The Cairo Code Read Online Free PDF Page B

the touch of her hand Weaver felt electricity course through him. Every time he looked at Rachel Stern or felt her touch he was aware of an intense feeling of attraction, and he fought hard to control it. “I called into Shepheard’s. The news isn’t good. Warsaw’s still burning. The word is Poland will be forced to surrender very soon.”
    â€œIt’s all so truly dreadful,” Rachel said, genuinely concerned. “Isn’t it, Jack?”
    Jack Halder had a restless, handsome face, with pale blue eyes and a slight smile fixed permanently in place, one that suggested he found life infinitely more interesting than he had hoped. But the smile was gone now as he shook his head. “It’s terrible. At this moment, I almost feel ashamed to be German.”
    Weaver put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “I think we all feel bad about events, Jack. But neither you nor any of the other Germans on the dig started the conflict. Hitler did.”
    â€œI suppose you’re right.” Halder gazed in awe at the open sarcophagus for a moment, then ran a hand over the lid’s smooth surface. “I’ll be sorry to say good-bye to the last resting place of our princess. Isn’t it incredible when you think about it?”
    â€œWhat is?”
    â€œFor thousands of years she lay here alone, until we found her. Once, she was probably the object of men’s desire. And now she’s mummified remains, lying in the vaults of the Egyptian Museum, waiting to be dissected and studied, like the others we discovered. And all the important questions you want to ask, for which you’ll probably never find answers. What did she look like? What kind of life did she have? Whom did she love? I doubt anyone will ask those questions of us someday. At least she’s achieved a kind of immortality.”
    Rachel smiled. “Jack, you’re such a romantic dreamer.”
    Weaver said with wry humor, “Let’s just hope there isn’t a curse attached to our princess, or we’re all in trouble.”
    â€œYou don’t believe in curses, do you, Harry?” Rachel asked, incredulous.
    â€œAsk me that question a couple of years from now, when we’re all covered in massive red spots and dying from some unknown, incurable disease.”
    They laughed, and there was a sound from somewhere behind them, footsteps on the creaking wooden ladder, and Professor Stern appeared from the passageway. “It sounds like you’re all enjoying yourselves, and I hate to upset the mood, but I’ve distributed the post Harry picked up from Cairo. Most of it’s bad news, from what I can gather. At least a dozen of the crew have been conscripted and the general consensus is that they’re not too happy about it.”
    â€œHarry told us about Warsaw,” Halder offered.
    â€œI don’t even want to think about it,” Professor Stern said, dejected. “It has me depressed enough already.” He scrutinized the area. “You’ve been busy, Rachel, I see. You, too, Jack.”
    â€œAll in a day’s work, Professor,” Halder answered. “With Harry lending a hand, another couple of hours should see it through.”
    â€œBefore I forget, Jack, there was a letter for you among the mail.” The professor handed an envelope across. “From Germany, I believe.”
    Halder moved beside one of the lightbulbs, tore open the letter, and read the contents. His face darkened, and then he slowly folded the pages and stuffed them in his breast pocket.
    â€œWhat’s wrong? Is it bad news?” Rachel asked.
    Halder forced a smile. “Of a sort. It’s from my father.”
    He said no more, as if the subject were private. Stern briskly slapped a hand on Weaver’s shoulder. “Right, we’d better get back to work. I want to have everything finished before dark so that we can enjoy the big party tomorrow