Ch 1: Cairo

[Tabs]

"I agree with you, Mr. Baxter, my letter is most odd," said Burton apprehensively.

~

He listened to the following conversations with his habitual raised eyebrow, even attempting to read great grandpa's Arabic, which he cannot make head or tail of. When Sidhom mentioned a trip inside a Pyramid he jumped at the opportunity, "Now that would be fascinating." And when Sidhom drank some alcohol he frowned and turned away, hiding a smile.

[Supercape]

Sidhom seemed to suck cold air into his lungs at the suggestion.

"The Pyramids?" he said, pale. "Why, they are fascinating, no question. A monumental feat of architecture, perhaps an impossible one, at least unaided..."

Disgusted with himself, he turned away from the wine bottle, now nearly drained.

"As curator of Cairo Museum, I can easily arrange for us to go to the Pyramids, and even inside them. And yet, I confess I fear to do so. I have avoided them, they fill with me with dread!" he said, his gaze avoidin the bound book of his ancestor.

[Priest]

Baxter, apparently lost for words, notes the sudden desire of his companions to look at the book, if it can be called such, as well as their apparent fascination for Pyramids. His mind is not subject to either desire.

He shrugs, well as long as I'm being paid... the thought being quickly displaced as he spies the waiter hovering a short distance away, "You there, a refill my good man" he glances around the assemblage, "Anyone else for a refill?" he seems to focus his question on the pale faced Sidhom.

[Tabs]

"Yes. Finest brandy for me, please," said Burton; "and another bottle of wine, ours has all gone." He noted Baxter's lack of enthusiasm for a Pyramid visit. "Not something which interests you, Mr. Baxter?"

[Mr. Handy]

"Yes, the Pyramids are truly a wonder to behold," says Percy wistfully. "I've seen them from the outside before, but I've never had the chance to see them from within. I'd also like to visit the library at some point before we depart for the interior."

[Supercape]

Rich smoky brandy was served, and Sidhom stoutly refused to partake. He had regained a little composure, and without looking, quickly stuffed the fragments of his ancestors writings into his Jacket. It did not escape his notice that Baxter was both liberal with his own drinks and giving a pertinent glance his way.

"Of course, gentlemen. Preparations for the expeditions will take a few weeks anyway, and I will do my best to arrange for provisions and logistics and so on. I am at your disposal; as is the museum of Cairo and the fair sights of our city. I will assist in any way I can!"

[Priest]

Noticing the disaproving glances he is getting from Sidhom, and guessing it might be something to do with his drinking, Baxter makes a uncaring shrug. "So we get to visit the dusty Pyramids or the equaly dusty library"

He tosses the remains of the spirit down his throat in one gulp, stare for a moment at the now empty glass and briefly considers refilling it, before with another shrug he places the empty glass on the table top. "Well whatever you choose is fine by me gentlemen, no doubt for some" he looks pointedly toward Percy, "Either is too great an attraction to miss. Me I'm more interested in seeing what this city has to offer", he laughs.

[Tabs]

Munshi Singh, the handsome Sikh manservant, is standing behind Burton's chair.

"Sir," he said, "a memsahib wishes me to escort her to the river." He acknowledged, with a curt bow, the other gentlemen. "I will see you in the morning?" Burton assents and Singh retreats.

A gay laugh; a middle-aged tourist with flushed cheeks; and Singh, exiting the restaurant arm in arm.

"Good God!" muttered Burton.

He replied to Baxter. "I can always take an excursion into the Pyramids when I return from the expedition. But," he added to Carstairs and Sidhom, "let's visit the Cairo museum and Mr. Sidhom's library?"

[Mr. Handy]

Percy watches Mr. Singh and the tourist leave, raising an eyebrow. If he wishes to, I'm sure he could make her Mrs. Singh, he thinks. "Yes, the museum and library first, please," he says.

[Supercape]

The Next Day...

August 21st

Mr Sidhom took great pride in guiding the intrepid explorers through the Museum of Cairo. It was not the most marvellous of architecture, one had to admit. It was still somewhat shabby and disorganised. And yet, despite this, it was wonderful. Ancient statues, trinkets, and texts filled its shelves and walls. Prized books littered the library, some academic, and some sensational. Some where even both.

It was still morning, the air had not yet acquired its heat. In fact, the day had an unusually sombre weather, with gloomy and oppressive grey clouds, most unusual for Egypt.

A few other tourists, academics and interested parties wandered through the museum. There were a few half-asleep attendants, standing or slumping, to ensure no prized item was pilfered. There was even one armed guard at the entrance, who looked a bit more alert than the attendants, but clearly bored with his endless days of simply standing around.

[Tabs]

Burton walked by the armed guard. "صباح الخير--Good morning--English?" he said, "unusual for an armed guard to be posted here at this jumbled museum?"

[Priest]

At Burton's words, Baxter glances over at the bored looking guard, "I would imagine that there are things within that may be worth money on the antiquities market. The odd statue, vase etc." Almost speaking to himself he continues, "There are people I know in Europe who would pay handsomely for some ancient trinket".

Taking another look at the armed guard who it seems is working hard to stay fairly alert, he adds in a whisper almost nonchantly, "Like taking candy from a baby as the Americans might say"

[Mr. Handy]

"I say, this is very impressive!" exclaims Percy as he examines the exhibits. "I know it's probably not normally done, Mr. Sidhom, but would you allow me to take some photographs? I intend to include them with the newspaper articles I wrote. It could be just the thing to bring both more visitors - and wealthy patrons willing to donate," he adds, certain it would be just the thing to convince him.

