bowl of water mixed with salt and soda while the other sprinkled the contents on the coffin as they circled the mound of sand. Ryan began to recite the incantations from the Book of the Dead prepared by Mariam.

  The priests replaced the water with an incense burner as Ryan intoned, “"Let her that come forth, advance with her KA.”

  "Horus advances with his KA.”

  "Set advances with his KA.”

  "Thoth advances with his KA.”

  "Sep advances with his KA.”

  "Osiris advances with his KA.”

  "Khenti-maati advances with his KA.”

  After calling forth the soul of the Gods he continued, "Your Tet shall advance with your KA.”

  "Hail, Fannie! The arm of your KA is before you,” he repeated the same phrase four times.

  "O Osiris Fannie! I have given unto you the Eye of Horus, and your face is filled with it, and the perfume of the Eye of Horus is to you."

  The next two steps involved incense and water made with natron from the Valley of Heaven as Ryan reinforced his grandmother’s association with the Gods.

  "You are purified with natron, and Horus is purified with natron.”

  "You are purified with natron, and Set is purified with natron.”

  "You are purified with natron, and Thoth is purified with natron.”

  "You are purified with natron, and Sep is purified with natron.”

  "You are purified with natron, and you are now among the Gods.”

  "Your mouth is that of the sucking calf on the day of his birth.”

  One of the priests knelt in front of the coffin offering a ball of incense to Fannie. Ryan called out the last of the prayer of purification ending with, "Your head has been censed for you grandmother, your bones have been cleansed thoroughly, and you are filled with all that belonged to you in life. O Osiris, I have given to you the Eye of Horus, and your f
ace is filled with it, and it spreads its odor about you.”

  A hush fell on the gathered crowd. They knew by the explanation in the program that the moment had arrived for the beginning of the Opening of the Mouth Ceremony. A servant approached holding a tray. Ryan took a fishtail shaped tool called a kef pesesh in one hand. He held it close to Fannie’s face in the portrait and proclaimed, “"O Fannie, your two jawbones which were separated have been rejoined.”

  Ryan then reached for two iron tools in the shape of squared axes. The text explained that the first was forged of iron from North Egypt and the other from ore mined in the south.

  “O Fannie, the two gods have opened your mouth.”

  The late Pharaoh could once again nourish herself according to their beliefs and the priest offered her four balls of cheese and invited her to eat them. Next, he presented her with four round cakes while Ryan intoned, “O Fannie, the Shaku of Osiris have been presented to you, the Shaku from the top of the breast of Horus, of his body you have now eaten."

  Jugs of milk and whey followed then finally pure water. At this point, all the faculties the Pharaoh had enjoyed in life were now restored. The witnesses broke into applause. An announcer invited them to adjoin to the funeral banquet while Ryan and the priests continued with over a hundred different offerings including wine, bread and other foods for her journey to the other side.

  There was joy on the faces of the guests as well as traces of deep emotion. The symbolism of the ceremony was patent to all even without the aid of a program. The mood over dinner was subdued but happy. Susan sat beside an expert in ancient funeral rites and peppered him with questions. Alex gave up on Zach and turned his interest to one of the waiters who seemed more open to his charms.

  After two hours, a bell warned the guests to return to the offerings for the end of the ceremony. As they settled in their seats, one of the priests had just presented two bowls of fruit to which Ryan proclaimed, “Hail, Osiris Pepi Nefer-ka-Ra, the Eye of Horus has been presented to you, it is sweet to the taste, and it follows you."