The Tomb Builders

by Kevin Ashman

  The Egyptian guard smiled at her with a wide grin, showing off the several gaps where his teeth had once been.

  ‘A good afternoon to you, Missy Sommers,’ he said, ‘I have cold tea and stewed goat for you to eat.’

  ‘Thank you, Mehmed,’ said India, ‘has your commander contacted the embassy yet?’

  ‘Not yet, Missy, he is taking advice from his cousins.’

  ‘Why, what has it got to do with them?’

  ‘Sometimes it is how things are,’ said Mehmet.

  ‘Why? Surely all he needs to do is hand me over to the police in Cairo and the authorities can soon sort out this misunderstanding?’

  The jailer sat on the bench alongside India.

  ‘Missy,’ he said, ‘you do not understand. You were in a forbidden area. This is not good and my commander is very angry. This area is controlled by his family and much money is made by them selling things from the tombs of the dead. If he hands you over, there will be investigations and people will come to see where it was we found you. We cannot allow that so he is still deciding what to do.’

  ‘Tell him I won’t say anything,’ said India, ‘his secret is safe with me. Just let me go and nobody will ever know I’ve been here.’

  ‘I don’t think so, Missy, my master is a dangerous man and knows he is at risk. If the authorities find proof of illegal digs in his jurisdiction, he could be jailed himself and he will not risk that.’

  ‘So where does that leave me?’

  ‘Not in a good place,’ said Mehmed, ‘I have seen people disappear for lesser things.’

  ‘Is there no reasoning with him?’

  ‘Not really, Missy though there is one other thing you can try.’

  ‘What’s that?’ asked India, dreading what was coming next.

  ‘He is indeed a terrible man, Missy but like all men, he has his price.’

  India stared at the jailer, listening carefully as he outlined the conditions. At first she dismissed the idea but eventually Mehmed made her realise it was the only way to secure her freedom. The room fell silent and eventually he stood up to leave.

  ‘I will leave you to think about it,’ he said.

  ‘Wait,’ said India also standing up. ‘Are you sure this is the only way?’

  ‘It is,’ said Mehmed.

  ‘Then I will do what I can,’ she said with a sigh, ‘take me to a phone.’

  Ten minutes later, India was taken out of the cell and down the corridor to a tiny side room containing a table, a chair and a phone. Mehmed pointed at the chair.

  ‘Sit down, Missy,’ he said, ‘and give me the number. I will dial it for you.’

  ‘How long have I got?’ she asked.

  ‘Three minutes and you can call one number only so choose well.’

  ‘Do you have the embassy number?’

  ‘It is there,’ said Mehmed pointing at a scrap of paper, ‘but think hard, Missy for my master’s terms are severe and you will not get a second chance.’

  India stared at the phone, knowing the level of bribe requested was high and even if they sent over an official, there was no way the British government would just hand over that sort of money.

  ‘One call,’ said Mehmed, ‘choose wisely, Missy Sommers.’

  India stared at the scrap of paper and after a few seconds, started to press the numbers on the keypad.

  ----

  Brandon Walker mumbled to himself as he searched the cellar study for his misplaced phone. Up above on the ground floor of the thatched cottage, his mother fussed around the kitchen humming along to the classics on radio two. She paused to stir the teapot but had to leave the kitchen momentarily to answer the land line.

  Brandon turned some cushions before standing up and looking around in frustration.

  ‘Where the bloody hell is it?’ he mumbled to himself.

  ‘Brandon, there’s someone on the phone,’ called the old lady from above, ‘can you come up, dear? My old legs struggle with the steps these days.’

  ‘I’m busy, mother,’ answered Brandon, ‘take a message and tell them I’ll call them back.’

  ‘Are you sure, dear?’

  ‘Yes I’m sure,’ shouted Brandon, bending to look under the red chesterfield sofa, ‘I can’t find my bloody mobile phone.’

  ‘Oh that explains it,’ answered his mother, ‘India said she’s been ringing you but there was no answer.’

