The Pharaoh Awakes! And Other Stories by Merv Lambert

Author:Merv Lambert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: egypt, pharaoh, computer, kids book, juvenile, merv lambert, pyramid, africa
ISBN: 9781781661758
Publisher: Andrews UK Limited 2012
Published: 2012-04-12T00:00:00+00:00

The Pharaoh Awakes!

It had happened hundreds and hundreds, no thousands and thousands of years ago. Now it was happening again. Colin had been searching through his special book, when, without warning, his magic phoenix bookmark had flashed. He was on his own that day, as Olivia had taken their little daughter Charlotte to see some friends, whilst he cut their lawns both front and back. Sammy, their little dog, had gone with them. In fact Colin was not exactly on his own, although most people would have thought he was, because they would not be able to see M, the invisible computer-generated emu. It was a very hot afternoon, and Colin had just poured himself a glass of Guinness, having finished off the edges of the lawns by cutting them neatly with his strimmer. It was such a hot summer’s day that he thought he had earned a refreshing, cool drink. As he waited for the dark liquid to settle in the glass, he idly flicked through his book, which was on the kitchen worktop. M was looking at him quizzically. Phew, it was a hot day! He looked around him, and saw that he was no longer in his kitchen. M was still staring at him quizzically. So was someone else, a hard-faced little man, no taller than Colin. He was wearing a white head-dress that came down to his shoulders. Also he had on a long white robe and dark sandals.

Colin realised he was probably in one of two places. Either he was in Ancient Egypt or on a vast Hollywood film-set. There were no cameras around. He was not on a film-set. He was aware that the man was talking to him in a strange language, but thanks to the bookmark, safely tucked into the top of his own long, white tunic, he understood perfectly.

The man shouted at him again.

“Why are you slacking?”

Colin would not yield to this bossy little man, and suddenly he felt inspired by the magical phoenix, as he looked at the men, women and children toiling in the hot desert around him. They were obviously building something.

“I am not slacking. Be careful who you’re talking to! I have a message from the pharaoh, a message for the chief architect and for the high priest.”

“Really? And what message is that?” sneered the small Egyptian, who did not know that an emu was standing behind him and had bent its head round on its long neck to stare him in the face.

“The message is only for the state officials I just mentioned,” answered Colin, giving the rather pompous and obnoxious person, who had challenged him, one of his steely glares. He continued in a quiet, equally steely manner, “If the message is heard by the wrong ears, those ears will be chopped off. Do you understand?”

“Per...per...perfectly,” stammered the other man, whose proud, dark features seemed to have paled.

“Again I ask you. Where are the men I seek?”

Squinting all around at the sea of toiling bodies, most of whom wore only loin-cloths, the little Egyptian finally spotted them.

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