Mystery of the Egyptian Mummy Page 7

  The time had come to end this. Now.

  They skidded to a halt before the gloomy hole. Zet's hands shook as he grasped the tomb's broken walls. Jagged stone pressed into his palms. He raised a trembling foot. Held it over the threshold. Took a deep breath.

  "Here goes nothing," he whispered.

  Then he crossed over.

  Into the blackness . . .

  "Zet?" Hui whispered.

  No answer.

  "Zet!?" Hui shouted. "Are you still alive?"

  "Shhh, I'm right here! But I can't see anything." His ankle bumped against something white-hot. "Ow!" he cried.

  "Zet!? Are you dead, now?" Hui shouted.

  "Stop shouting," he whispered. "Something burned me."

  "Oh, by the gods, I knew it. We're cursed!" Hui cried.

  "Just get in here, will you? I think I know what this hot thing is."

  "Hot thing? In there? Get out now!" Hui said.

  "Hold on." Zet crouched and felt carefully around. His fingers sensed the warm glow of a small object on the ground. He touched the base, which was cooler, and moved his hands slowly up the sides. It grew hotter the higher he went. "I was right," he called to Hui. "It's a lamp. Someone was in here with a lamp. It's still hot!"

  A shuffling sound was followed by a grunt as Hui stepped into the tomb and banged into Zet.

  "A lamp?" Hui said. "Are you sure? That's weird."

  "I know. Crouch here. Do you feel it?"

  "Definitely a lamp," Hui said.

  "I wonder if there's a flint?" Zet said.

  "That would be crazy."

  Still, both boys swept their hands across the floor.

  "Found something," Hui said. "I think it is—yes, definitely. I found a bow drill. Hold on, let me try to light it."

  But using the bow drill wasn't easy. Hui could be heard working the bow's cord rapidly back and forth. Zet took a turn. He kept working the bow, grinding the spindle against the wood block beneath it.

  "I smell smoke," Hui hissed.

  "We've got an ember. Blow on it—gently, gently!" Zet warned.

  "I know how to do it," Hui said, and used his breath to encourage the ember.

  Carefully, they got the lamp wick close to the burning ember. This was the moment of truth. They'd see what was inside this tomb. It would be lit up from end to end. Nothing would be hidden. Not even a sleeping mummy.

  Or worse, a mummy standing over them. Waiting.

  The wick caught.

  The lamp blazed to life.

  "We did it," Hui said.

  "Great job!" Zet cried.

  He leaped to his feet. He raised the light high.

  The lamp devoured the darkness.

  Everything stood out in hideous relief. Walls covered in hieroglyphics—curses neither Zet nor Hui could read. The gruesome canopic jars that the mummifier said held the mummy's internal organs. And the sarcophagus.

  The giant coffin stretched before them. This was the tomb of a dead man.

  And they were inside it.

  Chapter 16

  Things That Slither In The Night

  Both boys stared at the sarcophagus.

  Hui's face was ashen in the lamplight. "Um . . . Do you think the mummy crawled back in his coffin?"

  "I—I don't know," Zet said. "Should we look?"

  "That would be crazy," Hui said.

  Still, they shuffled forward, shoulder-to-shoulder, elbow-to-elbow, eyes fastened on the long wooden box. Painted on the lid was the life-sized image of a man. Was this Aziza? Zet couldn't tell. The painter had hidden the man's face behind a golden mask. Zet's gaze moved to the figure's arms, which were crossed over his chest. In each hand, the man held a golden symbol. The left held the ankh: the symbol of eternity. The right held something more menacing: a curved blade. A sickle.

  This was madness.

  No one was allowed inside a tomb!

  No one, apart from a priest, was permitted to see a sarcophagus. Or a mummy. Not like this. And these wall paintings—they had to be sacred. Filled with secret messages and spells. Were all tombs like this inside? Painted from top to bottom with hieroglyphics and detailed pictures?

  Zet raised the lantern higher. "Look," he whispered. "The lid! It's not closed all the way."

  He brought the light closer to the gap.

  A hissing noise issued from the sarcophagus. The hissing grew louder.

  "Oh n-n-no!" Hui cried. "I d-d-don't like th-this!"

  Zet felt sweat trickling down his sides. The lamp shook in his hand. The hissing intensified. He felt rooted to the spot. Unable to move a single step. Unable to run.

