Ankh

ANKH

A modern fantasy

By Sonni Cooper

Copyright 2011 by Sonni Cooper

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ANKH

Sonni Cooper

Chapter One

I d k htet an Ausar Ani: unu tephet-a sep sen er u em

ennu kek . amen - nua emma ten au emu seku.

Saith Osiris Ausar: my hiding place is opened,

my place of hiding is revealed! Light hath

shone in the darkness. I have hidden myself

with you oh ye stars that never set.

BOOK OF THE DEAD

The sun blazed in the clear Egyptian sky parching everything. Sarah looked across the valley through the hot shimmering desert air. Not even an illusion of water or greenery offered respite to the browns and beiges of the seemingly endless desert. Yet, not more than a mile and a half away from this desolate spot, the life-giving, ever flowing Nile coursed its ancient way toward the Delta on its way to the cool Mediterranean Sea. Sarah mopped the sweat from her forehead and tied the soaked bandana around her brow. No wonder they say this place has the worst weather in Egypt. She wondered how she could ever have thought archaeology could be exciting, how anyone could have chosen to live in this god-forsaken hole at all. Knowing the climate had changed and dried through the centuries was no comfort. It was here and now that mattered to her, and here and now was mighty uncomfortable.

Shielding her eyes from the glare, Sarah looked toward the clicking sound of Professor Matthews' pick against rock, echoing from the draw below. She could see his athletic form overseeing Bob's activities. Matthews always gave the appearance of the self-assured. Even in the heat and dust, he looked entirely at ease, as if he belonged here. There he was, leaning over Bob, his Abacrombie and Fitch desert suit unwrinkled. A red bandanna, carefully tied about his forehead, looking like something a movie star would sport rather than the limp, wet thing which clung uncomfortably to Sarah's perspiring head. How does he do it? Sarah grasped her shovel tightly, sensing its smooth handle against her suede gloved hand. Even the equipment he provides is first class.

Sarah had every intention of getting back to work, but her preoccupation with the Professor won out. She envied his ability to adjust to the adverse conditions of the desert. In the sun's unmerciful heat, even her fellow graduate student Bob's black skin seemed singed to a dull gray. She watched with interest as Bob bent and carefully dusted something off. Matthews dropped to his knees to examine the area more closely. The thought of finding something, anything thrilled her. What is it? she shouted.

Just some old ceramic beads, Bob shouted, his deep basso voice softened by the wind. Nothing to get excited about, Sarah.

Discouraged, Sarah remembered the speech Matthews gave before they left the plane. Don't expect to find anything terribly important. We aren't going to be digging in any significant area, and anything we find will be kept in Egypt as a result of the strict antiquities' protection laws. The best you can expect to take home is a color photo of some minor artifacts you've dug yourselves, and some really good experience in the field.

And a super set of freckles, Sarah said mournfully as she dabbed another layer of sun block onto her arms, and now crisp nose. It all had sounded so romantic and exciting when she was in the protective confines of the University of Colorado, in blessedly cool Boulder. The fact that summers simmered off the Great Plains and Boulder tended to be as hot in the summer as it was cold in the winter, was totally forgotten in her longing for a cool respite. It was fall now. Boulder would be cooling, snow would be hitting the high peaks and maybe even getting down to the elevation of Boulder - blissfully cold snow. However uncomfortable she might be, Sarah remembered well the competition to qualify for the coveted three places in Matthews’ annual dig. They were a plum every archaeology graduate student hoped for. Only the top three students qualified; the costs were totally covered by the wealthy professor. Sarah looked over to the third student on the dig. Tall, dark, seemingly unbothered by the heat, Tony Banchieri hacked away at the resisting ground. A boy from one of the poorer sections of Brooklyn, he could never have afforded to come without the Professor's generous scholarship.

Tony tossed a shovel full of sand into the hot desert wind and looked up at Sarah. Tired, Sarah?

