Melanie came out of her reverie and began snapping pictures of the wall in overlapping segments. "I might as well get this done since we're here anyway. I can't help you with this breeze business. I don't even know what you're talking about." She moved about the room purposefully, the flash from the camera bursting its white glare every few feet.

"Why do you suppose this door panel was open?" Stone wondered, walking over and feeling the edges. There are scrape marks here that look fresh professor." Karl started toward him then stopped abruptly, his attention divided by Melanie's urgent shout.

"Dad! Over here. Look at this. Is this something special do you think?"

They all walked across the room to where she was touching the face of a carved panel, set aside from the others. A series of radiating, rectangular borders surrounded another, circular raised panel, its surface polished to a smooth glossy grey. Set in relief in the middle, was the same cartouche as they had found on the lids of all the Canopic jars.

"Look at the detail in the wings," Karl's nose was practically buried in the carving as he stuck out his hand, "give me the flashlight Massam."

The Bedouin hesitated and mumbled an apology, "I left it with Oura. In case she . . ."

"Here, try this." Stone stepped forward and flicked his lighter. The flame stood straight and tall for an instant, then began wiggling and shaking violently.

Karl pulled his attention from the carving and stared at Stone. "Do you see that?"

"I almost wish I didn't," he replied, holding the flame closer. It darted about quickly, almost extinguishing, then returned to a tall steady glow. After a moment it began dancing again and Stone jumped back, flipping the lid closed. "It's intermittent. It must be coming out of that- that, whatever it is."

Karl took the lighter and lit it again, holding it close to the panel, his eyes wide, following his searching fingers across the surface. With an intake of breathe, sealed behind pursed lips, he positioned his fingers over the centre of the cartouche and pressed firmly. Immediately the lighter flame blew out, followed by a long scraping sound from behind the panel. They all backed nervously away from the wall and waited, eyes darting about the room warily. Suddenly, the sand floor at the base of the wall began vibrating and sinking away as a six foot wide section of the wall sank slowly down into the floor.

The Discovery

"Up there, between those two boulders. That's where I observed them from." The young Arab pouted at having his injured condition ignored by the Western devil. Max climbed past the two Arabs, leaning his weight on Snake Eyes sore shoulder.

"Arrrggh!

"Shut up!" Max clipped him on the side of the head, "You whiny piece of camel dung!"

"Effendi! That was my sore . . ."

Max leaned back down, hissing in the cowering man's face, "If I hear any more about that damned arm of yours I'll rip it out by the roots and stuff it down your neck." His face flamed with anger, spittle dotting Snake Eyes cheeks and chin.

"I'll see to him, don't worry, he's young." Baddu inserted himself protectively between the two men.

"You'll see to him eh? That's a good one, one-eye." Max sneered and turned away to creep up the rocks, sliding between the two boulders overlooking the wadi.

"I do not like this man," Snake Eyes extended his pout, scrunching his face as Baddu tied a new strip of cloth about the seeping wound.

"Patience, young friend. As soon as we finish our business here we'll spend some time introducing Mister Baeder to the ways of the desert." Snake Eyes searched the older man's face for assurance, then matched him grin for evil grin.

"Well Wimpy," Max said sarcastically, sliding back down to join the two Arabs, "it seems your fatally wounded Bedouin has beaten us to the party." Snake Eyes gave him a dark look. "The good news is there's just he and a young girl down there. The rest must be searching around inside."

"What is your plan?" Baddu asked deferentially, sliding his eyes over to his companion.

"I think we'll just pop down and keep them company. When the others come out, we'll round them up." Max made some hasty scratches in the dirt, indicating his plan of assault, then shoved them both off roughly with a warning to be quiet this time.

*****

Melanie felt Massam take her arms and draw her back as Stone held the torch through the opening in the new chamber.

"It's a lot smaller but a lot more crowded." He stood aside as Karl pushed impatiently into the room, taking the torch from Stone.

"There it is! The sarcophagus!" He moved slowly toward the huge limestone coffin that stood on a raised platform in the middle of the room. Stopping several feet shy, he held the torch higher, exposing a neatly aligned row of skeletons around the base. "Servants would be my guess. Maybe a few unlucky relatives as well." He knelt down and wrested a small, jewelled box from the bones of a clutched hand. Jamming the torch in the sandy floor, he pried open the lid of the box and gasped in amazement. "Emeralds! Look at the size and colour of these stones!" Karl passed the box back to Stone who stepped over near a wall torch and gaped at the fire's reflection in the sparkling facets of the gems.

"Wow! These must be worth a fortune! Can you imagine burying this stuff?""

"They belong to the people of Egypt," Massam spoke from the entryway, a mild reprimand apparent in the tone.

"I know but . . ."

"He's right. All of this is the rightful property of the government," Melanie agreed, sliding into the room and extending her hand for the box.

