Egypt (11 page)

“These beliefs have been passed down for centuries and cannot be discounted,” he said.

Since we now have a much smaller crew, Dr. Aziz ordered new radar scans taken of the tomb complex and for all of the hallways and chambers to be outlined in the sand with strings and flags.

Everyone who stayed was far too excited to just stand around. It was getting dark, so we brought in floodlights and took up shovels and started clearing more of the entryway. This went on well into the night, before Dr. Aziz ordered everyone to get some rest.

I’m seated at the desk inside the tent, writing by candlelight. Everyone else is asleep. I should be sleeping, too. It will be light in a few hours and the next few days are sure to be long.

MARCH 9
NIGHTTIME


There’s been lots of good progress since the storm. We’re now beyond the entryway and are carefully removing sand and rock using these smaller hand-shovels and brushes so that we don’t damage any of the stonework.

I haven’t been able to write a word in my journal for almost two days now. I mean, I’ve been so whipped I could hardly lift a spoon to my mouth or water to my lips, much less pick up a pen and scribble in my journal. My hands are raw and blistered and throbbing like they have their own heartbeat.

Our evenings go pretty much like this:

When we finish our work we head to the dining tent for rice and beans or falafels with flat bread and some hot tea. After eating, I don’t even have the energy to wash up and usually just stumble into the tent and collapse onto my cot, still wet with sweat and covered in sand. I’m always sleeping like a mummy within seconds and that’s a good thing because it doesn’t give my brain much time to think about curses and all.

Okay, I’m falling asleep at the desk. Time to hit the cot and catch some Zs.

9:32 PM


This afternoon we uncovered two intricately carved limestone pillars. The crew is very tired and we’re working a little slower today. Personally, my shoulders and back are in serious pain.

It’s been tough going, but no one wants to stop. I have volunteered, along with the other fellows and most of the crew, to work another two-hour shift ending at midnight. After some sleep, those of us who are able will wake, wash up, eat a quick breakfast and return to work. The first shift tomorrow begins at 5:00
AM.

Pillars at the tomb complex

AROUND MIDNIGHT


Okay, being cursed isn’t my biggest fear anymore. I mean, I’m still worried about it, for sure, it’s just not my biggest concern. What concerns me most are the military police.

With their dark uniforms and unfriendly faces and huge guns, they’re totally intimidating, no way around it, and even though I’ve been skeptical about these guys from day one, up until now I haven’t said much. But tonight after dinner, I had to go and open my big mouth.

“Excuse me,” I said, catching the commander as he walked past. “I’m just curious. What exactly are the police doing here?”

He stopped dead in his tracks.

“I’m sorry, young man?” he said, locking his eyes on mine. “What did you say to me?”

I gulped, and asked again.

“I was just wondering why we need so much security?”

Questioning this man, I realized right away, was a huge mistake.

“We are working in the interest of the Egyptian people,” he said. “We are here to protect the antiquities from tomb robbers. We are here to make certain that the country’s heritage is preserved.”

The volume of his voice increased with each sentence making it pretty clear that he wasn’t too happy with me.

“And who are you to question my purpose?” he asked.

“I’m sorry,” I said timidly. “I didn’t mean it like that. It was just a simple question.”

“You are a foreigner. I should be skeptical of you. What exactly is your purpose?”

I was nervous now and began to stammer.

“Oh, well, uh … I’m one of the winners of the Youth Exploration Society fellowship,” I said. “I’m here with Dr. Aziz.”

I’d hoped that dropping Dr. Aziz’s name would make the commander cool off and leave me alone. It didn’t.

“Fellowship or not,” he said, “I see you as an intruder. There is a long history of foreigners raiding this country for its ancient riches. Why should you be any different?”

“No, I wouldn’t, uh, I’d never …”

I was scared. Fumbling my words. I couldn’t complete a sentence.

“Did you know that in ancient times tomb robbers faced
brutal
consequences if they were caught?” he asked.

I shook my head.

The man moved closer to me and lowered his voice.

“They were sacrificed in the same way an ox was sacrificed to the gods. Cut open and left to bleed. Then, their bodies were burned. This was the ultimate punishment. Having their bodies turned to ash. After death, they could not be reborn.”

The commander put his hand on my shoulder and all the air went out of me. I literally couldn’t breathe.

“If I were to catch a tomb robber today,” he continued, “I would not go to the trouble the ancient authorities went to.”

“No?”

“No,” he said, shaking his head. “I would simply shoot them on the spot.”

