Chapter Nine
The Great Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, Egypt
With Antonio still injured, the three others decided to leave him out of this one so he could rest. They were at a local campsite where a few archeologists were digging at the site. The Sphinx and the Great Giza Pyramids were larger than they first thought. Arthur walked into the sick bay tent and stood over the bedside where Antonio was resting.
"So," Arthur chatted with Antonio while Gilbert and Francis asked the guide for directions. "You wanted to tell me something?"
"Gilbert told me if I joined him in dis adventure, I'd be rich," Antonio sighed as Arthur sat down next to him. "But so far, I haven't seen a single peso. The tres of us were best friends since teenagers, and since my country is bankrupt, I thought I'd jump at the chance, ya know?"
Arthur nodded, "That's understandable, Bloke. I keep telling my friend, Alfred, that he needs to go to college; get a better education and life for himself. But to do that, he'd have to pay tuition, and that is ridiculously high, Chap! So we thought we'd discover treasure or something in that cave you three found us in so we could go together to Princeton University. Or perhaps even Oxford."
Antonio's eyes widened. "No wonder tuition is high! No offense, but you dos don't look dat smart…"
Arthur smiled. "Looks can be deceiving, Bloke. Alfred may not look it, but 'he's the smartest American I know! He's very 'high tech! Besides, when you have the money, no one cares if you're smart enough."
"But isn't he the only American you know?" Antonio raised an eyebrow.
Arthur was silent for a moment, thinking. Alfred was the only American he knew…and he had to think of a comeback…his mind was blank. "Eh heh," he chuckled nervously. "Guess you're right about that!"
"Besides," Antonio continued, "we thought that since we all received the letters, it was fate dat brought us together again after so long. It was an emotional reunion…" he smiled. "We haven't seen each other since we graduated boot camp. We caused so mucho trouble…heh heh."
"You three are STILL trouble-makers!" Arthur joked, and they laughed.
"I guess you're right about dat!" Antonio repeated.
"You're not so bad," Arthur complimented. "I just get the creeps from the other two…" he looked at Antonio. "Um, gee, this is embarrassing…I'm afraid I can't remember your name…just that you're from Spain, right?"
"Si," Antonio nodded. "Dat's ok. I am Antonio Fernandez Carriedo!"
Arthur repeated, "Antonio Ferdanez Carry-do?"
"You can call me Antonio or just 'Toni'," he smiled.
"Well, nice to meet you, Toni!" Arthur shook his hand, firmly. They smiled.
Gilbert and Francis returned to join them. Gilbert grinned, his sunglasses reflecting. He must know where to go…
With Ludwig and May-Ling still recovering, the others decided to continue for them.
"This looks like the place," Alfred shielded his eyes from the sun, although he was wearing aviator-style sunglasses. He carried a small, sling-over style backpack over his chest that carried the jewels they had recovered so far. He wore a brown tank with green cargo pants and boot camp style black boots.
"Good guessing," Ivan smiled, his sunglasses reflecting the sun. He wore a white 'wife-beater' and khaki cargo pants, and lace-up boots similar to Alfred's. He still wore his scarf, too, over his head to shade himself from the sun.
Feliciano was drenched in sweat. He breathed heavily. He wasn't used to this heat. He put his hands on his knees to rest. Kiku put his hand on his shoulder. "Perhaps you want to sit out?" Kiku asked him. "We're a tag team."
Feliciano shook his head no. He wanted to continue for Ludwig. He wanted to show him that he was capable of doing complicated hard work, too. He swallowed and stood back up. His black tank was also drenched. His green cargo pants and lace-up boots were similar to the others.
"Ok, then," Kiku smiled. He walked ahead. His blue tank was drenched in between his breasts and down his back, but his face was somehow immaculate. His khaki cargo pants carried all his things, so he didn't need a backpack.
They froze. In front of them, the Sphinx and the Giza Pyramids stood, and the Nile snaked along. Although the Nile was down because it was drying up, it was still amazing to see in real time.
The Representatives looked at each other. They nodded and continued down the small sand dune towards the site of the next challenge.
