Curse of a Breaker

Bill stepped into the shade of the temple of Aten. Inside there was a large group of Egyptians bent down in prayer. He removed his hat and sunglasses as he slipped behind a pillar. It was too hot today. He had thought for a moment he was going to melt because of the heat. Mind it wasn't much better inside the temple.

He looked around and saw the side door that he needed. Checking to make sure nobody was watching he snuck off down it. He walked as quietly as possible down to the end. As he reached it he found a painting of a jackal on the wall. He touched his wand to it and the wall moved backwards.

He stepped into the dark space behind it and heard the wall shut behind him. He lit his wand quickly as a deep voice sounded overhead.

"It is I who hinder the sand from choking the secret chamber. I am for the protection of the deceased"

He knew the voice was suppose to be that of the jackal but he didn't understand why it was sounding. He had heard similar things in the tombs but this was a temple. He felt a cool breeze run over the back of his neck. He then smiled. Of course. It was a scare tactic.

Without anymore hesitation he walked on. He found stone steps ahead of him and holding his wand further forward he stepped down them one at a time. However as he reached the bottom one he stopped. This was the first curse.

He put a detector out and found that it was coming from the floor. He carefully wiped his brow and then started at what needed to be done. Twenty minutes he stood on that step before he had broken it. But he didn't step forward. He knew too much of this curse.

Bill counted to ten and did another detector spell. Just as he thought the same curse was now going from one wall to the other in front of him. Now that he had broken the first one this was easier. It only took him ten minutes.

He was about to step out when he felt something. It was strong but he didn't know what it was. He tried his detector spell a third time and was astonished to see that the spell was now coming from the ceiling. Another ten minutes and he had broken through it.

Now he finally walked into the large chamber. On the floor in front of him where pictures, hieroglyphics to be exact. He had to stand on the right letter to get across. He tried to think of what it could be. Then he thought of who the temple had been originally dedicated to, Aten. So looking for the falcon he stood on it.

It took his weight. A small sigh left his lips. 'T' that was what he needed next. There was an upturned basket shape just to the left. He put one foot on it and felt it begin to crumble. He quickly pulled his foot back. That couldn't be right. The word that needed spelling wasn't Aten. But it was something that began with an 'A' but what? It took him a few moments but he decided to try Akhetaten. He found a basket facing the right way. He put his foot on it and it didn't crumble.

With that worked out it took him only moments to make it to the other side of the room. He opened another door and looked inside. He could see that in the middle of the room stood a pedestal and on it was the object that he wanted. Looking around the room though he was sure there would be another booby trap. Sure enough there was.

Shinning his wand into the air he noticed movement to the left. He tried to see what it was. It was almost impossible to tell. He knew though whatever it was, it was going to be bad. Suddenly a mass of colours were in front of his eyes and he saw it. A beautiful bird, but it couldn't be what it seemed. As it opened its beak the most harrowing sound erupted. Bill felt his mind go funny for a moment. This would be the end of him if he didn't act quickly.

"Silencio."

The bird's beak was open but there was no sound. Bill's left hand rested over his eyes as he stood there breathing heavily. That had been close, too close. Something wasn't right. Why would there be a Fwooper in the temple? Bill couldn't help but be confused. They were dangerous, if anybody heard their song for too long they would go insane. This had to be one important treasure.

Taking a few steps inside he found that the bird stayed close to him trying to sing its dangerous song. However Bill was no longer worried about it. The Fwooper had to be one of the last defences of the object. As he reached the pedestal he noticed more hieroglyphics. He knew what was coming, what was always coming a riddle.

Riddles though. Oh he hated them. But since the Sphinx was Egyptian it was no surprise to find one. The Egyptians it seemed must have been for the whole bad at them. Only the best would know the answer. As Bill eyed the riddle in question he hoped that it wouldn't best him.

"There is something that is nothing, but it has a name. It joins our walks; it joins our talks; it plays in every game. What is it?"

Bill could feel his eyes widen as he looked at it. Oh this was a pain. Charlie's voice sounded in his head as he tried to figure the thing out. What was nothing but had a name? How the hell could it go for a walk with you if it was nothing? With his hands over his eyes he sat down on the floor and tried to think.

This was hard, but he knew that it was bound to be easy, once he figured it out. He just needed to clear his head and think logically. It's something that is nothing but is with you. He slammed his fist on the floor and admittedly wished he hadn't as pain shot through his fingers.

He looked up slowly and saw the bird over head. It was flying in his wand light causing a shadow to fall onto Bill's face. As he watched it Charlie's voice in his brain spoke up. A smile crossed his face. It was easy.

He stood up and spelt out shadow on the pedestal. There was a sudden movement and then silence again. Reaching out gently his hands touched the smooth glass of the udjat. He looked at it gently, the soft blues that were inside it. Yes it looked precious and expensive. He quickly put it in his pocket and made his way back the way he came. It was much easier now that he had broken the curses.

As he reached the main passage back into the temple he stopped and looked around. The temple was more or less empty now. He knew that it wouldn't be safe to leave because people would ask questions. So soundlessly he vanished on the spot and headed back to Cairo.

"I believe this is yours."

Bill placed the udjat onto the table sinking into a chair. Ramah didn't move as he inhaled on the cigarette in his mouth. But the look he wore told Bill that he hadn't really expected to see the udjat.

Then without any warning Ramah had seized the thing and put it in his pocket. Never before had Bill seen a client react like that. But Ramah gave a small smile.

"Don't want people to see our treasure Mr Weasley."

He stood up and turned to leave but Bill had hold of his right arm.

"There is a matter that you seem to have forgotten."

The Egyptian man nodded slightly.

"Of course."

Bill saw the man throw a sack onto the table. He picked it up with his free hand and counted it.

"It is all there Mr Weasley."

Then Ramah pulled his arm free and left the bar through the front door. Bill watched him with a certain amount of guilt. Something about what had just happened didn't feel right. Shaking his head though he headed off home.