Rating: PG-13/12
Disclaimer: The Mummy is © to Universal Pictures and all its original owners. No infringement intended.
Overview: "There is an ancient legend of a place
known as the City of the Dead. They came to uncover its secrets. They sought to
unlock its treasures. But what they did was unleash a force unlike any the
world has ever known...Prepare...Beware...Behold..."
What are they doing?
Daniels stood with some disdain under the smoldering desert sun, squinting against the heavy brightness to watch them work. The girl, Evelyn What's-Her-Name, seemed to be positioning some sort of polished sheet metal towards the low sun. Why? He could only guess. O'Connell was securing rope about the wide base of what was once a pillar, for fairly obvious reasons; it was a whole new race now, to see who would make it inside first. The other two men stood as if they didn't know what to do, looking largely like the blundering fools they appeared to be.
Daniels grinned at the awkwardness in which O'Connell seemed to be running things for the opposing side. He's making this too damn easy, he thought with a wicked sort of glee.
O'Connell had made a hasty make-shift camp far from the center of what was left of Hamunaptra, near a far side of the silent volcano. Like novices the handful of them had set to work, seemingly tossing what vagabond supplies they had in a heap to quickly make their way into the ruins. And even quicker, the American camp was ready.
All around him the native hands were in a flurry of activity. Their camp as swiftly assembled with tents up, lean-to sheds constructed and a fire already lit. Their site was well chosen, sitting on level sand just inside the City entrance. It seemed Lady Luck was on both sides this trip.
Hearing their Egyptologist shouting, almost in a refined manner, Daniels turned to regard the diggers who were working in a constructive line to clear the temple door, handing down stone by stone until it was clear. He walked slowly over, tilting his head to see the progress they were making. Satisfied that they would beat O'Connell--this time--Daniels shielded his eyes and glanced up at Henderson and Dr. Chamberlain, who were standing on the archway above the covered door. Both were turned, watching O'Connell's lot. He grimaced.
What are they doing anyway?
While he waited, anticipation and excitement growing steadily, Daniels swaggered over to where their guide sat on a pack, smoking a hookah and swatting irritably at flies. Beni was a shifty character, he knew, but he was also quite submissive and eccentric, someone who did not bear much watching. As he approached him, Daniels caught the snip of a man greedily eyeing the door. When Beni noticed the other's presence, he looked away. For a moment, it seemed there was something else in that look. He couldn't tell, but to Daniels, it resembled hesitation. And fear.
One of the natives passed by, walking two mares to cool them down. Daniels allowed his attention to wander to those horses. Their sweaty chests and flaring nostrils were a harsh reminder of his lost bet. Absent-mindedly, Daniels stuck his hand in his jacket pocket, his fingers brushing his wallet that was over 150 dollars short. He chewed the inside of his lip in annoyance.
His greatest consolation was knowing that all their supplies were already bought, and that there was a lot more than 500 dollars waiting for them under those ruins. A smile soon tugged at the corners of his mouth at the thought. The hardest part was finding the "mythical" City of the Dead, and that was over. Not too long, and the three of them would soon be very wealthy men. He knew it.
His eyes began to drift aimlessly over the ruins. Looking out across the dunes, Daniels noted the herds of camels straying about, some even with young. The strangest thing about the camels, however, was not that they were there, but that they wore dusty packs and worn saddles. Obviously they weren't wild.
"Where'd all these camels come from?" he asked, as if wondering aloud.
Beni didn't even bother to look. "They belong to the dead. They will wait years for their masters to return before leaving."
Daniels gazed down on him with a repulsed, almost dangerous look. He wasn't certain what exactly that meant for them, but Beni's tone implied something tragic. He didn't care about the little weasel's past with this Hamunaptra, but he sure as hell didn't want him ruining their chances.
Suddenly he heard Henderson's voice calling for Burns and himself. "They got through!" he called, motioning with his hat to the door beneath him where diggers were brushing sand off the full length of the entry. He flashed a boyish smile.
Daniels clapped his hands together as if to exclaim, "Finally!" and hurried over. Burns emerged from a tent, shouldering a pack and bringing with him a lantern. He seemed perplexed.
"Somethin' wrong?" Daniels asked.
Burns shrugged, replying, "I can't find my tool kit."
