The Egyptian sun was rising over the desert, painting the sand with gold.
Two camels trudged onward over the dunes and on top rode two British
archeologists.
"I'm guessing only a few more miles south, Helen." said the first man, halting to take a sip of water and squinting into the distance.
"Yes, good thing we woke earlier this morning, wouldn't you say?" replied the man's lady friend. "Ah, but those brutes from Oxford may have arrived already. Let's hope they left something for us."
The air was getting warmer with the rising sun, and the two companions were approaching high, brown cliffs that symbolized their archeological dig site. They exchanged tidbits conversation as they set up their camp near the cliffs when they arrived. The ground was hard and rough, less sandy than what they just rode over, and setting up the tents was a tedious task that took them nearly all evening. When finally it was done, they set about boiling water for tea and taking bread out of their knapsacks.
"Ah, finally in the morning we shall make our great discoveries, Helen!" exclaimed Jack. Helen nodded, grinning. They had come in hopes of finding ancient Egyptian gold, artifacts, and clay pots. But what they wanted more than all the solid objects was secrets; secrets of religion and the afterlife, for they were very curious when it came to this. They were partners in the archeological business for 2 months now, and at first Helen was a bit reluctant to work with a man. But she decided it was not possible for any feelings to get in the way. Though soon she began to notice how their gazes would linger longer than usual, and sometimes she would catch Jack's bright green eyes staring at her.
"What do you think we will find?" Helen asked after sipping on her tea. Jack looked up at her.
"Treasure, maybe? Then we will be rich!" They laughed at the thought; they were both quite common people. Jack reached at the plate of bread as Helen reached for it as well, and without any warning, their hands touched. Helen blushed furiously and looked away, withdrawing her hand quickly. But Jack looked at her and smiled, reaching for her hand once more, but stopped short when suddenly they heard an eerie sound in the desert night.
"Coyotes, do you suppose?" Helen said, nervously.
"There are no coyotes in the desert. Besides, the voice sounds human." Jack replied. Indeed it was no howl or growling, it sounded more like a chanting; a low and ancient voice. But as soon as it began, it faded away.
"It's probably nothing; some animal, yes, hiding in caves within the cliffs, wanting food. So let us finish ours and go to sleep." Helen said stubbornly, and as if she cared nothing about the strange voice. She scoffed when she thought of a mummified corpse rising from its tomb.
"Don't worry, Helen. If it tries to attack you, I'll strangle it with my bare hands!" Jack said dramatically, while grasping her by the shoulder. Then he climbed inside his tent, saying softly "Good night." Helen looked out into the darkness, still blushing slightly, not knowing what to think. She felt terrified of what she heard in the night, and yet she also felt joy from Jack's comforting ways.
During the night Jack heard the chanting quite a bit more times, and in the mind between sleep and consciousness, it sounded to him like a curse.
The two woke up early again, fed their loyal camels, and took out their equipment. They ate a quick breakfast while sorting out how they shall dig. Then they wasted no more time and started chiseling away at the dirt cliff. Helen tried to act normal around Jack, but it was hard now that her feelings for him changed so abruptly. It's amazing what words and a touch on the shoulder can do to a woman's heart. Meanwhile, Jack tried acting confident in front of Helen, even though inside he was just as nervous as she.
Never did they notice how an old man started coming toward them from what seemed like nowhere until he was standing right before them. He gave a loud and hearty laugh. When Helen heard it and spun around, she nearly screamed with fright, but Jack, a bit more sensible, said, "Are you here to help us with our digging?" Then he looked behind the old man, "Where is your ride?" Helen and Jack were astonished and both widened their eyes. Helen inched closer to Jack, and yet hoping he wouldn't notice, but he did and stood in front of her protectively. The strange man was old, with many wrinkles. His hair was a dusty gray, like his eyes. He didn't look as if he was very handsome in his youth and when he laughed his teeth were shown to be broken and yellow.
"You have come to rob the dead?" he said with a thick Arabian accent. He gave a wheezing, almost sarcastic laugh. Quickly, Jack replied, "Oh no, my dear old man, we only wish to...to study, you see, never rob."
"Ah, study. Yes, I understand. Come." The old man gestured with his calloused hand, and started walking along the cliffs. The two young people exchanged curious glances, and decided to follow.