No, cooked. Well done. This country wasn't made for redheads. It's like being in a blast furnace. Find anything interesting down there?

Nope, just sand and rocks.

Sarah picked up her shovel, put her foot to it, and sank it crunching into the sand. Since there were many layers of sand and debris to remove before they expected to uncover anything of real interest, delicacy was still unneeded. I'm gonna come up with something significant if it kills me! The sweat ran down her sun burnt nose stinging along its course. She bent down and checked the sand she had excavated for any sign of artifacts. The dull sheen of metal caught the bright sunlight. Sarah carefully brushed the sand away from the shiny object. She could hardly contain herself. Professor Matthews, I've found something!

I'm coming right up, Sarah.

As Matthews, closely followed by Bob and Tony, bounded up the edge of the draw, Sarah took out her notebook and marked her find on the grid. She had already started a rough sketch of the object when Matthews joined her. Putting a ruler beside her find for proper measurement, Sarah reached for the camera in her pack and snapped a photo for the dig record. Only then, did she carefully lift the treasure from its ancient sandy hiding place.

Good, Sarah. Matthews took the object from her. I'm glad to see you didn't forget procedure.

I guess all those practice digs at Mesa Verde paid off, Prof. It’s a beautiful ankh! Matthews handed the artifact back to Sarah who proudly held it up and posed for a shot, while Tony recorded the event with proper solemnity. He took the opportunity to sneak in an extra shot of Sarah to copy for his wallet. Now that his students had finished their impromptu photo session, Matthews examined the ankh carefully; his brow wrinkled. He bent over the hole, carefully sweeping away more of the sand, as if anticipating another object. Twice as old as his students, the professor, a fanatic jogger and health nut, looked almost as young as they. His sandy hair had streaks of gray, adding dignity rather than age to his appearance. He was deeply tanned, and Sarah noticed with respect, able to outdo all of them with his natural energy and enthusiasm.

Matthews looked expectantly toward Sarah. Is this the only object you found? Nothing else?

Crestfallen, Sarah responded. I think it’s a great find, don’t you?

Not especially. It's not unusual to find an ankh in a burial site. However I hadn't expected to find one quite like this in this specific location. The only indication that there might have been anything here is the slight depression I mapped from the air when I spotted this site last year. This ankh seems displaced, somehow.

Sarah turned when the desert quiet was suddenly disturbed by a low rumbling, as if heavy equipment was working close by. The ground shuddered, and in just a few seconds the desert stilled again. What was that? Sarah had instinctively glommed onto Tony's arm for security. Somewhat embarrassed, she deliberately let go.

Matthews calmly looked off to the horizon. A small tremor. Nothing to worry about. Small earthquakes are common in this part of the world. He put his hand out to Sarah. Let me see that ankh again. Sarah proudly handed him her find. Matthews hefted the ancient cross of life, turning it in his hand, examining it thoroughly. Its dull gold sheen, buried for thousands of years, picked up the sun's rays and shone richly. The ankh seemed completely devoid of decoration and quite heavy. He ran his finger over the smooth, squared loop at the top of the ancient cross.

Sarah grinned. It's unusual isn't it? I've mostly seen photos of ankhs with oval loops in the texts.

Most texts picture artifacts from later periods. This seems very early, Matthews explained. This one... The ground shook again, this time harder. Behind them a small section of wall of the draw slipped. Get away from the edge of the wadi, Matthews shouted, pushing Sarah back, it's beginning to give.

The third tremor was much stronger than those previous. It split and cracked the earth, tumbling the four archaeologists head over heels, plunging them downward into the widening gap.

As suddenly as it began, the quake stopped. Matthews checked his arms and legs, flexing to see that they were fully functional, then called out, Is everybody all right? Sarah! Tony! Bob!

Coughing, Bob dug his huge bulk out of a pile of loose sand. A whisk broom clung to his hair like some sort of primitive head-dress. I'm okay. Just a little bruised. He heaved himself up and looked around. Hey, Tony, you all right? He began digging at a mound of shifting sand.

