The Cult of Osiris

As it turned out, she didn’t get the opportunity to say anything to Rothschild, bad-mannered or otherwise. Although Nina recognised several senior IHA staff among the UN representatives and officials in the invited audience, along with Professor Hogarth, the agency’s director was conspicuous by her absence.

But she quickly forgot the snub as the Egyptian ambassador to the United Nations, accompanied by Dr Ismail Assad, sang her praises. ‘And thanks to Dr Wilde and her husband,’ he concluded, ‘the most incredible archaeological find in Egypt in a hundred years was not only discovered, but protected.’ He nodded at some large photo blow-ups of the tomb’s interior; the mummy had been returned to its rightful resting place inside the sarcophagus, and Osir’s crushed body removed. ‘The tomb of Osiris unfortunately sustained some damage, but its contents remained unlooted. In time, the entire world will be able to see these incredible national treasures. So again, Dr Wilde, Mr Chase - on behalf of the people of Egypt, I thank you.’

Applause rippled through the room as the ambassador shook Nina’s and Eddie’s hands. ‘Thank you,’ said Nina as she stood at the microphone. ‘Thank you, Mr Ambassador, Dr Assad - and the people of Egypt, of course!’ The audience chuckled politely. ‘There’s somebody else who should be thanked, because without her bravery and determination we would never even have known the Pyramid of Osiris existed. So, Macy,’ she said, pointing her out, ‘Macy Sharif, can you stand up, please?’

Macy was in the second row, flanked by her parents; the normally shameless young woman blushed at the applause.

‘If the IHA’s Egyptology department is hiring when she graduates,’ Nina went on, ‘then she’d certainly get my recommendation, for what that’s worth!’ As the clapping subsided, Macy sat down with relief. Nina addressed the audience again. ‘But what this whole affair shows is how careful we have to be as archaeologists and historians. When we make these amazing discoveries, it’s very easy to be affected by the prospect of fame and fortune - and yes, I’ll admit to having gone down that road myself. But what happened here was because it became all about money . . . no, not money, about the prize. Somebody wanted something so badly, they cut corners to get it. And that nearly led to disaster. So I hope it will act as a warning about what happens when you put money ahead of science.’

The applause was rather more subdued this time, some faces distinctly uncomfortable. Nina hadn’t intended to deliver a finger-wagging lecture, but decided what the hell: it needed to be said. She turned to her husband. ‘Anything you want to add, Eddie?’

‘I’m not much of one for speeches,’ he said, shrugging. ‘Just glad to have helped - oh, and if someone could pay our travel expenses, that’d be great!’ The audience laughed.

‘There is one more thing,’ said Assad. An assistant handed him a polished wooden box. ‘In recognition of the discovery of the Pyramid of Osiris, the Supreme Council of Antiquities has decided to present something to the IHA. A loan, shall we say.’

He opened the box to reveal a small statuette: a crude human figure carved from an unusual purple stone. Nina didn’t recognise it, and it took Eddie a moment to realise he’d seen it before - in Osiris’s tomb. ‘It’s a slight embarrassment to admit this, considering my position,’ Assad joked, ‘but so far we have been unable to identify it - it doesn’t match any of the other artefacts in the Pyramid of Osiris, or anywhere else for that matter. Perhaps the IHA will have better luck!’ He handed the box to the bemused Nina as the audience applauded again.

‘Ah, you do remember I’m not actually with the IHA any more?’ she said from the corner of her mouth.

‘But they—Oh.’

The ambassador realised that his compatriot had made a faux pas and quickly took the mike to thank everyone for attending, leaving Nina wondering what Assad had been about to say. One of the senior UN officials, an Englishman called Sebastian Penrose, whom Nina had met a few times during the IHA’s formation, left his seat and gestured for Nina and Eddie to join him. They did so, and she looked at him suspiciously. ‘Okay, what’s going on?’

‘A slight case of gun-jumping, I’m afraid,’ Penrose replied. He signalled to an IHA official, who took the box. ‘We meant to discuss this with you after the ceremony.’

‘Discuss what?’ said Eddie.

‘Your returning to the IHA.’

‘What?’ Nina said in sarcastic disbelief. ‘After we got fired?’

‘Technically, it was a suspension, pending an official inquiry,’ Penrose said smoothly. ‘I’m, ah, quite confident the final findings will result in reinstatement with full backdated pay and benefits, as well as a compensation package.’

‘Yeah, right. I can really see Maureen Rothschild going along with that.’

‘Professor Rothschild is no longer with the IHA,’ said Penrose.

Nina was surprised. ‘Why not?’

‘She resigned yesterday. Partly because of the criminal charges the Egyptians are laying against Dr Berkeley - your statement about his change of heart means they’re likely to be lenient, but with all the other conspirators dead they still need a scapegoat. Since he was the professor’s personal choice to head the Giza dig, that was a huge embarrassment to her, and a sign of poor judgement. Which reflects on her other decisions - such as suspending you.’

‘And the other part?’ Eddie asked.

‘The other part is that you, Dr Wilde, sent her an email describing how the robbery of the Hall of Records would be carried out before it actually happened - and she ignored it. She deleted it, in fact, but it turned out someone else had a copy.’

‘Remind me to send Lola a huge thank-you gift,’ said Nina. ‘So, you want me to come back. What about Eddie?’

‘Mr Chase will be reinstated too, of course. And there’s another matter: with Professor Rothschild gone, the IHA is currently without a director. You have experience from when you served as Interim Director . . .’

Eddie nudged her. ‘Hey, not bad. They don’t just want you back - they’re offering you a promotion!’

‘But do we really want to go back?’ she asked him, though her eyes made her answer obvious. He grinned.

‘The offer will remain open,’ said Penrose. He handed Nina his card. ‘For a while, at least. Call me when you make a decision.’ He shook their hands and walked away, the official holding the box following.

‘Well, bloody hell,’ said Eddie. ‘They just can’t manage without us, can they?’

‘Hey, we’ve gotten pretty good at this kind of thing by now. But you know what’s most important? We’ll be able to move back to Manhattan!’

He jokingly rolled his eyes. ‘Great. Ridiculous rent, crowds, noise, traffic . . .’

‘I can’t wait!’

‘Tchah,’ said Eddie, amused. ‘There’s one good thing, though - I’ll be able to afford that wedding reception!’

‘We’ll be able to afford it,’ Nina corrected him. ‘And maybe I’ll join you for some dancing lessons.’

They left the stage to be met by Macy and her parents. ‘So what was all that about?’ Macy asked once the introductions had been made.

‘He was making us an offer,’ said Nina.

‘Like a job offer?’ Macy asked excitedly. ‘Oh my God, that’s awesome! Are you going to take it?’

‘Weeeell,’ said Eddie, with an exaggerated shrug, ‘we haven’t quite decided.’

‘But,’ Nina added, ‘you remember that I recommended you for a position at the IHA when you graduate?’ Macy nodded. ‘I think it’s safe to say that if you wanted it it’d be yours.’

The young woman’s face lit up. ‘Really? Oh, wow! Then I’ll try to be interested in more than just Egyptology. Even the Mongolian toothpicks. Thank you!’ She embraced Nina.

Eddie watched for a moment. ‘So can I join in and finally get my threesome?’

‘Eddie!’ both women shouted, Macy blushing again as she gestured to remind him that her parents were standing three feet away. But then she hugged him too.

‘So what are you going to do now?’ Macy asked as they separated.

‘I’m not sure yet,’ said Nina. She smiled. ‘But I think we’re going to be busy.’