Jim, Ethan and Teddy return to the Winter Palace, and meet up with Glen and Max, and Zac and Josh. Over a glass of 'shai' Jim describes Teddy's search for information at the Temple of Khonsu - which was, unfortunately, unsuccessful. Regardless, they all agreed that their best bet, if they were to follow the 'communication' the Glen received, would be to search the West Bank with the boy called Khonsu...
 |
| Winter Palace - Luxor- Egypt |
Having finished their walk, and their browsing at the stalls and shops, Jim and Ethan with Teddy, walked slowly up the Sharia al-Mahatta to the Corniche, and then walked a little way along the Corniche to the entrance to the Winter Palace.
It was late afternoon, but some time before sunset, so they returned to Jim's suite for a shower - (but not for Teddy, who simply let Ethan give him a good, firm brushing), and a change of clothes.
 |
| Front Terrace - Winter Palace - Luxor |
Later they all met on the front terrace for 'shai'.
 |
| Glen - Winter Palace - Luxor |
"So what did you find out when you went back to Karnak, Teddy ?"...Glen asked first.
Obviously Glen was interested as he was the one who had seen the image of the cave, which later led to the meeting with the boy called 'Khonsu' - and the arrangement to search the West Bank for a similar cave.
"Very little, unfortunately, Glen.
 |
| The Temple of Khonsu - Karnak |
The place to look, obviously, was the Temple of Khonsu, but the building has been altered often during the time of the Pharaohs, and to make matters worse, the Egyptian Authorities have been restoring it recently, and not very well, so now many of the inscriptions are almost impossible to read.", Teddy explained.
"So we know nothing about this 'god' Khonsu then...?", Josh asked.
 |
| 'Khonsu' |
"Well we do know quite a lot about the 'neter' Khonsu.
Now if there is any connection between this boy the locals call 'Khonsu' and the 'god', then we should be on the right track - but to be honest, I think they just gave him that 'nickname' because of his odd hairstyle - which looks a bit like that usually shown on statues and paintings of the real Khonsu.", Teddy said.
The 'God' Khonsu
Khonsu (Ancient Egyptian: Khensu or Khons) is the Ancient Egyptian 'god' of the moon. His name means 'the traveller', and this may relate to the nightly travel of the moon across the sky. Along with Thoth he marked the passage of time. Khonsu was instrumental in the creation of new life in all living creatures. At Thebes (Luxor) he formed part of a family 'triad' (the 'Theban Triad') with Mut as his mother, and Amun his father.
"So, how are we going to do this trip to the West Bank, Jim ?", Zac asked.
"Well first, those of us who will be crossing should have something to eat, as we don't know when we will be back...
Next, I want you, Zac, to stay here, as we need someone on this side who knows where we shall be going , in case anything goes wrong...", Jim said.
"Glen, obviously, should come with us, as he knows what we're looking for...
Teddy, and therefore Ethan, will be needed, as Teddy speaks Arabic and ancient Egyptian", Jim added.
"So also take Josh, as he's handy with fire-arms...", Zac suggested.
"Right...and Max, you stay with Zac, as backup, and for company.", Jim concluded.
"And what about Faunus...?", Ethan asked.
"Well, I have a strange feeling that we will meet him on the West Bank - at some stage.", Jim replied.
Preparations were then made for the coming evening.
Zac, whose 'official' position was 'head of security', was, as usual responsible for 'equipment', and ensured that Jim, Ethan (who was, incongruously, a member of the 'armed security team'), and Josh had functioning fire arms, and means of communication, and that the others who were to cross to the West Bank also had powerful torches, which were particularly important considering the frequent 'outages' (UK 'power-cuts') that occurred on the West Bank at night.
Meanwhile, Jim was 'phoning Mahmoud for his motor-boat to pick them up at the area of the Winter Palace Corniche.
And so it was time for their departure.
Only Ethan and Teddy had visited the 'West Bank' at night, and the others were a little apprehensive, even if they did not care to admit it.
"Well first, those of us who will be crossing should have something to eat, as we don't know when we will be back...
Next, I want you, Zac, to stay here, as we need someone on this side who knows where we shall be going , in case anything goes wrong...", Jim said.
"Glen, obviously, should come with us, as he knows what we're looking for...
Teddy, and therefore Ethan, will be needed, as Teddy speaks Arabic and ancient Egyptian", Jim added.
"So also take Josh, as he's handy with fire-arms...", Zac suggested.
"Right...and Max, you stay with Zac, as backup, and for company.", Jim concluded.
"And what about Faunus...?", Ethan asked.
"Well, I have a strange feeling that we will meet him on the West Bank - at some stage.", Jim replied.
Preparations were then made for the coming evening.
Zac, whose 'official' position was 'head of security', was, as usual responsible for 'equipment', and ensured that Jim, Ethan (who was, incongruously, a member of the 'armed security team'), and Josh had functioning fire arms, and means of communication, and that the others who were to cross to the West Bank also had powerful torches, which were particularly important considering the frequent 'outages' (UK 'power-cuts') that occurred on the West Bank at night.
Meanwhile, Jim was 'phoning Mahmoud for his motor-boat to pick them up at the area of the Winter Palace Corniche.
Only Ethan and Teddy had visited the 'West Bank' at night, and the others were a little apprehensive, even if they did not care to admit it.
 |
| Sunset Over the West Bank - Luxor - Egypt |
The 'West 'Bank, although only a 'stone's throw' from the East, is in many ways like another world - especially at night.
Equally, the people of the West Bank, although many work, shop and do business on the East, are perceptively different.
It is as if the 'West Bank' existed in a slightly different 'time zone' - almost another 'era'.
The ancient Egyptian were deeply aware of certain aspects of this fact. For them, the West - 'Imenet' - was the 'land of the Dead', whereas the East was the 'land of the Living'. This is because the sun 'died' every day in the Western horizon, only to be 'reborn' the next morning in the East. Most Egyptians were buried to the west of the Nile with their heads facing the west. The "Goddess of the West" (a woman shown with the hieroglyph of the West on her head) would receive the dead in the afterlife. This goddess was originally developed as a persona of Hathor, who also occasionally wears the glyph on her head.
