Виктория Холт - Curse of the Kings

He thanked me and left me with my tea.

I sat there sipping it and thinking that if Mustapha was the Pasha's man so must Absalam be.

Then my thoughts went to Sir Edward. He had died in the palace. He had eaten food prepared by Mustapha or Absalam or both and he had died.

If he had a doctor to attend him that doctor could have been the Pasha's man.

Tybalt was in danger as his father had been. We were all in danger.

Sir Edward had discovered something in the tomb and that had necessitated his immediate death. So far it seemed that Tybalt had not found what his father had, as no attempt had been made on his life. But if Tybalt were to make that discovery . . .

I began to shiver. I must see him. I must make him listen, for I was sure that what I had learned was of the utmost importance.

How quiet the palace seemed. How long would the conference go on? There was no one about. I might have tried to find Tabitha, but I had no desire to confide in her for I no longer trusted her. I no longer knew whom to trust.

I went to my favorite seat on the terrace and as I sat there I saw someone coming up the steps towards me. To my surprise it was Leopold Harding.

"I thought you had gone," I said.

"No, there was a slight hitch. Business, you know. I have just come from the hotel. I have a message from your husband."

I stood up. "He wants me to go there?"

"No. He wants you to meet him at the site."

"Now?"

"Yes, now. At once. He has gone on."

"Then the conference is over."

"I don't know, but he asked me to give you this message as I had a few hours to spare before leaving."

"Did he say where at the site?"

"He told me exactly. I said I would take you there."

"But where was it?"

"It's better if I show you."

I picked up my hat which was on the seat beside me and without which I never went out.

I said: "I'm ready. I'll come now."

He was already leading the way out to the river. We took one of the boats and went to the site.

The Valley looked grim under the glare of the late afternoon sun. In spite of the windlessness there always seemed to be a fine dust in the air.

The place seemed deserted because the men were not working today. I had understood from Tybalt that they were awaiting the outcome of the conference.

We came to the opening in the hillside which was the way into the tomb, but to my surprise Leopold led me past that.

"But surely," I began.

"No," he said. "I am quite sure. I was here yesterday and your husband was showing me something. It is here . . ."

He led me into what looked like a natural cave but which could well have been hollowed out. To my amazement there was a hole in the side of this cave.

He said: "Let me help you through here."

"Are you sure?" I began. "I have never been here before."

"No. Your husband has just discovered that it is here."

"But what is this hole?"

"You will see. Give me your hand."

I stepped through and was surprised to find myself at the top of a flight of steps.

"If you will let me help you, we will descend these stairs."

"Is Tybalt here then?"

"You will see. There are lanterns here. I will light them and then we can have one each."

"It seems strange," I said, "that you, who are a stranger here . . ."

He smiled. 'Well, Lady Travers, I have explored a little. Your husband has been very kind to me."

"They knew of this place then. Is it connected with the tomb?"

"Oh yes, but I don't think it was considered worth exploring until now." He handed me a lantern and I could see steps which had been cut out of the earth. They turned and there facing us was a door. It was half open.

"There," said Leopold Harding as we went through. "This is the spot. I'll go ahead, shall I?"

Tybalt had never mentioned this place to me. It must be a new discovery. But then lately I had been aloof. I was not able to prevent myself being so; for while I could not bring myself to talk of my suspicions, at the same time I could not behave as though they did not exist.

We were in a small chamber not more than eight feet in height. I saw that there was an opening ahead and I went towards this. I looked up and saw three or four steps.

I mounted these and called: "Tybalt, I'm here."

I was in another chamber; this one was larger than the other. It was very cold.

The first shadow of alarm touched me. "Tybalt," I called. My voice sounded rather shrill.

I said: "There is nobody here?"

I looked over my shoulder. I was alone.

I said: "Mr. Harding, I think there's been a mistake. Tybalt isn't here."

There was no answer. I started down the steps. I went back to the smaller chamber. Leopold Harding was not there either.

I went back to the opening. It was completely dark because the door was shut.

I called: "Mr. Harding. Where are you?"

There was no reply.

I went to the door. I could see no handle, no bolt . . . nothing with which to open it. I pushed it. I tried to pull it. But it remained fast shut.

"Where are you? Mr. Harding, where are you?"

No answer. Only the hollow sound of my own voice.

I knew then what it meant to have one's flesh creep. It was as though thousands of ants were crawling over me. I knew that my hair had risen on my scalp. The awful realization had come to me. I was alone and only Mr. Harding knew I was here.

Why? Who was he? Why should he do this? My imagination was running wild again. It was so senseless. He had stepped outside for a moment. He would come back. Why should a tourist, an acquaintance merely, shut me in a tomb?

I tried to be calm. I lifted the lantern and looked about me ... at the steps cut out of the earth, at the earth walls of the little chamber. Tybalt must be here. He would come out in a moment.

Then I remembered my suspicions of Tybalt. Could it be that he had had me brought here to ... to rid himself of me. But why did he send Leopold Harding to bring me here? Who was Leopold Harding? Why did Tybalt not bring me himself? Because he did not wish to be seen coming here with me? When I did not return . . .

Oh, this was folly. This was madness.

To be shut in a tomb alone could drive one mad.

I set down the lantern and banged my fists on the door. It did not give. How was it shut? How had it opened? All Leopold Harding had appeared to do was to push it and we stepped inside. It was as easy as that. And now it was fast shut and I was on the wrong side of it.

He must be hiding to tease me. What a foolish trick. I remembered myself suddenly rising from the sarcophagus in Giza House. I could almost hear Theodosia's shrieks.

"Oh God, let somebody come. Don't let me be alone in this place."

Tybalt must be here somewhere. It was better to look, to assure myself before I allowed this creeping terror to take a grip on me.

I picked up the lantern and walked resolutely towards the steps. I descended them and was in the larger chamber. I must explore this. There might be a way out here. Tybalt might be somewhere beyond, waiting for Leopold to bring me to him.

I held my lantern high and examined the walls of the chamber; there was no decoration on them, but I saw that there was an opening. I went through this and was in a corridor.

"Tybalt," I called. "Are you there, Tybalt?"

No answer.

I lifted my lantern. I saw that these walls had been decorated. Rows of vultures were depicted there, their wings stretched as though they hovered. Now I had reached yet another chamber. I examined it with care. There seemed to be no outlet from this one. I had come to the end of my exploration; and there was no one here.

I felt my legs trembling and I sank down onto the floor. Now I knew a fear that I had never known before. I had been brought here for some purpose. All the warnings I had received, all the premonitions, they had some meaning. I should have heeded them.