The Forbidden Tomb

70

Jasmine had hinted to Kaleem that there was more to tell about her expedition, but she needed one last moment to consider what she was allowed to reveal. Even in her time of crisis, with her life on the line, she was worried what the others might think.

Eventually, she decided that they would understand.

‘What do you know about the tsunami in 365 AD?’ she whispered.

‘Are you referring to the earthquake in Crete?’

She nodded. ‘I have reason to believe that the body was moved at the time.’

Kaleem didn’t understand. ‘Are you saying that Alexander was washed out to sea? Because I don’t believe that for a second. The harbor has been exhaustively searched. And even though they have found ruins, nothing would lead me to believe that his tomb is sitting at the bottom of the water.’

She smiled. For the time being, she thought it best to leave out any mention of the Fates or Pandora’s box. Their role in the decision was far less important than the decision itself. ‘Alexander wasn’t lost in the flood; his body was moved because of it.’

‘This is what you learned from the wall?’

She nodded. ‘The implication was clear: Alexander’s body was relocated so that he would not fall victim to the disaster.’

‘Relocated to where?’

‘I don’t know,’ she answered. ‘The wall only told us when and how it was moved, not where. According to the message, Alexander was smuggled from beneath the city and carried to a waiting boat.’

Until that moment, she had been thrilled by her discovery that Alexander had left the city by way of the coast — if only because it had given them a concrete lead to follow. But hearing it aloud in the strangle-hold of the prison, she was struck by how insignificant it seemed. In fact, the more she thought about it, Alexander’s departure seemed to raise more questions than it answered. The Sahara was vast, but it was nothing compared to the sea. Suddenly, her optimism waned as she considered the seemingly endless destinations that her story allowed.

She stared at Kaleem, fearful that her tale would not be important enough to trade for their freedom. ‘Do you think that will be enough?’

‘Maybe,’ he said, unsure. ‘Is there anything else?’

She shook her head. ‘That’s everything I know.’

Kaleem forced a smile. ‘Then they will have to accept it. The mystery of Alexander has remained for thousands of years. And it will remain for thousands of years to come.’ He gently took her hand in his. ‘His fate is not yours to determine.’

Jasmine appreciated his attempt to console her. She understood that she could only give them what she knew. The rest was beyond her control.

She reached out and pulled him in for a long hug.

For her, the physical contact was remarkably soothing.

Her worries seemed to melt away in his grasp.

Sadly, her solace was short-lived.

Without warning, the heavy door was flung open and smashed into the wall as three robed men stormed into the cell. No words were spoken as they charged forward to separate the inmates, but none were needed. Their intention was quite clear.

Jasmine clung to Kaleem, fearing for his life. Having made a connection to the old man, she desperately hoped that they would be permitted to stay together.

But it was not to be.

The sentries made that known as they pried the duo apart.

Jasmine raised her head and pleaded for forgiveness for whatever they had done wrong, but all that did was piss them off. In response, the nearest guard delivered a backhand to the side of her face. The vicious blow sent her reeling across the floor. He charged forward and screamed at her in no uncertain terms that interference of any kind would be punished with violence.

Chained to the wall, she knew it didn’t make sense to fight back.

Now wasn’t the time to escape.

Meanwhile, Kaleem was pinned to the ground as they removed his leg irons. A minute later, they dragged his frail body toward the exit.

In the last fleeting moment, she caught a glimpse of Kaleem’s face as he was hauled from the chamber. He wasn’t flushed with panic. His eyes were steely and calm. It was as if he knew his time had come. There were no tears. There were no pleas. He did not beg for his life. He had accepted the inevitable with dignity and grace.

In her heart, she knew that she would never see him again.

The instant the door slammed behind him, Kaleem rose to his full height. He nodded to his left, then to his right, assuring the guards that he could stand on his own. They instantly released their grasp and backed away.

The charade was finally over.

Waiting in the hallway outside the cell was a fourth man, his robe much more ornate than those of the others. He smiled warmly at Kaleem and offered him a glass of water as reward for a job well done. ‘Are you okay, my son?’

Kaleem looked at the high priest with reverence. Even though they were roughly the same age, Kaleem even went so far as to bow his head as he accepted the drink. ‘Thank you, elder. I am fine.’

The priest placed his hand on Kaleem’s shoulder. ‘Perhaps it is time to choose a younger man for your role. The constant sedation cannot be good for you.’

‘Amun will keep me safe. Of this, I am sure.’

‘Indeed he shall,’ the elder said.

For centuries, the shadow priests had always followed the same routine. Whenever their secrets or landmarks were threatened, they responded decisively by killing all but one of the interlopers who dared to stray too close. The only soul that they spared was the most knowledgeable of the group, the one who seemed to know their history, for this was the best way to learn how the infidels had picked up their scent.

Jasmine was simply the latest in a long line of scholars, tourists, and travelers who had fallen victim to Kaleem’s ruse. Manjani would have fallen for it, too, if he had not managed to escape in the desert before they had a chance to grab him. The only thing that had stopped them was a freak sandstorm that had erased his trail.

The elder continued. ‘What of the girl? Has she told us all she knows?’

Kaleem knew there were cameras and microphones in the ancient cell, but he also knew of Jasmine’s tendency to whisper. ‘I believe she speaks the truth. She knows nothing about the star map or the location of the tomb. We are safe.’

The elder rejoiced when he heard the news.

Amun had protected them once again.

Now only one step remained.

The historian must be killed.