"He said zhere vas a secret tunnel," Gilbert entered the pyramid and started to feel and knock on the walls, his voice echoed in the enclosed space. "Und zhat it vill take us right to the top and get us zhat damn jewel or vhatever ze hell it ist." His black tank, khaki cargo pants, and lace-up to his knees black boots were drenched in sweat and dust and sand.
Francis, however, didn't want to touch anything. There was dust everywhere. His head was covered in a white scarf he tied around his head to protect himself from the sun, but he didn't want to take it off in here. He covered his mouth and nose with it, as if not wanting to breathe the dust in. It was too dirty and old and it smelt that way, too. He wore a purple tank and khaki cargo pants, with short brown lace-up boots.
"Well, a short cut would definitely 'help us," Arthur mumbled. "The faster we get out of 'here, the better…get in, get out, and go 'home…" He wore the same as Gilbert except his tank was green.
Gilbert and Francis nodded. But something was tugging at Arthur's mind. He had a bad feeling. At least overgrown fish won't be attacking us….he thought.
The three turned on their flashlights and looked around. What awaited them in the halls and many rooms of the Pharaoh's grave?
The Allies continued into the pyramid, thanks to the directions the guide gave them at the campsite.
"Secret tunnel, eh?" Alfred wondered out loud, taking off his sunglasses as they entered the pyramid. "I think he was pulling our leg…"
"No, I do not think so," Kiku corrected. "The pyramids were built for the Pharaoh's body as well as his ka, or spirit. The Ancient Egyptians believed in a material afterlife, so they were buried with their treasure. A horde like that has to be protected from thieves and rogues. Naturally, the Pyramids were built with hidden traps in order to keep the treasure safe. However, the jewel is not part of the Pharaoh's buried treasure, so it should not be rigged."
"Rigged?" asked Alfred. "You mean like these Challenges?"
"Hai, very similar," the Japanese man nodded.
"So, why are we doing this?" asked Ivan, who had been silent since they entered. He gently took the scarf from off his head and wrapped it around his neck, as usual.
"Because we're not cowards!" Alfred corrected. "Besides, I'm a hero!"
The others rolled their eyes.
"I-a almost forgot that 'important' detail…" Feliciano joked.
"You guys don't agree?" Alfred took a hero pose.
Ivan put his hand on his shoulder. "Saving it for when we needing it, da?" he smiled.
Alfred let his shoulders droop. "Whatever…" he mumbled. "Y'all just don't understand…"
"Perhaps we should heed the curse he warned us about?" Kiku asked, a little frightened by the tale the guide told them about the ka, the Pharaoh's spirit that still lurked in the darkness.
They turned on their flashlights because they left the entrance room with the torches. The next room was filled with columns. The four of them spread out to explore the walls and columns.
Feliciano thought the room was huge, and that the funny drawings on the wall were pretty. He leaned closer and Alfred smirked.
He turned off his flashlight and snuck up behind Feliciano, but Ivan beat him to it and shouted behind Alfred, "BOO!"
Alfred just about wet his pants with more than sweat and dropped his flashlight. He turned around to face Ivan, who was holding the flashlight under his chin, attempting to scare him again. It worked.
"Freakin-! Dude! What's your problem?!" Alfred shouted in order to cover his obvious fear.
"Just joking…" was all the Russian said as he walked away.
Alfred turned to look at his attempted victim, but Feliciano was already just staring at him, with a confused look on his face. Kiku was curious and looked in their direction, but didn't know what had just happened. He went back to searching. Alfred waved him off and walked away. Feliciano shrugged and touched the picture of an Egyptian lotus flower. The picture moved backwards into the wall and they heard some weird moving noises. They glanced around then back at Feliciano. Feliciano ducked his head hunching into his shoulders, and flinched with each sound, feeling their eyes on him.
Suddenly, Alfred and Kiku fell through trap doors in the floor! The doors closed behind them.
Ivan looked back at Feliciano. Feliciano flinched and slowly let his shoulders droop. He turned around to face Ivan with a weak smile. "Oops…" he shrugged. The flower came back forward and it seemed as if it never happened.
Alfred and Kiku fall into a dark room. Alfred fell on a rock and it broke his leg with a loud snap and it started to bleed.
