Mystery of the Egyptian Mummy Page 4

  "Good night, Princess," he said.

  "Good night, Zet. Go safely."

  "You, too," he told her. "And we'll figure this out. I promise."

  "I know," she said. "Thank you."

  Yet it was clear neither felt as certain as they both sounded.

  Zet ran toward home, his mind racing.

  All throughout Thebes, doors and windows were shut tight. Fear hung in the air.

  Unlike most people, however, Zet longed for a glimpse of the mummy. He wanted to chase it down. He wanted answers. Yet he saw no sign of it.

  Zet reached his street, panting, and sped up the steps to his house. At the door, he paused. Mother was going to be furious!

  From outside, Apu could be heard crying. Zet took a big breath and pushed open the door. His family sat on cushions in the front room. His mother rose quickly. Kat, who held the wailing Apu, did the same.

  "I was so worried," his mother cried, rushing to wrap her arms around him. She stepped back, her lips pinched with fear and worry. "Where were you? Kat said you went to the palace. That was hours ago! Did you see the mummy again?"

  "No, I didn't," he said. "I didn't mean to worry you but . . . Merit asked me to help her with something and—" He broke off. Now was probably as good a time as any to tell her about the stall. "Mother, I have some bad news."

  "If you're talking about the pottery returns, I know all about it."

  Zet glanced at Kat. "You told her?"

  "Not me!"

  "Children, in a town this size, you think you could keep it from me? What were you thinking, hiding such a thing?"

  "We—" Zet said, but she cut him off.

  "I know that after I had Apu, I was unwell. With your father away, I had no choice but to let you manage the stall."

  "And you said we were doing a good job!" Kat said.

  "Yes, but now I see it's foolish to let you continue."

  "But mother!" Zet said. "We're good at it."

  "You are hiding things from me. I had to find out about the pottery from a neighbor. Do you have any idea how embarrassing that was?"

  "We would have told you," Zet said, "But we didn't want to worry you!"

  "Enough." She turned and swept Apu from Kat's arms. "Tomorrow, we'll all go to the market. We'll bring the pottery home, and I will close up until this . . . this cursed mummy . . . is sorted out by the medjay police."

  Zet said, "Princess Meritamen has asked me to help solve the mystery."

  Her sharp intake of breath seemed to suck the air from the room. In the silence that followed, the only sound was the soft sniffle of Apu.

  Finally, his mother let out a long sigh. "I wish she hadn't done that."

  "But she's the princess, mother! I can't say no." And he didn't want to. "Besides, all of Thebes is saying we're cursed. We have to do something, Mother. What choice do we have?"

  She put a warm hand on Zet's shoulder. "You are my oldest son. And like your fearless father, sometimes I worry you're too brave for your own good."

  Kat piped up. "What about me? What am I?"

  Their mother's brows went up. She shook her head and let out a short laugh. "Oh children, what am I to do with you? Kat, you are my beautiful, only daughter. And sometimes I fear you're too smart for your own good. And I love you both very much. That's why I worry."

  The scent of dinner wafted from the kitchen. Zet's stomach growled. He realized he hadn't eaten in hours. He was starving. Neither had they.

  "Now come, let's eat," she said.

  In the kitchen's cozy glow, the family pulled up cushions. They sat in a small circle. The simple act made Zet feel safe. Kat's shoulders relaxed. Their mother steered their chatter to comforting topics. Zet wolfed down warm, savory stew and thick slices of freshly baked bread. Even Apu seemed slightly mollified as he chewed on a piece of cucumber.

  After dinner, their mother laid out a game of senet. They took turns rolling the bones, trying to best each other and even laughing. For a time, their fears were banished to the shadows outside.

  But when their mother kissed them good night, the fearful shadows came creeping back. A tall domed vase formed a mummy-shaped outline in one corner, causing Zet to look twice.

  Kat paused on the bottom step. "I'm scared, Mother. What if we really are cursed?"

  "Come here." She hugged Kat. "Who could ever curse you, my perfect daughter?"

  Until tonight, Zet would have agreed. The idea had seemed crazy. But meeting the mummifier had shaken him.

