On 18 June 1940 the new Prime Minister Winston Churchill delivers a speech to the Commons. The Dunkirk evacuations followed by the surrender of Belgium, Norway and the fall of Paris have prompted a rallying call to the British people and its Commonwealth. Also, Churchill seeks to make clear that the whole world is threatened by Nazi aggression, including the United States. His greatest fear is that Britain will stand alone.
"What General Weygand called the Battle of France is over. I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilization. upon it depends our own British life and the long continuity of our institutions and our Empire. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be turned on us now. Hitler knows that he will have to break us in this island or lose the war. If we can stand up to him, all Europe may be free and the life of the world may move forward into broad, sunlit uplands. But if we fail, then the whole world, including the United States, including all that we have known and cared for, will sink into the abyss of a new Dark Age, made more sinister, and perhaps more protracted, by the lights of perverted science. Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duties, and so bear ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say, "This was their finest hour."
The sun is high over an excavation site in Egypt, typified by a small pyramid in the background. A runner boy arrives, breathless, at the main tent. "Professor! The men have uncovered a new room, they are afraid to enter!"
A stumbling student and a pretty woman follow the Archaeologist out of the tent and into the temple a few hundred yards away. They move through the main chamber where electric lights are set up, giving dim illumination to the ancient scene.
At the far end of the complex, already deep under the desert sands, an opening has been formed between two pillars in the main hall which was supposed to be a solid wall. It leads into a corridor angling downward. Professor Coleman takes a lantern and descends with his assistant and the heiress.
Yellow light shines over ancient hieroglyphs from the old kingdom. This is a fifth dynasty tomb, that of Unas:
Living On Utterances of Fire From The Lake Of Flame Unas, That Devoureth Men and Liveth on The Gods
Overlooking the tomb there is a pedestal with a jet black cat sitting in silent vigil. The emerald eyes seem to gleam in the lantern light. There are a few urns around and a chest of gold. The stuttering student excitedly examines it to dream of the treasure inside. The feline statue watches. Then in the flickering light the animal seems to hiss as there are gunshots outside and a body falls down the stairs leading from the corridor into the tomb.
Uniformed men run passed as Colonel Hoffman appears in the doorway. "Good morning Herr Coleman". His look is stoic.
Scene 1: Airfield, South of London
The men stand around, solemnly discussing the news in the last few days that Norway has surrendered and Italy has entered the war (building up reserves in North Africa). Also Paris has fallen and it is only a matter of time until all of France is under German control, occupied or otherwise.
Smith is there, croaky voiced but otherwise fit and discharged from hospital. In the intervening period following the Whitby incident, Wotek and Jachowitz have brought in the girl after Roseby assured them he had no knowledge of what the doctor (now dead) intended to do. She will go into proper foster care in Gloucester. They will be able to visit her whenever they want. Of course, because there is no doubt her powers are important, she will also be monitored by specialists; but she will not be treated as in the Sanatorium again. Smith discusses this sheepishly with the Poles as it was he that brokered the deal with their Captain, in an effort to avoid a Court Marshal. During their discussions it became clear that Roseby was truly not aware of the conditions at the hospital and, in fact, when he found out he wished to distance himself from it.
Roseby appears with a new man in tow, tall and Nordic. He explains that he must remain with Crowley and so cannot go with them today. The only information to hand is that there may be artefacts of interest to the Nazis in Thebes which corresponds with Crowley's ramblings. They should gather information in the local area, awaiting any further secrets that are prised from Crowley's mind.
The Captain informs them that Dr. Hall had learned much from Crowley over the last few years but a full report had never been submitted to Command. However, what Roseby had been told in his visit was of Crowley's obsession with Egyptian myth and legend, which went far beyond the ramblings he had published as the book of Thelema in his relative youth.
Crowley's mind has been influenced and corrupted by more sinister motives. He was convinced that important artefacts were to be found in the land of the Nile which could shape his "new Aeon for Mankind" (a reference he made numerous times in earlier writings as he presumed to be a prophet).
Something which was mentioned by the Doctor, almost off-hand, was a procedure for "harvesting fear" that Hall hypothesised may be connected with extracting cortisol from terrified victims `- an inevitable result or purpose of human sacrifice in some ancient cults. Hall did not go into details and, being mostly academic in his approach, did not necessarily believe what Crowley had to say, but documented everything. The research connected with fear collection came from Crowley's time in Thebes and Memphis.
Roseby had received a ministerial brief some months ago that speculated Hitler was fascinated by the occult and, in particular, may have interest in Egypt and what it had to offer in terms of spiritual weapons. Pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place....Roseby was aware of the cortisol extraction device that had been encountered not once, but twice (Hall by contrast would, of course, not be aware of this). There was real merit in investigating burial sites and the ancient lore of North Africa because there was evidence that at least some of the myths are real!
