The Mummy III - The Army Of Anubis
By Ceridwen
The desert, 50 miles south of Cairo, 1941
The sun stood high in the mid-day sky as a group of black-clad riders lined the ridge of a mountain, overlooking a large desert valley. Their eyes were fixed on a group of diggers working at an excavation site below them. Over the camp waved a large, red flag with black inter-linked lines set on a white circle and the diggers was supervised by a group of soldiers dressed in black uniforms. But their military dress did not make any impression on the group of men on the rim of the mountain.
Behind them, a man dressed in the same clothing as the diggers in the valley below rushed up to stand gasping in front of the leader of the black- clad group. As he looked up, he removed the cover from his face revealing the same tattooed markings as the rest of the mounted group on a face that could not have been more then 16 years old. He bowed in respect. "My lord, the Germans have unearthed the statue of the Scorpion King. But it is badly damaged and they do not seem to know what they have found."
The man next to the tall leader sighed. "What of the bracelet of Anubis? Has it remained undiscovered?"
The young man shook his head. "I do not know. I have not seen it, but some men have left the camp this morning to return to Cairo and they had several objects with them." Then he looked at his chieftain again. "Forgive me, my chief. I do not know which objects they have removed from the site."
The tall man on his black stallion shook his head and reached down to place a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder. "There is no need to apologize, Haarif. If you had tried to find out, you would have most likely been caught. You have acted wisely and have made the tribe and your family proud in your first mission." The boy smiled proudly up at his leader and the older man nodded encouragingly. "Now return to the site before you are missed. And be ready."
The boy nodded and quickly returned down the sand dunes towards the dig site.
"Will they never learn?" the tall leader whispered and shook his head sadly as he watched his youngest warrior undetectedly join a small group of Arab labourers who carried more sand in large straw bags out of a now revealed entrance in the golden sand.
"Shall we kill them now, My Lord?"
The tall, dark-clad warrior patted the neck of his black stallion, his eyes never leaving the scene beneath him. "No," he said. "We will wait until dark." Then he shook his head and sighed. "I am growing tired, Hamid." he said heavily, looking at his second in command. "I have blood on my hands and I wonder how much more has to be shed and how many seasons more will our tribe have to stand guard until people will realise the danger that lies beneath the sand and leave the ancient places in peace?"
Hamid looked at his leader. "You know as well as I do, that it has been the faith of the Medjai ever since our forefathers have bestowed the Hom-Dai upon the creature and have vowed to protect the ancient places. It is our destiny, Ardeth."
Ardeth Bey was quiet for a moment and then looked ahead into the distance, across the camp beneath them and onto the horizon. "The Gods that have watched over this land for many generations have become restless. And their voices have been strong lately."
"Voices, my Lord?" Hamid asked carefully. Even through all the years of carrying the burden of leading the 12 tribes of the Medjai and fulfilling their age-old duty, he had never seen his best friend and chief so serious and his expression so dark. Even though Ardeth had suffered many losses throughout his young life, he had never looked as defeated as he did at this moment.
But the Medjai leader continued to stare ahead into the distance at something only he could see. "I have been hearing their calls in my dreams for some time now. And they have grown more and more insistent." Then he turned around and smiled at his friend. "They say that you will soon be called to do your duty, old friend."
Hamid didn't like the sudden heaviness in his best friend's voice and shook his head vehemently. "No, Ardeth. You will lead us for many more seasons and guard the creature and the curse."
Ardeth Bey laughed, but there was no humour in his voice. "Sometimes I wonder who is suffering the real curse." Then he took a deep breath and reared his stallion around. "Our faith is in Allah's hands, my friend! Y'allah! N'imshe!" he shouted to his men, and as one, the group galloped down the hill and into the desert.
*
(Meanwhile somewhere in downtown Cairo .)
The ceiling fan was blowing cool air into the room full of German soldiers as they sat, deeply involved in discussions. A highly decorated General sat at the head of the conference table and sighed.
"Gentlemen, the recapture of Tobruk will not win us this war. The Field Marshal is having problems at Marsa Matruh and El Alamein. The axis forces might be exhausted, but from the latest dispatch I have received from Berlin, it doesn't look like we're getting the reinforcements we need to finish this campaign."