Tony? Matthews joined Bob, quickly shoveling beside him. Assured they'd dug Tony out, the Professor worriedly looked about. Have you seen anything of Sarah?

Not yet. Bob continued digging, finally unearthing his class-mate. Hey, Tony!

Tony's eyes opened tentatively. What the hell?

Earthquake, Matthew's explained. You okay?

Tony groaned. I think I got a broken arm. He tested his other arm and stretched. Can't tell about anything else yet. Is everybody else all right?"

Solemnly, Matthews looked about. We haven't found Sarah yet.

*** ***

Scratched, bruised, and bleeding from a dozen cuts, Sarah took stock of her situation. She had fallen into some sort of subterranean chamber. A small patch of light above her gave her hope. Digging herself out of a mound of fallen earth and sand, she unkinked her strained back and tried standing. Her movement caused an additional overhang of loosened dirt to shift, bringing another slide tumbling down. Spitting out dirt and sand, she carefully eased herself up again and looked around. Professor Matthews! Tony! Bob! Anybody hear me? I'm down here! Her shout brought down even more sand. Deciding it best to cause as little disruption as possible, Sarah crawled toward the far end of the cavern, hoping to find a way out. She attempted to climb out, but the soft sand gave way at her weight. Gotta find a tool to dig some footholds. For a moment she was close to panic, but her practical bones took hold and she calmed. Sarah forced herself to take the time to look around at her surroundings. The only light was coming from the shaft through which she had fallen. It was hard to see in the gloom. The area nearest her was shadowed, and then everything went completely dark as the light source from the hole above abruptly faded. Time remedied the situation some. As her eyes adjusted to the dimness, it became obvious she was not in a hole created by the earthquake, but rather had fallen into a carefully excavated cavern that had been disrupted and unearthed by the tremor. Her fall had been broken by the soft sand that had preceded her down the shaft. Thankfully, except for a few minor bruises, she knew she wasn't seriously injured. Regaining her composure, Sarah could vaguely see drawings on the walls of the chamber. I've found a tomb! I think I've found a real Egyptian tomb!

Then the reality of her situation became clear. It won't do me any good if I'm buried down here. Now, how the hell do I get out? She groped about to find an object she could dig hand and footholds in the shaft wall with. Sand sifted poured down. She stopped digging and then, with greater determination, began burrowing into the sand-slide until her hand hit something sharp that cut into the soft flesh of her palm. She sucked at the blood. My pick, she hoped. She removed the sweaty kerchief from about her forehead, wrapped it about her injured hand, and then carefully dug for the sharp object. Her fingers ran over the edge of the metal, but she couldn't free it. Searching about, Sarah finally found the tip of her shovel handle poking out from the fallen debris. She hauled it out and began digging out the sharp metal article.

Dripping with sweat and feeling quite triumphant, Sarah held the small golden box she had excavated cupped in her hands. Adorned with lapis and turquoise, it was carved wood, intricately overlaid with beaten gold. She poked into the hole she had dug, hoping to find something else. All thought of rescue was temporarily gone in the pursuit of another trophy. She dug deeper until she felt a larger object, seemingly constructed of hewn rock. Sarah put all of her remaining strength into shoveling the debris away from the larger artifact below her. She cleared an area about two feet wide before she found a metal protrusion. She found it to be a link of heavy copper chain. Yanking with all of her might, she gave another tug, but still hadn’t found the chain’s source.

