between the two coffins, we gathered that it held significant importance.
“What do you think is inside?” Gannon asked.
“Only one way to find out,” I said.
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
Nerves shot through my arm as I reached out and put my hand atop the lid of the chest. Cautiously, I raised the lid and shined my flashlight inside. A sheet of yellowed linen was draped across the top. Gently, I lifted the corner of the sheet and pulled it back. Underneath were dozens of scrolls, tightly rolled, yellowed with age and bound by golden thread.
Serene gasped.
“The secret scrolls,” she said.
“I can’t believe it,” I said. “It’s all true.”
Gannon moved in with his video camera.
The idea that the information contained in these scrolls explained many of ancient Egypt’s greatest mysteries was almost unfathomable. The urge came over me to carefully pile the scrolls into our satchels. They looked to be in decent condition, but I couldn’t be sure. As old as they were, I was afraid they might crumble in my hand if I moved them. It was too risky. If I made the wrong decision, all of the secrets contained within the scrolls could be lost. I dropped the linen cloth back over the top of the scrolls and closed the chest.
“Wow,” I said. “I’m having a hard time catching my breath.”
“This is all so unbelievable,” Serene said. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“What do you think we should do with the scrolls?”
“I don’t know. I wish Dr. Aziz was here.”
“Me too. I’m afraid to touch them. We should probably leave them until he’s with us.”
Gannon kept his video camera rolling. He moved away from the chest and began capturing the detail along the top of Cleopatra’s sarcophagus, which drew my attention away from the scrolls. Solid gold with red, blue, black, and white paint, the top of the coffin was sculpted in her likeness. Her face, shaped with delicate cheekbones and lips, seemed so lifelike, I felt like I was staring at the Queen herself. The eyes, especially. I would almost swear they could see me.
I held out my hand to brush away the dust that covered the coffin.
“Stop!” Gannon shouted. “I don’t think you should touch it!”
As much as I wanted to dust them both off, slide open the covers and see with my own eyes the mummies of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, two monumental figures in world history, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“They should be left to rest in peace,” Gannon said.
“I agree,” Serene said.
I withdrew my hand.
“This is totally mind blowing and all,” Gannon said, “but to be honest, I don’t feel all that good about being here.”
Gannon stepped to the sarcophagus.
“Cleopatra,” he said, “please forgive us for disturbing your burial chamber. We mean no disrespect. Same goes for you, Mr. Antony. We’re very sorry. Please accept our apology.”
“That was nice, Gannon,” I said, about to laugh. “You definitely scored some points for sincerity.”
Gannon turned to us.
“I’ve got everything documented on camera,” he said. “What do you say we get the heck out of here, like right now?”
“Good idea,” Serene said.
“But what are we going to tell the tomb robbers?” I asked. “If we tell them what we’ve found, they’ll blast their way in and steal everything.”
We sat quietly for a moment, thinking of what to do. One thing was certain: We couldn’t let them get their hands on the treasure. It’s like Dr. Aziz told all of us, this is Egypt’s heritage. And it was now our duty to protect it!
GANNON
Can’t say I didn’t warn everyone. Because I did. Over and over again. I mean, for real. Did anyone really think that we could just waltz on down to the center of the earth, intrude on the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and not trigger some kind of crazy curse?
Please!
I know Wyatt and Serene took all kinds of detailed notes on what we found down there with the treasure and scrolls and
“What do you think is inside?” Gannon asked.
“Only one way to find out,” I said.
“I was afraid you’d say that.”
Nerves shot through my arm as I reached out and put my hand atop the lid of the chest. Cautiously, I raised the lid and shined my flashlight inside. A sheet of yellowed linen was draped across the top. Gently, I lifted the corner of the sheet and pulled it back. Underneath were dozens of scrolls, tightly rolled, yellowed with age and bound by golden thread.
Serene gasped.
“The secret scrolls,” she said.
“I can’t believe it,” I said. “It’s all true.”
Gannon moved in with his video camera.
The idea that the information contained in these scrolls explained many of ancient Egypt’s greatest mysteries was almost unfathomable. The urge came over me to carefully pile the scrolls into our satchels. They looked to be in decent condition, but I couldn’t be sure. As old as they were, I was afraid they might crumble in my hand if I moved them. It was too risky. If I made the wrong decision, all of the secrets contained within the scrolls could be lost. I dropped the linen cloth back over the top of the scrolls and closed the chest.
“Wow,” I said. “I’m having a hard time catching my breath.”
“This is all so unbelievable,” Serene said. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“What do you think we should do with the scrolls?”
“I don’t know. I wish Dr. Aziz was here.”
“Me too. I’m afraid to touch them. We should probably leave them until he’s with us.”
Gannon kept his video camera rolling. He moved away from the chest and began capturing the detail along the top of Cleopatra’s sarcophagus, which drew my attention away from the scrolls. Solid gold with red, blue, black, and white paint, the top of the coffin was sculpted in her likeness. Her face, shaped with delicate cheekbones and lips, seemed so lifelike, I felt like I was staring at the Queen herself. The eyes, especially. I would almost swear they could see me.
I held out my hand to brush away the dust that covered the coffin.
“Stop!” Gannon shouted. “I don’t think you should touch it!”
As much as I wanted to dust them both off, slide open the covers and see with my own eyes the mummies of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, two monumental figures in world history, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
“They should be left to rest in peace,” Gannon said.
“I agree,” Serene said.
I withdrew my hand.
“This is totally mind blowing and all,” Gannon said, “but to be honest, I don’t feel all that good about being here.”
Gannon stepped to the sarcophagus.
“Cleopatra,” he said, “please forgive us for disturbing your burial chamber. We mean no disrespect. Same goes for you, Mr. Antony. We’re very sorry. Please accept our apology.”
“That was nice, Gannon,” I said, about to laugh. “You definitely scored some points for sincerity.”
Gannon turned to us.
“I’ve got everything documented on camera,” he said. “What do you say we get the heck out of here, like right now?”
“Good idea,” Serene said.
“But what are we going to tell the tomb robbers?” I asked. “If we tell them what we’ve found, they’ll blast their way in and steal everything.”
We sat quietly for a moment, thinking of what to do. One thing was certain: We couldn’t let them get their hands on the treasure. It’s like Dr. Aziz told all of us, this is Egypt’s heritage. And it was now our duty to protect it!
GANNON
Can’t say I didn’t warn everyone. Because I did. Over and over again. I mean, for real. Did anyone really think that we could just waltz on down to the center of the earth, intrude on the tomb of Cleopatra and Mark Antony, and not trigger some kind of crazy curse?
Please!
I know Wyatt and Serene took all kinds of detailed notes on what we found down there with the treasure and scrolls and
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