Hypatia's Diary, page 27
part #2 of Darwin Lacroix Adventure Series
79
The White Mountain
Abbas had been inside the tomb about a quarter-hour when Fathi made his move. Stevie talked with Illi, telling her everything would be okay, when an arm pulled across her chest and something hard pressed against her neck.
“Get back,” yelled Fathi, who stood behind Stevie and pressed a gun into her throat.
Illi screamed and Stevie’s hands waved in fright as she watched everyone step away. Oh, God, oh, God.
Zac stepped out of the cave.
“Don’t,” said Fathi, pushing the barrel hard into Stevie.
“Zac, nooo,” she screamed.
“Give me the gun, Zac,” said Tessa, carefully stepping towards him.
Zac slowly lowered the gun, but just before handing it to Tessa, he ejected the magazine into the dirt and stepped on it. She snatched the empty pistol from Zac and tried to shove him back to retrieve the bullets.
“Stop,” yelled Fathi. “We don’t need it. Just pocket the gun and get inside.”
Tessa went inside the mountain as Fathi backed his way toward the opening, pulling Stevie along. When he got to the crease, he whispered in her ear, “I’m moving the gun, but it’s still pointing at you. Any sudden movement would cause me to pull the trigger which would be fatal at this distance.”
“I’m not moving,” said Stevie, trying to control her shaking hands.
“Zac,” said Fathi.
“What?”
“Stay out here. If I see you, then I shoot Eyrún. Understand?”
“Let us go. We mean you no harm,” said Zac.
“Do you understand?” said Fathi.
“Yes. You can’t get away. This is the only way out and the police will still be here,” said Zac.
“Don’t be so sure,” said Fathi and disappeared inside.
Zac started for the entrance when the head policeman, Sayed, blocked his way and the other policemen motioned for Stevie and Illi to join Zac at the cliff face.
“Oh, fuck,” said Zac.
80
The Tomb
“I thought you controlled the police?” Tessa asked Fathi as she jogged up corridor past the sphinxes.
“I do. Why do you think Zac’s not right behind us?” said Fathi.
Clever, she thought, but a moment later realized their predicament. But how’re we going to get out of this? The antiquities man will have backup.
We? I don’t think he’ll help you, said the Hypatia voice.
Shit, you’re right, she thought, watching Fathi stride up the slope, and they reached the second switchback. He’s got people in Siwa who will help him. What can I do? Think.
Her brain cycled through multiple possibilities, each one dead-ending in the same arrest scenario. She crossed over the pit without thinking and within a minute passed the library chamber to join Fathi at the door to the sarcophagus chamber. He pressed a finger against his lips, and she raised up on tip-toes to quiet her approach and heard Darwin’s voice explaining to Abbas what they had found.
“… and I remembered that some tombs built a chamber beneath a false floor,” said Darwin.
“Where’s Eyrún?” Tessa whispered to Fathi.
“In there. She talked a moment ago,” said Fathi, who turned into the chamber, pistol leading his charge. “Stop. Stand against the back wall.”
“What?” said Darwin, turning to face them and sidestepping next to Eyrún.
“Where’s Zac?” asked Eyrún.
“Arrested. As you will be as soon as we get you out of here,” said Tessa.
“You cannot do this!” protested Abbas.
“Already done, old man. Your kind may be back in power in Cairo, but not in the provinces,” said Fathi.
Tessa walked to the edge of the meter-wide hole in the floor. Darwin had set a small light on top of a marble sarcophagus which reflected around the space below that was only a meter wider in each direction around the man-sized box.
“What’s in it?” she asked.
“I didn’t open it,” said Darwin.
“It needs proper documentation, photographs, and study,” said Abbas.
Tessa pulled out her iPhone and snapped pictures of it, then lowered herself in the hole and took more pictures. “Done,” she said and ran her hands around the lid. Hmm, five centimeters thick and a little more than a meter and a half long. “Alexander was shorter than average height, right?” Before anyone could answer, she swiftly grabbed a corner of marble and spun it open.
