“So, it is a map?” Samuel shot forward in his seat.
“Yes, yes. Drawn in an old style before maps as we know them were made.”
Another fifteen minutes passed as the history of cartography was dissected.
Samuel had long since leaned back in his chair, affecting a pose that was as close to nodding off as Alec had ever seen.
“What do you make of the Egyptian writings?” Alec inquired before he too succumbed to a dazed stupor. Another lesson on hieroglyphs ensued but at least this time he gained some answers.
“This indicates a tomb,” Sir Richard pointed to a symbol. “See the lock over the foundation with the sacred scroll and reed.”
Samuel leaned forward again. “Does it say who it belongs to?”
“There is a cartouche next to the figure.”
“Who is it?” Samuel craned his neck to see over a pile of papers.
“Well, this symbol, indicates a woman, and this one, depicts a throne. But this here, he tapped the five-pointed star with a circle in the middle with his finger. “Hmm… Just a moment.” He groaned as he stood, busily searching through the large bookshelf behind him.
“Yes, yes. Here it is. I thought I recognized it.” He placed the book he’d collected on the desk and took his seat. On the page was another five-pointed star with more strange writing. “It’s the symbol for the goddess Seshat, the goddess of writing.”
“Seshat? Alec raised a brow, “Never heard of her.”
“Well, its use is metaphorical. It would have been used for a queen who symbolically represented the goddess.”
“Cleopatra?” Samuel supplied eagerly.
“No, I don’t think so. This appears to point to a queen from a much earlier period, one who would be linked with the goddess. Though Cleopatra did adopt the goddess Hathor as a symbol… “Here we are,” he pointed to the other cartouche at her feet. “It says S’ba.”
“Haven’t heard of her either,” Samuel mumbled.
“Does it say where?” Alec leaned forward.
“No, but it does have some very compelling clues. These lions which are facing away from each other are depictions of the earth god, Aker, and guardians of the underworld.” Sir Richard then indicated the writings above each. “This one says akhet while the other says pet.”
Alec glanced over at Samuel with an expression of disbelief as the older man continued to speak in the ancient dialect.
“Interesting, very interesting,” Sir Richard muttered, speaking more to himself than to either of them.
“And what does that mean exactly?” Samuel couldn’t hide his smile, “In English.”
“Oh, yes.” Sir Richard cleared his throat. “Horizon and sky as it were.”
“And this here,” he ran his finger over an eye on the right side of the lions, “Is the all-seeing eye,” he paused briefly. “If I’m not mistaken it says, the image of, Wedjat the powerful one .
Pointing to the hieroglyph on the left side, he continued, “And this I believe is a symbol of the cat.” He looked up to see he had both of their attentions. “It says… Where the cat arches over the door.”
“Where the cat arches over the door?” Both Alec and Samuel repeated simultaneously.
“Yes, indeed.”
“But does it say where?” Samuel leaned sideways for a better view.
“Well, as I said there are some compelling clues. If I had to make an educated guess…”
“Yes?” Both Alec and Samuel pressed.
“Egypt.”
Again, Alec and Samuel exchanged glances. Alec raised a brow as he considered the older man. Sir Richard was obviously not one to go out on a limb.
“Ah,” A smile flickered at the corners of Samuel’s mouth, “Is it possible to narrow that down some?”
“What I’d really like to do is to keep this overnight and let a colleague of mine have a look at it. He’s a specialist trained by Champollion himself.”
“Splendid!” Samuel slapped his hands to his knees, noticing as he did that Alec shook his head. “I mean we’ll be keeping it with us,” he quickly amended.
“I understand completely. He’ll be here tomorrow if you’d like to bring it around.” Sir Richard offered, adding gravely. “But, I feel it would be remiss of me not to mention that there appears to be some type of warning attached.
“Warning?” Samuel abandoned his seat altogether in order to get a closer look. “You mean a curse?”
“This little sparrow here is an ominous sign indeed.”
“Really?” Samuel eyed the drawing skeptically, “This little bird is the portent of doom?”