  Brandon straightened up immediately and turned to stare at the stairwell.

  ‘Who did you say?’ he asked.

  ‘India Sommers, that lovely girl you was involved with last year.’

  She had hardly finished speaking when Brandon appeared in the doorway having leapt up the old stone staircase three steps at a time.

  ‘Why didn’t you say?’ he gasped reaching for the phone.

  ‘I thought I did, dear,’ said his mother and handed over the phone before returning to the table and her tea.

  Brandon took a deep breath before lifting the cordless phone to his ear.

  ‘Well, hello India,’ he said, a lot calmer than he actually felt, ‘long time no speak.’

  ‘Brandon, hi,’ came the reply, ‘how are you?’

  ‘Very good,’ said Brandon, ‘you?’

  ‘As good as can be expected. Your mother sounds well.’

  ‘Yeah, just as eccentric as usual,’ he said walking across the kitchen and out of the door. ‘So, this is an unexpected surprise, to what do I owe the pleasure?’

  ‘Brandon,’ said India, cutting him short, ‘I’m in trouble.’

  ‘What sort of trouble?’ asked Brandon.

  ‘Fifty thousand dollars’ worth of trouble, ‘said India, ‘and I need your help.’

  ----

  Chapter Two

  Egypt

  2600 BC

  Mensah stood motionless in the midday sun. He was naked except for a loincloth around his waist, sandals upon his feet and a simple cloth around his head to protect him from the searing heat. In his hand he held a spear, as did the men ten paces to either side and indeed the seemingly endless row of soldiers on similar guard duty stretching away as far as he could see.

  The deployment had been a poor one for though his unit had been honoured to be selected as guards for the king’s visit, they were nowhere near the pyramid and were tasked at the edge of the workers’ village to control the population. Though there was no trouble expected, the sheer amount of people gathered meant there was always a possibility of over-excited individuals causing problems.

  He stood to attention, the spear head pointing upward with the hilt stuck into the sand.

  ‘Have you seen him, Mensah?’ asked a woman in the front line of the crowd, ‘have you ever seen the king?’

  Mensah remained silent and continued to look above her and over the heads of the crowd.

  ‘He’s not speaking to you,’ laughed another woman, ‘perhaps we are not worthy of him now he is a great soldier.’

  ‘I don’t see why,’ said the first woman, ‘I have known him since he was a babe and I was his wet nurse for three months.’

  ‘He is no babe now,’ laughed another woman, ‘but a fine man. I wouldn’t mind waking up next to him on my night rushes.’

  ‘I don’t think we are good enough anymore,’ said the first woman, ‘though I can assure you, though his memory may be short, it is the only thing about him that is.’

  The women burst out laughing again and teased the guard relentlessly but Mensah remained immune to the banter. Slowly he turned his head to the left as if listening for something.

  ‘Look, Mensah,’ continued the woman, exposing her breasts, ‘remember these?’

  More laughter burst from the crowd but they were silenced by his sudden unexpected response.

  ‘Quiet,’ he shouted and turned to look behind him.

  Most of the crowd fell silent but the woman continued.

  ‘What’s the matter Mensah, are they not good enough for you anymore? I recall you were a very hung
ry baby.’

  Mensah spun around and levelled his spear at her chest.

  ‘If I have to tell you to be quiet again,’ he snarled, ‘I will have those sour tasting breasts carved off and fed to the dogs, understand?’

  The woman covered herself up in silence as the soldier walked over to stand upon a nearby rock.

  ‘Who leaves the ranks?’ shouted the commander of the guard, ‘regain your place immediately.’

  ‘Master, I think I heard someone call for help,’ said Mensah, ‘but it came from within the cordon.’

  ‘There is nobody between us and the king,’ said the soldier, ‘return to your place.’

  Mensah got down from the rock but before he could return, the cry came again.

  ‘Help us, please, somebody help.’

  ‘There it is again,’ said Mensah and this time everyone heard it.

  ‘It sounds like a child,’ shouted the woman who had been teasing the soldier, ‘send someone to help.’

