Today, I have about 40,000 words, with another 25,000 more needed to complete The Lost Sarcophagus. I'm deep in drafting and revising and thought you might enjoy just a snippet as I work to push the tension and conflict tighter. This picture was taken at Saqqara and matches the locale of today's snippet!
A working summary: Sandra and Neil, art crime experts from London’s Art and Antiques Unit of the Metropolitan Police, are sent to Cairo at the request of the Director of the Egyptian Museum. Pulled into a network of thefts and murder, they uncover a plot to systematically steal artifacts from the Grand Museum and GEM at Giza, the site of Egypt’s newest museum.
The excerpt:
“Yes, I take you to Saqqara Necropolis,” said Mohammed, the young, thin, professional guide Layla Gamal had recommended for today’s tour. Mohammed opened the back door of a small, black car for their drive of nearly an hour into the countryside.
Sandra loved the sight of White Nile Herons rising from the river as they drew closer to Saqqara, their distinctive head feathers almost an exclamation point to their long, graceful bodies in flight. The road was punctuated by small carts drawn by donkeys or skinny horses, and there, in the field, water buffalo grazed.
“I never expected to see a water buffalo,” said Sandra.
“Ah, yes, they were imported from India, long ago.” Mohammed’s eyes narrowed as he swerved their car around a pothole.
Neil pointed to one of many small houses along the road. “They look unfinished with those wires sticking up. Almost like they planned a second or third floor, but simply stopped building.”
“It’s a new tradition,” Mohammed shrugged. “The parents build the next level for their children, but they avoid taxes by not finishing the construction now.”
As the car turned toward Saqqara, a sharp line separated the green fields of alfalfa and sugar cane from the stark golden sand of the desert.
“You will see eleven major pyramids today – if we are lucky, and there are not too many tourists. Let me lead you.” Mohammed glared at Sandra. “Do not talk to any vendors, especially if they have camels. We stop at the museum here before leaving.”
Sandra and Neil both nodded.
“Ms. Gamal may have told you she’s taking us to Giza tomorrow. I wasn’t sure what to expect today, but this is amazing,” said Sandra.
Mohammed’s mouth turned down. “Sometimes, we can be surprised by what we don’t expect.”
Sandra leaned closer to Neil. “Do you know what he means?”
“No, but we are nearly there. I can’t wait to see the pyramids with you.”
Several of the pyramids were little more than heaps of rubble, yet three commanded the site at Saqqara. Mohammed looked in all four directions, then took them to the center of the grand square and pointed in each direction as he explained when they had been built. “Perhaps Egyptians should be praised as the first ones to recycle,” he noted. “For each new generation did take large blocks from older temples and pyramids to aid new building projects. Looters have destroyed much in their efforts to find treasure, which we will see now.”
A wind blew the long robe that Mohammed wore, causing Neil to miss a step. “Are you carrying a gun?” he asked.
“Of course,” replied Mohammed, his hand protectively at his waist. “It is necessary.”
“I hope not,” said Neil.
Mohammed’s smile did not quite reach his eyes. “I hope not as well.”
Sandra loved the sight of White Nile Herons rising from the river as they drew closer to Saqqara, their distinctive head feathers almost an exclamation point to their long, graceful bodies in flight. The road was punctuated by small carts drawn by donkeys or skinny horses, and there, in the field, water buffalo grazed.
“I never expected to see a water buffalo,” said Sandra.
“Ah, yes, they were imported from India, long ago.” Mohammed’s eyes narrowed as he swerved their car around a pothole.
Neil pointed to one of many small houses along the road. “They look unfinished with those wires sticking up. Almost like they planned a second or third floor, but simply stopped building.”
“It’s a new tradition,” Mohammed shrugged. “The parents build the next level for their children, but they avoid taxes by not finishing the construction now.”
As the car turned toward Saqqara, a sharp line separated the green fields of alfalfa and sugar cane from the stark golden sand of the desert.
“You will see eleven major pyramids today – if we are lucky, and there are not too many tourists. Let me lead you.” Mohammed glared at Sandra. “Do not talk to any vendors, especially if they have camels. We stop at the museum here before leaving.”
Sandra and Neil both nodded.
“Ms. Gamal may have told you she’s taking us to Giza tomorrow. I wasn’t sure what to expect today, but this is amazing,” said Sandra.
Mohammed’s mouth turned down. “Sometimes, we can be surprised by what we don’t expect.”
Sandra leaned closer to Neil. “Do you know what he means?”
“No, but we are nearly there. I can’t wait to see the pyramids with you.”
Several of the pyramids were little more than heaps of rubble, yet three commanded the site at Saqqara. Mohammed looked in all four directions, then took them to the center of the grand square and pointed in each direction as he explained when they had been built. “Perhaps Egyptians should be praised as the first ones to recycle,” he noted. “For each new generation did take large blocks from older temples and pyramids to aid new building projects. Looters have destroyed much in their efforts to find treasure, which we will see now.”
A wind blew the long robe that Mohammed wore, causing Neil to miss a step. “Are you carrying a gun?” he asked.
“Of course,” replied Mohammed, his hand protectively at his waist. “It is necessary.”
“I hope not,” said Neil.
Mohammed’s smile did not quite reach his eyes. “I hope not as well.”
And the story will continue . . . Hope you enjoyed this excerpt!
Thank you for reading and commenting. Sometimes, writers get so deep into drafting, they forget to connect with readers!
ReplyDeleteI would love to read this! I visit Egypt in 1992 and fell in love with the country and all things Egyptian.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think Egypt's history and culture are unforgettable. I still remember looking up to see those blocks above me, each one weighing several tons!
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