Groping deeper, she went immediately cold when she felt something else. No, it can't be, she told herself, when she thought she recognized the feel of the object. Oh, God! It feels like human flesh. I think I've found someone buried down here. Professor! Tony! Bob! She called frantically. Sarah dug more furiously, shoveling out the sand around the cold fingers she had felt under the sand. She freed the fingers, then a limp hand. Feverishly, she dug beside the hand, working to free the man trapped beneath the earth slide. He can't be alive after being buried all this time, she thought, but she didn’t give up. Desperation gave her additional strength. She freed the hand to the wrist, completely puzzled and startled by what she found next. It was a heavy copper bracelet attached to his wrist. Sarah continued scooping out handfuls of sand, searching to free the man's head. Thoroughly exhausted, she brushed a red curl from her face, wiping a tear off her dust-covered face. Someone, please... The sand sifted down almost as fast as she could dig. She reached through it, feeling her way until her hand touched hair. She clawed at the sand, trying to free the trapped man, clearing the hairline, and then finally freeing his head from the sucking sand.

Guilt swept over her when she felt a moment of relief because she didn't recognize the man. At least he wasn’t one of her dig-mates. But who is he if he isn’t with our crew? Her practical side immediately took over. This is one time I'm glad I studied medicine. She checked to see if the stranger was breathing. It's impossible. He's been buried too long. But, she could feel his warm breath on her hand. Putting her mouth to his, she breathed lightly to stimulate his respiration. His skin was cold. Satisfied he was breathing adequately on his own she studied the man's face. In the dimness, his fine aquiline features resembled deeply sculpted ancient statuary; his lips were full and sensual. The stranger's eyes were tightly closed, with long black eyelashes brushing his high prominent cheekbones. Having gotten her second wind, Sarah began digging to completely free him from the encompassing sand. Now that she had cleared most of the debris from around his torso, she could plainly see that both of his hands were above his head, chained to the stone object she hadn't completely dug out. His wrists were seeping blood, as if he had been pulling at the chains to free himself. His sand encrusted body was gashed with bleeding welts and deep blue bruises. Concentrating all of her energy on freeing the injured man from the earthen trap, Sarah gave little further thought to her own precarious predicament.

I wonder who he is. How did he get here? She conjured up of all of the things she had been told about the middle-east and its intrigues, unable to imagine becoming a part of any of them, but strangely beguiled by the prospect. She sat back, panting and exhausted, studying her human find. His hair was black, very short, and matted with dirt. He was tall and slim, but somehow gave the appearance of having great strength. His bare torso, striped with cuts and bruises, was oozing blood. His wrists were shreds, and his face and upper torso were covered with deep purple bruises. He was wearing only a loincloth, whose yellowed fabric fell to pieces at her touch. Her situation should have been alarming, but Sarah was too interested to be frightened. The man, whoever he was, however he got there, needed her. She wished for her canteen, both to ease her intense thirst, and to be able to properly minister to the injured man. She searched for it, but instead found her lost pick. Slipping the point into one of the links of the chain, she used leverage against the stone to which he was chained in an attempt to break it. It wouldn't give. Discouraged, she sat back.

"Help! Someone! It's me, Sarah! She shouted as loud as her dry throat would allow.

Sarah! came a distant voice. Where are you?

She stood up, bringing down a cascade of debris. Professor! Down here! Down here!

Keep shouting, Sarah. We're homing in on you...

I'm down here, she shouted again. I'll need a rope. She saw Matthews welcome form silhouetted against the sky. God, Prof, I thought I'd be trapped down here forever. Is everybody else okay?

Yes. Are you?

Just puzzled.

Say that again, Sarah.

Sarah shouted up the opening. There's somebody down here with me. He's hurt, but I can't tell how badly without further examination. I'll need help getting him out.

I didn't get that. I'll come down on a rope, Bob shouted.

Be careful, Bob. The sand's very loose and crumbly.

How much room do you have to move down there, Sarah?

Lots. I think I’ve found a tomb. Bob, I think the Prof should come down first.

First we'll get you out, young lady, Matthews called.

I'm fine, Prof. Really. Please, come down. I won't leave this guy alone down here.

Matthews’s voice sounded hollow. I think I'd better see what she's found down there, Bob. There was no one in the vicinity but our party when the earthquake struck. They’re all accounted for. Maybe she's hurt.

