The Iron Man [Serial]

The Abyss

We decided to go down to the lowest chamber beneath the pyramid, which some called the pit or subterranean chamber. Howard had been here as part of the continuing excavation project with Dr. Hassan, so he led the way  through the descending passage. Alpha and Murphy confessed they also had been inside the pyramid at some point in the past.

"Together?" Thierry asked, almost beside me at that moment.

Alpha, moving ahead of us in the cramped passage, turned and held a single finger before his lips.

Thierry tsked his tongue. "Prim," he said then, "Could you shine that light against this wall?"

Prim was behind us, along with Murphy, and held one of the induction bulbs. He stopped with Thierry to examine the wall, as Murphy and I continued down, following Alpha and David.

The bulbs flickered, leaving the tunnel temporarily in the dimmer yellow light from the oil lamps Alpha and I held.

"The composition of this stone may cause interference with the transmission of electromagnetic energies of particular wavelengths," Nikola said. "Do we have another portable unit?"

I did not know how the devices worked, but these movable units were somehow used in conjunction with the cosmic array outside to make the bulbs light.

"We are below the constructed portion of the pyramid," Thierry said. "This tunnel was dug through solid rock, no?"

At the same time, Murphy answered, "I have one here, but I do not know if the stand will keep it upright on the slope."

"Murphy, bring it here, if you will," Nikola asked.

"This section is below ground level," Howard replied, "In fact, we believe some part of the pyramid was built on an existing outcrop. We know the elevations of some parts of the mound from north to south in comparing the shift from masonry to bedrock in the well shaft and this passage with the pavement outside. How far it extends on an east-west axis is less certain."

It was not easy for any of us to move past another, at least not without some accidental touching, but Murphy made it past Alpha and then David, and in that same time Thierry moved close to me again. We continued down the long sloping passage. For most of the time, the electric lamps remained lit, though occasionally they went dark.

Further down, on our right, there  was an opening in the wall. Howard described it as the entrance to the so-called well shaft but mentioned that there was no sign it was a well for water in its current form. "The upper portion is constructed differently and leads to what may have been a pre-existing feature of the terrain, so it could have been a well at one time. Professor Petrie held the theory that it was an escape passage for workers who sealed the passages, perhaps re-opened by Al-Mam'un's men."

"He's in Palestine now, isn't he?" David asked.

"Flinders Petrie? I haven't kept up with him. Excellent archaeologist in his technique and process, I worked under him in Amarna, but I didn't agree with all of his views." Howard paused. "Do you know him?"

"No. I read everything available on Egypt before traveling here."

Howard nodded. "He hasn't worked in Egypt since the war. Was of the opinion artifacts should be shipped to Europe for conservation purposes; didn't trust the war-time or interim government after Halmi was assassinated."

"The pit is just a short distance ahead," Alpha said, loudly enough that his voice echoed. It seemed a purposeful change of subject.

The passage leveled off and then widened before narrowing to a square opening leading to a further chamber. Being near the rear with Prim and Thierry, I did not view the pit until others had moved inside and stepped away from the small square opening to allow us room.