Curse of the Scarab King

by Wend Petzler

  "Ok, but ... hurry.” Kate hit the ‘end’ button and sat on the edge of her bed, feeling absolutely miserable. She didn't have long to wait when Mike burst into the room, his green eyes widening when he saw the damage done.

  "Damn.” His concern centered on Kate sitting on the rumpled bed, clutching a small, wooden box, looking rather forlorn. “Kate, are you all right?” he asked gently, knowing she felt more intensely about her work than most old timers he knew in their field.

  Sniffing, she nodded. “Yeah, I'll be fine. Are the police coming?"

  "The hotel manager says they are.” Mike was about to question her about the box when the manager and his security guards arrived, seeking to enter her room. “Come in."

  An immaculately dressed man attired in a white suit, bearing a waxed, black mustache above his pencil thin lip, stared in horror at what was done to the American woman's room. In a nasally, French accent, he tried to reassure her, “I apologize most sincerely, Mademoiselle Martin. I will get to the bottom of this despicable atrocity immediately. The police are sending a detective over right away. Was anything valuable stolen?” he asked, afraid he and his hotel would be held liable.

  "The thieves took my laptop and most of my research,” Kate replied miserably, her slim shoulders bowed in defeat.

  Mike placed a kind hand on her shoulder, amazed by the efficiency of the thieves. “They got everything from the Temple?"

  "Pretty much. This, I found today.” She indicated to the bundle in her arms.

  Just as they were about to discuss her latest find, a tall man, wearing a rumpled brown suit, wrapped his knuckles against the opened door.

  "Excuse me, I am Detective Kheti. How may I assist you?"

  Staring at the detective, Kate felt an icy chill of apprehension sweep through her when she looked into his black eyes and realized they were empty of a soul. When he shook Mike's offered hand, she saw etched on the man's inner, right wrist the tattoo of Sobek, the Crocodile God. But there were major variances. The half man, half crocodile held a sword in each hand. Unaware she stared at his tattoo, he reached for his handkerchief and mopped the sweat from his broad forehead as he examined the destruction done to her room.

  "Do you know what the thieves took?"

  Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet Detective Kheti's. “From what I can tell, they stole some money and a few of the better pottery I found at Karnak,” Kate lied, sensing rather than seeing Mike stiffened at her words but thankfully he kept silent.

  "Nothing else was taken?” His oily voice slithered, trying to figure if she was holding out about anything important.

  "Nope.” Keeping her gaze on him proved the hardest thing, but she won, hoping he bought her lie.

  His eyes narrowed, flickering over the box she held on her lap. When the woman failed to budge, he gave her a short bow. “I will escort you down to the police station, and we'll have you fill out a report.” He offered his hand out to her, hoping to aid her ascent when she firmly shook her head, scooting nervously away from him.

  "I'm not filing a complaint. I just want to clean up my room and take a shower. It's really been a trying day.” No way in hell was she going anywhere with the creepy-looking man!

  The men gathered in the room looked at her in stunned disbelief. Mike squatted down to look at her better, wondering if perhaps she got too much sun today, reading instead the warning look in her eyes. Surprised, he gave a slight nod of understanding. “Well, gentlemen, you heard the lady. She wishes to let it go. Thank you, Detective Kheti for coming down on such short notice. Sorry to waste your time.” He extended his hand out to the man, noting the sudden flare of chagrin in the dark depths of his eyes.

  Reluctant, Kheti shook the Englishman's hand. Reaching into his coat pocket, he withdrew a card, handing it over to the young man. “Here is my cell number. If anything unusual should happen or you discover something of real value missing, please call me.” He nodded briefly to the hotel manager and left.

  Thankful the American woman declined filling out the police report, the manager offered, “Miss Martin, I shall have another room readied for you. All expenses shall be waived for any inconvenience you have endured from this dreadful experience."

  Mike informed the man, “Miss Martin will be in my room until hers is ready."

  "I promise it won't be a long wait. Good evening.” He scurried away, his men following close on his heels.

  Looking at her funny, Mike frowned, crossing his tanned arms in front of him. “You are going to tell me what that was all about?"

