Alec who was standing next to him whispered back. “At least, this time it was one of our own making.”
“Now why is that not a comfort?” Samuel muttered in the darkness.
Akeim used his flint-lighter to light some cloth he tore from his robe and wound around his knife. Pressed against the walls of the ancient stairwell, the cramped space seemed even smaller in the dim light as they looked around them.
“Look here,” Samuel said as he reached for a torch on the wall beside him.
“No… don’t touch it,” both Genevieve and her mother called as he raised his hands to pick it off the holder.
Akeim raised his flickering knife higher. Sharp pointed spears hung down from the ceiling above.
Samuel swallowed hard as he stepped from beneath them. “Holy Hell! The map said nothing about daggers of doom.”
“As I said, there will no doubt be many such dangers along the way,” Sophia reminded him.
“In the am duat there are twelve hours, each signifying a different rite of passage that the Pharaoh will have to overcome in his journey through the Underworld,” Genevieve thought to explain.
“There are twelve of these booby traps?” Samuel asked in disbelief.
“At least,” Sophia reemphasized the dangers.
Leaving the torch where it was, Samuel used his own sword instead, wrapping it tightly with fabric, then lit it from the flame that Akeim carried. Pleased that it produced an even brighter light, he held it up, looking around the narrow passage for more sharpened spears.
“What now?” Alec asked.
“We walk,” Akeim started to descend the steep, stone steps. Sophia followed closely behind him.
Genevieve took a step towards them, but was stopped when Alec reached out and pulled her into his arms. “Miss me?” He smiled, hugging her to him in the tight space. “Thank God, you are all right,” he breathed as he started kissing her cheeks over and over until he found her lips.
Samuel, trapped behind them, chimed in. “I’ve missed you too.”
After he set her lips free, Alec looked over his shoulder at him, “No one asked you.”
“But 'tis true, I avow,” Samuel pledged.
Genevieve laughed, “I’ve missed you both,” she smiled as Alec reluctantly released her. Catching quickly up with Akeim and Sophia, they slowly navigated the treacherous path that twisted and turned like a coiled snake.
“You do realize this is the entrance to the underworld,” Samuel commented as they descended. “We are headed straight to hell.”
“Does this mean you’re not coming?” Alec asked hopefully.
“Of course not,” Samuel replied, “Right behind you.”
~*~
“Hold your fire,” the Admiral ordered. When it was silent he called out. “Surrender and you will live. Continue this, and you will all perish.” When no one responded, he ordered one of his men to walk into the entrance hall where they had fled.
Nervously, the man approached the opening, mumbling a prayer as he went. Entering the hall he quickly returned. “It’s empty,” he yelled. “They have vanished!”
“Nonsense!” the Admiral shouted. “Search the area!”
The guards scoured the grounds. “Look!” One man called out in fear as he stood beside the reflection pool. “The water, it too has vanished.” A whisper of fear thread through the men. “Evil djinni,” the man accused, as he cautiously stepped away from the dry pool.
Enraged, the Admiral stood before the temple. “She must have opened the door.” He turned to his first in command. “Search that hall.” He pointed to the entrance where the moon had shone into earlier. “There must be a way in through there. Find it!”
The guard nodded.
~*~
The stairs were rutted deeply from the ground water which had run down the incline at one time. Alec held onto Genevieve where the steep, rubble-strewn path looked especially dangerous.
It was doubtful she needed his assistance, but he couldn’t help it, he’d lived every day for the past few weeks in turmoil over her safety. It was a balm to his soul to have her near. Besides, it felt too damn good to touch her.
He held onto her waist while she bent to find her footing, before letting her go he slipped his hand into hers. He lost himself in her eyes when she glanced up and smiled at him… He would go anywhere, face anything… fight the devil himself to be with her.
~*~
“Yes,” the Admiral asked the guard who approached him.
“We’ve found something Saiyid,” the man bowed his head respectfully.
“What is it?”
