Beyond the Grave - - 39 Clues 04

  BEYOND THE GRAVE

  The 39 Clues Book 04

  Jude Watson

  CHAPTER 1

  If Amy Cahill had to list what was wrong with eleven-year-old brothers, their habit of disappearing would be numero uno.

  Or maybe the fact that they existed in the first place.

  And then there was the whole burping the alphabet thing

  Amy stood in the middle of the Khan el-Khalili market in Cairo, her head swiveling frantically, trying to find her brother, Dan. The blur of jet lag was interfering with normal brain function. Dan had just been at her side a moment ago. Then she turned for two seconds to buy a Nefertiti pencil, and when she turned back, Dan was gone.

  The air was thick with heat and music and the calls of shopkeepers. Bright banners waved overhead. Tourists weaved through the streets, wearing their backpacks on their chests to safeguard against pickpockets and stopping to take pictures every few minutes. A woman in a head scarf dodged a row of turquoise chairs to follow after her two boys. A man with a crate full of oranges balanced them on his head with one hand. A tourist in a baseball cap and a T-shirt proclaiming I WANT MY MUMMY strolled past Amy, her camera held up in front of her face.

  Amy felt the heat like waves against her skin. She hoped she wouldn't faint. Colors swarmed, faces dissolved, unfamiliar noises pounded against her ears. She had never liked crowds, and Cairo seemed like the city that had invented them. She turned, her hand on her waist pack. Their au pair, Nellie Gomez, was just down the alley, bargaining over spices. Amy could just catch a glimpse of her crazy half-blond, half-black hair.

  Less than an hour ago, they'd been in a taxi, riding into Cairo from the airport. Then when the cabdriver had casually pointed out the window and said, "The Khan market starts here, very good place," Nellie had suddenly yelled, "Stop!" Before they knew what was happening, they'd landed in the market with luggage and cat carrier. Saladin had meowed furiously when Nellie promised, "Just ten minutes, that's all I need, and then we'll go straight to the hotel.... Cool! Cardamom pods!" For Nellie, every new city was just another opportunity for weird food.

  Finally, Amy spotted Dan through the crowd. He was pressed against a shop window crowded with souvenirs. She had a feeling he was captivated by the King Tutankhamen pencil sharpener, but it could have been the flashlight in the shape of a mummy.

  As she crossed the alley, Dan kept appearing and disappearing through the meandering crowd. The hot sun was blinding. She hoped that air-conditioning was in her future.

  The tourist in the I WANT MY MUMMY T-shirt drifted closer to Dan. She pushed her white sunglasses down her nose. Some small alarm chimed inside Amy. A man in a straw hat blocked her view, and she dodged to one side.

  The tourist bent her index finger back at the first joint, as if she had a cramp. The hot sun glinted on something protruding from her nail.

  "Dan!" Amy screamed. The music and the calls of the shopkeepers -- Five dollars, five dollars! --drowned her out. She darted past a man balancing a dozen neon-colored soccer balls in a net.

  The hypodermic needle protruded out of the tourist's clawlike finger. Dan leaned closer to the window

  "Dan!" She screamed the name. In her head. But it came out like a strangled croak. Amy threw herself forward. At the very last second, she flung out her hand. The needle jammed into the Nefertiti pencil and stuck.

  For one swift second, all Amy could do was stare down at the glint of sunlight on metal.

  In slow motion, a drop of something lethal fell from the tip and hit the dust.

  Amy looked into the face of Irina Spasky. Former KGB agent. Spy. Cousin.

  Irina's left eye twitched. "Blin!"

  She twisted her hand, but the needle remained stuck in the pencil.

  The shopkeeper hurried over. "Beautiful lady, it is stuck on you. Here, I have more pencils for you!"

  Irina turned on him fiercely. "I don't want your fancy pencils, shopkeeper of things!" Amy and Dan didn't wait another second. Dan moved like a midfielder through the crowd, and Amy followed in his wake.

  Legs pumping, they ran until their lungs burned, dashing through the maze of twisting alleys. Finally they stopped, bent over at the waist, and tried to catch their breath. When they looked up, Amy realized they were lost. Badly, stupidly, irredeemably lost. "Nellie will be looking for us," Amy said. She flipped open her cell phone. "No signal. We'll have to find our way back."

