Chapter 12 - Is this the end? See Chpt 1 for disclaimers.
***
"We have some unfinished business." Troy smiled. He gestured with the revolver for the group to fan out so that he could see them all. "I want the Discoveror." he said with deadly emphasis.
"I thought you already had it." Sydney remarked lightly.
For a second Troy's face was suffused with unadulterated rage. He kicked a box at his feet, sending it tumbling towards them. The box sent forth an indignant clanking noise. It came to rest at Mrs Cameron's feet.
Swiftly Mrs Cameron opened the box, pulling out the flag and the sceptre. "The regimental insignia!" she said with relief. "Thank goodness for that!"
Troy gazed at her with undisguised contempt. "I'm not after worthless trinkets. I want the Discoveror, I need it. Now!"
"Well, there are places you can go..." Claudia needled.
Troy's gun swivelled to aim at Claudia. Quickly Sydney laid a warning hand on Claudia's arm. "I have it!" she exclaimed.
The gun turned back to Sydney. "Show me!" Troy demanded.
Slowly, infinitely slowly, Sydney unslung her pack and dropped it to the floor. She shook her head as if she could not believe that they had failed and incidentally loosened her hair from behind her ears, concealing the sides of her face. She dropped to her knees. She glanced up at Nigel and flicked her eyes towards Marcel, who was still standing silent with his arms crossed in front of him. Then she spun her eyes towards Troy and tapped the clasp of her bag twice. Nigel's eyes widened. Sydney tapped the clasp again.
"Hurry up, Professor! I don't have all day!" Troy's finger tightened on the trigger.
Sydney straightened up, hefting the bag. "You know what? You want it? You take it!" She threw her bag at Troy.
Troy yelped in surprise. Instinctively he ducked, firing the weapon in to the floor as he did so. Sydney launched herself over the desk tackling Troy, and the chair, to the ground.
When Sydney threw her pack, Nigel took that as his cue. He propelled himself at Marcel's knees in a tried and tested rugby tackle. Marcel was taken by surprise. The only sound he made was a surprised squawk. Before he could take another breath, Claudia swiped a display teapot from a shelf and smashed it down on Marcel's head.
Meanwhile Sydney had succeeded in disarming Troy. The gun skittered away across the floor. Both relic hunters struggled to reach it. But Mrs Cameron stepped up and kicked the gun away from them both.
Snarling in anger, Troy gave up trying to reach the revolver and instead fixed his hands around Sydney's throat, choking the life from her.
Claudia scrambled across the room and grabbed a vase filled with dried flowers from a shelf. She raised it ready to try the same trick again.
"Not that one! That's Ming!" Mrs Cameron cried. Troy looked up at the sound of her voice, startled.
That was all the distraction Sydney needed. She wriggled her wrists between Troy's and pushed with all her strength, simultaneously raising her knee and planting it firmly in every man's vulnerable spot. Troy's eyes crossed and he rolled to the side with a strangled gurgle, clutching his groin.
Sydney wearily climbed to her feet, rubbing her throat. She crossed to Nigel who had retrieved the gun and now stood aiming it at Troy with a slightly unsteady hand. Gently Sydney took the gun from him. "I don't think he'll be going anywhere fast." she said.
"Except to prison." said Mrs Cameron. "I'll go and call the police."
"Good. Claudia could you find some rope?"
Claudia nodded and followed Mrs Cameron.
Mrs Cameron paused at the doorway and forlornly turned over some pieces of broken crockery with her foot. She bent down and salvaged the handle of the teapot, the only recognisable piece. "Royal Doulton, 1821." She sighed sadly. "Nevermind. I suppose it was in a good cause." She tossed the handle back to Claudia and gestured down the hallway. "Kitchen's that way. I think there's some clothesline under the sink."
"Thanks. I'm really sorry about the teapot, Mrs C."
Mrs Cameron patted her back kindly. "Don't worry about it. At least it wasn't the Ming!" she turned to the 'phone on the hall table, while Claudia headed for the kitchen.
Nigel put a tentative arm around Sydney's waist, keeping a wary eye on the unmoving Marcel in the corner and a groaning Troy on the floor. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Sydney assured him. "All in a day's work, right?" She put her arm around his shoulders and gave an encouraging squeeze.
"Right."
Sydney and Nigel tiredly supported each other as they awaited the arrival of the police.
***
Mrs Cameron waved as the police van drove away. She turned to Sydney, Nigel and Claudia with some relief. "Thank goodness that's all over. I really had forgotten what relic hunting could be like."
"Oh, I don't know. There are perks." said Claudia. "That nice policeman gave me his number."
"Sergeant Paterson?"
"Eww! No! Constable Partridge."
Mrs Cameron smiled. "Perks indeed!" She turned to Sydney and Nigel. "Ready for that cup of tea? I'm sure I have another teapot somewhere!" she said with a good-natured wink at Claudia.
"Actually, I think we'd better get going. We have one more stop to make."
Mrs Cameron nodded in understanding. "Of course. It's been a pleasure working with you, Professor," they shook hands, "Mr Bailey, Claudia."
"I am really, really sorry." Claudia said earnestly as she shook hands with Mrs Cameron.
Mrs Cameron waved her away, "Anytime you are in the neighbourhood, drop by and say 'hello', yes?"
"Count on it." Sydney smiled. "Right, let's go. Claudia could you arrange the flights. Nigel, the car."
"On it." With a nod and a smile to Mrs Cameron Nigel carefully picked up his pack, patting it gently to make sure the Discoveror was still there and headed for the now repaired car.
