The Secret of the King's Tomb

by Garrett Drake

  Richard edged his way back toward the front next to Sherif.

  “We’re going to be cutting it close,” Richard said.

  “It won’t matter if the ferryman isn’t ready for us,” Sherif said.

  Richard nodded, remembering the operator Earl Thomas put at the bottom of the Nile.

  The herd stormed over a hill and raced toward the water’s edge about a quarter of a mile away. As they drew nearer, Sherif shouted in Arabic at the man casually leaning against one of the dock’s pylons. He scrambled into action, loosening the ropes tethered to the boat’s cleats.

  By the time they reached the water, the men worked furiously to collect their tools and remove them from the horses. Richard was safely onboard, but some of the crew was still working when the Arabean Losus stormed over the top of the ridge.

  “Tell them to forget about it,” Richard said to Sherif. “We need to go.”

  Sherif said something, and all the men broke into a sprint for the boat. The ferryman didn’t even wait for them to get on before he shoved away from the dock. A primal scream erupted from the thieves as they drew closer. With one man still fiddling with his pack on his horse, Sherif shouted a final warning. The man darted down the dock and leaped, hitting the water with a big splash. Other workers fed him a rope and dragged him aboard.

  They were nearly fifty meters away from shore by the time the Arabean Losus reached the banks. But that didn’t stop several flaming spears from being launched toward the ferry. Fortunately, they all fell short, disappearing into the Nile.

  The leader then sat upright on his horse and yelled at Richard’s crew.

  “What was that all about?” Richard asked Sherif.

  “It was a warning,” Sherif said. “He said next time we will pay a hefty tax to pass through his desert or suffer the consequences.”

  “If it’s just the same, I’d prefer never to go back—except to make sure that my trap worked on the Germans.”

  “The Arabean Losus are wicked, but the currency they operate with is fear. You showed them just how courageous you are.”

  “Courageous? For running away?”

  Sherif nodded. “Do you realize how angry they would’ve been had they caught you after fleeing?”

  Richard shook his head. “I wasn’t interested in finding out.”

  “It would have been a bloodbath,” Sherif said. “They would’ve likely killed every one of us.”

  “In that case, I’ll consider us fortunate.”

  Sherif nodded. “Most fortunate indeed.”

  * * *

  RICHARD SHOT STRAIGHT up in his bed when he heard loud knocking on his hotel room door. He rubbed his eyes and then looked at the clock.

  “What does a man need to do to get some sleep around here?” he mumbled to himself.

  The clock displayed 8 o’clock, which meant he managed to get just five hours of sleep. He sighed, wishing for three times that amount.

  Just once I’d like a full night of sleep.

  He flung his legs over the side of the bed and threw on his bathrobe before shuffling to the door.

  “Who is it?” Richard asked.

  “It’s Vincent Vance,” the man said. “Please open the door. I have an urgent message for you.”

  Richard opened the door slowly, checking through the crack to make sure the man was actually who he said he was. Upon recognizing his face, Richard gestured for Vincent to enter and welcomed him.

  “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon,” Richard said. “Did you come by to personally fire me?”

  “Actually, quite the contrary.”

  Richard cocked his head to one side. “What did you say?”

  “Quite the contrary. I came here to offer you another assignment and pay you.”

  “You want me back?”

  Vincent nodded vigorously. “Most definitely. It’s come to my attention that the rumors that were spread about you were in fact fabricated. And I’d be foolish to fire my new star guide over some absurd lies.”

  “The same lies you were so quick to believe?”

  “Please accept my apology,” Vincent said. “I made a mistake that I sincerely regret.”

  Richard eyed Vincent closely. “Something feels amiss here. Why the sudden change of heart?”

  “I told you that I learned that the stories about you were lies.”

  “The truth,” Richard said glaring at Vincent.

  Vincent chewed on his lip before answering. “Fine, I’ll tell you what you want to know, but you need to do some answering yourself, Mr. Halliburton.”