  "And hope we don't bump into Comrade Irina," Dan said. "I can skip the family reunion."

  By now they were used to meeting family members with mayhem on their minds. Just weeks ago they'd had a hard time coping with the fact of their grandmother's death. After their parents died, Grace had been the most important person in Amy and Dan's life. Even though they didn't live with her, they spent weekends at her mansion outside of Boston, and she always took them for trips during the school year and in the summers. Grace's death from cancer knocked them off their feet. But that had been only the first of many shocks to come. Grace had invited the four branches of the Cahill family to the reading of her will. Appearing on a video, she'd offered them a choice. Take a million dollars and walk away or join in a chase for 39 Clues and become the most powerful person in the world. Even though the million had seemed like one sweet deal, Amy and Dan hadn't really hesitated. They knew Grace would want them to accept the challenge. For Grace, there was no such thing as the easy way out.

  The decision had been easy. It was the living up to it that was hard. In her old life, Amy had thought playing to win was Courtney Catowski spiking a volleyball on her head. Now she knew what competition was really about. Relatives like Irina played for keeps. She'd drug them, kidnap them, even kill them if she had to.

  They started to walk. Amy felt as though they were going in circles. Like in a dream,

  where you run and run and get nowhere. Yesterday she'd been in Seoul, Korea. Before

  that, Tokyo and Venice. Vienna and Salzburg, Austria. Paris. Philadelphia. She'd even

  touched down on a private airfield in Russia.

  She'd never had so many secrets before.

  She'd never imagined she could be so afraid.

  She'd never imagined she could be so brave.

  Just a few days ago in Seoul they'd nearly been buried alive. Left for dead by people she trusted. Natalie and Ian Kabra ... she wouldn't think about him. Wouldn't think about how he held her hand and told her that together they could form a great alliance. The alliance lasted a couple of hours, until he saw the opportunity to leave her for dead. Wouldn't. Think. About. Ian.

  Then they discovered that the only family member they almost-trusted, their uncle Alistair Oh, had double-crossed them as well. Pretended to be dead when he was clearly very much alive.

  What had sent them hurtling through international air space to Cairo was a hint, no more than that. But they were used to grabbing on to hints and riding them for all they were worth. A pyramid shape and a word. Sakhet. The Egyptian goddess with the lion's head. Amy had bought several books before they left Korea and researched the

  goddess, but she still didn't know why they were sent here ... or what, exactly, they were looking for.

  Amy felt sweat trickle in rivers underneath her T-shirt. The temperature was over ninety. Her hair was sticking to the back of her neck. She thought of Ian, who no matter what the circumstances always looked so cool. Wouldn't. Think. About. Ian.

  The noise pressed against her ears, an exotic, whirling cacophony of horns honking, vendors shouting, cell phones ringing, and someone yelling over it all, "Move it, lame-o!"

  Oh. That voice was not so exotic. It was Dan. "Russian spy at two o'clock and gaining!" he hissed.

 
Irina hadn't seen them yet. She was too busy looking for them. She prowled along the opposite side, peering into shop windows.

  Amy pulled Dan into a cafe. Men sat at tables, drinking tea and having murmured conversations or reading newspapers. Tourists sat with their guidebooks over glasses of juice. As Amy squeezed past, her bulging backpack slammed against a burly gentleman sitting with a glass of mint tea. The tea spilled on his white suit.

  Every eye in the cafe turned to Amy. The clackety-clack of a backgammon game stopped. She felt her face turn bright red. She hated being the center of attention at any time, and especially when she'd done something clumsy.

  "S-s-sorry!" Amy stammered. Her stutter came out when she was nervous, and she hated it. She tried to mop up the mess.

  "It's fine, young lady, do not worry." The man smiled kindly at her and waved to the waiter. "It is just tea."

  On the walls, heavy antique mirrors reflected the scene. Amy saw her own red face, her fluttering hands, the eyes of the patrons ... and the door opening. Even the tourist attire and white plastic sunglasses couldn't disguise the way Irina soldier-marched into the cafe, as if she were inspecting everyone in it for demerits. And in exactly three seconds, her gaze would land on them.

  CHAPTER 2

  The fat man stood up, giving them cover for an instant. Dan grabbed the chance. He dodged behind a thick curtain, pulling Amy after him.

