The Mummies' Treasure
by
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Near noon, they crested a small rise and spotted a series of hills several miles in the distance. Upon reaching the base, a narrow path led them up a sharp incline on the right side. Reaching the top they were surprised by the steep road that would lead them down. Driving in 1st gear to slow their descent, Ahmad tapped his brakes frequently to maintain control on the tight curves. "Stop!" Henry shouted, "The road's washed out!" The brakes squealed, and Henry threw his hands out in front of him, grabbing the dashboard. As the truck slid down the hill, it bounced into a tree stump, flipped upside down, and landed on its top. Skidding on its’ roof, it slid twenty more feet before it came to a sudden, crashing stop. Henry's eyes widened and his mouth fell open as he sat upside down, thanks to his seatbelt. He stared out the front window; looking up the hill they had just bounced down, and felt a strange swaying sensation. Unsnapping his seat belt, he fell hard to the truck's roof, where he joined Ahmad. The truck continued to gently swing. The two looked out the back window and saw a large boulder had snagged the truck, keeping it from sliding an additional thirty feet to the cliff’s edge. A hundred foot fall would have been their end. A jagged rock had somehow punctured the outside right corner of the roof and held it momentarily. "Creak. Creak." The old truck squeaked as it tilted forward and backward, threatening at any moment to break free and tumble down the hill. "We got to keep the truck's front end leaning forward," Henry mumbled as he searched for ideas. Spotting a wrench that had come loose, Henry told Ahmad to cover his eyes. Aiming for a crack in the glass, he smashed the windshield several times until a large hole was made. Removing his shirt, he spread it over the windshield lip for protection. "Get out slowly," Henry said. "If we’re lucky, the weight of the engine and your forward movement will keep us from going over." The vehicle tipped forward, but the second Ahmad’s feet touched the ground, it tipped back. Back too far! "Oh no!" Henry mumbled. The sound of stretching metal was followed by, "crack", as the backward motion of the truck caused the truck to break from its jagged point. Sliding backwards, again on it’s roof, Henry tumbled about as if in a clothes drying machine. Gravity forced the vehicle ever closer to the cliff’s edge as he grabbed for the door handle. But it was jammed shut.
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About the Book
Archaeologist Dr. Henry Randalls is invited to Egypt,on a search for an ancient pyramid and possible treasure. Joined by his son and nephew, the trip’s success is soon threatened with the kidnapping of his contact- the only man who knows the secret and its location. While the boys venture out to find the kidnappers, Henry follows a mysterious message and other clues that lead to a tomb where strange curses and suspicious accidents challenge his every step. Tension mounts with the surprise appearance of Duncan Phelps and his gang of thieves, who will stop at nothing to steal the fortune. But there is another force to be reckoned with that no knows about. A force that is as old as the pyramids and set to attack anyone trying to disturb its’ sacred grounds. Will a treasure be found and taken? Will Dr.Randalls' group survive or will the tomb become their final resting place?
About the Author
As
an educator, Richard has instructed students in the area of mystery writing for
well over a decade. His fascination for
archaeology and ancient civilizations led him to include these topics in units
of study for his classes. Today, these
interests provide a foundation for his mystery writing.
Married
to Susan, they live in
He
is currently half way through his second book, featuring several of the main
characters in The Mummies’ Treasure. Be sure to look for this one at the web site:
www.richardbarcott.com.