"AAAHHH!" he screamed in pain. He sucked in air through his teeth, and reached down to feel his leg, hand shaking. He felt the warm, wet, fresh blood and exhaled deeply. His hand shook as he reached for his iPhone to use as a flashlight. "Hey, Japan, Dude…you ok?"
"Hai, I am fine, I think. But it does not sound as if you are well," Alfred was facing away from him, so he only heard his voice.
"…not so good, Man," Alfred answered.
"What happened?" Kiku looked back up, although he couldn't see the ceiling in the dark.
"I think I broke it…damn…" Alfred sighed. He forced himself to turn to face Kiku, still clutching his iPhone in his shaking hand.
"I do not think you should move-"
"Shut up! I'm trying to think…" Alfred glanced at his iPhone. "Hell, there's no signal…freakin-"
Kiku bit his lip. He wasn't sure how he could help Alfred.
Alfred sighed again. "Sorry, I didn't mean to go off on you like that. I'm almost out of batteries, too…I guess I should save them…" he turned off his phone, and lay back on the sandy floor.
It was hotter in here than outside, it seemed. They were more drenched in here than outside in direct sunlight. They heard only their voices and breathing. They were silent for a few minutes, but decided to talk about how they got involved in the Challenges.
Soon, they found themselves telling each other secrets that they thought they could never tell anyone. Somehow, they felt like they could trust each other.
"I'm not really in it for the adventure," Alfred had to finally let his secret out. "I'm only doing this for my future…if I win this for my country, I'll be set for life and college will be paid for. Arthur told me that education was more important than having fun, even if it's a bummer. Stupid college credits aren't really worth it, though."
"Wow…you actually have priorities," Kiku found he had said that out loud. He blushed in embarrassment.
Alfred started chuckling. "Yeah, I guess so…"
Kiku tore his cargo pant and wrapped it around Alfred's wounded leg.
"Looks like we're out of the Challenges, huh?" asked Alfred.
"Looks that way," Kiku nodded. They both sighed deeply.
"Man, I thought Heroes don't get hurt…" Alfred said, in disappointment.
"Heroes are real people, so hai, they can," Kiku pointed out. "Like police and teachers…"
"Superheroes get hurt?" Alfred was confused.
"You only mentioned 'heroes', you didn't mention Anime," Kiku sighed.
"Looks like we have to join May-Ling and Ludwig on the sideline bleachers…" Alfred mumbled.
"I-a swear! I-a didn't mean to! Please! I know a relative in St. Petersburg…" Feliciano held out his hands and shook them rapidly in apology.
Ivan ignored him and knelt down next to the trap door. "Doing that again," he instructed, pointing to the Italian next to the trigger, without looking up. He kept his eyes on the floor.
"What, this?" asked Feliciano, looking at Ivan kneeling on the floor. But instead of pressing the same one, he accidentally pressed another trigger.
Feliciano was forced through as the wall suddenly turned! Ivan got to his feet, running, and slid on the floor inside as the wall closed.
Feliciano's eyes were wide in shock, and he stood against the revolving door. "Did you-a see that?" he asked Ivan.
Ivan nodded and stood up. "Da, but where we are, I am not knowing…"
"I wish Ludwig was here…" Feliciano sighed. "He would tell me what to do…"
"Or that you are idiot," Ivan smiled as he walked away.
Feliciano sighed and let his shoulders droop. "Probably…"
"Did you 'ear zhat?" asked Francis, looking around behind them.
"Yes, what was that?" Arthur agreed and glanced at the two others, then around them in the hall.
Francis held the arm of Gilbert as they continued on. Gilbert got annoyed and shook him off. Francis was disappointed, but then reached for Arthur's arm.
Arthur was facing the opposite direction, so when Francis grabbed his arm, Arthur jumped in shock. "WHAT THE BLOODY HELL-?!"
Gilbert put a finger to his lips. His crimson eyes glowed in the darkness. He looked behind them, holding the flashlight up. There wasn't anyone behind them. So where did the sound come from? Another room?
