paws of the Sphinx. Most people assumed that to be nothing but nonsense, but when Schoch conducted his research, he found something odd. There is a cavity under the paws, roughly twelve meters by nine meters. It's a mere five meters under the surface."
"If that chamber exists, why hasn't the Egyptian government excavated it?" I asked, genuinely curious now.
"They've been petitioned many times, but they feel that Schoch's evidence is inconclusive. They don't want to risk damaging such an important monument over what they feel is a hoax." Steve folded his arms, adopting a pensive look. "Unfortunately, I haven't found any way into the chamber, assuming it really exists. Nor have I found any additional information about it. There are a lot of rumors, but only Cayce's testimony can be validated, and that was nothing more than a vision. He could have made the entire thing up."
"Obviously we can't just drill into the rock," Bridget said, leaning forward in her chair. "It would be too loud, and far too conspicuous. The answers we need are frustratingly close, but still out of reach."
"Can you get us access to the Sphinx?" I asked, glancing at Jillian. She gave me a knowing smile. Her abilities could get us into that chamber.
"Sure," Steve said, shrugging. "There are tours heading there constantly. We can be there in two hours if you like."
Chapter 12- The Sphinx
We boarded an aging red bus just outside the hotel, with a conveniently colorful picture of the pyramids on the side. It wasn't as crowded as I'd expected, and the five of us were nearly alone toward the back of the bus. I studied the city as we rumbled up a wide street that could have belonged in Los Angeles, threading past skyscrapers, mosques, and a very modern hospital.
There was very little conversation, though Marcus and Summers spent a great deal of time whispering. Summers' head rested against Marcus' shoulders, and he wore a half-smile. The behavior, especially hers, seemed out of keeping, but I suppose that kind of near-death experience could definitely change a person.
"It's nice seeing them happy," Jillian said, her hand finding mine. She gave me a warm smile.
"Yeah, I'd say they deserve it after everything we've all been through," I replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
We'd finally stolen a march on our enemies, or so it felt. Even the knowledge that there might be a spy in our midst wasn't enough to dampen my spirits. We'd rescued Janaki, and thanks to Osiris we had a starting point. If we could find this Hall of Records, maybe we could learn more about the Black Knight satellite.
"It isn't much further," Steve called. He'd donned a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap that he somehow managed to make stylish. It might have been my imagination, but he sounded a little annoyed. Maybe that was because he'd insisted Bridget stay behind, probably so he could flirt with Jillian and Summers. Summers had Marcus, and Jillian was with me, which meant his charms were wasted. Ha-fucking-ha.
The bus emerged from between a pair of large apartment buildings onto a wide lane. A row of large buses, vans, and a smattering of cars clogged the roadway ahead of us. It wasn't hard guessing why. Before us loomed the Great Pyramids of Giza, far more majestic in person than I'd ever have imagined.
"The tallest one, the pyramid built by Khufu, is over forty-five stories tall," Steve said, gesturing at the grand structures. "It's nearly fifty centuries old, the oldest structure of its size in the entire world. Amazing, isn't it?"
"It is," I said, transfixed by the view. The bus inched forward, winding traffic toward a large parking lot where people were debarking.
The Sphinx was considerably less impressive, at least from a distance. I could only make out the head, which was worn to the point where I could barely make out facial features. It was tiny compared to the pyramids themselves, but if Steve was right about the Hall of Records, it was
"If that chamber exists, why hasn't the Egyptian government excavated it?" I asked, genuinely curious now.
"They've been petitioned many times, but they feel that Schoch's evidence is inconclusive. They don't want to risk damaging such an important monument over what they feel is a hoax." Steve folded his arms, adopting a pensive look. "Unfortunately, I haven't found any way into the chamber, assuming it really exists. Nor have I found any additional information about it. There are a lot of rumors, but only Cayce's testimony can be validated, and that was nothing more than a vision. He could have made the entire thing up."
"Obviously we can't just drill into the rock," Bridget said, leaning forward in her chair. "It would be too loud, and far too conspicuous. The answers we need are frustratingly close, but still out of reach."
"Can you get us access to the Sphinx?" I asked, glancing at Jillian. She gave me a knowing smile. Her abilities could get us into that chamber.
"Sure," Steve said, shrugging. "There are tours heading there constantly. We can be there in two hours if you like."
Chapter 12- The Sphinx
We boarded an aging red bus just outside the hotel, with a conveniently colorful picture of the pyramids on the side. It wasn't as crowded as I'd expected, and the five of us were nearly alone toward the back of the bus. I studied the city as we rumbled up a wide street that could have belonged in Los Angeles, threading past skyscrapers, mosques, and a very modern hospital.
There was very little conversation, though Marcus and Summers spent a great deal of time whispering. Summers' head rested against Marcus' shoulders, and he wore a half-smile. The behavior, especially hers, seemed out of keeping, but I suppose that kind of near-death experience could definitely change a person.
"It's nice seeing them happy," Jillian said, her hand finding mine. She gave me a warm smile.
"Yeah, I'd say they deserve it after everything we've all been through," I replied, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
We'd finally stolen a march on our enemies, or so it felt. Even the knowledge that there might be a spy in our midst wasn't enough to dampen my spirits. We'd rescued Janaki, and thanks to Osiris we had a starting point. If we could find this Hall of Records, maybe we could learn more about the Black Knight satellite.
"It isn't much further," Steve called. He'd donned a pair of sunglasses and a baseball cap that he somehow managed to make stylish. It might have been my imagination, but he sounded a little annoyed. Maybe that was because he'd insisted Bridget stay behind, probably so he could flirt with Jillian and Summers. Summers had Marcus, and Jillian was with me, which meant his charms were wasted. Ha-fucking-ha.
The bus emerged from between a pair of large apartment buildings onto a wide lane. A row of large buses, vans, and a smattering of cars clogged the roadway ahead of us. It wasn't hard guessing why. Before us loomed the Great Pyramids of Giza, far more majestic in person than I'd ever have imagined.
"The tallest one, the pyramid built by Khufu, is over forty-five stories tall," Steve said, gesturing at the grand structures. "It's nearly fifty centuries old, the oldest structure of its size in the entire world. Amazing, isn't it?"
"It is," I said, transfixed by the view. The bus inched forward, winding traffic toward a large parking lot where people were debarking.
The Sphinx was considerably less impressive, at least from a distance. I could only make out the head, which was worn to the point where I could barely make out facial features. It was tiny compared to the pyramids themselves, but if Steve was right about the Hall of Records, it was
Similar Books
Behind the Yellow Tape: On the Road With Some of America's Hardest Working Crime Scene Investigators
Jarrett Hallcox, Amy Welch