  She went to the door and peered out into the hallway. Coming back, Kate asked, “Did you see the tattoo on Kheti's wrist?"

  "Yeah, but what does it have to do with your room being ransacked or the scrolls stolen?"

  "Today, I met our new investor, Sabni Jaffe, who has a tattooed symbol of Ra's Eye on the side of his throat. Isn't it strange two factions who were in open hostility toward each other three thousand years ago are seen in the same day? To top it off, Jaffe demanded the scrolls be delivered to him and look what's happened, they're stolen!” Despite the setback, Kate refused to be deterred. She had the feeling what she sought was not Amenemhet but rather a lost pharaoh of the Twelfth Dynasty and no way was she going to stop until she found him!

  Blinking at what she told him, he peered closer at the box. “What have you there?” He followed her to the cluttered desk, shaking his head when she casually shoved everything off. Violet eyes sparkled in her excitement. Kate set the box down and opened it.

  "I found it today in Imtep's chambers.” Withdrawing the elaborate scepter, she handed it over to Mike.

  Testing the weight, his brow furrowed in thought. “I've seen this before, but where?” Mike took off the lamp's shade and turned the scepter upside down, examining the star-shaped base better. Stamped on the bottom, he saw the scarab wearing the Double Crown of Egypt upon its head. Somber, Mike looked up at Kate. “You know what this is, don't you?"

  "What?"

  "It's a key."

  "A key to what?” Kate asked breathlessly.

  "The Scarab King."

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  Chapter Six

  "Who?” Kate looked up, surprised by the serious expression on his boyish features.

  "The Scarab King. I believe what you've found is the very key to the elusive Scarab King. When I studied in London, I did a research paper on SobeKnefru. I was fascinated by her accomplishments, becoming Pharaoh Queen, a role only a handful of women laid claim to. After her husband, Amenemhet IV, died, SobeKnefru placed Sobek as the ruling God of Egypt. Her personal bodyguards were called the Shedty, a religious cult dedicated to serving the Pharaoh Queen and Sobek. When SobeKnefru died, their religion had also. Or did it?” Mike frowned and continued on, “Anyway, in my research, I ran across a brief inscription about a fierce commander referred to as the Scarab King. Named so because of the scarab necklace and belt he wore, it signified his great warrior status amongst the regular soldiers. Around 1786 B.C. he disappeared. All of Egypt grieved."

  "Why have I not ever heard of him before?"

  Mike looked at her long and hard. “SobeKnefru eliminated anything bearing his name, thus destroying his ka. Without his name, the Scarab King is cursed to wander the earth, denied Eternity. The Sacred Order of the Shedty killed anyone who openly mourned him. They feared his memory as much as they did the man when he lived."

  Shaking, an eerie feeling like she was heading toward her destiny engulfed Kate. “Did you ever find out what his real name was?"

  "No. But, I believe someone out there is dedicated in preserving his memory. Your scepter is proof SobeKnefru wasn't entirely successful in destroying the Scarab King."

  "Mike, let's keep the scepter a secret, at least until we know more about it. Whoever took the scrolls will come after us if they ever found out I have this.” She dug in her bra and retrieved the map, handing it to Mike who gaped at her.

  "Where did you find it?” Rever
ent at handling the weathered parchment, Mike held the map next to the light bulb, checking it for authenticity. Reading the hieroglyphs, his gaze flew up to look at her, reassuring himself what he held was real.

  "In the box. Well, what do you think?” The suspense was killing her, waiting for him to answer.

  Slow to respond, Mike grinned from ear to ear. “I think we have a colossal find here. When do you want to go to Hawara and explore?"

  His excitement contagious, caution stopped her. “Should we research the scepter more or jump in and figure it out as we go?"

  When their eyes met, they answered at the same time. “Jump in!"

  Mike folded the parchment and handed it back to her. “Come on, let's go to my room and order something to eat. Afterwards, we'll head out to Hawara.” He started laughing at her chagrin. “Kate, when's the last time you ate?” When she refused to meet his gaze, he urged, “It won't take long to order and eat. Besides, we need to find out if Theo is back from the Temple dig."