"The British have concentrated their efforts on destroying the remains of our Afrika Corps but thankfully with little success. We have continued to request equipment and supplies, but the main focus of Berlin is now on the Eastern Front." The general sighed and took a deep breath. "As you have undoubtedly heard already, last night, units of the Australian 9th Division captured our Intelligence Long Range Reconnaissance Company 621 at Tel el Eisa. The men were our ear in the enemy's camp. And with Field Marshal Rommel preparing to attack the British rear at the ridge at Alam Halfa, we need more than a few matchsticks and canteens." The General paused for a moment and looked into the round. "Right now, Gentlemen, I'm happy to hear any suggestions you might have."
The man to his right reached into a folder and pulled out a stack of papers. "We have come across some interesting rumours about a battle that took place not far away from here a few years ago. Some archaeologist have excavated artefacts around an area that is believed to be Am Shere and somehow managed to raise an entire army from the sand." The man looked into the round of men. "It was said to have been the legendary Army of Anubis."
There was a short silence around the table, followed by laughter.
The General shook his head. "I think we have all heard these rumours. The one who defeats the legendary Scorpion King will control the Army of Anubis and can use them for his own purpose or send them back inot the Underworld. But that's all they are. Rumours." He laughed. "Armies raising from the sands? Even though the Führer is open to anything that will win him this war, mythology and legends aren't among those."
Professor Schwanter shook his head. "I think there is more to this than mythology and legend." He reached into his bag and pulled out an object wrapped in a dark-grey cloth. As he unwrapped the package, the men gasped at the sight of a massive golden bracelet bearing a large scorpion. "We found this bracelet near the suspected location of the Am Shere oasis."
"What makes you think that this is authentic?"
"I was there myself. And we have found other artifacts that seem to underline the story." Schwanter picked up the bracelet and turned it in his hands. "Two nights ago, the site was attacked by a desert tribe and everybody was killed apart from myself and two other natives who managed to hide. Interestingly enough, nothing was stolen. They simply rode in, killed everybody and took off again. Now, I did some listening around and found that this seems to happen a lot around this area. Doesn't sound to me like some band of Bedouin raiders, but more like somebody with secrets to protect."
The man paused for a moment before he continued. "This morning, I went to the Museum of Antiquities here in Cairo and have verified the bracelet with a researcher there. I must say that the lady was most secretive about its history and also showed quite a reaction to it. Seemed as if she knew more about it than she wanted to admit."
The General seemed to get more interested now. "How does this help us?"
Professor Schwanter smiled. "Well, the woman at the Museum gave me some information, which was obviously designed to keep me away from the desert. That there is a tribe living there, which call themselves the Medjai. These are supposedly the descendants of the ancient pharaoh's bodyguards. Seti I, to be precise. I did my own research and nobody knows where these Medjai live or who belongs to them, but they are feared amongst natives and even the Bedouins that are travelling through the desert. Sounds like they are protecting something and are more than ready to kill everybody that comes near it. And they are ready to die to protect whatever it is they are protecting." The Professor took the golden bracelet in his hand and turned it around playfully. "If you ask me, General, I think they are protecting something big, something powerful, something that can be used to bring about serious changes to the world." He looked up at the General. "Something like the resting place of the Army of Anubis"
The General thought for a moment. "Well, if what you say is true and we now have this bracelet, but don't know the exact location of Am Shere so we can raise the Scorpion King and the Army of Anubis, then all we need to do is find us one of these Medjai and get him to tell us what we need to know. Then we raise the Scorpion King, kill him and take command of the Army of Anubis. That would give us all the men we need."
"That . is correct. Yes." Schwanter creased his eyebrows and thought for a moment. Then he looked back up at the General. "We would also need the Book of the Dead to raise the Army, but I think some of the research notes I have might suffice for what needs to be done."
The General smiled and then nodded. "Right then, even on the risk of sounding mad here - we have nothing to loose. Professor do you have any suggestions?"
Schwanter placed the bracelet in front of him on the table. "Well, it would be pointless to ride out into the desert and try to find the Medjai. But I think it should not be too difficult to have them find us. Considering my discussion with the English woman at the museum, I'm sure she will have contacted the Medjai by now and told them that we have the bracelet. I told Mrs O'Connell that I would come back tonight and see if she had found out more about its origins and I have no doubt that the Medjai will be there waiting for me."
The General and the other men rose from their chairs. "Very well. Professor, do your thing. I want this to progress as swiftly as possible."