Daniels dismissed the fact with a wave of his hand, saying, "It'll turn up somewhere." His eyes glittered. "And if it doesn't, we'll just buy you fifty more!"
Together they pushed their way roughly through the diggers to the door. Henderson merely jumped off the arch as Chamberlain chose a more cautious means of getting down.
Daniels put his hands on the door, Burns following his example, and together they gave the solid mass a good push. Nothing. Daniels shook his head slightly.
"Must be jammed," he said, inspecting the hinges.
Dr. Chamberlain squeezed between them to try and decipher the small, nonsense-looking pictures on the door; he eagerly swatted Daniels hand off a cartouche. Daniels glared at him.
Tossing his hat to a digger and running a hand through his hair, Henderson said smoothly, "You just gotta put your back into it, boys. Here."
Henderson all but shoved the Egyptologist out of his way and braced the left side of his tall frame against the door. Burns helped him, but Daniels stepped back, one black brow arched in a wry manner. He was just as keen on getting in as anyone, but he still hated to be proved wrong.
His friends tried forcing it with all their might, but still it would not budge.
"Don't try to help us or anything, Daniels," Henderson growled through his teeth.
"I told you the thing's sealed shut," he replied matter-of-factly. "I'm afraid three of us trying would look stupid." He knew Henderson rolled his eyes. To Chamberlain he ordered, "Tell them to get crowbars."
Henderson and Burns gave up the fight, thinking it a good idea, even as the Egyptologist began giving the commands.
With no one so much as near the entrance, there came a sudden dull groan, and it seemed the sand under their boots shifted, sliding down towards the door. Without warning, the door gave, like magic, as if they were suddenly welcome inside. The diggers backed away, afraid. It fell open, slowly, creaking with a resounding, heaving moan, mouth widening into sheer darkness. The four stood gaping at the door, surprised and baffled. Daniels drew his gun, half expecting someone to be on the other side.
The sun from outside cast some light into the cave-like entrance, but hardly enough to distinguish a thing by. Nothing was there to greet them but complete blackness. The Americans lingered in the doorway. Chamberlain said something in Arabic, and two diggers quickly fetched torches; Burns switched on his lantern.
"Where do we go now?" he inquired.
Daniels flicked his shoulders in a shrug as he looked around the darkness, mimicking its silence. There was a stale, dry odor hanging in the heavy air, and it felt like it moved all over the walls, slithering like a thing alive, brushing against their skin. Daniels suppressed a shiver at the odd sensation as he strained to peer into the never-ending night inside.
A breeze from somewhere in the depths of the ancient City stirred, moving up from the very belly of the earth. It seemed that something else quivered within that slight wisp of air, some dark remnant of an age long since dead and buried. It was a strange stillness that dwelled within walls such as these.
Daniels was not a man to ponder over such philosophical thoughts. Whatever was once here was gone, and his thought now was on something else long left buried and untouched. Seti's fortunes...
"Mr. Gabor?" Burns' voice echoed off the inner walls, sending the dusty air shuddering. Beni plodded through the diggers, looking only slightly less shaken then them. He gave Burns a candid look.
"You were here before, right?" Burns asked. "You can show us the way?"
"I found nothing on my stay at Hamunaptra, Mr. Burns," he replied. "I can show you nothing."
Daniels turned to him, and Henderson draped his arm over the spindly little man's shoulders, as if they were buddies. But his grip suggested something more aggressive, and Daniels' low voice reflected a hostile tact of a man expecting to be obeyed.
"You're the guide, in this only for the money." Daniels cocked his head in a manner to show he meant every word. And he still held his gun. "So haul your skinny little ass in there, give us our money's worth, and show us."
Beni needed no more than that. He ducked out of Henderson's arm and slipped by Daniels into the chamber, flinching from the revolver. "Right away, sahib!"
Daniels grinned wickedly at his friends, saying, "It's just like herding cattle. Ya gotta let 'em know you mean business." He brandished his weapon.
"Best way," Henderson agreed with a smile as Burns followed Beni inside with his light. Daniels and Henderson wasted no more time, following closely on their heels. It was walking from intense daylight into pure night.
It was very slow going at first as their eyes adjusted to the faint, flickering light. Daniels walked carefully behind Burns, keeping a hand out, fingertips just barely touching the wall to lead him on until he could see better. He could hear Henderson breathing behind him, and the cracking flames of the diggers' torches beyond that. Ahead of him, Burns kept touching his glasses, as if they could help his night vision more, and Beni shuffled ever onward, obviously familiar with the terrain.
