“Is anyone sitting here?” Richard asked.
Dr. Carter shrugged and gestured to the seat. “I’m not sure I’d be the best company right now, Mr. Francois, but if you insist.”
Richard sat down and leaned forward on the table. “Why do you look so glum? More trouble with the Egyptian Antiquities Society?”
“They’ve informed me that I’m free to resume my work, but it’s my patron who is the problem now.”
“Funding issues?”
Dr. Carter nodded. “Yes, as in he doesn’t want to invest any more money in the project.”
“So, where does that leave you?”
“On a slow boat back to England,” he said as he shook his head and then took another long pull on his glass of port. “I really thought I was going to find it this time.”
“Find what?” Richard asked.
“King Tutankhamun’s tomb. I know it’s out there, despite what people say. There’s too much evidence.”
“What if I told you where to find it?”
Dr. Carter laughed. “I’d say you have no idea what you’re talking about.”
Richard reached into his coat pocket and produced the map Jabari had given him. “When you get back to England, have a chat with your patron and then show him this.”
He pushed it across the table toward Dr. Carter, who hesitated to touch the document.
“Go ahead,” Richard said. “It’s not going to bite you.”
Dr. Carter unfolded it, smoothing it out on the table. “Where did you get this?”
“That’s really not important,” Richard said. “However, what is important is the fact that this will lead you right to King Tutankhamun’s tomb and all its glorious riches.”
“You say that as if you’ve been there.”
“Perhaps I have,” Richard said with a wink. “But you have done such great work here. You deserve to be the one to discover it and handle it with the care necessary to preserve such a historic find.”
Dr. Carter cocked his head and eyed Richard carefully. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”
Richard nodded. “I wouldn’t joke about such a matter.”
Dr. Carter folded the map and then stuffed it into his pocket. A smile spread across his face.
“If you’re right about this, I’m going to owe you in a big way,” he said.
“I’d rather you not mention me,” Richard said. “Seeing you unearth the site so others can experience the grandeur of the tomb for themselves will be satisfaction enough for me.”
“You must want something then. What is it? Money? Credit?”
Richard shook his head. “Do me a favor and hire a couple of men to help with your dig—and pay them handsomely. The names of these local guides are Sherif Nazari and Jabari Gamal.”
“I’m acquainted with them both.”
“Good,” Richard said. “They deserve an opportunity like this.”
Dr. Carter nodded and then leaned in close. “What’s it like?”
“What’s what like?”
“The tomb—what’s in there?”
Richard leaned back and wagged his index finger at the doctor. “You need to discover it for yourself. But I can promise you won’t be disappointed.”
“Would you like a glass of port?” Dr. Carter asked as his countenance lifted.
“You enjoy the rest of that bottle,” Richard said. “I need to get some sleep before my journey tomorrow.”
“Where are you going?”
“Back to Cairo.”
“And then where?”
Richard shrugged. “I’m not sure just yet. Maybe I’ll send you a postcard.”
Dr. Carter poured another glass and raised it toward Richard. “To you, Mr. Francois.”
“Actually, that’s just my tour guide name.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, I’m Richard Halliburton, from Memphis—Memphis, Tennessee, that is.”
“Well, Mr. Halliburton, it’s been a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“Good luck, Dr. Carter.”
Richard got up and hustled down the street to Sherif’s mercantile. He was locking up the store as Richard arrived.
“I’m sorry, but we’re closed,” Sherif said before he recognized Richard.
“Sherif!”
Sherif unlocked the door and waved Richard inside. “I heard you had quite the night last night.”
“I doubt you’ve heard half of it,” Richard said.
Jabari strode through the door leading to the supply room. He was holding his arm.
“How are you, Jabari?” Richard asked.
Jabari shrugged. “I’ve been better, but I’m alive. And I see you somehow made it, too. I was beginning to get worried.”
“I managed,” Richard said as he produced the envelope Vincent had given him. After removing twenty dollars, he handed the rest to Sherif.
“What’s this for?” Sherif asked.
“It’s not much, but it’s a portion of what I owe you for all your help. Divide it among yourselves.”
“You need this more than I do,” Sherif said.
“Perhaps, but I want to make good on all my debts. And on that note, I wanted to let you know that Dr. Howard Carter will be hiring you both to help him on his new dig site—the tomb of King Tutankhamun.”
“Should be simple enough,” Jabari said with a wry grin.
“I appreciate all you did, and I’m sorry you got caught up in all of this.”
“It’s not your fault,” Sherif said. “If anyone’s to blame, it’s Jabari. He’s the one who got me into this mess.”
Richard looked at Jabari. “How’s your family?”
“Safe and far away from where the Germans will be able to find us. Thank you for asking.”
“I doubt the Germans will be bothering you again,” Richard said. “If anyone is going to draw their ire, I’m certain that will be me.”
“Did you get the golden mask back?” Jabari asked.
Richard nodded as Jabari’s eyes widened.
“How on Earth did you—”
“It’s a long story.”
“And where is it now?” Jabari asked.
“They won’t be finding it any time soon,” Richard said as he grinned.
“You need to worry more about the Medjay than the Germans,” Sherif said.
“I already handled them, too.” Richard glanced at his watch. “I’d love to stay and chat, but I need to get going. I’m leaving in the morning, and I need to gather all my things.”
Both men approached Richard and gave him a hug.
“You are forever our brother,” Sherif said. “If you need anything ever again, you know how to find us.”
“I’m going to miss you both,” Richard said before he turned and walked out that back exit.
Chapter 42
THE JOURNEY ON THE STEAMSHIP back to Cairo took five days, most of which Richard spent either sleeping or gazing upon the exotic wildlife roaming around the banks of the Nile. He consumed plenty of free drinks given to him by grateful Thomas Cook & Son tourists. While he had related numerous stories to return home with, he didn’t mind giving them a few more about his previous ventures around Europe, which may or may not have included a few embellishments. However, the rest of his time was spent conversing with Elizabeth Corbett.
