Luxor Lost and Found

by Graham Warren

  “Only if you agree to explain to me later.”

  “Later, I will not have to explain anything to you, because by then you will understand.”

  “Can we get out of the car now?” It was anything except a car, but Kate did not know what else to call it.

  “No, we cannot. And this is something else you will understand given time.”

  Kate felt as though she was going to burst. She wanted to scream and shout, though something was calming her. Ancient memories were calming her. There was nothing which explicitly said that she would understand, but she somehow knew she would without being told.

  Chapter 8

  -

  Unwelcome News

  Alex awoke to see a room full of gold in the glow of several flaming torches. The sound of the treasure moving under him as he tried to sit up woke Quentin. He considered the grunts and groans his father was making were loud enough to wake the dead. Thoth stepped out of a nearby wall. “Too late, they are awake already,” he thought with a chuckle, then asked, “Have we been asleep long?”

  “In terms of my life, or should I say my death, not long at all.”

  “You know what I mean!”

  “Yes … well, it is tomorrow, today now, but it is tomorrow to you.”

  “Okay, okay.” Alex looked around. “Where is Hen–?”

  “Shush!”

  “Oh yes, sorry, I forgot.”

  “She had to go, but she left you a message.” Thoth pointed to a papyrus which had been held in place by the world’s most expensive paperweight. Alex tipped the solid gold, gem encrusted something, as he could not make out what it was supposed to be, to one side as he withdrew the papyrus. It read:

  I am not as bad as you think I am.

  I am not working against you.

  I am not going away.

  I am going to finish this once and for all.

  I am Henuttawy.

  “She asked if you would kindly destroy the papyrus before you leave this gold chamber. She also wanted me to tell you, she hopes she can see you again.”

  Upon hearing Thoth say this, all of Alex’s pain left him. It came back all too quickly when his father smacked him on the shoulder and told him to stop daydreaming, as they needed to get out of here. Thoth quickly showed them the way to the tunnel.

  Quentin walked on, though not before he had shoved several small pieces of Ay’s gold into his pockets. Once he showed this, a second gold chamber, to the world, he would stand head and shoulders above Howard Carter. He was in pain, but he was on a high.

  Alex held back because he wanted to ask Thoth if he could get a message to Henuttawy. However, he did not have to ask, as Thoth said, “My quill is ready for your message and I will personally ensure it is delivered.”

  “Just tell her we have to talk, we must talk.”

  “Can I read this back to you to ensure I have heard you correctly?”

  “Of course you can,” said Alex, not really understanding how Thoth could get such a short message wrong.

  He cleared his throat before reading from the papyrus:

  “It was very nice to meet you. I would like to buy you dinner at a nice restaurant. Somewhere where it is safe for you to meet me, a place of your choosing. I wait to hear from you and assure you of my wish to keep you safe and protect you from any harm. Your new friend, Alex.”

  He said with a definite twinkle in his eye, “Did I correctly write down what you said? I only ask as it is sometimes difficult for me, English not being my first language.”

  Alex, upon hearing Quentin call for him to keep up, hugged Thoth before running to join his father.

  They emerged from the tunnel into a dark cut within the rock face. Alex poked his head out where he saw immediately that they were well away from the entrance to the tomb of Ay. Stepping fully out into the sun, they looked at each other and laughed, even though it hurt to laugh. They were a mess.

  “You make that guy in Die Hard look like an amateur” said Quentin.

  Alex was thinking along similar lines. “If Spielberg was casting for Saving Private Ryan 2, you would certainly get the part. You wouldn’t even need to go to makeup.” They stopped laughing after they had moved far enough out to be able to take in the entire end of the valley. For the first time they could see just how much of the rock face had come down.

  “That warlock must have great powers,” said Alex.

  “What are you talking about? It was nothing more than a minor earth tremor which loosened an already unstable rock face.”

