Coincidence Theory Read online

J’tan stumbled down the edge of the temple, loose stones cascading from the unsure surface, as he scrambled toward the entrance.

  Samali trailed behind, gracefully flowing down the incline, barely raising dust clouds with her footfalls.

  When they were back at the side of the temple, J’tan slowed, scanning the landscape for signs of activity. “I think they are gone.”

  “Do not be so sure.” Samali said, tapping his shoulder. “I can still hear breathing.”

  J’tan listened hard, but could hear nothing. He was a trained hunter and was proud of his abilities, but if she could hear anything over the drone of the desert, she was a better tracker than he would ever be.

  “Are you sure you are not just hearing the ghosts of the sands?”

  “I know the difference between night winds and breathing,” said Samali, with irritation, “and I can hear three men. One is much larger than the others, and one is not well.”

  “Where?”

  “Two inside the entrance and one further back into the temple. It is difficult to tell.”

  J’tan shrugged and made his way toward the entrance. The wind was gusting and small night devils chased each other across the moonlit landscape as he approached the wide opening. Keeping his back firmly planted against the wall, he walked methodically, attempting to make no sound.

  “Allow me.” Samali said, as she strode around him.

  J’tan reached out a hand to stop Samali, but she moved out of reach too quickly for him to restrain. He watched helplessly as she walked nonchalantly forward, her short, tight body swaying with each footstep.

  Samali feigned a startled expression as she rounded the corner, as two figures, one much larger than the other, moved from their positions in the darkness to meet her. The large figure began shouting, demanding to know why she was here, as he grabbed her slender arm with a massive hand.

  J’tan cursed himself for not moving faster to stop the impetuous woman, as he slowly drew his knife and readied to charge.

  Before J’tan could move, Samali struck the huge man in the throat; her fingers held rigidly outward. The guard released her immediately and slumped to his knees, both hands now clasped round his ruptured windpipe. The second man tried a swipe of his blade, but she spun sideways, easily dodging the attack. She grabbed the guard’s wrist and turned it viciously over, forcing out an anguished scream, as he instinctively released his grip. Before the blade hit the floor, her foot flashed upward into the man’s jaw. Spittle and teeth sprayed from his mouth, as the force of the blow snapped his head back, lifting him from his feet, and sending him crashing to the ground.

  J’tan gazed in awe at the prowess on display before jogging over.

  “You are quite the warrior.” J’tan said, as Samali stripped the guards of their water pouches and threw him one.

  “I have told you before. I have been trained to take care of myself.”

  “Of that, I now have no doubt, but what of the third man?”

  “The third is the man we seek. He is not long for this world. I do not think he will be of any use to us.” Samali said, pointing to the end of the causeway.

  J’tan hardly waited for her to finish speaking before he was heading up toward Amjad.

  When J’tan arrived at the mason, he turned him on to his back and gazed in horror at his face. His pallor was so livid and his skin so drawn he looked as though he should be at least eighty summers old. However, even in the half-light of the temple’s interior, he could still make out a faint twitching of the man’s face. His quarry was still alive.

  “Can you hear me mason?” J’tan said, placing a hand under Amjad and gently lifting him from the stone floor.

  “What have I done?” said Amjad, his voice hoarse.

  J’tan quickly assessed Amjad’s chances of survival; there were none. Whatever information he could provide must be extracted straight away. “The same as I once did, what you thought was right. If you want redemption, you must help me now. What are the Pharaohs’ plans?”

  “I will tell you what I know,” said Amjad, gasping, “if you help me.”

  “If your task does not interfere with my mission, I will do everything you ask.”

  “I need you to promise to save my wife and children.” said Amjad, holding back tears. “I have failed them and they should not pay for my stupidity. Promise you will find them and save them, and I will tell you what I know.”

  J’tan thought back to the day Smenkhkare sent him to the mason’s house. Back then, he had no reason to suspect Amjad would end up killing his friend. As his subordinates searched the mason’s dwelling, he took his family outside and forced them to sit in the street.

  When Amjad finally arrived home, they were bawling. However, his was not to judge. The Pharaoh gave orders and back then, he followed them without question. Smenkhkare decreed that the mason’s family should be taken to the harem and placed under guard. At the time, the reason for this was never in doubt. Yet, after the events he just witnessed, he realised he had been duped into giving the Pharaoh leverage over the mason should he not assist in his diabolical plans.

  “This I will do for you.” J’tan said, bowing his head in respect.

  “May Horus hold you true to your word.” said Amjad, steeling himself against the effort of his words. “I overheard the Pharaoh say that his followers are to strip gold from the inhabitants of the lands. He said that if the people refuse, they are to kill their first-born heir.”

  “What does he need them for? When does he plan to do this?”

  “Tomorrow night. They are of the Zep-Tepi. They are part of the Gods’ great plan…” Amjad said, as he started to cough violently. A rattled expel of air followed, as his body began to writhe and convulse with every strained attempt for breath. “Save my children” he said, his lungs finally devoid of the capacity to inhale. “Tell my wife, I…” But there was no more.

  J’tan saw the life dissipate from the mason’s eyes and slowly lowered him back to the ground. He bowed his head and prayed to Horus to guide him through the rivers below this firmament to his afterlife. After his prayer ended, he made his way solemnly down the ramp to Samali.

  “We have work to do. I have promised I would rescue the mason’s family.”

  “How do you plan to accomplish this?” said Samali, her voice mirroring the distressed look on her face.

  “I still have family in the Great City. If we can get to them, without being seen, and they will help us, we should be able to get close to the palace.”

  “And what of the Ark and the artefacts? We cannot let them get away.” said Samali, shocked that he would so quickly agree to something so disparate from his goal.

  “I have given my word and I do not intend to break it. You should do as you feel you must.” said J’tan, his quiet manner echoing his distraction of thought. “However, I would greatly appreciate any assistance you would give.”

  Samali looked at J’tan, every instinct telling her to leave and follow the Pharaohs. Yet, something inside her made her stay. She hoped it would not turn out to be a mistake.

 

  Chapter 14