Shadows of the Nile (21 page)

“You have your tickets,” Achmed said. “There are two named tombs on them and we'll go to both. If any of you get lost please return to meet us by the coffee shop.”

Aline streamed through with the others but she'd no intention of staying with the party. Once again she wanted to be completely alone so she could bring her thoughts together. It was quite a long walk just to the first tomb, and she had to wait to get in. She stood shielded from the hot sun by her shawl wrapped around her head and draped across her shoulders.

‘How many mourners have waited in the funeral procession in just this spot,' she wondered. The artists would have left hours ago, leaving the walls filled with paintings portraying reminiscences of life. The stars and the sun would be depicted in all their glory. There'd be drawings of snakes to protect the journey of the departed into the next world. The women in his life would be featured elsewhere inside, ready to please. The gold ornaments and vessels would be waiting for him to use, and containers of precious jewels exhibited in an alcove near the final resting place. The Gods would be brought to life by fine paintings high on the walls, and the Pharaoh himself would feature, looking as in life, standing between Anubis and other powerful gods.

Still she waited. The sarcophagus would be entering the valley. Priests would be surrounding it, walking slowly, their heads bent in prayer. They'd have brushed past her and gone into the narrow corridors down to the final chamber. More prayers would be said and more chanting. Then the doors would have closed one after another, until the one she stood in front of would have shut, with a resounding and final bang. The priests would have moved off, still chanting, with the women crying. The last and final act was the pouring of sand over the site, to hide it forever.

It seemed very sad to her, and yet she knew it was the way the ancient Egyptians dealt with death. It was a celebration of life, depicted in the tomb, to take the Pharaoh forward to the afterlife, where he'd return to continue his fruitful existence.

At last she and the next group of people were allowed in. She could see a long way down the first corridor. As she moved forward she was amazed at how well the paintings were preserved. She couldn't resist tracing a tiny bird with her finger, just as if she'd been the artist who first drew it. She could see the blue heavens, and night stars, and figures of many gods. She saw the alcoves where the valuables had once been stored, removed many years before by tomb robbers or now in museums. She wandered with the other visitors, as in the funeral procession itself, down to the final resting place. There she found more beautiful paintings, and a sarcophagus. It became very hot and stuffy deep within the chamber and she found it difficult to breathe normally. She stayed as long as she could. Then she turned back. As she went up slowly towards the entrance she realised that, at the burial ceremony, she would have been taking the last living steps away from the dead. Was this where Anubis would have taken over with his book of spells?

The next tomb was close by and locals were handing out fans for visitors to cool themselves. Glass covered some of the walls. It was much smaller than the first one and she soon reached the inner resting place. This also had a sarcophagus. It was opened by a guide who showed her the inside, but it was empty. Beyond that room there was just sand and rubble, yet to be excavated, and she realised how much work was still going on in all the tombs.

She reached the outside. She couldn't see any of her party. She had a little time to spare so she started to climb a narrow path up to one side. Soon she could look down and observe the hundreds of people below. It was surprising no one had followed her or that she'd met no one coming down. Undeterred, she carried on and rounding a corner she came across some steep steps down. She looked round for a ticket collector but no one was there so she descended and passed through the door. This tomb was magnificent, and yet in some strange way so much more intimate and meaningful than the other two she'd just seen. It was beautifully decorated, with vibrant paintings of life on either side of the narrow corridor. The slope still continued downwards and she guessed she was somewhere deep in the hillside. She expected to meet a guide, to be told off for going somewhere not allowed, but no one stopped her, no one shouted at her, so she just carried on. On either side, in niches, were caskets and gold ornaments, which looked authentic, and yet she knew they couldn't be. She came to the outer sanctum where huge models of guards with spears challenged her. She at last stopped. She was approaching the resting place of whoever was buried there. And now her ring warned her. She mustn't go any further. She must go back.

She turned and started to run. She hadn't realised how dark it was. She could just see the light way above her and although she stumbled once or twice she kept going. At last she staggered into the open air. Her heart was pounding. She'd been taken there by an unknown hand.

She glanced back and started her descent.

She could see Achmed and the others by the coffee shop.

“Ah, Aline. You're the last to join us.”

“Yes, I'm sorry,” she murmured as they walked towards the coach and she had Achmed to herself. “I didn't mean to keep you all waiting but I went to see the tomb at the top of the hill.”

“Which top of the hill? There aren't any tombs up there, at least none we know about. I should have stayed with you, Aline. I have a feeling you have once more put yourself in danger.”

She didn't reply. She hadn't really been in any danger. She'd been learning more. For on the wall behind one of the guards leading into the final resting place, she'd seen the most exquisite drawing, of a white woman with curly brown hair. That undiscovered tomb was in some way related to her!

Jan caught them up and slipped her arm through Aline's.

“I haven't seen you all morning. Where've you been hiding yourself?”

“I've been exploring!”

“Oh, you should have waited for me. I didn't find the tombs very exciting, a bit sad maybe. And there wasn't much to buy, just a brochure. You can have it if you like, Aline. I've got far too many bits and pieces as it is.”

“I hope you didn't pay too much for it,” Achmed intervened.

“Probably, but he did have the most beautiful dark eyes and such a twinkle in them.”

Achmed smiled and shook his head.

*

They had driven on to the Valley of the Queens, made a visit to a tomb, and then, tired but satisfied, had returned to the cruise ship.

“So what did we think of the trip?” They were sitting on the top deck, later, with Peter once again next to Aline, aiming the question more at her than the others.

“There were very fine paintings and it was very atmospheric. I thought the tombs showed great beauty and sensitivity. The ancient Egyptians wanted to give their nobles a burial fit for the occasion. I'd imagine that by making it special for the person who'd died it also made the ones left behind feel as if they'd done everything possible, by giving a good sendoff. A bit like today, when someone dies and we have processions and religious services before we say goodbye to the departed. It helps to lessen the hurt a bit, doesn't it?”