  “Yes … yes, you are right, Dad.” He wanted to ask so many questions, but for now they would have to wait. “I can see the army are back.”

  “That, my boy, is nothing to do with the army. That is Dr Margretti’s new toy.”

  “Now I really am confused.”

  “It is most understandable that you are, but please hold in your thoughts and questions until the danger is over.”

  Alex thought on this, several things went through his mind before he spoke. “I know we are suffering, but I think we should make our own way back to the Winter Palace. I don’t think it’s safe for us to go up there right now.” He said this as he pointed from the large black vehicle to all the activity around the tomb of Ay someway beyond. “Everyone is looking for us up there, so that is the last place we should be.”

  “I cannot say the walk is one I want to make, but I agree, it is one we have to make.” And with that said, Quentin started at a quick pace down the valley with Alex close behind. They kept to the shaded side wherever they could, arriving back at the Valley of the Kings car park quicker than either of them could have expected.

  Alex could not believe his eyes. There, right before them, was a multi-coloured Volvo which was in almost as a bad a condition as they were.

  “I’m just on my way to the Winter Palace,” said Rose with a smile and without any comment on their appearance. She held out two bottles of chilled water. “Would either of you boys like a lift?”

  Alex was in the shower with his clothes on, his T-shirt having steadfastly refused to leave his body due to large areas of dried blood. The same went for his bandages. They were now softening nicely, and as he removed item after item, he knew everything would have to be thrown away. It was then that he remembered the papyrus from Henuttawy, folded in his trouser pocket, a papyrus he had wished to keep. He fumbled to remove nothing more than mush.

  Since Pharaoh Nakhtifi had been secured in the afterlife, it was not only Kate who had her own room, so did Alex. This was why he was surprised to hear a knock at his bathroom door. “Who is it?” he called out.

  “It me,” was the reply.

  “Hi Cairo, I’ll be out in a moment.” Alex could not be bothered to try and dry himself, because bending caused far too much pain. Dripping wet he slipped into an overly large white towelling dressing gown, which the hotel had so fortunately provided.

  Cairo took at least two steps back at the shock of seeing him. “What happened, Mr Alex? Shall I get help?”

  “Just an accident, I’m okay, or I will be in a day or two, as everything hurts at the moment. What did you want to see me about?”

  “I see Ropet and Sanuba. They checked everywhere. Everyone they knew. Henuttawy not here, not in Luxor. We are safe from her. Everyone think she has left Egypt.”

  “Good on Henuttawy,” thought Alex. “Yes, Cairo, you could be right,” he said.

  “I am right. She has heard how angry Ramses is. She has run away. She not a problem to us now.”

  “Great news, Cairo. Does Ramses know this?”

  “Yes, I told Bast, and she went to tell him.”

  Alex was extremely pleased that nobody would be looking for Henuttawy in Luxor, as this should make it easier for him to meet up with her. “We need to get together in the bar. Whilst I get dressed, could you let Kate know?”

  “But she not here, she left with that Doctor this morning. Nobody seen her since.”

  “Well then, Cairo, you and I w
ill have a meeting in the bar.”

  Cairo liked this idea and went off to sit at their table whilst Alex dressed.

  They had been talking for a while when Kate rushed in. She almost fell on Alex as she flung her arms around him. It was a hug he could have done without as pain yet again shot around his body. “Oh, sorry,” she said as she felt him wince. “I’m just so glad you are alive. I was sure you were dead.”

  They explained what they had each been doing and everything they had found out. Alex’s parents stepped into the bar. “Come on, it’s time for dinner,” said Quentin, interrupting their conversation. “We have been invited for dinner, so it would be rude if we were late.” Cairo got up to leave. “Where are you going, young man, you are having dinner with us.” Cairo looked to his father who gave him a wink and a nod.

