Read 04 - Carnival of Criminals for Free Online

I’m sure it was just the surprise. Give it a few
days and you’ll see some stubble coming back.”
    Jane dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.
    “Th…thank you. It’s not much of a life, but show business
is all I have got.”
    “Naturally. Don’t take it so hard though. Perhaps take a
short holiday until things start to improve.”
    Jane gave a little nod.
    “And you are removing Hepkaptut now?”
    “Hopefully.” Clara answered, the thought crossing her
mind that moving a mummy through a crowded fairground might not be the easiest
of endeavours.
    “I’ll show you to my caravan, I can’t go on like this
anyway.”
    Jane Porter escorted them out of the tent and a short
distance away to a portion of the fair that was marginally quieter and was
clearly a private area for performers’ caravans. She motioned to one that had
been painted red with gold filigree work all over the sides.
    “That’s Arnold’s work.” Jane pointed out, “He has a lot
of talent.”
    “He does indeed.” Clara noted the crisp lines of the
paintwork. Who would have thought someone could paint like that with their
feet.
    “Well, there’s Hepkaptut.” Jane had unlocked the door and
was pointing inside.
    King Hepkaptut was leaning propped against a built-in
cupboard, staring at them with closed, blackened eyes. He looked rather
despondent, if that was possible for a corpse.
    “Exactly how are we going to carry Hepkaptut home without
drawing untoward attention to ourselves?” Oliver asked the question that had
been bothering Clara.
    “Oh Bowmen had him rolled up in a carpet.” Jane
interrupted. She kicked a rug with her foot, “You can use that if you like.”
    Clara and Oliver exchanged a look that echoed the surreal
nature of the situation they were now in.
    “Oh well.” Clara shrugged, “I’ll grab his head if you
take his feet.”
    It was not easy negotiating the mummy onto the rug in the
cramped space of the caravan. Jane was no help, fearful that if she got too
close to the mummy she would end up beardless for life.
    “I swear he is cursed.” She said through the doorway as
the reluctant pharaoh finally made his way onto the carpet, “Everyone who goes
near him has bad luck. It is some Ancient Egyptian magic.”
    “Well Mervin Grimes certainly had some bad luck.” Clara
muttered to herself.
    “I’ll be most relieved when he is out of the fair. Why
did you say you were taking him anyway?”
    “For safety, because of the attempted thefts.” Oliver
quickly answered, “We’re from Brighton Museum, you see.”
    “Ah, that makes complete sense.” Jane nodded, “I wondered
why anyone could want an old mummy. Is he worth a lot?”
    “Not really.” Oliver hastily added, “But not everyone
realises that. They think if something is old enough it must be worth a fortune
and, as he is of historical value, we felt it wise to take him under our care.”
    “I see, I see.” Jane agreed enthusiastically.
    Clara gave Oliver a questioning look from where she was
trying to wrap the mummy in carpet. Oliver returned the look with a wink and
leant forward to help. Five minutes later they were leaving the caravan with a
rather fat roll of carpet.
    “Thank you Jane.” Clara said.
    “My pleasure.” Jane could hardly contain her relief to
have her caravan back to herself.
    Oliver took the lead as they headed out of the fair,
keeping the top of the carpet as high up as was possible to avoid people
looking in the roll and seeing Hepkaptut.
    “Brighton museum?” Clara asked as soon as they were out
of earshot of Jane.
    “I had to say something.” Oliver shrugged, “Why else
would I want a mummy?”
    “Why indeed.” Clara answered, beginning to feel that her
life had taken another of those curious twists that it seemed rather fond of, “I
say, we never did find your father.”
    “He’ll turn up.” Oliver said happily, “He always does.”
    They exited the fairground and followed the sea wall
along the front, Hepkaptut