Claudia followed taking out her mobile.
"I don't know how you do it." Nigel grumbled.
"What can I say? I just love a man in uniform."
"I thought his number would be '999'."
"That's the emergency number, Nigel, even I know that."
"You are an emergency, Claudia."
"Oh, Nigel, that's sweet."
"It wasn't a complement."
"My aren't you grouchy in the morning. You're just jealous of my good looks and sunny personality."
"I am not!"
"Are too!" Still bickering Nigel and Claudia settled into the car.
On the steps to the house Mrs Cameron and Sydney watched the others' antics fondly.
"They are a good team."
"The best." said Sydney. She turned to Mrs Cameron. "Thanks for everything. We couldn't have done it without you."
"Och, I have a feeling you would have got there, with or without my help."
"Syd!" Claudia yelled from the car, "I can get you flights to Cairo, but we have to be at Ardonen airport, like yesterday, if you are going to make the connections."
"Better fly," Sydney smiled. They shook hands again and Sydney headed for the car.
"Good Luck!" Mrs Cameron called as they drove away.
***
"Next."
Troy shuffled up to the Custody Sergeant's Desk. "I want my phonecall and a doctor."
The custody sergeant raised an eyebrow. "Let's get the formalities out of the way first. Name?"
"Benjamin Troy." Troy growled.
"Address?"
"Hotel Bellevue, Montmatre, Paris."
"You're a long way from home."
"I get around." Troy said sourly.
"All right, Terry, what's the charges?"
Constable Partridge stepped forward and consulted his note-book. "'Breach of the Peace', 'Criminal Damage', 'Grievous Bodily Harm', 'Assault with intent to harm', 'Assault with a deadly weapon' and, saving the best for last, 'Attempted Murder'."
The custody sergeant continued his furious scribbling on the charge sheet. "You get around - and you've been busy." He sat back with a sigh. "You have the right to legal representation. If you cannot afford legal representation you can have a court appointed solicitor. Here is a leaflet detailing your rights while in custody..." Troy raised an eyebrow. The times when he had been stupid enough to get caught his main worry had been facing a firing squad in the morning, not whether or not he could have a hot breakfast. "...Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?" Troy nodded. "Sign here, please. Okay, Terry, Number 4."
"Hey! What about my phonecall?" They reached the celldoor and the Sergeant unlocked it. "And the Doctor!" Troy continued.
"Doctor?"
Young Constable Partridge was mortified to discover that he was beginning to blush. "Um, you see, Sarge, um, during Mr Troy's attack on a young lady..."
"She jumped me!"
"...well she was forced to um, kick Mr Troy, on, or in the, erm..."
Troy slapped his hand against his forehead and groaned. "Just get me a 'phone!" he demanded and stepped into the cell.
***
Neither Sydney, Nigel nor Claudia thought that they would sleep on the short flight back to London, it was hardly worth it for all the time they were in the air, so it came as a bit of a shock when they were woken by a smiling stewardess who informed them that they were on the final approach into Heathrow.
"Already? We just got on board."
"That was an hour ago, sir. You even slept through my safety demonstration."
"I do apologise."
The stewardess grinned. "Professor Fox?" she turned to Sydney. "You're going to have to hurry to make your flight to Cairo so we have a trolleycar standing by to take you and your companion to the departure gate."
Sydney wiped the sleep from her eyes. "Thank you very much. Much appreciated."
"Our pleasure. Thank you for flying with us." The stewardess turned to the next passengers.
"Claudia, make a note, please. Any time we're flying in the UK, try to use this airline."
"Sure."
***
Elliot Trevaylen snapped shut his mobile phone and sank back into the leather upholstery of his Rolls Royce with a disgusted snort.
"Perkins, turn around. We have to go back to Heathrow." Trevaylen pursed his lips in thought as his steadfast driver carried out the instructions without question.
The motorway signs sped past as Trevaylen considered his options.
First, Trevaylen hit the speed-dial; "Forget about Troy. Find either Professor Sydney Fox or Nigel Bailey. One of them is carrying my package."
Satisfied that the operatives he had left at the airport would not let him down Trevaylen contemplated Benjamin Troy's fate. *Prison is the only place he'd be safe from me.* he thought angrily. On the other hand... Troy did have the sense to admit when he'd been hood-winked. Fancy a professional like Troy being outdone by a mere researcher!
Trevaylen smirked to himself. Troy could live; for now. Besides, Trevaylen now knew that there was someone even better than Troy for finding ancient relics.
***
Sydney and Nigel had taken turns at trying to decipher the clues to the secret of the Discoveror's true resting place but with little success. Both agreed that the most likely location was the Great Pyramid of Khufu; the pyramid had been completed around the time that Scota had married her Celtic king and Khufu did have a daughter named 'Scota'. But they still had no plan of action. They could hardly march up to one of the largest structures in the world and start tapping on the walls for secret entrances.
Sydney paged through their notes for the umpteenth time, a small frown creasing her forehead. She glanced across at Nigel, sleeping in the seat next to her with the airline earphones in place. She wondered what it was that he had fallen asleep listening to and was not surprised to find that the program was a Discovery Channel special on - Ancient Egypt. She almost reached out to turn it off, but then she changed her mind. Perhaps the answer they were looking for would come to Nigel in his dreams.
***
Nigel could not sleep. His eyes were closed but his mind was whirling with the pieces of the jigsaw and it point blank refused to shut down, despite his exhaustion. Now he listened to the program with half an ear while he tried to put the puzzle together.
Suddenly something on the program caught his attention. He creaked open an eye and gazed at the miniature television screen set into the chairback in front of him.