“Quite literally, the interpretation is to bring evil,” Sir Richard informed them.
“What kind of evil does it speak of?” Alec leaned closer as well.
“Again, I really think you should speak with my colleague, he is much better qualified with these writings.”
“Any help you could give us would be greatly appreciated,” Alec encouraged him.
With a sigh, Sir Richard leaned over the parchment again, “i'nhw swзty.sn hr m'h't—”
“Uh-hum,” Samuel coughed clearing his throat meaningfully.
Sir Richard glanced up over the rim of his glasses, fixing him with a troubled gaze. “O’ the living upon the earth, who pass by this tomb, it warns, keep a distance.” He restated before glancing back down. “We call upon the one that sees all, the great lord of the west, to bring evil in the form of death.”
“I say, that is rather bleak, isn’t it?” Samuel could not help but be amused by the older gentleman’s dour expression.
“That is not all,” Sir Richard continued gravely. “It goes on to say that whoever opens the tomb without the keeper shall perish in spirit, never to rise again.”
Apparently unconcerned with the curse, Samuel eyes sparkled with curiosity. “The keeper you say?”
“This is ominous indeed,” Sir Richard looked up from the document, his expression grim. “You see, to die was one thing to the Egyptians. To die in spirit, was essentially the worst curse they could possibly imagine.”
“Does it say anything else about the keeper?” Samuel stared down at the map with avid interest, choosing to ignore the warning.
Sir Richard looked over at him wearily and sighed, “I’m not entirely sure, but I believe this says that life opens the door .”
“Life?” Samuel rubbed his chin as he considered it. “How intriguing, a real puzzler then isn’t it?”
“Indeed,” Sir Richard remarked as he sat back in his chair. “I could recommend a very good archeologist, though it will be difficult to get a permit for a dig… Blasted French anyway!” He slapped his palm against the desktop. “Ever since Auguste Mariette founded the Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo, they’ve all but sewn it up. Not to mention the Suez—”
The topic did wonders for his exhaustion, Alec noticed. “I’m not sure we’ll be doing anything at this time.” He quickly supplied before another dissertation on the heated subject lasted another hour.
“Well, that is, of course, advisable. After all, chasing after something of this nature can be…” Sir Richard fixed him with his steady regard, “A waste of a lifetime.”
Something in his eyes made Alec wonder if he spoke from personal experience. “Sound advice.” Alec tucked the scroll away as he stood, shaking his hand.
“I’m sorry I could not be more precise,” Sir Richard apologized.
“You’ve been a wealth of information.” Alec inclined his head, “My thanks.”
Sir Richard seemed pleased by the praise and turned to Samuel. “Give my regards to your mother.”
“Yes Sir, I will.” Samuel took his hand once more.
~*~
“Good grief, I never thought we’d get out of there.” Samuel’s relief was obvious. “I’d forgotten how long winded some of my father’s old cronies could be.”
Alec adjusted his collar up as they left the building. The fine mist had turned into a drizzle that
was threatening a downpour. Thunder rumbled in the distance.
“Ghastly weather if you ask me.” Samuel pulled his coat closer as they crossed the plaza to the waiting coach.
“Home, Porter.” Alec received a nod in reply from his driver who’d pulled his hat down low against the weather.
Samuel lost little time in haranguing him once they were inside. “You mean to tell me that you’re not interested in finding this tomb the map speaks of?”
“I was actually of the mind to find the ol' codger, as you put it, and ask if he was still interested in purchasing the map.”
“I think that ship has sailed now that the French man is dead, don’t you?”
“Could be,” Alec shrugged nonchalantly.
Samuel retrieved a flask from his inside pocket and took a nip. The carriage bounced slightly as they pulled forward causing the liquid to slip down his chin. “Blasted roads! You should see about your springs,” he withdrew a handkerchief. Not one to be offset, he eagerly pressed his argument while wiping at the spill. “I say we sail over to Egypt and have a look for ourselves.”
