Mirage

by Monica Burns

  The internal command tugged a smile to her mouth. As they rode into the shadow of Khufu’s Pyramid, the relief from the heat was immediate. Staring up at the colossal structure, she marveled at the engineering feat the Pharaoh Khufu had ordered built more than four thousand years ago.

  Up ahead, the main entrance loomed like a dark hole in the side of the Pyramid. At Altair’s signal, they all came to a halt. The moment her camel lumbered down onto its knees, Alex slid off the animal and down into the sand. The thickness of it pulled at her boots showing beneath her riding skirt.

  Striding forward, she almost fell. The sand sucked at her boots like thick mud as she moved toward the tomb’s entrance. She passed Altair helping Jane off her camel. His solicitous attitude toward her friend made her grit her teeth.

  After the third time almost falling on her face, she climbed up several giant blocks of stones to reach the tomb’s dark doorway. She paused at the entrance. Altair had one arm around Jane’s waist as he helped her through the slippery sand. Biting her lip, she scowled. A rake and a scoundrel who wasn’t to be trusted. Eager to push on, she peered down into the cavernous depths of the tunnel in front of her.

  “Alex, wait for us.”

  Another command. When was he going to learn she didn’t like it when he ordered her around? She didn’t like it all. Ignoring his order, she stooped and entered the narrow corridor. The small confines of the passageway forced a breath of surprise from her. The size of the Pyramid had made her think the corridor would be just as awe-inspiring. This passage was anything but. It was narrow, tight and constricting. Not only that, the roof was so low she had to remain hunched over.

  A lit torch rested in a metal sconce on the wall. Ahead of her, there was nothing but darkness. Several unlit rushes lay on the floor, and she scooped one up. It would be just like the time she’d gone spelunking with Uncle Jeffrey. She’d just have to take care with the torch. The last thing she needed was to be stuck in here without a light.

  Still bent at the waist, she scooted forward. Father would have found the passage difficult. His height had been roughly the same as Altair’s. But where Altair was lean and hard, her father had been a bit more rounded. He would have managed though. The last thing Professor Alexander Talbot had been was a quitter. And neither was she.

  Beneath her fingers, the walls were cool and smooth. Amazing how these massive stones were all chiseled by hand. Even more astonishing was how they made their weighty presence felt just in the denseness of the air. It smelled exactly like a four-thousand-year-old tomb should smell. Dank and musty. The floor angled downward, and she saw a torch mounted in another metal sconce on the wall. Lighting the torch, she moved on.

  She continued to find torches along the way, lighting them as she moved deeper into the tomb. Ahead of her, a scurrying, scratching sound made her hesitate. Rats. She hated rats. Stopping, she stretched out her torch to illuminate more of the passage in front of her. She tipped her head to one side and listened. Nothing but silence. As usual, her imagination was working overtime.

  In the distance, she heard Jane and Altair behind her, but she couldn’t make out their words. Perhaps her impulsiveness had been foolhardy, given the attempt on her life yesterday. Scoffing at herself, she shook her head. There was only one way in and out of this part of the tomb.

  A murderer wouldn’t choose a place from which he couldn’t escape. Not to mention how easy it would be to find any assailant. They’d be easily recognizable from the permanent stoop in their back. She grimaced at the ache in her spine. It wouldn’t be any big surprise if she suffered a similar fate.

  Continuing forward, she finally emerged into a narrow, high-ceilinged chamber. Thank goodness. Any more scrambling forward like a monkey would have been torturous. She took a moment to catch her breath and study the high ceiling. Torches lined each side of the wall, and she lit them as she moved forward. This could only be the Grand Gallery, and just beyond lay the King’s Chamber. She stared at the smooth walls. Where were the hieroglyphs and depictions of life during Pharaoh’s time covering the walls? These walls were free of markings. At the far end of the chamber, the scratching noise came again.

  Caught off guard, she jumped before grimacing at her nervousness. The torch she carried sputtered, and she quickly traded it for a fresh torch hanging on the wall. Lifting the light high over her head, she peered into the darkness. The Grand Gallery seemed to stretch on endlessly. From where she stood, she could see no end in sight.

