6. A Bad Surprise

6 A Bad Surprise Stanley closed the tomb's door behind him and set off, following the hieroglyphs at every branch. Before long, he came to another button on the wall, just like the one in the tomb. He pressed it, and once again, a large panel—a huge block of stone—swung open. Stanley stepped outside into the fresh air.

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Sir Hawara and his guards came rushing over when they saw Stanley. "Well?" Sir Hawara demanded, hopping on one foot and then the other. "The scrolls?" "I found them," Stanley told him. Suddenly he felt quite proud: He had located the priceless Giant Scrolls of Papyrus! And now he was safely outside, in the warm sunshine! It had all been worth it. "And I found the passageway out. There are lots of branches in the passageway, but all you have to do is follow the black hieroglyphs to get out..." "Excellent!" Sir Hawara rubbed his hands together. "I must get the

crew ready. Meet me back here in the morning... at daybreak we take the scrolls!" He climbed onto his camel and rode away, leaving Stanley bewildered. Just then he felt a tug at his shirt. He turned to find Amisi there, glaring at him. "That's who you've been working with? That's the worst looter of Egyptian treasures in the country! My father and I have been trying to catch him red-handed for years. I guess I was wrong about you." And she stomped off.

Stanley didn't know what to think. He climbed back onto his camel and followed Sir Hawara's party back to the bazaar. He was going to find out just what was going on. Back at Sir Hawara's headquarters, henchmen were everywhere. Stanley eased himself into the shadows and sneaked around to the back. He lifted the tent flap and peeked inside. It was even darker and smokier than before. Stanley took a deep breath of nice, fresh outside air. Then, using the limberness he had developed by slipping under his bedroom door at home, Stanley slipped under the flap.

Sir Hawara was on his cushion, talking in a low voice. Cautiously, Stanley crept closer so he could hear. "What's that? In the shadows?" A guard jumped up, pointing toward Stanley! There was no place to hide! Stanley plastered himself against a large container standing upright behind him and froze. "It's nothing," said Sir Hawara, clapping his hands for silence. "Just the sarcophagus. It's a very realistic painting on the cover... quite a find. Now, pay attention to my plans!" Stanley held himself perfectly still and listened keenly.