“Here take this,” Akeim released Samuel’s foot for a moment in order to pull his own turban off. Black hair fell into his face as he handed it up.
Samuel had to let go of Sophia’s foot for a moment to take it from him. “Takes quite a bit of skill, doesn’t it? Hold tight… steady… steady.” Slowly, so that the movement wouldn’t upset her, he held the cloth up. Sophia grabbed it from him, tossing the end up to Genevieve. “Well done!” he crowed as she scrambled up the rope to the ledge above. The little jig he did almost cost him his own balance much to Akeim’s consternation.
“We’re going to need more cloth,” Sophia called down when the end of it dangled a few feet above Samuel’s hand.
“Ahh, the problem is... I’ve only my britches.” Samuel looked down at Akeim. “What of you?”
“I have only the kaftan left,” Akeim replied meaningfully, looking down at Alec.
“I have pants under mine,” Alec said, avoiding looking up.
Akeim had to move his feet while Alec slid the kaftan off. Unable to step out of it, he ripped it in down the front in order to free himself of it. He passed it up to Akeim, who tossed it up to Samuel, who then threw it up to the women.
Tying the new piece on, they were able to reach Samuel who climbed up with ease. The new length reached Akeim as well, but proved to be too short for Alec. He stood down below as they tied the last piece of available cloth.
Alec tied the flaming sword on next. The rope caught on fire as they pulled the flickering light up. Samuel grabbed a hold of the handle when it reached him and cut the material away from the blazing sword.
“I will wear your soiled pants, if you so much as take another inch off,” Akeim threatened him. Samuel, who was about to hack off more of the burning fabric, chose to stomp the fire out instead.
Alec could hear Akeim grumble from down below. The rope that came back down to him was suspiciously shorter than the last time he’d seen it, he had to jump for the end. Grabbing hold he quickly climbed to the top.
Samuel was grinning at him as he reached the ledge. “Didn’t I tell you we’d need rope,” he laughed.
“Where is Akeim?” Alec asked.
“He is back there,” Samuel motioned with his head, “in the dark.” His grin broadened as he untied the last garment in the rope and held it up.
“Ahh,” Alec nodded in understanding as he looked at Akeim’s much shorter kaftan.
“I will not wear this!” Akeim yelled back after Samuel tossed the much shorter robe back to him. “Give me your pants.”
“I’ve seen young men in robes that short,” Samuel said reasonably.
“Young boys,” Akeim growled.
“How bad can it be?” Samuel asked, but couldn’t wipe the grin from his face as they waited for the warrior to don his new clothes.
“It is done,” Akeim announced.
Holding the light, Sophia entered the hall followed by the rest. Akeim stood in front of them wearing the short, black kaftan. The cloth fell well above his knees, whereas his boots started just below them. They stopped in stunned silence. With his long, dark hair loose, he looked more like a gladiator of old… One prepared for battle by the look on his face.
“Whew,” Samuel whistled, “That is short!”
“I will cut your tongue out,” Akeim warned as Samuel opened his mouth to speak again.
Sophia passed Akeim the light as she headed toward the next room. “Are you coming?” she looked back over her shoulder as everyone remained rooted where they were.
Akeim turned away first, following her to the opening.
“Touchy isn’t he?” Samuel chuckled softly.
“We’ve apparently found his Achilles heel,” Alec nodded with eyes brows raised.
All thought about the warrior and his new wardrobe faded when they entered the next room. Sophia and Akeim stopped just inside the threshold in amazement. The room was filled with funerary items for the pharaoh in his afterlife.
“This is more like it,” Samuel whispered in awe as he stepped into the room and picked up a golden statue.
“Be careful,” Sophia gave him a stern look, “these items do not belong to us.”
“You actually think he’s using them?” Samuel motioned toward a stone statue of the Pharaoh.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Sophia’s tone was disapproving as she moved into the room. “I am saying that these things belong to the people of Egypt. It is their legacy not ours.”
