The Race for the Golden Ushabti

Prologue

Sudan

1993

The darkness enshrouded the man's face. He leaned toward a servant in his desk chair.

"Get me the Texan," he ordered.

"Conway, sir?" the servant whimpered.

"That's the only Texan here, isn't it?! Hurry up and get him!"

"Right away, sir."

The man sat in the dark for what felt like hours and hours. He sat smoking his cigar and blew smoke rings. Finally, he heard footsteps approaching from the hallway. Larson Conway stuck his blond head into the office.

"You asked to see me sir?" he asked in his southern accent.

"Yes, come in."

Larson stepped into the office and approached the desk.

"Sit down."

Larson sat. He wondered what he would be asked to do. Ever since he was hired, he was given menial tasks. Of course, that was fine with him, but that didn't stop his curiosity.

"I have brought you here to give you an important task. I need you to go to Nuri and find the golden Ushabti of King Taharqa. There is one catch, though. You won't be the only one looking for it."

Larson sat still. "Who else is?"

Chapter One

The Treasure Hunters Meet

The brunette quickly left her walk–in closet and brought her trunk downstairs. Excited and surging with adrenaline, she was preparing to search for none other than the golden ushabti of King Taharqa. She felt bad, she was acting like a grave robber, but, she wanted to add this one to her collection.

"Lady Croft, shall I put your trunk in the jet?" Winston, her butler, asked.

"Yes, thank you, Winston." Lara replied. Winston bent down to pick up the trunk and brought it to the jet. Lara took a moment to decide where she would put the artifact and found the perfect spot next to an Egyptian plank in the foyer. She gathered her backpack and made her way to the jet.

"Goodbye, Winston. I'll be back soon."

Lara got off the jet and gathered her trunk. She made her way to a hotel to drop off her things. As she walked in through the doors, the clerk eyed her perversely.

"My goodness…I can't go anywhere anymore…" Lara thought. "Excuse me; I would like a room, please."

"Of course, Room 419 is available." The clerk gave her the key and grinned at her.

"Gross," Lara thought. She went up to the room and dropped off her trunk. "Excellent, now I can go to the tomb of King Taharqa."

Larson got off his red 4 x 4 and looked around. The area of the tomb was completely barren. "Wow, what a social gathering place." Larson thought. He bent down and lifted the hatch door leading to the tomb. He climbed down the ladder and walked cautiously forward. He crept silently just as a fist came into view and knocked him out. Darkness veiled his vision.

His head throbbed and his cheek hurt. "What the hell was that?" Larson said. He opened his eyes and a woman came into his vision. She was crouched down next to him and had a pistol shoved up against his temple.

"Who are you?" the woman asked. "Why are you here?"

"I'm Conway. Larson Conway. And you're Miss Croft, is that right?"

"How do you know my name?"

"Well, my boss told me about you. But he didn't say you were beautiful."

Lara slapped his face and said, "You were sent here? By who?"

"Oma Basini."

"That grave robber!"

"Yeah, but I got to get that ushabti, otherwise I'll be fired."

"How about a race, then? The first one to the ushabti gets it?"

"You're on," Larson grinned.