They walked a good mile, saying nothing, until they reached a large crevice in the wall. The old man started to squeeze through, and Jack began to follow, but Helen stood her ground.
"I am not going in there until you tell us who you are." The man seemed unsurprised; he grinned, showing his broken teeth, and said, "I am Egyptian Holy man. You follow me, and meet my ancestors." Chuckling to himself, the man continued through the penetration in the solid dirt. Jack followed almost instantly, optimistic thoughts running through his head, but Helen was a bit more reluctant.
After they squeezed through, the Helen and Jack were pleased to find that they had reached a larger tunnel. It was dark, and their only light was seeping through the entrance. The old man grinned mischievously, and lit a torch.
Helen glanced at Jack nervously, wanting him to hold her hand. Jack looked at her too every now and then, loving the way the fire light lit up her face, making it look tan and fresh, matching it with the sunlight that would never reach the crevice they were in. He took her hand, and Helen's heart soared.
They proceeded through the shadowy tunnel. They couldn't see very far ahead, for the torch light illuminated only a few feet around them. Their shuffling footsteps made it sound as if the very ancient walls were whispering, and while to Jack the whispers spoke of adventure and great discovery, Helen was hearing warnings, and she squeezed Jack's hand a bit. She felt a tingling sensation deep in her throat as he'd squeeze back and smile.
"Soon you will come upon the very grave of my ancient forebears." The old man's voice echoed through the tunnel. Helen tensed up and Jack saw this and whispered close to her ear, "I won't let anything happen to you." She smiled and whispered back, "And I you."
Soon enough, they reached a chamber with a rough edged opening for a doorway. The old man stopped there, and said, "If you wish to see the dead, a special ceremony must be done. So one of you must stay behind." He looked at Jack's disbelieving look and said, "It was the way of the Egyptians of whom you study." The old man chuckled and gestured to Helen.
"Helen, let me go first." Jack said, taking Helen's other hand into his. She shook her head, feeling bravery building up in her. She wanted to prove herself to him, not quite knowing why. Jack let go of her hands, reluctantly, and before their eyes parted, Helen saw something sparkle in Jack's eyes. "What is that?" She thought to herself. "What is that in his eyes that makes me feel so strange and happy and nervous all at once?"
"Come now!" The old man's rumbling voice interrupted her thoughts. The old man continued to walk onward, Helen slowly walking behind, and they reached a chamber filled with many interesting trinkets: bowls, weathered scrolls, and strange concoctions stood on blocks of stone.
"Stand there." the old man said in a hushed voice, and pointed to the middle of the room. "Now, to purify you soul," the old man went and picked up a clay cup with something sloshing around inside, "You will have to drink this. Now this is the most fine preserved Egyptian holy water, and it taste sweeter than the most exquisite wine." The Holy man handed her the cup. Helen took it without planning to drink any of the foreign liquid, but then in her mind appeared Jack's encouraging face, and she brought the cup to her lips. "Just on sip." she thought. But as soon as the aroma seeped through her nostrils, she drank all of it, down to the last drop. Its taste was unimaginable; it tasted like water from a rose, like the mocking bird singing in the first week of spring, like Jack...like... love. And in the deep confinements of the cave, daisies seemed to bloom from the very dirt walls.
Suddenly, she heard the old man starting to chant in a dark and booming voice. Helen did not understand the words, but somehow she didn't feel like she would enjoy their meaning. And as she tried to cry out, "Jack!" all that escaped her mouth was a whisper, as if her throat was swollen, and she fell to her knees. Panic gripped her, and she began to crawl as fast as she could away from the old man's evil torchlight. She felt paralyzed and numb, but suddenly she felt herself running into a wall. She felt up and around it, looking for an opening, but instead her hands ran into something cold and soft. It dawned upon her as to what this was, and she screamed as loud as she could, though no sound came out of her swollen throat. Soon enough, no breath came in either, and a beloved face came into Helen's mind, awaiting the same fate. And at that moment she realized what she saw in Jack's eyes: It was love, sweet, warm love. As darkness enveloped Helen, she heard the old man's crackling whisper in her ear, "You go meet them now. You go meet my ancestors."