Gilbert put down the flashlight and continued on. Arthur shook off Francis and followed. Francis sighed and hugged himself, in fear. He didn't like this at all. It was creepy…
"What's that?" asked Arthur.
The two others stopped to listen. There were strange moving sounds coming from the walls. They looked around, rapidly. The lights from their flashlights went crazy on the walls.
Gilbert's light went out, and he grunted in frustration. He hit the light, trying to suck all the juice out of the batteries. It flickered but the juice wasn't enough. He tossed it away.
Suddenly, the walls started moving! The three of them braced against the wall, trying to push it back. If they didn't act fast, they would be crushed! Francis dropped his flashlight, and pushed his back against the wall with Gilbert, whose shoulder was against the wall. Arthur held the walls against his hands and pushed, but his feet were slipping against the marble floor. Francis's and Arthur's flashlights landed facing them, so at least they had some light, however, they weren't concerned about seeing each other die! They were concerned with surviving!
"Do somezing!" Francis screamed.
"WHAT THE 'HELL YOU WANT ME TO DO?" cried Arthur.
Gilbert let go, but pushed again, this time harder. The walls still moved against them! "I VILL NOT DIE HERE!"
Francis started to cry, but Arthur and Gilbert grunted louder, as if that would give them strength.
The walls suddenly stopped, and the three glanced around with their eyes, and let their mouths drop open. They looked at each other. Arthur was between the walls, close enough to have both feet up as well. Gilbert had braced himself, back against the wall, and his feet were on the opposite wall. Francis was still against the one wall he had pushed against.
They started to chuckle, but it soon turned into laughs and shouts in victory.
"How the-what 'happened?" asked Arthur.
"I don't know, but vho cares?" asked Gilbert. He stood up, taking both feet off the wall in front of him. "Ve're alive und zhat's all I care about…"
Francis wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Zhat was a close one…"
Arthur refrained from making a frog joke this time, he was too glad to be alive. "Maybe it got stuck?" he suggested. "It 'has been centuries…"
They continued, stepping into another room. Gilbert took one of the torches hanging on the walls.
Francis sniffed. "I smell gas…"
"It's kerosene…" Gilbert replied, as he lowered the torch into a low wall that had a trench filled with the liquid gas, lighting up a path of kerosene and fire that lit the whole room. It was huge and elaborately decorated, with many stairs, hanging plants, and statues. The fire reflected off the secret of the tomb.
"Gentlemen," Arthur stepped forward, arms out dramatically. "Welcome to the Treasure Room…"
The three smiled and looked at each other, then towards the center of the room.
"Zhere you are…" Gilbert's eyes rested on the Challenge jewel in the middle of the room, placed on a high pillar, in one of the statues' hands, facing them. Above it, a single hole in the ceiling let in the sunlight, and the jewel reflected the sunlight. The sapphire gleamed in Gilbert's crimson eyes.
"That must be the Pharaoh," Arthur guessed as they walked down the first flight of stairs.
"Who knows?" replied Francis.
"Vho cares! Ist mein!" Gilbert replied.
Ivan and Feliciano walked in silence down the corridor. The hallway opened to other rooms, but they stayed in the hallway. Feliciano wasn't sure about all this, but he just followed Ivan. It seemed he was the one to stay close to if Feliciano didn't want to get killed.
Ivan hesitated in front of a room, but Feliciano almost walked right into a trap, if Ivan hadn't pulled him back. Feliciano was pulled away, just as sharp, steel spikes came down from the doorframe!
Feliciano gulped as he looked at Ivan. "Gratzie…" he mumbled.
"You're welcome…" Ivan smiled, but it faded. "Next time I stopping, stay behind me, da?"
Feliciano gulped again and nodded.
They turned to look down the hallway as they heard a loud, deep moaning. Feliciano's eyes widened. Ivan just stared, but sweat ran down his forehead and cheek.
In front of them stood…the mummified body of the Pharaoh!
Feliciano screamed, pulling on Ivan's arm, then let go and ran in the opposite direction, down the hall. Ivan took out his pistol, standing his ground as the mummy walked slowly, dragging his left foot behind him like a zombie. It held out his right arm. Its left arm was hanging down by his side, stiff. Ivan's hand shook as he pointed the gun at the mummy's head. The mummy's face was so decomposed that only his dead muscles and skull remained.