The West Bank of the Nile was the place where the ancient Egyptians buried their dead - and this includes the numerous pyramids in the North (Lower Egypt) - including 'Step Pyramid' of the King Djoser, the Pyramid of Unas at Saqqara, and the Serapeum, and also the three, well known large pyramids, of Khafre,Khufu, and Menkaure at Giza, and also numerous other pyramids, including the less well known pyramids at Dahshur.
The 'West Bank' at Luxor also features the mortuary temples of various Pharaohs, and also the وادي ابواب المملوك ('Biban al Mulūk' - 'Valley of the Gates of the Kings'), and the 'Biban el-Harim' - ('Valley of the Queens'), and the tombs of many nobles.
So... the 'West Bank' - particularly at night, can be a 'spooky' place - and by the time the 'boys' set off it was night... as the sun had disappeared behind the Theban hills some considerable time before Mahmoud's boat hove into view.
 |
| Village of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna - West Bank - Luxor - Night |
Crossing the Nile by private boat at night was not particularly safe.
Few people using the river showed any lights, so collisions were always a possibility, although this night was better that some, as the moon was nearly full - so Khonsu - the Egyptian god of the moon - seemed to be favouring their little expedition.
Once on the 'West Bank', it was a matter of cramming everyone into Hassan's taxi, and making off for the village of Sheikh Abd el-Qurna.
Everything was quiet and still, and there were no lights anywhere - so it seems there had been yet another 'power-outage' - but they had their torches, thoughtfully provided by Zac.
Fortunately, at the 'coffee shop' opposite the mosque (where Faunus, Ethan an Teddy had previously met the Sheikh), they had oil-lamps, and the tea-making was powered by propane gas, so it was business as usual.
 |
| Al-Azhar University - Cairo - Egypt |
Some of the young men from the mosque were at the coffee shop and, recognizing Ethan, they informed him (in awkward English) that the Sheikh had returned to جامعة الأزهر الشريف - (Al-Azhar University) in Cairo.
'The Honorable University of Al-Azhar' is a university in Cairo, Egypt. Associated with Al-Azhar Mosque in Islamic Cairo, it is Egypt's oldest degree-granting university, and is renowned as 'Islam’s most prestigious university'. In addition to higher education, Al-Azhar oversees a national network of schools with approximately two million students, and over 4000 teaching institutes in Egypt are affiliated with the University. Founded in 970 by the Shia Fatimid Caliphate as a centre of Islamic learning, its students studied the Qur'an and Islamic law in detail, along with logic, grammar, rhetoric, and how to calculate the phases of the moon. While the Fatimids were Shia Muslims, they tolerated multitudes of different faiths coming and learning at Al-Azhar, until the time of Sala-a-din. It was one of the first universities in the world, and the only one in the Arabic world to survive as a modern university including secular subjects in the curriculum. Today it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world.
 |
| Village at Night - Qurnah - West Bank - Luxor - Egypt |
Now at this point in the story, Teddy didn't think it was necessary to tell the 'boys' that Sheikh Ahmed was the Chief Sheikh at Al-Azhar, as that information could be given to them later, when it might be suitable.
Teddy was aware that their present concern was to find the young man known as 'Khonsu'.
"So... here we are...
We've go our 'shai', the lights have come back on, and it's a nice, warm moonlit night...
So how do we find this guy Khonsu... if we don't know where he lives ?", Josh asked.
"Well that's easy.", Teddy replied...
"He told us... 'just look for 'علياء' - the cat' !".
So Jim paid for the 'shai' - and they left the coffee shop, and started looking for a cat.
"So what sort of cat - what colour ?", Glen asked.
"Teddy doesn't know... the boy didn't say...", Ethan replied, sounding somewhat peeved.
"Well there's a cat, but if it's the right one... then where's Khonsu ?", Jim said, pointing to a black shape hiding near the wall of one of the mud-brick houses.
Cats in ancient Egypt were represented in social and religious practices of Ancient Egypt for more than 30 centuries. Several Ancient Egyptian 'neteru' were depicted and sculptured with cat-like heads such as Bastet and Sekhmet, representing justice, fertility and power. The 'neter' Mut - mother of Khonsu - was also depicted as a cat, and in the company of a cat. Cats were praised for killing venomous snakes, and protecting the Pharaoh since at least the First Dynasty of Egypt. Much later, gentle treatment of cats became part of Islamic tradition, as Mohammed was very fond of cats.
The Cat
"Gee !... What a sweet looking kitty...", Ethan said, as the dark chocolate brown - almost black - cat eyed them suspiciously.
"She's called Bastet...", a voice from someone behind them said gently.
It was Faunus...
"Now where the fuck did you spring from ?", Ethan said, sounding alarmed.
"I've been here all the time...", Faunus replied.
"Now doubtless Teddy can tell you all about Bastet... later - but let me first give you some advice....
Don't make such a carry-on with your torches, guns, and all your talk... you might as well put up a big sign in Arabic saying 'We Are Treasure Hunters'... نحن باحثون عن الكن'وز'...", Faunus said, as he strode over to the coffee shop, and ordered 'shai' in Arabic.
Jim, unusually, looked very embarrassed.
"Yes... you're right Faunus...", Jim said regretfully, as he went back with Faunus to the coffee-shop.
Fortunately few in the coffee shop were fluent enough in English to understand what Faunus had said - which of course Faunus knew.
 |
| Bastet - Bronze Sculpture |
"Now cats in Egypt are interesting...
Bastet was a 'goddess' of ancient Egyptian religion, worshiped as early as the Second Dynasty, around 2890 BCE.
Bastet was a 'goddess' of ancient Egyptian religion, worshiped as early as the Second Dynasty, around 2890 BCE.