On the final night of their voyage, he dined alone with her before inviting her to join him on the dance floor. While Elizabeth was considerably cultured, she hadn’t fully embraced the American dancing styles. When Richard asked the band if they knew any jazz, the leader said they had recently learned one. And as they began to play, Richard introduced Elizabeth to the Foxtrot.
After the song ended, Elizabeth clapped her hands before bending over and resting her hands on her knees.
“That was quite different,” she said.
Richard glanced up to see that their performance had gathered a small crowd of onlookers who were also applauding.
“Bet you
didn’t think you were going to be on display, did you?” he asked.
She shook her head and smiled. “Though I’m beginning to expect the unexpected when I’m with you.”
He chuckled and led her back to their table where they both sat down.
“So, where’s our globetrotting explorer off to next?” Elizabeth asked.
Richard shrugged. “I’m not quite sure, to be honest. I have some business to attend to in Cairo. But after that—who knows.”
She reached across the table and took both of his hands. “Come back with me to England then. There are plenty of places I’d love to take you, places that won’t require your acrobatic, aquatic, or antiquity skills.”
“Sounds rather dull, don’t you think?” Richard said with a wink.
“Oh, don’t be so daft. You’ll be amazed by some of the sites I can show you—and likely in a way that not many others can.”
“You do remember that I’ve already been to England, don’t you?”
“Maybe you mentioned it, but I’m offering you the opportunity to see it in a new light.”
Richard withdrew, pulling his hands away from Elizabeth. “I’ve really enjoyed our time together, but I’d hate for you to get the wrong idea.”
“The wrong idea about what?”
Richard’s eyebrows shot upward as he cocked his head to one side. “Oh, Elizabeth, perhaps I’ve misread your intentions. I just thought—”
Her face fell as she threw her hands in the air and set her jaw. “Say no more. I’m the one who’s been the fool.”
Richard could tell she was fighting back tears. “There’s no denying that we have a special connection after what we went through,” he said. “However, as much as I adore you, I’m afraid I could never be faithful to you.”
She eyed him closely as she knit her brow. “What kind of man are you?”
“A good one, I hope,” he said. “What I mean is that adventure will always be my mistress—and I’m certain that you nor anyone else will be able to compete with her. She’s quite demanding in that way.”
Elizabeth leaned on the table and looked down. “I knew you were too good to be true. Why did I ever—”
“Stop,” he said. “I never meant to give you the wrong impression.”
“I know, I know. You’ve been nothing but a perfect gentleman. And I just—”
He reached across the table and grabbed her hands. “You’re a courageous woman. Don’t ever change. You’ll find a man who will appreciate your spirit and be ready to explore the world with you. And to be quite frank, I’m not that man—though it has nothing to do with you and everything to do with me. If there’s one thing I know about myself, it’s that I’ll never settle down.”
She sighed as a faint smile crept across her lips. “Don’t ever change, Richard.”
“I don’t plan on it.”
“And good luck,” she said before she stood.
Richard stood with her, and they exchanged cordial kisses on the sides of their cheeks before exiting the dining room together and retiring for the evening in their respective quarters.
* * *
ONCE THE SHIP MADE port the next morning, Richard searched for a place to send a telegraph to Hank Foster. Richard composed a brief report using Foster’s cipher.
Treasure safe. Germans departed region. Please respond.
Richard grabbed a bite to eat from a street vendor before returning to the store to wait for a note from Foster. To pass the time, Richard strolled around the streets of Cairo. The sphinx souvenir was still in his pocket, and he couldn’t help but smile when he considered how he had fulfilled a dream for his grandfather.
Three hours later, Richard returned to the telegraph outpost to see if he had received a response. He was excited to receive a coded note.
Thank you. Money wired to you. Danger in India. Interested?
Richard re-read the message several times. He was excited about getting paid for what he did. But another assignment off gallivanting around the globe and risking his life to stop the Germans?
How can I resist?
The End
To read the next book in the series, The Raja’s Lost Treasure, click here.
Acknowledgments
This project has been incredibly exciting and fun to embark upon, mixing fiction with fact. And quite frankly, none of it would’ve ever come about without my wife’s introduction of Richard Halliburton to me through his timeless Book of Marvels. My children also played a huge role in convincing me to write something about Halliburton after they read his books and would regale me with his stories everyday until I finally decided I needed to read them for myself.
I’d like to thank Rhodes College and Bill Short for allowing me access to Richard Halliburton’s archived journals and other material that helped fill in the blanks about what kind of man Richard really was and where he really went. Bill was an incredible help in gathering the information for me and graciously allowing me to plod my way through the material I requested. Without Bill’s assistance, I’m not sure this project would’ve ever become a reality—at least in my lifetime.
Sir Richard J. Evans also enthusiastically aided the creation of this story in giving me plausible creative ways to weave the storyline of the Reichswehr into this fictionalized tale. I’m so grateful that when I reached out to him that he was more than gracious in supplying me with ample fodder—material that will be used in future novels in this series.
And as always, this book wouldn’t be what it is without Krystal Wade’s skillful editorial direction. She made this book much better than when I originally conceived it.
Dwight Kuhlman has been incredible to partner with in creating the audio version of this book, and I look forward to his voice being the one that shares many more Richard Halliburton tales in the future.
And last but certainly not least, I’m most grateful for you, the reader, who decided to invest your time with one of my stories. I hope you had as much fun reading this book as I did writing it.
The Secret of the King’s Tomb
© Copyright 2019 Garrett Drake
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law.
This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
First Edition 2019
Published in the United States of America
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