“No,” yelled Abbas.
“Well, look at that,” said Tessa, and she bent into the sarcophagus.
Fathi moved in front of the door as Darwin, Eyrún, and Abbas stepped forward from the back wall to look in the hole.
“No Alexander, but I wonder why someone would bury a scroll?” she said, standing upright and reverently holding a leather tube in her two hands.
A half hour later, Tessa prodded Eyrún to keep walking when she paused at the pit. Darwin took Eyrún’s hand from the other side and helped her across, then turned away to let Tessa find her own way over.
“Catch up to Fathi,” she waved Zac’s pistol at them.
It has a nice feel to it; she thought as she followed Darwin and Eyrún out of the tomb. She remembered it was in her pocket as Fathi got them ready to leave the sarcophagus chamber. One hand cradled the leather-bound scroll, and the other carried the empty Sig Sauer.
She had to keep herself from laughing as Eyrún was mortally afraid of a gun that, without bullets, was as dangerous as a rock. Maybe I’ll carry it with me around Rome. She started thinking of her escape plan once they got out of the tomb.
She knew more of Abbas’s people would arrive and seize the discovery, but Alexander’s scroll would more than compensate for losing the tomb and library. Darwin and his group would be arrested by Fathi’s corrupt police and held for at least a day before somebody figured out what had happened. By then, I’ll be out of Egypt. It’s only late afternoon now. I can make it to Cairo tonight and be on an early flight tomorrow morning, knowing she had both her Ukrainian and German identities in her case at the ecolodge.
Fathi walked ahead with Abbas, and they stopped just outside the entry chamber with the sphinxes, where Tessa reviewed how they would leave. “Abbas, you’re out first. Fathi will be right behind you. Darwin, you follow Fathi, then Eyrún. I’ll come out last. Once we’re out and away, we let you go,” she said.
“You mean to be arrested by Fathi’s buddies,” growled Darwin.
“A misunderstanding that will be sorted out tomorrow. And, guess what, you and Eyrún get to go home like you want, and Mr. Abbas here gets his library,” she said.
Darwin glowered.
“Move,” she waved the gun at him.
81
The White Mountain
One of the policeman standing outside the tomb opening said, “Someone’s coming.”
Stevie looked up from the cliff base, where another officer had made her sit next to Zac.
“Don’t shoot. Don’t shoot,” came the voice of Abbas from the crevice and the policeman backed up to give them space to come out.
Zac moved in a flash, sweeping the legs from the policeman closest to them. Then he pivoted to the officer in front of the cave who went down hard with an elbow to the temple. Zac disarmed him and lunged for the cave, pulling Abbas by the arm and throwing him clear of the opening.
He folded against the rock as Fathi aimed his weapon, but Zac pushed Fathi’s arm upward, discharging the gun into the cliff. He raised the police pistol to shoot Fathi but was struck by falling rocks. “Zac, get out of there,” yelled Stevie.
He spun away, and Fathi disappeared behind a hail of rocks and dirt. Stevie screamed and covered her face as rocks bounced out of the opening. She turned away as a dust cloud spread across the cliff face. Sand hissed against her clothing with the force of a water spray.
A minute later, breathing through her shirt collar, she carefully opened her eyes. Dusty, but she could see. Illi next to her was covered in dirt except for her face. Zac! The last she saw him it looked like half the mountain was falling on his head.
“Zac!” she called, running to his prostrate figure, legs half-buried in gravel and sand. She knelt next to him as he moved his head and pushed up with his hands.
“Hold still. You’re hurt,” she said, looking at a dark muddy spot on the back of his head.
“I’m okay,” he said, pushing up on hands and knees, the dirt pouring off his backside.
Stevie examined the wound which appeared to be clotting. “Look at me,” she told Zac as he sat back. She studied his eyes, looking for signs of a concussion. “How do you feel? Can you see me?”
“Like someone hit me in the head, and you look beautiful, babe,” said Zac.
She helped Zac to his feet, and they turned to look at the mountain.