  For a moment nobody moved but as the plea came again, the guard commander made a decision.

  ‘Mensah, take Manu with you and see who’s there. If the line has been breached then my whip will taste blood before this day is done.’

  Mensah called to a nearby soldier and as they ran back toward the mountain of rubble as the remaining line of guards shuffled sideways to close the gaps.

  ‘Who’s there?’ shouted Mensah as they approached the discarded rocks. ‘Present yourself or feel my wrath.’ Both men lowered their spears so they pointed forward.

  ‘Over here,’ cried a voice, behind the rocks.

  ‘We’ll have to climb over,’ said Mensah, ‘but watch your footing, it may not be high but the looser rubble makes it a treacherous climb.’

  The two soldiers picked their way amongst the scalpings from the dressed stones and clambered over the larger blocks until they reached the top of the pile. A few hundred paces away they could see the king’s procession making their way back to the barges.

  ‘Mensah,’ gasped Manu, ‘avert your eyes lest we be struck down.’

  Despite the warning, Mensah glanced across and for a moment, wondered at the spectacle before the pyramid but his reverie was soon cut short when the cry came again.

  ‘Down here,’ said the voice and the two men left the glorious scene behind them to clamber down to the centre of the rubble. Moments later they came across a young girl sitting in the dust. By her side, a boy lay unconscious with his head in her lap.

  ‘Who are you?’ asked Mensah, ‘and what’s happened here?’

  ‘Master,’ sobbed the girl, ‘I am named Sagira and this is my friend Adio. He fell from the rocks and his leg is broken, He needs a physician.’

  ‘This is a forbidden place,’ said Manu, ‘what were you doing here?’

  ‘We were climbing down,’ said Sagira, ‘and Adio fell.’

  ‘But why here?’ insisted Manu, ‘you knew this area was forbidden today, don’t you know you can be punished for even being here?’

  ‘I know,’ said Sagira, ‘but didn’t think there was any harm. All we wanted to do was see the king.’

  ‘You cast eyes upon Khufu?’ said Manu, ‘that is forbidden unless he decrees it. Only on certain days is such a decree given and this is not such a day.’

  ‘Please don’t tell,’ sobbed Sagira, ‘just get help for Adio. Already his foot turns the colour of ash.’

  Mensah cast aside his spear and knelt alongside the children.

  ‘He needs a physician,’ he said, ‘but this foot will not wait. The deformity stops the blood from flowing and needs to be straightened.’

  ‘How do you know this?’ asked Manu

  ‘I grew up near a physician’s house and spent many days watching him work. If we don’t unblock the blood canals the foot will die and he will surely follow.’

  ‘Can you do it?’ asked Sagira.

  ‘I can but it will cause him much pain,’ said Mensah.

  ‘It’s not our problem,’ said Manu, ‘let’s just take him back and hand him over to the priests. They can do with them what they will.’

  ‘It will take too long, I have to try and do something now.’

  ‘They are in a forbidden area and the gods will decide their fate.’

  ‘Perhaps so,’ said Mensah, ‘but in the meantime, I will do what I can. Help me lay him out so I can attend his foot.’

  For a moment Manu stayed still but after a scowl from Mensah, he discarded his own spear and knelt beside the boy.

  ‘Hold him,’ said Mensah, ‘and I will straighten the bone. Ready?’

  ‘Just do it,’ said Manu and held the boy tightly as his comrade extended the leg to locate the broken bone back into place.

  Despite his unconsciousness the boy moaned in pain and Manu held him tightly until he once more lay still. Mensah stood up and after looking around for a few seconds, picked up his spear and smashed it against a rock.

  ‘What are you doing?’ gasped Manu, ‘the commander will have your hide.’

  ‘I need splints,’ said Mensah, picking up some suitable fragments of his spear haft, ‘these will do.’ He placed the smaller rods either side of the leg and bound them in place with his head covering.

  ‘Give me yours,’ he said to Manu.

  ‘I will not,’ said Manu.