  As she strode forward, the scratching got louder. A soft whine accompanied the sound. Dear Lord, someone had left a dog inside the tomb. It had to have been deliberate. One didn’t bring an animal into this place and just leave it here. Locked up in the dark, the poor thing must be crazed with terror.

  It took her several minutes to reach the far end of the Grand Gallery. The high-ceilinged chamber ended at a medium-sized doorway beyond which was more darkness. The King’s Chamber. Her father would have been beside himself with excitement. A low growl sounded in front of her, and she took a step back.

  No sooner had she done so than an animal slunk its way out of the dark chamber and into the Grand Gallery. As it moved into the light, Alex’s heart flew up into her mouth. She’d been expecting a dog. This was no dog looking to be rescued. This was a gaunt, half-starved hyena.

  She watched it circle her. First a snake, now a hyena. Whoever was trying to kill her had an affinity for animals of the exotic variety. The bizarre concept would have been funny if she’d not been so terrified. The hyena’s mouth furled back in a snarl. Instinct made her grip the torch with both hands.

  When it leaped forward, Alex swung her torch. Flames met the animal’s furry hide, and it yelped in pain as it tumbled backward. Getting up to its feet, the animal bared its teeth and lunged at her again. With all her strength she swung the torch. The flaming club crashed against the hyena’s head with a loud crack. The noise reverberated in the chamber, and the animal flew sideways and bounced off the wall. It landed on the floor with a small whimper before growing silent.

  Alex stared at the hyena, prepared to ward off another attack, but the animal remained where it had landed. From the far end of the gallery, she heard voices. About to call out, she saw the hyena move slightly. Without a second thought, she leaped forward and brought her fiery club down on the animal’s head repeatedly until a strong arm pulled her away.

  “Enough, Alex. It’s dead.”

  She shuddered, her chest heaving with deep breaths of terror. Altair pulled the torch from her limp fingers, and she turned away from the dead animal. Jane stepped forward to embrace her, but Alex spurned the offer of comfort with her raised hand. God, she felt sick. She wasn’t sure if it was from fear or the sight of the hyena’s blood.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Alex, maybe you should rethink going to Khatana-Qantir.” Jane’s quiet suggestion hung in the dank air as Alex scowled at her friend.

  “Why?”

  “Don’t be obtuse, Alex. Someone’s going to great lengths to try to stop you.” Jane’s brow furrowed with worry.

  “Jane’s right, Alex. It might be—”

  She snapped her gaze to Altair’s face, daring him to continue. If the two of them thought she was going to quit, they needed their heads examined. Yesterday she’d been ready to give up, but she’d come to her senses. She wasn’t going to let a couple of unpleasant encounters with desert wildlife deter her. Straightening to her full height, she glared at the two of them.

  “I’m going to Khatana-Qantir. And no one, and I do mean no one, is going to stop me.”

  Without another look at either of them, Alex headed toward the exit. She refused to let someone frighten her into going home. This was no longer her father’s dream. It was hers now, and she was going to do everything in her power to fulfill that dream despite the dangers involved.

  The camel ride back from the Pyramids h
ad been bearable only because she wasn’t in close proximity to Altair. But even then, she could feel his disapproving gaze on her back. Now, in the close confines of the carriage taking them back to the hotel, his penetrating gaze was that much harder to ignore.

  Every time the vehicle came to a halt because of traffic in the street, she wanted to leap out and run as far away from him as she could. As if aware of her distress, Jane touched her arm.

  “Oh, Alex, look. It’s a silk shop.” Jane looked at the man seated opposite them. “Altair, would you mind if we did a small amount of shopping?”

  Irritated that her friend had asked his permission, Alex sent Jane a dark look. But her friend was oblivious to the condemnation. A smile on his lips, Altair nodded his head and ordered the carriage driver to stop. Not even looking in her direction, Altair opened the low door of the landau and stepped out of the carriage. With a gallant gesture he extended his hand to Jane to help her out of the vehicle.