“What about the artifact the Admiral spoke of?” Samuel picked through the items curiously.
“That is different,” Sophia stopped before a statue of the sphinx. “It was placed here much later by the high priestess of Amun and it belongs to the S’ba.” She looked at the hieroglyphs written on the side before moving on. Akeim followed behind her with the light while Samuel trailed behind, pestering her with questions.
“You’re really going to leave all of this here?” Samuel asked in amazement.
She turned looking back at him, “I am the keeper of knowledge. It is my duty to protect this, not exploit it.”
“Unbelievable,” Samuel sighed, looking around. “But—”
“No, buts either,” Sophia stopped before another lion-faced statue.
“Good luck with that argument,” Alec chimed in as he and Genevieve made their way through the crowded isle behind them.
Sophia stopped before a cat-faced goddess with a sistrum on her head in place of a crown. Two cobras had been carved in the middle of the sacred instrument. Again, she studied the inscription around its base.
“What exactly are you looking for, a cat?” Samuel picked up a small statue of an ordinary house cat on a table nearby. “Is this it?” he flicked the golden nose ring that adorned it.
When she didn’t reply he tried again. “Why is this artifact important anyway?” he looked back at Alec and Genevieve when Sophia wouldn’t answer.
Alec gave him a shoulder shrug in response.
“Well, what can I know?” he raised his hands in frustration.
“That is the goddess Bastet you’re holding,” Genevieve said indicating the statue he held.
Samuel gave them a look of exasperation as he set it down and turned away, catching easily up with Sophia and Akeim who were entering another room. “But,” they heard Samuel say as they disappeared.
“How are you doing?” Alec turned to Genevieve. “Are you still cold?” he drew her closer to his bare skin.
“No,” she whispered, though she shivered all the same as he enfolded her in his arms.
“Are you coming?” Samuel poked his head back around the corner.
“I’m no longer even surprised by his uncanny ability to thwart me,” Alec sighed. “I suppose we should catch up, you never know what may be lurking around the next corner, or above.”
“Or below,” Genevieve added.
“Especially that,” Alec smiled as he took her hand, weaving them between the isles of the cluttered room and into the next.
The next hall they entered was enormous, with many storage rooms like the one they had just left on either side. They followed the voices, easily catching up with the others as they entered yet another room.
“But,” Samuel was saying again.
“No,” Sophia gave him a look of exasperation.
Alec shook his head. “I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had the same conversation.” He laughed at Samuel’s disgruntled expression as Sophia uncovered another statue. This time it was of a seated woman whose bent knees created a flat surface. A seven-pointed star was inscribed on the front.
“Who is this?” Samuel couldn’t help but ask.
“You are worse than a child,” Akeim growled.
“Alas,” he sighed. “But at least I’m not the one in short pants,” Samuel stared pointedly to the warrior’s knees.
Akeim eyes narrowed as he stepped forward menacingly.
“It is Seshat,” Sophia placed a hand on Akeim’s arm to stay him, “the
goddess of writing.”
“Really?” Curious, Samuel came closer, “But—”
“No,” Sophia, Alec and Akeim responded.
“No?” Samuel lifted his hands innocently. “I was merely going to point out, that I thought that the goddess of writing was the keeper of knowledge, the S’ba,” he paused studying the statue. “But this one has a seven-pointed star rather than a five…wait. The star on the back of the map had seven points.” He looked up at Sophia, “That’s why you uncovered it, isn’t it?” When she didn’t respond he laughed. “That’s it isn’t it? They are the same.”
“If I tell you, will you let it be?” Sophia sighed as she left the room with him on her heels.
“He knows no bounds,” Akeim replied as he watched Samuel follow her.
“Tell me about it,” Alec nodded in agreement.
They entered another storage room that contained many vessels piled to the ceiling. Samuel picked one up and eyed it warily. “What does this contain?”
Sophia briefly looked back at it, “Soap.”