In ancient Greek religion, she was known as 'αἴλουρος' - Ailuros, which is Koinē Greek for 'cat'...
Bastet was worshiped in Bubastis in Lower Egypt, originally as a lioness goddess, a role shared by other deities such as Sekhmet.
Eventually Bastet and Sekhmet were characterized as two aspects of the same goddess, with Sekhmet representing the powerful warrior and protector aspect, and Bastet, who increasingly was depicted as a cat, representing a gentler aspect.
Cats belonging to royalty in ancient Egypt were, in some instances, known to be dressed in golden jewelry, and were allowed to eat from the plates of their owners.
The Greeks sometimes equated Bastet with one of their goddesses, Artemis."... Teddy explained.
There was an embarrassed pause...
"So, 'Sheikh Ali', you have brought some of your friends with you, as well as Ethan Effendi and the 'furry one'." , Khonsu', who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, said.
"Sheikh who.. ?", Jim asked, looking to Faunus.
"Sheikh Ali - you know... me..", Faunus said.
"Oh yes...", Jim said, realizing that this was just another of Faunus' many aliases.
"And I suppose I'm the 'furry one' ?", Teddy said, sounding none too happy.
"Yes, and you are welcome, as you are a 'friend' of Sheikh Ahmed's cat...", 'Khonsu' said.
"So who does the cat out there belong to then ?", Ethan asked, desperately ungrammatically... not that anyone noticed.
"That is my cat... 'Bastet', but she has a twin sister, 'Sekhmet', who you can have, if you like cats....", Khonsu said.
"Mm... let me think about it...", Ethan said.
"So you are 'Khonsu'...", Jim said.
"Why doesn't that boy ever smile ?", Ethan whispered to Teddy.
"..'lot to think about..", Teddy replied, equally quietly.
"..'suppose so... looking after the moon, and all that...", Ethan mused.
"I am 'Khonsu' - or that is what the people here call me...", 'Khonsu' said, replying to Jim's question.
There was a brief, awkward pause.
"Oh yes... and pleased to meet you...
And I'm Jim...", Jim replied, introducing himself.
"I think not...", Khonsu replied.
"Oh dear, here we go again....
This is what comes of 'hanging out' with Faunus - no-body is who they seem to be....", Ethan said, despairing.
""Well I'm Teddy - and that's that....", Teddy said confidently.
"Would you like some 'shai', young Khonsu ?... I get the feeling we might be here for some time.", Ethan said, resigning himself to one of those complicated conversations.
Jim ordered more 'shai', and they settled themselves, while Josh and Glen, who were keeping a low profile, looked on.
"I discerned that - from long ago - you are 'Marcus'... a young man on a mission... and now you look to me, at this moment in time, for guidance - am I correct ?"
"Well... yes... but I'm not sure how you know my original name... and as for guidance, well I'm just trying to help my companion, Glen, find a cave he saw in a dream...", Jim said, as he wondered if he could trust this strange boy - and how the boy knew he was 'Marcus'.
"Well this companion, Glen, as you now call him, was simply bringing to you information that you desired - for why else would you be here in Luxor - after all, Egypt is a long way from you 'home', be that Las Vegas, Athens or Rome ?", Khonsu said.
Jim decided not to be drawn by all the details that Khonsu was slipping into the conversation.
"Well, we're here, and once we've finished out 'shai', we'd really like to start looking for this cave...", Jim said, in an attempt to finish the awkward conversation, and get on with the matter in hand.
"That is good...", Khonsu stated, as Jim called over one of the young men working in the coffee-shop, and settled the tab (UK 'amount owing').
Once they were out on the street, Ethan looked around, puzzled.
"So how do we know which way to go ?", Ethan asked.
"Just follow Bastet...", Khonsu replied.
"And how does Bastet know what it is we're looking for...", Glen asked.
"Simple... the 'furry one' told her...", Khonsu replied.
"That's 'Teddy', if you don't mind !", Teddy said.
"..'should have guessed... we're in the hands of a cat that thinks it's a 'goddess', and a demented teddy-bear...", Ethan said, as they started off up the road, on the way to the lower slopes of the Theban hills.
"Yes... and less of the 'demented' - thank you...", Teddy said.
This, however, was where the torches, provided by Zac, came in useful.
In Egypt, outside of the towns, streets lights are a rare luxury, along with road markings, signposts, traffic lights etc. etc.
So - if you want to experience a real 'pre-industrial dark night', somewhere like the West Bank of the Nile is ideal, if rather dangerous - although it's excellent for star-gazing.
Cats, of course, can reputedly see in the dark, so in that way Bastet was extremely useful.
And, of course, Teddy could also see in the dark with his 'infrared' filters, plus 'super night vision'...
So Bastet delicately led the way, with Khonsu following.
They were followed by Ethan and Teddy, and then Glen and Jim.
Bringing up the rear was Josh and Faunus.
To begin with it was easy, but as they ascended from the flat alluvial plain bordering the Nile, to the sandstone slopes and cliffs of the Theban Hills, things became more difficult.
The problem with climbing around on the Theban hills was the fact that the sandstone was extremely friable.
"So how do we know that the caves that we are seeing are not the cave that we are looking for ?", Ethan asked, as they passed numerous cave entrances.
"And why are there so many caves in these hills ?", Josh asked Khonsu.
"A few of them are natural - but not many.
Most of the cave entrances that you can see were carved in ancient times - and most of them are the entrances to tunnels leading to tombs...", Khonsu replied.
"Creepy...", Ethan said, holding tightly onto Teddy.
As they stumbled along, Khonsu continued to explain...
"Some of the tombs were made for important men who served the Pharaohs in the palaces in Theses - or were priests or scribes in the Temples, on both the East and West Banks.
The smaller tombs were those of the workers who made, and who decorated the great tombs for the Pharaohs, and also the workers and priests who undertook the embalming of the dead.", Khonsu also explained.
"Some of these caves that were used as tombs still have mummies of the dead in them - and occasionally they are found - by the villagers, or less often by foreigners.", Khonsu added.
