Egypt by Patti Wheeler Read Free Book Online

to Dr. Aziz in Arabic. When they were done talking, Dr. Aziz translated to us.
    “The boulder has been withdrawn just enough for us to enter,” he said. “But before we do, we will allow the chamber to breathe for a while. That will let the bad air out and the good air in. Then it will be safe.”
    “Seriously, Wyatt,” I whispered. “I don’t know about this.”
    “Look,” Wyatt said, “Just think of it as a big hole in the ground. All we’re going to do is walk inside and take a look around.”
    “But, no one has ever been inside this hole, which means no one knows what’s down there. For all we know there could be booby traps. Jeez, I can see the headline now: Young Explorers Die After Being Hit by Poisonous Darts.”
    “You watch too many movies,” Wyatt said. “Besides, we’re with Dr. Aziz. What could go wrong?”
    Famous last words, right?
    Anyway, looks like I’m going in. Not that I really have a choice. Well, technically I do, but I can’t exactly bail on our first archeological exploration just because I’m a little nervous. Dr. Aziz would scratch his head and wonder why the heck I even applied and he’d definitely be upset that I’d been picked when there were so many other qualified kids that deserve to be here.
    Right now we’re all just sitting around quietly in this blinding afternoon sun, waiting for all the toxic air to clear the tomb so we can poke around inside and get ourselves cursed … or worse!
WYATT
    FEBRUARY 25, 3:56 PM
    LUXOR, EGYPT, 25° 43’ N 32° 36’ E
    25° CELSIUS, 77° FAHRENHEIT
    Once the air cleared, we followed Dr. Aziz down a steep and narrow passage into the tomb, each of us holding a flashlight. Dust swirled in the beams as we moved deeper into the earth.
    Dr. Aziz was like a little kid on his birthday.
    “This is what makes my job so exciting,” he said, hardly able to contain himself. “Remember, move slowly. You never know what we’re going to run into down here.”
    “Um, what exactly might we run into?” Gannon asked.
    “Follow me and we’ll see.”
    Moving down the steps, I heard a strange sound. It almost sounded like a “hiss.” Was my mind playing tricks on me? Was it just the sound of a boot sliding over the steps, or was it what I thought it was—a snake?
    It was so dark I was having a hard time seeing anything clearly, even with the flashlight. I was disoriented. I couldn’t keep my balance.
    Then, I heard that sound again. It was a hiss. This time I was sure of it. From the corner of my eye, I caught sight of something moving within the stones. I stepped back slowly, careful not to make any quick movements. When I turned the flashlight on the wall, I saw the flutter of a narrow tongue as it lashed out. It was a snake, all right. Its beady eyes were staring right at me!
    “Uh, there’s a snake down here,” I said, nervously pointing at the reptile. “It’s coiled up right here in the stones.”
    “Just keep moving,” Dr. Aziz said. “If you don’t bother the snake, it probably won’t bother you.”
    Honestly, his words weren’t very reassuring. But, I did as he said and continued quickly down the steps, further underground.
    We finally came to a narrow doorway that was partially closed off by a collapsed slab of stone. There was a small, square-shaped opening in the bottom. Dr. Aziz knelt down and shined his flashlight inside.
    “Remarkable!” he said with so much enthusiasm you’d have thought he just found the Ark of the Covenant. “What a treat I have for you young fellows! Follow me!”
    At that, Dr. Aziz crawled through the opening and disappeared. Gannon shined his flashlight on me.
    “Is he serious?” he whispered.
    “Of course he’s serious.”
    “To be honest, I’d rather stay right here. I’m sorry, I’ve tried to keep my mouth shut, but I’m feeling more than just a little claustrophobic.”
    “Dr. Aziz said he’s got a real treat for us,” James said. “Don’t you want to see what’s