"RUUNNNN!" The Italian ran into one of the rooms and hid behind the wall.
Ivan shot the mummy in a few different places, but the mummy kept coming! Ivan had enough and aimed at the mummy's head, hoping to blow it clean off, but the gun clicked. Ivan looked at it closely, and checked the revolver barrel. It was empty! He glanced back up and threw the gun at the mummy's head, and took off running.
The mummy was in shock for a moment, staring at the gun on the floor in front of him with empty eye holes, and then glanced back up at Ivan running down the hallway. He continued chasing him.
Feliciano heard Ivan run past, but he didn't dare look out. He could hear the mummy moan and groan as it came closer. Feliciano whimpered, but forced himself to be quiet. He kept his head forward, and just let his eyes glance at the open doorway. His heart rate increased, as well as his breathing. Sweat ran down his face and down his neck, but he wasn't concerned with that now. He didn't expect the mummy to burst his arms through the wall where Feliciano was hiding, with him in between!
Feliciano screamed and ran out the room, leaving the mummy stuck in the wall.
Gilbert, Arthur, and Francis descended the many flights of stairs, but kept eyes on the jewel in the middle of the room.
Just as they got closer, someone was lowered into the room through the hole in the ceiling. The three others froze.
"Hey!" Arthur cried.
The man looked up, as if in surprise that someone else was watching, but then he smirked. The man wore a white mask that hid his upper face, but the mask had slanted eyebrows and they didn't know how he could see out eye holes with no holes in mask. He also wore a green hooded jacket and green cargo pants tucked into his black combat-style boots.
"Ha-llo," the man chuckled as he talked. "You're awfully stupid…"
"You're a thief!?" cried Arthur. "Are you in the Challenges?"
"I pro-fer Adventurist," the man replied.
"Vho are you? Zhat's mein!" Gilbert took out his pistol and shot the rope the man hung down from and the man fell to the floor, grunting as he hit it.
Francis stayed behind as Arthur and Gilbert rushed to the thief. But the thief still held the jewel as he shot a line to the ceiling and it lifted him off the floor. Gilbert jumped to reach him, but missed.
"How hi-larr-ist!" the Turk mocked as he reached the ceiling and looked back down. "See you lu-sars later!" he laughed rather loudly and rudely, with snorts included. He climbed out the room through the hole in the ceiling.
Gilbert stomped his foot on the ground and slanted his eyebrows in anger. "Damn it!" he shouted. "COME BACK UND FIGHT LIKE A MAN, YOU COVARD!"
They still heard the man laughing as he escaped with the jewel. "Why fight when you can run a-way-hey!"
Ivan and Feliciano came around a turn in the hall and Ivan, turning the corner too fast, almost slipped and lost his balance, but caught himself.
A certain familiar couple stood in front of them. The man aimed his gun. Ivan and Feliciano stood against the wall on opposite sides of the entry way, waiting for the mummy to come around the corner.
The mummy could be heard shuffling and moaning down the hall. As soon as the mummy turned the corner, the man blew off his head and the mummy fell to the floor!
"Ludwig!" Feliciano ran to him. "Am I-a glad to see you!"
Ludwig, wearing a green tank, dog tag, green cargo pants, and combat boots, blew the smoke from his pistol and smiled. "Vhen am I not ever saving your ass? Besides, you act like I vas dead, vhich vould be the only zing zhat could stop me…"
Feliciano smiled back. "Apparently, it-a didn't stop him," he pointed to the mummy on the floor.
"Are you ok?" asked May-Ling. She wore a red racer back tank top, green cargo pants, and lace-up to her knees brown boots.
Ivan smiled. "Now that you are here…"
May-Ling blushed. He was so sweet…
Suddenly, the mummy started to move! He stood up and held out his arms, searching for its head.
The four of them screamed and ran out the room.
The BFT sighed and started to walk back to the entrance of the Treasure Room. There goes their chance to win…
They were about to give up, but heard a struggling above them on the roof where the thief had escaped. They looked around above them and the head of Antonio poked through the hole.
