The Seven Seals of Egypt

CHAPTER SEVEN

Drake had been interested to see how the Egyptians would pull this off — a glitzy, high-profile show originating from a tomb with its contents in-situ, fortunately not too far from Cairo and the Giza plateau. It reminded him of the initial Odin show that the city of York had hosted, back when he was between careers. It reminded him of the danger-laden, ever-winding path his life had taken since.

The tomb entrance had been draped with enormous, velvet-red curtains, a stage erected outside and five steps constructed to lead up to that stage. A band played to one side, dressed in their finest suits, and high-profile glamorous guests mingled to the other, all pretending that the spotlights following their every move didn’t exist. At the base of the stage stood rows of cameras and then a roped-off enclosure where members of the press and public were allowed to stand. A red carpet led straight through the middle.

Around the outside, the desert surroundings were untouched, dark and vast, but the television cameras wouldn’t be focusing there. Behind the curtains, Drake saw nothing. The big unveiling was still a while away.

The team were hardly recognizable in their fashionable outfits. From suits in gray, black and deep blue for the men that fitted well and felt intensely uncomfortable, to gowns for the women that fitted even better but offered little freedom of movement. Crouch had begged them all to fit in with the general vogue tonight so as not to blow the op, but the sacrifices were large, as Alicia constantly reminded him.

They used the time before the event to vet the area and the gathering, splitting up into several groups to appear less conspicuous and achieve a better lay of the land. Drake and Alicia followed Dahl and Kenzie for a time, listening to the banter between them and wondering where the two were really at. For the Swede especially, the course of his life hung in the balance. Kenzie had already adjusted immensely, and tried harder every day. The dynamic between them was fluid and incredibly charged.

Hayden grabbed Kinimaka, much to the Hawaiian’s surprise, and led the big man into the extravagant throng. Smyth, Mai and Yorgi took the outskirts, scanning for unwanted surprises.

“I’m seeing all the usual suspects,” Alicia said to Drake. The team weren’t using comms tonight for obvious reasons. “I see mercs, squeezed into their tight little jackets—” she paused for a second “—and trousers. Hello! A bit inappropriate, don’t you think…”

Drake tried not to look. “C’mon, Alicia. Let’s keep it professional.”

Alicia gave him an innocent look. “When did we start that then?”

Just ahead, Kenzie and Dahl were having a similar conversation. “Three mercs right there,” the Israeli said.

“Don’t stare too hard,” Dahl said.

“Why not? They’ll assume I want to join them for ten minutes behind my boyfriend’s back. That’s all.”

“That’s all? Why would you think that?” Dahl hadn’t even considered the option.

Kenzie laughed. “Because they’re mercs, dummy.”

“Ah, yes. I see now. Good point.”

“I know them well. Their aspirations; goals; needs.”

Dahl remembered Kenzie had commanded her own group of mercenaries for many years. “All the same?”

“No,” Kenzie said. “Most wanted money, power and carnage but a few… there were a few that were different. Others just wanted to be led.”

Dahl looked over. “And you were good at that?”

“Sure. I have no problems making a man do what I want.”

Dahl lowered his voice. “See ahead? Definitely CIA. Undercover.”

“Yeah, I was just about to say. Two more over there.”

Dahl sought Crouch in the crowd. “I wonder what Michael would say to that? Perhaps this splinter group have sent people too.”

“Luther?” Kenzie asked.

“No. Judging from what I’ve heard Luther would simply surround and then assault this place with Howitzers.”

“And the mercs?”

“Well, clearly Crouch isn’t the only one in the know. I guess a third of the people here are government agents in some way.”

“Unlike us,” Kenzie said, then added: “Kinda sexy, huh?”

“What? What is?”

“Being disavowed. Hunted. Marked. I like it.”

“Kenzie, you and I have very different perceptions of the word sexy.”

“Really?” Kenzie moved closer so their hips came together. “I guess we could explore that later.”

Dahl didn’t move away, but didn’t press forward either. The conflict battered him, making him lose focus for a moment. Then they came to the end of the stage and turned back, refusing yet another glass of champagne offered on a silver platter by a white-gloved waiter.

Drake and Alicia were a few steps behind.