Cheng spoke up from the back of the gathering. “I thought the drawings were inspirational. They were obviously done by very talented people. The figures seem to come to life, and the animals almost appear to move. Did anyone notice how the snakes curl round and are docile, and yet their eyes are alert and ready for anything. I could take a few lessons from those fine artists.”

“Do you know what I felt?” It was Mary's turn. “I thought they should have left the tombs untouched. It seems wrong to me to interfere with something which has lain undisturbed for thousands of years, and I know there were robbers but they didn't get too far in, I think, not to the coffin. Those people were put to rest with great beliefs and religious ceremonies, and all that was disturbed when the light of day got to them. I think they should finish any further excavations. Enough is enough.”

“But don't you think,” Gerald reasoned, “that we've found out a lot of knowledge about the ancient Egyptians through the tombs, and they've become highly important to our history. That wouldn't have happened if they'd never been found.”

“Do you think the tombs should be left untouched, Aline?” Peter asked.

“It's possible some of them are. It doesn't seem quite right they've been disturbed, but as Gerald says we have learnt more about how the Pharaohs lived and died, and the people. I like to think some sort of prayer was said when they were opened. Maybe that would have appeased the ancient gods.”

“Well, you know what I think?” Jan added her contribution. “These places do help the ordinary Egyptian living now to earn money and I don't think any dead Egyptian would begrudge that. Even in ancient times they'd all have known about earning money in one way or another.”

“So,” Peter said. “I can tell we all enjoyed our morning. It's given us an insight into a time which none of us would know anything about if it hadn't been for the extraordinary wealth of the noble Egyptians and their lavish funeral plans. May they rest in peace. Now, does anyone know when tea is coming?”

He grinned happily, and lit up a huge cigar.

As if the staff had heard him, afternoon tea duly arrived and was set out on a large table with teapots, cups, saucers and plates for the cakes, which were decorously placed on a tiered dish.

“Quintessentially British,” murmured Peter as he took a large cup of tea and an even larger piece of cake. He seated himself in his favourite spot, not too far from the action. Mary sat down opposite him and Aline next to him. The spare seat was taken by Achmed, who'd been away for most of the afternoon, but had now put in an appearance.

“Isn't this nice?” Mary said. “We often do this at home, don't we, Peter?”

“Yet stands the clock at ten to three,” Peter announced dramatically.

“And is there honey still for tea?” Aline smiled. “Rupert Brooke.”

“I knew she'd get it!” Peter leant across to Achmed. “She's a very clever lady, is our Aline. There's far more to her than meets the eye.”

“Oh yes, I think that is certainly true,” agreed Achmed.

*

After tea, Aline left the others and strolled to the end of the boat to the swimming pool. The air was still very warm and the Nile was passive and docile, with just little ripples, which made a delightful murmuring sound like the tinkling of a stream. She glanced across at the Valley of the Kings, probably closed for the day, and not as yet lit up, for it wasn't dusk. She thought about the tomb Achmed said categorically was not there. He'd been so insistent, and yet she'd seen it. She'd walked on the sand up to its entrance, quite definitely, and then gone deep into the earth to find an answer. Only partly an answer though. It couldn't have been her own tomb in a previous life; she'd never have been noble enough to command such an accolade. Surely it couldn't be Thoth? He'd been too young and healthy to die. So just who exactly had so admired the white girl that they'd engraved her image forever in stone?

It suddenly came to her. She must go back before dark. She knew where the path was. It might not be there tomorrow.

Just as the thought entered her head, she saw him! He was walking along the tow path. Everything about him was as yesterday, his muscular body, how proudly he held his head, his familiar face, his dark hair. It was Thoth! Oh, but she could never get to him in time; once again he'd be gone! She called out, but he didn't hear her. She called again, but she could no longer see him. She stared, totally frustrated at having missed him yet again.

If he too was in this life, she reasoned, then maybe she didn't have to go back to the tomb. But was she deluding herself? She didn't turn to look, but she could indeed feel Anubis behind her; not only could she sense his presence but his shadow enveloped her, commanding her to return.

She had to go back to the Valley of the Kings and there was only one person who could help her.

She found him reading in the bar, quite on his own.

“I need your help.”

“Oh, really?” He suddenly became very serious.

“I have to go back to the Valley of the Kings.”

“And you think I could arrange that?”

“Yes. You, too, know more than you care to admit. I need to borrow money and I'll pay you back. I think you know people who can get me past the security guards. It's important I get in there. There's something I have to do.”

“My dear Aline. You're so beautiful when you want help. You're just as alluring, if not more so, than that young girl I made undress for me. If I could truly go back I'd change my ancient attitude to life, and I'd realise just how desirable the opposite sex could be. I'd have loved you to distraction just as Thoth did. But now we are mere servants to the noble Anubis, and we must obey. You must go to him, albeit you will be in danger. But you have powers, and so does he.”

“Then you'll help me.”

“My sweet Aline, I have no choice. Come with me and we'll see what can be done.”

She smiled at him. “Thank you, Peter.”

*

He knew exactly what to do and who to contact. He barked down his mobile phone, speaking fluent Egyptian, to Aline's astonishment. He produced a wad of notes from his safe in the cabin and put them carefully into an envelope.

“We must go,” he said. “Have you everything you need?”

She nodded. There wasn't much she could take but they were quite powerful enough. She had her snake ring, her snake shawl, and the symbol of the Ankh which Anubis had burnt into her skin. She was certain things would be revealed to help her in her quest.

There was a taxi waiting just beyond the tow path. Peter handed money to the driver.