"Uk !... even more creepy !", Ethan muttered.
"Now Bastet will know the cave that we are looking for - and probably go straight in - so all we must do is just follow her...", Khonsu said reassuringly.
"Well that's OK...as long as the cave she chooses doesn't contain mummies...", Ethan said.
"So tell me, Khonsu - if this cave is so special, why is it that no one else has found it - and what is in it that makes it so special ?", Jim asked, keen to get away from the topic of mummies on such a dark night.
"Ah... that's something you missed, Jim, when Sheikh Ali and I were 'chatting' to Sheikh Ahmed... you know - the way you do...
It's a 'metaphysical-thingy' like cave - which Sheikh Ali here said was almost 'hallucinatory'...", Ethan said proudly.
"Well I'm sorry, Ethan... but I don't have the slightest idea of what you're talking about...", Jim said, obviously confused.
"Well remember Room 33, Jim ?". Faunus asked.
Jim nodded with a smile.
"It's a bit like that...", Faunus concluded.
"Oh... I see... so that's why nobody else has found it...", Jim said, with an air of finality.
"Well I would have thought it would be easy to spot - a big hotel-room door set into the rocks !", Ethan said.
"No... Ethan - it's just like Room 33.
Like it's there - but not there.....", Jim said, sounding frustrated.
"So, does that mean that when we eventually go home, all we need to do is to go into this 'cave-thingy', and we can come out of Room 33 in 'Vegas ?... and not have to spend all that time flying...", Ethan said, hopefully.
"No... I'm afraid it doesn't quite work like that...", Faunus said, hoping to bring the pointless conversation to an end - (although Faunus was not being entirely honest... as you will see in later chapters).
"Now I think you're being very silly, Ethan.
There's absolutely no reason to be afraid of mummies...
Let me explain...
 |
| 'Khonsu' in the Coffee Shop |
"So, 'Sheikh Ali', you have brought some of your friends with you, as well as Ethan Effendi and the 'furry one'." , Khonsu', who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, said.
"Sheikh who.. ?", Jim asked, looking to Faunus.
"Sheikh Ali - you know... me..", Faunus said.
"Oh yes...", Jim said, realizing that this was just another of Faunus' many aliases.
"And I suppose I'm the 'furry one' ?", Teddy said, sounding none too happy.
"Yes, and you are welcome, as you are a 'friend' of Sheikh Ahmed's cat...", 'Khonsu' said.
"So who does the cat out there belong to then ?", Ethan asked, desperately ungrammatically... not that anyone noticed.
"That is my cat... 'Bastet', but she has a twin sister, 'Sekhmet', who you can have, if you like cats....", Khonsu said.
"Mm... let me think about it...", Ethan said.
"So you are 'Khonsu'...", Jim said.
"Why doesn't that boy ever smile ?", Ethan whispered to Teddy.
"..'lot to think about..", Teddy replied, equally quietly.
"..'suppose so... looking after the moon, and all that...", Ethan mused.
"I am 'Khonsu' - or that is what the people here call me...", 'Khonsu' said, replying to Jim's question.
There was a brief, awkward pause.
"Oh yes... and pleased to meet you...
And I'm Jim...", Jim replied, introducing himself.
"I think not...", Khonsu replied.
"Oh dear, here we go again....
This is what comes of 'hanging out' with Faunus - no-body is who they seem to be....", Ethan said, despairing.
""Well I'm Teddy - and that's that....", Teddy said confidently.
"Would you like some 'shai', young Khonsu ?... I get the feeling we might be here for some time.", Ethan said, resigning himself to one of those complicated conversations.
Jim ordered more 'shai', and they settled themselves, while Josh and Glen, who were keeping a low profile, looked on.
 |
| Marcus and Baby Glaux |
"Well... yes... but I'm not sure how you know my original name... and as for guidance, well I'm just trying to help my companion, Glen, find a cave he saw in a dream...", Jim said, as he wondered if he could trust this strange boy - and how the boy knew he was 'Marcus'.
"Well this companion, Glen, as you now call him, was simply bringing to you information that you desired - for why else would you be here in Luxor - after all, Egypt is a long way from you 'home', be that Las Vegas, Athens or Rome ?", Khonsu said.
Jim decided not to be drawn by all the details that Khonsu was slipping into the conversation.
"Well, we're here, and once we've finished out 'shai', we'd really like to start looking for this cave...", Jim said, in an attempt to finish the awkward conversation, and get on with the matter in hand.
"That is good...", Khonsu stated, as Jim called over one of the young men working in the coffee-shop, and settled the tab (UK 'amount owing').
Once they were out on the street, Ethan looked around, puzzled.
"So how do we know which way to go ?", Ethan asked.
"Just follow Bastet...", Khonsu replied.
"And how does Bastet know what it is we're looking for...", Glen asked.
"Simple... the 'furry one' told her...", Khonsu replied.
"That's 'Teddy', if you don't mind !", Teddy said.
 |
| Night on the West Bank - Luxor - Egypt |
"Yes... and less of the 'demented' - thank you...", Teddy said.
This, however, was where the torches, provided by Zac, came in useful.
In Egypt, outside of the towns, streets lights are a rare luxury, along with road markings, signposts, traffic lights etc. etc.
So - if you want to experience a real 'pre-industrial dark night', somewhere like the West Bank of the Nile is ideal, if rather dangerous - although it's excellent for star-gazing.
Cats, of course, can reputedly see in the dark, so in that way Bastet was extremely useful.
And, of course, Teddy could also see in the dark with his 'infrared' filters, plus 'super night vision'...
 |
| Caves in the Theban Hills |
They were followed by Ethan and Teddy, and then Glen and Jim.
Bringing up the rear was Josh and Faunus.
To begin with it was easy, but as they ascended from the flat alluvial plain bordering the Nile, to the sandstone slopes and cliffs of the Theban Hills, things became more difficult.
The problem with climbing around on the Theban hills was the fact that the sandstone was extremely friable.
