The Gold in the Grave (3 page)

“But the plot,” Antef reminded her. “Did you get a job in the funeral of King Tutankhamen?”

Dalifa nodded once. “I travel with the funeral all the way. From the temple, over the river and all the way to the tomb.”

“Ahh!” Antef breathed. “That is another piece of the plot in place.”

“Then I hope I never have to go back to that blood-soaked temple again,” Dalifa said. “The chief priest of Osiris is a terrifying man–and this morning he reminded us all of the hideous punishments we would suffer if there is a theft at the funeral.”

Even Antef looked worried. But not as worried as when a shadow blocked the light from the doorway and a soldier stood there.

Chapter 3
The Grim Guard

The soldier was even larger than Kerpes. His face was scarred from battle blows and his voice was harsh as a vulture’s cry.

“Antef–grave robber. I want a word with you and your friends.”

“We’ve done nothing!” Antef said quickly.

“Tutankhamen’s widow has sent me to check on all the grave robbers of Thebes. So what are you plotting?” the soldier asked.

Antef shrugged. “The boy was just showing us how the walls of the tomb are painted,” he said.

“So show me,” the soldier said and he knelt beside me.

The soldier picked up my sketch. I hadn’t had time to hide it. “This looks like a plan of the King’s tomb, Antef,” he said.

“Really!” The old man gasped. “You surprise me, soldier.”

The man clutched at his knife and straightened. “I am Khammale and I am not a simple soldier. I am captain of the palace guard.”

“Sorry, officer,” Antef smiled.

“I saw that idle Kerpes leave here a few moments ago. What part is he in the plot?” Khammale asked. “Coffin carrier?”

Antef tried to answer but, if he was like me, his mouth was too dry to speak. Dry with fear because Captain Khammale had already guessed that part of our plot.

He went on, “And I suppose the boy is a scribe who went in to the tomb to spy out the plan? The girl here will be a priestess, I expect.”

“No!” Dalifa said. “I made some of the ornaments that will be going in the tomb.”

“Shut up, Dalifa!” Antef said savagely. “The good officer doesn’t want to know about that!”

“Oh, but I do,” Captain Khammale said.

Dalifa smiled and said, “I’ve always made ornaments and little statues. So, of course, I was happy to offer my skills to the priests to make ornaments for Tutankhamen’s tomb.”

Captain Khammale nodded. “Now you will help Antef to take them out again. Melt the gold and silver down and make new ones to sell and make your fortune!”

“No!” Antef said. “We would never rob the grave of our dear, dead King. Never!”

“Good,” Captain Khammale grinned. “Because if you try it, and if I catch you, I will tie you to a tree, then I will cut off your ears and then your nose. Then I will cut off little strips of skin one at a time and pour salt water into the cuts. Then I will let the ants and the jackals finish you off.”

“Would you like that, Antef?”

The old man shook his head. My own mouth felt as dry as dust at the horror of the thought. The Captain rose and left.

“We can’t go ahead now,” I said.

Antef looked at the empty doorway. “Oh, yes we can, Paneb. I have spent all my money on this plot. There is no turning back now.”

In the warm room I shivered.

Chapter 4
The Terrible Trap

“Antef,” I snivelled, “I don’t want to have my ears cut off! I’d scream!”

Dalifa threw her head back and laughed. “If your ears were cut off you wouldn’t hear yourself!”

“It’s not funny,” I shouted.

The old man reached across, grabbed my tunic and hissed, “Captain Khammale was just guessing. He knows nothing. Anyway, he is just one man. He can’t stop us.”

Dalifa scoffed, “Paneb’s frightened.”

“You will have Dalifa with you. Think of the riches waiting for you,” Antef breathed.

Dalifa smiled at me and said, “I have seen those riches, Paneb,” she said proudly. “One golden servant for each day of the year and enough jewellery to break a camel’s back,” she went on.

“Kerpes and I will be waiting at the end of the tunnel with some strong men to carry it all to the boat.” Antef added.

I blinked. “Tunnel? What tunnel? It’s just a door into a passage. I pass the goods through a door.”