Phantoms of the Pharaoh Page 9

  Fowler turned to his right slightly and pointed at the easternmost pyramid, and the largest of the three of these small queen pyramids.

  "If you followed that passageway which led underground and back into the Menkaure's pyramid, you would come to his burial chamber. Under his sarcophagus was a room filled with jewels, gold and other valuables the likes of which had never been seen."

  "Sounds like more poppycock," said Maurice, waving his right arm around which contained a cigarette between his fingers. "Just like these curses that these pharaohs put on anyone who disturbs their chamber. It's all mythology because people haven't figured out how to answer the unknowns through science."

  "Perhaps," said Fowler, "I'll let you be the judge of that. When we're finished with Menkaure's pyramid, you are more than welcome to go take a look for yourself. The secret passageway is now open to the public."

  Lady Pompress looked at Captain Wainscott and smiled. Abigail smiled at Albert and he nodded at her, but with less enthusiasm than she.

  "I've heard the story," said Simon. "Some say you might even find a trinket or two left over if you look closely."

  "I'm afraid not. After the secret passageway was discovered in 1898, the remaining valuables were taken and stored safely in museums around the world. There's nothing of value in there anymore."

  "You mean that somebody actually found this passageway to these secret chambers and took all the valuables from them?" asked Florence.

  "That's what we think, yes. It appears that they, and unfortunately, the culprits appear to have been British, managed to pilfer a large amount of the valuables. Though how much can't be determined, though we do know that several statues, vessels and gold coins were sold up until 1899 when it all stopped suddenly. And these valuables from those that have been identified match those that remained in Menkaure's pyramid so we know they were taken from there."

  "Why did they stop selling these valuables at that point?" asked Florence, quite intrigued by the mystery.

  "We're not certain, though there appears to be two thoughts on that matter. The first is that perhaps they had already sold most of what they had stolen, and the second is that international attention was brought to the theft and Scotland Yard was notified to keep an eye out for any unusual commercial activity regarding these sorts of goods. I like to think it was a bit of both."

  Florence looked at Frances and smiled.

  "How thrilling," she said. "A mystery of theft, right here at the pyramids of Giza."

  "I know," said Frances, "I've heard about it before. If you're interested, I might tell you about who the stories seem to suggest did it?"

  "Oh, do tell."

  "I will, in time."

  "Let's be off, ladies and gentleman," said Fowler, "it's quite hot here out in the Egyptian sun, perhaps a cool respite inside Menkaure's coffin might be in order."

  Fowler grinned at them but was met with mostly grim faces. The group was getting hot and tired. He started off and the straggle followed slowly behind him. Out of the corner of her eye, Frances saw Lady Pompress fall to the ground, her umbrella rolling away around her head.

  "Wait!" exclaimed Captain Wainscott, bending down to aid Lady Pompress.

  They all gathered around her to see what they could do to help.

  "Give her room," said Fowler, kneeling down beside her across from Captain Wainscott.

  "Does she have any conditions?" asked Fowler, looking at Captain Wainscott.

  "Well, I think it might be her blood sugars, she's a diabetic, though I worry she might have taken a little too much sleeping aid last night."

  "Does she have any insulin in her bag?"

  "Yes, but I wouldn't give it to her until we can find out what the problem is," said Wainscott.

  "Fair enough. Can you give her some shade," said Fowler looking at Abigail. Abigail walked in closer and angled her umbrella over Lady Pompress so that she was in shade. Fowler took out his clean white handkerchief, he gave it to one of the waiters.

  "Wet it with water," he said.

  The young man did so and handed it back to Fowler dripping wet. Fowler squeezed a bit of the water out and lay it upon Lady Pompress' forehead. She started to stir, and her eyes fluttered.

  "What happened?" Fowler asked.

  "I don't know. We turned to follow you and as we did, she just collapsed."

  "The heat has gotten to her," said Fowler. "You're going to have to keep her cool and give her lots of water to drink."

  Lady Pompress looked up at everyone with a squint.

  "Why am I on the ground," she demanded to know.

