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Neville threw back his shoulders and stepped forward, noting as he did so that there was not the faintest
hint of pain from his ankle.
Good pharaoh, he said, we do not question the justice of your ruling regarding the woman Audrey
Cheshire, yet we beg to be given opportunity to redeem her. One of the basic tenets of Christianity is
forgiveness of those who have done wrong.
So forgive her if you would, Neferankhotep replied. How does this affect what I will decree?
We ask you to let us have her, Neville said, to bring her back into the world, for if we were simply to
forgive her while permitting what fate awaits, our forgiveness would be hollow.
Stephen spoke into the uncomprehending silence that followed this noble statement.
From a purely legal point of view, he said, there is reason to let her go as well. You agreed to judge
her based on our codes. Well, by the legal codes of our land, execution is considered a very severe
punishment for attempted theft.
He laid a slight stress on the word attempted, obviously as a reminder that, like the rest of them, Lady
Cheshire had not had much success in her ventures. Neville loved him for this generosity of spirit.
Neferankhotep s expression remained impassive.
I had intended to speak with you about what is due to you since you have passed judgment, for as Miss
Benet reminded me, the soul who is vindicated is granted many rewards. Would you forgo these in return
for the opportunity to redeem one who has done you such great wrongs? Before you speak, let me
remind you that the hospitality I have offered you thus far is to the delights of the afterlife what a grain of
sand is to a sprawling desert.
Neville shrugged. I could not enjoy even paradise if I thought I had acted against what was right.
Eddie gave a gusty sigh. Neither could I. Besides, what I really want is to go home to my wife and
family. Are you telling us that is impossible?
Neferankhotep shook his head. It can be made possible. If you insist on attempting to redeem this
woman, it may be impossible.
Still, Eddie said, Neville s right. I d have to live knowing what I let happen. Count me in.
The others agreed, and Neferankhotep shook his head.
So Thoth told me it would be. Very well. We have a task for you. If you succeed, you will win Audrey
Cheshire s life, and also keep the rewards we would have given you. If you fail, you will find yourself
longing for the jaws of Ammit, for that devouring pain will be nothing to the torments devised for you.
25
Tomb Robbers
It seems only right, Neferankhotep said, that in order to redeem Audrey Cheshire you must reverse the
crime of which you yourselves were so nearly guilty. You yourselves might have desecrated my tomb had
this not been a place uniquely blessed by the gods. Your charge will be to prevent the desecration of
another tomb, one belonging to a pharaoh towards whom we have special reason to feel gratitude.
There was a pause, and Jenny thought that Neferankhotep would explain just what this anonymous king
had done to earn the gratitude of deities, instead the good king indicated Ra.
You have done Ra a kindness, and so he has chosen to honor you with his counsel.
As the hawk-headed sun god stepped forward from among the ranked gods a wash of brilliance came
from him, curtaining the humans from the other gods or perhaps removing them to some other place
entirely. The privacy, or at least the illusion thereof, was comforting after having been under the inspection
of so many sets of eyes. Jenny felt herself relaxing as she had not even under the sybaritic ministrations of
the shabti.
In your own day, Ra said, the place to which I shall conduct you is called The Valley of the Kings.
The pharaoh whose tomb you must secure from violation is among these.
We were in the Valley, Stephen said. I wonder if we saw this tomb?
No, Ra said. Even in your own day it remains undiscovered, its very existence held in doubt.
We must have done a good job then, Stephen said cheerfully.
I fear this does not follow, Ra said. It may not have been discovered because it has been looted
beyond recognition as a tomb. It may have been stripped and reused for the interment of another. All
these are possible within the great fan of time.
Stephen s cheerfulness faded, and he nodded.
I think I understand, he said. Forgive my interruption.
Ra inclined his head in graceful acknowledgment of the apology.
In order to succeed in your task, you must do two things. One, you must secure the tomb against the
theft that will otherwise occur on the night of your coming. Two, you must somehow assure that no other
theft will take place. It will not be easy. Once already the tomb has been violated, but at that time the
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