  "Z-zz-et?" Hui gasped. "What's happening?"

  "I can't move!" Zet cried.

  "We need to go," Hui said.

  "We need to look inside," Zet managed through dry lips. "You know we do."

  "Aaargh! By the gods—" Hui dug his fingers into his hair as though he were going to pull it out. "It's getting louder!"

  An image of Zet's family—his mother, sister, baby brother, flashed into Zet's mind. He saw them as they'd been last night in the kitchen. Eating together, playing senet, laughing. He thought of them at home, still safe. But for how long?

  The question broke the spell. Zet lunged forward and, with his free hand, gave the coffin lid a shove.

  It weighed a ton. The wood groaned under the assault. Still, it moved an inch. Zet tried to ignore the hissing. His ears buzzed with the awful noise. He set the lamp down.

  "Help me," he gasped. "Help me open it."

  Hui's eyes were so wide they shone white. The boys placed their hands on the lid. Together, they pushed with all their might.

  It moved. Slowly.

  Scraping.

  Creaking.

  Rasping.

  Screeeeeeeeeeeeeeech!

  They got it halfway open. Zet screamed.

  "AAAAaaaaahhhh! Stop pushing, stop!" he cried. Dozens, no hundreds of slithering snakes erupted up out of the gruesome coffin. They poured out, tongues flicking, teeth glistening. Pointy teeth. Shiny, cold eyes. Everywhere. They were everywhere! Hissing. Hissing! And they smelled. Horrible!

  "They're on me," Hui shouted, as one wrapped its wiry body around his wrist. "Get it off! Get it off!"

  Hui stumbled backward, arms and legs thrashing as he threw the snakes clear. His foot connected with a canopic jar. Zet saw it tilt sideways. It toppled over, smashing into the jar next to it, and then the next, until all four jars smashed open on the floor.

  But instead of organs spilling out, the contents came alive.

  They were beetles.

  Scarab beetles.

  "AAAAaaaaahhhh!" Zet screamed again.

  "AAAAaaaaahhhh!" Hui screamed back.

  Zet pulled Hui toward the door. "Run! Run for you liiiiife!"

  The noise of all that slithering vibrated the tomb walls. On top of it, the skittering of beetles echoed with awful click-clacks that sent horror whiplashing up and down Zet's limbs. He could feel them on his feet. Swarming up his ankles.

  He kicked out, trying to shake them off. His foot hit the lamp. The lantern clattered across the floor and went out.

  "I can't see!" Hui screamed.

  "This way!" Zet yelled, lunging toward the moonlit gap.

  The boys leaped out of the broken hole in the tomb wall. They threw themselves down on the ground and rolled this way and that, swatting and shouting.

  "They’re crawling out!" Hui screamed. "They're crawling out! Get up!"

  "Gaaaaack!" Zet cried, swiping at his feet and jumping up beside his friend.

  They ran backward, stumbling and grabbing at each other.

  They rear-ended into something. Something big and unmoving.

  A giant pair of hands clamped down on each of their arms.

  Zet's eyes swiveled to see what had grabbed him. He choked on his breath. His eyes bugged out. It was an enormous pair of hands. But they weren't normal hands. They were black. The color of charred wood. The color of rot.

>   Zet screamed with all his might. Hui did, too.

  The boys struggled frantically but the creature hung on tight.

  Chapter 17

  Who Disturbs My Tomb?

  Zet and Hui thrashed and wrestled, trying to free themselves.

  "Who disturbs my tomb?" the mummy intoned.

  "Let go!" Zet said.

  A wind had picked up. It whirled around them.

  "Who dares disturb my tomb?" the mummy cried, louder now.

  Zet's frantic eyes met Hui's. They had known each other a long time. Nearly their whole lives. Sometimes, they could practically read each other's minds. So when Hui shouted, kick! Zet knew exactly what he meant.

  Together, the boys kicked back hard. Zet drove his heel into the creature's shin.

  There came a barely audible Ooof.

  The monster's death-hold loosened. The boys ducked out of its grasp, ran a few feet and spun around. Zet had to see it. Had to know!

  "Muh-muh-mummy!" Hui managed.

  Zet stared, mouth slack.

