I was running late for work again. I've only been in Cairo for 3 weeks, and I'm still not used to the idea of waking up to a set time. Evy has gotten what she wanted, me working at the Cario Museum of Antiquities. If only that unfortunate event didn't happen, I'd still be exploring tombs and digging lost artifacts.
As I walked into the library, I didn't notice Evy. I started walking down the isles, until I came to the 'S' and 'T' section. I saw Evy leaning on a ladder, trying to place a book, on the opposite side of her. "I don't think that's such a good idea". I told her.
"I can do it". She told me. A few moments later, she ended up balancing only on the two legs of the ladder. She gasped as she tried to keep herself from falling. She was now in the middle of the isle, away from both bookshelves. "Help". She asked, timidly. I walked over to help her, but she struggled more, and fell onto a bookshelf, causing it to fall and hit another one. Evy slid down the ladder, and I watched as the bookshelves fell down like dominoes. When the crashing stopped, Evy looked at the damage that was done, and took off her glasses.
"Oops". She said, in a light whisper.
"Mr Bey is going to-" I was cut off when I heard Mr. Bey's voice.
"What...how can I..." Mr. Bey trailed, astonished by the destruction. Evy and I both looked at him nervously. He was standing on a bookshelf that had fallen. "H-how? Oh, look at this"! He said, as he stepped down from the bookshelf, and began walking to us. "Sons of the pharaohs! Give me frogs! Flies! Locusts! Anything but you! Compared to you, the other plagues were a joy"! Mr. Bey insulted.
"Excuse me, Mr. Bey. But comparing my sister to plagues, is going too far"! I defended Evy. Evy gently grabbed my arm, hoping to calm me.
"I am so very sorry. It was an accident". Evy apologized.
"My girl, when Ramses destroyed Syria, that was an accident. You, are a catastrophe! Look at my library! Why do I put up with you? Even your sister isn't this bad". Mr. Bey said. Evy and I's mouth dropped slightly.
"Isn't this bad"? I asked, a little angered. Evy held me back.
"W-well, you put up with me because I can...I can read and write Ancient Egyptian, and I can...I can decipher hieroglyphics and hieratic and, w-well, I am the only person within a thousand miles, who know how to properly code and catalog this library, that's why". Evy explained, raising a voice slightly. Very true. I still don't understand how this library works exactly.
"I put up with you because your father and mother were our finest patrons...that's why. Allah rest their souls". Mr. Bey said. "Now, I don't care how you do it, I don't care how long it takes. Straighten up this meshiver! The both of you"! Mr. Bey said. My mouth dropped.
"Me? Why do I have to do it"? I asked, raising my voice.
"Because I'm the boss, and you're the employee. Do as you're told"! He said harshly. Then, he turned, and walked back to his office. I looked at Evy, and shook my head.
"Why did I ever make that silly bet". I said to myself. Evy smiled slightly.
"Because you knew you'd lose, and want to be with me". She said with a smile. I chuckled slightly.
"Keep telling yourself that". I laughed. Suddenly, there was a crashing sound in the back. Evy and I turned our heads. We walked to the little museum behind the library. "Hello"? I called out. There was no response, but I heard a thud sound. Evy grabbed a nearby torch, and we walked around the room, looking for a sign of someone.
"Abdul? Mohammed? Bob"? Evy called out, as we walked in further. There was a sudden thud, which caused Evy and I to suddenly jump. I looked at her.
"You heard that too, right"? I asked. She nodded her head. We slowly crept toward the sound, and I could feel my heart start to race. We walked toward an open sarcophagus. As we got closer, the mummy suddenly jumped up at us, causing Evy and I to scream our heads off. I swear, I felt my heart skip 20 beats. Johnathan laid at the bottom of the sarcophagus, and he laughed at our reactions.
"Have you no respect for the dead"? Evy asked, still shocked by the scare.
"Of course I do". Johnathan laughed. "But sometimes, I'd rather like to join them". Johnthan said. Evy placed the torch, into a holder, by the sarcophagus.
"Well, I wish you would do it before you ruin my career the way you've ruined yours". Evy said, as she placed the mummy back down. I hit Johnathan in the ear.
"Now get out". I demanded. Johnathan sat up, and both Evy and I helped him out the sarcophagus.
"My dear, sweet baby sisters...I'll have you know, that at this precise moment, my career is on a high note". Johnathan said, as he tried to stand firmly on his feet.