The corridor led into a main chamber, a circular room lit by an eerie darklight. The torches made dim shadows dance across the walls, like shapes caught in a mad wind. The Egyptologist found a wall sconce; taking a torch from the nearest digger, he lit it. Soon they could all see well enough with only Burns' lantern.
The chamber was quite rough looking, no polished columns or engraved artwork, nothing to suggest untold riches laying in wait. Each wall, each shape, looked like everything else, no twist or turn distinguishable. Daniels grew anxious, fearing they would wind up heading in circles. They needed to know what to look for. After all, no one ever simply stumbled into a big room to find mounds of gold just waiting for them.
"Do you know where we should be headin', Doc?" Henderson asked, the stillness forcing him to whisper.
Daniels started to turn, wishing to hear Chamberlain's response, when suddenly a shaky noise echoed to them. A digger gasped. It sounded almost like--
Whispers.
Daniels knuckles went white as he gripped his gun tighter. He sidled up besides Burns, Henderson at his back. Beni scooted behind them nervously, pointing down another corridor. There. From that direction came the source of the mysterious voices. Nodding, Daniels moved down the dark hall first. Henderson drew his two trusty revolvers, Burns and Beni pulling theirs out hesitantly.
Making no sound whatsoever in the soft sand, Daniels stepped slowly through the precarious darkness of the corridor, swallowing past a lump suddenly in his throat. He had no idea what to expect beyond the corridor, nor could he guess at what awaited them within the other chamber. His mind began racing with possible options. Then--
It swept over them, intense and loud. And very human. A sound unlike any they had ever heard: a bitter, evil groan, like a tortured soul calling out dangerously. It pulsed through the silence, slicing through them like a dagger seeking blood. Daniels stepped into the chamber, breathless, the others coming to either side of him. They could see the fire of another torch . A cracked, ancient block of stone--part of a statue--blocked their line of sight.
They moved slowly, step by step, the whispers starting again all around them, mocking.
Suddenly, something jumped out from behind the statue, and they lunged, guns aimed and cocked, ready. But they recoiled at the sight of four sweaty, nervous and familiar faces.
Daniels let his shoulders slump with relief as he recognized O'Connell, Jonathan, Evelyn and their chubby companion. He eased out a shaky breath, blinking, trying to regain his adrenalin-scattered wits. He didn't even notice that his arm fell slightly, muzzle of his gun lowered. Everyone finally remembered to breathe.
Henderson intelligently expressed all their thoughts aloud, fingers twitching on both triggers. "You scared the bejeezus outta us, O'Connell."
The mercenary gave them a crooked grin, masking his own nerves quickly. "Likewise."
The Americans lowered their guns completely only when the other side did. The Egyptologist came up behind them, eyeing the statue with intense interest, the diggers close by.
Just then, Burns noticed what the woman clutched in one arm. "Hey," he said sharply, "that's my tool kit!"
She held it tighter, pulling it away from him defensively.
Daniels watched, eyes slitting in a glare, as O'Connell said deftly, "No, I don't think so."
And when O'Connell made the slightest move, Daniels quickly reacted, bringing his gun back up and aiming like the rest of them. Though anger welled up at the sight of O'Connell's one gun in his friend's face, Daniels held fast, wanting badly to pull the trigger, but knowing full well it would be a blood bath--including his own--if someone snapped.
"O-kay,"
An expression of satisfaction passed over O'Connell's face, and he lowered his guns. Daniels set the hammer of his own weapon back. There was a chorus of definite clicks as everyone did the same.
Regaining her composure, Evelyn said tactfully, "Well, have a nice day, gentlemen. We have a lot of work to be getting along with."
Daniels turned his evil look on her, not believing his ears. The nerve of her! Chamberlain was just as unmoved, not wanting to lose the ground they'd come upon.
Leaning over Daniels' shoulder, he retorted, "Push off! This is our dig site."
Angrily she responded, "We got here first!"
All guns rose again; Daniels arm came up in one straight movement. In the sudden silence that followed, Daniels sneered, icy eyes holding O'Connell's down the length of his revolver, neither tough guy willing to back down.
"This here's our statue, friend," Daniels remarked coldly, unblinking.
