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of a pyramid, the pyramid of one of the old pharaohs.”
    The three men leaned forward. “Does it say anything about the tomb within the pyramid?”
    “It could be about the location of a tomb, but it’s written like a puzzle, a riddle, as if the person who wrote it didn’t really want anyone to find it. Where did you get it from?”
    “Oh, I just picked it up somewhere,” Hori said vaguely. Intef and Seth, who had hardly spoken since they’d been aboard, started whispering to each other. “I’ll hand it in to the authorities when we get to Memphis.”
    They tied up in the afternoon. “Why are we stopping so early?” asked Hapu. “We usually keep going till sunset.”
    “This is a good place to moor for the night,” said the captain. “Further up, the riverbank is rocky and it’s more difficult to get ashore.”
    The soldiers set up their camp on shore near some pretty farming land. Some of them used the extra daylight hours to wash their kilts at the river’s edge. Others fished with their spears. Karoya helped the cook collect fuel for the cooking fire.
    Hapu leaned back comfortably on a ridge of sand. “I shall almost miss this life.”
    “Make the most of it, you could be in prison this time tomorrow,” said Ramose in a low voice. “Arrested for breaking into the palace.”
    “Don’t be so gloomy. It’s too nice a day.”
    The sun was setting and the sky turned pale orange. It was a nice day, but Ramose couldn’t help but worry about what might be ahead of them.
    They had a pleasant meal of ox meat, newly baked bread and vegetables. After dinner the soldiers played senet and a rather childish ball game. Hapu joined in enthusiastically.
    Ramose laid out his reed mat away from the soldiers where it was quieter. The others eventually settled down to sleep, but Ramose lay awake looking at the stars. He couldn’t sleep. Hapu was snoring softly. Karoya was sleeping under her head shawl. All the soldiers were asleep as well. The only other creature awake was Mery who was trying to settle down on Ramose’s stomach. Ramose had pushed the cat away at least half a dozen times, but it kept coming back, digging its claws into his chest. Ramose sat up abruptly and grabbed the cat. He stuffed it into his reed bag.
    “Now perhaps you’ll go to sleep and leave me alone,” hissed Ramose.
    He tied a leather thong around the opening. The bag was loosely woven, the cat would be able to breathe easily enough. He lay down again with a sigh.
    Just as Ramose was starting to drift off to sleep, he felt a hand clamp over his mouth. It was a dirty, sweaty hand that smelt of onions. Ramose tried to pull it off, but other hands turned him over roughly and tied his arms behind his back. A gag was tied tightly over his mouth. Ramose fought furiously against his bindings but he couldn’t break free. A short, dark figure hauled him to his feet and forced him to walk away from his friends and into the darkness. He struggled against his captors. They muttered and cursed him. Something cracked him on the head.

6
KIDNAPPED
    Someone was slapping his face. It hurt. His whole head hurt. “Come on, wake up,” said a rough voice. It was Hori. “Intef’s tired of carrying you.”
    Ramose was lying on the ground. Hori was leaning over him. He slapped him again. Ramose tried to sit up, but he couldn’t because his hands were tied behind him. His jaw was stiff and sore. His mouth was dry because of the tight gag. He rolled onto his side. Ramose didn’t know where he was. It was still dark. He couldn’t hear the sound of the river, but the air was still moist and he could feel grass beneath him. Hori and Intef were watching him. Seth was opening Ramose’s bag. He undid the string. There was a ferocious spitting and hissing as Mery leapt out of the bag. Seth shrieked. Mery darted off into the darkness.
    “It’s a monster,” Seth yelled. “The boy’s got a monster in his bag.”
    Ramose would have laughed if he hadn’t had a