radiologist hesitated, and then went on.
'Herr von Schiller, you will recall that I have examined several mummies
for you. In this instance, the incisions through which the viscera were
removed appear to have been made with more skill and finesse than those
of the other cadavers. The operator seems to have been a trained
physician.'
'Thank you.' Von Schiller turned from her to Nahoot.
'Do you have any comments, at this stage?'
'Only that these descriptions do not fit those given in the seventh
scroll for Tanus, Lord Harrah, at the time of his death.'
'In what way?'
'Tanus was a tall man. Much younger. See the portraits on the coffin
lid.'
'Go on,'von Schiller invited.
Nahoot stepped up to the display of -ray plates and pointed out several
solid dark objects, all of them with clean outlines, that adorned the
body.
'Jewellery,' he said. 'Amulets. Bracelets. Pectorals.
Several necklaces. Rings and earrings. But, most significant,' Nahoot
touched the dark circle around the dead brow, 'the uraeus crown. The
outline of the sacred serpent is quite unmistakable, beneath the
bandages.'
'What does that indicate?' Von Schiller was puzzled.
'This was not the body of a commoner, or even of a noble. The extent of
ornamentation is too extensive. But most significant, the uraeus crown.
The sacred cobra. That was only worn by royalty, I believe that what we
have here is a royal mummy.'
'Impossible,' snapped von Schiller. 'Look at the inscription on the
coffin. Those that were painted on the walls of the tomb. Clearly this
is the mummy of an Egyptian general.'
'With respect, Herr von Schiller. There is a possible explanation. In
the book written by the Englishman, River God, there is an interesting
suggestion that the slave Taita swopped the two mummies, that of Pharaoh
Mamose and his good friend, Tanus.'
'For what earthly reason would he do that?' Von Schiller looked
incredulous.
'Not for any earthly reason, but for a spiritual and supernat urat
reason. Taita wished his -friend to have the use and ownership of all
Pharaoh's treasure in the afterworld. It was his last gift to a friend.'
'Do you believe that?'
'I do not disbelieve it. There is one other fact that tends to support
this theory. It is quite obvious from the Xrays that the coffin is too
large for the body within. TO me, it seems obvious that it was designed
to accommodate a larger man. Yes, Herr von Schiller, I do believe that
there is an excellent chance that this is a royal mummy.'
Von Schiller had gone ashen pale as he listened. Sweat headed upon his
forehead, and his voice was hoarse and chesty as he asked, 'A -royal
mummy?'
'It may very well be so.'