  Richard gasped.

  Chapter 34

  RICHARD WAS CERTAIN he could outrun Vincent Vance even with a pair of broken legs. But the greater danger wasn’t in the immediate moment—it was in the long term. The fact that he knew Richard’s identity was beyond troubling. He’d been careful to perpetuate the Jonathan Francois name on everything he signed and with everyone he met. But he’d slipped up somewhere. He just couldn’t recall when it was or with whom.

  “How do you—” Richard said.

  “Know your real name?” Vincent interrupted. “Or is it just another alias you created as you run from some past crime you committed?”

  “I’m not a criminal nor am I running from anything,” Richard said, wagging his finger at Vincent. “In fact, I’m running headlong into adventure.”

  “With a fake name? Now, who’s the one who needs to tell the truth?”

  Richard sighed. “My real name is Richard Halliburton, but I go by Jonathan Francois for various reasons, the most important of which is to protect my identity from some ruffians who are after me. How on earth did you find out my true identity?”

  Vincent smiled. “A Miss Elizabeth Corbett can be thanked for that. And she’s also your next client for a half-day tour that starts in the hotel lobby at noon.”

  “Oh, Miss Corbett,” Richard said, shaking his head. “She caught me in a moment of weakness in Cairo.”

  “That’s not exactly how she described it,” Vincent said with a chuckle.

  “I certainly wasn’t thinking straight since I was in—” Richard stopped himself for fear of undoing the story he’d just sold Vincent as being a man of virtue.

  “Handcuffs is the word you’re looking for,” Vincent said with a grin.

  “What did she tell you?”

  “Everything. She saw you at the dining hall and pointed you out to me while we were sharing drinks. I told her you were a guide, and she suddenly wanted to book a tour with you as her guide. She insisted that your name was Richard Halliburton, not Jonathan Francois.”

  “If I take her on a tour, please swear to me that you won’t divulge my true identity to anyone.”

  Vincent nodded. “Your secret is safe with me. Now, wash up and get ready to show her a good time this afternoon. She’s a very influential woman, and a good review from her could translate into more business from London’s elites.”

  “She’ll be singing the praises of Thomas Cook & Son by the time we return,” Richard said.

  “That’s what I like to hear,” Vincent said, patting Richard on the shoulder. “Now get cleaned up. She’ll be expecting more than a disheveled fugitive for a tour she’s paying a hefty sum for.”

  Richard nodded and ushered Vincent toward the door. He turned and slapped an envelope full of money into Richard’s chest.

  “For what it’s worth, I wish I had a dozen men like you,” Vincent said. “Be safe.”

  Richard locked the door behind Vincent and exhaled slowly. While Richard’s secret was safe, he needed to keep Vincent happy—and quiet—or else Wilhelm would be able to find his chief competition for the tomb with a simple inquiry at the front desk. And even though Richard had apparently defeated the Reichswehr on that front, he wasn’t about to announce his presence. Jabari had made it abundantly clear that Wilhelm’s patience had worn thin and he was ready to pursue a more violent course of action to attain his goal.

  Richard neede
d to be extra careful, especially with Elizabeth Corbett. Her request was puzzling, making him unsure if it was made out of genuine affection for him or if there was some other sinister ploy in the works.

  * * *

  RICHARD DESCENDED THE stairs spilling into the Winter Palace Hotel’s central lobby, dressed in neatly pressed khaki pants, a white shirt, with a sports coat flung over his shoulder. He glanced at his watch before scanning the lobby for Elizabeth Corbett. After one sweep around the room, he made a second, this time spotting her at the bar, drinking a beer while wearing pale-green pants and a tan loose-fitting, long-sleeve shirt. She appeared more ready for war than a simple tour to the Valley of the Kings.

  Sauntering across the floor toward her, he eased into the empty chair on her left.

  “Is this seat taken?” he asked.

