So here they were, under a city, searching for something they'd read about in a book. As usual.

'Hey mum! Over here!' Alex called excitedly. In the flickering torch fire, he could make out some hieroglyphics that surrounded a bloodthirsty painting of the goddess. 'I think this is it!'

Evie shifted the torch. 'What does it say?'

'Those that read this, take heed and warning. Turn back and only look forward. Behind this door lies death everlasting. Beware, beware, the Eye of Ra.' His mother had taught him well.

Evie's expression was triumphant. 'This has to be it. Now, how to open it...'

'Right, my time,' Rick said as he moved in. 'Stand back.' He wedged the crowbar where there seemed to be a crack and started heaving. Not a budge.

'It's too dark in here to see the outline,' Rick puffed as he wiped his sweaty forehead.

Alex saw the answer straight above his head. 'There's an unlit torch here,' he called and pulled the torch down to light it. There was a cranking sound and the torch slowly creaked downwards until it lay horizontal. A shift of sand and the door grated back. Alex's eyes were as big as his smile.

'Cool.'

Behind the door stood a giant statue of Sekhmet, twice their size, with a lotus sceptre in one hand and the legendary gold ankh in the other.

'I don't believe it,' said Evie in amazement as she stepped towards it.

'Woah there.' Rick swung his crowbar in front of his wife. She glared at him as he moved forward and warily nudged the statue with his bar of steel. Nothing happened.

'Honestly Rick,' Evie sighed. She stretched her hands out and up to take the ankh but it was just out of reach. Evie beckoned to her husband.

'Rick, I need your shoulders.'

'Evie...' said Rick warningly. There was a gleam from the ankh that didn't seem to be coming from any torch.

She ignored him and beckoned more urgently. He gave a long sigh and hoisted her up. Sitting on his shoulders put Evie parallel with the ankh. She reached out and pulled the ankh. It appeared to be stuck.

'Ah, mum...' echoed Alex's voice in the next room.

Evie pulled again. 'Not now Alex.'

'I really think you need to hear this.'

'Not-now-Alex!' Another pull and it was free, but the force of her pull toppled herself and Rick. Lying on the sandy floor, she turned the artefact over in her hands. 'Wow, would you look at it Rick?'

'Yeah, nice.' Rich was definitely not happy. He knew something was up. He knew it.

Just then, Alex ran in as he said, 'Mum! It says if the ankh is removed then the taker shall feel the heat of Sekhmet's...wrath...' He stopped when he saw the ankh in her hands.

Rick rolled his eyes. 'Now why does that sound familiar?'

There was a deafening roar and the sand below their feet sank away, to reveal metal grates. The beginnings of flames licked at their feet.

'Go!' ordered Rick. They ran, back through the Sekhmet room, back through the narrow corridor, all the while with sand sinking and fire crackling at their heels. Evie tripped and the ankh spun out of her hand into a far corner. 'No!' she cried.

'I've got it!' Alex shouted as he raced over to the corner.

Rick watched the grates appear below his son's feet. 'Alex no! Get away from there! Now!'

Alex noticed the grates too. 'Woah!' He jumped back to his parents as the flames shot to the stone ceiling.

'Come one! Come on!' Rick hurried them up the stairs and back into the Memphis alleyway. They gasped for breath against the cold walls.

'Can we...go home now?' Rick asked between breaths.

Evie nodded. 'I think...that would...be nice.'

Alex polished the ankh with his shirt, which shone blindingly in the hot sun. He smiled. 'Cool.'