O'Connell said, "I don't see your name written on it...pal." His tone was just as collected and calm.
Suddenly Beni spoke up, addressing his old sparring partner as if they were the only two present. "Yes, well, since there's only four of you and fifteen of me, your odds are not so great, O'Connell." Henderson grinned, but Daniels watched O'Connell carefully.
Cocking his revolver, the broad mercenary took one aim off Daniels and pointed the muzzle directly at Beni, growling dangerously, "I've had worse."
"Yeah, me too."
Attention was diverted for a moment to Jonathan, who met O'Connell's peevish look with brows raised, giving him a little nod to imply that it was actually true.
Suddenly Evelyn interjected. "Oh, look, for goodness' sake."
She cautiously eased herself to the front, laying a finger on Daniels' gun. He humored her by easing the hammer back and lowering it, but he watched her suspiciously, wondering what she was playing at. Burns and Beni looked rather thankful to put the stand-off to an end, but Henderson, on the other hand, appeared unsure.
"Let's be nice, children," she offered. "If we're going to play together we must learn to share."
She said to him in a strange manner, "There are other places to dig."
O'Connell's eyes shifted from her to the Americans, but finally he backed down, giving them a forced smile and feigning a polite bob of the head. Daniels was just pleased to have won the site. It did bother him slightly that she had given up so easily after putting on such a show of force to keep the statue. But it was soon forgotten as he watched them leave the way they'd come, empty-handed.
He called to O'Connell, grinning, "Happy hunting."
He returned his smarmy grin with one of his own; Henderson laughed. When they had completely disappeared from sight and the Americans were free to set to work, Daniels waved the diggers into the chamber. Dr. Chamberlain was already combing over the base of the statue.
"There's gotta be somethin' here," Daniels asked the doctor hopefully. "I didn't almost get my head shot off for a pair of stone legs, right?"
Daniels studied the man for a moment, then shrugged. "Well that's good enough for me. Let's get to work."
Daniels removed his jacket and set it aside. He ran a hand over the side of the base, feeling every jut and engraving carefully. Burns held his lantern for Chamberlain to read by while Henderson inspected the legs of the statue, fingering each crack as if they were some secret doorknob. When the bandanna around his neck caught, he threw it off in annoyance. He took his vest off as well, slinging it over Daniels' coat.
He sighed. "Any ideas what we're looking for?" he asked of no one in particular.
Daniels gave a small grin, thinking to himself that his friend seemed like a pouting child. He tried stretching his arm to reach the back of the base, craning against the statue and the wall. Pulling back, he brushed the caked dust from his sleeve, only to undo his cuffs and roll them up.
As he worked, he inquired with brow arched at the other, "Not giving up already, are you, Henderson?"
"I'll tough it out longer than you, Daniels," he replied with good humor to his friend. "I always do. We just have no clue how these ancient Egyptian places work. So how will we find anything?"
"That's why you have me, Mr. Henderson," stated Dr. Chamberlain smugly. Daniels tilted his head to look at him. "I believe I've found what you're looking for."
He traced a finger over a square in the base, dirt falling out from a compartment crevice; something lay beyond that particular slab of stone. Henderson smiled broadly.
"Well, well, well," he mused happily. "What've we got here?"
As Chamberlain set back to reading the hieroglyphics, Henderson snatched a metal pike from a nearby digger. Daniels moved to help, excited.
"Let's get us some treasure!" Henderson rammed the metal tip into the top seam.
The Egyptologist reacted swiftly, grabbing the bar before it was wedged any deeper. "Careful!"
Henderson had to visibly restrain himself, his smile fading as he looked into the doctor's viciously serious eyes. Daniels, however, grimaced at the man's back. Chamberlain seemed a little too pushy for a hired hand.
"Seti was no fool," the Egyptologist said. "I think perhaps we should let the diggers open it. Hmm?"
Henderson peered into the seam, wondering what could possibly be inside, a bewildered expression on his face. He looked at the diggers noncommittally.
"Uh, I think we should listen to the good doctor, Henderson," Burns interjected cautiously.
Daniels eyed the natives, watching as they backed away from the Americans who were staring at them, shaking their heads nervously and muttering. He rubbed his hands free of sand, sniffing once at the dust he created, and gave the group a dark look. He didn't much like how these hired hands were acting, either.