“Dammit!” said Zac and made his way to the opening now behind a one-meter pile of sand and gravel. The crease was jammed full of rock. He inspected it closer, but stepping on the pile caused rocks to tumble out with a coarse grinding sound. He jumped back.
82
The Tomb
Darwin coughed violently. Each breath seemed to suck in more dust than it expelled. He pulled the neckband of his shirt over his mouth and was wracked with another spasm. Eyrún. Where’s Eyrún? He knew she got back in the chamber as he had pushed her on his way in, but something large hit him in the back, and the lights went out. He supposed he was in the middle of the chamber, but it was pitch black. Coughing. Eyrún’s coughing!
“Eyrún!” he yelled
“Over h—” she sputtered.
He crawled toward her voice, and she switched on a light as Darwin closed the gap. She was covered in pale dust, and the marble floor between them was scattered with small rubble.
“Are you okay?” he asked, looking her over.
“Yes,” she said, sitting back on her heels. They checked each other for injuries and found nothing beyond scrapes and sore spots that would later bruise.
“What did you do Darwin?” came Tessa’s voice from across the chamber.
Eyrún moved the light, and they saw Tessa sitting against the wall. Darwin ignored her for the moment and turned toward the front of the chamber where the collapse had occurred. Fathi lay face down, his legs covered in rubble. The air danced with particles of dust but was clearing as the heavier bits settled. In his periphery, he saw Eyrún scamper towards something, stand up, and walk toward Tessa.
“Eyrún, don’t,” said Darwin when he saw her holding the gun that Tessa had lost.
“I’m not. I’m just keeping her away from us,” said Eyrún.
Tessa laughed. “It’s not loaded. I took it from Zac, but not before he dumped the bullets out. You were afraid of an empty gun,” she said, speaking to Eyrún like she was a child.
Eyrún screamed and hurled the pistol. It’s metal flickering in the faint light as it arced across the chamber. Tessa twisted, but it struck her temple, and she slumped.
“Oh, my God,” said Eyrún as both she and Darwin crossed the room. Blood poured from the cut in Tessa’s head, not deep, but deep enough. Eyrún tore a piece of Tessa’s blouse and pressed it against the wound. “Get a cloth or something from those boxes.”
Darwin found a packet of cotton gloves and tossed them to Eyrún, who pressed it on the wound. Tessa moved and grunted. He then rummaged in the boxes for batteries, water bottles and food. Near the bottom he found a bag with Zip Ties and smiled. Let’s see how you like it.
He secured Tessa’s ankles and wrists and walked over to Fathi, who had not moved. He looked around for Fathi’s gun and, when he could not find it, scanned the tomb. A wave of relief passed through him, seeing the tomb was unscathed aside from a debris shower.
Turning back to Fathi, he checked for a pulse, nothing. He stood and noticed the leather roll containing Alexander’s scroll against the tomb wall. It survived! He picked it up and cradled it under one arm.
“Fathi?” asked Eyrún.
“He’s dead.”
“Let’s go,” she said, walking to the doorway under the sphinxes.
“Wait. We can’t be cruel. That’s not who we are,” said Darwin, insisting on leaving a water bottle within reach. He tied a makeshift bandage on Tessa’s wound, and then they left.
83
The White Mountain
“What are you doing? We have to get Darwin,” yelled Zac, backing away from the tomb opening..
“Get away,” said Sayed, the policeman who had a pistol drawn and was waving them all to one side.
Stevie said something to him in Arabic, and they engaged in a rapid exchange. “He says we’re all under arrest for attempting to kill Fathi,” she said.
Abbas now argued with Sayed, and another policeman shoved him backward, driving him to the ground and kicked him.
Suddenly, the sound of vehicles drew their attention. Several pickup trucks and a handful of cars pulled up at the bottom of the slope, and men poured over the sides of the trucks, most of them carrying rifles and shouting angrily.
“Oh, shit,” said Stevie, reaching for Illi, but the girl pulled away, yelling, “Baba!” and ran to a big man, who had stepped out of the driver’s door of the closest pickup.
