The Cult of Osiris Read Free Page A

photographs, blow-ups of ancient papyrus scrolls. The same scrolls that had brought her here in the first place.
    The Hall of Records, a repository of ancient Egyptian knowledge beneath the Sphinx that was reputedly only surpassed by the Library of Alexandria, had long been considered nothing more than a myth. But a privately funded archaeological dig in Gaza had discovered papyrus pages that described not only the Hall itself, but also how to get into it - through a passage that had once descended between the Sphinx's paws. When the pages were scientifically confirmed to be over four thousand years old, the Hall suddenly became one of the hottest topics in archaeology, and the Egyptian government granted the International Heritage Agency's request to conduct the dig that would confirm whether or not what was said on the Scrolls was true.
    The problem, Macy knew, was that the IHA had only been given three scrolls. Yet here was a fourth.
    She moved closer, silently mouthing the words as she translated the text. The ancient language had been taught to her by her grandfather along with Egyptian history and mythology, his hobby eventually influencing her choice of degree. The new scroll said more about the Hall of Records than the IHA had seen: not just its position, but its contents. Something about a map chamber, a zodiac, that revealed the location of. . .
    The Pyramid of Osiris?' Macy whispered in disbelief. That was nothing but another of her grandfather's myths, surely? Osiris was a legend pre dating even the First Dynasty of almost five thousand years ago, and legends didn't have big-ass tombs built for them, only pharaohs.
    But that was what the papyrus said. The Pyramid of Osiris, the tomb of the god-king. No suggestion that it was a myth; the text seemed as factually descriptive as it was about the Hall of Records. Whoa,' she said as she realised what that meant. If the Pyramid of Osiris was real, then so was the man buried inside it. Not a legendary god, but a flesh and blood ruler.
    until now lost in time. If his tomb could be found, it would be one of the greatest discoveries in history . . .
    She looked at the plans on the table. The position of the east-west entrance tunnel to the Hall of Records and the IHA excavation were both clearly marked - as was another, longer tunnel from the north.
    It crossed under what was now the modern road and ran, she realised, directly beneath the tent in which she was standing.
    Macy turned to the wooden cubicle. The panel facing her was hinged, a roughly cut hole acting as a handle. She eased it open.
    Now she knew where the three men had gone. Down. A ladder descended into a shaft, dim lights revealing the bottom over twenty feet below. The hose expelling the generator's exhaust fumes ran up one corner, the machine now clearly audible.
    As were voices.
    Getting closer.
    Excitement fled Macy, replaced by fear. Someone was running their own secret dig, trying to beat the IHA team into the Hall of Records. Trying to find the Pyramid of Osiris for themselves.
    Which meant that if she was caught in here . . . she was in trouble.
    What should she do? Tell someone - Berkeley or Hamdi? But Gamal was obviously in on it, and they would believe him over her. She needed proof . . .
    Weight in her thigh pocket. The camera.
    She pulled it out and switched it on. The wait for the lens to extend and the screen to light up had never seemed so long.
    A rattling sound from the shaft. Someone climbing the ladder.
    Throat tight with rising panic, Macy took a picture of the four papyrus pages, then tipped the camera down to capture the blueprint. Click—
    What the fuck?' The shout came from below, the accent American. The guy with the snake skin jacket. He had seen the flash.
    Another shout. The guard outside. Macy heard his footsteps thudding towards the tent. The clattering of the ladder was louder, faster, as the man hurried up it.
    She ran—
    The guard threw open the tent flap - just as Macy