On the program an Egyptologist was explaining his theory of why the Great Pyramid was built where it was. According to his theory it was all to do with the position of the stars.
Nigel sat bolt upright in his seat and clutched Sydney's arm.
"Hey!"
"That's it!" Nigel whispered. He pulled out one of the earphones out and handed it to Sydney. "Listen to this!"
Sydney warily pushed in the earphone and listened to the program. The Egyptologist explained that the ancient Egyptian builders had put in two ducts to the King's Chamber. In the Egyptologist's opinion this was done to match up to the stars so that the Pharaoh's soul could easily reach the heavens. A slow smile spread across Sydney's face.
"'The light within the dark', Syd, remember! 'The light within the dark'!" Nigel's eyes were shining with excitement.
Sydney nodded. "I think you've cracked it, Nigel."
Impulsively they hugged, beginning to laugh quietly.
***
One of the advantages of being a multi-millionaire was having your own private jet. Elliot Trevaylen was not a man who liked sharing his space with anyone, nevermind waiting for commercial flights. His plane taxied to a smooth stop at Cairo International Airport and Trevaylen quickly disembarked into the warm air of a Cairo evening. A car was waiting for him and gratefully Trevaylen settled himself in its cool air-conditioned interior.
***
Sydney and Nigel had not bothered finding accommodation. While they had waited to pass through immigration control Nigel had been busy on the laptop computer. He had found that this night the stars would rise at 10.32pm. They did not have a lot of time to get to the pyramids, find the resting place and return the Discoveror.
They sat on a coach, surrounded by smiling tourists of all nationalities, heading for the 'Son et Lumiere' show that was put on nightly at the Sphinx. At least this way they would look like regular visitors to the great necropolis of Giza.
Neither of them were in a position to notice the expensive Cadillac which kept pace with them through the busy Cairo traffic.
***
The tourists left the coach and walked up the open path making their way to the seats which had been set up on a fold of the desert. Some of them stopped at the stalls which lined the path, determined to purchase some souvenir of the evening. Sydney halted beside one of the vendors with a cry.
"Nigel! Look at that. What a wonderful piece!" She lifted up a large necklace strung with gleaming jewels.
Nigel thought it was, possibly, one of the most hideous things he'd ever seen. It was obviously a modern copy of an ancient design, gaudy and not particularly well made. "You want to go shopping?" he asked in disbelief. "Now? For that?"
"I must have it!" Sydney affirmed and started a long haggling procedure with the stall holder.
Nigel shuffled his feet impatiently, anxiously checking his watch.
At last Sydney was satisfied. The vendor wrapped the necklace and Sydney paid him. "Is there a restroom around here?" she enquired of the vendor.
The vendor gestured off the path. "That way. Much quickness, madam. 'Son et Lumiere' is about to start."
Sydney smiled her thanks and pulled on Nigel's arm. "Come on, Nigel. Like the man said, we don't want to miss the show!"
For the first time, Nigel noticed that they were the last of the tourists. Most of the stall holders were already packing up their wares. They hurried over to a squat building and then checking that they were unobserved they ducked around the side.
"There," Sydney whispered, "The less people that see us the better." She took out her purchase and dropped it in a trash can.
"You don't want your necklace?"
"Oh no. It's hideous." Sydney grinned and the two of them hurried into the darkness making for the giant pyramids.
***
Trevaylen stood stiffly gazing through a pair of high-powered binoculars. A movement near the base of the great pyramid caught his eye and he focused the glasses more closely. A cruel smile of satisfaction split his face. He lowered the binoculars and turned to his employees. "Are you ready?"
The bodyguard finished attaching official looking flags to the front of the Cadillac. "Yes, sir."
"Good. We have a surprise inspection of the site to do." He folded himself into the car.
***
Sydney and Nigel flattened themselves against the sand as a necropolis guard made a tour of the pyramid. He checked the entrance to the pyramid and finally headed away to the guard house.
The relic hunters waited until he was out of sight before approaching the entrance. Quietly Sydney picked the lock and pulled aside the fence. They entered the pyramid closing the gate behind them.
***
The guard straightened as an official car pulled up. He recognised the flags of the Department of Antiquities and saluted as the driver got out.
The driver passed over a document. "Professor Elliot to make an inspection of the site."
The guard glanced down at the paper and started to unfold it. "I'm sorry, sir. I was not informed of the Professor's inspection."
The driver punched out at the guard's chin and the guard's eyes turned up in his head. He toppled backwards into the sand. "I'm not surprised." The driver gripped the man's shoulders and dragged him behind the guardhouse. Then he returned to the car and drove up to the pyramid.
Trevaylen got out of the car and patted his pocket, feeling the reassuring bulge of his revolver. "Wait here." he ordered and entered the pyramid. Now that he was this close he did not want to take the risk of losing the Discoveror to the hired help. The weapon would be enough to take care of Fox and Bailey.
***
Sydney and Nigel carefully picked their way up the steep gangway to the King's chamber.
"What's the time?"
Nigel checked his watch, "10.15."
"We're going to have to hurry. The stars rise at 10.32, precisely."
"I know, I know. We're nearly there."
The two relic hunters increased their speed until at last they entered the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid.
For a moment they both paused playing their torches around the plain walls. Some might be disappointed at the lack of friezes or carvings, but to Sydney and Nigel the chamber represented everything that was mysterious and amazing about ancient Egypt. The precise measurements that had been made to ensure that the pyramid was correct, the incredible skills that had been used so that the structure would survive for eternity, the sheer scale of the building works, it all filled them with a sense of wonder which would never wane, no matter how many times they witnessed it.