  Aziza could, Zet thought. Aziza could have cursed us all.

  Chapter 8

  A Group Effort

  The following day dawned bright and hot. The sun god, Ra, shone brightly over the market. The mountains of dishes gleamed in the light. And the sounds of chaos filled the stall.

  For the first time in days, however, this chaos was of their own making.

  Zet, Kat, their mother, and Apu were there. And they were not alone. Delilah, Hui's mother, had come. Hui was at the royal foundry. But Delilah had brought Hui's four kid brothers.

  The little boys raced around shouting. Some tried to stand on their heads. Others dangled from tent poles. Delilah was a whirlwind herself. She divided her time between packing pottery, yelling at her children, and scolding customers who dared approach with more returns.

  "Go home!" she cried as a woman loaded with plates tried to hide behind an enormous reed fan. "Shoo! This curse is all nonsense. Off you go!"

  Zet and Kat stifled their laughter as the woman darted off. But Kat disliked seeing people unhappy. When Delilah turned away, she sprinted across the paving stones. She took the dishes from the woman and carted them back.

  All day long, they took turns carting goods to the house. By mid-afternoon, Zet and Kat were exhausted. Still, they headed to the market for another run.

  "We should detour past Aziza's old house," Zet said. "It's not far."

  Kat slowed. "Do you think it's been sold? I wonder what's happening there?"

  "I don't know. We should have thought of it before. It might have some clues."

  Kat frowned. "What kind of clues?"

  Shrugging, Zet said, "We could try to sneak in? Look around."

  "Break in? Are you serious?" Kat swiped the bangs from her eyes.

  "We're running out of options."

  "I don't know." She bit her lip. "Oh, all right. Yes, all right. But let's hurry before we're missed."

  They started running.

  Suddenly, the soft slapping of Kat's sandals against the dusty street slowed. "Zet—what if we could get a hold of the plate Aziza fell on? When he died? We could bring it to a priest! We could have him put a protection spell on it. To make Aziza stop haunting us."

  "It could work. That could actually work."

  "You really think so?"

  Zet nodded.

  Kat looked so pleased that, despite everything, Zet stifled a laugh. "That plate could be long gone."

  "But if it's not, and the spell keeps the mummy away, I'll have saved us. And Thebes, too."

  Zet grinned. "I hope it's true. And I'll be the first to congratulate you."

  Together, they ran along the hot paving stones. They sent a cluster of pigeons into the air, wings fluttering. At a dusty intersection, they turned into Aziza's street. All at once, Zet and Kat drew up short.

  Men in uniform jammed the lane. More swarmed around Aziza's big house. Most wore the colors of the Royal Guard.

  Kat gasped. "Does this mean what I think it does?"

  Zet's throat went dry. "That even the Royal Guards think Aziza is the mummy?"

  Kat nodded. "So it's true. Here's our proof. He has come back to curse our family. I knew it!"

  Zet said nothing. Instead, his attention fixed on a big man dressed in a medjay police uniform.

  "Look," Zet said, grabbing his sister's arm and pointing at the officer. "It's Merimose! Maybe he'll tell us what's going on."

  Zet and Kat had helped Merimose solve a few mysteries. Still, the me
djay wasn't always happy about it. Half the time he grumbled that they were getting underfoot.

  Despite that, Zet and Kat hurried toward him.

  Merimose swung around and made a chopping motion. "Keep away!"

  "Merimose!" they called.

  He frowned, recognizing them. Then he crossed his muscular arms over his broad chest. "Zet. Kat," Merimose growled. "I wondered when you'd show up."

  "Hi, Merimose," they said.

  "I'm on duty. I can't talk," Merimose said.

  Still, when Zet reached out to shake his hand, the man accepted. Merimose's palm was as large as a dinner platter, and the texture of old leather.

  Kat said, "What's happening? Are they searching Aziza's house for the plate?"

  Merimose regarded her. "The deadly plate, I take it?"

  "Yes!" Kat said. "The one with the egg on it."

  "This isn't my investigation. And you need to stay out of it."

  Zet said, "Can we at least take a look inside? We need to find that plate. It might be our only hope."

  "Definitely not," Merimose said in his low, booming voice.

