He looked in the direction he calculated the shooting star would have gone. There, sure enough, was a large mound.
'Er -- is that it?' he asked Abdul.
'Yes indeed. But we must go around it first. There is an old trail that we turn on. You must have seen it from a photograph?'
'No,' said Ernie, almost under his breath. 'Eddie never showed me any of the photographs.'
'Hmmm!' grunted Abdul with interest.
Ernie was now wishing he had. He had meant to ask for them, but had been too busy with the other details. Had he looked, that would have at least provided an escape hatch to reality, which he needed right now. The only other explanation altered his perception of things too much.
They came to the turn off. Abdul manoeuvred the vehicle carefully onto it and put it into four-wheel drive. Then they slowly and painfully made their way.
Sections of the trail had been covered during various sand storms. The parts that were visible were almost no trail at all.
When they were sufficiently close to the mound, Abdul stopped.
'This is a good place to set up,' he said.
'Why don't we set up on that side, like Pop did?' Ernie asked before he realised what he was saying.
'You must have studied the photos down to the smallest detail!' said Abdul.
He started the car again, and they drove over to the side Ernie suggested. All the others followed.
Ernie managed to keep himself busy enough with the setting up of camp not to think too much about the familiarity of the situation. However, he found himself directing vehicles and caravans into the same arrangement the earlier ones had occupied 30 years before.
Abdul continued to be amazed.
All the while, Eddie and some of the others were inspecting the mound.
Ernie put off his first visit as long as he could. Finally, after a meal under the big canopy, Eddie invited him up to look, and Ernie had no recourse.
While they walked up to the mound, Ernie tried to brace himself for what he was about to see by convincing his own psyche that perhaps he had, after all looked at some of the photos. Maybe Pop had shown them to him. He couldn't remember.
Most of the pit, except for a bit of the taller monument, had been buried during various sand storms. What was left did look uncomfortably familiar. At least Ernie was relieved that it did look different, not that this was a logical thing to be glad about.
That evening the whole team gathered around a fire while Eddie gave a few words about the history of the dig, and what they were to expect. Abdul was also asked to add his perspective on the excavation in the days of Alec Magawan. Most of what he shared was straightforward technical talk.
But hadn't Pop said Abdul spotted a clue where the door was?
Finally, it was Ernie's turn to give guidelines as to the living arrangements, and where to find what, and who to ask for whatever.
After that, people sat and talked into the evening, one by one going off to bed, until Ernie was left alone, nursing a cup of hot chocolate. After another refill he gazed at the stars for a while. Then he looked over towards the mound.
Was there a slight greenish halo over the mound, or was it the lights playing tricks with his fatigued eyes?
What was that low hum?
Probably the voltage regulator for the camp electrical supply.
After a while, he went into the caravan, which he shared with his brother, and went to bed.
He managed to go right to sleep.
Around two a.m. he was awakened on dreaming that he heard someone say something he understood as, 'Everything depends on the success of this mission.'
The -- what? Who said that? What did it mean?
The more he pondered it, the more confusing it seemed, because it was said in a language he didn't know.
Then how did he understand it?
While trying to remember the sound of the words, he fell asleep. Soon he was dreaming again.
He was with a group of others like him. He said, 'I know that this endeavour is the only hope of containing the evil.'
He had an impression of intense evil stretching its claws over the entire universe. He was sitting where he had that evening, looking at the stars. One by one they were disappearing, as though a dark clawed hand were stretching over the sky.
He was sitting near the fire with his cup of hot chocolate, but at the same time he was among the group of whatever they were -- both places at the same time.
Someone was asking him, 'What's the plan?'
'The crystal will tell us more. We're out of time. We must consult the crystal,' he was answering. Then he produced a green glowing crystal.
From where he was sitting with his cup, he looked at the mound. There, he saw a distinct greenish halo, and heard a loud hum. It wasn't the voltage regulator.
Now, he was awake, sitting bolt upright in bed in a cold sweat.
There was no hum -- only an impression of having just heard it.
He looked out the window, from which he could see the mound. All he saw was the light of the full moon shining on the sand. All the stars could still be seen.
Finally he fell into a more peaceful sleep.
Chapter 5
The next day, work began on the mound. Those who were already experienced started digging carefully in their assigned spots while Eddie trained the newer ones.
Most of the work for the first day or so involved removing the sand that had accumulated in the last 30 years. Then, they could proceed with that from the previous three millennia.
Not that this was any of Ernie's concern. His role involved the day to day needs of the very much alive people on this side of the ground, not the dead priests and their attendants, and whatever else lay immediately below -- emphasis on 'whatever else'. He intended to keep it that way.
By the third day, a routine had been established. They were all up at first light so they could get as much done as possible while it was still cool. Breakfast was after sun-up, and that was a simple affair of biscuits or Danish pastries, or bread and jam, downed with tea and coffee. There was also a mid morning tea break, and then lunch at noon. That was followed by a long siesta. Not a lot was expected during the hot afternoon. The early evening was when work picked up again in earnest, and that went on till sunset.
