Short Stories

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“Well, the story really begins like this…”

“Oh, Crap!” I was falling. Landing with a thud, on my rear, I surveyed the sight before me. There was so much dust and sand in the air that I pulled my neckerchief up over my nose, but when the air began to settle I could hardly believe my eyes! The cavernous tomb lit up like a diamond—all around me the walls were covered in gold!

“Travers! You OK down there!”

“Yes, just hurt my pride a bit. It’s about a twenty-foot drop so get the long ladder and a lantern out of my truck and get down here!”

“Be right back!”

Upon closer inspection of the walls, I noticed that the hieroglyphs looked odd. They seemed to stand out from the wall. I pulled my soft inspection gloves from my hip pocket, and began to lightly run my fingers over the glyphs. I was so intent on my inspection that I didn’t hear Jorgensen slide the ladder down and descend, so when he touched my arm I was sure that I had awakened the fabled mummy of Sohag! I screamed, bloody murder and swung around ready to knock the wrappings off old Sohag! Thankfully, Jorgensen has been on a number of these digs with me and he was prepared for my reaction. In one swift move he pulled both of my arms behind my body, and pressed me into his chest, a very nice chest I might add.

“You really didn’t think that I would let ole’ Sohag get you, did you Emma?” He had this very irritating, yet quite accurate Clark Gable voice. You know the kind that makes you want to slap his face, and then kiss it and make it all better!

“Of course not Peter.” I said a bit too breathlessly for my pride.

“Peter, Emmy you haven’t called me by my first name in over year. I really didn’t mean to ruffle your feathers. You know how you are when you get that intent. I could have been standing there for an hour or more before you even noticed I was there!”

“Jurg, I’m fine, and for your information I was not scared, you just startled me a bit. Now let go of me and look at what I have found.”

When he let go I felt frozen. I took one last whiff of his aftershave and spun around on my heel like a Marine. This man was going to be the death of me! I lead him over to the wall, and showed him the glyphs. He was as impressed as I was.

“Emmy, that couldn’t be what I think it is; is it?”

“Yes I believe it is.”

“I didn’t know that the ancient Egyptians had the technology to carve diamonds!”

“I am not sure that they knew how to carve, but it does look like they at least knew how to break them into smaller pieces.”

Peter moved his flashlight around the small room. Every wall was filled with the story of a long lost Egyptian princess, all in black diamonds. Once I gained my composure over the diamonds; I began to read. She had been hidden at Sohag by her mother, Hatshepsut!

“Did you read that?” I said pointing to the cartouche of Hatshepsut.

“You have got to be kidding! Then this must be the lost tomb of Neferura, the girl who would be king!”

“Yes, I believe it is, and this is the antechamber of her tomb!” I said pointing to the girl-king’s cartouche above the sapphire encrusted door. “Help me open it!”

We worked for the better part of the day, slowly inching the massive door outward. When there was enough room for us both to slip inside we positioned the old lighting mirrors to bounce the sunlight into the room. What lay inside is still to this day my finest discovery. It was even more beautiful than the chamber that I fell into. Everything was just dripping in gold and gems, and in the very center was Neferura.

“Well Emma Travers, I can see that you will be here for many years cataloging, and discovering the secrets that this girl-king left for you. If I ever want to see you or be with you then it will surely be in this place”

I turned and looked a Peter, perhaps and truly for the first time. He was down on one knee.

“Marry me Emma.” When he extended his hand there was a golden band and it had one perfect rough cut emerald set into it. “What say, you, Emma?”

With all my heart I said, “Yes!”


“Tell the story again! Grandma!” Ferura said with her golden ringlets bouncing all over her head.

“OK.” I said. I have never been able to deny my little Ferura anything!

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