The Deadly Curse (10 page)

Queen
Merhote
therefore
elected
to
die
and
be
buried
with
her
husband
,
as
is
her
right
.
Yet
we
could
not
tolerate
the
dreadful
prospect
of
eternal
separation
.
So
with
the
help
of
Grand
Vizier
Actaroth
,
who
owes
me
a
great
debt
for
a
service
I
rendered
him
many
years
ago
,
we
contrived
that
I
would
take
the
place
of
Karnos
II
in
the
burial
chamber
and
lie
with
my
beloved
Merhote
for
all
eternity
.
As
for
Karnos
,
his
body
will
be
secretly
removed
and
buried
in
an
unmarked
grave
on
the
hillside
.

There
remains
one
more
task
for
me
to
do
before
I
take
the
poison
and
depart
from
this
world
into
the
next
alongside
Merhote
.
The
gods
of
Egypt
are
not
easily
deceived
,
and
a
powerful
conjuration
will
be
needed
to
ensure
that
our
deception
remains
undiscovered
when
we
enter
the
realm
of
the
hereafter
.
I
have
summoned
the
spirits
of
Sekmet
and
Amum
and
imbued
their
power
into
the
most
important
of
the
tomb
goods
to
be
buried
with
us
.
As
long
as
all
the
holy
objects
remain
together
and
close
to
Merhote
and
me
,
we
will
be
safe
from
harm
.
I
will
instruct
the
faithful
Vizier
to
place
a
tablet
in
the
burial
chamber
,
warning
any
interlopers
of
the
perils
of
trying
to
separate
the
objects
placed
within
the
circle
of
quartz
.

A
final
word
:
if
any
read
this
confession
,
either
my
plan
has
failed
,
or
the
discovery
of
the
burial
chamber
has
placed
it
in
great
danger
.
My
purpose
in
writing
is
twofold
.
Firstly
:
to
warn
the
discoverer
of
this
inscription
–
if
it
is
not
already
too
late
–
to
reunite
the
contents
of
this
tomb
.
If
disunited
,
death
will
surely
strike
,
although
in
what
way
–
and
to
whom
–
cannot
be
predicted
.
I
have
invoked
this
terrible
power
,
but
do
not
pretend
to
control
it
.

Secondly
:
I
wish
it
to
be
known
that
the
responsibility
for
the
scheme
I
have
described
is
all
mine
.
Queen
Merhote
knows
of
the
subterfuge
,
but
has
played
no
part
in
its
inception
.
If
there
are
consequences
,
they
are
mine
alone
to
suffer
.

After Sarah had completed her reading there was a long silence. Mina was the first to speak.

‘I
wonder why Nebet concealed his confession in such an obscure manner? He must have realised it might never have been discovered.’

I
shrugged. ‘I suppose it was rather like putting a message in a bottle and hurling it out to sea. He must have felt uneasy at the thought that no one would ever learn the truth, however unlikely the discovery of his message.’

‘I
agree,’ Van Helsing said. ‘And he may have felt some guilt at denying Karnos II his rightful place in the afterlife. However, the confession has done us one service. It explains the apparently inconsistent workings of the curse.’

My
expression of puzzlement must have been obvious, for Van Helsing continued.

‘Let us consider what has taken place. When Theodore Flinzer sent the
khopesh
to Edinburgh, it did not prove fatal to the recipient – on the contrary, it appeared to return to its place of origin of its own volition, and to decapitate the person who had sent it. And then, instead of relocating itself in the strongroom alongside the other artefacts, it – or the power instilled in it – sent Flinzer’s head instead. As Nebet has stated, the power he invoked is dangerously unpredictable.’

Mina
interrupted. ‘And don’t forget that Nebet’s curse – or spell – is now over three thousand years old. It may have become even more volatile over such a long period, though no less fatal.’

‘Very
possibly,’ Van Helsing said. ‘Now, let us consider the second and third instances – the deaths of Signor Fosco Peretti and Dr Limonov. In both these cases it was the person
receiving
the goods that suffered a horrible fate.’

‘Wait,’
I said, raising my hand. ‘The snake armlet was almost certainly sent to Dr Limonov by Flinzer: remember that on the day before he died Flinzer received a cheque from Limonov for eighty pounds,, and the armlet must have been posted to Limonov that day, as he received it the following morning. So, by the time the armlet was received, Flinzer had already died as a result of his earlier disposal of the
khopesh
.’

‘And
it would be somewhat redundant to inject deadly venom into a man who has already been decapitated for some hours,’ Mina added. ‘But that still leaves the mystery of the young man who delivered the canopic jars to Peretti. For all we know, he too could have suffered some deadly fate.’