  She turned and noticed him before a warm smile spread across her face. “I’d only sit there if you want to miss out on all the fun.”

  “And where are you off to today, Miss Corbett?” he asked.

  “Where do you think I should go?”

  “I was thinking the Valley of the Kings, but only because I’m paid to suggest such things.”

  Her eyebrows shot upward. “Is visiting the tombs of a slew of dead Egyptian kings really worth all the trouble?”

  “Would you prefer to swim with the crocodiles in the Nile? Or outrun the infamous Forty Thieves across the valley desert? Or evade the ever-dangerous Medjay while digging for your own tomb?”

  She shook her finger at him and smirked. “Am I to assume that’s what you’ve been up to since you arrived in Luxor?”

  “How do you Brits say it? It’s a wee bit more fun than listening to some tour guide drone on about the historical significance of each king and his impact on the world thousands of years ago.”

  “But I love history,” she said. “And I’m dreadful when it comes to defending myself with a dagger or gun.”

  “What if I told you that I can’t guarantee those other things won’t happen,” Richard said. “This is Egypt, after all.”

  “Well, I accept whatever adventure you decide for us—as long as you promise no Germans will kidnap us.”

  Richard sighed and looked down. “That’s one thing I can’t promise. But we’ll steer clear of their dig site.”

  “They’re looking for a tomb?”

  Richard waved her off. “It’s a long story, but it’s not worth retelling at the moment.”

  “Whatever you say, Mr. Halliburton,” she said with a grin.

  Richard leaned in close. “Please call me Jonathan Francois. If my real name slips out, it could cause serious problems for me.”

  “Fair enough,” she said as she rose to her feet. “Shall we?”

  Richard offered her his arm, which she gladly took, and ushered her outside and down to the ferry. They waited a half hour before the boat returned, allowing Elizabeth to recount everything that had happened since she arrived in Luxor. For the most part, she had been subjected to little more than museum browsing and souvenir shopping.

  “I prefer to collect adventures, not artifacts,” Richard said when she asked him what he had done.

  “And you wouldn’t the least bit interested in unearthing some piece of pottery or jewel from one of the early Egyptian dynasties?” she asked.

  “That would be a wonderful experience, but I’m quite certain it wouldn’t finish very high on my list of personal favorites since arriving in Egypt.”

  “Your life is that exciting, is it?”

  “Perhaps a tad too exciting for some and downright frightening for others. Escaping the Arabean Losus in the nick of time across crocodile-infested waters while the bandits fling flaming spears at you—it can be a bit much for some people.”

  “Oh, stop it,” Elizabeth said, playfully punching Richard in the arm. “You best be careful, or your fanciful imagination is going to carry you off one day, like a runaway dirigible.”

  “I only wish I was making this up. If I recorded in a book just half of the things that have happened to me since I was in France, I’d be accused of writing fiction.”

  She shot him a sideways glance. “Don’t get any ideas about this trip. The last thing I want is a brush with death.”

  “Better a brush than the alternative.”

  “I want an uneventful trip to the Valley of the Kings,” she said. “Is that too much to ask?”

  “It’s not—for most guides,” Richard said with a wry grin. “But you requested me, so it’s not unreasonable for me to believe that you actually do want something more.”

  “If I wanted to play roulette with my life, I would’ve stormed across the desert on my own.”

  “The only promise I’ll make to you right now is that you won’t die.”

  She chuckled. “I guess I’ll have to settle for that then.”

  Judging by her reaction, Richard could tell she didn’t believe that danger was so imminent.

  * * *

  TWO HOURS LATER, they arrived at the Valley of the Kings. Richard dismounted from his horse first and rushed over to help Elizabeth, which was a futile gesture since she was already on the ground and securing her horse to one of the nearby posts.

  As he led her around to the tombs, she had plenty of questions. Richard knew the answers to some, while he created entertaining stories for the others. Elizabeth laughed so hard at some of his explanations for the hieroglyphics that he figured she knew he was spinning a tale—and she didn’t care one wit.