"We have to find the resting place." said Sydney shining her torch at the sandy floor.
"It will be wherever the ducts meet on the floor."
Sydney opened her pack and tossed a ball of string to Nigel. "Right, you take that side, I'll take this one. Remember to keep the string at the same angle as the duct, otherwise we'll be looking in the wrong place."
"Got you." The relic hunters fanned out and each reached up to the duct openings. They tied off the string and then wound it out keeping it taught. They were so engrossed in their tasks that they jumped in surprise when they bumped into each other in the middle of the floor.
"Pardon." Nigel said with a sheepish smile.
Sydney grinned. "Here, hold this." She handed her string to Nigel and then knelt down to clear the sand away revealing the tightly fitted flagstones underneath. "Time?"
"10.26."
"I hope we're right about this," Sydney muttered.
***
Trevaylen panted as he climbed the gangway. Up ahead he could see lights moving around and hear the faint echoes of voices. Drawing on his reserves Trevaylen continued up, drawing his gun as he went.
***
Sydney and Nigel were both on their knees, feverishly tapping the stones.
"Time?"
Nigel glanced at his watch. "10.30. We're not going to make it are we?"
"Yes we are!" Sydney's face lit up as she pressed down on the centre flagstone. There was a far-off click and then a strained grinding noise. The stone started to rise, rotating as it went, before shuddering to a halt. Sydney carefully removed the flagstone revealing a perfect square cut into the stone underneath. "Quickly, Nigel."
Hurriedly Nigel unwrapped the Discoveror and gently placed it in its rightful place. He sat back on his heels with a sigh of relief.
"What's the time now?" Sydney whispered.
A moment later she had her answer.
Two lines of brilliant white light stabbed down from the ducts striking the Discoveror. The chamber was filled with the light. Sydney and Nigel scrambled to their feet and gazed around in awe.
"That's why the walls are plain." Nigel breathed. "This whole chamber is a giant cinema screen!"
They gazed at the walls. The Discoveror was fuelled by the starlight, projecting all its knowledge on to the walls of the chamber in an explosion of colour and sparkle. One wall displayed star constellations, another showed the movements of the continents, the third was chemical molecules including the double helix of human DNA, the fourth was a moving tapestry of the history of Egypt.
Sydney and Nigel clung to each other, stunned by the scenes that were unfolding. The images changed, showing plants, animals, the rise and fall of cities and civilisations.
"It really is the 'key to all wisdom'!" Sydney whispered.
And then it was over. The light from the ducts cut out as if a switch had been pulled. The Discoveror continued to glow for a few moments before that light too began to fade. The stone started to spin slowly and sink back into the floor.
Together Sydney and Nigel lifted the concealing flagstone and placed it back in position. It settled into the floor and the relic hunters quietly brushed the sand back into place.
"Rest safe." Nigel murmured. He looked up and caught Sydney's eyes, seeing his own wonder reflected in her's.
"Wow. That was something you don't see every day." she said lightly.
Nigel nodded, not having the words to express his feelings on the sight they had just witnessed. He knew too that Sydney was as overwhelmed as he was, her flippant tone was a mask to cover her respect for the spectacle.
"Where is it?" a harsh voice intruded on the moment. Sydney and Nigel hustled to their feet as Trevaylen advanced into the chamber brandishing his revolver. "Where is it?" he demanded again. "I saw the light! I felt the power! Where is it? Where is the Discoveror?" his voice began to rise until he was almost screeching. "It's mine! I deserve it!"
Warily Sydney and Nigel backed away. There would be no reasoning with the man. Trevaylen's eyes were gleaming with insanity and it was almost as if he had forgotten that they were there. He continued to rant as he dashed around the chamber.
"The 'Curse of the Discoveror' seems to be still working." Sydney observed. Carefully they began to edge towards the doorway, but they pulled up short as they heard a heavy tramping on the gangway outside. "Re-enforcement's." Sydney whispered.
"Yes. But for us or for him?"
A squad of necropolis guards entered the chamber. The captain took one look at the raving Trevaylen and urged his men forward. It was not difficult for the burly guards to overpower the older man. When they had done so the captain turned to the intruders.
"You are all under arrest!" he pompously announced.
***
Epilogue.
Sydney tiredly unlocked the door to her office. She threw her ruck-sack on the floor by her desk, crossed to the couch in the corner and fell gratefully onto it.
Nigel followed her in and sat beside her. "It's just as well you knew the Egyptian Minister for Antiquities," he said with a yawn, "Otherwise we would have had a lot more explaining to do."
"Ahmed and I are old friends." Sydney replied. Nigel's yawning was infectious and Sydney tilted her head back with a sigh.
"Trevaylen won't be going anywhere, will he?"
"I'm sure Elliot Trevaylen will spend the rest of his days in the best padded cell his money can buy."
"Good. He never did deserve the Discoveror, no matter what he might think." Nigel leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.
"Well I think we deserve a holiday. What do you say?"
Nigel's answer was a soft snore. Sydney glanced over at him and smiled. She dropped her head back again and followed Nigel's example.
***
Claudia was suspicious when she found the office door unlocked, but her unease disappeared when she found Sydney and Nigel fast asleep on the couch. Quietly she found a blanket and gently covered them both. She could wait to hear all about their adventures.
THE END.
***
Phew! Hope you enjoyed the story. Once again, Thank you to everyone who took the time to write. Your comments were very much appreciated and gave me the incentive to finish.