The condition of being 'friable' describes the tendency of a solid substance to break into smaller pieces under duress or contact. Friability is often associated with sandstones, mudstones, and shales. In the case of the Theban hills, in the distant past the area was part of an ancient seabed - which accounts for the frequent appearance of fossilized seashells. The large range of diurnal temperatures, however, accounts for the splitting of the sandstone into smaller boulders, rocks and eventually pebbles, and then wind erosion further weathers the stone so that finally it becomes a very fine, dusty sand - such as is found in the Western Desert. - taken from Teddy's Database...So... trudging up the pathways that crisscrossed the hills could be very tiring at the least, and hazardous if care was not taken.
"So how do we know that the caves that we are seeing are not the cave that we are looking for ?", Ethan asked, as they passed numerous cave entrances.
"And why are there so many caves in these hills ?", Josh asked Khonsu.
"A few of them are natural - but not many.
Most of the cave entrances that you can see were carved in ancient times - and most of them are the entrances to tunnels leading to tombs...", Khonsu replied.
"Creepy...", Ethan said, holding tightly onto Teddy.
 |
| Mummification |
The smaller tombs were those of the workers who made, and who decorated the great tombs for the Pharaohs, and also the workers and priests who undertook the embalming of the dead.", Khonsu also explained.
"Some of these caves that were used as tombs still have mummies of the dead in them - and occasionally they are found - by the villagers, or less often by foreigners.", Khonsu added.
 |
| Cave Containing Mummies - West Bank - Luxor |
"Now Bastet will know the cave that we are looking for - and probably go straight in - so all we must do is just follow her...", Khonsu said reassuringly.
"Well that's OK...as long as the cave she chooses doesn't contain mummies...", Ethan said.
"So tell me, Khonsu - if this cave is so special, why is it that no one else has found it - and what is in it that makes it so special ?", Jim asked, keen to get away from the topic of mummies on such a dark night.
"Ah... that's something you missed, Jim, when Sheikh Ali and I were 'chatting' to Sheikh Ahmed... you know - the way you do...
It's a 'metaphysical-thingy' like cave - which Sheikh Ali here said was almost 'hallucinatory'...", Ethan said proudly.
 |
| Door to Room 33 - Club Jaguar - Las Vegas - Nevada |
"Well remember Room 33, Jim ?". Faunus asked.
Jim nodded with a smile.
"It's a bit like that...", Faunus concluded.
"Oh... I see... so that's why nobody else has found it...", Jim said, with an air of finality.
"Well I would have thought it would be easy to spot - a big hotel-room door set into the rocks !", Ethan said.
"No... Ethan - it's just like Room 33.
Like it's there - but not there.....", Jim said, sounding frustrated.
"So, does that mean that when we eventually go home, all we need to do is to go into this 'cave-thingy', and we can come out of Room 33 in 'Vegas ?... and not have to spend all that time flying...", Ethan said, hopefully.
"No... I'm afraid it doesn't quite work like that...", Faunus said, hoping to bring the pointless conversation to an end - (although Faunus was not being entirely honest... as you will see in later chapters).
"Now I think you're being very silly, Ethan.
There's absolutely no reason to be afraid of mummies...
Let me explain...
Now not surprisingly most of information about mummies comes from an ancient Greek 'historian' called Herodotus....
 |
| Ancient Egyptian Embalming |
First, the brain was removed through the nose.
It seems a rod was used to liquefy the brain, which then drained out through nose by gravity.
The embalmers then rinsed the skull with certain drugs that mostly cleared any residue of brain tissue, and also had the effect of killing bacteria.
Next, the embalmers made an incision along the flank with a sharp blade, and removed the contents of the abdomen.
There was no jar for the heart as the Egyptians believed it to be the seat of the soul, and so it was left inside the body.
The internal organs were then separately preserved in special jars, known as 'Canopic Jars' - you can buys copies of such jars here in 'alabaster shops' on the West bank.
The cavity was then filled with other spices including myrrh, cassia and sewn up.
The body was further dehydrated by placing it in natron, a naturally occurring salt, for seventy days.
Herodotus writes that the body did not stay in the natron longer than seventy days.
Any shorter time and the body is not completely dehydrated; any longer, and the body would be too stiff to move into position for wrapping.
The embalmers then washed the body again, and wrapped it with linen bandages.
The bandages were covered with a gum that was both a waterproofing agent and an antimicrobial agent.
Many amulets were placed in the layers of bandages as magical forms of protection.
At that point, the body was given back to the family, who would be responsible for placing it in wooden coffin.
It seems a rod was used to liquefy the brain, which then drained out through nose by gravity.
The embalmers then rinsed the skull with certain drugs that mostly cleared any residue of brain tissue, and also had the effect of killing bacteria.
Next, the embalmers made an incision along the flank with a sharp blade, and removed the contents of the abdomen.
There was no jar for the heart as the Egyptians believed it to be the seat of the soul, and so it was left inside the body.
The internal organs were then separately preserved in special jars, known as 'Canopic Jars' - you can buys copies of such jars here in 'alabaster shops' on the West bank.
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| Canopic Jar - Anubis or Upuaut |
The canopic jars were four in number, each for the safekeeping of particular human organs: the stomach, intestines, lungs, and liver, all of which, it was believed, would be needed in the afterlife. Sometimes the covers of the jars were modelled after (or painted to resemble) the head of Anubis, the god of death and embalming. By the late Eighteenth dynasty canopic jars had come to feature the four sons of Horus. The sons of Horus were also the gods of the cardinal compass points. Each god was responsible for protecting a particular organ, and was himself protected by a companion goddess. They were: Hapi, the baboon-headed god representing the north, whose jar contained the lungs and was protected by the goddess Nephthys. Hapi is often used interchangeably with the god Hapi, though they are actually different gods. Duamutef, the jackal-headed god representing the east, whose jar contained the stomach and was protected by the goddess Neith Imsety, the human-headed god representing the south, whose jar contained the liver and was protected by the goddess Isis Qebehsenuef, the falcon-headed god representing the west, whose jar contained the intestines and was protected by the goddess Serqet.The abdominal cavity was then rinsed with palm wine and an infusion herbs and spices.