  They found themselves in a short hallway that led to a side door. They dashed outside. Now they were in an even smaller alley that snaked behind the shops. They knew Irina would be out there in a matter of seconds. They dodged a cart piled high with crates

  and a surprised man sleeping in the sun. Seeing a back door to a shop, they ran through it into a storeroom. It was dark and dusty, and Dan started to wheeze. "Use your inhaler," Amy said.

  "It's ... in ... Nellie's ... carry-on," Dan got out. He hated this feeling. As though someone were squeezing his lungs. It happened at the worst times. "Good place for it. Come on."

  Amy quickly led Dan out of the dusty storeroom and into the store. It was bright and

  airy, with spangled belly dancing costumes hanging from the ceiling. "Welcome! You are looking for lovely costume? I'll give you a deal!" "Not my color! But thanks!" Dan called as he ran out.

  Down another twisting street, then another. Finally, Amy ordered a halt. "We lost her." "For now." Dan grabbed her elbow. "Amy, look."

  Only a few feet away, they saw a sign: Sakhet

  In the dramatically red-curtained window, a statue stood alone. Blue stone, with a lion's head, standing tall and proud.

  Amy and Dan looked at each other. Without a word, they pushed into the shop. They made a beeline for the Sakhet statue. It was obviously very old. The surface was worn and one of the lion's ears had cracked off.

  The shop owner hurried forward, a thin, eager man in black pants and a white shirt.

  "You are interested? She is beautiful. Authentic, not a replica. Once owned by

  Napoleon," the man went on. "You have an excellent eye."

  "Napoleon? Isn't that an Italian pastry?" Dan asked. "Sort of gooey inside?"

  Amy rolled her eyes. "You're the one with goo -- for brains. Napoleon was the French

  emperor. Remember, he conquered the world? We saw a picture of him in the Lucian stronghold back in Paris? He's a Cahill. One of our ancestors."

  The Lucian branch of the Cahill family had a strategic sense that was amazing. Of

  course, their powers had dwindled down to the petty, nasty deeds of Ian and Natalie

  Kabra and the crazy Russian Irina Spasky.

  "If he'd picked out this Sakhet, it could be important," Dan said.

  "It can't be this easy," Amy said.

  "Why not, when everything else has been so hard?" Dan pointed out.

  The shopkeeper raised his voice, trying to get them back again. "I see you are

  fascinated. Yes, Napoleon owned many treasures. Some went back to France, some

  stayed here." He put his hand on the statue and caressed it. "Are your parents with

  you? I'll give you the best price. I have the premier shop in Cairo."

  "No, thanks," Dan said. Back home, he was a collector. He knew the best way to

  bargain was to pretend you didn't care. "Come on, Amy. Let's keep looking. Why would

  Napoleon have stuff in Egypt, anyway?" "Napoleon invaded Egypt in 1798," Amy said.

  "Ah, the young lady knows her history. I would be so proud if this statue came into her brilliant hands. Here." He gave her the statue.

  It felt strange to touch something so old. Something Napoleon had touched. Every so often she got a deep thrill from a sense of her own DNA linking like a chain down a line leading to a bunch of extraordinary people. Napoleon! "Only two thousand," he said.

  Amy jumped. "Two thousand dollars?"

  "For you, fifteen hundred. Someone from the Cairo Museum is interested in this piece. He is coming back at four o'clock."

  "I doubt that, Abdul."

  Amy turned. She'd noticed the tall, blond stranger browsing at the other part of the store. She hadn't noticed him draw closer. He was in his twenties, dressed in a T-shirt, khaki shorts, and sandals. His eyes were vivid green next to his tan. "Unless he's looking for a trinket for his key ring," he said in a British accent. He plucked the Sakhet from her hands. "I'd date this piece at... maybe 2007?" "Really, Theo, you are mistaken," the shopkeeper said, smiling uneasily. "This is authentic, I assure you -- "

  "Assurances aside, I think you're trying to take these two youngsters for a ride on the fake artifact express," the man named Theo said. "He said Napoleon had owned it," Dan said.

  "Maybe," Theo said. "Joe Napoleon down the street runs a great Italian restaurant."

  "I told you Napoleon was Italian," Dan said scornfully to Amy.

  "Actually, he was born in Corsica," Theo said. "Would you kids like to see the rest of the

  shop?"