  ‘Manu, you can tell the commander I threatened you at spear point if you want but I need your head cloth to tie the splint, now hand it over.’

  Once again Manu reluctantly complied and within minutes they were ready to get the boy from amongst the rubble.

  ‘We can’t go the way we came,’ said Mensah, ‘the route is too treacherous, we need to go down to the canals.’

  ‘But the king’s procession lays that way,’ said Manu, ‘we will surely be seen.’

  ‘Not if we are careful,’ said Mensah, ‘and anyway, even the gods will take pity on an injured child on this day of all days. Perhaps he will turn everyone’s eyes in a different direction.’

  ‘If they do not, we will face punishment at the hands of the priests.’

  ‘Don’t forget we are carrying out the instructions of our commander and he will back us up. All we are doing is helping an injured child and carrying out his orders. Anyway, I can carry the boy myself, you take the girl back the way we came.’

  ‘I will come with you,’ said Sagira quickly, ‘for it is I who persuaded Adio to come to this place. Whatever fate the gods have in store for him, I will share it.’

  ‘There is no need to risk you both,’ said Mensah, ‘go with Manu.’

  ‘I will not leave him,’ said the girl stubbornly, ‘and if you try to make me I will scream out so even the Khufu will hear me.’

  Mensah looked at Manu but he shrugged his shoulders.

  ‘So be it,’ he said, ‘come, let’s get this done so we can get back to our unit.’

  Mensah lifted Adio and carried him to the first block. Manu climbed up and took the boy off his comrade before walking between a gap in the rocks. The route was far easier and within moments they were on the other side facing the pyramid. Manu glanced up and saw everyone was prostate in the dust, waiting for the king’s barge to leave.

  ‘The timing is favourable,’ he said and they quickly clambered down into the dead ground at the base of the quarry waste.

  ‘We are safe now,’ said Mensah, ‘all we have to do is keep ourselves low and follow the path back to the village, I think our task went unseen.’

  ‘Then I will sacrifice to Amun Ra this very night,’ said Manu, ‘in gratitude for his mercy.’

  ‘As will I,’ said Mensah.

  ----

  In the distance, the rowers pulled steadily at their oars as the king’s barge sailed smoothly down to the Nile. Khufu sat beneath his awning while being fanned by his servants and having his feet washed in scented water.

  ‘Majesty,’ said a voice, ‘I beg audience.’

  ‘Come, Omari,’ said Khufu, ‘share what worries you.’

 
; ‘Majesty,’ said the priest, ‘I have grave news, your glory this day was sullied by the eyes of the unworthy. It would seem there were two people spying upon your greatness from nearby. They were of the workers village.’

  ‘Were there not enough soldiers deployed to prevent such a thing?’

  ‘There were but two of those tasked with guarding the approaches also saw fit to break your trust.’

  ‘What regiment?’

  ‘We know not for they were without their headdresses but fear not, their names will be known to us by dusk.’

  Khufu looked at the priest with annoyance in his eyes. Many years ago he would have exploded with fury at such a breach of protocol but his ailing health meant he kept what strength he had for more important matters.

  ‘Make sure they are.’

  ‘I will have them strangled immediately.’

  Khufu paused momentarily. Ordinarily he wouldn’t have thought twice about having them killed but this was a special day and he did not want it sullied by the blood of the unworthy.

  ‘No,’ he said, ‘that will wait until tomorrow. Have them beaten and at dawn, throw them to the crocodiles. Sobek will be pleased and will speak to Anubis on our behalf.’

  ‘Your will be done, Majesty,’ said Omari and returned to his duties.

  ----

  Half a mile away, Adio lay on a cot in the mud brick house of a physician. Sagira sat on a stool at his side bathing his forehead. Outside the hut, the physician was talking to the soldiers who had brought him in.

  ‘You did a good job,’ said the Physician, ‘the colour in his foot has returned and the bones are aligned correctly. If the gods are in a good mood, he should recover well. I will let everyone know that today you saved the life of a child, perhaps it will get you merits from your commander.’