The cavity was then filled with other spices including myrrh, cassia and sewn up.
The body was further dehydrated by placing it in natron, a naturally occurring salt, for seventy days.
Herodotus writes that the body did not stay in the natron longer than seventy days.
Any shorter time and the body is not completely dehydrated; any longer, and the body would be too stiff to move into position for wrapping.
The embalmers then washed the body again, and wrapped it with linen bandages.
The bandages were covered with a gum that was both a waterproofing agent and an antimicrobial agent.
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| Red Granite Sarcophagus |
At that point, the body was given back to the family, who would be responsible for placing it in wooden coffin.
Richer people placed these wooden coffins in stone sarcophagi that provided further protection.
The family placed the sarcophagus in a tomb cut into the rock.", Teddy explained.
"Well, I'd rather you hadn't told me all that - particularly the bit about squishing the brain...
and I'm still frightened of mummies...", Ethan said, as he stumbled along the narrow track.
"But I was just trying to explain that all these mummies are simply dead people - so they're nothing to frightened of."
"True - but weren't they mummified so that they could come back to life ?", Jim asked.
"Yes... but that's just ancient Egyptian superstition....", Teddy said, not sounding as confident as before.
"Well that's the bit that bothers me...", Ethan said.
Suddenly Bastet stopped and sat down, facing the rock wall, and simply stared, apparently at nothing, the way that cats sometimes do.
Khonsu walked on and then stopped, turned round, and looked in the same direction as Bastet.
"Oh dear... this is it...", Ethan said quietly, sounding very nervous.
At that point everyone stopped and looked.
"It's crazy....! How the fuck did anyone miss that ...!", Ethan spluttered.
The rock face appeared to be decidedly 'sculptured'.
Not in a particularly ancient Egyptian style - but more naturalistic, and in the form of a huge lion's head - with the gaping jaws making a somewhat intimidating cave entrance.
"Hot diggity !... This is it !...", Ethan said.
"Well it seems so...", Jim agreed.
"What does your young companion - the boy you call Glen - think of this cave ?", Khonsu asked.
"That's it..!", Glen replied, sounding a little stunned.
"So... who goes in ?", Ethan asked...
"First - not all of you, and also not this night...", Khonsu said firmly.
"Aw... shucks !"... I was wanting to go in tonight...", Ethan said.
"Don't worry, Ethan effendi.... Tomorrow you will see the mysteries of the cave... but it is enough for this night to have found it, and know that it was the cave that was revealed to your companion at 'Ipet-isu'...", Khonsu said.
"Where ?", Ethan asked, sounding once again confused and puzzled.
"Ipet-isu - it's ancient Egyptian for 'the most auspicious of places'... Karnak.", Teddy elucidated.
"Ah... I see... and 'auspicious-thingy' means ?", Ethan asked.
"Like 'excellent'... Teddy replied.
"Well yes... it is pretty good - even if now it looks a bit crumbly...", Ethan said thoughtfully.
"So what do we do now... go back ?", Josh asked, sounding disappointed.
"Yes, we go back to the coffee shop, buy some chicken scraps in the village on the way, and then reward Bastet for guiding us to the cave.", Khonsu said.
And so they made their way down the track towards the village - and on the way they quietly discussed the strange appearance of the cave, and why it was apparently not known to all the numerous archaeologists who had, in the previous years, scoured the hills for caves and tombs.
"And why are we waiting until tomorrow before we go and explore the cave ?", Glen asked.
"Because we must choose who will enter the cave.", Faunus, who had said very little for a long time, finally explained
"This particular cave contains no mummies you'll be pleased to know - but it is still very dangerous - particularly to humans.
Myself and Khonsu can enter safely, and so can Teddy...
"Yes... 'might have guessed that Teddy would be allowed in...", Ethan said, beginning to sulk.
"Jim, of course, is special.", Faunus added.
"Oh !...", Ethan said, getting more and more puzzled, and a little annoyed..
"Remember....'Dilectus a Deorum'.... 'beloved of the gods'.." Faunus said.
"Yes... 'suppose so - but it's difficult to remember... To me he's just Marcus... I mean Jim...", Ethan said, quickly correcting himself.
"Yes, well that's understandable.", Faunus said.
"And what about Khonsu... I suppose he's allowed in...", Ethan persisted.
"Yes... Khonsu will come with us.", Faunus replied.
"Thought so... I knew he looked weird when I first saw him - decidedly not human - but very nice looking despite that. ", Ethan said, none too politely.
Khonsu said nothing, but just smiled.
"So just remember, Ethan... 'only one may enter'... one human that is.", Faunus said cryptically.
Soon they entered the village, and Jim bought some cooked chicken (cooked chicken is always available in Egyptian villages - whatever the hour), and they returned to the coffee-shop.
Now no one was concerned that they brought their own food to the coffee-shop as long as they ordered 'shai' - which they did - and Bastet happily ate up the leftover pieces of chicken.
"So tell me, Khonsu... was this strange cave ever a tomb...?", Jim asked.
"No, my lord Marcus - it was never a tomb, but it holds a great and dangerous secret.
"Well, as I'm not being allowed in, I'm not that much bothered about this dangerous secret, but I would be interested to know what it is..", Ethan said.
"But you will be going... you are human, I believe... and you will be taking Teddy.", Faunus said.
"Oh...", was all that Ethan managed to say.
"And the secret ?", Jim asked.
"Well, it's like a 'gateway' that leads to almost anywhere...", Khonsu said.
"Oh, is that all...
"Well we've got one like that back at home...", Ethan said.
Then it was Khonsu's turn to look puzzled...
Maybe more to the point, on the West Bank, although people talk about the 'Valley of the Kings', and the 'Valley of the Queens', the correct term is the 'Biban al Malik', and 'Biban al Malika', meaning the 'Gateway of the Kings' and the 'Gateway of the Queens', for the tombs were seen as 'Gateways' to another world.
