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“It’swas,” Sayyid finished significantly.

“Was?” Adam asked. “What was?”

“Not was,” Neil replied tightly as the significance of Sayyid’s words bloomed inside his skull. “Was.”

“‘Was’ is an Egyptian word,” Ellie explained with growing excitement. “It can mean power—divine or supernatural power. Or it can refer to an object thatrepresentsthat power.”

Adam met her gaze, obviously sensing the breathless promise in her voice. “And what object would that be?”

“A staff,” Neil answered hollowly as he felt the ground start to give way beneath him.

Constance gasped with delight. Ellie and Adam shared a look that was dark with import.

Mrs. Al-Ahmed’s gaze was as sharp and careful as glass.

“The was-scepter,” Sayyid elaborated. “It is a ritual object with a distinct shape modeled after the Set beast.”

“Slender nose,” Neil recited automatically. “Long ears. Forked tail.”

“You see them depicted all over Egyptian art,” Ellie added. “Was-scepters are held by gods, or pharaohs, or very high-ranking priests.”

“Where there is a was-scepter,” Sayyid noted deliberately, “there is an intimation that the bearer possesses power over the spiritual essence that shapes and animates all living things.”

“So it’s a magic wand!” Constance declared brightly.

Neil stared at her in horror.

“Er… I suppose onecouldframe it that way,” Ellie hedged uncomfortably.

“So we’ve got a ring that says Moses and an inscription about a magic staff.” Adam raised an eyebrow. “The rest of you thinking what I’m thinking?”

Neil felt trapped. The thrilling, comfortable academic space he had inhabited a moment before seemed to suddenly dissolve into a swamp that threatened to swallow him.

Magic. They were talking about magic.

“But the staff in the inscription is Neferneferuaten’s!” he protested. “What does Neferneferuaten have to do with Moses?”

“Do you really not know a proper clue when it’s staring you in the face?” Constance pressed with a note of exasperation. “His ring was in the same box as the inscription. Really—one would think you had never read an adventure novel in your life!”

“I haven’t!” Neil exclaimed, bewildered.

“We can’t know for certain that theyareconnected,” Ellie reasoned firmly. “Not yet. But that’s exactly what we need to find out.”

“The Holy of Holies of the pharaoh Hatshepsut,” Sayyid mused. “That will be her funerary temple at Deir al-Bahari in Luxor.”

“Her?” Constance brightened with interest.

“Hatshepsut was a woman,” Ellie explained. “She claimed the throne after the death of her husband and ruled for nearly twenty years.”

“Her funerary temple has been thoroughly excavated,” Sayyid informed them. “I have never heard of any mention of Neferneferuaten being found there.”

“Then they must have done a good job of hiding it,” Ellie retorted stubbornly.

“Well, then.” Adam pushed back from the bookcase, straightening. “Sounds like we’re going to Luxor.”

Neil’s growing dismay descended into panic. “What?!”

The word came out at a more potent volume than he had strictly intended.