Amanda Grange & Jacqueline Webb (18 page)

A breeze sprang up, and the fine sand began to drift, catching him in his nose and throat. He became aware of the dangers of his enterprise and wondered if he should have left word of his intentions, but it was too late for such thoughts.

He stopped to rest, the sweat drying on his back, and he felt cold. But he could not let go of his fantasy, and soon he began to dig again. And then his spade struck something hard. He stopped and probed gently. Yes, it was definitely something hard and solid.

Dropping to his knees, he began scrabbling at the sand with his hands, feeling his way around the obstruction as his excitement mounted. His fingers closed around a step and he sat back on his heels, laughing with joy. He had found it! The lost tomb! The tomb of Ammon and Husn! And on the breeze he caught an echo of laughter.

He began to dig again, but as the night wore on his excitement waned and he began to realise how exhausted he was. The huge mounds of sand all around him bore testament to his work and a glance at his watch showed him that he had been digging for hours. Already the sky was beginning to lighten. The work was not progressing fast enough. It was time to get help.

Taking out his compass, he took his bearings, and leaving the spade standing upright in the sand, he returned to camp as fast as his tired legs would take him.

There were already signs of life. The
fellahs
were untethering the donkeys and Sir Matthew, shrugging himself into his coat, was emerging from his tent, ready for a new day.

“I've found it,” said Edward, stumbling forward with the last of his strength. “Bring every man in the camp. I've found the tomb.”

When Elizabeth and Darcy rode into camp after their romantic night at the oasis, they found it a mass of shouting and confusion.

“What is it?” asked Elizabeth as she slid from the camel. “What has happened?”

“Oh, Lizzy, is it not exciting?” asked Mrs Bennet, rushing out to meet them. “Edward has found the tomb. What riches we shall have! Bracelets and necklaces and crowns, too, I should not wonder. What a wonderful young man he is! How unfortunate that all my daughters are married, and my granddaughters not yet old enough to be betrothed, for I am sure he would make an excellent addition to the family. Mrs Long will be green with envy when we return home.”

“Is it true?” Elizabeth asked Sir Matthew, who was standing in the centre of the chaos and giving a string of clear, calm commands in Egyptian.

He broke off from directing affairs and said, “It is certainly true that he has found something. Exactly what remains to be seen. He was digging in the desert and his spade hit stone. Further excavation revealed that he had hit a flight of steps leading underground, which convinced him that he had found the entrance to a tomb. However, until we know more I would advise restraint. All too often, these early excitements give way to disappointment. The steps that seem to promise access to a burial chamber turn out to be an embellishment on the plinth of a statue or some such thing, and even if they do indeed prove to be something more, then all too often the tomb has been broken into by generations of grave robbers and there is nothing left inside but rubble and broken pottery.”

“Even so… do you think it could be the tomb of Aahotep's lovers?” asked Elizabeth.

“It is certainly possible—the tomb is in the area missing on the map—but it is too early to say anything except that a few steps have been found.”

“You have told Edward this?” asked Darcy.

“Of course, but youth…” Sir Matthew shrugged expressively.

“Youth is optimistic,” said Elizabeth.

“I was going to say foolish, but you are kinder than I,” said Sir Matthew. “I would advise you to remain here in the camp until we know more.”

“Good advice,” said Darcy.

“But like all good advice, destined to be ignored!” said Elizabeth. “I have a mind to see the tomb, if it is a tomb, uncovered. I do not suppose I will ever have a chance to participate in such a discovery again.”

“Very well, if you wish,” said Sir Matthew, with a resigned look which said
Wealthy
patrons
must
be
humoured
.

“Oh, yes,” said Mrs Bennet. “What fun it will be.”

“There will be nothing to see for hours or even days,” said Darcy. “Would you not rather wait here until the tomb is revealed?”

“I do not see why I should have to stay behind,” said Mrs Bennet in an aggrieved tone of voice.

Elizabeth, better used to managing her mother, said, “Of course you must come. A little sand in the mouth and nose will not put you off, and when we enter the tomb, I am sure you will not mind the foul air and the desiccated mummies. It is more exciting than staying here in the cool of the camp, with drinks close to hand and nothing to do but gossip until we return with the treasure.”

Mrs Bennet paused, openmouthed, and then said, “But someone must stay behind and look after the children. I think, after all, I am the only person reliable enough to do it.”

