Jake tried to think as they disembarked from the train.
"What do you think fellows? Shall we just barge our way in to their expedition? Might cause some offence with amateurs traipsing about their dig. Possibly we could hole up in a nice hotel and send a note inviting the expedition leaders to lunch?
"What say you?" He asked the others.
Asking around you are given directions to the Clive Expedition dig. It takes you about 20 minutes to get there from the centre of Memphis. It is impressively guarded
A young man in his early 20s walks across as you approach.
"Good Morning, welcome to the Clive Expedition. How can I help you?"
Jake grinned, shook the mans hand and offered him a Lucky Strike.
"Jake Westfield, Westfield Films at your service!"
He turned and introduced his companions as well.
Sylvia smiles and offers her hand as she's introduced. "Hello there, nice to meet you. We're doing some preliminary research on a film we're looking to shoot. I know you all must be very busy, but we'd be interested in taking the expedition leaders out to lunch and talking about your work. Would it be possible to meet Dr. Clive himself?"
"I'm afraid that we couldn't allow you to film here while the expedition is ongoing.
Dr Clive is very busy at the moment, I am his assistant Martin Winfield, is there anything I can help you with."
"Oh, I understand we couldn't film here. We're more interested in learning about your work so we can make things as accurate as possible." While she speaks Sylvia studies the man carefully, trying to get an idea of whether or not he's hiding something.
"Very well, I think its possible that you can join us for lunch if you don't mind waiting and not disturbing the excavation."
Sylvia, you think that Winfield's civility is all pretence. He appears barely in control of himself and he looks as if he would be prone to angry outbursts.
"It's no trouble at all." Sylvia casts a look at the others that she hopes conveys Play along as she settles herself into an inconspicouous nook. "We don't mind waiting."
If, at any point during their wait, she finds herself alone with the others, she murmurs, "There's something wrong with Winfield. A violence, barely contained by a measure of civility. Be careful."
You sit around and watch various archaeological activities going on, the team largely ignoring you.
At around noon you are taken to a large tent where a table has been laid out. Winfield introduces you to the other guests who are as follows:
- Dr Henry Clive a man in his late 50s - grey haired with a receding hairline and a luxuriant moustache. He is introduced as an archaeologist from the Penhew Foundation and is the leader of the expedition.
- Agatha Broadmoor, an elderly woman in her late 60s. Elderly and genteel. Long white ray hair wearing loose fitting flowery dresses and a large straw hat. Introduced as the expeditions psychic.
- James Gardner, a man in his early 40s, short and stout, he is English and an archaeologist.
- Johanna Specht a German woman in her early 30s with a well honed physique and a golden tan, wearing jodhpurs and close fitting tailored shirts. Introduced as an archaeologist and mystic.
As you sit at the table Clive looks at you and says
"So what is your interest in our expedition, it seems a long way to come for a film crew."
In the interest of keeping their stories straight, Jake glanced at Sylvia, waiting for her lead.
Then turned back to the Clive Expedition principles.
"Well, I am funding the making of a documentary. We follow the footsteps of the Carlyle Expedition as they depart in triumph from New York through its trials and tribulations until its final tragedy in the jungles of Africa.
"We knew it stopped here in Egypt pursuing traces of an ancient ruler known as the "Black Pharoah". You were all here at the time; what can you tell us of their time here?" Jake asked, laying it all out.
"I'm afraid you are slightly mistaken Mr Westfield, we were not in Egypt at the time of the Carlyle Expedition. That particular expedition was led by another of our members, Sir Aubrey Penhew."
"Well, I was misinformed then.
"Do any of you know anything of what happened on that expedition here in Egypt? Even rumor might be useful." He asked.
"Well all we know is what was reported in the papers at the time. They were excavating in Egypt and something strange happened to them and they went to East Africa. To be honest we've had our own strange happenings of late."
"Wait a minute". cough...cough...cough. "What kind of strange happenings do you mean"?
"While we were excavating at Giza we discovered a secret chamber in Mycerinus' pyramid, the third and smallest of the great Pyramids. In it were the unprepared but preserved remains of an unknown Egyptian queen. No heiroglyphs identified the body but the trappings convinced me that it was a great ruler. An ornate gold coffer containing papyrus scrolls was taken from the chamber in the hope it might identify its occupant.
Alas all the scrolls were totally illegible, the result of improper sealing when the coffer was originally placed in the chamber. Preparations for the removal of the casket and the mummy were subsequently made in conjunction with the Egyptian authorities.
Three nights later, terrible screams echoed from inside the pyramid. When we investigated we found that the mummy, the sarcophagus and two Egyptian police guards were missing without a trace. The guards have not been found are are presumed dead.
"No one knows how the thieves succeeded in removing an alabaster sarcophagus weighing several tons so quickly. It would have taken us several days, yet from the time we heard the cry to when we entered the pyramid was no more than 20 minutes.
Close examination of the scene showed that the dust in the corridors was undisturbed except by our footprints.
As Clive finishes you can see that both Agatha Broadmoor and James Gardner look uncomfortable as if they want to say more but don't want to contradict Clive.
Jake listened, amazed.
"Yes, mm-hmm. What happened then?" He asked, fascinated by the story.
"Well that's about it, we don't know who took the mummy and there seem to be no leads, we'll keep on with our excavation obviously, there are still minor items to be catalogues and recorded."