  "But the Royal Guard must have heard the rumors," Kat said. "They know Aziza is haunting us!"

  Zet said, "Can you at least tell us what they're looking for?"

  Merimose hooked one thumb in the leather waistband of his kilt. "Afraid not. The investigation belongs to the Royal Guard. We medjay are here to keep spectators away. And that includes you."

  "But that's not fair. We're the ones who—"

  A sharp voice rang out behind Zet. "Merimose! Get rid of these kids. Keep things clear out here!"

  Zet whipped around. He came face to face with a muscled Royal Guard. The man wore a breastplate embossed in gold. A long, curved knife was strapped to his waist. He carried a lightweight, fiber shield.

  Zet bowed quickly. "Sir, we're the family Aziza is haunting."

  Kat said, "Please, tell us what's going on!"

  The man's brows came together to form what looked like a giant black caterpillar. "Leave. Now."

  "But sir, we can help—" Zet began.

  "NOW!" the Royal Guard barked.

  "Renni," Merimose said, "If you don't mind, I'll handle this. I'm familiar with these two. They mean no harm."

  "Harrumph!" the Royal Guard said.

  Zet swallowed. He had to try one last time. "We've solved mysteries before. And Aziza is haunting us. Surely we can help! It was our plate that—"

  "HOW DARE YOU?" the man roared. "I am the head of the Royal Guard. Pharaoh himself appointed me protector of Egypt. If I wish to speak to you, it will be at the time of my choosing."

  Zet wanted to explain that the Princess had asked him for help. But he knew better. What if he got Merit into trouble? He wanted to at least tell Renni about the mummy's visit to their street. But the man strode away. He slammed through the front door and was gone.

  Kat said, "I can't believe he wouldn't hear what we had to say!"

  Merimose, however, didn't look surprised. The scent of frying onions drifted from a neighbor's house. His stomach made a loud gurgle. He rubbed his belly. "Sorry, no time for lunch today."

  Kat pulled a small packet from her pocket. "I have some dried figs here."

  Merimose accepted a handful and wolfed them down. Swallowing, he said, "Thanks. Now you'd better move along and let me do my job."

  Kat tugged at her braids, looking uncertain and worried. "We're in big trouble, Merimose."

  "People are shunning us in the marketplace," Zet said. "They're scared to buy our pottery. We'll be out of business. We won't be able to put food on the table. Or keep a roof over our heads. We need this sorted this out. Fast."

  "Let the Royal Guard do that. Be patient."

  "Patient? You wouldn't say that if you'd seen our mountain of returned pottery," Kat cried.

  Merimose studied their faces. His had turned stern. "Here now! Don't you two go trying to track down that mummy."

  "Why not?" Zet said.

  A muscle flexed in Merimose's jaw. "I don't know what's behind this. But if a mummy is walking the streets . . . and if that mummy was once Aziza . . . well, it's no longer Aziza—not anymore. I don't want you going anywhere near it. Hear me?"

  Zet swallowed.

  "This is no joke. It's not some mystery for you to solve. A mummy is more than dangerous. It's a creature of death."

  Kat seemed to shrink into herself.

  "But—" Zet began.

  "No, Zet. What can you do to stop it? A mummy can curse you with a whisper. It can kill you with a touch. You want to chase it down? Then what? Put your hands on its body, and you'll turn to dust."

  The way he spoke sent a cold trickle down Zet's neck.

  Merimose went on. "The Royal Guards are protected by the priests. But you and me? Our weapons mean nothing. Renni and his men are the only ones who can solve this. That's why I've ordered my men to stand down." He grasped them both by the shoulders. "Stay away. That's not a suggestion. It's an order. Stay far away."

  "Don't worry," Kat said in a pinched voice. "We will."

  Zet's mind raced back to the mummy's awful whispers. Already, it seems it had cursed their stall. What if the mummy cursed his family? Zet was only a boy. He wasn't a holy man. He desperately wanted to fight, but what could he do? There was a good chance he'd make things worse. Much worse.

  Zet glanced at Aziza's dark, cavernous house.

  Merimose had ordered his men to stand down. So who was Zet to think he could end this haunting?