  Much to the surprise of the three youngsters they were ushered into the very special 1886 restaurant, named after the year the Winter Palace was built. They, along with Quentin and Babs, had the restaurant to themselves, until Dr Margretti and Joe, his assistant, arrived. Quentin was excited to finally be able to properly greet his old friend, though just how old he was, was not going to be revealed to Kate, Alex and Cairo just yet.

  The restaurant offered diners just a few tables to choose from and was sparsely, though tastefully decorated. A plain screen hid the doors to the kitchens. Waiters came out from behind the left side of the screen and returned on the right. Six small courses of expertly prepared food were brought out one after the other. The three youngsters were unaware that anyone had ordered, they most certainly had not. Food arrived, it was enjoyed by all, then the empty plates were taken away.

  A selection of cheeses, small breads and fruit arrived at their table, the seventh and final course. A silver tray, on which were eight empty red wine glasses, was placed on the table beside them. The head waiter offered the Doctor a bottle of red wine. He had a white cloth draped over both hands as one supported the bottom of the bottle and the other the neck. The waiter’s hands shook as he, strangely for someone who must have done this so many times, appeared to be incredibly nervous.

  Dr Margretti looked at the label, stared most intently at the label, smiled in a sad sort of way and leant back in his chair. “Quite perfect,” he said as the sadness left his face.

  Alex and Kate were both brimming with questions. Cairo, on the other hand, was enjoying an extra course which had apparently been prepared especially for him.

  The wine was poured and a glass was placed in front of each of them. Kate looked to Alex as if to say ‘I do not want to drink this’, though said nothing. The eighth glass, now also containing red wine, was left in the middle of the silver tray on the table between them and the kitchen. A candle was placed beside the glass which, upon a nod from Dr Margretti, was lit.

  “I would very much appreciate it if you would all raise your glass,” said the Doctor, who had stood and already held his aloft. Now focusing on the three youngsters, he spoke softly, “You may pretend to drink, but I would very much like you all to join in with the toast if you do not mind. It is so very important to me.” Now that everyone was standing with their glasses raised, he turned and held his out to the lone glass and candle. They all did likewise. “I toast those who cannot be here, those who have fallen and those who have yet to fall.”

  Everyone sat and placed their now empty glasses down. Kate did not recall drinking any of her wine, Alex had taken just a small sip, Quentin and Babs had also taken nothing more than a sip and she was sure that Joe had not drunk any, though Cairo had taken his down in one rather noisy gulp. She looked at the empty glasses on the table in front of her, then to the lone glass on the table beside them … it was also empty. She smacked Alex on the arm as she pointed more discretely than the smack had been. He was amazed when he saw that it was empty. Looking back at Kate, she looked at him, and neither knew what to say.

  “Thank you for being my guests this evening. I hope you have all enjoyed your meal. It is clear to me that the kitchen has excelled itself tonight.” Everyone looked to Dr Margretti and made general sounds of agreement. Waiters and chefs appeared from behind the screen and were met with a round of applause. As they left, it appeared as if Joe was going to leave with them. In the hushed tones of the room both Kate and Alex heard him lock, perhaps bolt, the in-door to the kitchen and then the out-door from the kitchen, before returning to the table.

  “Well, Quentin, it is a long time since we have been in Luxor together.”

  “I have to say, after the last time I never thought I would see you back here again.”

  “I am aware you struggle to understand, nay comprehend much, my good friend, but that is the nature of archaeology. So many pieces are there, yet so many remain missing.”

  Alex listened to what Dr Margretti had to say to his father, though his focus was on Quentin. He realised that this was a cloaked message, a message which had nothing to do with archaeology and everything to do with ancients. He was wondering if the Doctor could actually see ancients or just believed in their existence, when Kate spoke up.

  “You said I would understand later, yet I do not!”

  “Aah, later I said and later I meant, and you will know later, though later is not today.”

  “I,” was all Kate managed to get out before Babs burst into tears. Dr Margretti’s toast had brought back her memories of Alex’s late parents. She could not bear the thought that she may lose him in a similar way. Quentin immediately ushered her out of the room without saying a word. Joe unlocked the main door for them, a door the three youngsters had no idea was locked.