***
"We have some unfinished business." Troy smiled. He gestured with the revolver for the group to fan out so that he could see them all. "I want the Discoveror." he said with deadly emphasis.
"I thought you already had it." Sydney remarked lightly.
For a second Troy's face was suffused with unadulterated rage. He kicked a box at his feet, sending it tumbling towards them. The box sent forth an indignant clanking noise. It came to rest at Mrs Cameron's feet.
Swiftly Mrs Cameron opened the box, pulling out the flag and the sceptre. "The regimental insignia!" she said with relief. "Thank goodness for that!"
Troy gazed at her with undisguised contempt. "I'm not after worthless trinkets. I want the Discoveror, I need it. Now!"
"Well, there are places you can go..." Claudia needled.
Troy's gun swivelled to aim at Claudia. Quickly Sydney laid a warning hand on Claudia's arm. "I have it!" she exclaimed.
The gun turned back to Sydney. "Show me!" Troy demanded.
Slowly, infinitely slowly, Sydney unslung her pack and dropped it to the floor. She shook her head as if she could not believe that they had failed and incidentally loosened her hair from behind her ears, concealing the sides of her face. She dropped to her knees. She glanced up at Nigel and flicked her eyes towards Marcel, who was still standing silent with his arms crossed in front of him. Then she spun her eyes towards Troy and tapped the clasp of her bag twice. Nigel's eyes widened. Sydney tapped the clasp again.
"Hurry up, Professor! I don't have all day!" Troy's finger tightened on the trigger.
Sydney straightened up, hefting the bag. "You know what? You want it? You take it!" She threw her bag at Troy.
Troy yelped in surprise. Instinctively he ducked, firing the weapon in to the floor as he did so. Sydney launched herself over the desk tackling Troy, and the chair, to the ground.
When Sydney threw her pack, Nigel took that as his cue. He propelled himself at Marcel's knees in a tried and tested rugby tackle. Marcel was taken by surprise. The only sound he made was a surprised squawk. Before he could take another breath, Claudia swiped a display teapot from a shelf and smashed it down on Marcel's head.
Meanwhile Sydney had succeeded in disarming Troy. The gun skittered away across the floor. Both relic hunters struggled to reach it. But Mrs Cameron stepped up and kicked the gun away from them both.
Snarling in anger, Troy gave up trying to reach the revolver and instead fixed his hands around Sydney's throat, choking the life from her.
Claudia scrambled across the room and grabbed a vase filled with dried flowers from a shelf. She raised it ready to try the same trick again.
"Not that one! That's Ming!" Mrs Cameron cried. Troy looked up at the sound of her voice, startled.
That was all the distraction Sydney needed. She wriggled her wrists between Troy's and pushed with all her strength, simultaneously raising her knee and planting it firmly in every man's vulnerable spot. Troy's eyes crossed and he rolled to the side with a strangled gurgle, clutching his groin.
Sydney wearily climbed to her feet, rubbing her throat. She crossed to Nigel who had retrieved the gun and now stood aiming it at Troy with a slightly unsteady hand. Gently Sydney took the gun from him. "I don't think he'll be going anywhere fast." she said.
"Except to prison." said Mrs Cameron. "I'll go and call the police."
"Good. Claudia could you find some rope?"
Claudia nodded and followed Mrs Cameron.
Mrs Cameron paused at the doorway and forlornly turned over some pieces of broken crockery with her foot. She bent down and salvaged the handle of the teapot, the only recognisable piece. "Royal Doulton, 1821." She sighed sadly. "Nevermind. I suppose it was in a good cause." She tossed the handle back to Claudia and gestured down the hallway. "Kitchen's that way. I think there's some clothesline under the sink."
"Thanks. I'm really sorry about the teapot, Mrs C."
Mrs Cameron patted her back kindly. "Don't worry about it. At least it wasn't the Ming!" she turned to the 'phone on the hall table, while Claudia headed for the kitchen.
Nigel put a tentative arm around Sydney's waist, keeping a wary eye on the unmoving Marcel in the corner and a groaning Troy on the floor. "Are you sure you're all right?" he asked with concern.
"I'm fine." Sydney assured him. "All in a day's work, right?" She put her arm around his shoulders and gave an encouraging squeeze.
"Right."
Sydney and Nigel tiredly supported each other as they awaited the arrival of the police.
***
Mrs Cameron waved as the police van drove away. She turned to Sydney, Nigel and Claudia with some relief. "Thank goodness that's all over. I really had forgotten what relic hunting could be like."
"Oh, I don't know. There are perks." said Claudia. "That nice policeman gave me his number."
"Sergeant Paterson?"
"Eww! No! Constable Partridge."
Mrs Cameron smiled. "Perks indeed!" She turned to Sydney and Nigel. "Ready for that cup of tea? I'm sure I have another teapot somewhere!" she said with a good-natured wink at Claudia.
"Actually, I think we'd better get going. We have one more stop to make."
Mrs Cameron nodded in understanding. "Of course. It's been a pleasure working with you, Professor," they shook hands, "Mr Bailey, Claudia."
"I am really, really sorry." Claudia said earnestly as she shook hands with Mrs Cameron.
Mrs Cameron waved her away, "Anytime you are in the neighbourhood, drop by and say 'hello', yes?"
"Count on it." Sydney smiled. "Right, let's go. Claudia could you arrange the flights. Nigel, the car."
"On it." With a nod and a smile to Mrs Cameron Nigel carefully picked up his pack, patting it gently to make sure the Discoveror was still there and headed for the now repaired car.
Claudia followed taking out her mobile.
"I don't know how you do it." Nigel grumbled.
