The map of Memphis in the book showed that the temple was actually very close to where they had originally found the ankh. The priests of Ra, in their cunning, had hid the ankh in the safest place: right in front of the priestesses' eyes. The map showed that the temple was basically next door.
Once they arrived in Cairo, they checked around to see how they could make their way to Memphis. By now, the O'Connells had a reputation in Cairo and no one wanted to sell them a camel for fear of whatever terrible consequences would occur. Again, they were right.
'Oh, we are never going to get to that temple!' said an exasperated Evie.
'Now, calm down, we'll just walk,' soothed Rick.
'We don't even know where it really is!'
'Well Evie, I wouldn't worry too much,' Johnathan added as he put a hand on his sister's shoulder. He looked at the sky. 'Oh, look at that. Night seems to be falling. Why don't we all get a drink? Not you of course Alex.'
But Alex wasn't listening. Neither were his parents.
'Mum? Since when was midday the darkest part of the night?' Alex asked.
'Since never, Alex,' she replied.
Dark clouds had silently covered the city of Cairo. But there was no thunder, no lightning or any rain. It was unnatural, which made it a good indicator that they were close to
Suddenly, in the distance, a great bolt of lightning struck the earth without any warning.
'Its already beginning,' said Rick.
Just as suddenly, there was a shout and a masked rider on a horse sped past them, nearly knocking Alex over, rushing towards the spot the lightning had struck. Half sticking out of the sack attached to the back of the saddle was…
'The ankh!' cried Alex.
Another horseman pulled up and removed his mask.
'Hello, O'Connells.' It was Ardeth. 'I see not even Allah himself can keep you away from such happenings.'
'Okay,' Rick stopped him, 'before you start going on about our destiny again, do you know what's going on.'
'That girl is going to resurrect Sekhmet to finish her work. That girl is the last High Preistess. Only she can do it. And when Sekhmet arises –'
'The whole world will be destroyed, yes, we know.'
'Can you get us there?' asked Evie frantically.
'Yes.' Ardeth whistled for some horses. 'But I must warn you: this is my first non-mummy encounter. This time, I am just as uninformed as you all are.'
'Great,' said Rick sarcastically as he rolled his eyes, leaping on to his horse. Evie and Alex did the same. Johnathan warily eyed his.
'If it's all the same, Rick old chap, I thought I might just…'
'NOW, Johnathan!'
'Yes, well, if you put it like that…'
They galloped towards Memphis, heading hopefully in the direction of the temple of Sekhmet. They reached the ruins where they had previously found the ankh, but now there was no entrance downward, just sand and ruins.
'Well, what now?' asked Ardeth.
'There's got to be another way in!' declared Evie. 'All we have to do is find it.'
'Yeah? And how are we going to do that?' said Alex without much belief.
'Alex, don't be snide.'
Alex was annoyed. They'd come too late and now there was no way they could save the world. He kicked a piece of rubble for a while. When he stopped, he realised how far he'd moved from the others. He went to turn back, until he heard a sound of…chanting.
'What?' he asked the wind as he peered into the desert.
The chanting grew louder. Alex felt like he couldn't move. He had to wait and see who was doing it. Robed figures grew clearer and he realised they were speaking Ancient Egyptian. They were chanting the writing on the ankh. Alex tried to call to his parents, but one of the figures grabbed him and covered his mouth. Before he could try anything, the figure had a knife to his neck. As they moved forward and took him with them, they continued to chant:
Ankh of Ra, gold and true,
Sekhmet's wrath it did subdue.
But now the key shall come undone
To finish what was once begun.
'I say, that's something,' said Johnathan as he noticed them.
'Rick! They've got Alex!' cried Evie and she grabbed his arm.
Rick, enraged, yelled, 'Let go of him right now!'
'I would not anger those who holds your son's life, Mr. O'Connell,' said a soft voice. The owner moved to the forefront. 'You do not want him to become the first of spilled blood now, would you?' It was the girl from the museum. Merisa. She carried the ankh and a large sacrificial knife.