“I thought you wanted to go over to the Americas and run the blockade.” Alec reminded him, although Samuel seemed inured to his sarcasm.
“I did, but that idea has paled in comparison to looking for lost treasure. Don’t you think?”
“I think your mother would cuff herself to your person if she knew you were considering either one.”
“Don’t start,” Samuel warned. “At least she hasn’t threatened to go down on one knee and propose in my stead.”
“Touché.”
“Com’on man, just think of it!” Samuel sat forward, unable to suppress his excitement at the idea. “The tomb of a great queen just begging to be opened. Imagine… Egypt… sand dunes… dancing girls… harems. I tell you it’s the opportunity of a lifetime, ripe for the picking.”
“Yes, and all we have to do is find where the cat arches over the door… somewhere in Egypt.” Alec replied cryptically with more than a dose of cynicism.
“Well, if it were easy, it would have been found already.” Samuel responded optimistically as he cupped his hands around his mouth. “Hello, are you hearing me? It’s the chance of a lifetime Alec.”
“Quite,” Alec lifted a brow. “You’re telling me that you are willing to risk eternal damnation of your soul for a little entertainment.”
“Com’on, you don’t believe that any more than I do.” Samuel scoffed as he glanced out the window. “I say, when did you move?”
Alec regarded the passing view with little interest. It appeared they were heading out of town rather than toward his townhouse. “Hmm, there must be some traffic on the main road, Porter’s going around.”
“I can understand bypassing a few roads, but the entire city?” Samuel craned his neck to see in front. “I don’t see any—”
Knock—knock—knock. A dull thud sounded in the carriage.
“What the bloody hell is that?” Samuel turned in his seat, having felt the vibration of the knocking through the back cushion.
Alec opened the shutter to the driver’s box and called out to Porter.
“Hhaa!” The driver yelled in response, followed by the crack of a whip. The carriage lurched forward as the horses were driven to a greater speed.
Alec turned back to Samuel with a look of annoyance.
Surprise registered on Samuel face, “I believe we’re being shanghaied.”
“It certainly does appear that way.” Alec spied out the window. “We also have some company.” There was a man standing back on the footman’s rail.
Samuel stole a quick glance out his side, “I’ll be damned, I suppose it wasn’t your springs after all, there’s one on this side as well.”
Knock—knock—knock.
“That is no doubt, your driver locked in the trunk in back.” Samuel remarked as Alec pulled the secret panel in the floor up, revealing a pistol and several knives.
“Well, that’s certainly more like it.” Samuel rubbed his hands together eagerly as Alec handed him an old flintlock pistol. He eyed it critically, turning it in his hand. “I’d rather have those.” He picked up the pair of throwing knives, giving Alec back the gun. “That is, if you don’t mind,” he grinned.
“Suit yourself.”
The men readied themselves at either door.
“On the count of three… One… Two… Three!”
The doors sprang open as Alec and Samuel jumped to the rail on either side. Their surprise was short lived however, as both highway men already had pistols aimed at them.
The man facing Alec fired his gun. The bullet whizzed past him, splintering the open door behind him. Alec pulled the trigger of his own weapon. The man cried out as he fell from the carriage, a deep crimson mark spreading out from his shoulder.
The driver turned at the sound, using the whip against Alec. The leather strap wrapped about his forearm. Alec pulled against it as he started to climb. The action caused the carriage to veer toward oncoming traffic before straightening.
The jostling had Samuel pressed against the other side to avoid a lamppost as they careened past. The other man on the back rail raised his gun, squeezing the trigger. The shot went wide as a vicious jolt rocked the carriage, its wheel finding the depth of the gutter before erupting back out. The carriage rocked crazily as the horses surged forward.
Samuel had to scramble to hold on, electing to drop the knife in order to grab the door. “Bloody Hell,” he swore when his feet dragged along side. He struggled to hold onto the window casing as the man in the rear once again pointed his weapon at him. The blackguard fixed him with a malicious grin as he took aim.