  "No need," Abdul said quickly. "I see I don't have what you want. Perhaps next door you'll find what you're looking for. It's time for my tea break, so ... " Theo strode past him and pushed open a heavy curtain. At a long table, several workers were hunched over. Amy stood on tiptoe as the shop owner tried to block her view. The workers were using wire brushes and sandpaper on a row of statues similar to the Sakhet. They were sanding and brushing them in order to make them look old. Abdul shrugged. "Hey it's a living." "No harm, no foul," Theo said.

  Just then Dan grabbed Amy's arm. Peering through the window and shading her eyes was Irina.

  Theo had noticed their alarm. "Who's that? Your mother?"

  "Someone on our tour. She's a total pain," Amy said.

  "Always following us," Dan said. "Is there another way out of here?"

  "One thing you should know about me," Theo said. "I always know the back way."

  The brass bell on the front door jangled as they pushed through the curtain and made their escape.

  This time it was easier. All they had to do was follow Theo. He moved quickly and

  expertly through the maze of narrow alleys. Finally, they stopped to rest near the arched entrance to the market.

  "I think you're safe," Theo said. "Can I get you a taxi back to your hotel?" "We lost our au pair," Dan said. "We'd better find her. Uh, where are we?" "Let's start with this. Where did you leave her?" Amy frowned. "By some spices?"

  "Okay, that narrows it down somewhat. Can you remember anything else?" Dan closed his eyes. "A yellow sign with maroon letters in Arabic. Three rows of spice baskets, nuts in green buckets. Shopkeeper with mustache and a mole on his left cheek. Next door was a fruit stall, thin guy in a red hat yelling, 'Pomegranates!'" Theo cocked an eyebrow at Amy. "Is he always like this?"

  "Constantly."

  Again they followed Theo through the market, keeping a careful eye out for Irina. "Do you live here?" Amy asked him as they weaved through the crowds. "Went to university in England but came back and haven't left since."
"You sure know your way around," Amy said.

  "I used to be a tour guide," Theo said. He smiled at her, and Amy suddenly realized

  that he was seriously good-looking.

  A fuming Nellie stood outside the stall where they'd left her. A string bag stuffed full of packages swung from her wrist. Dan's duffel was at her feet, and her own bag, plus the nylon tote they'd borrowed from Alistair, was piled on top. Saladin the cat meowed woefully in his cat carrier. She advanced on them furiously.

  "Where have you been? I thought you were kidnapped!" Suddenly, Nellie caught sight of Theo. She stopped short. She gave Theo a long look, from the top of his blond head to his suntanned toes. "Well, hello, Indiana Jones," she purred in a voice just like Saladin made when he caught sight of a filet of red snapper in his food bowl. Since they'd left her, Nellie had gone shopping. Over her black T-shirt was a gauzy lavender fabric that she'd wound around her body to make a tunic. Black kohl now rimmed her eyes, and beaded bangles slid up her arm from wrist to elbow. Gold dusted her eyelids. She looked as though she were about to run off to a hip-hop harem. "Well, hello, Mary Poppins," Theo replied with a grin.

  "How astute. I'm practically perfect in every way," Nellie said. She stuck out her hand. "I'm Nellie Gomez."

  "Theo Cotter."

  Dan rolled his eyes as Nellie's hand stayed in Theo's longer than a handshake should take. Did Nellie actually blush?

  He didn't think she was capable of it.

  "Theo saved us from buying an ancient priceless artifact that was made yesterday," Amy said.

  Theo shrugged. "Unfortunately, you happened to stumble into one of the worst tourist traps around. I can show you some of the more authentic shops if you'd like," he said, his eyes on Nellie.

  "That would be amazing," Nellie said, as if Theo had just offered to show her the secrets of the universe.

  "I think we'd better get to our hotel," Amy said. Theo seemed okay, but why should they trust him? Besides, they didn't have time to waste. Before they'd left Seoul, they'd found a frequent-traveler's card in Alistair's bedroom. Dan had pocketed it and they'd used it at the airport to book a room at a hotel called the Excelsior. Amy was anxious to check in and figure out their next step. This was all happening too fast. Theo took a couple of Nellie's bags from her. "You're interested in Napoleon, right?" he said to Amy. "Did you know that when he invaded Egypt he brought scholars and archaeologists and artists with him to study the country?"