  "It appears you fainted my dear," said Wainscott.

  He started to help her up with Fowler. They had her back standing and she put the back of her hand to her head.

  "How are you feeling?" asked Wainscott.

  "Lightheaded," she said.

  "I think you should take her back to the canopy and let her sit down. I think she should stay out of the sun for the rest of the day," said Fowler.

  Fowler looked around.

  "Would anyone mind volunteering to help Captain Wainscott take care of Lady Pompress."

  No one stepped forward.

  "I'm afraid we'll have to cancel the rest of the afternoon then, and get her seen to in Cairo."

  "I'll take care of her," said Frances.

  "No, Fran, this is our first time here," said Florence.

  Frances put her free hand on Florence's forearm and smiled at her.

  "It's your first time here. You're forgetting that I've been here before, I've seen it all, but you go along and have fun."

  "Are you sure?"

  "I'm adamant."

  "Thank you, Frances," said Fowler.

  "Not at all," she said.

  Frances took a hold of Lady Pompress' hand and Captain Wainscott tried to help her with her other hand.

  "Leave me alone!" she said, "Just carry my umbrella."

  "Is it your diabetes, darling?" asked Captain Wainscott.

  "It most certainly isn't. We just finished eating, it can't possibly be."

  "Perhaps you took too much sleep aid last night."

  "Perhaps you speak too much," she said to him rudely. "I just need to rest."

  The three of them walked slowly back to the canopy with the Captain a couple of steps behind, safely out of the way of Lady Pompress' wrath. Fowler watched the three of them off, just to make sure everyone was okay. He stood with his fists on his hips and his neck cocked slightly to the left.

  "All right," he said, "let's be off to explore Menkaure's pyramid. Now, as I was saying, we won't be able to see the secret chamber from inside the main pyramid. But for those of you who wish to explore the queen's pyramid by yourselves, you'll easily find the hidden entrance inside it, because it is no longer hidden, and it will take you underground and back into the Pyramid of Menkaure..."

  Fowler and the other nine, walked slowly towards the Pyramid of Menkaure. Fowler chatting the whole way, offering little tidbits of fact interspersed with the more tasty morsels of fiction.

  Captain Wainscott pulled a chair around to the nearside of the table and helped Lady Pompress into it. He pulled another chair around for her feet which she put up onto the cushion. He pulled a third chair around for Lady Marmalade.

  "Thank you, Captain," she said.

  He smiled at her, and then went for a fourth chair which he brought around for himself. He was seated facing Lady Pompress on her right side. He offered her a glass of water that one of the waiters had brought. Lady Pompress drank deeply.

  Frances' chair was angled towards Lady Pompress, though she still had a good view of the pyramids. She watched as the small creatures, the size of ants, who were her fellow travelers got eaten by the small maw at the bottom of the Menkaure's pyramid. It was hard to tell, but it appeared to her that Fowler was the first one in.

  "You know, my dear," said Frances, looking at Lady Pompress, "if there's one thing I've learned in my travels all over the Orient
that one must drink lots of fluid to combat the heat."

  Lady Pompress didn't smile at Frances but she looked at her steadily.

  "Yes, well, this is my first time here in Egypt. I was not quite expecting such heat at this time of year. Though I suppose my Timmy is used to it, having served in Africa during the war. Aren't you, Timmy?"

  Captain Wainscott leaned in and his face was flushed.

  "I would prefer it if you called me Tim or Timothy."

  "Oh nonsense, Timmy, it is just a term of endearment."

  Frances felt embarrassed for him, but he didn't argue any further. He looked at Frances and smiled self consciously.

  "I don't think we've been properly introduced," said Captain Wainscott standing up and walking over to shake Lady Marmalade's hand. "I'm Captain Timothy Wainscott."

  "How do you do," said Frances. "I'm Frances Marmalade."

  Captain Wainscott looked at her for a moment quizzically.

  "Not THE Lady Frances Marmalade," he asked with delight.

  Frances smiled at him and nodded.

  "Yes, I'm afraid, the very same."

  "I am such a fan," he said. "I've followed..."