"Hola, amigos!" Antonio smiled. "Looking for dis?" he held up the sapphire.
"Good show, Chap!" Arthur pumped his fist in the air.
"I'll get a rope, si?" Antonio disappeared for a moment, and then a rope with a loop on the end came down through the hole.
Gilbert twisted the rope around his arm and stuck his foot through the hold on the end, and tucked twice. He was lifted up through the hole and a few seconds later, it came back down for the next person.
Francis gestured for Arthur to go next, and he was happy to. Francis watched as Arthur was pulled up next. Francis eagerly waited for the rope to come down again. He tucked once and the rope pulled him up through the hole. The BFT took off running.
"You said it vas here?" asked Ludwig, pointing to the wall that revolved.
Feliciano nodded, "Si."
Ludwig knocked on the wall, and it turned again! The three others waited a few seconds before it revolved again. Ludwig smiled. "Hey," he said.
"Ciao," Feliciano smiled.
"Ok, on drei," Ludwig replied, as the three joined him on the revolving floor. "Eins, zwei, drei!" he pushed the button and the four of them were in the room with the columns again.
Ivan knelt down next to the trap floor that Alfred had fell through and Feliciano knelt down where Kiku had fallen through.
May-Ling pressed the lotus flower button and the trap doors opened, again.
Kiku and Alfred looked up. "Hey!" they called. "Is anyone up there?"
"Hold on!" Ludwig lowered a rope to them.
"Alfred is injured! I can't carry him!" Kiku called up to them.
"Verdammt," Ludwig breathed out. The rope wasn't long enough to reach them!
"I am having idea," Ivan tied the rope to another rope and tied it to the nearest column and offered the other end to Ludwig. Ludwig nodded.
"Just leave me, Dude," the American sighed. "Get help!"
"Apologies, no," Kiku shook his head. "I will not."
Ludwig was lowered into the pit, rope tied under his crouch and butt. "Help me get him," he asked Kiku.
Kiku nodded and looked at Alfred. Alfred nodded and reached for the German's hand. Kiku helped Alfred stand up. He limped as he walked to reach Ludwig's out-stretched hand.
"Take it one step at a time, easy," Ludwig told Alfred. Just as Alfred took Ludwig's hand, they heard rumbling.
"What is that?" asked May-Ling, looking around.
"Not sounding good," Ivan started to pull the rope up.
"Cave-in!" Feliciano cried. "Hurry!"
Ivan grunted as he pulled Ludwig back up.
Ludwig, surprised at being pulled up already, grasped Alfred's hand, and pulled him with him. Kiku jumped to reach Ludwig, but missed! Luckily, he grabbed ahold of his foot. Kiku looked back down the floor and it was suddenly covered in scarabs and cobras! Kiku's eyes widened and gasped as the floor under them caved-in, leaving a huge hole in the floor. He looked back up at Alfred and Ludwig.
May-Ling took Alfred's hand, and helped him up, pulling his shirt. They ran out the entrance, Alfred, arm being supported by May-Ling's shoulders, limped as fast as he could.
Ivan took Ludwig's hand and helped him up, cutting the rope with his pickaxe. They took off running.
Feliciano helped Kiku up and followed suit. A column tipped over and leaned towards them! Kiku tripped, but Feliciano pulled him up and out of the way, just in time, as dust and sand flew in the air as the column hit the floor!
They rested as soon as they were back at the campsite. They held their hands on their knees and breathed deeply. May-Ling let Alfred rest, sitting down in a chair. He breathed through his teeth, his hand shaking as he applied pressure to his shin.
"Zhat looks vorse than I thought…" Ludwig bent down next to him.
Alfred's cheeks puffed out as he exhaled. "No biggie. This is nothing for a hero!" he gave him an exhausted thumbs up.
"Vell, ok," Ludwig replied, standing up again.
"You ok?" asked Kiku. His once 'immaculate' face was now covered in sweat and sand.
Alfred smiled. "Sure thing, Dude. Something like this can't stop me."
Kiku smiled and nodded, "Hai."
He took Alfred's hand and lifted him to his feet. He supported his arm with his shoulders and helped him to the nurse.