‘Deadly
indeed,’ Van Helsing said. ‘The more we learn about the High Priest’s conjuration, the more malevolent it appears. Have you observed the cruel irony of the
methods
used to kill these three unfortunates? Flinzer removed a weapon of war, and suffered an appropriately horrific injury. Peretti was complicit in the separation of the internal organs from the mummified bodies – and was rewarded by the removal of
his
heart, lungs, stomach and other necessary adjuncts to a healthy life. As for Limonov, his desire to possess the snake armlet led to a closer encounter with the reptile than he would have anticipated. The question is: what do we do now?’

I
paused for a moment before answering. ‘I really feel that we have no choice. We shall have to place Miss Wilton’s translation before Detective Inspector Delland tomorrow, and to ask him to do his utmost to obtain the inventory of the tomb goods from Flinzer’s widow. Then at least we can see if any more items have been removed from the strongroom. At the same time I will return the snake armlet to the collection. I do not want it to remain in this house for a moment longer than necessary.’

‘And
should we not make a further appeal to the Director of the Clarendon Institute of Archaeology?’ Mina asked.

Van
Helsing shook his head. ‘The man is an obdurate fool – I cannot imagine him even agreeing to an interview.’

*

As
it happened Van Helsing’s words were to be proved wrong. Sarah Wilton had stayed for dinner, and we were just about to summon a hansom to take her home to Endsleigh Street when a muffled knocking at the front door penetrated to the drawing room.

I
glanced at the clock on the mantelshelf. ‘Why, it’s almost midnight. I’d not realised we’d kept you this late, Miss Wilton. Who can be calling upon us at this hour?’

Mina
refilled her glass. ‘If it is Inspector Delland, with news of yet another outrage perpetrated upon a London antiquarian, I believe I shall plead a headache.’

My
wife’s fears were ungrounded. Van Helsing and I immediately recognised the flustered man who was ushered into the drawing room by the butler: it was Dr Franklin Harris, Director of the Clarendon Institute. He presented a very different figure from the image of detached urbanity that he had sought to convey at our last meeting. He was hatless and his uncombed hair stood up in greasy spikes.

‘Professor
Van Helsing – Mr Harker,’ he said breathlessly. ‘I apologise for the lateness of the hour. If you could return with me to the Clarendon Institute I would be greatly in your debt. When we last met I was sceptical about your warning regarding the coffin of Karnos. I now realise that I was badly mistaken.’

Chapter
8

Mina and Sarah Wilton insisted on accompanying Van Helsing and I to the Clarendon Institute, and the five of us commenced the short journey from St John’s Wood to Bloomsbury. Even at midnight the streets of the great metropolis were far from empty, although the character of the pedestrians had changed: the throng of businessmen, shoppers, clerks and loafers was now replaced by fashionable pleasure seekers enjoying their evening, whey-faced workers returning from their late hours in hotels, restaurants and counting houses and gaudily dressed women of the
demi
-
monde
.

‘Doctor,
are you able to tell us more about what has occurred?’ I asked. ‘Forewarned is forearmed, if you’ll forgive the
cliché
.’

Harris
seemed to hesitate, then turned to answer me. ‘I have been in the habit of checking the contents of our storeroom each day, to ensure that all is well. The room is used to house newly acquired artefacts that have not yet been allocated a place in the display halls, including the inner coffin of Karnos II that holds the Pharaoh’s mummified remains.’

As
the Director spoke I glanced at my friends. It seemed that, like me, they were unsure whether to tell the Director the truth about the coffin viz. that it contained the bodily remnant not of Karnos, but of his High Priest, Nebet.

Harris
continued before I had made up my mind to speak. ‘Three days ago I noticed that the coffin had been moved from the far side of the storeroom to the centre. I mentioned this to our chief curator, who said that the move had not been authorised. We put it down to an excess of zeal on behalf of one of the cleaners, and I thought no more of it. Then just after eight o’clock this evening – I was by then the only person on the premises apart from Johnson the night porter – I was in my office next to the storeroom, completing some paperwork, when I heard a muffled noise from the store, almost as if someone – or something – was walking with heavy steps across the floor. I entered, and noticed nothing amiss. Then some three hours later I heard the noise again, much louder this time. On this second occasion I again entered the room, upon which the sound ceased. On impulse I made my way to the coffin; it rests on two wooden trestles, and the lid has been unsealed so that it can readily be removed. I lifted it, only to discover that the mummified remains had entirely vanished! Naturally I suspected theft, and had almost left the storeroom to fetch the constabulary when something made me turn round once more. At that instance the coffin moved almost imperceptibly, as if something within had shifted or turned. With a huge effort I forced myself to open the lid once more – and this time the remains of Karnos were back in the coffin! Now, I am a teetotaller, and not given to fancies. I had no wish to go to the police with such a farfetched story, and certainly not to the trustees of the Clarendon: it could put my position here in jeopardy. So I felt it best to call upon you – Mr Harker and the Professor, that is – as you evidently know of some peculiarity concerning the relic.’