Matters thus being settled, Elizabeth and Darcy returned to their tent, where they readied themselves for the excavation. When Elizabeth emerged, she was swathed from head to foot in a long muslin gown. She was wearing a hat to which she had attached a muslin veil. It not only would serve to keep the hot sun off her face but also would act as a useful guard against the sand which would be filling the air. Darcy wore a muslin cravat which could be pulled up and used in a similar fashion when the occasion demanded.

They were just going to join Edward, when they saw that he was with Sophie, but their tact was misplaced, for Edward brushed Sophie aside in his eagerness to continue his exploration. After a moment of looking hurt, Sophie quickly rallied and turned away from him, making a remark to Paul instead. Then, seeing Elizabeth, she said, “Might I speak to you for a moment?”

“But of course,” said Elizabeth, as Darcy excused himself to speak to Sir Matthew.

“I thought I should tell you that Margaret was sleepwalking again last night,” said Sophie. “Luckily, Edward and I saw her, and because we did not like to wake her, we followed her until she lay down and passed into a natural sleep, then we brought her back to the camp. She does not seem to have taken any harm from her experience; in fact, she seems in good spirits today. She is less interested in her doll than usual. I know you took it away from her, but she managed to find it again and I could not pry it out of her fingers last night. But she has put it down several times of her own accord this morning, and in another day or two I think she will forget all about it altogether. She has been far more interested in playing with her brothers and sisters, which I cannot help but think is a good thing.”

“I agree,” said Elizabeth. “It is lucky you saw her. I will make sure her nurse or her governess is with her throughout the night from now on, in case it happens again, but I should not worry about it. Lydia used to walk in her sleep, I remember. Papa declared it was because she was too energetic to lie down for ten hours at a time! Perhaps Margaret is more active at night here because she takes more naps in the day.”

“Yes, I expect that is it,” said Sophie, relieved.

“Are you coming with us to see the tomb?” asked Elizabeth.

“I am not sure…”

“Your reluctance has nothing to do with Edward being brusque, has it?” asked Elizabeth.

“It has nothing to do with Edward at all,” said Sophie, with a pride Elizabeth admired. “I will certainly join you.”

“Well, I am glad. I think it will be interesting.”

Elizabeth joined Darcy and Edward at the head of the procession of donkeys and camels. “I knew we would find the tomb. Did I not say so all along? Oh, I know what Sir Matthew says—it might all lead to nothing—but I am convinced, Darcy. It is the tomb our fathers searched for, and now we are about to enter it and make all their sacrifices worthwhile. Just think what this will mean for all of us!”

The procession made its way across the desert with Edward and Sir Matthew at its head. To begin with, Edward led the way confidently, guided by his compass, but as they progressed his camel went more slowly as he tried to remember exactly where the steps had been found.

They retraced their path several times and then he gave a cry of elation.

“Here!”

He slid down from his camel and ran over to the spot, his feet sinking in the sand as he did so. Sir Matthew followed at a more leisurely pace.

The
fellahs
, however, slowed their steps and at last came to a halt altogether, a hundred yards away from the site. The donkeys stopped beside them.

“What is it?” asked Elizabeth as a murmuring broke out.

“They say ‘Very bad place,'” translated Saeed. “‘Much magic here. Very, very bad place.'”

“Which means they want more money to go on,” said Sir Matthew. “It is always the way.”

“No, no,
effendi
; they say it is not money,” said Saeed, translating the babbling of the
fellahs
, who were huddled together as if for protection. “This place is under the sway of a magician, a very powerful magician; he has put a curse on the tomb so that no one may enter it. If they do, something terrible will happen.”

“What kind of terrible thing?” asked Sir Matthew, with a twinkle in his eye.

“Something terrible,” said one of the
fellahs
, who spoke a little English.

“Come, come, now, if you know so much, you must know more. Tell us what will befall us if we enter the tomb. Will we be struck down by a plague? Or will we meet with a terrible accident perhaps? Or will some afrit of the air whirl us away, or some water demon deluge us with a flood?”

Saeed translated, then translated the man's reply: “These things are not a fit subject for laughing. The magician will take his revenge.”

“And how much money would persuade the men that it is worth braving the magician's wrath?” asked Sir Matthew.

Saeed consulted with them.

“They would need much money, they say. They will be risking their lives and leaving their families destitute if the curse falls upon them. This is a very bad place, they say.”