  His entire demeanor infuriated Alex. Why did the man have to be so damn solicitous to Jane all the time? With her, he was anything but that. She slid across the seat and exited the vehicle on the opposite side. As she turned toward the landau to shut the door, her gaze met Altair’s. His eyes narrowed in a speculative manner, he studied her in silence for a brief moment.

  “The silk shop is on this side of the street, Alex,” he said quietly.

  Not bothering to respond, she swept around the back of the carriage and followed Jane into the small store. She half expected Altair to join them, but he remained outside.

  In her element, Jane moved around the small shop examining the fabrics available for sale. Alex could do little more than trail in her friend’s wake. When Jane had decided on the folds of silk she wanted, she had Alex translate the sale for her.

  As was the custom, Alex negotiated with the man for the goods. She had almost achieved a final price when Jane released a sharp cry of pleasure.

  “Alex, come look at this.” Jane waved her over to where a beautiful silk costume was displayed on the wall. “Isn’t it exquisite?”

  “More like decadent, although it appears to be of an authentic design,” Alex murmured as she watched Jane slide her hand through the almost transparent skirt. “You aren’t seriously giving any consideration to buying it are you?”

  “Of course I am.”

  “Where on earth would you wear it? If you were ancient Egyptian royalty, I could understand wanting to buy it, but…”

  “Alex Talbot, haven’t you ever bought something simply because it was beautiful?”

  “Well…yes, but not a dress, especially not one that’s so…so…”

  “Seductive?” Jane asked with a chuckle. With a mischievous grin, she waved her hand toward the shopkeeper. “Go on now, find out what I need to pay the man for the silks and the dress.”

  Shaking her head in amused disgust, Alex returned to her bargaining session with the shop owner. With their shopping completed, they left the small store and resumed their journey to the hotel. As they arrived at the Billôr Sarâya, Alex exhaled a sigh of relief. The sooner she could retreat to her room, the better it would be for her frayed nerves.

  Before she could exit the door on her side, Altair moved quickly to intercept her. He stepped out of the vehicle and extended his hand to her. Unable to avoid accepting his assistance, her hand slid into his as he helped her from the carriage. A pulse of excitement shot up her arm at his touch. Flustered and agitated by the tactile sensation, she yanked her hand free.

  She moved quickly toward the hotel entrance, not bothering to wait on Jane and Altair. As she entered the lobby, Hakim, the hotel manager, greeted her in his usual profuse manner.

  “Greetings, my lady. Did you enjoy your visit to the Pyramids?”

  “Yes, thank you.” Not in the mood for idle conversation, she headed for the staircase.

  “Forgive me, my lady, but you had a visitor while you were gone.”

  She stopped and whirled around to face the man. “A visitor?”

  “Yes, my lady.” Hakim nodded with a smile. “He said Sheikh Mazir had sent him to pick up your trunks. So I let him into your room.”

  “My trunks?” Alex turned her head to look up at Altair as he joined her and Hakim. “Did you ask someone to pick up my things?”

  “No,” he said with a grim expression on his face.

  “Oh, dear God. My notes.”

  With a gasp, she spun around and raced for the stairs. She didn’t get far before Altair pulled her to an abrupt halt.

  “No, Alex. Stay here while I make sure it’s safe.”

  Leaving her in the vestibule, he took the steps two at a time and disappeared around the bend in the stairwell. Jane joined her and gave her a reassuring hug.

  “I’m certain everything’s fine, Alex.”

  “You don’t understand, Jane.” A miserable sinking feeling settled in her stomach. “If someone takes my notes or destroys them, I can’t find Per-Ramesses.”

  Impatient for news and unwilling to wait for Altair’s return, she sprinted up the steps. Behind her, she ignored Jane’s cry to stop. As she reached the second floor, she heard Jane’s voice again, and looked over her shoulder. Her friend was following close on her heels.