‘And
I am glad you did, Dr Harris,’ I said. ‘I see our journey is almost completed. I suggest you lead us to the coffin so that we can observe its latest incarnation, empty or otherwise.’

Harris
did not take us to the imposing main entrance of the building, but accompanied us to a small side door and took out a long brass key.

‘Johnson,
the night porter, is on duty,’ he said in hushed tones. ‘He occupies a desk in the foyer and is unlikely to visit the part of the building to which I am taking you. His duties are supposed to include a regular inspection of all the main areas, but I’m afraid that he is less than conscientious.’

The
Director ushered us into an electric lift of the most modern construction. As the cables whirred and we rose to the upper levels, I speculated on the possible dangers that we faced. Flinzer had been responsible for moving the remains of the High Priest in defiance of the instructions left by Nebet, but Flinzer was already dead. Would the spirit of Nebet be seeking another victim? Or had the High Priest now succeeded in rejoining the rest of the tomb contents in Flinzer’s strongroom? I briefly considered asking Mina to return home, but knew her too well to expect her to agree with my request.

When
the lift came to a halt we passed through the folding mesh gates and followed Harris the short distance to the storeroom. He opened the door and switched on the electric light: a convenience that had evidently been installed throughout the building.

A large array of objects was harshly illuminated by the fierce light of the two incandescent bulbs that hung from the high ceiling, but prominent amongst them was the highly decorated inner coffin depicting Karnos II, though now containing the earthly remains of Nebet.

A
moment later the two lights above our head were suddenly extinguished. The storeroom door was fortunately ajar behind us, and the light in the corridor still shone, dispelling some of the darkness. There was evidently no general failure in the supply of electricity.

I
felt Mina’s hand suddenly clutch my wrist, and her head bent forward as if staring intently at the coffin. I, too, observed it closely, yet could see nothing. Then Van Helsing drew in his breath and pointed towards it. At that moment I, too, could see what had attracted the attention of my wife and the Professor. Indistinctly at first, but then ever more clearly, a blue-white haze began to form around the outline of the coffin, like a thin mist reflecting the beam of a powerful light.

The
Director let out a strangulated cry and took a step backwards towards the door of the storeroom.

I
laid my hand on his upper arm. ‘Please be still, Dr Harris,’ I said. ‘I think it best that we face whatever is to occur.’

To
his credit Harris made no further movement, and we all watched – part horrified, part entranced – as the unearthly light grew stronger. A moment later,
although
the
coffin
lid
remained
in
place
, a tall figure emerged from within it and stepped noiselessly to the ground. This was no swathed mummy, desiccated and preserved for millennia: it was the healthy body of a strongly-built, dark-skinned man in the prime of his life, wearing a long patterned tunic, with his dark hair cut shoulder-length. A broad collar of gold and silver spanned his neck. There was nothing spectral about his appearance, which appeared as substantial as that of Professor Van Helsing standing next to me.

Sarah
Wilton leant towards me. ‘The High Priest,’ she whispered. ‘He is wearing his ceremonial dress, not the robes of a pharaoh.’

Nebet
strode towards Dr Harris, moving to within a yard of the terrified Director. The High Priest pointed an accusing finger, and Harris slumped to the ground, his hands clutching his throat. Before either Van Helsing or I could react, Sarah Wilton swiftly slipped between Nebet and his intended victim.

She
turned to the Priest and lifted up both hands, her fingers spread apart. ‘Nebet!’ she called loudly. ‘Listen to my words. The man who sought to take you from the side of Queen Merhote is dead, killed by the
khopesh
. He that faces you now is a mere servant, innocent of guilt. Return to your Queen. She needs you, and you can do no more here. Go to her!’

Nebet
dropped his hand, and Harris rolled sideways to the floor, gasping for breath. Once more the blue haze appeared, this time around Nebet
and
his coffin. The glow increased in intensity until it became too bright to bear and I closed my eyes. When I opened them a second later the two electric lights were once more illuminating every corner of the storeroom, and both Nebet and his coffin had disappeared.