I'll hang on this end, Professor. Bob leaned into the hole straining to see Sarah. Yell, if you need me." Matthews put a canteen over his shoulder, took the first aid kit, threw it into his pack and slipping the rope around his waist, and carefully lowered himself over the edge of the opening. His movement brought a load of loosened dirt showering on Sarah and her unknown companion below. Sarah quickly moved to shelter the stranger with her body.

You all right, Sarah?

Try swinging a little to the right, Professor. The walls seem more solid there.

He readjusted, and then he began lowering himself again. Matthews blinked, trying to accommodate his eyes to the darkness. Sarah was speaking before he'd settled. I thought it best that you see this first. I haven't been able to figure out how he could have gotten here. You didn't see an opening in the wall of the wadi while you were digging, did you?

Not a thing. It looked solid. Matthew's looked about. His eyes finally adjusted to the dimmer light so he could make out some of the details of the tomb. His experience told him many things Sarah hadn't noticed. The cave seemed to be natural, rather than an excavated site, but the original walls were hand hewn and sparsely decorated with murals. Carefully picking his way over the loosened sand and rock, he headed toward Sarah. He bent over the unconscious man, looked at his chained wrists, and turned to her with puzzlement. Any indication of another opening to this cave?

No. That's why I asked if you found another entrance. I didn't see a thing, and as far as I could in this gloom, I've checked every square inch of this place for a way out. The only entry is that crack above that opened when the earthquake hit.

Has he showed any signs of coming to?

No. He was hardly breathing when I dug him out. We'd better get some help soon. He's in deep shock. Feel his skin. He's as cold as ice. Looks to me as if he had been beaten before they chained him.

Matthews shouted up to Bob. Throw down a jacket.

Sure, Prof., need any help down there?

Not yet. How's Tony doing?

His arm's definitely broken, Sir. He's looking pretty peaked.

Matthews put his hand on Sarah's shoulder. Sarah, I remember reading in your transcript that you have a medical degree. Is that true?

Yes. I found medicine just wasn't my thing, so I decided to go back to school to get a degree in archaeology.

It seems your expertise will come in handy now. Any objection to practicing medicine now?

No, of course not. I'll do whatever is necessary. I'll check on Tony. She shouted up the shaft. How's Tony holding up, Bob?

He's looking pretty sad but he's hangin' in there. I'm lowering the jacket. Keep clear. The rope descended with a jacket tied on it.

Think you can pull me out of here so I can check him?

Sure. Hang on tight!

Sarah untied the jacket and handed it to Matthews. Cover him with this. It's the best I can do for him for now. I'll be back down as soon as I check on Tony. She took the rope, fastened it about her middle, and braced herself against the crumbling wall. Heave away, Bob. I'm set. When she had crawled out of the hole Sarah immediately headed for her injured companion. Tony’s deeply tanned skin now was a pallid yellow. He was sitting in the sand with an extra tee-shirt draped turban-like on his head in an attempt to achieve some protection from the sun. Shading her eyes, Sarah looked up. The sun's brightness was obscured by a cloud of dust raised by the trembler. Although filtered, it was close to noon and there weren't even any deep shadows in which to take cover from its glare and heat. Sarah used her best medical, 'It's all right' voice. You're a sorry sight, Tony. But I think you'll live. Now, let me see that arm.

Tony winced painfully. I never knew an arm could go to a right angle like that. You sure you know what you're doing, Sarah.

Trust me. She eased his arm up, probing gently at the fracture. I'll bet it hurts like hell. Right? Looks like a simple green-stick fracture. The skin's not broken. You're lucky it wasn't worse. I can set it, but it'll hurt something fierce. Believe me, I really am a doctor, Tony. This should be set immediately. Sarah recruited Bob’s help. Taking command of the situation, she quipped. Now I know why we needed a fullback on this trip. She picked up one of the shovels. Here, break this into two pieces. It'll be a good splint." She took her blouse off and started tearing it into strips.