TBC .
By Ceridwen
The desert, 50 miles south of Cairo, 1941
The sun stood high in the mid-day sky as a group of black-clad riders lined the ridge of a mountain, overlooking a large desert valley. Their eyes were fixed on a group of diggers working at an excavation site below them. Over the camp waved a large, red flag with black inter-linked lines set on a white circle and the diggers was supervised by a group of soldiers dressed in black uniforms. But their military dress did not make any impression on the group of men on the rim of the mountain.
Behind them, a man dressed in the same clothing as the diggers in the valley below rushed up to stand gasping in front of the leader of the black- clad group. As he looked up, he removed the cover from his face revealing the same tattooed markings as the rest of the mounted group on a face that could not have been more then 16 years old. He bowed in respect. "My lord, the Germans have unearthed the statue of the Scorpion King. But it is badly damaged and they do not seem to know what they have found."
The man next to the tall leader sighed. "What of the bracelet of Anubis? Has it remained undiscovered?"
The young man shook his head. "I do not know. I have not seen it, but some men have left the camp this morning to return to Cairo and they had several objects with them." Then he looked at his chieftain again. "Forgive me, my chief. I do not know which objects they have removed from the site."
The tall man on his black stallion shook his head and reached down to place a reassuring hand on the young man's shoulder. "There is no need to apologize, Haarif. If you had tried to find out, you would have most likely been caught. You have acted wisely and have made the tribe and your family proud in your first mission." The boy smiled proudly up at his leader and the older man nodded encouragingly. "Now return to the site before you are missed. And be ready."
The boy nodded and quickly returned down the sand dunes towards the dig site.
"Will they never learn?" the tall leader whispered and shook his head sadly as he watched his youngest warrior undetectedly join a small group of Arab labourers who carried more sand in large straw bags out of a now revealed entrance in the golden sand.
"Shall we kill them now, My Lord?"
The tall, dark-clad warrior patted the neck of his black stallion, his eyes never leaving the scene beneath him. "No," he said. "We will wait until dark." Then he shook his head and sighed. "I am growing tired, Hamid." he said heavily, looking at his second in command. "I have blood on my hands and I wonder how much more has to be shed and how many seasons more will our tribe have to stand guard until people will realise the danger that lies beneath the sand and leave the ancient places in peace?"
Hamid looked at his leader. "You know as well as I do, that it has been the faith of the Medjai ever since our forefathers have bestowed the Hom-Dai upon the creature and have vowed to protect the ancient places. It is our destiny, Ardeth."
Ardeth Bey was quiet for a moment and then looked ahead into the distance, across the camp beneath them and onto the horizon. "The Gods that have watched over this land for many generations have become restless. And their voices have been strong lately."
"Voices, my Lord?" Hamid asked carefully. Even through all the years of carrying the burden of leading the 12 tribes of the Medjai and fulfilling their age-old duty, he had never seen his best friend and chief so serious and his expression so dark. Even though Ardeth had suffered many losses throughout his young life, he had never looked as defeated as he did at this moment.
But the Medjai leader continued to stare ahead into the distance at something only he could see. "I have been hearing their calls in my dreams for some time now. And they have grown more and more insistent." Then he turned around and smiled at his friend. "They say that you will soon be called to do your duty, old friend."
Hamid didn't like the sudden heaviness in his best friend's voice and shook his head vehemently. "No, Ardeth. You will lead us for many more seasons and guard the creature and the curse."
Ardeth Bey laughed, but there was no humour in his voice. "Sometimes I wonder who is suffering the real curse." Then he took a deep breath and reared his stallion around. "Our faith is in Allah's hands, my friend! Y'allah! N'imshe!" he shouted to his men, and as one, the group galloped down the hill and into the desert.
*
(Meanwhile somewhere in downtown Cairo .)
The ceiling fan was blowing cool air into the room full of German soldiers as they sat, deeply involved in discussions. A highly decorated General sat at the head of the conference table and sighed.
"Gentlemen, the recapture of Tobruk will not win us this war. The Field Marshal is having problems at Marsa Matruh and El Alamein. The axis forces might be exhausted, but from the latest dispatch I have received from Berlin, it doesn't look like we're getting the reinforcements we need to finish this campaign."