“Really, so cleanliness really is next to godliness?” Samuel chuckled as he opened the lid and sniffed the contents. “Augh?” he winced. “Are you sure? It smells of something else entirely.”
“It was for washing wool, not humans,” Sophia shook her head. “The Egyptians used scented oils to bathe.”
“Ahh,” he said brushing at his wheat-caked limbs. Rather than set the jar aside, he tucked it under his arm and followed them to the next room that was filled with an array of stone-working tools. Samuel picked up two, half-round blocks that were joined with leather straps. “What is this?” He moved the pieces, weighing each in his hands.
“Be careful with that,” Sophia sighed. “It is what they used to strap onto a square, granite block in order to make it roll up an incline.”
“So they did have wheels,” Samuel chuckled as he folded it together to form a circle.
“Would you stop messing about, it’s very old,” she took the piece from him, looking at him sternly. “We should leave everything as we found it.”
“Does anyone else hear that?” Genevieve stood at the entrance of the room, looking down to the other end of the long dark hallway. “Listen… It sounds as if something is hissing.”
Akeim moved past her into the hall, holding the light high as he walked to the end of it. A giant statue of a snake emerged from the darkness, looming above him as he neared it. The open mouth alone was large enough to fit a man inside.
“Apophis,” Sophia whispered as they approached the menacing creature.
“Does this remind you of anything?” Samuel looked meaningfully over at Alec as he fingered the rope wound about his shoulder.
They watched as Akeim crouched down, holding out his hand. He lifted it to his mouth and looked back at them. “It is water.”
“There is a God!” Samuel ran forward kneeling down before it.
“What about your desire to slay the beast?” Alec raised a brow as Samuel cast the rope aside and knelt before the small pool.
“To hell with the beast,” Samuel opened the jar of soap and stepped into the small pool. Filling the container with water he poured it over his head.
Sophia cleared her throat, “We’ll give you some privacy then.” She turned, lighting one of the many sconces along the wall. Taking it with her she entered one of the many rooms along the hall.
“Let us know if we are needed,” Genevieve added before following her.
As soon as they left, Samuel stripped the rest of the way down and scoured himself thoroughly.
“What do you suppose this is for?” Alec walked to the side of the fountain, studying it. “It’s doubtful they meant to flood this area.” He looked back at the Pharaoh’s wealth.
“That’s a good point,” Samuel agreed as he rinsed his pants. “It also appears to be under pressure.” He felt where the water was spraying in through a small hole at the base.
“Maybe it’s some type of water wheel?” Alec continued his study of the structure while Samuel slipped his wet pants back on.
“This soap is the consistency of molasses,” Samuel complained, dousing himself again in the water. “I’m having a devil of a time getting it off.”
“It could very well be a gear,” Akeim stood back as he considered the head of the viper. All three men looked up as they contemplated the possibility.
“Oh Hell!” Samuel exclaimed when he looked back down. Bubbles had started to form, quickly filling the pool with frothy white suds. “Something tells me the priests of Amun didn’t see this one coming,” he chuckled as he climbed out of the slippery pool.
It didn’t take long for the area to be overwhelmed by foam. In remarkably little time, there was a veritable mountain of suds. “Now what do we do?” Samuel walked about, stomping at the bubbles in a futile attempt to keep them at bay.
“We?” Akeim raised a questioning brow as he stood back with his arms folded across his chest.
“Yes, we…” Samuel asserted, with a look of irritation. When Akeim still refused to yield, Samuel sighed with exasperation. “Oh, all right... I apologize deeply for the short dress.”
“It is not a dress,” Akeim insisted angrily.
“It is where I come from,” Samuel snapped. “And a damn short one too!”
Chapter 26
“What on earth is that commotion?” Sophia looked up from the papyrus she was studying. Both she and Genevieve stared in amazement at the wall of bubbles beyond the doorway of the room they were in.
“Don’t get your short pants in a twist,” they heard Samuel say, followed by the sound of a fist meeting flesh. “Oomph!” Samuel stumbled from the white, foam wall as they watched. Rolling to within a few feet of where they stood, he grinned up at them.