  “Blast it, Alex, will you please wait,” her friend snapped.

  Jane rarely raised her voice in anger, and it surprised Alex enough to make her stop where she was at the top of the stairs. In that same moment, she heard Altair commanding someone to halt. She turned toward the sound of his voice and saw a Bedouin running in her direction. His face was covered except for his eyes, and as he drew near, she swallowed hard at the flat look of contempt in his gaze.

  She wanted to run, but her precarious position at the top of the stairs left her with nowhere to go. Instinct made her reach for the banister as the man shoved her aside and continued down the steps. Her fingers touched nothing but air before she toppled backward with a cry of fear.

  Unable to stop her fall, she hit something softer than wood, yet just as solid. Horrified, she realized she had sent Jane toppling down the stairs with her. As they tumbled onto the landing she heard a sickening crack and Jane’s scream of pain.

  The carpet on the landing provided little cushioning, and her lungs expelled a powerful whoosh of air as she hit the floor. Stunned, she didn’t move for a moment until she heard soft weeping. Jane never cried. Rolling onto her side, Alex crawled to where her friend lay.

  “Where are you hurt, Jane?”

  “M-my…leg.”

  Altair reached the landing an instant later, but she ignored him. With care, she pushed her friend’s skirts aside to examine Jane’s legs. The sight of one limb bent at an awkward angle made her stomach lurch. With a glance at her friend’s white face, remorse swelled up into her throat.

  “Oh God, Jane. I’m so sorry.” Alex pressed her friend’s hand to her cheek. “I’m so very sorry.”

  His expression grim, Altair looked at someone over Alex’s shoulder. “Hakim, send for Doctor Arnaud right away, then bring me two flat pieces of wood and some bandages. Do it quickly.”

  It wasn’t until Altair had issued his command that she even realized the hotel manager was behind her. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him and another man hurrying down the steps. It briefly flashed through her head that it was the first time she’d not seen the man acting obsequious when it came to being in Altair’s presence.

  “Jane, do you hurt anywhere else other than your leg?”

  “N-no.”

  Jane’s eyes were squeezed shut but a teardrop escaped to slide down the side of her face. Her heart filled with regret, Alex gently brushed the tear away. Across from her, Altair squeezed Jane’s shoulder.

  “Jane, unfortunately your leg is broken. It may be some time before the doctor arrives, and we need to set the leg before we move you.”
>
  A whimper escaped Jane’s lips at Altair’s words, but she nodded her understanding. He patted her shoulder in a gesture of encouragement.

  “I promise to be as quick about it as I can.”

  He’d barely finished speaking when one of the hotel’s valets returned with two smooth slats of wood and several rolled up bandages. In silence, Altair accepted the items then murmured something in Arabic. The man immediately moved to kneel at Jane’s head and placed his hands gently on her shoulders.

  In a brief instant, Altair grasped Jane’s leg and snapped it back into position. The unexpected action forced a loud scream from Jane before her head lolled to one side as she fainted. Alex closed her eyes in relief. Jane was free of pain for the moment, and for that she was grateful.

  Chapter Ten

  Alex shifted the tray she carried to her hip then opened the door to Jane’s room. The sound of her friend’s laughter caught her by surprise, and as the door swung open, she saw Altair seated beside Jane’s bed. The sight sparked an unpleasant emotion inside her.

  Ever since Jane’s fall a week ago, Altair had been a constant visitor to her friend’s room. But where Alex was concerned, he’d barely spoken two words to her. It was bad enough that she blamed herself for Jane’s fall, but the weight of his disapproval was more painful than any scourge she might inflict on herself.

  “Oh, Alex,” Jane exclaimed as she stretched out her hands. “Altair has brought me the most wonderful news. Lord Tunbridge has offered me the hospitality of his home while he’s in Luxor over the next several weeks.”

  Alex’s heart sank at the words. For the past week she’d been able to push thoughts of Per-Ramesses out of her head. But now, Jane’s news forced her to realize she wouldn’t be able to leave for Khatana-Qantir for quite some time.