“Ah, Com’on!” Samuel breathed. It was bad enough that he had his hands full hanging onto the door so as not to fall beneath the wheels, let alone do it while looking down the barrel of a gun.
Alec managed to wrestle the strap free from the driver. With the bullwhip in his hand, he slashed out at the man holding the gun on Samuel. The highwayman pulled the trigger just as the lash of the whip wrapped about his wrist, yanking the gun out of his hand. Samuel checked his vitals, breathing a sigh of relief.
Alec kept the whip stretched taunt, pulling the man’s arm up over the top. Taking the knife from his belt, the man cut the leather strap. The slack almost cost Alec his grip on the rail he was holding, catching himself, he pulled up the rest of the way.
“Khod el Kharita!” The driver shouted back at the man in the rear in a foreign tongue. The man stopped his advance toward Samuel and climbed up after Alec instead. Alec dove onto the driver wrapping his arm around his neck from behind. He managed to unseat him before the other man was upon him.
Shouts from the street were accompanied by flying chickens and cabbage as the carriage careened up onto a sidewalk. People jumped out of the way as the horses plowed through the market.
Samuel lost his footing for a second time as a cart of melons smashed into the side. “Aw, not again!” He grabbed the top of the door, swinging wide into the street as he held on.
Alec was pulled backwards as the other man wrestled his free arm back and threw a punch. Alec had to release the driver in order to block it.
The driver grabbed the reins and proceeded to increase the breakneck pace. The clatter of the cobblestones under the horses’ feet mingled with the outraged screams of the vendors.
The man had Alec in a choke hold as they rolled backwards into a sitting position on the roof. Alec pulled at the arm about his neck with both hands to no avail. Changing tactics, Alec leaned forward and then in a quick motion he slammed his head backwards, connecting with the bastard’s face.
The carriage swayed as a bend in the road sent it up on two wheels. Samuel had to climb the door or be ground into the pavement. With his hands on the top of the door, he pulled up until his foot found purchase on the window casing.
Alec sucked in air as the dazed man’s grip slackened enough for him to free himself. The odd ang
le threatened to send both men on top sliding off the slick surface. Alec managed to grab the back of the driver’s seat with one hand as the carriage tilted.
Though his nose was bloodied, the man recovered enough to hold onto Alec’s legs in order to stop his slide. With his own legs dangling off the side, the man tried to find purchase on the door that Samuel was perched on. He kicked out at it as the carriage righted, managing to get a foothold for a brief second before his weight caused the door to swing away from him.
Samuel rode toward the driver who lashed out at him with a fist. Samuel traded him one of his own, as the force of the carriage settling back down on all four wheels sent the door backwards again.
Alec managed to free a leg from the man’s hold and kicked out smashing him in the face with his foot. The man’s grip slipped further down his leg until he dangled over the side clinging only to Alec’s boot as he kicked out again for the door.
The sound of the horse's hooves changed as the carriage started across a bridge. The ground disappeared from beneath Samuel as the door once again swung wide. His eyes widened when all he could see was the water far beneath him.
Alec wiggled his foot. Damn it! Of course it had to be his favorite pair of Hessians, he thought with irritation as the boot slipped free.
“Aaugh!” The man yelled as he dangled over the side.
Samuel clung to the door as the man slid past him grabbing for air as he dropped into the water below with a splash.
Samuel kicked out with a foot against the side of the carriage, riding the door toward the driver once again. It slammed against the vehicle's side as it swung forward. This time, Samuel managed to get a foot up on the seat as the driver kicked out at him. Alec was quick to pull the highwayman backward, punching him in the side of the head as he did.
Samuel let go of the door with one hand and grabbed the rail, pulling himself up onto the box. Filling the newly vacated seat, he picked up the reins just as the open door collided with a street lamp on the other end of the bridge, ripping it from its hinges.
“Whoa!” Samuel pulled back on the reins with all his might. The horses started to slow their gait from the reckless gallop they had been at.
Treasure of Egypt Page 3