“Her father?” said Stevie, grabbing for Zac’s hand. They watched Moammar walk around from the passenger side of the same truck. Sayed lowered his revolver, and the other two police held out their hands as the men with rifles surrounded them.
“These men are not police. They’re a local gang Fathi is using,” said Moammar.
“How did you find us?” asked Stevie.
“When you drove off, I texted relatives to ask if any knew about a kidnapping. Baseem is a cousin of my wife and suspected something was not right when his daughter left school early without permission. We are a tight community,” he said and directed his men to move the corrupt police away.
Zac picked his way back to the crevice and carefully put an eye to a small opening. “Darwin,” he yelled. “Darwin!” He loitered another moment and turned away, saying in frustration, “I can’t see anything.”
“What of this well behind the mountain?” asked Abbas.
Zac summarized what he knew of the diary and its description of an exit. He continued with the satellite confirmation of the ruins behind the mountain and the work at uncovering the ancient property.
“My property,” interrupted Moammar.
“Right. It’s on Moammar’s land and could restore his water,” said Zac, glancing at Stevie, who made a small skip-ahead gesture with one hand. “The well also could be the terminus of a rear exit to the tomb structure.”
“These are ancient buildings and must be examined carefully,” said Abbas.
“With all due respect, sir, those people inside are my friends, and their lives are in danger. We don’t have time,” said Zac.
Stevie translated for Bassem, who said, “The man, Fathi, inside is a bad man. He deceived my family into kidnapping the woman, Ay…” He paused, looking at Stevie.
“Eyrún,” said Stevie.
“What about the other woman?” asked Abbas.
“She’s a known antiquities thief. I don’t know the details, Darwin does, but she’s dangerous,” said Stevie and related how Tessa left Darwin in the desert. “There’s no predicting what she might do to Eyrún and Darwin or,” she looked directly at Abbas, “the treasure inside.”
Abbas turned to look over Siwa Lake and seemed to consider what to do. After a minute, he turned back. “Let’s assume they are alive, inshallah, and they will go to the back-exit tunnel. Can we get them out?”
“Yes, sir, I believe we can,” said Zac.
“Let’s go then. Bassem you can take care of these corrupt police and watch the front of the tomb?” asked Abbas.
Bassem nodded.
“Good. You have a very brave daughter, and you should be proud. She may have saved a priceless Egyptian treasure.”
Bassem smiled, and Illi hugged him.
“Move nothing at the front of the tomb. It’s too dangerous. I will call in experts from Cairo,” said Abbas.
Illi hugged Stevie and apologized for the trouble she caused. “I hope…” she lost her words.
“You are magnificent, Illi. Now stay with your father. Eyrún and I will visit you when this is all over,” said Stevie.
Stevie drove the Land Cruiser to the back of the mountain as Zac called Malika to ask for another satellite scan. Now that they had removed two meters of dirt, the satellite ground penetration might reveal more about the underground structure.
“Thanks, Malika. Let me know as soon as you can,” he said.
“What did she say?” asked Stevie.
“She thinks they can do it, but it might not be until our nighttime,” he said.
“Zac…” she started but choked up. The SUV slowed. He leaned over and put a hand on her arm. He had been thinking the same thing. Did they get back inside the tomb? One good-sized rock had pelted Fathi’s arm as Zac saw him push backward in the crevice, but it was too dark to see Darwin.
“I know Babe. I’m worried, too, but we have to assume they got back in the tomb. As best I could tell, it collapsed from the front. So that would give them time to get to safety,” he said.
“But what if they’re hurt?”
“We hope it’s minor. The best we can do is get in that back door and get them out,” he said, and they drove in silence the remaining few minutes following the vehicles with Abbas and Moammar to the ruin.
In the days that Zac, Stevie, and Moammar had been excavating, they mapped out a site about the size of two basketball courts. A rock wall formed a rectangle around a two-room dwelling. They had dug deeper in the enclosed yard and exposed the well which was full of sand.