"What can I say? I just love a man in uniform."
"I thought his number would be '999'."
"That's the emergency number, Nigel, even I know that."
"You are an emergency, Claudia."
"Oh, Nigel, that's sweet."
"It wasn't a complement."
"My aren't you grouchy in the morning. You're just jealous of my good looks and sunny personality."
"I am not!"
"Are too!" Still bickering Nigel and Claudia settled into the car.
On the steps to the house Mrs Cameron and Sydney watched the others' antics fondly.
"They are a good team."
"The best." said Sydney. She turned to Mrs Cameron. "Thanks for everything. We couldn't have done it without you."
"Och, I have a feeling you would have got there, with or without my help."
"Syd!" Claudia yelled from the car, "I can get you flights to Cairo, but we have to be at Ardonen airport, like yesterday, if you are going to make the connections."
"Better fly," Sydney smiled. They shook hands again and Sydney headed for the car.
"Good Luck!" Mrs Cameron called as they drove away.
***
"Next."
Troy shuffled up to the Custody Sergeant's Desk. "I want my phonecall and a doctor."
The custody sergeant raised an eyebrow. "Let's get the formalities out of the way first. Name?"
"Benjamin Troy." Troy growled.
"Address?"
"Hotel Bellevue, Montmatre, Paris."
"You're a long way from home."
"I get around." Troy said sourly.
"All right, Terry, what's the charges?"
Constable Partridge stepped forward and consulted his note-book. "'Breach of the Peace', 'Criminal Damage', 'Grievous Bodily Harm', 'Assault with intent to harm', 'Assault with a deadly weapon' and, saving the best for last, 'Attempted Murder'."
The custody sergeant continued his furious scribbling on the charge sheet. "You get around - and you've been busy." He sat back with a sigh. "You have the right to legal representation. If you cannot afford legal representation you can have a court appointed solicitor. Here is a leaflet detailing your rights while in custody..." Troy raised an eyebrow. The times when he had been stupid enough to get caught his main worry had been facing a firing squad in the morning, not whether or not he could have a hot breakfast. "...Do you understand these rights as I have explained them to you?" Troy nodded. "Sign here, please. Okay, Terry, Number 4."
"Hey! What about my phonecall?" They reached the celldoor and the Sergeant unlocked it. "And the Doctor!" Troy continued.
"Doctor?"
Young Constable Partridge was mortified to discover that he was beginning to blush. "Um, you see, Sarge, um, during Mr Troy's attack on a young lady..."
"She jumped me!"
"...well she was forced to um, kick Mr Troy, on, or in the, erm..."
Troy slapped his hand against his forehead and groaned. "Just get me a 'phone!" he demanded and stepped into the cell.
***
Neither Sydney, Nigel nor Claudia thought that they would sleep on the short flight back to London, it was hardly worth it for all the time they were in the air, so it came as a bit of a shock when they were woken by a smiling stewardess who informed them that they were on the final approach into Heathrow.
"Already? We just got on board."
"That was an hour ago, sir. You even slept through my safety demonstration."
"I do apologise."
The stewardess grinned. "Professor Fox?" she turned to Sydney. "You're going to have to hurry to make your flight to Cairo so we have a trolleycar standing by to take you and your companion to the departure gate."
Sydney wiped the sleep from her eyes. "Thank you very much. Much appreciated."
"Our pleasure. Thank you for flying with us." The stewardess turned to the next passengers.
"Claudia, make a note, please. Any time we're flying in the UK, try to use this airline."
"Sure."
***
Elliot Trevaylen snapped shut his mobile phone and sank back into the leather upholstery of his Rolls Royce with a disgusted snort.
"Perkins, turn around. We have to go back to Heathrow." Trevaylen pursed his lips in thought as his steadfast driver carried out the instructions without question.
The motorway signs sped past as Trevaylen considered his options.
First, Trevaylen hit the speed-dial; "Forget about Troy. Find either Professor Sydney Fox or Nigel Bailey. One of them is carrying my package."
Satisfied that the operatives he had left at the airport would not let him down Trevaylen contemplated Benjamin Troy's fate. *Prison is the only place he'd be safe from me.* he thought angrily. On the other hand... Troy did have the sense to admit when he'd been hood-winked. Fancy a professional like Troy being outdone by a mere researcher!
Trevaylen smirked to himself. Troy could live; for now. Besides, Trevaylen now knew that there was someone even better than Troy for finding ancient relics.
***
Sydney and Nigel had taken turns at trying to decipher the clues to the secret of the Discoveror's true resting place but with little success. Both agreed that the most likely location was the Great Pyramid of Khufu; the pyramid had been completed around the time that Scota had married her Celtic king and Khufu did have a daughter named 'Scota'. But they still had no plan of action. They could hardly march up to one of the largest structures in the world and start tapping on the walls for secret entrances.
Sydney paged through their notes for the umpteenth time, a small frown creasing her forehead. She glanced across at Nigel, sleeping in the seat next to her with the airline earphones in place. She wondered what it was that he had fallen asleep listening to and was not surprised to find that the program was a Discovery Channel special on - Ancient Egypt. She almost reached out to turn it off, but then she changed her mind. Perhaps the answer they were looking for would come to Nigel in his dreams.
***
Nigel could not sleep. His eyes were closed but his mind was whirling with the pieces of the jigsaw and it point blank refused to shut down, despite his exhaustion. Now he listened to the program with half an ear while he tried to put the puzzle together.
Suddenly something on the program caught his attention. He creaked open an eye and gazed at the miniature television screen set into the chairback in front of him.