Equally there is the 'Book of the Gates' which is a funerary text dating from the New Kingdom.
The book, based originally on the 'Pyramid Texts' - and later the 'Coffin Texts' and the 'Book of the Dead' and , describes the passage of a newly deceased soul into the next world.The soul is required to pass through a series of 'Gates' at different stages in the journey. Each 'Gate' is associated with a different 'neter', and requires that the deceased recognise the particular character of that deity." , Teddy explained.
The family placed the sarcophagus in a tomb cut into the rock.", Teddy explained.
"Well, I'd rather you hadn't told me all that - particularly the bit about squishing the brain...
and I'm still frightened of mummies...", Ethan said, as he stumbled along the narrow track.
"But I was just trying to explain that all these mummies are simply dead people - so they're nothing to frightened of."
"True - but weren't they mummified so that they could come back to life ?", Jim asked.
"Yes... but that's just ancient Egyptian superstition....", Teddy said, not sounding as confident as before.
"Well that's the bit that bothers me...", Ethan said.
Khonsu walked on and then stopped, turned round, and looked in the same direction as Bastet.
"Oh dear... this is it...", Ethan said quietly, sounding very nervous.
At that point everyone stopped and looked.
"It's crazy....! How the fuck did anyone miss that ...!", Ethan spluttered.
 |
| Bastet and the Cave - Theban Hills - West Bank - Luxor |
"Well... as you would say, it a 'metaphysical-thingy'...", Teddy said casually.
And indeed it was...The rock face appeared to be decidedly 'sculptured'.
Not in a particularly ancient Egyptian style - but more naturalistic, and in the form of a huge lion's head - with the gaping jaws making a somewhat intimidating cave entrance.
"Hot diggity !... This is it !...", Ethan said.
"Well it seems so...", Jim agreed.
"What does your young companion - the boy you call Glen - think of this cave ?", Khonsu asked.
"That's it..!", Glen replied, sounding a little stunned.
"So... who goes in ?", Ethan asked...
"First - not all of you, and also not this night...", Khonsu said firmly.
"Aw... shucks !"... I was wanting to go in tonight...", Ethan said.
"Don't worry, Ethan effendi.... Tomorrow you will see the mysteries of the cave... but it is enough for this night to have found it, and know that it was the cave that was revealed to your companion at 'Ipet-isu'...", Khonsu said.
 |
| Ipet-isu - Hypostyle Hall - Night - Karnak |
"Ipet-isu - it's ancient Egyptian for 'the most auspicious of places'... Karnak.", Teddy elucidated.
"Ah... I see... and 'auspicious-thingy' means ?", Ethan asked.
"Like 'excellent'... Teddy replied.
"Well yes... it is pretty good - even if now it looks a bit crumbly...", Ethan said thoughtfully.
"So what do we do now... go back ?", Josh asked, sounding disappointed.
"Yes, we go back to the coffee shop, buy some chicken scraps in the village on the way, and then reward Bastet for guiding us to the cave.", Khonsu said.
And so they made their way down the track towards the village - and on the way they quietly discussed the strange appearance of the cave, and why it was apparently not known to all the numerous archaeologists who had, in the previous years, scoured the hills for caves and tombs.
"And why are we waiting until tomorrow before we go and explore the cave ?", Glen asked.
"Because we must choose who will enter the cave.", Faunus, who had said very little for a long time, finally explained
 |
| Egyptian Mummy |
Myself and Khonsu can enter safely, and so can Teddy...
"Yes... 'might have guessed that Teddy would be allowed in...", Ethan said, beginning to sulk.
"Jim, of course, is special.", Faunus added.
"Oh !...", Ethan said, getting more and more puzzled, and a little annoyed..
"Remember....'Dilectus a Deorum'.... 'beloved of the gods'.." Faunus said.
"Yes... 'suppose so - but it's difficult to remember... To me he's just Marcus... I mean Jim...", Ethan said, quickly correcting himself.
"Yes, well that's understandable.", Faunus said.
"And what about Khonsu... I suppose he's allowed in...", Ethan persisted.
"Yes... Khonsu will come with us.", Faunus replied.
"Thought so... I knew he looked weird when I first saw him - decidedly not human - but very nice looking despite that. ", Ethan said, none too politely.
Khonsu said nothing, but just smiled.
"So just remember, Ethan... 'only one may enter'... one human that is.", Faunus said cryptically.
Soon they entered the village, and Jim bought some cooked chicken (cooked chicken is always available in Egyptian villages - whatever the hour), and they returned to the coffee-shop.
Now no one was concerned that they brought their own food to the coffee-shop as long as they ordered 'shai' - which they did - and Bastet happily ate up the leftover pieces of chicken.
"So tell me, Khonsu... was this strange cave ever a tomb...?", Jim asked.
"No, my lord Marcus - it was never a tomb, but it holds a great and dangerous secret.
"Well, as I'm not being allowed in, I'm not that much bothered about this dangerous secret, but I would be interested to know what it is..", Ethan said.
"But you will be going... you are human, I believe... and you will be taking Teddy.", Faunus said.
"Oh...", was all that Ethan managed to say.
"And the secret ?", Jim asked.
"Well, it's like a 'gateway' that leads to almost anywhere...", Khonsu said.
"Oh, is that all...
"Well we've got one like that back at home...", Ethan said.
Then it was Khonsu's turn to look puzzled...
"Yes... the ancient Egyptians were very 'taken' with 'Gateways' (Pylons) - like if you consider the Karnak Temple Complex, there are ten main monumental pylons - and a 'Pylon' is a 'Gateway'.