  “Look,” said Dr Margretti firmly, which caused the youngsters’ eyes to instantly turn away from the door and stare back at him, “I do not have the time or the patience to explain everything to you. Once we are rid of the warlock, then to whoever survives, I will happily explain everything.” His gaze was met with looks of fear. “Oh, do come on, you really cannot have thought you could all survive this. It would be an impossibility.” The looks of fear were now joined with dropped jaws. “Oh my … my, my, my … you did all think you would survive. Well, you had better face facts. You have done well up to this point, though how much luck had to play in your success I do not know. Now you are attacking the warlock head on, you must fight magic with magic.” He paused before continuing. “How much magic do you know?” He first looked into the eyes of Kate and held the gaze, before moving to Alex and finally Cairo. Each in turn shook their head. “Exactly my point. None of you know what you are up against.” The Doctor stood and paced the room.

  “I think we do and I think we can win,” said Kate with extreme attitude.

  “No ‘think’ about it, we will win,” said Alex.

  “Is there any more of that wine?” asked Cairo.

  Chapter 9

  -

  Out On Their Own

  “Well, does anybody really know what just happened?” asked Kate as she sat on the banks of the River Nile and wiggled her toes in the water.

  It was almost midnight, yet it was still so incredibly hot. It was also incredibly bright. The moored cruise boats with their extremely large glass windows showered them with light. The shop lights shone down onto their displays of holiday souvenirs and they had even brighter lights outside, so no tourist could possibly miss any piece of imported Chinese plastic. These, when added to the lit Corniche and the street lighting above them, gave the impression of it being daylight. Only the bright full moon overhead, surrounded by a dark sky, said it was anything but.

  “As I see it, Dr Margretti either knows of the afterlife or believes in the afterlife.” Alex most certainly was not going to tell all he knew. He was sitting crossed legged on a floating pontoon to which many tourist feluccas were tied. They bobbed gently with their single sail furled, as they waited for another busy day. The three adventurers knew they were safe here, because even ancients could not stand on water and they most definitely could not stand on a modern pontoon.

&nb
sp; “He knows. Oh, yes, he knows all right,” she replied with rebuke in her voice. “What was all that about being on our own and the spooky way he said it?”

  “I think he was trying to tell us not to stay here,” said Alex from a position of definite disadvantage, because if Kate lost it he could all too easily end up in the water. He pointed behind to the Winter Palace. “If we do remain here, then we would bring everyone who works here into danger, yet they would be too polite to ask us to leave.”

  “Then why didn’t he just say that? I really am getting fed up with all of this.”

  “I think I know who he is,” said Cairo excitedly.

  “Who, who is?”

  Cairo was already up and running as she spoke. He returned almost as quickly with a handful of postcards. “See, this him.”

  Kate and Alex looked at various pictures of an ancient stone statue. Apparently, from the text on the reverse of one of the cards, it was of Akhenaton and the statue now resided in the Luxor Museum.

  “It does look a little like Dr Margretti, definitely the same features,” said Kate. She rotated each postcard in her hands as she looked at it.

  “Yes, Cairo,” said Alex, “it does have a slight look of the Doctor, but, even knowing of ancients as we do, I seriously doubt that Pharaoh Akhenaton, the father of Tutankhamun, would be buying us dinner at the Winter Palace and work for the British Museum.” Alex paused as he thought of the great find of Tutankhamun by the British archaeologist Howard Carter. He had been funded by Lord Carnarvon, who had stayed at the Winter Palace. Tutankhamun, Howard Carter, Winter Palace, Lord Carnarvon, British Museum, his father aware of ancients, or at least an ancient Thoth, the button from his ancient relative Aryamani, Ramses II, in a way it all fitted. However, Alex discounted that he could be Akhenaton, because he had been sitting on a chair in a building where ancients could not sit.