  He stared at the ground. "All right. I see what you mean. I only hope the Royal Guard can fix this. Before something worse happens."

  Chapter 9

  The Mummy Strikes Again

  Word traveled quickly in Thebes. Even in the middle of the night. Something was happening. Something terrible.

  Zet was pacing the roof of his house when he heard them: the shouts and alarmed voices. A rising tide of babble swept its way down his street. Within moments, he, his mother, and Kat stood outside on the front step.

  Zet's mother dashed up to the brickmaker who lived next door. "Paneb? What's happened?"

  Paneb was an honest man and a hard worker. Unlike other neighbors, Paneb hadn't avoided Zet's family because of the haunting. In his raspy voice, he said, "The mummy is walking the streets again."

  Zet looked around in alarm. "Here?"

  "No—just off the Southern Road."

  Zet had a sudden sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. "The Southern Road."

  Paneb nodded. "In Kanup Street."

  "Kanup Street?" Kat screeched. "But that's where Hui lives!"

  From every direction, neighbors turned to stare. Mouths curved downward in disapproval. Mothers held their children closer. Some moved farther away.

  Zet ignored them. His hands went to his head. "Oh no." He didn't want to even think what this meant. "I better go. Mother, I'm going there."

  "No," she said in a sharp voice. "You won't. I will."

  "But what about Apu? What if the mummy comes here?"

  She let out a frustrated breath. "Oh dear. Delilah and her boys helped us carry back all that pottery! I must go to her."

  "Let me," Zet said. "Please? I can run fast and I'll come straight back."

  Unless he saw the mummy. If he did, he could at least try to lead it away.

  Kat knotted the front of her nightdress. "It went there because they helped us."

  "What do you mean?" their mother asked.

  But Kat's words had echoed Zet's own fears.

  "Don't you see?" Kat's chin trembled. "The mummy is cursing Hui's family for helping us at the stall. Aziza is angry because they helped bring the pottery back here."

  Paneb shuffled in place. "We have no proof of that."

  "By the gods!" Zet kicked his bare foot at the ground. "What if Kat's right? Mother, someone has to go. It has to be me."

  His mother blew out a sharp breath. In the distance, Apu was crying. Finally, she nodded. A quick
, jerky movement. "But come back to me safely. Now quick. Go."

  Zet sprinted between the small crowd that had gathered. They parted to let him through. He rounded the corner. Soon, silence closed around him. Out of the darkness, though, he thought he heard footsteps. He drew to a halt. Yes, there they were. Coming up behind him. He spun.

  The narrow silhouette of Kat appeared in the moonlight. She was running hard.

  "Kat!" he groaned. "You should have stayed with Mother and Apu."

  Her reply was heated. "Hui's my friend, too."

  "Fine. Let's just get there."

  "Sounds good to me."

  They reached the Southern Road. They were both panting by the time they turned into Kanup Street. Lamps blazed in every window and door. The crowds were thicker than at any festival in the Grand Plaza.

  "Let's try around back," Zet said.

  They cut up a street. Together, they clambered over the wall into Hui's tiny garden. Delilah must have spotted them earlier, though, out in front of her house. Now, she stood waiting in the backyard with both hands on her hips.

  "Not a step further," she said, her full cheeks flaming.

  "Are you all right?" Zet gasped.

  "Is Hui—" Kat began.

  "They're inside." She turned and roared over her shoulder, "I mean it boys, stay inside!"

  A clatter could be heard. Footsteps and muffled voices. Something smashed. It sounded like a piece of pottery. The voices went dead still.

  Delilah's mouth pursed. "I hope that wasn't my favorite dish!"

  A small voice called out, "It wasn't."

  Other whispers drifted out. "Yes it was, what are you talking about?"

  Her eyes went to the sky and she shook her head. "Anyway. Zet and Kat? I'm going to have to ask you to stay away."

  Kat made a choking sound. "We're so sorry!"

  Movement from the rooftop above caught Zet's eye. Hui was up there, but he quickly pulled back. Zet frowned. He couldn't believe Hui would try to hide from his best friends. No matter what was happening, they'd always faced things together.