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didn’t deck you.”
    “They didn’t have to. I told you I was bad.”
    Jeff sighed. “I wonder what they’re gonna do with us.”
    “According to the books I’ve read, they’ll either starve us or put us to work in the stone quarry.”
    “Neither one of those would be my first choice.”
    “Hold it.” Zack moved up to the bars. “Did you say the queen gave orders for you to be put here? I thought she was on our side.”
    “I thought so too. Believe me, I’ve learned my lesson. Next time we go time bending I’m not stopping to help anybody.”
    “You sound like you think there’s gonna be a next time.”
    “I have faith in you, genius. If anybody can figure a way out of this, you can.”
    “Thanks for the vote of confidence. But right now I’m fresh out of ideas.”
    A large stone at the back of Jeff’s cell scraped against the floor and started moving sideways.
    “Uh … something weird’s going on over here, Zack.”
    “Psst.” A small brown hand beckoned Jeff from behind the stone.
    Jeff stepped closer. “Who’s there?”
    “There is no time for questions. Hurry. Follow me.”

C HAPTER 14
    “I purposely ordered you placed in that particular cell because I knew about the tunnels.” Ankhesenpaaten sat at the top of the grayish black steps. “Our ancestors used them to flood the prisons when they became too crowded. My nurse told me about it.”
    “Your ancestors must have been real nice people.”
    “Because you have tried to help me, I have made arrangements for my fastest chariot to be waiting at the palace gate. You can get away if you leave now. Travel to the sea.Horemheb will look for you but I will send a decoy in the opposite direction to give you enough time to escape.”
    “What about Zack? He tried to help you too.”
    “I can do nothing for your friend. His cell does not have a tunnel entrance. I am risking my life for you as it is.”
    “Sorry, Your Highness. I can’t leave him. We’re in this together.”
    “Very well.” The queen stood. “You are on your own. I will deny ever trying to help you.”
    “Well … thanks for getting me this far.”
    The queen peered out the doorway at the top of the stairs. Without looking back, she slipped through the door and faded into the darkness.
    Jeff ran back down the stairs and squeezed through the opening to his cell. He pushed the stone back, leaving a crack just large enough to slide his finger through.
    “Jeff, are you there?” Zack called.
    “I am now.”
    “Where’d you go?”
    “Keep your voice low. If the guards hear you they’ll come down here. Listen, my cell has a secret opening to a tunnel that leads out of here. Ankhesenpaaten said they used to flood the prison with it.”
    “Ankhesenpaaten?”
    “She was here. Never mind about that. We need to figure out a plan. I could go out the tunnel and maybe come around. I might be able to surprise the guards and—”
    “And get your head cut off for escaping.”
    “You have a better idea?”
    “Yeah. Ever heard of Br’er Rabbit?”
    “Who?”
    “It’s an old story about a rabbit that outfoxed a fox. Here goes nothing.…
I don’t have to put up with you
!” Zack shouted. “
Who do you think you are, threatening me like that
?”
    “What’s the matter with you?” Jeff tried unsuccessfully to stick his head through the bars to get a better look. “Are you crazy?”
    “
Guard! Guard!
” Zack yelled at the top of his lungs. “
Get me away from him. He’s trying to kill me
.”
    The jailer hurried down the steps and saw Zack cowering in the corner of his cell. “What’s going on here?”
    “It’s that maniac in the next cell,” Zack declared. “He says he’s gonna rip me apart. You have to do something.”
    “You called me down here for
that
? He can’t even reach you. Now be silent before
I
rip you apart.” The guard turned to go back up the steps.
    “You mean you’re not going to put me in his cell like he told me you would? Oh, thank