While in Whitby, and uncomfortable with what he found in the hospital, it seemed important to return to London and put together a committee on the matter. In the last few days the urgency has accelerated since Italy entered the War in support of Nazi Germany and holds strategic positions in Libya which could be used as a springboard for overrunning Egypt. Any secret texts or devices to be discovered in Thebes or anywhere else would be lost to the Nazis.
The new man standing by Roseby and intended to accompany them is Hans Jenson, a proven soldier recently extracted from Norway.
The plane takes off but must refuel in Gibraltar, where a radio message is received from Roseby. Essentially the Captain has learned that there is a British dig underway in Saqqara (40 km South of Cairo and much closer than Thebes) lead by a Professor Stephen Coleman. When Crowley is questioned he is unusually guarded, mumbling something about "Imhotep's apprentice". Roseby is convinced that this is more important in the short term, than the secrets that Thebes has to offer. The unit is to be re-directed to Cairo. There he has arranged for a guide who is familiar with the excavation, a local called Muhammed (Ham) Al Anwar, to meet them and drive them to the site. If absolutely necessary local Army support may be available in a few days but, obviously, it is better to keep the nature of this expedition secret for the time being. The Ministry does not want to draw attention to the area.
As planned, a tall mid-20s Egyptian meets them at the sandy airfield. He introduces himself in a jovial manner. A number of children move to carry their baggage to a waiting truck, but Wordsworth particularly is hesitant to let any belongings out of his site.
The transport is an old British Army issue transport with a rear deck covered by a homemade canvas shroud. Wordsworth travels with Ham in the cab. There is adequate, if not luxurious, room for the others in the back.
It is mid afternoon and the sun is merciless. Wordsworth, being sensitive to the heat is being fanned by the Egyptian as he drives down the rough road, approximately following the Nile Southwards. In the rear the other men talk and play cards. Jenson tries to fit in but is quiet. Hunter takes some sun next to the open canvas flap. The scar on his chest is still red and angry, but has improved in the last few weeks. Bainbridge talks to Wordsworth through the broken window to the cab.
Ham does not know much about the dig but knows some men that work there. He has been involved with transporting supplies from Cairo for Coleman whom he believes to be a fair man.
The truck winds its way into a valley, at last causing some welcome shade from the sun....until a rocket propelled grenade slams into the rock directly in front of the vehicle's bonnet. In the back the seasoned soldiers instantly spring to action, having spent some time cleaning their weapons on the journey. Except Hunter who was dozing in the rear, half naked. Smith is about to disembark when Dragomir pulls him back in and the truck lurches forward and scrambles over rubble now covering the narrow road. Unfortunately a second rocket brings down enough debris to block the exit and shots begin to pepper the truck.
The men in the rear do not wait for a third fatal rocket and jump out of the truck. Wordsworth is trying to round them up as Ham floors it in reverse and attempts a 7 point turn to execute an escape. Bainbridge remains pinned to the deck covering his head.
Meanwhile Dragomir beckons them into a cave, out of immediate danger. As the truck is successfully turning Jachowitz looks up to see an explosion from above, presumably indicating a failed rocket launch. Ham, assuming that the men are still in the rear with Wordsworth manoeuvres the vehicle at top speed into the open.
The unit is now trapped in the cave. Wordsworth is yelling at the men, questioning why they all deserted their only means of escape. "We have to move as a team, not spread ourselves all around the country! Follow your orders and do what I say! Now.....what do we do?"
Hunter, brushing off the dust and pulling on his shirt, begins to suggest a plan of action. They need to act quickly to avoid being smoked out by grenades. Dragomir, in the familiar mode of self preservation, explores the rear of the cave in the dark. By the limited light he can produce from a lighter he finds a passage leading upwards. It has smooth walls but is not high enough to stand in.
Outside, Bainbridge has yelled to Ham to stop. "We have to go back!" After a short deliberation they head for a rough track leading onto the ridge. Already they can see some men, presumably bandits, making their way toward the cave. Yet more men are coming from a distance up the valley. There is maybe a dozen in total. Ham's foot is flat on the accelerator and the truck tramples a man frantically trying to assemble another rocket launcher. The rocket ends up being embedded in the grill.
Bainbridge makes several precise shots with his service revolver and men fall. Unfortunately, Ham's swerve to run over the bandit puts the machine out of control and it veers to the edge of the ridge. He regains control but a stray bullet then punctures the left front tire. He has just enough time to reach a rudimentary horse track angling down into the valley. Almost impossibly the truck stays upright as it skids and careens down the side of the hill but comes to an abrupt halt as it smashes into the other side of the road, a solid rock wall.