Though Eddie coaxed, Ernie remained unmoved at his post in the common area under the canopy.
'What's with you?' Eddie asked, as they were finishing their tea following the afternoon siesta, about the third day. 'You act like you're afraid of the mound! Don't have a fear of mummies do you?'
'I don't know. I guess it just isn't my thing,' Ernie said.
'What is your thing then? When are you going to sort yourself out? You've got to settle down to something, don't you! And we could use your help up there.'
With that, he got up and walked towards the mound.
'All right, back to work you lot!'
Ernie poured himself some more tea, and took another biscuit. He certainly wasn't about to tell Eddie about the latest twist in his dreams -- not after he had run roughshod over all earlier attempts at opening up.
He wasn't even sure that he understood his own feelings.
On one hand, there was the prospect of finding something bigger than he felt he could cope with -- if his dreams were to be believed, that is.
On the other, if his dreams were indeed to be believed, the equilibrium of the entire universe was at stake pending the completion of some mission or other. That rather put the pressure on.
But what if his dreams weren't to be believed? Then there would be nothing under the ground but a mummy and a few artefacts. That consideration put weight on the side of taking a look to find out.
He knew he would have to have a look sooner or later. He just wasn't prepared to do it right now.
Abdul came and sat down across from him, and poured himself a cup.
So far, he had said nothing about the clue Pop had menti
oned. Ernie took the initiative.
'Uncle Abdul, when I talked to Pop about coming here, he said that on the last day of the digging, you spotted something that could be a clue to where the entrance is.'
'Ahh, yes.' He sat in silence for a moment.
Ernie wasn't inclined to rush him.
'Ahh, yes,' he said again. 'But really, it was the night before that I saw it.'
'The night before?'
'Yes indeed. The night before. I've told this to no one but your father. He was a very understanding man, your father. He understood deep spiritual things. When I told him, he just nodded his head and didn't say anything. I didn't know what he though of it until just now. The fact that he told you indicates that he took me seriously.'
'What was it you saw?' Ernie asked.
'You seem more like your father than Edward. Perhaps you might understand it -- or, if not, at least you'll not think me a raving loony. On the night before we were told to cease digging, I saw the whole mound radiating a blue light. I went up to look. What I saw was that in front of the central monument, just about two meters, sand and dirt had been blown away as though a powerful wind had blown downward. I could see the stone floor, and there, I saw a square of light, as though something were inside the tomb shining through the cracks of a square slab. I knew immediately it was a sign from Allah. But it wasn't Allah's will that we should open it. The next day, we were told we had no more funding for the digs, but I knew that one day, I would have the chance to come back. I had thought of telling this to your brother, but he isn't like your father. He's not inclined to believe things like that.'
Ernie just sat there with his forehead in his hands.
'Are you aright, Ernie? You look pale!'
'I - I think there's something I must tell you, Uncle Abdul.'
'Yes?'
'This might take a while.'
Abdul refilled both teacups.
'You know, the day we came,' began Ernie, 'when it seemed like I knew where everything ought to be?'
'Go on.'
'I really hadn't ever looked at any of the photographs of the previous digs.'
Then, Ernie went on to tell about some of his earlier dreams, and then of his father's and mother's account of the green shooting star, and then of his dream while on the aeroplane.
Abdul's rapt attention had the effect of making Ernie's words flow that much more freely. Finally, he told of the dreams of the last few nights. When he was finished, Abdul was ecstatic.
'You are on a mission from Allah!' he said. 'I think they have dug almost down to the stone floor. When they do, I think you must go to see if the door will open. I will go with you if you wish.'
'Yes, I would definitely want you to go too.'
Abdul put his hand out and grabbed Ernie's. 'Don't be afraid, Ernie. Allah will be with you. I will go with you too. I have waited all my life for this. I knew this day must come.'
Having got it off his chest made Ernie feel a lot better. Also Abdul's enthusiasm about the whole thing gave him courage.
Later in the afternoon, Ernie found it in himself to walk up to the mound and observe the digging. More and more features had been uncovered, and now it looked unmistakably familiar.
Some of the foreboding came back again, but this time he met it head on.
He walked to the spot about two meters in front of the monument. There was as much sand covering it now as he remembered there being before the meteor landed in his dream. He stood there gazing at the spot for a moment, and then went to get a shovel.
It took just a few minutes to get down to the stone floor. He cleared a spot a bit larger than what he remembered the opening to be. There were no cracks nor anything that suggested a door of any sort.
Strange.
He cleared away more of the area around about. Then, he got down on his hands and knees and tried to feel for any seams, blowing the dust away in spots.
Just smooth solid rock.
Finally, he went back to the mess tent.
Before turning in that night, he said to Abdul discreetly, 'I cleared off the spot in front of the monument, but I found no door.'
'Allah will show you the door,' said Abdul.
Chapter 6
Ernie was awakened by another dream.
He had seen himself standing in front of the monument, looking at the bare spot in the pavement he had cleared. It was night, and as he looked, the outline of a square appeared in the pavement in luminous green. And then, he opened his mouth and spoke:
'Vratzan Ghish Phondesh.'
