and hid them away in a great underground temple, protected by power staffs and pillars, and he then sealed the entrance, leaving only its guardians to know of its whereabouts.”
“ Until I discovered it,” Khufu says. “Perhaps I am destined to collect those objects, those sacred writings, and become like the gods themselves. Who are these guardians? Are you one?”
“ I am not worthy. But I gained some knowledge, scraps of the truth, so that I know what this is. I know this is the place, the door to the sacred temple which lies below this plain, through passages remote and twisting, further guarded by magic and cruel invention. I know this only, but no more.”
The Pharaoh makes an impatient, wolfish snarl. “Who can open this door?”
“ A prophecy tells of three keys.”
“ Keys?” The Pharaoh turns. “I see no place for keys.”
“ Three keys,” Djeda continues. “For three brothers.”
“ What brothers?”
“ I do not know. It is said they were, or will be, born on the fifteenth day of Tybi, to the wife of the high priest of Ra.”
“ And you do not know if they have already been born? If they walk among us?”
“ No.”
“ Then I will send for this priest. And every priest of Ra.”
“ You may have a long wait.”
Pharaoh Khufu turns and faces the door. He bows his head. Places a hand on the smooth door. “I found this for a reason. I will not be denied.”
“ It is not for me to say, Lord, if your destiny lies behind that door.”
“ I heard you, magician.”
Nina blasted out of the vision, rocked with a jarring bump on the rocky terrain as the jeep banked around a bend in the Kherlen River, speeding toward the Chinese border.
She released Alexander, who was sweating, eyes heavy, barely open.
“What happened to him?” Montross asked, turning around. Alexander slumped to the side, breathing slowly, exhausted.
Nina shook her head, lowered her eyes. “Nothing. Car sick, maybe.”
“Tough it out, kid. Going to be a long ride.”
Nina took a deep breath, then leaned back, trying to appear relaxed. “Xavier? I never asked you about your childhood. Did you have sisters? Brothers?”
Frowning at her, he shook his head. “Remember? Parents killed when I was six? And no other rugrats before or after me, far as I know.”
“You never looked?”
His expression darkened despite the waning sun blasting through his window. “Okay, my father? He wasn’t my real father.”
“You were adopted?”
“No, I only said my dad wasn’t my dad. He married my mother after she had me.” He sighed, and his eyes dulled with anger. “I only tried to find my real father once. Saw my mother with someone. An oily haired college- type.” He waved his hand. “Some quick tryst, and she never saw him again. I got that much.”
“What else?”
“What else? That’s it. That’s all I wanted to know. He was a prick, and I had more important things to chase after than someone who only wanted to chase after coeds.”
“Oh. Okay, then. So, when was your birthday?”
“What the hell is this, twenty questions?”
She gave a weak smile. “Maybe I want to send you a card, and a tie.”
“It’s October fifteenth, okay? My favorite color is red, I love pistachio ice cream, long walks through ancient ruins, treasure hunting and seeking magical objects of immense power. And I’m not afraid who gets hurt-or killed-in the process. Anything else, dear Nina? Are we a good fit?”
She laughed. “No one’s a match for me, you know that.”
“Black widow?”
“The blackest.” She closed her eyes, thinking. The Emerald Tablet, so close. It could enhance her visions, but she was never good at initiating them, only in bringing such powers out of other people, and then sharing in the sights. She could try it with Xavier, try to view his father again, but she wasn’t sure if this was something she wanted to share with him just yet.
Three brothers.
Three keys.
Alexander had been seeing this vision for years, but never anything more. No further details, but whatever this was, it was vitally important, crucial that he understand it. But he was still too young, and couldn’t rationalize it out.
But maybe she could, given more time with the boy.
On the drive, as Montross closed his eyes, meditating or dreaming, she wasn’t sure which, Alexander fell completely asleep. He rested his head on Nina’s shoulder, perhaps drawing comfort there in a longing for his lost mother. She shifted in her seat to prevent it from lolling forward.
Who were the three brothers? she thought. Surely they hadn’t been born in Khufu’s time, around 2600 BCE, or any time in the following forty-five hundred years, or else the door would have been opened, and the keys would not still have been hidden away, protected.
Guarded.
Some prophet and seer had glimpsed the future, seen enough to reveal a prophecy. It was possible the three could be here, right now. Who were they?
She had an idea now, based on what Montross had told her and Alexander’s vision of his parents’ car crash. His true father.
A college-type.
She thought back to her time in Alexandria, one night with Caleb, sharing his visions, his dreams. And of course, she had read George Waxman’s extensive file on the Crowe family. Especially the details on Phillip, Caleb’s father. The college professor.
A smile formed on her lips.
Things were certainly getting a lot more interesting.
7
Erdos City, 5 P.M.
Renee Wagner put away her badge and her credentials. The lead sergeant, Chang Xiaolong, returned her satellite phone after his supervisor in Beijing had sternly ordered him to provide Renee with anything she wished.
She spoke in Mandarin, with authority, as she removed her Kevlar vest, trying not to wince. “He told you what we have here?”
“Yes, Agent Wagner.”
“A threat to your national security. And an opportunity. Your men, are they trustworthy? Loyal?”
“Of course, every one.”
“Good, then not a word of this gets out. And they are now under my control, is that clear?”
He bowed his head quickly, and Renee smiled. Must’ve gotten his ear chewed off. “I want all these vehicles on the road now. But first, load them with halogen floodlights, generators, dynamite, shovels and flashlights, extra ammo. And call in a helicopter. I want you and three of your best shooters there ASAP. And find me a new vest. Please.” She dropped the one that had just saved her life. She touched the chain around her neck, pulled out the charm and stared at it-at the lance spearing the dragon, the ancient symbol.