On the program an Egyptologist was explaining his theory of why the Great Pyramid was built where it was. According to his theory it was all to do with the position of the stars.
Nigel sat bolt upright in his seat and clutched Sydney's arm.
"Hey!"
"That's it!" Nigel whispered. He pulled out one of the earphones out and handed it to Sydney. "Listen to this!"
Sydney warily pushed in the earphone and listened to the program. The Egyptologist explained that the ancient Egyptian builders had put in two ducts to the King's Chamber. In the Egyptologist's opinion this was done to match up to the stars so that the Pharaoh's soul could easily reach the heavens. A slow smile spread across Sydney's face.
"'The light within the dark', Syd, remember! 'The light within the dark'!" Nigel's eyes were shining with excitement.
Sydney nodded. "I think you've cracked it, Nigel."
Impulsively they hugged, beginning to laugh quietly.
***
One of the advantages of being a multi-millionaire was having your own private jet. Elliot Trevaylen was not a man who liked sharing his space with anyone, nevermind waiting for commercial flights. His plane taxied to a smooth stop at Cairo International Airport and Trevaylen quickly disembarked into the warm air of a Cairo evening. A car was waiting for him and gratefully Trevaylen settled himself in its cool air-conditioned interior.
***
Sydney and Nigel had not bothered finding accommodation. While they had waited to pass through immigration control Nigel had been busy on the laptop computer. He had found that this night the stars would rise at 10.32pm. They did not have a lot of time to get to the pyramids, find the resting place and return the Discoveror.
They sat on a coach, surrounded by smiling tourists of all nationalities, heading for the 'Son et Lumiere' show that was put on nightly at the Sphinx. At least this way they would look like regular visitors to the great necropolis of Giza.
Neither of them were in a position to notice the expensive Cadillac which kept pace with them through the busy Cairo traffic.
***
The tourists left the coach and walked up the open path making their way to the seats which had been set up on a fold of the desert. Some of them stopped at the stalls which lined the path, determined to purchase some souvenir of the evening. Sydney halted beside one of the vendors with a cry.
"Nigel! Look at that. What a wonderful piece!" She lifted up a large necklace strung with gleaming jewels.
Nigel thought it was, possibly, one of the most hideous things he'd ever seen. It was obviously a modern copy of an ancient design, gaudy and not particularly well made. "You want to go shopping?" he asked in disbelief. "Now? For that?"
"I must have it!" Sydney affirmed and started a long haggling procedure with the stall holder.
Nigel shuffled his feet impatiently, anxiously checking his watch.
At last Sydney was satisfied. The vendor wrapped the necklace and Sydney paid him. "Is there a restroom around here?" she enquired of the vendor.
The vendor gestured off the path. "That way. Much quickness, madam. 'Son et Lumiere' is about to start."
Sydney smiled her thanks and pulled on Nigel's arm. "Come on, Nigel. Like the man said, we don't want to miss the show!"
For the first time, Nigel noticed that they were the last of the tourists. Most of the stall holders were already packing up their wares. They hurried over to a squat building and then checking that they were unobserved they ducked around the side.
"There," Sydney whispered, "The less people that see us the better." She took out her purchase and dropped it in a trash can.
"You don't want your necklace?"
"Oh no. It's hideous." Sydney grinned and the two of them hurried into the darkness making for the giant pyramids.
***
Trevaylen stood stiffly gazing through a pair of high-powered binoculars. A movement near the base of the great pyramid caught his eye and he focused the glasses more closely. A cruel smile of satisfaction split his face. He lowered the binoculars and turned to his employees. "Are you ready?"
The bodyguard finished attaching official looking flags to the front of the Cadillac. "Yes, sir."
"Good. We have a surprise inspection of the site to do." He folded himself into the car.
***
Sydney and Nigel flattened themselves against the sand as a necropolis guard made a tour of the pyramid. He checked the entrance to the pyramid and finally headed away to the guard house.
The relic hunters waited until he was out of sight before approaching the entrance. Quietly Sydney picked the lock and pulled aside the fence. They entered the pyramid closing the gate behind them.
***
The guard straightened as an official car pulled up. He recognised the flags of the Department of Antiquities and saluted as the driver got out.
The driver passed over a document. "Professor Elliot to make an inspection of the site."
The guard glanced down at the paper and started to unfold it. "I'm sorry, sir. I was not informed of the Professor's inspection."
The driver punched out at the guard's chin and the guard's eyes turned up in his head. He toppled backwards into the sand. "I'm not surprised." The driver gripped the man's shoulders and dragged him behind the guardhouse. Then he returned to the car and drove up to the pyramid.
Trevaylen got out of the car and patted his pocket, feeling the reassuring bulge of his revolver. "Wait here." he ordered and entered the pyramid. Now that he was this close he did not want to take the risk of losing the Discoveror to the hired help. The weapon would be enough to take care of Fox and Bailey.
***
Sydney and Nigel carefully picked their way up the steep gangway to the King's chamber.
"What's the time?"
Nigel checked his watch, "10.15."
"We're going to have to hurry. The stars rise at 10.32, precisely."
"I know, I know. We're nearly there."
The two relic hunters increased their speed until at last they entered the King's Chamber of the Great Pyramid.
For a moment they both paused playing their torches around the plain walls. Some might be disappointed at the lack of friezes or carvings, but to Sydney and Nigel the chamber represented everything that was mysterious and amazing about ancient Egypt. The precise measurements that had been made to ensure that the pyramid was correct, the incredible skills that had been used so that the structure would survive for eternity, the sheer scale of the building works, it all filled them with a sense of wonder which would never wane, no matter how many times they witnessed it.