“I’m not here to rob the tombs,” I said, my voice trembling. “I promise.”

“So you say,” he continued. “But I have no reason to trust you. In my eyes, you are guilty until proven innocent.”

“I better go check in with Dr. Aziz,” I said, searching for a way out.

“This conversation never happened,” he said, sternly. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” I said, staring down at the sand.

“Look at me!” he shouted.

I raised my eyes to him. His stare was cold. His jaw rippling.

“I will be watching you,” he said. “Do not make a mistake.”

I nodded, but dared not move. He spit into the sand and finally dismissed me with a wave of his arm. At that, I took off running for my tent.

I am totally freaked out right now! I mean, I don’t feel safe at all. Really, I don’t even know what to do. I’m afraid if I mention this to anyone my life might be in danger. I don’t even think I should say anything to Wyatt. It might put him at risk, too. Jeez, this is crazy! All I can really do is hope that Dr. Aziz becomes suspicious on his own, and sets things right with these guys.

MARCH 11, 11:19 AM


23° CELSIUS, 74° FAHRENHEIT


SKIES CLEAR, WIND CALM


Exactly 22 feet into the entryway we’ve found carvings that suggest that this is, in fact, a royal burial chamber!

More ancient carvings

Just beyond these carvings is a massive stone slab that’s preventing us from going any further into the tunnel. More debris is being removed so that a proper survey can be conducted. The engineers are meeting with Dr. Aziz and Khalid to decide the best way to move the stone without damaging the tomb.

Have to rest before work continues.

Okay, I’m only writing now to distract my brain and keep it off the military police and the fear of being cursed and every other potential crazy thing that could go wrong.

So, here’s the status of the dig:

When we were clearing all the sand and rock from around the giant stone that’s blocking the hallway, a crack was found in one of the pillars. Dr. Aziz said it had probably been damaged by the earthquakes that have rocked this area over the centuries. The cracked pillars created this small triangle-shape opening in the upper right corner of the entryway, about twelve feet off the ground.

Wyatt climbed to the top of the scaffolding and measured the triangular crack. It’s just large enough for one of us to squeeze through, but it’s packed tightly with all kinds of rubble. A bunch of men are working to clear it out so we can take a look inside. Dr. Aziz asked that any hieroglyphics be copied down on a notepad and brought to him right away. He’s now looking for a name or something carved into the stone that would tell us without a doubt the person or persons who were buried here. I’m pretty sure he still agrees with me that this is Cleopatra’s tomb. I mean, he did resume the dig after we found the matching tile and all, but until he’s got some kind of absolute proof, he’s being real careful not to say anything.

Okay, break time’s over.

Focus on the task, Gannon.

Don’t let your brain wander.

Everything will be fine.

You can do this!

2:14 PM


Beyond the opening in the stone it was dark. Khalid handed me a flashlight. I crawled further inside and turned it on.

“What do you see?” Khalid asked.

It looked like there was a shaft that opened up to my left, just behind the stone slab. That was the only open space. Other than the shaft, there was only rubble, piled from floor to ceiling.

“I can’t see very much,” I told him. “Just lots of rock and dirt.”

I continued to scan the interior for clues. Barely visible above a pile of rocks, I saw a set of hieroglyphics inscribed on a slab.

“Hand me a pencil and notebook,” I said to Khalid. “There’s an inscription inside.”

I made a sketch of the hieroglyphics and Gannon ran them to Dr. Aziz’s tent for translation. Here is a copy:

Right now, I’m resting in the shade, waiting for the translation.

Dr. Aziz stared at what Wyatt had drawn in his notebook for quite a while. He looked at me then back to the notebook without saying a thing. At first I thought it must not have been anything too important, when all of a sudden he leapt from his chair and went sprinting out of the tent, yelling like a madman. I tried to catch up. When he got to the entryway he stopped and bent over to catch his breath.

“Would anyone care to guess what this says?” he asked, still panting, as he held up the inscription of the hieroglyphics.

“If it’s a curse,” James said, “I’d rather not know.”

“No, it does not say anything about a curse,” Dr. Aziz said.

“What does it say then?” I asked.

“My friends, it says … Cleopatra! This is it! We’ve found the tomb of the Queen!”

Everyone at the camp went wild, cheering and jumping around and hugging each other. I came back to the tent to get my video camera. I mean, I knew this was it, totally, but now that it’s officially-official, I’m totally freaking out!

Wow, so, I guess we’ll be meeting the famed Pharaoh real soon. I should probably get back out there and document the occasion. I mean, this right here is history in the making!