Temple Pylon - Edfu Temple - Egypt It is important to understand that the 'gateway' that Ethan was referring to was a special location, 'Room 33', 'situated' in 'Club Jaguar' (now 'Club Athena') - Las Vegas, USA. While it had a boring 'hotel door' - (of course numbered '33') - just like any of the other many rooms in the hotel (see image above, and 'Part 1 - Chater 28' ) - the door itself opened onto a remarkable 'area' of 'hyperspace'. - 'Hyperspace' is typically described as an alternative 'sub-region' of space co-existing with our own universe. Such areas, in much 'science and fantasy fiction', may be entered using complex and unlikely energy fields, or other devices. In 'Club Jaguar', however, Room 33, rather more prosaically, could be accessed by simply using a hotel room key.
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| 'The Book of Gates' |
Equally there is the 'Book of the Gates' which is a funerary text dating from the New Kingdom.
 |
| 'The Coffin Texts' |
 |
| 'The Pyramid Texts' |
"Interesting Teddy, but I think now, as it's getting late, we should contact Hassan and Mahmoud and head back to the Winter Palace.", Jim suggested.
"OK, Jim.", Teddy replied obediently.
So Jim made the 'phone calls, and Hassan soon arrived, and they squeezed themselves into the old Renault taxi, and then Hassan drove them to where Mahmoud was waiting with his motorboat by the Nile.
"OK, Jim.", Teddy replied obediently.
So Jim made the 'phone calls, and Hassan soon arrived, and they squeezed themselves into the old Renault taxi, and then Hassan drove them to where Mahmoud was waiting with his motorboat by the Nile.
What no one had noticed, however, was the dark form of Sekhmet hopping into Hassan's taxi.
Sekhmet was the twin of Bastet, and knowing that she had been offered to Jim as a gift, had decided to take up the offer.
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| Sekhmet Enthroned |
The clever cat had then managed to cross the unsteady gangplank onto the West Bank corniche, crossed the road, and entered the Winter Palace by a rear entrance.
She had then followed the 'boys' as they made their way up the stairs (Teddy was still not using the lift), and had then followed Jim to his suite.
And that was the last that anyone - except Faunus - saw of her for the rest of the night.
Teddy, of course, knew what Sekhmet was doing - but said nothing.
Sekhmet's name comes from the Ancient Egyptian word 'sḫm', which means 'power, or might', and Sekhmet was also was given titles such as the 'the One Before Whom Evil Trembles'. Sekhmet, contrary to her recent portrayals, is the neter of protection and healing, and also has a solar aspect. The royal funeral biers were fashioned to represent Sekhmet, symbolizing her role as protector of the Pharaoh, even in death. Sekhmet was the 'lion-form' of the cat neter Bastet.
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| Winter Palace - East Bank - Luxor |
"Did you notice Khonsu go ?", Ethan asked Jim.
"No... I thought he came in the taxi with us...", Jim said.
"Then how do we know what's happening tomorrow ?", Josh asked.
"Don't worry guys, he told me...", Teddy said.
"And...?" Jim asked.
"He said... 'same time - same place' - but he said just Faunus, Ethan, Jim and me.
And if you remember... as Khonsu said, it's part of the rules... and I don't want to be involved in breaking those rules.", Teddy said, sounding very serious.
"Well yes..", Glen began.
"I had the 'vision', or whatever you want to call it, but as this Khonsu boy just appears and disappears, perhaps we should do what he says.", Glen continued.
Having arrived at the 'Winter Palace', the 'boys' changed out of their dusty clothes, and went down to the bar, and still nobody had spotted Sekhmet, who
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| The Bar - Winter Palace - Luxor Egypt |
"So what did we think of the cave that Khonsu took us to ?", Jim asked, as a very smart waiter delivered the 'shai to their table.
"Well it wasn't actually Khonsu who took us there... it was that cute little kitty Bastet.", Ethan said.
"True...", Jim replied... "But what about the cave.", Jim persisted.
"Well like Ethan said when we first saw it... I can't believe that no one has ever noticed it before....", Glen said.
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| Bastet and the Cave - Theban Hills - West Bank - Luxor |
"Yes, that's true... but you'd think it would be better known, after all, it is a huge rock sculpture of a lion's head.", Jim said.
"Now I didn't see it, but you are saying it's a cave, and the entrance is like a lion's head ?", Zac asked.
"Yes, and we tried to take some photos, but none came out....
The open lion's mouth is the cave entrance, but the lion's head is very large, and high up on the rock face, so I don't see why it's not very famous.", Glen said.
"And the other weird thing is is doesn't look all 'Egyptiany' and 'funny'... it looks like a real lion's head.", Ethan added.
"But very large. ", Teddy said.
"It's maybe like Faunus said... 'metafizikal'...", Ethan said, getting the pronunciation wrong (should be metaphysical).
"Sometimes it's there, and sometimes it's not...."
 |
| Sekhmet |
"And so... where is Faunus ?", Jim asked.
Everyone looked blank.
"You should know... Teddy.", Jim insisted.
"...'can't say....", Teddy replied.
"You mean you won't say...", Ethan said...annoyed.
"..not allowed to...", Teddy said firmly.
"OK...", Ethan said, giving up.
Faunus, as you have probably guessed, was in Jim and Ethan's bathroom, talking to Sekhmet, but that's another story.
"So what's this 'gateway' thingy Khonsu was talking about in the coffee shop.", Ethan asked.
"Well, that's the puzzle - but let's leave it for tonight...", Jim said, and with that the group broke up - and it was time for bed.
Of course by the time Jim, Ethan and Teddy got back to the suite Faunus had long gone, and Sekhmet was well hidden under a pile of clothes in one of the closets.
"..funny night...", Ethan said.
"Yes, and we have to do it all over again tomorrow...", Jim said.
Jim and Ethan discover an interloper in their suite - Sekhmet. The day is spent on the West Bank, looking at tombs and temples, followed by a Ṣa‘īdi evening meal, prior to meeting Khonsu, and then the return to the 'Cave of the Lion'.
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All text - © Copyright Peter Crawford 2021
All Images - © Copyright Vittorio Carvelli 2021
Graphic Design - © Copyright Zac Sawyer 202