Free Snyder, Zilpha Keatley by The Egypt Game [txt] Page A

their picture, and when they finally got away and rushed down the stairs the big group of Trick-or-Treaters had completely disappeared.
    There they were, all alone on the dimly lit sidewalk and it was suddenly very quiet. They ran down
    the block to the corner where they could look all four ways, but still there wasn’t a person in sight. They were still just standing there looking around and wondering what to do, when suddenly Melanie pointed at the horizon. “Look,” she said. “A shooting star!”
    “A shooting star!” Everybody repeated it in whispered unison as if they’d been rehearsed. Then everybody looked at April. She nodded. “The secret omen,” she said slowly, making every syllable heavy with significance. Marshall started turning around and around, smelling the air.
    Looking around one last time to be sure no one was watching, the girls grabbed Marshall out of his tailspin and started down the sidewalk in the direction that they had come. They scurried down two blocks without seeing a soul, turned the corner, and a moment later ducked into the alley that led to Egypt.
    If the secret and mysterious land of Egypt was fascinating in the daytime, it was doubly so at night. Dimly lit by a distant street light, two flashlights, and a jack-o-lantern, it was almost too fascinating to bear. April told everyone to wait just inside the fence while she tiptoed forward and lit the cone of incense on the altar of Set and the two candles that stood before the goddess Isis. Then she motioned everyone forward.
    “The Great Ceremony of the Celebration of the Return to Egypt has begun!” she chanted, and all four Egyptians prostrated themselves before the egg crate and the bird bath.
    APRIL AND MELANIE ROSE TO THEIR KNEES FROM their deep bows before the double altars of Egypt. Over the heads of Elizabeth and Marshall they exchanged a glance that said, “Okay. What’s next?” Melanie reached over absently to help Marshall with his pharoah’s crown, which had slipped down over his eyes while he was touching his forehead to the floor. Suddenly her eyes lit up with an “I have it” expression. She gave the crown a final tug down over Marshall’s ears and turned to face the altar of Set. She raised her arms and April quickly followed suit.
    “The gods are angry at us for being gone so long,” she chanted.
    “The gods are angry,” April repeated. A quick glare at Elizabeth and Marshall got them going.
    “The gods are angry,” they parroted.
    Melanie nodded and continued with her inspiration. “The gods demand that we make a sacrifice so that we may be forgiven.” She looked over at April, and April nodded delightedly.
    “The gods demand that we make a horrible and bloody sacrifice,” April took up Melanie’s theme with relish.
    “A horrible and bloody sacrifice,” Melanie agreed.
    “A horrible and bloody sacrifice,” Marshall and Elizabeth repeated dutifully, but Elizabeth’s voice quavered a little and Marshall leaned over and poked his sister.
    “What sort of bloody?” he demanded in a whisper.
    But now April was off and away, and Melanie was following. “The gods will tell us what the sacrifice must be,” April said. “We must approach the altar one at a time and touch the Crocodile Stone, the sacred symbol of Set. We must touch the sacred symbol of Set and wait for a message about the sacrifice. Then we will decide whose message is the best.”
    April went first. She approached the egg crate using the correct Egyptian walk, which was done by walking with your shoulders sideways, arms held out from the body and bent sharply at the wrist. In front of the altar she bowed deeply with her head tucked between her upraised arms, and then placed her finger tips on the Crocodile Stone. She stood for a minute with her face turned upward. Melanie poked the
    other kids and motioned for them to watch closely.
    When April stalked back to them looking wildly secretive, Melanie walked up to the altar and