As he said it, the stone panel outlined by the green light began to move so that it sloped downward, away from him. Then, all at once, the whole panel slid into a slot along the far side of the newly opened door. Underneath, was a passage dimly visible by a greenish bluish light.
That's when Ernie woke up.
He could clearly remember the words he had spoken. There was even a familiarity about them, especially the last word, 'Phondesh'.
After sitting up for a while, he decided to get up and walk to the mound. He put on a jacket and went quietly out.
Halfway there, he decided he should awaken Abdul first. He walked back to the encampment and up to one of the other caravans and tapped on the window next to where he knew Abdul slept.
The window opened a crack.
'I'm going up to the mound. Want to come?'
In a few seconds Abdul was out the door and they walked to the mound together.
Having Abdul along was good in a way Ernie hadn't realised. The security guard stationed in front of the mound would have inhibited anything happening out of the ordinary.
Abdul walked up to him and said something in his ear, and the guard walked good-naturedly to the canopy.
Together, they climbed to the top, and then down into the pit. There, they stood in silence, both gazing at the same spot on the stone surface.
It looked just as plain in the light of the moon as it had in the late afternoon.
'I saw the door here in my dream just now,' he whispered to Abdul.
'That's also where I saw it 30 years ago,' he answered.
Nothing happened. They just stood there.
It felt like any other night. No magic -- just the coldness of the desert.
Maybe, Ernie thought, he should give it up and go back to bed. But Abdul still stood next to him, unmoving.
Maybe he could just try the words he heard in his dream.
'Vratzz -- er...' there was a frog in his throat.
'Pardon?' responded Abdul.
Ernie cleared his throat and tried again.
'V-vratzan Ghish Phondesh.'
At first it appeared nothing happened.
They couldn't hear anything, but soon they both knew something was different. Then they were aware of a low hum that was becoming gradually more audible. It was the same sound he had heard before.
Then, the luminous outline of a square appeared in the pavement.
Now, the hum was plainly audible, sounding like a high voltage generator, but at a low tone.
As they watched, the stone panel sloped downward away from them until it slid into the slot, just like in the dream. Inside, there was the passage, dimly lit by the greenish bluish light.
The floor of the passage could be seen below.
Abdul said, 'You must go. I will wait for you here.'
Ernie grabbed two opposite sides of the hole, and dropped himself down. It was a longer jump than he had expected. It would be a challenge to get out again -- another good reason for having brought Abdul.
He walked in the direction away from the monument, just as he had seen in his dream on the aeroplane. There were the same twists and turns.
He was just beginning to wonder how the light could shine around so many corners, when he found himself at the entrance of the chamber. The source of the light was ahead of him, on the pedestal in the middle of the room. It was a crystal as big as the palm of his hand, and it glowe
d just like in his dreams.
By the greenish bluish light Ernie could see the whole room clearly. It was an unusual arrangement for a burial chamber. Everything was centred about the pedestal in an unnatural order: a statue of Ra on the ground, as though it had fallen off; the gold objects set here and there; and the sarcophagus over against the wall, as though grudgingly ceding the position of honour to the pedestal.
But right now, that seemed like meaningless trivia. The only thing that mattered was the crystal. He reached out and took it.
As he retraced his steps to the door, the glowing of the crystal grew less and less. As it dimmed, so did the mystique of it. By the time he reached the moon lit area just below the door, his mind was more occupied with the chamber and its contents than the crystal.
In one blow, they had just about accomplished the purpose of the entire expedition.
Abdul gave him a hand up.
He showed him the crystal, which now shone only a faint greenish glint out of one of its facets, which could just as well have been a reflection of the moonlight.
'Allah will show you what you must do next,' said Abdul.
He put the crystal in his pocket.
So, this was the job of an archaeologist, was it? A treasure hunting adventure? Did 'X' mark the spot?
He could just picture Indiana Jones suddenly popping out of nowhere, saying, 'That belongs in a museum!'
But this was no museum piece. He tried to imagine it in a glass case, marked, 'Crystal from outer space that arrived in 1967, bearing archaeologists pre-existent soul, to save the galaxy.' No, the museum pieces were still in the burial chamber.
'Why don't we wake Eddie up,' suggested Ernie. 'He'll be happy about the passage anyway.'
So they did, explaining to him that Ernie hadn't been able to sleep, so he had strolled to the mound and, sort of by accident, opened the door.
'So, what was all the talk about, "...this isn't my thing..."?' said Eddie, as they peered down into the passage. 'And what about the mummies? You'll get bitten one of these days if you're not careful!'
Ernie felt as though he'd been bitten by something far worse than a mummy, but he kept that to himself.
Together, they explored the passage and the burial chamber. Eddie was pleased with the findings. For one thing, it was unlike any other burial chamber he'd ever seen. It would make a thoroughly intriguing study, maybe even an article in National Geographic.
For the next few days, they worked as two teams, one photographing and mapping the inside, and categorising the artefacts in the chamber, while the other continued uncovering the exterior.