“A hole in the wall that looks as if it was recently cleared of sand,” the guard answered him.
The Admiral followed him to an area where scratch marks marred the rock around the small hole. Bending down he sifted through the pile of the sand at the base of the rock. “It appears they used a sharp object,” the Admiral commented as he examined the slit.
“What would you have us do?” The guard stood behind him.
The Admiral stood up, dusting his hands off, “Open it.”
One of the guards produced a slim dagger. The Admiral stepped back, allowing him access to the hole. He slipped the knife inside the opening. A murmur of appreciation ran through those nearest as he pulled out a tear-shaped pendant. He handed it over to the Admiral then bent to the task once more.
The Admiral held it up. He recognized it, having seen it around Sophia’s neck. He turned it in his hand as the man on the ground slipped his knife in the opening again.
“No wait!” The Admiral called, but it was too late. A fine spray of acid salt blew out from above the hole, exploding in the man’s face and coating several others beside him.
“Ahh-hh,” the man screamed, covering his face with his hands.
~*~
“Are you going to stop at every boulder to fawn over her?” Samuel sighed as they slowly picked their way down to the bottom, “Because I for one would like to get a move on.”
“In a hurry to get to hell?” Alec inquired with a backwards glance. “Don’t get your knickers in a twist.”
“For your information, I do not even possess a pair.” Samuel harrumphed then paused. “Shhh, do you hear that?”
“It sounds like a soft roar.” Genevieve looked back worriedly.
“It’s almost like the story revealed on the stele between the sphinx paws.” Samuel’s voice was hushed. “The one where the young man was napping under the head of the beast when he heard it whisper to him, telling him that if he uncovered the great lion he would one day be the Pharaoh.” He looked above them warily, “We must be somewhere under the great lion.”
“What is the voice telling you now?” Alec asked sarcastically.
The noise suddenly became louder as the ground itself started to tremble. “To run!” Samuel shouted.
“Dear God! Percival must have tried to open the door,” Genevieve shouted.
Alec jumped down to the base of the stairs, lifting Genevieve with him. The passage widened considerably allowing enough room for Genevieve to run at his side. Samuel leapt down the rocks after them.
“Keep coming this way!” Sophia called from up ahead of them. Genevieve stumbled as they ran. Alec reached down and pulled her up, keeping her hand within his as they went. They quickly came upon Sophia and Akeim who had stopped where the passage split in two different directions.
“Which way?” Samuel asked as he skidded to a halt.
“North,” Sophia looked from one passage to the other, unsure of which one to take.
“That would be this way,” Samuel headed off, disappearing around the corner. He immediately returned at an all-out run. “Not that way!” He yelled. “The other North, the other North!” He shouted as he passed them running down the opposite corridor.
The noise which had been loud, became deafening. They turned to see a wall of water coming toward them from the corridor that Samuel had narrowly escaped. Running as fast
as they could, they followed closely behind him.
Samuel skidded to a halt, balancing precariously on the precipice of a black hole in the middle of the passage. Swinging his arms he tried to overcome the inertia of his reckless flight.
Water burst from behind them, sweeping the rest of them from their feet. The current carried them forward as they fought it. Akeim’s light was extinguished as he was pulled briefly under.
“Augh!” Samuel screamed as the swirling wet fingers pulled at him, pushing him towards the abyss.
“Stay here!” Alec shouted as he left Genevieve clinging to one of the timbers bracing the roof. Running forward, he slammed into Samuel, jumping across the distance. The movement sent Samuel hurtling forward across the expanse of the hole. Alec’s toes touched the other edge, but his foot slipped sending him scrabbling for the side.
The torch Samuel had held flew from his hand, sticking into the ground a few feet away. The flame sputtered threatening to leave them in the dark as water spilled around it. The fabric higher up on the blade caught fire, burning toward the handle.