"Hey! I wasn't suggesting anything. It was just a comment, okay?"

Melanie accepted the box and poked her finger through the contents. "They are beautiful though, aren't they?"

"You gonna warn her too pal?" Stone prodded Massam.

Karl's voice echoed around inside the small chamber, "Here's the cartouche symbol again on top of the sarcophagus. I has to be Hasramus inside."

Stone leaned over and whispered to Melanie, "Your father is convinced all this is the proof of Amin's legend," he waved his hand about the chamber. Melanie closed the jewel box giving him a haughty snub, and went to join her father.

"Comin' in Massam?" Stone began to follow.

"There is still the mystery of the breeze my friend." Massam's hand gripped his arm as he passed.

Making contact with the Bedouin's dark eyes, he read the tinge of fear lurking in their blackness, nurtured by centuries of superstition. "Then let's go and see if we can't solve it."

*****

"Fiery little fox isn't she." Max fingered the gash in his cheek from Oura's nail, "It's gonna be a pleasure teaching you some manners when we're through." He walked past where she was lying on the ground and stood over Amin. "You must be a piece of work too, defeating such a formidable pair in hand to hand combat," he gave an ugly laugh and kicked at Amin's leg.

"Leave him alone you filthy pig. He's hurt."

"Ooooh, yes ma'am. Please don't scratch me again, eh." He feigned a blow with his fist causing Oura to scuttle backwards out of reach. "Tie these two up and keep an eye on them." Max laughed again. "That'd be your job Baddu."

Oura lifted herself onto her hands and knees, "Let me tend his wound- I'll see to your friend too if you want."

"A regular Florence Nightingale. Yeah, why not. But do him first," Max tilted his head toward Snake Eyes. "Here's your chance to get your poor wittol arm fixed up Wimpy," he smirked.

Snake Eyes shuffled over to the side of the fallen keystone and sat down pouting again and giving Max an angry glare. This scum gave you credit for nothing, he thought. If I hadn't spotted the lookout and dealt with him, we might all be dead now. Oura dug some bandages and ointment out of her pack and began, gingerly, removing the cloth tied about his arm. She cleaned and dressed the wound as best she could, then hurried to Amin, who lay patiently on the ground, clutching his side.

"It's not too bad Amin," she smiled encouragingly, "it probably should be stitched but I'll tape it together as tightly as possible and we'll wrap the bandage right around your chest." Amin hesitated, baring his skin in front of Oura publicly was against his beliefs, but she carried on without paying attention and he soon gave in, pleased to have the wound properly attended. As soon as she was finished, Baddu trussed the two of them back to back, alongside the keystone in the centre of the wadi, then joined Max and Snake Eyes for a hushed conference.

*****

"Notice the extent of the decay in here? And look at the dust on the coffin and the platform," Karl wiped a finger across the surface, leaving a grey, wormlike trail. "The source of the breeze is definitely in here somewhere, that's the only thing that could account for these conditions."

Stone moved about the room carrying a few torches from the other chamber, and stuck them in strategic spots about the tomb. Massam stood silently just inside the door. The source of the breeze was apparent almost immediately as one of the torches began fluttering rapidly and Melanie pointed to the ceiling with a short cry.

"There! Look!" A three inch by three foot, black looking crack snaked across the otherwise smooth surface. Stone held the torch up and watched the flame dance wildly about.

"That's it okay. I wonder if there is any way to spot it from the outside. What could have caused it anyway?"

"Any number of natural disturbances I expect," Karl answered, busying himself with trying to shift the lid of the sarcophagus. "Give me a hand here would you. This thing should just slide off."

Stone gave his torch to Melanie and leaned into the huge lid with the professor. "C'mon Massam. Here's a chance to meet one of your ancestors face to face."

Massam took a step back and felt for the edge of the door. "You should not be doing this. It is against our religion." He scanned the room with a worried look.

"Nonsense," Karl admonished, "hundreds of tombs have been excavated and examined all over Egypt. How else can we find out about our beginnings?"

"This one has been cursed. Remember the fate of those who ignored Tutankhamen."

"Superstitious nonsense." Karl ignored him and bent to the task of removing the lid. His earlier misconceptions forgotten in the thrill of the moment. A gravelly grating sound filled the room as the heavy lid gave way reluctantly to their efforts. It slowly swung sideways, pivoting from one corner, then ground to a halt exposing a painted gold coffin, decorated with the image of a man in royal garb, the eye sockets shining from the glow of two huge rubies.

"My god, have you ever seen anything so spectacular. And look, no dust anywhere inside."

"I can't keep my canteen this clean and it's got a screw top," Stone joked.

"Mel, get pictures of this. Take lots, from all angles and get the lid here as well," Karl beckoned her forward urgently, his fingers barely skimming the surface of the gold coffin.