The Egyptian Read Online Free PDF Page A

thoughts as Siti waited before him, servile with apprehension. If life had treated Nomti differently, perhaps he would have been a philosopher. But after a childhood marked by prejudice and ignorance, he’d chosen the path of least resistance. One that suited his other talents.
    Nomti took Siti’s neck in one of his oversized hands and led him to the living room of the suite. He kept his hand on Siti’s neck as he stood before Al-Miri.
    Al-Miri had never once looked at Nomti with pity, and for that he had gained Nomti’s loyalty. Al-Miri watched at first, hands clasped in front of his robe, eyes sad. Al-Miri had treated Siti as part of his family, as he did all of his employees.
    Siti squirmed in Nomti’s grasp, but didn’t try to escape. Al-Miri approached and touched Siti’s arm. He spoke in his native tongue.
    “I’m sorry it has come to this.”
    “I know,” Siti said. “I’m sorry too.”
    “You have forced me to this place.”
    “Yes.”
    “I will ask you one final time: where is it?”
    “I don’t know. I swear it. Dorian gave it to that man in the City of the Dead. I can recognize him. I can—”
    “And who did that man sell it to?”
    “I told you, I didn’t ask. I would never lie to you.”
    Al-Miri smiled.
    “I have four children. I did this for them. I’ll make this right.”
    “I’ll see to your children. I won’t tell them of your betrayal.”
    Siti quivered. “Why do you say this? I swear to you—I’ll help you find him.”
    Al-Miri’s eyes turned towards a closed door in the far corner of the suite. “Perhaps you will speak in there?”
    Siti moaned. “No. I swear to you I swear to you I know nothing more. I betrayed you. It’s unacceptable. But please, my children.”
    “They are better off without one such as you. Perhaps they’ll return honor to your name.”
    “Please, no.”
    Al-Miri motioned to Nomti, and Nomti moved towards the door in the far corner. Siti let his weight collapse, and then dug in his heels. Nomti dragged him to the door as he would a child.
    Al-Miri spoke again. “You have broken the only unbreakable rule. The man I hired will lead me to what you’ve stolen. I will return to Egypt, and the only thing that will have changed will be that you are dead. Why have you done this? For money? What is money compared to that which I have? That which you were promised?”
    “Please.”
    Al-Miri motioned again, and Nomti opened the door. Siti screamed and clawed at Nomti. Nomti dragged him through the door into a small room.
    Siti gurgled and sobbed as he beat his fists against Nomti. Nomti delivered another blow to Siti’s midsection, crumpling him. Nomti glanced at the sole object in the room: an ornate sarcophagus, standing eldritch and mute against the far wall.
    Nomti thrust him forward, and Siti stumbled against the sarcophagus. He recoiled as if touched by a gang of lepers.
    “No,” Siti whispered.
    Nomti grinned, and Siti lunged for the door.
    Nomti slammed the door and turned the lock.

– 5 –
     
    T he guard inspected Grey’s badge. “I don’t know anything about this.”
    “Of course you don’t.”
    The guard’s face reddened. “You could’ve at least made an appointment.”
    “You’re missing the point. The initial security sweep is supposed to be a surprise. I’ll need to tour the facilities and then speak with your head of security, and someone in management.”
    Grey’s tone told the guard there would be no more questions. The head of security wasn’t in, and Grey told the guard he would suffice for now.
    The guard took him around the outside first. Grey took notes and made comments as if he were actually doing a sweep, which he in effect was. He wanted to evaluate the security level; a corporation with stolen technology would go to extra lengths to preserve its secrets.
    They moved inside, and the guard led him through a series of sleek, rounded hallways divided by sliding partitions. Through open doorways Grey caught glimpses