  Dirty wrapped limbs. A ratty torso. And now, on its head, it wore a glittering death-mask that gleamed with gold and turquoise inlay. Instead of jeweled eyes, it had two eyeholes. A pair of beetle-black eyes glared through. They pinned Zet and Hui in place.

  Snakes and bugs continued to pour from the tomb. Hissing. Clicking.

  Zet and Hui stood frozen in fear. The mummy raised both arms. Wind shook its filthy bandages. The monster spread its charcoal-colored fingers wide. Snakes slithered over its shoulders. They fell from its forearms.

  "Got you," the mummy snarled, lunging. It grabbed both boys. Started dragging them into the snake-infested tomb.

  But there's strength in fear. That Zet knew.

  Punching and kicking, Zet wrestled free. Hui did the same.

  "Run," Zet shouted, pelting helter-skelter down the avenues between the tombs.

  Hui's arms and legs pumped furiously alongside him. They leaped over a small statue. Kept going.

  Hui said, "I thought you wanted to talk to it?"

  "Forget that!"

  "I get the feeling he's not big on visitors," Hui said.

  "Next time I think up something crazy," Zet gasped, "Tell me to jump off a dock."

  "Or put a lid on it? You know, because we took the lid off that—"

  "Too soon," Zet said. "Not funny! Too soon."

  "I thought it was funny. I thought it was pretty good actually."

  "Just keep moving, I see the gates. We're not clear yet. Let's get out of this cemetery. That mummy could show up anytime!"

  "Aack! Good point." Hui put on more speed.

  They got through the gate and kept running until they reached the water. Their raft was still moored next to the Nile.

  "Jump on! We're out of here!"

  Never had they made the river crossing so fast in all their lives.

  When they reached Thebes, it took no time to find Merimose. He stood with his officers, guarding the marketplace while the Royal Guard questioned frightened bystanders and combed the area for clues.

  "We followed the mummy!" Zet gasped, pushing through a knot of people to Merimose's side. "We know where he went."

  "Slow down, Zet," Merimose growled. "What happened?"

  Zet and Hui started talking at once.

  Merimose raised one dinner-plate-sized hand. "Stop. Renni needs to hear this." He turned and shouted over his shoulder. "RENNI! Over here. We're in luck. We've got some information."

  Renni frowned at the boys as they stumbled breathlessly through their tale.

  "You should have alerted us," he snarled. "Going over to the West Bank your own? What good would that do? Never mind—you'll answer for yourselves later." He made an angry face. "Take us to this tomb."

  Zet and Hui led the enormous search party to the shore. Boats were gathered up. On the far side, medjay police and Royal Guardsmen poured out and swarmed uphill to the ancient mortuary.

  "This way," Zet said.

  Hui said, "The tomb is right up there."

  But when they reached the mastaba, Zet got the shock of his life. The tomb was empty. Top-to-bottom empty. Not only were there no slithering snakes or clicking beetles, there was no sarcophagus. No canopic jars. No grave relics, beer urns, trunks of treasures, not a stitch of furniture, not even a single piece of dried up fruit.

  Even the signs of their struggle had disappeared.

  It was all gone.

  Merimose said, "Looks like a grave robber's work. They've been getting worse. We need to set up more patrols."

  Renni said, "Where's the tomb? With the snakes?"

  "This is it, right here." Zet winced at Renni's expression. A few dried leaves blew across his toes.

  "Here?" Renni roared. "This is it? Where are those snakes and beetles?"

  "I—I don't know. They're gone. Someone must have gotten rid of them. And swept the ground or something."

  "How dare you waste my time," Renni roared. He waved at the men gathered behind him. "You had me bring my army all this way for nothing?"

  "It's not nothing! I'm telling you, we saw the mummy! We followed it."

  "I'll have you punished. My men should be in Thebes, not in some god-forsaken cemetery. I'll see you tried in court for your crimes, I'll—"

  "Renni," Merimose boomed. "Can I speak to you a moment?"

  "Whatever you want to say," Renni snarled, "Spit it out."

  Merimose pressed his lips together. Then he blew out a breath. "I can vouch for these boys."

  "Can you now?" Renni said.

  "If they say they saw something, they're telling the truth."

  Renni glared at him. "You've fought me this whole way, Merimose. You're angry because this isn't your investigation. But this is low. Lower than I thought even you would go."