Bob looked decidedly uncomfortable. Laughing at him, Sarah joked, No time for modesty. Besides, you've seen it all before anyway. Right? Despite his pain, Tony brightened when Sarah stripped off the blouse. From the time he first met her, he had been attracted to his somewhat older classmate but had never worked up the courage to approach her.

Directing Bob to hold onto Tony’s arm tightly, Sarah prepared to pull Tony's arm back into plumb, Now! She directed. A loud snap cracked through the still desert as the bone was pulled back into place. Tony reeled and fainted. Bob paled, feeling queasy himself. In a moment, Tony's eyes blinked open. Sarah used her blouse as a sling, and then lifted a canteen to his lips. Here, this'll help. Try to find some shade and relax. Everything's back together for now. Tony reveled in her attention. If it took a broken arm to be noticed, maybe it was worth it. Bob covered him with a tarp, attempting to create some shade. Assured that Tony was as comfortable as possible under the circumstances, Sarah strode back over to the cleft. Lower me back down, Bob.

Hey, what did you find down there that's so interesting? I feel kind'a left out, Bob said, trying not to stare at her. Finally, embarrassed to the point of taking action, he took off his shirt and handed it to her. Here, put this on.

My, such a Victorian attitude. Who would have thought. She smiled, donning the grossly oversized shirt, and tying the front together midriff-style. Thanks. Wait 'till the Prof comes back up. Maybe he'll be able to explain it. I'm not sure I believe what I saw anyway. Maybe I'll find that it's all been a hallucination caused by this blasted heat. Okay, lower away!

*** ***

In the time she had been ministering to Tony, Professor Matthews had made some progress in the cave below. He had freed the man from his chains by breaking the links with the pick, and was now standing over him with a flashlight. Sarah went straight to the injured stranger. Matthews had placed him on a pile of soft sand with the jacket draped over him as she had directed. His shallow breathing had not changed. He was still unconscious. She brushed some of the dirt from his hair and looked into his face.

How do we explain him, Prof?

Good question, Sarah, and one I've given some serious consideration.

Any conclusions?

Only negative ones. Look at the brand on his chest. What do you make of it?

She reached down, took Matthews' flashlight, and then lifted the jacket covering the man. On his left shoulder, just under the collarbone, was a hieroglyphic symbol. She traced it gently with her finger.

I'm not an Egyptologist quite yet, Professor Matthews. What is it?

It's the cartouche of Osiris. Osiris Neb Heh, Lord of Eternity.

The God of the Dead?

Correct.

Sarah looked at it more closely. The brand is fairly recent. I'd estimate within a month or so from the healing pattern. Lifting one of the stranger's eyelids, she flashed the light into his eye to see its reaction. His pupils’ response seemed normal. In an attempt to get a reaction from the unconscious man, she pinched him hard on the thigh, but, he remained unresponsive. We've got to get him to a proper medical facility for treatment. I can't do anything more here."

Before we leave, I want you to see what I discovered while you were attending to Tony. Is he all right? Matthews took her by the arm, guiding her over the debris.

Yes, for the moment. I set his arm, but it's a temporary arrangement, at best. She picked her way over to the large stone object he had excavated.

A sarcophagus?

He nodded. "Yes, and a royal one et ni Pharaoh - auah pis sa. In English it translates approximately to: 'Princess Tefnut, belonging to Pharaoh, wife to Phaat. The cartouche reads: Repuit Tefnut, sa t ni Pharaoh, mraoh—and her son.' Unusual. There's no mention of what Pharaoh or the son's name, either. I also found this papyrus buried near our man over there. He handed her a yellowed papyrus scroll. Carefully handling the ancient document, Sarah directed the flashlight beam onto it. What does it say?"