  "Oh really, Timmy," interjected Lady Pompress, "you're embarrassing yourself, she's just another lady, that's all."

  Wainscott turned and looked at Lady Pompress. He was still smiling.

  "Oh no, my dear, Lady Marmalade is quite the renowned sleuth."

  He turned back to Frances.

  "You aren't expecting any trouble out here are you, my Lady?" he asked.

  "Oh, I certainly hope not. I'm here as we all are, on holiday. But please, Captain, call me Frances."

  Captain Wainscott nodded enthusiastically.

  "Timmy, would you mind fanning me. I'm awfully hot," said Lady Pompress.

  "Certainly, my dear."

  Wainscott went back to his seat and sat down and started fanning Lady Pompress.

  "Don't forget to drink plenty of water, dear," said Frances.

  Lady Pompress didn't take any notice of Frances, she smiled tightly at Captain Wainscott.

  "I don't know why you're fawning over her, she doesn't seem like much," said Lady Pompress, as quietly as she dared. Frances could still hear her.

  "Frances, Lady Marmalade, has actually solved some of the most high profile cases in London. Do you remember that one where the Prime Minister's brother was murdered? Frances solved it."

  "Well, I helped the police as best I could," said Frances, smiling at him.

  "Nonsense, I spoke to one of the chaps at Scotland Yard and he said they couldn't have done it without your help."

  Frances didn't say anything.

  "That's all quite fascinating, Timmy," said Lady Pompress, "but I'm tired and not feeling well. Would you mind tending to me if it's not too much to ask?"

  Her voice was cold and calculated, and it shut Captain Wainscott up.

  "Tell me how you and Abigail happened to chose Egypt for a visit?" asked Frances good naturedly.

  Lady Pompress turned to look at Frances quite quickly with a severe look on her face and knitted eyebrows.

  "I am Lady Pompress if you don't mind using it. I've earned it honestly," she said with a hiss.

  Frances thought she hadn't earned anything honestly in her life.

  "My dear Abigail, I am not your equal, and I'll not use the title that came by your husband honestly."

  Lady Pompress turned her head away with a flick. She was quite put out. Both Lady Marmalade and Captain Wainscott ignored her.

  "We just recently got engaged, and I thought it would be a wonderful idea for us to come out to Egypt for a look at some of the antiquities. Abigail wanted especially to see the pyramids. Next year, once we're married, we'll probably spend our honeymoon in the south of France. I'm willing to spare no expense to make my darling Abigail happy."

  He smiled broadly at Frances, obviously quite proud of his engagement and pending nuptials. Poor boy, thought Frances.

  "How delightful," is what she said instead.

  Lady Marmalade didn't have any qualms with the fact that Lady Pompress was now engaged again, after only nine or ten months since her husband, Sir Stanley died. No, that didn't bother her in the least bit, different people mourn differently. What did bother her was how difficult and self centered the woman seemed to be. She just had a way of rubbing Lady Marmalade the wrong way.

  "So how do you like it so far?" Frances asked Wainscott.

  "Simply marvelous. As Abigail mentioned, I had spent some time in North Africa during the war, so I'm quite familiar with the environment and the desert heat. I quite like it actually. I hope it'll be all right for Abigail."

  He looked at her with genuine concern. She looked back at him with hard eyes.

  "Keep fanning, Timmy, if you don't mind," she said, as he had taken a break while conversing with Lady Marmalade.

  "I'm sure once we're on the boat, the breeze and the cool air from the Nile will be much to Abigail's liking."

  Frances noticed Lady Pompress frown when she mentioned her name. Frances almost couldn't help stifle a smile at the smallness of this woman's inner confidence.

  "I take it you've been here before," asked Captain Wainscott. "To Egypt I mean."

  He was trying to fan Lady Pompress as quickly as he could. But Frances could tell it was tiring him out.

  "Yes, I have been to Egypt a few times before. Mostly with my late husband. I haven't been back for at least ten years. But my dear friend, Florence Hudnall, has always held a special interest for Egypt since we were school friends. I thought it would be nice to bring her out to see it for herself."