  Tucking the folded map back in her bra, she won a funny look from Mike. “What? If we run into anyone dangerous, I doubt they're going to check the contents of my bra.” Kate reached for the scepter and stuffed it into the worn, canvas backpack she'd been carrying around for years. “Why do we need to know where Theo is?"

  Shaking his head at Kate's distorted point of view about the contents of her bra, Mike grabbed the wooden box and led the way out of her trashed room. “If we know where he is, it makes it easier to avoid him,” he whispered in a conspiring tone.

  Chuckling at his devious mind, Kate knew it strange, but she was having the best time of her life. Since coming to Egypt, Mike Walker made the entire expedition fun and exciting, his boyish enthusiasm infectious. Was it true about the Scarab King? Was the tomb they searched for really his? Who was the mysterious man whom a queen feared so much she decimated his real name from history, unwittingly making him a legend? What hatred SobeKnefru must have borne for the Scarab King to wipe him from history. Was he a scorned lover? Someone who tried to usurp her from power?

  When Mike unlocked his door and opened it for her to enter, she could not help cringing when she saw how messy his room was. “Are you sure someone hasn't stolen anything from you? How can you find anything in here?” Kate complained as he set the box on the floor and shoved his books off the bed for her to sit down.

  Laughing when she crinkled her cute nose, the tip upturned ever so slightly, Mike liked Kate. On the fair side of plump, she wasn't very tall but her spirit and determination made her appear undaunted. The one thing he really liked about her was her knack for getting into trouble. And boy did trouble love Kate Martin! Whether she was tripping over something, falling down a hole, or hiccupping when she got upset or angry, he had never seen her scared to the point of retreating. Giving up was not in Kate's vocabulary.

  "What do you want from the hotel's restaurant?” He lifted the receiver, prepared to order dinner.

  "Cheeseburger and a beer,” Kate replied as she picked up a book about the Twelfth Dynasty.

  Turning to the chapter about SobeKnefru, she read the widowed Queen defied tradition and claimed the Double Crown with both hands, refusing to let go until death took her many years later. SobeKnefru truly became a dictator, ruling Egypt with an iron fist. Believing she was a goddess reborn, SobeKnefru had proclaimed Sobek to be her husband, thus safeguarding the ruling power of Egypt from any male sharing the Double Crown.

  They didn't have long to wait for supper or word of Theo's whereabouts. When Theo heard about the robbery from the manager, he came looking for Kate. Pounding on Mike's door, Theo demanded to be let in. Mike rolled his eyes and opened it, stepping aside when the irate man charged in. “Hey, Theo. I guess you heard what happened?"

  "Damn right I heard! Kate, I thought you had everything secured in your room? How could you have allowed this to happen? Especially now of all times when our visas are about to expire?” Red in the face, he screamed at her, “Your irresponsibility could get us kicked out of Egypt."

  "How was I supposed to prevent someone from breaking into my room while I was working in the Temple? I really don't know why they wanted the scrolls anyways. All they contained were daily records of temple business.” Kate scowled, setting the half-eaten cheeseburger aside, not hungry anymore. The thieves must not ever find out about the map in their possession or the key. Whatever lay in the labyrinth was far more valuable than gold—it's a chance to change history!

  Theo wasn't appeased by a long shot. “What the hell am I going to tell Mr. Jaffe? He's demanding we show him the scrolls.” Mike and Kate shared a long look before shrugging their shoulders, appearing defeated. “Can you give me anything to present to him?” he practically begged, nearly in tears by the severe blow they were dealt by the robbery.

  Mike took pity on Theo and gathered his notes, handing them over. “Here are partial translations of the scrolls. Perhaps they'll appease Mr. Jaffe until we find more clues to the hidden chamber Kate told me about."

  Theo's eyes lit up, and he grabbed the notes, clutching them against his chest. “I'll try to stall him. If you find anything else, please tell me. Our jobs are in dire jeopardy!” Theo hurried from the room, hoping to keep the Egyptian investor interested in their project.

  When Theo was out of hearing range, Kate was the first to speak. “We need to go to the labyrinth tonight and find the tomb. As much as I hate to admit it, Theo's right. To have the necessary money to continue our exploration, we must produce something of value to Jaffe."