"The British have concentrated their efforts on destroying the remains of our Afrika Corps but thankfully with little success. We have continued to request equipment and supplies, but the main focus of Berlin is now on the Eastern Front." The general sighed and took a deep breath. "As you have undoubtedly heard already, last night, units of the Australian 9th Division captured our Intelligence Long Range Reconnaissance Company 621 at Tel el Eisa. The men were our ear in the enemy's camp. And with Field Marshal Rommel preparing to attack the British rear at the ridge at Alam Halfa, we need more than a few matchsticks and canteens." The General paused for a moment and looked into the round. "Right now, Gentlemen, I'm happy to hear any suggestions you might have."
The man to his right reached into a folder and pulled out a stack of papers. "We have come across some interesting rumours about a battle that took place not far away from here a few years ago. Some archaeologist have excavated artefacts around an area that is believed to be Am Shere and somehow managed to raise an entire army from the sand." The man looked into the round of men. "It was said to have been the legendary Army of Anubis."
There was a short silence around the table, followed by laughter.
The General shook his head. "I think we have all heard these rumours. The one who defeats the legendary Scorpion King will control the Army of Anubis and can use them for his own purpose or send them back inot the Underworld. But that's all they are. Rumours." He laughed. "Armies raising from the sands? Even though the Führer is open to anything that will win him this war, mythology and legends aren't among those."
Professor Schwanter shook his head. "I think there is more to this than mythology and legend." He reached into his bag and pulled out an object wrapped in a dark-grey cloth. As he unwrapped the package, the men gasped at the sight of a massive golden bracelet bearing a large scorpion. "We found this bracelet near the suspected location of the Am Shere oasis."
"What makes you think that this is authentic?"
"I was there myself. And we have found other artifacts that seem to underline the story." Schwanter picked up the bracelet and turned it in his hands. "Two nights ago, the site was attacked by a desert tribe and everybody was killed apart from myself and two other natives who managed to hide. Interestingly enough, nothing was stolen. They simply rode in, killed everybody and took off again. Now, I did some listening around and found that this seems to happen a lot around this area. Doesn't sound to me like some band of Bedouin raiders, but more like somebody with secrets to protect."
The man paused for a moment before he continued. "This morning, I went to the Museum of Antiquities here in Cairo and have verified the bracelet with a researcher there. I must say that the lady was most secretive about its history and also showed quite a reaction to it. Seemed as if she knew more about it than she wanted to admit."
The General seemed to get more interested now. "How does this help us?"
Professor Schwanter smiled. "Well, the woman at the Museum gave me some information, which was obviously designed to keep me away from the desert. That there is a tribe living there, which call themselves the Medjai. These are supposedly the descendants of the ancient pharaoh's bodyguards. Seti I, to be precise. I did my own research and nobody knows where these Medjai live or who belongs to them, but they are feared amongst natives and even the Bedouins that are travelling through the desert. Sounds like they are protecting something and are more than ready to kill everybody that comes near it. And they are ready to die to protect whatever it is they are protecting." The Professor took the golden bracelet in his hand and turned it around playfully. "If you ask me, General, I think they are protecting something big, something powerful, something that can be used to bring about serious changes to the world." He looked up at the General. "Something like the resting place of the Army of Anubis"
The General thought for a moment. "Well, if what you say is true and we now have this bracelet, but don't know the exact location of Am Shere so we can raise the Scorpion King and the Army of Anubis, then all we need to do is find us one of these Medjai and get him to tell us what we need to know. Then we raise the Scorpion King, kill him and take command of the Army of Anubis. That would give us all the men we need."
"That . is correct. Yes." Schwanter creased his eyebrows and thought for a moment. Then he looked back up at the General. "We would also need the Book of the Dead to raise the Army, but I think some of the research notes I have might suffice for what needs to be done."
The General smiled and then nodded. "Right then, even on the risk of sounding mad here - we have nothing to loose. Professor do you have any suggestions?"
Schwanter placed the bracelet in front of him on the table. "Well, it would be pointless to ride out into the desert and try to find the Medjai. But I think it should not be too difficult to have them find us. Considering my discussion with the English woman at the museum, I'm sure she will have contacted the Medjai by now and told them that we have the bracelet. I told Mrs O'Connell that I would come back tonight and see if she had found out more about its origins and I have no doubt that the Medjai will be there waiting for me."
The General and the other men rose from their chairs. "Very well. Professor, do your thing. I want this to progress as swiftly as possible."
TBC .