[Supercape]

Sidhom, baited by the prospect of more custom, needed no encouragement.

"You make an excellent point, Mr Castairs" he nodded in agreement, waving the armed guard back to a cup of much needed rich coffee.

"The expedition is not without its public interest, and certainly of greater still academic fame. I can hardly refuse an opportunity to take deserved advantage, can I?" he smiled.

The tripods and photographic equipment was duly waved through into the museum.

"And yes" he agreed with Baxter and Burton, "I am afraid we do have problems with raiders of antiquities" he said apologetically. "Although you fine fellows have my full trust!" he said, not quite avoiding a furtive glance at Baxter, whose reputation not so much proceeded him, but walked aside him hand in hand.

[Tabs]

"I would imagine that there are things within that may be worth money on the antiquities market. The odd statue, vase etc."

"I suppose so, Mr. Baxter," said Burton; "though I must confess," he lowered his tone so that Sidhom and Carstairs were out of earshot, "there's a hell of a lot of dusty rubbish, what?" Burton glanced at Singh who was examining a bejeweled sword. "Ahem, Mr. Baxter," he hesitated, "you mentioned some photographs of natives?"

[Priest]

Baxter favours Burton with a smile, a knowing smile, "Later my dear Captain"

Turning towards Sidhom who seems engrossed in watching the arrival of Carstair's photography equiptment, the newness of which is apparent, Baxter takes him by the arm,"So my dear sir, do you have any artifacts which appertain to the endeavour upon which we embark?"

[Supercape]

"Why yes, sir, I believe we do!" replied Sidhom, doing an admirable job of squashing his shame at drinking yesterday. Baxter now gave him uncomfortable reminder of his lapse.

He started getting more edgy as they walked through the museum, and he ended up unlocking a rather sturdy door to what he termed the "Haram Exhibits", that required special permission to view, kept from public eye.

In the dusty and unkempt special floor, a variety of blasphemous and offensive books where kept, alongside strange idols and statuettes, which were unnerving to say the least. They were preserved due to the great efforts of the Library, on the basis of academic and cultural value, but they were under considerable pressure. Engravings and carvings of beasts, men, and men-beasts, sometimes in unspeakable acts of violence, fornication, or both, were apparent.

In the library were some interesting tomes, and much academic work. It would take a long time to find one's way around, but fortunately Sidhom knew it intimately, and had an excellent memory. The Emerald Tablet, in Phoenician, the Beatus Methodivo in Latin, Pert Em Hru, in both Arabic and French translations (as well as a copy in the original Egyptian Heiroglphyics).

There were also some writings on the cults and sorcery of ancient Egypt, from lesser known academics, written in French, English, and Arabic. Of the even more obscure tribes of Africa, there was less, although in millenia past, there was an uncanny hint of similarity between the cults of ancient Egypt and those supposed an rumoured to live on in deepest Africa.

[Mr. Handy]

Percy thanks Sidhom and begins taking pictures of exhibits that he finds the most intriguing: a mummy (of course), a statuette of Anubis, the jackal-headed Egyptian god of the underworld, an ancient sarcophagus, and the like. When they get to the Haram Exhibits, he cannot resist taking photographs of some of the less unsavory items there too, though he does not intend to use those to accompany his articles. They are far too disturbing, though he is sure Baxter will be very interested in them. When they visit the library, he takes a look at the Arabic version of Pert Em Hru and the English and Arabic books about obscure tribes and cults.

[Tabs]

"Why the Haram Exhibits?" wondered Burton. "These men-beasts, Mr. Sidhom, related to the classical centaur I presume?" He examined the engravings of fornication, even jotting down a few impressions in a marbled notebook.

Also, he gently opened the French edition of the Pert Em Hru, and then the Arabic edition, after Carstairs--"May I, sir?" to see if he could follow the text.

He asked: "These cults of Ancient Egypt, do you know about them, Mr. Sidhom?"

[Supercape]

"Much and Nothing" replied Sidhom; a cryptic answer. He was both proud and uncomfortable at the special section of the library.

He paused by one stone statue of two men and a woman with mottled flesh engaging in act that could be of lurid sexual nature, or of violent cannibalism. Quite probably, it was of both. The three figures had hypertrophied sexual organs and protruding mouth full of gibbering lip, tongue, and massive teeth. The eyes somehow seemed black and mad.

"Here for instance. This piece is of undetermined age, found in a market in Cairo. I think the seller was actually relieved to be rid of it. We believe it originates from central Africa. You will notice similar pieces I am sure..."

One could not help but do so; despite the maddening heterogeneous nature of the exhibits, there was a subliminal crawling feeling of a pattern.

"There are various cults that may or may not have existed. It is certain that there were relatively benign ones, stemming from a common heritage, the cults of Set, or Bast, for instance. And others, whose very existence is unknown; let me see, the Cults of T'Murbique, Kuthlu, or Duggon, for instance. Perhaps the most infamous is the cult of the Toad-King, Tsugga Tsoth, word of which seems to pop up every few centuries, and is perhaps the origin of Sir Winston-Smythes disturbing rumours..."