*

Fortunately
Dr Harris appeared no worse from his experience. He thanked Sarah most fulsomely, believing that if she had not intervened his fate would have been certain. After taking him back to his rooms in the Clarendon, and ensuring that he drank a restorative whisky in defiance of his teetotalism – he kept a bottle for the refreshment of guests – I felt obliged to ask the shaken man a question.

‘Think
carefully, Dr Harris,’ I said. ‘Have you bought – or perhaps been offered – any other Ancient Egyptian relics in the last few weeks?’

He
looked at me in surprise. ‘Why, yes,’ he said. ‘However did you know? A young woman called just two days ago, on Wednesday. She said she had a life-size figure of Anubis for sale, and wanted fifty guineas in cash. I told her that we could only pay by cheque, and that in any case the purchase would need to be verified by the trustees, upon which she left.’

A
cold certainly began to form in my mind. I recalled the description that Mina and Sarah had given of Mrs Flinzer. ‘Was the woman in her late twenties, slightly built, with pale blond hair?’

‘Correct
again! Do you know the lady?’

Instead
of answering I turned to address Van Helsing and Mina. ‘It was Mrs Flinzer, I am certain. She failed to sell the Anubis figure to Dr Harris – but she may well have disposed of it since to a less scrupulous buyer. If so, her life could be in imminent danger! We must go to Islington immediately, despite the lateness of the hour. There will be a constable on duty there – we can ask him to summon Inspector Delland. Dr Harris, you must stay here and rest. I advise you to tell no one what you have witnessed.’

As
I left the Clarendon Institute I thought that it was highly unlikely that the Director would speak about his experience of the supernatural. It would hardly endear him to his superiors, and he impressed me as a man who prized his position very highly. No doubt he would think of a reason why the coffin had disappeared; I looked forward to reading the subsequent newspaper reports of a daring and inexplicable theft from the Institute.

*

Fortunately
we were able to secure a four-wheeler seeking the custom of late night pleasure seekers, and soon reached Mrs Flinzer’s house in Islington.

The
outside of the imposing villa was illuminated faintly by a nearby street light and a small bright glow could be seen moving along the frontage of the house. When our carriage drew up outside it was apparent that this was emanating from a bullseye lantern, carried by the policeman that Inspector Delland had placed on duty. The officer – I recognised him as Constable Jeffries – appeared to be searching for something. Then the Inspector himself appeared round the corner of the house with another constable; both were carrying lanterns.

Delland
strode up to us as we alighted from the four-wheeler. ‘Why, what brings you here?’ he said with an air of surprise.

‘There’s
no time to explain. Have you seen Mrs Flinzer?’ Van Helsing asked.

‘Not
ten minutes ago,’ he replied. ‘I woke her after the constable reported the disturbance.’

‘We
must speak to her immediately,’ I said. ‘What has occurred here?’

The
Inspector looked somewhat embarrassed. ‘Perhaps nothing. However, Jeffries is a reliable officer, not given to imagining things. About half an hour ago he was sure that he’d seen a large black dog running wild in the garden. Foreign looking thing with big ears. Well, he went after it, and it disappeared into a small patch of rhododendrons. Jeffries thought he’d cornered it, and very bravely pushed through the leaves to investigate – but the creature had somehow vanished. Then the next instant he heard it barking
at
the
other
side
of
the
house
. At that he sent for me, and I don’t blame him. We’ve made sure that the household is secure, and are having another look round, but there’s no trace of the creature now.’

‘Please
take us to Mrs Flinzer,’ I said. ‘We will explain everything when we have seen her.’

The
Inspector must have noted the air of urgency in my request, for he immediately rang the bell. We were admitted by Simpkins.

‘Has
your mistress gone back to bed?’ Delland asked.

‘No,
sir. She told me she intended to visit the strongroom, to check on the Wilton Collection.’

I
hurried down to the old cellar, followed closely by Mina, Sarah, Van Helsing and the Inspector. We all paused in front of the heavy metal door. It had been opened and pulled almost closed behind whoever had entered, leaving a gap of several inches. A dim yellow light from the gas jet that lit the room escaped into the corridor.

I
pulled open the door, and my friends entered swiftly behind me. I stepped into the strongroom then came to a sudden stop as I heard Van Helsing gasp with surprise behind me. The coffin of Karnos II – which we now knew contained the remains of High Priest Nebet – was once more in its place next to that of Queen Merhote. I forced myself towards it, and lifted the lid. Inside was a shrunken and mummified body wrapped in ancient bindings. I sighed in relief, for I had half expected to see the High Priest as he had appeared to us at the Clarendon Institute, in the prime of life.