The boys were small and fast.
They lost the guards before they entered the pyramid.
Inside, Vinnie followed Akhom through a long narrow passage that led to a chamber.
Inside the chamber, Vinnie stopped and stared.
The walls were covered with paintings and symbols.
“Who is that body with a dog’s head?”
Vinnie pointed to a painted figure.
“That is Anubis, the guardian of the dead,” Akhom replied.
“Pharaoh must prove to Anubis and the other gods that he has lived a good life.
Only then will he be able to rest peacefully after he dies.”
Akhom explained, “This is one of the false burial chambers that leads to another passage.
You must pass several passages and chambers.
Finally you come to the secret chamber filled with gold and jewels.
The secret chamber is where the Pharaoh will be buried.”
“But we can’t go there today,” said Vinnie anxiously.
“We have to find my sister.”
Akhom led Vinnie to the other side of the pyramid.
When the boys left the pyramid, they saw a small boat pulling up to the shore.
Several men leaped out, dragging a long papyrus rope toward the pyramid.
Mandy was the only one left in the boat.
She stood up to admire the pyramid.
“Mandy!” Suddenly Mandy heard her brother’s voice.
She looked for him on the crowded shore.
Just then, the loud noise of horns began to sound.
It came from the grandest ship in the river.
“It’s the Pharaoh!” whispered Akhom.
He fell to his knees.
Everyone at the pyramid site stopped and fell to their knees.
Only Vinnie remained standing.
“Get on your knees!” Akhom whispered.
But Vinnie wanted a good view of the Pharaoh.
The Pharaoh appeared.
He wore a blue and gold headdress and held a golden staff.
Suddenly the Pharaoh stopped.
He stared at the one small standing figure.
When the Pharaoh lifted his staff, three armed guards ran toward Vinnie.
“Vinnie!” Mandy yelled. “Quickly, get into the boat!”
The guards were close, but the boys managed to jump into the boat.
Akhom and Vinnie grabbed the oars.
“I’m so glad to see you!” Mandy cried.
“Me too,” gasped Vinnie.
As they paddled away, Mandy looked up at the pyramid again.
“Do you think this is the pyramid in our picture?” she asked.
Vinnie pulled out the photo.
The pyramid now appeared in a glowing red light.
“This must be it!” exclaimed Mandy.
“And look! We’re in a boat too, just like the old man in the picture.”
“But there is an eagle in this picture,” Vinnie pointed out.
“That’s my name,” Akhom said. “Akhom means eagle.”
Suddenly the sky turned very bright.
The children were forced to shut their eyes.
Akhom’s voice began to fade.
“We're going home.
Good-bye, Akhom!” Mandy shouted.
Vinnie and Mandy fell into a dark tunnel once again.
Then with a loud thump, the children fell onto the hard attic floor.
Opening his eyes, Vinnie cried,
“We’re back home!”
“Vinnie! Mandy! Time for lunch.”
They heard their mother calling them.
They stared at each other in confusion.
Mandy looked at her watch.
It was almost twelve noon, the exact time they had left for Egypt.