Author's Note: Well I really hope you liked this, I had to write this for English. Please review!!
"I'm guessing only a few more miles south, Helen." said the first man, halting to take a sip of water and squinting into the distance.
"Yes, good thing we woke earlier this morning, wouldn't you say?" replied the man's lady friend. "Ah, but those brutes from Oxford may have arrived already. Let's hope they left something for us."
The air was getting warmer with the rising sun, and the two companions were approaching high, brown cliffs that symbolized their archeological dig site. They exchanged tidbits conversation as they set up their camp near the cliffs when they arrived. The ground was hard and rough, less sandy than what they just rode over, and setting up the tents was a tedious task that took them nearly all evening. When finally it was done, they set about boiling water for tea and taking bread out of their knapsacks.
"Ah, finally in the morning we shall make our great discoveries, Helen!" exclaimed Jack. Helen nodded, grinning. They had come in hopes of finding ancient Egyptian gold, artifacts, and clay pots. But what they wanted more than all the solid objects was secrets; secrets of religion and the afterlife, for they were very curious when it came to this. They were partners in the archeological business for 2 months now, and at first Helen was a bit reluctant to work with a man. But she decided it was not possible for any feelings to get in the way. Though soon she began to notice how their gazes would linger longer than usual, and sometimes she would catch Jack's bright green eyes staring at her.
"What do you think we will find?" Helen asked after sipping on her tea. Jack looked up at her.
"Treasure, maybe? Then we will be rich!" They laughed at the thought; they were both quite common people. Jack reached at the plate of bread as Helen reached for it as well, and without any warning, their hands touched. Helen blushed furiously and looked away, withdrawing her hand quickly. But Jack looked at her and smiled, reaching for her hand once more, but stopped short when suddenly they heard an eerie sound in the desert night.
"Coyotes, do you suppose?" Helen said, nervously.
"There are no coyotes in the desert. Besides, the voice sounds human." Jack replied. Indeed it was no howl or growling, it sounded more like a chanting; a low and ancient voice. But as soon as it began, it faded away.
"It's probably nothing; some animal, yes, hiding in caves within the cliffs, wanting food. So let us finish ours and go to sleep." Helen said stubbornly, and as if she cared nothing about the strange voice. She scoffed when she thought of a mummified corpse rising from its tomb.
"Don't worry, Helen. If it tries to attack you, I'll strangle it with my bare hands!" Jack said dramatically, while grasping her by the shoulder. Then he climbed inside his tent, saying softly "Good night." Helen looked out into the darkness, still blushing slightly, not knowing what to think. She felt terrified of what she heard in the night, and yet she also felt joy from Jack's comforting ways.
During the night Jack heard the chanting quite a bit more times, and in the mind between sleep and consciousness, it sounded to him like a curse.
The two woke up early again, fed their loyal camels, and took out their equipment. They ate a quick breakfast while sorting out how they shall dig. Then they wasted no more time and started chiseling away at the dirt cliff. Helen tried to act normal around Jack, but it was hard now that her feelings for him changed so abruptly. It's amazing what words and a touch on the shoulder can do to a woman's heart. Meanwhile, Jack tried acting confident in front of Helen, even though inside he was just as nervous as she.
Never did they notice how an old man started coming toward them from what seemed like nowhere until he was standing right before them. He gave a loud and hearty laugh. When Helen heard it and spun around, she nearly screamed with fright, but Jack, a bit more sensible, said, "Are you here to help us with our digging?" Then he looked behind the old man, "Where is your ride?" Helen and Jack were astonished and both widened their eyes. Helen inched closer to Jack, and yet hoping he wouldn't notice, but he did and stood in front of her protectively. The strange man was old, with many wrinkles. His hair was a dusty gray, like his eyes. He didn't look as if he was very handsome in his youth and when he laughed his teeth were shown to be broken and yellow.
"You have come to rob the dead?" he said with a thick Arabian accent. He gave a wheezing, almost sarcastic laugh. Quickly, Jack replied, "Oh no, my dear old man, we only wish to...to study, you see, never rob."
"Ah, study. Yes, I understand. Come." The old man gestured with his calloused hand, and started walking along the cliffs. The two young people exchanged curious glances, and decided to follow.