"We have to find the resting place." said Sydney shining her torch at the sandy floor.
"It will be wherever the ducts meet on the floor."
Sydney opened her pack and tossed a ball of string to Nigel. "Right, you take that side, I'll take this one. Remember to keep the string at the same angle as the duct, otherwise we'll be looking in the wrong place."
"Got you." The relic hunters fanned out and each reached up to the duct openings. They tied off the string and then wound it out keeping it taught. They were so engrossed in their tasks that they jumped in surprise when they bumped into each other in the middle of the floor.
"Pardon." Nigel said with a sheepish smile.
Sydney grinned. "Here, hold this." She handed her string to Nigel and then knelt down to clear the sand away revealing the tightly fitted flagstones underneath. "Time?"
"10.26."
"I hope we're right about this," Sydney muttered.
***
Trevaylen panted as he climbed the gangway. Up ahead he could see lights moving around and hear the faint echoes of voices. Drawing on his reserves Trevaylen continued up, drawing his gun as he went.
***
Sydney and Nigel were both on their knees, feverishly tapping the stones.
"Time?"
Nigel glanced at his watch. "10.30. We're not going to make it are we?"
"Yes we are!" Sydney's face lit up as she pressed down on the centre flagstone. There was a far-off click and then a strained grinding noise. The stone started to rise, rotating as it went, before shuddering to a halt. Sydney carefully removed the flagstone revealing a perfect square cut into the stone underneath. "Quickly, Nigel."
Hurriedly Nigel unwrapped the Discoveror and gently placed it in its rightful place. He sat back on his heels with a sigh of relief.
"What's the time now?" Sydney whispered.
A moment later she had her answer.
Two lines of brilliant white light stabbed down from the ducts striking the Discoveror. The chamber was filled with the light. Sydney and Nigel scrambled to their feet and gazed around in awe.
"That's why the walls are plain." Nigel breathed. "This whole chamber is a giant cinema screen!"
They gazed at the walls. The Discoveror was fuelled by the starlight, projecting all its knowledge on to the walls of the chamber in an explosion of colour and sparkle. One wall displayed star constellations, another showed the movements of the continents, the third was chemical molecules including the double helix of human DNA, the fourth was a moving tapestry of the history of Egypt.
Sydney and Nigel clung to each other, stunned by the scenes that were unfolding. The images changed, showing plants, animals, the rise and fall of cities and civilisations.
"It really is the 'key to all wisdom'!" Sydney whispered.
And then it was over. The light from the ducts cut out as if a switch had been pulled. The Discoveror continued to glow for a few moments before that light too began to fade. The stone started to spin slowly and sink back into the floor.
Together Sydney and Nigel lifted the concealing flagstone and placed it back in position. It settled into the floor and the relic hunters quietly brushed the sand back into place.
"Rest safe." Nigel murmured. He looked up and caught Sydney's eyes, seeing his own wonder reflected in her's.
"Wow. That was something you don't see every day." she said lightly.
Nigel nodded, not having the words to express his feelings on the sight they had just witnessed. He knew too that Sydney was as overwhelmed as he was, her flippant tone was a mask to cover her respect for the spectacle.
"Where is it?" a harsh voice intruded on the moment. Sydney and Nigel hustled to their feet as Trevaylen advanced into the chamber brandishing his revolver. "Where is it?" he demanded again. "I saw the light! I felt the power! Where is it? Where is the Discoveror?" his voice began to rise until he was almost screeching. "It's mine! I deserve it!"
Warily Sydney and Nigel backed away. There would be no reasoning with the man. Trevaylen's eyes were gleaming with insanity and it was almost as if he had forgotten that they were there. He continued to rant as he dashed around the chamber.
"The 'Curse of the Discoveror' seems to be still working." Sydney observed. Carefully they began to edge towards the doorway, but they pulled up short as they heard a heavy tramping on the gangway outside. "Re-enforcement's." Sydney whispered.
"Yes. But for us or for him?"
A squad of necropolis guards entered the chamber. The captain took one look at the raving Trevaylen and urged his men forward. It was not difficult for the burly guards to overpower the older man. When they had done so the captain turned to the intruders.
"You are all under arrest!" he pompously announced.
***
Epilogue.
Sydney tiredly unlocked the door to her office. She threw her ruck-sack on the floor by her desk, crossed to the couch in the corner and fell gratefully onto it.
Nigel followed her in and sat beside her. "It's just as well you knew the Egyptian Minister for Antiquities," he said with a yawn, "Otherwise we would have had a lot more explaining to do."
"Ahmed and I are old friends." Sydney replied. Nigel's yawning was infectious and Sydney tilted her head back with a sigh.
"Trevaylen won't be going anywhere, will he?"
"I'm sure Elliot Trevaylen will spend the rest of his days in the best padded cell his money can buy."
"Good. He never did deserve the Discoveror, no matter what he might think." Nigel leaned back against the sofa and closed his eyes.
"Well I think we deserve a holiday. What do you say?"
Nigel's answer was a soft snore. Sydney glanced over at him and smiled. She dropped her head back again and followed Nigel's example.
***
Claudia was suspicious when she found the office door unlocked, but her unease disappeared when she found Sydney and Nigel fast asleep on the couch. Quietly she found a blanket and gently covered them both. She could wait to hear all about their adventures.
THE END.
***
Phew! Hope you enjoyed the story. Once again, Thank you to everyone who took the time to write. Your comments were very much appreciated and gave me the incentive to finish.