“Looking at all the scattered Intelligence in here,” the Yorkshireman said. “You can guarantee our location will be made known by the end of tonight.”

“Worth the risk,” Alicia came back. “If we do find the first seal.”

Drake made a sound. “Depends on if we get caught, love.”

She growled. “Listen to bloody Eeyore, here. If we weren’t in this star-studded crowd I’d kick your arse off it.”

“Star studded?” Drake whipped his head around. “Where?”

“Well, I saw someone who looked like that guy from Hawaii-Five-O earlier. Does that count?”

Drake frowned. “I was thinking more of the female variety.”

“Oh, then no, just princesses and state wives I’m afraid.”

“Bollocks.”

“Check out the guards,” Alicia said.

They veered away as they approached the curtain-covered entrance to the tomb of Amenhotep. Two guards were standing to either side, carrying semi-automatic weapons and looking distinctly unimpressed. To the side of the stage stood a larger contingent, similarly armed and equipped for anything. Egypt itself was not the most stable country of late, and it seemed the Egyptians were prepared for the worst.

The time of the unveiling approached and the team came randomly together and gathered amidst the crowd as it grouped. An official stood before them, asking for quiet and then turning to face a particular set of cameras. He launched into a speech, explaining all about the tomb and how local archaeologists had discovered it. Excitement infused the air. Drake saw many guests almost hopping with glee at the thought of being allowed to enter a barely excavated, ‘in-situ’ tomb. The official went on to reassure them all that all they had done was to make it safe. They were the explorers, the archaeologists, the Howard Carters of today, and he asked for their cooperation in sharing any insights they might have.

Then, the curtains were thrown apart and the entrance revealed.

Drake saw exactly what he’d expected — a jagged entranceway bordered by hastily polished rocks and titivated with colorful embellishments. The entrance was lit by bright lamps and completely blocked any view of what was inside.

The official called forth the first batch of forty visitors. With help from Crouch’s connections they were part of it and would be allowed twenty minutes inside before giving way to the next group. The tomb was large, it was whispered, and the way down narrow, so they wouldn’t have too long to search.

Drake fell in line with Alicia like all the good civilians, making two rows behind four tour guides and more guards. Drake noted a couple of the mercenaries behind them and also several spies that had to be working for various undercover agencies.

“A regular convention,” he whispered to Crouch. “Maybe make it a yearly meet.”

“With all this attention,” Crouch spoke the last word meaningfully. “No one will be able to keep the findings secret.”

“Unless they find and then destroy them…” Hayden put in ominously. “Keep your wits about you, guys.”

Mai led their little group, paired with Yorgi. Drake came fourth in line and stared at the floor as the bright entrance lights filled their vision. He wanted as little adjustment time as possible. Happy chatter filled his ears, attesting that at least half of the first consignment were genuine civilians. Thank the Lord for small mercies, he thought. The spies he’d noted so far were good at their job, unnoticeable except to a highly trained eye. Many were in couples. The mercs, on the other hand, stood out like donkeys at a horse pageant, big and uncomfortable, sweating, smoking, not even pretending to listen to the historical sermon offered by their hosts, first by mouth and now as they moved into the top part of the tomb, by recorded voice.

“The tomb of the famous Amenhotep, thought lost to time, was recently discovered after a cave-in was triggered by archaeologists searching for something very different…”

Drake tuned it out as the passage came into focus. The walls were closer than he’d imagined, dusty, white and roughly hewn out of bare rock. Strings of lamps had been set up at their apex with the ceiling and these now led downward at a sharp angle.

“Step carefully,” one of their guides said in English. “There is plenty of room to both sides so no need to worry about your cherished attire. Those with high heels should remove them, of course. Carry-bags are provided.”

Drake bit his lip, unused to the pampering. Alicia checked to see if Yorgi was wearing heels. The small group moved down, a step at a time, taking care as some of the risers were uneven. Two minutes of shuffling passed and then they emerged onto a flat floor. Drake immediately felt the cloying, close atmosphere of the staircase fall away.

“How long have we got?” Hayden checked her watch.

The lead tour guide turned around and prepared to flick a switch.

“Welcome!” he said. “Welcome to the tomb of Amenhotep!”