They walked a good mile, saying nothing, until they reached a large crevice in the wall. The old man started to squeeze through, and Jack began to follow, but Helen stood her ground.
"I am not going in there until you tell us who you are." The man seemed unsurprised; he grinned, showing his broken teeth, and said, "I am Egyptian Holy man. You follow me, and meet my ancestors." Chuckling to himself, the man continued through the penetration in the solid dirt. Jack followed almost instantly, optimistic thoughts running through his head, but Helen was a bit more reluctant.
After they squeezed through, the Helen and Jack were pleased to find that they had reached a larger tunnel. It was dark, and their only light was seeping through the entrance. The old man grinned mischievously, and lit a torch.
Helen glanced at Jack nervously, wanting him to hold her hand. Jack looked at her too every now and then, loving the way the fire light lit up her face, making it look tan and fresh, matching it with the sunlight that would never reach the crevice they were in. He took her hand, and Helen's heart soared.
They proceeded through the shadowy tunnel. They couldn't see very far ahead, for the torch light illuminated only a few feet around them. Their shuffling footsteps made it sound as if the very ancient walls were whispering, and while to Jack the whispers spoke of adventure and great discovery, Helen was hearing warnings, and she squeezed Jack's hand a bit. She felt a tingling sensation deep in her throat as he'd squeeze back and smile.
"Soon you will come upon the very grave of my ancient forebears." The old man's voice echoed through the tunnel. Helen tensed up and Jack saw this and whispered close to her ear, "I won't let anything happen to you." She smiled and whispered back, "And I you."
Soon enough, they reached a chamber with a rough edged opening for a doorway. The old man stopped there, and said, "If you wish to see the dead, a special ceremony must be done. So one of you must stay behind." He looked at Jack's disbelieving look and said, "It was the way of the Egyptians of whom you study." The old man chuckled and gestured to Helen.
"Helen, let me go first." Jack said, taking Helen's other hand into his. She shook her head, feeling bravery building up in her. She wanted to prove herself to him, not quite knowing why. Jack let go of her hands, reluctantly, and before their eyes parted, Helen saw something sparkle in Jack's eyes. "What is that?" She thought to herself. "What is that in his eyes that makes me feel so strange and happy and nervous all at once?"
"Come now!" The old man's rumbling voice interrupted her thoughts. The old man continued to walk onward, Helen slowly walking behind, and they reached a chamber filled with many interesting trinkets: bowls, weathered scrolls, and strange concoctions stood on blocks of stone.
"Stand there." the old man said in a hushed voice, and pointed to the middle of the room. "Now, to purify you soul," the old man went and picked up a clay cup with something sloshing around inside, "You will have to drink this. Now this is the most fine preserved Egyptian holy water, and it taste sweeter than the most exquisite wine." The Holy man handed her the cup. Helen took it without planning to drink any of the foreign liquid, but then in her mind appeared Jack's encouraging face, and she brought the cup to her lips. "Just on sip." she thought. But as soon as the aroma seeped through her nostrils, she drank all of it, down to the last drop. Its taste was unimaginable; it tasted like water from a rose, like the mocking bird singing in the first week of spring, like Jack...like... love. And in the deep confinements of the cave, daisies seemed to bloom from the very dirt walls.
Suddenly, she heard the old man starting to chant in a dark and booming voice. Helen did not understand the words, but somehow she didn't feel like she would enjoy their meaning. And as she tried to cry out, "Jack!" all that escaped her mouth was a whisper, as if her throat was swollen, and she fell to her knees. Panic gripped her, and she began to crawl as fast as she could away from the old man's evil torchlight. She felt paralyzed and numb, but suddenly she felt herself running into a wall. She felt up and around it, looking for an opening, but instead her hands ran into something cold and soft. It dawned upon her as to what this was, and she screamed as loud as she could, though no sound came out of her swollen throat. Soon enough, no breath came in either, and a beloved face came into Helen's mind, awaiting the same fate. And at that moment she realized what she saw in Jack's eyes: It was love, sweet, warm love. As darkness enveloped Helen, she heard the old man's crackling whisper in her ear, "You go meet them now. You go meet my ancestors."
Author's Note: Well I really hope you liked this, I had to write this for English. Please review!!