Back at the cave, Hunter has run to a position behind the first pile of rubble but is unable to bring any men down on the west hillside of the valley. His gun has jammed with sand. Wordsworth steps out with a grenade and, with bullets ricocheting all around, hurls the bomb toward a group of Arabs approaching from the East. It explodes in the middle of them sending all scattering. Smith and Jenson have dispatched others from the West side.
At the truck, Bainbridge sees a further half dozen men yelling war cries and running toward them. Having reloaded his pistol he empties all chambers, bringing down two.
Ham is out of the cab and grabbing the live grenade still embedded in the grill, carefully avoiding aggravating its head. He pulls Bainbridge from the deck as shots fly over his head and lobs the rocket in the air so that it falls on the bonnet as the bandits arrive. The cab erupts in flame and the remaining ambushers are incinerated.
Taking stock, Dragomir has located some supplies in the cave and, as the others assess the situation, returns to the group with camels from a corral on the other side of the ridge. Ham explains that the dig site is not actually far away, possibly half an hour on camel back.
Hunter is first over the hill revealing a gentle slope down to the camp. The others follow and they are all within sight of the ancient ruins when shots ring out; automatic fire, peppering the ground.
Hunter dismounts and without a further thought shoots his loyal camel, a beast that only ever wanted to serve its new master faithfully, to create natural cover. He returns fire.
Wordsworth attempts to dismount but gets caught in a stirrup. He falls hard onto the sand but, being in the open, returns fire in any event. A miraculous shot takes a man, standing in the entrance to the main temple, in the head. The soldier slumps back into the darkness.
Meanwhile, Ham has rallied Smith and Jenson on their camels and they charge the tent from whence further gunfire is erupting. The canvas shelter collapses under the trampling hooves.
In the next moments they survey the camp to find it generally deserted. The two gunmen appear to have been left behind to lay charges and demolish the area. Wires lead into the temple and beyond. Heavy vehicle tracks are relatively fresh `- perhaps several hours old. A small utility vehicle is found under a tarpaulin.
Ham is devastated to find his friend, the foreman for the excavation, tortured to death in the main tent. His is the only body found. It appears the rest of the workers have fled.
There is a generator that Jachowitz starts up to power electric lighting within the temple. After disarming the explosives they enter, leaving Jenson on guard outside.
The interior is well preserved. This is the tomb of a King with a grand hall erected to the glory of Egypt's ancient gods, now extinct. It is a sizeable complex and the party walks through a number of different chambers, moving deeper underground. Wotek has the uncomfortable feeling of being watched.
Back in London, under Roseby's close watch, Crowley seems to go into some kind of trance.
Unas Hath Taken Possession of the Hearts of the Gods Unas Feedeth on their Entrails He Hath gorged on their Unuttered Sacred Words He Hath Assimilated the Wisdom of the Gods His Existence is Everlasting
The electric lighting ends at a hole in the wall between two pillars. It opens to a corridor descending into the darkness.
Makeshift torches are quickly assembled to compliment the kerosene lamp they have found. Hunter is first into the abyss. Jachowitz brings up the rear.
After fifty yards or so the corridor arrives at some stairs and opens into a burial chamber.
Behold The Souls of the Gods are in Unas Their Spirits are In Unas The Flame of Unas in Their Bones Their Shadows are With their Forms Unas is Rising Hidden Hidden
There is a large stone slab in the centre of the circular room. Animal headed human effigies support pillars to the ceiling ornately carved with representations of the exploits of Unas, Slayer of the Gods. High vents can be seen but not easily reached. Overlooking the stone slab is a pedestal where dust is disturbed on its platform. Other scuffs and blood on the ground indicate someone has been in the room relatively recently.
Dragomir, withdraws and examines the walls. Chills run down his spine at the images woven into ancient words. A wolf catches his eye.
Outside in the bright sunlight Jenson finishes a cigarette. He stubs it out against the stone and, hearing a scraping behind him, swings around. The electric light inside the entrance hall has gone out and he has to peer through the doorway to let his eyes adjust. A pair of ragged arms dart outwards, gripping the man's shoulders and pulling him into the black. The briefest of shrieks is silenced immediately.
Smith, at one side of the burial chamber, looks back on the scene, and says"I think that whatever happened here; we missed it." The last word is barely out of his mouth when a blurred figure pounces from a platform near the ceiling. A half mad woman with dishevelled blond hair shrieks as several of the men move in to subdue her. Hunters hand hovers over his holster.
After a few minutes the wide-eyed heiress calms down, taking some water gratefully. "They killed the Professor and Nicholas!" she begins to tremble.
"What is this place?!" Wordsworth demands.
"The tomb of Unas....but it is more than that...." She seems to be looking past Jachowitz who looks over his shoulder to see a figure a distance up the corridor. He can barely make it out in the dim light from the other end, but it is running, and a few further shapes have appeared behind it, accompanied by dull thuds in the Earth.
