Area 51: Excalibur-6 Read Online Free PDF Page A

Watcher. My surviving son will be the next Kaji. The next Watcher of Giza, of the Roads of Rostau."
    "Still, you took an oath." Asim took another step back.
    "You know there are those beyond the Watchers," Kaji said. "Those who act." Kaji held up his hands, his fingers lacking the ring that was the symbol of the first rank of his order. "After opening a door to the Roads of Rostau I left my ring for my son to find."
    That struck Asim as hard as a blade. The priest held up the 24

    sword, but had not drawn the blade. "What good will it do to kill me?"
    Kaji barked a laugh. "You're not that important."
    "Then what—"
    "Excalibur," Kaji said. "It is theirs. And it is the key. I will take it."
    "You cannot. It is only for the Gods."
    Kaji indicated Asim's wounds. "Have you ever looked at yourself? What has been done to you?"
    "It is the price of service."
    "To what end?" Kaji's voice shook. "To what end does your service go?"
    'To get eternal life," Asim said. "To partake of the Grail."
    'The Grail has been around since the dawn of time and we have never been allowed to partake!"
    Asim's voice fell to a whisper. "It will happen someday. If not to me, then to those who follow. But only to the true believers."
    Kaji took another step closer to the priest. He was in range of the blade, but Asim did not draw it. "Has it ever occurred to you that perhaps partaking of the Grail might not be a
    good thing?"
    Asim's eyes widened. He blinked as if he had just heard that the sky was red, his head shaking in disbelief.
    "Excalibur," Kaji said.
    Asim shook his head more firmly. "It must be kept safe."
    "You think this place is safe?" Kaji didn't wait for an answer. "The 'gods'
    fight among themselves. Both sides know of the Roads of Rostau. It must be hidden from them or else we will have repeats of today's disaster."
    "But the Ancient Enemy—" Khufu began.
    "Yes, the Ancient Enemy." Kaji nodded. "Excalibur must be protected from the Ancient Enemy also. I saw what hap-

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    pened on the top of the pyramid. What makes you think that was the only enemy that survived?"
    "The enemy was destroyed." •
    "You don't know that for sure," Kaji said. "I saw the Libyan taken by the Ancient Enemy in the desert to the west of here. More danger could be close by.
    The sword must be removed from here."
    Asim frowned. "What do you know of the Ancient Enemy?"
    A strange look crossed Kaji's face. "The legends—" His voice trailed off.

    "How did you know to go out into the desert?" Asim pressed. "Why did—" Asim continued but he didn't complete the sentence as Kaji slammed his dagger into the priest's chest.
    Asim lay on the tunnel floor, dead. Kaji reached down and took the priest's cloak, wrapping it around his own slender body, pulling the hood up over his head. He picked up Excalibur and the scepter. Then he headed toward the surface.
    Khufu was alone on the roof of the pyramid temple. The removal of the covering stones was complete about a third of the way down. People from all around were at the base, taking the limestone with them, as the Pharaoh had allowed it. They could build homes with the stone. It might as well serve some positive purpose.
    Several large rough blocks had been emplaced on top to keep the semblance of a pyramid and also hide the fact that something else had once been up there.
    He heard his guards snap to attention below and turned. A slight figure came up the ladder onto the roof, moving with difficulty. He recognized Asim from the high priest's cloak and the sword in the man's hand.

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    "I thought you were taking that back underground," Khufu said. "Have you had second thoughts?"
    The figure came closer. Khufu gasped as the sword was drawn and the blade came across his neck. He could feel the coolness of the metal against his skin.
    "Are you insane, Asim?"
    The man pulled his hood down, revealing his features.
    "Who are you?"
    "A man. Like you. My name is Kaji."
    Khufu stared into the man's eyes. "Are you going to kill