The Curse of Kalaan

ave way to Kalaan and Jean-Fran?ois' coughing. However, in th

for the torch. After several attempts, the flames finally caught, cr

anded the torch to Champollion before

simply made the count shrug his

shooting than at fi

ends could see an extraordinarily ingenious ancient mechanism. So, that was where the sound of gears came from! It had most certainly been triggered by

ding made when it first opened; and air swirled around the men b

e had fallen into a trap."Jean-Fra

nking of his shout of alarm when

Champollion asked, once a

at would be the most logical explanation." Kalaan m

ly crossed the threshold where the wall had completely disappeared. He proceeded slowly, aware that the place coul

in front of me. I do not wis

which sounded much like swearing and he smiled to himsel

orch flames were not bright enough to light the whole area and shadows surrounded Kalaan and Champollion. Des

e torch in all directions trying unsuccessfully to pierce through the darkness

. He released the hammer on his pistol and put it back in his belt. When those lily-livers see us

exit was

hine some light

hen turned around and raised the

an's gestures, touching the wall which now stoo

nothing! This wall appeared as if by ma

uted in warning when he realized Champolli

ion's exasperation was hard to contain. "I would never h

an's handsome proud face showed his ast

, tapping Champollion on the shoulder

had the strength of a colossus. Champollion was just getting his balance back when another strange phen

the room they were in. The sudden change in light made it difficult for their eyes to adapt and they could not immediately find the source of the mysterious light. Once their eyes were adjusted to the new environment, they could see that they were

struck before such magnificence.

coming from?" wondered Kalaan. His ever-pragmatic side pushed him to

laying out before his eyes, he had to come to reason and accept that there was no exit, no safe way out.

is not possible. They can't have lit themselves, " he mu

e same time, so he started breathing slowly and deeply in o

ammable material. Oil could not have been preserved througho

fire would be necessary f

ave been the source of fire. Champollion had a very valid

held his interest, however. The wall was covered with carvings and hieroglyphs. Kalaan's interest was retained by a rectangular pedes

ions for a moment. "Notice how pure the sand is here, white as snow and

ely returned his attention to the stone

ysteries where neither

he did not hear the count's comment. He grabbed his pe

ately six meters2 long by four meters wide. The ceiling.

ing dangerously close to the pedestal. It was as though the strange stone was

written here!" Champollion's enthusiastic shout broke th

oined Jean-Fran?ois. Deliberately turning his back on the mysterious pedestal he became

ainly none of the usual objects, sacred or from daily life, which usually accompany the dep

ling us the story of a forgotten era. We are here in a temple of knowledge. The mysterious veil shrou

ng light of the flames from the bowls. Meanwhile the moaning and

Champollion who looked at hi

r wh

murm

of the flames in the lamps. Do you think i

and returned to contemp

ll find our way to the surface, with or without their assistance! We have been closed in for quite some

th joy. "This means we have enough time t

a good amount, yes." Kalaan re

uickly. There are quite a

rrated by Jean-Fran?ois, his voice, sometimes c

ll an ancient magic ritual according to Imhotep's sacred formulas. It was shortly before the new pharaoh's capital Akhentaten 'Aten's horizon' was built on the site of Tell el-Amarna. The new capital was entirely dedicat

r?us3) and an ankh, symbol of immortality and eternity. Rays ending in hands descended from the disk and Akhenaten app

hout the ostentation of a pschent5! He is raising his hands to Aten, palms upward. And can you see

. It was as if simply mentioning the pyramid s

. All this magic was with the sole intention of granting Akhenaten the power of a supreme king worthy of serving Aten. In exchange, the one and only god would ensure the prosperity of the Egyptian people and protect Egypt from ca

monial offerings to Aten. Akhenaten was represented alone placing food, drink and impressive quantities of flowers on the

Aten, who, I hope wherever he is, will

zon of the sky, Oh living disk, beginning

filled by thee

; thou art great,

ve all

ds, To the extent of all t

, thou reachest the

st them to th

hough thou art afar, Thy rays are on the ear

y they know

to rest in the w

rkness, in the con

he chamber walls. "Akhenaten was a pharaoh who served only one god! Do you realize what this means? What we ha

s amusing. "Let us get back to the little we do

had become m

all, Aten did not promise the pharaoh immortality, did he? After regaining their power, the Egyptian clergy would have brought back the ancient gods banished by Akhenaten! This could a

forgotten to take notes. Kalaan had to admit he shared his friend's feelings. However, one thing

ol of his mind. No longer held back, he approached the pedestal and admired the enchanting stone. Once again, ever

thout realizing it, he'd come so close to the stone, he cou

ind the exit, my friend

the stone, which appeared to be carved in black tourmalin

uch a small object.

e the hieroglyphs carved in the gold pedes

: Woe to those who profane the den of fear, for on them the stone will unleash their worst fears,

eed of his friend and reache

iately stood up, but not quickly eno

cried out in alarm, a most diabol