“Hello there Mum,” he rubbed at his jaw.
“Good heavens!” Sophia’s widened in surprise, “What has happened?”
Akeim erupted from the frothing mass with a crown of bubbles on top his head.
“Got to run!” Samuel scrambled to his feet, laughing. He tossed a statue at the angry warrior and dashed into another room.
“Akeim!” Sophia cried in alarm as he ducked. “What are you doing?”
“What I should have done long ago!” he roared, charging after Samuel.
Alec emerged from the bubbles, casually wiping them from his face.
“And you?” Sophia eyed him critically.
“Me?” Alec started in surprise.
“Why didn’t you stop them?” she pointed her finger at him before going after the two.
Alec threw his hands up in dismay as he watched her walk away. He looked over to Genevieve who was biting her lip to keep from laughing.
“Come here,” his eyes gleamed as he smiled mischievously. Taking her hand he led her back into the bubbles. The sconce above cast a golden glow through the bubbles lighting them softly. Tunneling through them, he made a small niche then turned around grinning at her.
“It’s like being in a cloud,” she whispered.
Alec nodded playfully as he drew her near. “It’s like being in heaven with an angel.” The dimple in the side of his cheek deepened.
Genevieve felt a thrill run through her as he took her hand, guiding her further into the bubbles. She gazed at his muscular chest, glistening with moisture. The light cast a golden glow across his form. The shadows played across his skin, accentuating the muscles that rippled across his belly.
She watched spellbound as he lifted his hand up to her shoulder. His fingers grazed her skin as he slid them down her bare arm, leaving a trail of soapy bubbles. His other hand skimmed her hip as he stood watching her with his smoldering gaze. She shivered from the effect as he pulled her to him.
“God, you are beautiful,” he whispered huskily as he bent to kiss her.
His kiss was a soft caress. Opening her mouth with his tongue, he explored gently before tilting her head back, nuzzling her ear. His hands claimed her waist as he
trailed kisses from her neck to her collarbone, pulling her lower body more firmly against him. She could feel the hard length of him against her.
“Umm,” he groaned softly as he raised his hands, brandishing a path of heat as he brushed his palms against her sides. His hands continued up until they rested on either side of her breasts.
His tongue played across the flesh exposed at the top of her neckline. The tingling awareness of him seemed to resonate within her. She arched further back, wanting, needing his touch. Her hardened nipples pressed against the thin fabric. His thumbs grazed the tips as he cupped her full breasts.
“Ahh,” she sighed as he claimed her mouth again in a heated kiss. His right hand boldly claimed her bottom as he rocked his hips forward. The heat of him pressed into her. She was lost in a world of sensation as he raised his head. His eyes seared her very soul as she watched him.
“Mmm,” he groaned, looking at her with longing. “How I wish I could touch you as I want,” he hugged her to him. “Samuel will no doubt be running through here any minute. Not to mention Akeim and your mother.” With regret, he released her.
On cue, Samuel darted past them, appearing a moment later in the niche Alec had carved out. “I’m not intruding am I?” he grinned as he stepped inside the small area.
Alec stepped before Genevieve, shielding her. “Tell me you’re not going to use that on him?” Alec asked, referring to the small statue Samuel held in his hand.
“What? This?” he looked over his shoulder. “What do you take me for… A hooligan?”
“I will have your head!” Akeim bellowed from somewhere in the foamy mass.
Samuel’s grin widened as he put his fingers to his lips. “Shh,” he whispered before tiptoeing away.
Akeim appeared a moment later in the opening that Samuel had left in his wake. Without a word, both Alec and Genevieve pointed in the direction that Samuel had taken when he’d left.
“Will they be all right?” Genevieve asked softly.
“Of course,” Alec smiled at her concern. “They are just blowing off steam. As you can plainly see, the hooligan, as it were, is enjoying himself immensely.”
Treasure of Egypt Page 33