The Curse of the Pharaoh #1 Read Online Free PDF Page A

reverse!”
    Reaching into her saddlebag, Agatha pulled out a makeup case.
    Dash’s jaw dropped. “So that means you’re putting on lip gloss?”
    “Don’t be silly,” Agatha winked. “A woman’s purse is a useful tool kit. Check it out!”
    She popped open a mirrored compact and set it in front of the screen.
    In the mirror image, each hieroglyph seemed to be written the right way.
    “Remember, they only had simple bronze mirrors back then, and no zoom key,” said Agatha, resting her chin on her intertwined fingers. “Whoever carved these hieroglyphswanted to make sure they were a challenge to read.”
    Dash jumped to his feet, excited. “Of course!” he said. “That explains why Professor Maigret sounded so vague in the film…”
    “He never had time to translate the tablet!” Agatha said, finishing his thought. She scrawled hieroglyphs reversed in her notebook.
    “What else?” she pressed.
    But just at that moment, the
Duat
’s crew all started talking at once as the engine shut down with a groan and a shrill, metallic squawk. “Is it broken?” cried Dash.
    He and Agatha were joined by Chandler, who had Watson tucked under one arm. “Looks like some trouble, Miss Agatha,” he said.
    “What’s the matter?”
    “It seems to be a police checkpoint.”
    A patrol boat sped toward them, waterspraying from the propeller. Then it pulled up alongside with machine guns pointing at the
Duat
.
    Dash went as white as a sheet. “Aunt Patricia promised we wouldn’t get any attention!” he screeched. “I call this a
lot
of attention!”
    “Well, yelling won’t help,” said Agatha. “And we’re not doing anything wrong.”
    “Right. Just pretending to be a TV crew to get to a tomb that’s not opened yet. No problem there.”
    Agatha shushed him. In the tense moments that followed, a uniformed officer boarded the
Duat
with one hand on his gun belt. The captain came out of the cabin and met him on deck. The tugboat captain looked tough, with a grizzled face, hooked nose, and no-nonsense manner. He sent the crew away with a snap of his fingers, speaking quietly with the imposing policeman.
    “I wish I spoke better Arabic,” Agatha whispered.
    “I wish I spoke
any
,” said Dash. “Or maybe it’s best not to know.”
    The policeman checked the tugboat’s registration, took a quick glance at the cargo, including the camels, then pointed at Agatha and her companions.
    “Where did we put those press passes?” muttered Dash. “Without them, our cover is blown!”
    The captain continued to speak in low tones, then beckoned to them with an eloquent wave of his hand.
    “We’re done for!” Dash panicked. “They’re going to arrest us!”
    Agatha grabbed him by the front of his shirt. “Get a grip, Dash! Man up!”
    She had to forcefully haul him in front ofthe policeman, who greeted them with a toothy smile.
    “He wants to be filmed by the BBC,” the captain explained. “Do what he asks and keep your mouths shut. He doesn’t speak very much English.”
    “Um, great. Good to know,” said Dash awkwardly. He picked up his video camera and said, “Action! I think.” Raising her microphone, Agatha signaled to the policeman, who furrowed his brow and moved through a series of Hollywood action-star poses.
    “Bond, James Bond.” He grinned, flashing two thumbs-up. “Shaken, no stir, yes?” He bounded dramatically back onto the patrol boat, which raced away, roaring.
    The tugboat captain eyed Dash. “The police were looking for a gang of smugglers. That’s not you three, is it?”
    “Absolutely not!” Dash said with a gulp.
    “Good,” rasped the captain. “Next time, remember to take off the lens cap.” Pulling down the brim of his cap, he strode back to the cabin.
    Dash hit himself in the forehead. “Lens cap. Duh!” While he put the camera back into its case, Agatha filled Chandler in on their findings. He listened attentively, turning the photos in his giant hands.

    Finally, late in