Soul and Shadow Read Free

wife. I suspected that Amisihathor did not belong in his tomb with him. But there was no proof until the scribe ' s tomb was discovered last year. You must have read about it? "
    " Yes. " The beautiful paintings had certainly caught my attention. " It had that lovely mural of him and his wife sitting under a palm tree, watching monkeys dance. "
    " Yes, indeed. Kamenwati and Amisihathor. I knew it was the same woman. Egyptian art is very stylized, of course, but she had a unique piece of jewelry that was so beautiful, the artists included it in their representations. A necklace of turquoise and carnelian, with pearls and enameled lotus blossoms. "
    " The symbols of resurrection, " I said.
    " Quite right. " The old woman smiled. " You sign your paintings with one. The blue water lily. "
    " You ' ve seen my work? " I asked in surprise.
    " Of course. That was how I knew you were the one I needed to help me. We must unravel this mystery once and for all, so the spirits can go at last into the Beautiful West and find peace. "
    To my astonishment, she handed me a manila envelope.
    " I ' ve made copies of various inscriptions and documents, as well as an outline. We can talk again after you ' ve read them. I ' m certain you ' ll be intrigued. I ' ve included my card, so you can call me anytime. Promise me that you ' ll go over it, Lily. It really is vital. "
    She rose before I could collect myself enough for a reply. " When you come to visit, I ' ll show you her necklace. Goodbye for now. "
    With incredible quickness for someone her age, she moved away into the crowd.

 
    Chapter Two
     
    I stood up, looking around anxiously. There was no sign of her, even after I had walked about searching. I had the idea that I ought to report her to someone. She was not fit to be out alone. What if she had given me something important?
    I was about to go and notify security when I heard a voice say, " Excuse me. " I looked up, and then farther up. He was a very tall man. I knew what was coming as soon as I saw his eyes. They were the same odd, compelling shade of gray as the old woman ' s. His accent was English too.
    " This is terribly awkward, but I believe you have something of my grandmother ' s? "
    His tone was not accusing, but I turned red in embarrassment. The best defense is a good offense. " I ' ve been looking for her, " I said. " She disappeared while we were talking. I ' m glad to see that she ' s not on her own. "
    He smiled slightly at the implied rebuke. " As you ' ve discovered, she ' s not easy to keep track of. Not when she has her own plans. She ' s quite independent, is Gram. "
    " I hope she ' s all right now? " I inquired. I didn ' t see her anywhere near.
    " She ' s with my brother in the foyer, feeling very pleased with herself. She told us that she ' d found a new assistant. I gather she gave you some of her research? "
    I waved the envelope. " If that ' s what this is. She seems to think I can help her in some way. My name is Lily Evans. I work for a professor of Egyptology at the University. Your grandmother has heard of me. "
    It sounded pompous after I ' d said it, but the young man didn ' t appear to notice. " Ah, that explains it, " he murmured. " Well, Miss Evans, I hope that Gram wasn ' t too intense for you. She lives and breathes ancient Egypt, and sometimes she gets a bit carried away. "
    I liked the fact that he didn ' t say, " She ' s mad as a hatter, " in his cultured British voice. I appreciated some family feeling. " She certainly knows her history, " I said.
    He looked at me in bemusement. " Did she tell you who she was? " he asked.
    " Um, no. We never got that far. She was telling me about Amisihathor. She—has a theory about her. She must think I ' m some kind of authority, but really, I ' m not in a position... "
    " It ' s all right, " he assured me with a sudden smile. " There ' s no need to feel responsible. "
    " I ' m only a research assistant. I haven ' t gotten my Ph.D. yet. Why don ' t you give