Henderson shrugged. "Yeah, sure," he said, jerking out the bar. He looked as if he didn't understand the big fuss. "Let them open it."
Chamberlain waved a hand at them, saying something in the foreign tongue. None of the diggers volunteered; rather, they moved further back. Beni, standing to the rear, ambled out of their path, towards a glaring Daniels.
Suddenly frustrated with the uncooperative behavior, Daniels drew his gun and pointed it directly into the group of men, not caring who it was aimed on. He gazed at them under lowered brows, eyes gone dark and threatening. Three men stepped forward with crowbars. Smart boys.
In the clamor the diggers were creating, Daniels of a sudden felt an odd tingle crawl up his spine. Something was not right. The others felt it, too; they started backing away from the workers. Yet he couldn't seem to take his gaze off the progress. His heart throbbed in his chest as he watched.
Chamberlain began commanding them in the gibberish Daniels had grown accustom to hearing. They pried and dug the bars deeper into the compartment. Suddenly success, the seal broke. But with no warning, a cloudy, grainy vapor shot out, spitting at them with a sinister HHhhiissst!!
Daniels jumped, hand snatching instinctively at the person at his side, who happened to be a very startled Beni, in alarm. Wailing in agony, arms flailing, the three diggers blindly staggered around, their skin virtually melting down to muscle and tissue, burning clear off their bones.
Disgusted, afraid, Daniels screamed and flung backwards, catching Burns' arm, who was in his way. Burns lost his grip on the lantern, and it clattered loudly on the ground, rattling their strung nerves even more.
They watched the gruesome scene play out, thunderstruck at the horrific sight, until the three men fell to the sand. The echoing screams faded, but the ghastly sounds rang in Daniels' ears long after. They died a truly excruciating death.
Daniels stood against Burns for some time, unable to catch his breath. They were all badly shaken and wide-eyed, but luckily the Americans were left unharmed. Working the tension from his jaw, Daniels finally stepped forward, drawing in a quivering, long breath. He was sorry he did. The air was heavily dark, leaving a salty taste that burned in the back of his throat. He gagged.
"What in God's name is that?" he asked, drawing an arm across his mouth and nose. Henderson coughed.
The Egyptologist drew himself off the wall he had backed into, wheezing a bit as he spoke. "Acid. It was Seti's safe guard against burglars." Wisely, he left off an 'I told you so'.
"Worked well," Burns stammered. He looked like he would be sick.
For a moment, Daniels stared down on what was left of the bodies, re-living that hideous sight in his mind. The wet, charred and tangy smell was overwhelming. Shaking free of it, he said stridently, "Bury them outside. Away from camp."
He looked up to the secret compartment. They had managed to open it at least, the lid fallen on the ground. The entire thing still glistened with the deadly moisture. He decided it best to err on the side of caution. For now.
"We'll have to continue work tomorrow." Terror quelled his disappointment.
Henderson swallowed hard. "Good idea."
The surviving diggers covered their comrades bodies and carried them out, shaking. Chamberlain didn't dally, soon following them, looking pale and feeble himself. Before he left, he gave the Americans a dismal, frank look. They paid him no mind.
"Welcome to the cursed City, good sirs," Beni said heavily, staring at the spot where the diggers fell.
The sarcasm irked Daniels, who turned icily to the little man. "Why don't you just keep your mouth--"
BOOM!!!
The ground beneath their feet suddenly heaved, the walls all around vibrating noisily. Dirt fell from the ceiling, cascading down the legs of the statue of Anubis. The four men rebounded swiftly, guns drawn and aimed at the earth under them. Just as quickly, the chamber grew silent. Daring not even to breathe, everyone exchanged looks.
Henderson whispered gravely, "That can't be good."
"I think I've had enough of this place for one day," Burns murmured, the whites of his eyes showing all around like a horse ready to bolt.
"Yeah," Henderson said. "Let's not tempt fate anymore today."
Slowly, Burns made for the door, Beni slipping past him to be the first out. It took a moment, but Daniels finally blinked, coming back to his senses. Henderson looked at him, clapping him once on the back; Daniels jerked, arching a brow at his friend.
"You comin'?" Henderson asked him.
He appeared as if he hadn't heard a word, but Daniels nodded. "Sure."
Before leaving, Daniels gazed back into the room, saying to Henderson, "If that's the extent of the Curse of Hamunaptra, I think we're safe enough."