Sophia joined her daughter, as Akeim braved the waters to get closer. The turbulent flow surged forward. Some of it crossed the boundary to the other side, but most of it spilled into the abyss creating a churning spiral of water that pulled at Alec as he clung to the edge.
Samuel crawled forward, reaching out his hand. Alec lost his hold just as Samuel dove at him, catching his wrist. Alec reached up and tried to seize Samuel’s forearm with his other mud slickened hand, but it slipped off. Struggling, Samuel pulled with all of his might, hanging on for dear life to Alec’s hand which was slowly sliding out of his grasp.
Akeim dove across the expanse rolling onto the ground beside Samuel. He shrugged his robe off, tossing one end toward Alec. Samuel’s grip failed just as the fabric hit Alec in the face. Falling backward, he grabbed at it.
Genevieve watched in horror as Alec’s head disappeared under the torrent of water. “Alec!” she screamed.
Alec grabbed the cloth with both hands as he held his breath against the water which pummeled him without mercy. His weight jerked the makeshift rope as he fell, pulling Akeim towards the edge. Samuel grabbed hold of the fabric that was stretched to a thin cord, adding his strength to Akeim’s. With all their might, one fist at a time, they slowly drew Alec up.
When his head surfaced above the falling water, Alec drew in a huge gulp of air, greedily sucking it into his lungs. Akeim reached forward, pulling at his shoulders, dragging him up over the edge to safety.
Breathing heavily from exertion, Samuel collapsed where he was. Alec crawled forward, coughing, clearing his lungs of the water he’d been forced to swallow.
“We have him!” Akeim called over the noise of the water as he sat back.
“Oh, thank God!” Sophia whispered.
Genevieve hadn’t stopped praying. She let out a sigh of relief and closed her eyes. She hadn’t been aware she was crying until her vision cleared. She blinked the tears away. “Thank you, God.” She whispered.
Alec looked over to Samuel. “Thanks, I thought I was a goner there.”
“So did I,” Samuel gave him a wry smile before looking around with considerable displeasure. “This place is a bloody death trap!”
“Well, you did say,” Alec coughed, “You were in… come hell or high water.”
Chapter 22
“Who would put a large, gaping chasm of death in the middle of a passage?” Samuel stood, looking over the edge of the deep hole. The flood had receded, leaving a slurry of mud in its wake. Moisture continued to drip from the ceiling, echoing through the passage.
“Someone who obviously didn’t want us to get past it,” Alec commented dryly as he stood up. Having lost his turban, he vigorously shook the water from his hair.
“What kind of sinister mind are we dealing with?” Samuel eyed the tunnel suspiciously.
“What is it about hell that you didn’t understand?” Alec replied as he came to stand beside him.
“It does mean we are on the right track.” Sophia spoke up from the other side of the void.
Samuel peered down the black hole again. “You’re telling me this is a good sign?”
“Yes,” Sophia said matter-of-factly. “This chasm of death, as you have so aptly called it, is actually a well which links the tomb to the primordial waters.”
“Well… now that that’s cleared up.” Alec winked at his wife, “Can we offer you ladies assistance over to the other side?”
Genevieve tossed Alec the end of the rope that she had made earlier. “I thought you’d never ask.” With very little notice she sprang across the abyss, clearing the hole with room to spare.
Alec couldn’t help but move so that she ended up in his arms. He held her for a moment not wanting to let her go. To his surprise she held on when he released her.
“I thought for a moment, I might have lost you,” she spoke softly, looking up at him. Her eyes went to the wet lock of hair that fell rakishly across his brow.
“It’s not going to be that easy for you to get rid of me.” He grinned widely. “Haven’t I told you that?”
Samuel who was standing beside them shrugged nonchalantly. “I believe I’ve mentioned it.” He unwound his turban, looping it around his shoulder as he spoke.
“So you did.” She smiled before spinning around and tossing her mother the end of the rope.
~*~
The Admiral stood before the temple staring at the entrance where they had vanished. “Whatever you do,” he raised his voice in anger. “Do not let them get away again.”