"The explosives are going off!" Identifying the now howling body as foe rather than friend, he begins firing. It does not stop.
The others form a defensive line as Hunter casually says, "No problem, just keep them in the pipeline and mow them down." However, the comment is premature as Bainbridge swings around to find a grotesque human face behind him. He begins shooting, emptying a clip into its face. The creature, with barely a head on its shoulders, still attempts to move forward. Wotek spots another and yells, "they're over there!" It drops from one of the vents. Shots ring out, fired randomly by the attacking force.
Dragomir grabs the woman and tries to keep her safe, while frantically trying to find an exit. She whispers the words from a set of hieroglyphs at the far wall, "Kagemni, Magician of the God Slayer, waiting for a return from the black halls. Blood will open the way." There is a hand shape in the centre of the symbols. The gypsy sees no other option but to try it. He pushes, with a straight force, single handedly. The stone moves outward.
The soldiers are being encircled and forced back toward Dragomir's escape route. The absent stone is wide but only the upper half of a man in height and Dragomir has to clamber into the portal, pulling the woman after him. They are running out of bullets. Wotek has no shots left in his semi-automatic and launches for the exit, thinking of Illiana's face and a will to survive.
The others follow. Smith beckons for Hunter; both have been hit by stray rounds. Jachowitz has managed a relatively ordered retreat but now finds himself alone, holding off the woken dead. At his foot he sees an explosive charge and looks back. "Throw me a torch!!"
Wordsworth, having to avoid hitting Hunter, tosses a flaming brand that catches an edge as it flies through the opening. It comes down on kerosene from the lantern, smashed in the chaos. Flames flare up, isolating Jachowitz. A zombie crashes past into the fire and roars. Smith forces a gun barrel into its steaming mouth and pulls the trigger.
There is no time. Wordsworth meets Jachowitz's stare as he turns, shouting, "Get out of here! Run!!" A few more shots go off as a monster clasps his arm. With the other arm he reaches for the bag of explosives and hurls them into the fire.
Unas's tomb crumbles and a blast of air and heat throws those running down the adjoining corridor to the ground. Hunter is helped up by Ham in a new chamber. It is deeper, smaller but with a similar layout to the last.
The woman, now introduced as Selena, reads from the wall with the one remaining torch. "In the land of the dead Unas met Arcturus who is yet to be, descended from the great worm; his line will be strength. He was attended by twelve doves that carried his round shield. Beating a drum made from the heart of Ra."
The mood is sombre. They are trapped again. The single brand begins to flutter in Ham's hand, "this place was not meant to be found. You do not understand the ancient magic of my people!".
Smith and Wotek attempt to push the stone lid off the tomb. "We need light; Mummies will burn!" Smith says. Ham looks horrified. They are unable to move the lid so Dragomir joins and it shifts easily.
Inside the sarcophagus a withered body grips an ankh; but there is little time to examine the staff as a block falls out of the far wall, followed by a rush of water.
"I was not expecting that, we're in a desert!" Hunter exclaims, cursing their luck. The deluge fills the chamber quickly and the water level is soon at their necks, forcing them to scramble for air. Bainbridge holds the torch high; it's failing light bouncing off symbols on the walls. As it sputters its last the gypsy notices small eddies whirling against the back wall `- possibly a sign of some water leaking out of the tomb.
Without thinking further Dragomir dives down and picks up the impossibly heavy coffin lid and charges for the solid stone. He crashes once, twice and then it gives way creating a sideways sink-hole just as the last of the unit submerge under the flood.
Gasping air when they can, each man and the woman are carried down a long smooth walled tube leading away from the Temple complex. After possibly a mile of descent they are dumped unceremoniously into an open area. Eyes now adjusted to the pitch blackness, a small stream of moonlight illuminates enough of the surroundings that Dragomir can recognise it as the cave in which they took shelter from the bandits earlier in the day.
Alone, Wotek stumbles into the open and clutches his head; falling to his knees. As he descends there is the shadow of a cloaked figure in the cave mouth, watching; but only the gypsy has seen it.
A scream rings in Wotek's waking nightmare. Somewhere else, beside him there is a bloodied body. A man says in Polish, "you have proved quite elusive young lady but in the end we would always find you." There is a smaller man behind him in an ill fitting coat and spectacles. "Don't be frightened. We need you in Katyn forest where the true potential of the Third Reich will be demonstrated. If you are a good girl you will know power beyond anything you could dream!" A bag then covers Iliana's head and darkness follows.
Wotek is carried into the cave. Smith manages to start a fire and they spend the night. There are sufficient supplies hidden in the shelter such that they can pull together a meagre meal. They pass around a cup of strong bootleg alcohol in honour of their fallen comrade Jachowitz.