As the haggling continued, Edward impatiently sprang from his camel and unfastened a spade.

“If you wish to see anything before sunset, or indeed before next week's sunset, you might care to come with me,” he said to his cousins, then waded through the sand to the top of the exposed steps.

Elizabeth and Darcy followed him, curious to see what had been found. There were five steps uncovered, with piles of sand beside them.

Edward began to dig, and Darcy, returning to the camel for another spade, joined him.

Edward gave a lopsided grin.

“I knew you had the family obsession inside you somewhere,” he said. “Admit it; it is exciting.”

“It might be exciting, depending on what we uncover,” said Darcy.

“Well, that is a start,” said Edward.

As Elizabeth watched them, she felt her own excitement stirring. The steps were beautifully preserved, and as the two men dug deeper, more were uncovered, until at last Edward gave a cry.

“A door!”

Elizabeth ran down the steps and saw what had given rise to the cry. Climbing up from the bottommost step were two stone columns: doorposts.

Edward began to dig again and then, suddenly throwing down his spade, he hurried over to the workmen, who were still arguing and haggling for more money.

“Decide,” he said curtly, speaking to the men in their own language. “Either start digging, or start walking. I have no use for men who will not work.”

“The magician—”

“I know all about the magician and his curse,” said Edward. “Either take my money and brave the curse, or go home empty-handed. I will not have idle men on my dig.”

“
Effendi
—”

“Choose,” said Edward, in a tone that brooked no dissent.

There were a few more protests that the magician would appear and curse them all with a plague, but they were no more than halfhearted gestures, and before long it had all been resolved to everyone's satisfaction. The
fellahs
had almost doubled their pay, and Edward had a small army to dig for him.

Work proceeded quickly. Sand was carried away in large baskets by the donkeys, and a palisade of palm wood was erected to prevent the sides falling back into the hole. As the doorway was gradually revealed, the sand around it was drenched with water from the Nile so that the sand would remain firm. The doorposts were decorated with hieroglyphs—“Powerful spells,
effendi
”—and between them stood an unbroken door.

“The seal is intact,” said Edward reverently. “We have found it.”

“There speaks the voice of inexperience,” said Sir Matthew dryly. “All the evidence points to this being a false entrance. There are only eight steps leading down to the door, and it would be more usual to find fifteen or sixteen steps, placing the tomb much deeper underground.”

But Edward was obstinate, saying, “This is Aahotep's tomb; I know it.”

“If the stories are correct—and I will admit there is no reason why they should be—but if they are, then the tomb you are searching for is not the tomb of Aahotep but the tomb of the lovers she murdered,” Sir Matthew corrected him.

One of the men murmured and Saeed translated, “A tomb protected by a mighty magician, hired by the lovers' families to guard them in death. Its desecration will bring down the wrath of the magician on our heads.”

“We are not going to desecrate it,” said Edward. “We are going to give Aahotep a chance to make amends.”

They looked at him in surprise, and Edward looked surprised himself, then said, “By showing us the treasures, of course!”

“And what, might I ask, do you intend to do with the treasures?” Sir Matthew asked.

“Display them, so that the world at large might see them,” said Edward.

“The world at large, or private collectors who are willing to pay handsomely for them?” enquired Sir Matthew.

But Edward was not listening. He was examining the hieroglyphs on the doors, brushing off the clinging sand with his fingers and revealing the intensity of the bright blues and reds and yellows. The beautiful and exotic markings were so brilliantly coloured that they might have been painted the previous day, not thousands of years before.

“Look!” he said. “The lovers are here! Their names are in the cartouches.”

Elizabeth saw that Sir Matthew was not convinced, despite the presence of the names. Nevertheless, he waved Edward aside and set about making a small hole in the top corner of the door.

“Is it not easier to break the seal?” asked Darcy.

“I want to discover if the passage beyond is blocked. It will help me decide how we should open the door,” Sir Matthew explained.

He gave a last chip with the chisel and broke a small hole in the plaster.

A murmur went up from the
fellahs
, who stumbled back as if expecting a djinn to appear through the hole and whirl them away on a cyclone or burn them in a geyser of flame. But when nothing happened they took courage and pressed forward again.

Sir Matthew lit a flambeau and by its light he peered through the hole.

“Well?” demanded Edward.

“The passage behind the door is not blocked,” said Sir Matthew.

“Then we will soon be inside,” said Edward.