The Dragoman nodded in response.
“If they do manage to find their way out,” he looked over at his trusted servant. “Bring the women to me along with the artifact.”
“What of the men?” The Dragoman asked.
The Admiral gave him a baleful glance. “Do not let them leave here.”
The Dragoman nodded his understanding before the Admiral turned away.
~*~
“This appears to be a mock city.” Samuel looked around the large room they had entered. “There is even a pretend door cut into the wall.”
“Interesting.” Alec poked his head through several openings along the hall that appeared to be storefronts.
Sophia stood before one of the many carvings along the wall. “Everything you could want in the afterlife.”
Samuel turned to her. “But it’s empty.”
“Not for those who dwell in the underworld.” She pointed out a hieroglyph beside her. “They believed that everything that has been depicted on the walls would be available to them, along with what they were actually buried with.”
“I don’t know about you, but there is nothing here that would make me want to call this heaven.” Samuel leaned closer to Alec, “It’s decidedly vacant of two very important commodities... Wine and women.”
Despite the fact her head was turned away Sophia answered. “We haven’t yet found the actual stores of goods.”
“As to the women… here you are.” Akeim handed him a small figurine.
“What is this?” Samuel turned the wooden statue in his hands.
“A woman,” he stated with a slight raise of his brow before turning away.
Samuel watched the warrior walk away. “He’s really taken a liking to me.”
“A real shine… It’s obvious.” Alec nodded.
“Here,” Genevieve laughed at them. “Let me see that.” She turned it within her hand. “It’s a shabtis.”
“A what?” Samuel viewed it with renewed interest.
“It actually means one who answers.” Genevieve explained as she handed the statue back to him. “They buried these figures in the belief that they would come to life and be of service.”
“I don’t know which is more unsettling,” Samuel whispered over to Alec. “The idea that this figure would come to life or that Akeim is playing cupid with it.”
“That is unsettling,�
� Alec agreed. “I wouldn’t be too eager for the wine either if I were you.”
“Why is that?” Samuel asked.
“I’d be leery of anything over four-thousand years old,” Alec grimaced. “It no doubt went to vinegar long ago.”
“Why must you spoil everything,” Samuel gave him a look of irritation as Sophia spoke up.
“I believe I’ve found it.” She stood before a wall depicting a boat with nine Egyptian gods within it. Below the depiction, the writings had crumbled away.
“Found what?” Alec walked over to her.
“How to enter through the first gate,” Sophia replied.
“Wait a minute; I thought we already had entered.” Samuel followed behind him. “You mean we haven’t even started?”
“Afraid not,” nonplussed, Sophia continued her study of the wall.
“What does one have to do to get to hell?” Samuel whispered under his breath.
“This is considered to be an interstitial space, before the actual underworld.” Genevieve thought to add. “Much like the ferryman, who rows the dead across the lake. Only in the Egyptian belief, you must pass through a gate which is guarded by Urea.”
“Urea?” Alec said in alarm. “You mean we have more snakes to contend with?”
Genevieve was surprised by his reaction. “We have yet to see any.”
“That was in the last tomb.” Samuel informed her.
“In the last tomb?” Genevieve looked over at Alec again.
“Your uncle had us entombed when we tried to rescue you the last time.” Samuel threw his hands up dramatically. “Well, perhaps rescue is too broad a term, since all we managed to do is aid him in capturing you.”
Noting her questioning glance, Alec shrugged. “We followed you to the ruins of Karnack. Unfortunately, we believed we were fighting against the men who had sailed after you.”
“You mean you were there? I had thought,” she paused, turning a little pink over the confession, “that you didn’t come.”
Alec smiled at her. “As long as I draw breath, I will always be there for you.” He would have pulled her towards him, but Samuel stood between them.
“This is awkward.” Samuel looked painstakingly over at Alec. “Please leave me home on your next honeymoon.”
Treasure of Egypt Page 27