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for thousands of years!
    All right, calm down. One step at a time. Have to stay focused on the task at hand. First, Luxor and Valley of the Kings. Then Cleopatra. There’s still lots of work to be done.
GANNON
    FEBRUARY 25

    The entrance to the tomb
    We’ve gathered around the entrance of the tomb, which is just outside the city of Luxor, not far from the Valley of the Kings where the tomb of King Tut can be found, along with lots of other pharaohs. Luxor itself sits along the banks of the Nile. It’s lush and green with flowers and ancient ruins everywhere you turn and there’s no air pollution like in Cairo. Just outside the city is more desert with sharp, rugged mountains and canyons rising up in the distance. It’s about as bright as the surface of the sun here and my eyes are squinted to tiny little slits and watering like a broken faucet. I have no clue how the ancient Egyptians worked in this valley without sunglasses.
    “Welcome to A1,” Dr. Aziz said, standing on the steps that lead into the tomb. “This is the 99 th tomb I have discovered in Egypt, and the first in Luxor. We have been excavating this area for nearly four years. It wasn’t until this last season that we discovered A1, which shows you the value of being persistent!”
    Dr. Aziz went on to tell us that the “A” is short for Aziz, since it is Dr. Aziz who discovered the tomb, and that the “1” part came from the fact that it’s the first tomb he has discovered in this area.
    After Dr. Aziz’s introduction, we got a lesson in excavation and learned some interesting archeological history. Here’s something we learned that just seems idiotic to me. Back in the day, archeologists like Giovanni Belzoni used dynamite to blast their way into the chambers. I mean, really? Dynamite? Now, I’m no expert, but that’s about as smart as burning down a forest to find an ivory-billed woodpecker. Goes without saying, but all that dynamiting destroyed some priceless ancient artifacts over the years.
    Of course, the process has totally changed since then. Today archeologists go out of their way to prevent damage to the tombs. Dr. Aziz’s men showed us a few modern excavation techniques using various tools and equipment and taught us how to tread lightly when on a dig. They also told us that we have to leave our cameras behind because the interior is so fragile that even something as harmless as a camera flash can cause damage.

    Taking photos is not permitted in most tombs
    Just as the lesson ended, two men came out of the tunnel and pulled Dr. Aziz aside. When he turned to us, he had a huge smile on his face.
    “We happen to be here on a very special day,” Dr. Aziz said. “My staff has just discovered a new passageway behind a large boulder. They are in the process of removing the boulder now and when they do, you will all have the privilege of being the first to explore the chamber.”
    Suddenly, this crazy fear rose up and gripped me tightly around the chest.
    “I have a question,” I said.
    “Yes, Gannon?” Dr. Aziz answered.
    “What’s it like in there?”
    “I cannot say for sure, but given my previous experiences, I’d say it’s hot, dark, and narrow.”
    “That’s what I was afraid of.”
    “What’s the problem?” he asked.
    “It’s just that I tend to get claustrophobic in tight places.”
    “If you want to study archeology, you’re going to find yourself in many tight places. That’s part of the job. Did you not consider this when you applied for the fellowship?”
    “You know, I didn’t really think about it.”
    Wyatt rolled his eyes.
    “Since when have you had a fear of small spaces?” he asked quietly.
    “Since a few minutes ago.”
    “Toughen up, mate,” James said. “This is just the kind of experience we all came here for.”
    “You’ll be fine,” Serene said. “Just stay calm.”
    Four men emerged from the tomb, all wearing surgical masks over their faces. One of the men removed his mask and spoke