05 The Ghost-Queen

5. The Ghost-Queen “ A ghost, ” Annie whispered. But Jack could only stare in horror. The ghost began to speak. She spoke in a hollow, echoing voice. “ I am Hutepi, ” she said. “ Queen of the Nile. Is it true that you have come to help me?” “ Yes, ” said Annie. Jack still couldn’t speak. “ For a thousand years, ” said the ghost-queen, “ I have waited for help. ”

Jack’s heart was pounding so hard he thought he might faint. “ Someone must find my Book of the Dead, ” she said. “ I need it to go on to the Next Life. ” “ Why do you need the Book of the Dead?” asked Annie. She didn’t sound scared at all. “ It will tell me the magic spells I need to get through the Underworld, ” said the ghost-queen. “ The Underworld?” said Annie. “ Before I journey on to the Next Life, I must pass through the horrors of the Underworld. ” “ What kinds of horrors?” Annie asked. “ Poisonous snakes, ” said the ghost-queen. “ Lakes of fire. Monsters. Demons. ” “ Oh. ” Annie stepped closer to Jack. “ My brother hid the Book of the Dead So tomb robbers would not steal it, ” said the ghost-queen. “ Then he carved this secret message on the wall, telling me how to find it. ”

She pointed to the wall. Jack was still in shock. He couldn’t move. “ Where?” asked Annie. “ Here?” She squinted at the wall. “ What do these tiny pictures mean?” The ghost-queen smiled sadly. “ Alas, my brother forgot my strange problem. I cannot see clearly that which is close to my eyes. I have not been able to read his message for a thousand years. ” “ Oh, that’s not a strange problem, ” said Annie. “ Jack can’t see anything either. That’s why he wears glasses. ”

The ghost-queen stared in wonder at Jack. “ Jack, lend her your glasses, ” said Annie. Jack took his glasses off his nose. He held them out to the ghost-queen.

She backed away from him. “ I fear I cannot wear your glasses, Jack, ” she said. “ I am made of air. ” “ Oh. I forgot, ” said Annie. “ But perhaps you will describe the hieroglyphs on these walls, ” said the ghost-queen. “ Hi-row-who?” said Annie. “ Hieroglyphs! ” said Jack, finally finding his voice. “ It’s the ancient Egyptian way of writing. It’s like writing with pictures. ” The ghost-queen smiled at him. “ Thank you, Jack, ” she said. Jack smiled back at her. He put his glasses on. Then he stepped toward the wall and took a good long look. “ Oh, man, ” he whispered.