“The Ancient Egyptians were not fools, Carter. They built the pyramids. They created the first great nation state. Their civilization lasted thousands of years.”“Yeah,” I said. “And now they’re gone.”

“A legacy that powerful does not disappear. Next to the Egyptians, the Greeks and Romans were babies. Our modern nations like Great Britain and America? Blinks of an eye...The very oldest root of civilization, at least of Western civilization, is Egypt. Look at the pyramid on the dollar bill. Look at the Washington Monument—the world’s largest Egyptian obelisk. Egypt is still.......very much alive.”

“Set screamed something in Ancient Egyptian. I was fairly sure it wasn’t a compliment.“I will rend your limbs from their sockets!” he shouted. “I will—”“Die?” Carter suggested.”

“You want to know how Egyptians pulled the brains out of mummies. or built the pyramids, or cursed King Tut's tomb? My dad's your man.”

“I’ll distract them,” Carter said. “You search. The Trophy room is through there.”“Carter!”But the fool ran off to protect me. I hate when he does that.”

“I found that things weren't going well upstairs. Carter was a crumpled heap of chicken warrior on the slope of the pyramid.”

“Why are they so sad?” I asked.“Well, they’re dead,” Carter speculated.”