"High note'. Ha! Johnathan, please, I'm really not in the mood for you. I've just made a bit of a mess in the library...and the Bembridge scholars have rejected my application form again". Evy said, and she sat at the feet of a statue. She's been applying for so long, and to see her be rejected time after time, really breaks my heart.
"Again"? I asked. She nodded her head.
"They say I don't have enough experience in the field". Evy explained. I sat next to Evy, and placed my hand on her forearm.
"Had you come with me, you'd have all the experience you need". I reminded her. Johnathan walked up to Evy, and knelt on his knees, and placed her hands into his.
"You'll always have Jazzy and I, old mum". Johnathan comforted her. Evy chuckled, and placed her head on Johnathan's. "Besides, I have just the thing to cheer you up". Johnathan said, as he walked back to the sarcophagus.
"Oh, no, Johnathan, not another worthless trinket". I teased.
"If we have to take one more piece of junk to the curator to try and-" Evy stopped talking, when Johnathan held, what looked like a small box, to her face. "- Sell for you". Evy finished. She took the item, and examined it. I looked at it as well, curiously trying to figure out what it was.
"Where did you get this"? I asked him. Johnathan chuckled.
"On a dig down in Thebes. My whole life I've never found anything, Evy and Jazzy. Please tell me I've found something". Johnathan told her. Evy started spinning the box around, and pressed a button, which cause the object to open. There was a small map inside the object.
"Johnathan". Evy gasped.
"Yes"? Johnathan asked, sounding a little happy.
"I think you've found something". Evy said, astonished. She took out the map, and opened it. I examined it, and my mouth slightly dropped.
"We should show Mr. Bey this". I told Evy. Evy and Johnathan both nod their heads. We rushed out and hurried to Mr. Bey's office. We practically barged in, which caused us to get a strange look from him.
"What is it, this time"? He asked, slightly annoyed. Evy held out the map, and Mr. Bey examined it.
"You see the cartouche there. It's the official royal seal of Seti I, I'm sure of it". Evy said, as she walked to Mr. Bey's side. I nod my head.
"It is. I've done enough research on him to know". I informed them.
"Perhaps". Mr. Bey said.
"Two questions". Johnathan walked to Mr. Bey's side. "Who the hell is Seti I, and was he rich"? Johnathan asked. I hit him in the head. "Was that really necessary"? He asked, as he rubbed his head.
"He was the second pharaoh of the 19th dynasty". I told him.
"Said to be the wealthiest pharaoh of them all". Evy added. Johnathan smiled.
"Good. I like this this fellow. I like him very much". Johnathan said. I gave him a look.
"I've already dated the map. It's almost 3,000 years old. And if you look at the hieratic just here...well, it's Hamunaptra". Evy said. My eyes slightly widen. The last memory of Hamunaptra wasn't pretty at all.
"Dear god, don't be ridiculous. We're scholars, not treasure hunters". Mr. Bey said.
"Jazmine used to be". Johnathan pointed out.
"Archaeologist". I corrected him.
"Hamunaptra's a myth, told by ancient Arab storytellers, to amuse Greeks and Roman tourists". Mr. Bey said.
"I know all the blather about the city being protected by the curse of a mummy, but my research has led me to believe, that the city itself may have actually existed". Evy told him.
"Are we talking about the Hamunaptra"? Johnathan asked.
"Yes. The City of the Dead". I answered.
"Where the earliest pharaohs were said to have hidden the wealth of Egypt". Evy told him.
"Yes, yes, in a big, underground treasure chamber". Johnathan said, happily. Mr. Bey scoffed. "Oh, come on. Everybody know the story. The entire necropolis was rigged to sink into the sand on Pharaoh's command. The whole place would disappear beneath the sand dunes, taking the treasure with it". Johnathan enlighten us.
"As the Americans would say, it's all fairy tales and hokum-Oh, my goodness! Look at that"! Mr. Bey said, as the map caught on fire, and he dropped it on the ground. Johnathan and Evy rushed to put out the fire. Once it was put out, they both examined the map.
"You've burnt it! You've burned off the part with the lost city". Johnathan said, slightly angered.
"It's for the best, I'm sure". Mr. Bey said.
"I agree". I said. Johnathan and Evy looked at me. "Nothing good can come from there. I learned that many weeks ago". I told them.
"Many men have wasted their lives in the foolish pursuit of Hamunaptra. No one's ever found it. Most...have never returned". Mr. Bey said. Evy smiled slightly.
"Well then...I guess we'll have to be the first ones". Evy said, as she took the map, and walked out the office, and Johnathan and I followed. I'm not quite fond of what is to come, on our little journey to Hamunaptra.