Matthews ran his finger lightly over each word, pronouncing the ancient Egyptian clearly: "amenhu erta at - f seshep ahai at, ar ait ti nn heha-t. Then he turned to Sarah, who was waiting impatiently. Roughly, it translates to: 'Having dealt death, or possibly destruction, he receives death, from which there is no rising, or more likely, resurrection.' It's interesting, but I don't understand it at all. There's a queen buried here. It’s hard to tell who the hell ‘he’ is without further investigation. We may never know what this means, but you sure have made a major find here, Sarah."

You haven't found anything to explain how he got in here?

None. We'll have to wait until he can tell us himself. However, it seems likely we've come across some wandering tribe and their quick desert justice.

What about the papyrus and that brand? And look at his loincloth. It's falling apart. How do you explain it?

That is an enigma. There seems to be no way someone could have wrapped and tied it without its completely disintegrating. I'm a scientist and therefore a pragmatist, Sarah. I don't believe in anything that isn't logically provable. What I see here doesn't make sense. I looked around carefully and couldn't find any openings to this ancient cave by which our friend and his captors could have gained entry, other than the one through which we entered. Yet, this tomb has obviously been recently violated and robbed, which would account for the scarcity of funerary objects and the man's presence. We'll need a much deeper investigation of the area to know exactly what we've got here.

What do we do now? Report the find?

Let's just keep this to ourselves for a bit. At least until I can sort out some of the discrepancies. I suspected there was something interesting here when I flew over last summer. That's what prompted my selection of this site in the first place. My instincts seem to have been correct. There was definitely a tomb here. But it looks as if it’s been disturbed before we found it. Too bad.

What about him, Professor? He needs help now.

He does that. I don't want our finding him to interfere with the tomb's discovery. Before we'd know it we'd have a hundred petty officials pouring all over this place. He thought a moment. I wish there were a way of getting him out of here without anyone knows. But that's impossible.

Taking the man's pulse again, Sarah looked up Matthews. Let's get him out of this hole before we worry about how we handle the details. My first priority is to give him some proper medical attention, and soon. She took a gulp of tepid water from Matthew’s canteen, poured some onto her kerchief, and wiped the dust off the unconscious Egyptian's face. Who are you and who could have done this to you? she whispered. She gently ran her hand over his bruised cheek, and then suddenly drew back. There's something disquieting about you. Something magnetic.

Chapter Two

Ta - k pet hra neb her maa -k ma setmt - k smen hra -sen

Thou passest over the sky, and every face watches thy course,

for thou hast been hidden from their gaze.

A heavy cloud of dust, obscuring the surrounding hills, hung over the dig sight. The trembler had produced quite a lot of damage. Getting help wasn’t going to be easy. The University dig was located in central Egypt, at the far end of the valley near Ben Hassan. The closest city, Al Minya, was not a popular tourist attraction at any time of year, particularly in the summer, having the dubious reputation of having the hottest weather in all of Egypt. Even now, in mid-fall, it was unbearably hot for Sarah who was used to the cool mountain air of Colorado. Excluding some unimportant tombs dating from the Early and Middle Kingdoms, no archeological sites of other than academic interest, were in the area. Except for a few paper pushing bureaucrats and the local officials who had to sign permissions to dig in the area, no one knew where Matthews’ dig was located. The Professor was sure no one would miss them or come to their aid. Additionally, he was disturbed by the finding of the stranger. The Egyptologist was annoyed by the violation of the ancient tomb and further complications the unknown man would bring to his project. Aggravated as he was, Matthews' efficient calm prevailed. He called Sarah and Bob aside. As much as I hate sending you into Minya, it’s necessary to get Tony and the stranger medical attention. I must stay behind to guard the camp and protect our find. There's no telling what effect the quake has had on Minya, so be careful.

Tony was all too glad to be leaving. His arm was painful and the oppressive heat had taken its toll. Limply, he sat in the back seat while Bob and the Professor loaded the unconscious Egyptian in beside him.