  By the time the sun started to dip low on the horizon, Richard glanced at his watch.

  “It’s getting late,” he said. “Are you ready to return to Luxor for the evening?”

  She shook her head slowly. “There’s still so much I want to see.”

  “We can come back tomorrow, if you like,” Richard said. “I don’t have any plans.”

  “I’d rather spend more time here and see this place beneath the stars.”

  Richard cocked his head to one side. “You were the one who said you wanted an uneventful tour. If we stay, everything could change quickly.”

  “But I’m with the great Richard Halli—Jonathan Francois. What do I have to be afraid of?”

  While Richard wanted to play along with her whimsical attitude, he couldn’t help but notice the movement from the shadows of the surrounding caves. Most of the tourists left a half hour ago. Aside from a few stragglers making their way back to their horses and camels, Richard and Elizabeth were nearly all alone.

  “If only I had half your confidence,” he said. “However, I’ve witnessed firsthand what these thieves will do to you if you aren’t willing to acquiesce to their demands. And it’s not pretty. However, I can’t imagine what they would do if they found a woman roaming across their desert. I strongly suggest we go back now.”

  Elizabeth sighed. “Fine. I don’t know how you transformed into being such a stick in the mud in a matter of hours.”

  “And I’m still trying to figure out how you evolved into some woman willing to tempt fate just hours after pleading with me for a boring visit to the tombs of dead kings.”

  “You’ve rubbed off on me,” she said with a wink.

  “While I appreciate adventure, my experiences the past few days are hardly the kind I want to relive.”

  “But now I want to see the tombs under a blanket of twinkling stars and behold these ancient sands.”

  Richard reached into his satchel and pulled out a sandwich.

  “Since I know attempting to convince you otherwise would be futile, may I offer you something to eat?” he asked.

  She chuckled and snatched the half of the sandwich he held out to her.

  “I’m going to tell Mr. Vance that you truly are the best tour guide I’ve ever had on a Thomas Cook & Son excursion.”

  Richard shrugged. “That’s an awfully kind gesture, but I’m not sure this job is something I want for much longer. There’s still so much of the world I haven’t seen.”

 
The pair sat down on a rock and munched on their sandwiches as the sun vanished behind the hills. A half hour later, the first star appeared overhead.

  “Perhaps you would like to dig for gold,” Elizabeth said. “That might be a job more suited for your thirst for adventure.”

  “Gold?”

  “Or treasure,” she said. “Maybe you could even look for one of the buried tombs out here.”

  Richard shook his head. “Believe it or not, I’ve tried that already. And it’s not exactly my preferred profession either. Too much of a rote task, scratching at the dirt while hoping to find something incredible.”

  “Did you ever find anything?”

  Richard nodded. “What I found was amazing, but it didn’t stir some dormant passion within me to become an archeologist. However, discovering the treasure was exhilarating.”

  “You found treasure out here?” she asked as her eyes widened.

  “It wasn’t life-changing, but I found a small amount.”

  “I knew it,” said as she leapt to her feet. “You do love searching for treasure.”

  She continued on for at least another minute, blathering about how she was right regarding Richard’s future. But he was focused on something else near the top of the ridge, near his dig site. Slowly rising to his feet, he walked past Elizabeth as she talked and peered into the distance.

  “What is it?” she finally asked once she realized he was engrossed by something else.

  “It’s our site,” he said. “They found it.”

  “Who?”

  “The Reichswehr unit searching for the tomb.”

  “Is this the same tomb you discovered?”

  Richard waved her off. “We need to get closer and see what they’re doing.”

  “Why? I thought we were going to enjoy this scenery beneath a star-lit sky.”

  “The stars are barely out, but the Germans are on the prowl.”

  Without any explanation, he hustled up the hill and took up a position on a large boulder. Elizabeth scrambled after him.