  "I guess you're right. Let's get going. I suspect we are about to have a long night ahead of us. Did you leave your tools in your car?"

  "Yes, and I have flashlights, too."

  "Good. Let's get going.” Mike shrugged into his denim jacket, tossing her his spare coat to wear.

  Grabbing several bottles of water, he shoved them into his backpack for later. Checking to make sure the hallway clear, he jerked his head for her to follow him. They used the backstairs, sneaking out of the quiet hotel, the guests settling down for the evening. Waiting nervously as Kate fumbled for her keys, unlocking the Jeep's doors, he glanced around the empty parking lot. They hurried inside the vehicle and fastened their seatbelts. Adrenaline pumping, they drove out onto the street and out of town.

  Burnished gold, the moon, near to being round, shone brilliant against the dark sky. Two days more and the glowing orb would reach its full potential. Glancing at her watch, amazed the time well past eight, Kate barely contained her excitement. Needing to cross the Nile, she paid the ferry man and drove onto the flat surfaced boat. On the other side, they drove up the highway, heading for Hawara. Taking turns driving through the night, past the day and in between, they managed to get some rest. Sort of.

  Twelve am.

  Back in the driver's seat, Kate passed Hawara and ditched the main highway for a dirt road and drove west. Dark and mysterious, the pyramids stood silent observers in the high beams of the Jeep's headlights. Driving onward, the Pyramid of Senusret III flew past, but she kept going, their destination much further.

  Mike rolled down his window and pointed at the smaller pyramid to the right front them. “Lepsius Pyramid. Keep going.” Farther down the dusty road, next rose the majestic Red Pyramid, Pharaoh Snofru's second creation and final resting place.

  To her left, Kate pointed, “Pyramid of Amemenhet II,” and over at her right, “Old Kingdom Tombs and Mastabas.” Two more miles and Pharaoh Snofru's actual first commission in having his burial monument built, the Bent Pyramid, rose to the right. Famous for its odd shape, the pyramid builders failed in reaching a perfect pinnacle, becoming a squat-shaped structure. Continuing for another mile, a looming mound of dark rock rose before the headlights. At last their journey had reached its end.

  A chill swept up her spine when she placed the gear into park and shut off the engine. Jackals cried out, their high-pitched cackling scaring her. The answering roar of a hunting lion gave her the willies, as if wa
rning them not to trespass. Stepping out into the cold, night air of the desert, Kate stared up at the dark, rounded mountain before them. Time and theft of the outer bricks left the pyramid looking more like a misshapen rock formation.

  The Black Pyramid.

  Swallowing nervously, Mike switched on his flashlight. “Get out the map, we're going treasure hunting."

  Retrieving the map, Kate held it out so they could both read it. “Where do we enter? We obviously can't go down the Mortuary Temple's stairs."

  "We go inside the pyramid. The way I see it, the labyrinth winds its way down to a second level and comes back underneath the pyramid. That's where the tomb is marked to be."

  "It appears so. Come on, let's get our gear, we're going to be walking for a while.” Not feeling quite sure of their plan as she had earlier, Kate grabbed her backpack and slipped it on. Mike grabbed a crowbar from the back of the Jeep.

  "Do you think there'll be treasure in your tomb?"

  Switching on her flashlight, she grimaced. “For our sake, there better be or we're shipped out of Egypt on the first available plane. Here we go!” Smiling with false confidence, Kate tried to keep the tension out of her voice.

  Mike wedged the end of the crowbar under the padlock and broke it, freeing the wooden door protecting the pyramid's entrance. Stepping through the doorway, the temperature inside the pyramid cooled noticeably. They continued in the direction indicated by the map in her hand.

  Two hours later, Kate and Mike stopped when the corridor they walked down ended at a crossroad. Exhausted, they sat down on the smooth, stone floor, looking at the map, then the wall before them.

  "Where the hell is the door indicated here on the map?” Mike complained, tired and grumpy.

  Seeing the deception, Kate laughed tiredly. “There it is, right in front of us! According to the map, we have to open it.” Climbing wearily to their feet, they checked out the wall, feeling for any indentations.

  "Let's try pushing it.” Mike put his shoulder to it and shoved.