  Merimose glared at Renni. Zet found his hands forming fists at his side.

  Very slowly, Merimose said, "With all respect—sir—if Zet says he saw that mummy, then I suggest you inspect this tomb."

  "How dare you. I'll have your badge for this! I'll—"

  "And another thing," Merimose said. "As you seem completely unaware of the fact, Zet and Hui are friends of Princess Meritamen. Next time you speak to Pharaoh, I'm sure he'll be happy to inform you of a little secret." He leaned in so close that only Renni, Zet, and Hui could hear. "A few months ago, these two boys were responsible for rescuing Princess Meritamen from her kidnappers."

  "They what?" Renni sputtered.

  "It's true," Hui piped up.

  Renni had gone white with rage.

  "But don't go spreading it around," Hui added.

  "We don't want to blow our cover," Zet said. "Makes it hard to solve more mysteries." In actual fact, he didn't want Renni talking to Pharaoh. If Pharaoh heard Zet was investigating, Zet's visit to the mummifier might come out. And Merit might get in big trouble. Which would be awful.

  Renni clutched at his head with both hands. He let out a frustrated yowl. "Fine! Fine, just go. Just leave now and I'll forget this ever happened."

  "But the tomb," Zet said. "Aren't you going to search it?"

  "Of course I'm going to search it!" Renni howled. "Now get off my crime scene. And keep your nose out of my business."

  Chapter 18

  Running For Home

  Zet could hardly believe it was still night as he and Hui paddled back across the Nile. It seemed like ages since he'd left home.

  One thing was certain: dawn would arrive soon. The sun god, Ra, was nearing the horizon. When his gleaming rays burst across the land, everyone would wake. Including his mother. And Hui's mother.

  If they hadn't already.

  An idea broke into his worries. Despite his need for speed, he froze.

  "What are you doing?" Hui said. "Keep paddling! I have to get home. My mother's going to kill me!"

  "I just thought of something," Zet said.

  "Forget thinking. Think later! Paddle."

  Zet resumed his efforts. "I can't believ
e this."

  "Speed up."

  "We forgot to ask Renni if that was Aziza's tomb."

  "Stop thinking," Hui complained. "Focus!"

  "Fine." Zet dug his paddle deep. He kept thinking though. He couldn't help it. Questions seemed to pile up, one after the other. Not just about the tomb, but about the mummy itself. Like—how had the mummy been lit up in that boat when they'd spotted it earlier?

  "Made it. Finally," Hui said.

  The boys sprinted up the bank. They ran through the mist-damp streets. At the Southern Road, they wished each other luck.

  Adrenaline surged through Zet as he neared home.

  No sign of movement through the window. So far, so good. Silence gripped his street. He clambered up the rough wall. At the top, he quietly threw one leg over and then the other.

  His sheets were as he'd left them.

  He squinted toward Kat's sleeping pallet. She was in bed, mouth open, snoring softly. She hadn't even noticed him missing.

  Clearly, no one had.

  Zet drew a hand across his brow and blew out a relieved sigh. At least something had gone his way. He only hoped Hui was equally lucky.

  He crept up to Kat and shook her awake.

  "You did WHAT?" she shrieked when he told her they'd chased the mummy to the West Bank.

  "SHHHHHH!" Zet hissed.

  "You did all that without me?" she wailed.

  "Keep your voice down, will you?"

  Huffing, she whisper-shouted, "Why didn't you wake me? This affects me, too, you know!"

  "I know. Which is why I need your help."

  She eyed him indignantly.

  "I mean it. Please?"

  "What kind of help?" she asked.

  "You're smart," Zet said.

  She rolled her eyes.

  "I want to go over everything with you," Zet said. "To see if you can find any new clues."

  Looking slightly mollified, she pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. "Go on."

  "I'm not sure where to start."

  Kat's brow puckered. "Tell me everything that happened again. Slowly this time."

  Zet did. He told her how the mummy showed up in front of the market pottery stall. How did it know Zet was there? He described its awful whispers, and how it had fled when the medjay and guards had arrived. He told her how it had moved rapidly down the streets and escaped across the Nile in a boat lit by a ghostly glow. He told her about the tomb and the still warm lamp, about the snakes and the beetles. And how they'd rushed outside, only to be caught by the mummy wearing its terrifying death mask.