  "How very kind of you," said Captain Wainscott.

  Frances smiled.

  "Though I'm thoroughly enjoying it myself. It's nice to be away from the busyness of the city. Away from murders and mayhem."

  Frances laughed, and Captain Wainscott did too, until he was given a look by Lady Pompress.

  "I haven't been all over Egypt either. I'm rather looking forward to seeing some of the other spots I've never been before like Luxor or Aswan for that matter, and I'm looking forward to seeing the dam at Aswan. Ever since it was almost overtopped last year, I've wanted to take a look at it before they build the high dam."

  "I can't say I'm particularly enamored with Egypt at the moment to be honest," said Lady Pompress.

  Frances smiled at her kindly.

  "I can understand," she said. "But give it a chance. I think you'll like it once we're on the boat and sailing down the cooler Nile with the breeze and the luxury."

  "Perhaps," said Lady Pompress from pinched lips, "though I'm not sure we'll do any more sightseeing, Timmy and I."

  Frances looked from Lady Pompress to Captain Wainscott. He looked thoroughly dejected, though he didn't say anything.

  "You might change your mind once you're feeling better," said Frances.

  "I never change my mind once it's made up," she said sharply.

  Frances smiled at her and looked away towards the pyramids. She could see the group slowly emerging from the small mouth of the Pyramid of Menkaure. She was on the far south edge of the canopy which gave her just enough of a view to see that much of Menkaure's pyramid. Fowler emerged first with his safari hat. Florence was out right behind him. Frances could tell, because she was a tall woman, and it was her height that one could easily use to identify her.

  They made their way slowly, Florence and Fowler talking and laughing about something or other. Abigail and Albert were on the other side of Fowler, actively participating in the conversation. The rest of the group straggled behind. When they were within earshot, Frances waved at her friend, and she waved back.

  "Would you please not stop fanning me, Timmy, honestly," said an exasperated, but otherwise quite healthy Lady Pompress.

  Captain Wainscott started fanning again, but this time his heart wasn't in it. The group of tourists led by Fowler entered the canopy and Florence came up to Frances.

  "Can
I get you a chair, Flo?" asked Frances.

  "No, I'm quite all right," she said.

  In the meantime, Captain Wainscott carried a chair and placed it next to Florence for her to sit on.

  "Why, thank you, kind sir," she said. "I'm Florence Hudnall, Frances' friend."

  She shook his hand before sitting down.

  "Captain Timothy Wainscott," he said. "Frances has told us about you. Your first time in Egypt is it?"

  "Yes, and I'm having the absolute time of my life."

  "Timmy, I'm quite parched," said Lady Pompress, "can you get me some water."

  Captain Wainscott left Frances and Florence to tend to his fiancée. He picked up the glass of water that was well within Lady Pompress' reach and handed it to her. He sat back down and slowly started fanning her.

  "We're here to try and enjoy ourselves," she said to him in a hushed voice. "Not for you to make friends and leave me all to myself. Honestly, Timmy, this is not looking good for our future."

  "I'm sorry, dear," he said quietly, "I wasn't thinking."

  Fowler looked at his watch, and then he looked up at the group of tourists, most of whom were enjoying a glass of water.

  "I make it three thirty, which means we have an hour before we need to leave. I'll be showing a tour of the Great Sphinx if anyone is interested. Alternatively you are free to tour the Giza pyramid complex at your leisure. However, I do ask that you return by four fifteen at the latest. We need to leave here at four thirty."

  Fowler looked around at the group. He took a sip of water from the small canteen that he kept attached to his belt and then replaced it.

  "If you'd like to join me, please gather in the southeast corner."

  That was directly behind where Frances and Florence were seated.

  "Would you like to tour the Sphinx?" asked Frances.

  "Oh yes," she said.

  The two of them got up and walked over to the southeast corner where they were met with Simon. Fowler came over and joined them.

  "Are you up for a short walkabout, dear?" asked Captain Wainscott, hopefully. "I'd love to take a look at the Sphinx."