Soul and Shadow Read Free Page A

these papers back to your grandmother, and tell her she can find someone more suitable to help her. "
    That charming smile again. " You ' re a nice person, Lily Evans. Why don ' t you come along and let me formally introduce you? We ' ll get this straightened out. "
    Once again, I could have turned away. But I didn ' t. I found myself wanting to be formally introduced—to him. The night had taken a definite turn for the surreal. I was walking past mummies, following a dark, handsome stranger, to return mysterious papers to a woman who believed in ancient spirits. Not that my life was normally dull, but it definitely was not full of such stuff as this.
    " What will your Ph.D. be in? " Mr. Handsome asked as we made our way through the crowd.
    " Ancient Egyptian studies. I specialize in art. I do drawings and paintings of life in ancient times. "
    " Really? " He sounded genuinely interested. " I ' d like to see them sometime. Here we are. "
    We had arrived at the foyer, and I saw his grandmother on the arm of a man who was older, plumper, and lighter in coloring than my escort. Still, it was obvious that they were related. He nodded at me politely, and the old woman smiled in greeting. " How nice, Lily. Are you coming back with us tonight? "
    " No Gram, " the stranger said patiently. " She doesn ' t even know who you are. You didn ' t tell her. "
    " No? I ' m sorry, my dear. What must you think of me? I— "
    But at that moment, a man who looked remarkably like Luciano Pavarotti came bustling up to our little group. " Dame Ursula! " he cried in a booming voice. " You ' re not leaving already? "
    " I ' m afraid so, " was the quiet reply. " I ' m feeling rather tired, John. You understand. "
    " Of course, of course. You and the boys must come and have dinner with us one night this week. Sandra will call and arrange it. All right? "
    " Thank you. We ' d be delighted. John, this is Lily Evans. She works at the University. Lily, John Costanza is the chief trustee of the museum board. His help has been invaluable in mounting this exhibition. "
    " Pleased to meet you, " I stated, trying to control my amazement.
    My outstretched hand was engulfed. " Miss Evans. I hope you enjoyed yourself? Did it meet your expectations? "
    " Mr. Costanza, " I said honestly, " I never imagined anything as exciting as this. "
    He beamed at me. " Wonderful! We were very lucky to get a collection of this caliber. I can ' t thank Dame Ursula enough. But I won ' t keep you any longer. Goodnight to you all. "
    I turned my eyes from his retreating figure to my previously unknown companions. " You ' re Dame Ursula Allingham, " I said. " The archaeologist who discovered Amisihathor and Kahotep ' s tomb. "
    She smiled as if I was a particularly clever student. " That ' s right. And these are my grandsons, Philip and Kent Ashton. "
    " I ' m Kent, " my dark stranger said. " Phil, would you take Gram out to the car while I say goodnight to Miss Evans? "
    " Of course. Are you ready, Gram? "
    " Indeed. I have done all that I wished. I ' ll see you again, Lily. "
    " It ' s been an honor, Dame Ursula. Thank you. "
    " Thank you , my dear. "
    And she was gone, leaving Kent and me alone again.
    " So, " he said, " you ' ve heard of my grandmother? "
    I took it for a rhetorical question, but replied anyway. " I ' m an Egyptologist, Mr. Ashton. Of course I ' ve heard of her. The tomb of Amisihathor and Kahotep was an important discovery. And my mentor, Professor Briggs, was a student of hers at Oxford. "
    " Yes. That ' s probably why Gram approached you. "
    " But why doesn ' t she just ask him for help? He ' s an expert, " I protested.
    " I ' m afraid I don ' t know. May I look in the envelope? "
    I tore it open. On the top was a page labeled ' The Excavation. ' It was followed by several more pieces of paper, neatly typed, and illustrated with photo reprints and black and white drawings. From merely glancing through it, I could see it was a treasure trove of information.
    "