Free Treasured Dreams by Kendall Talbot Page B

fascinating. We have indications here that it’s from the late period, however as it has inscriptions from Ptolemaic Egypt that would place it at a later date.’
    â€˜I’ve never heard of Ptolemaic Egypt.’ Ginger beat Alessandro to the statement.
    â€˜It was a dynasty that started with Ptolemy I Soter who rose to accession after the death of Alexander the Great. Which means this magnificent artefact could date to as far back as 323BC.’
    Ginger whistled. ‘That makes it …’
    â€˜About 2,338 years old.’ Alessandro did the math for her; she’d pointed out many times that math was not one of her strongest talents.
    â€˜Holy shit,’ Ginger squealed.
    Sezoine leant in and glided his gloved finger across the symbols that ran parallel to each other at the top and the bottom of the statue. ‘These symbols I can translate.’ He pointed at what Alessandro thought looked like a large kitchen knife. ‘See this feather?’ Sezoine said. ‘This is I.’ He pointed at the next symbol, a bird. ‘This is watched.’ As he went from symbol to symbol he translated. He stalled, looked up, and eyeballed Alessandro. He then raised one of the bushy eyebrows in a silent question.
    Alessandro put the sentence together. ‘I watched over the building of a splendid boat of 140 cubits in length 60 cubits in breadth to transport.’
    After a momentary pause, Ginger opened her palms. ‘Transport what?’
    The professor lifted his other brow this time, and his eyes gleamed. ‘Gold.’
    Alessandro shared a glance with Ginger and her eyes bulged.
    â€˜The Ptolemy dynasty was noted for its extensive collection of coinage in three metals. Gold, silver and bronze. In particular, they produced large coins of substantial size.’ The professor’s eyebrows thumped together. ‘Aha … here we have a warning.’
    â€˜What kind of warning?’ Alessandro asked.
    â€˜Warning us away from the urn.’
    Ginger put her hands on her hips. ‘But we are going to open it, right?’
    Sezoine flicked his hand. ‘We must proceed with caution.’
    Alessandro tilted his head at the professor. ‘Surely nothing could have survived all these centuries in the ocean.’
    â€˜Quite the contrary. If this has been sealed well enough to prevent water penetrating, then it’s possible some of the mechanisms they used could have survived.’
    â€˜Like what?’ Alessandro asked.
    Sezoine drew his lips into a thin smile. ‘Like mercury.’
    â€˜What would that do?’
    â€˜Mercury is particularly dangerous because at room temperature it vaporises. When that happens, tiny, invisible atoms fill the air.’ He wriggled his fingers in the air as if sprinkling fairy-dust. ‘It is both scentless and soluble in oil, so if it’s inhaled it’s easily absorbed into the body.’ He paused for effect. ‘That would be very bad.’
    Ginger twisted her hands together. ‘How bad?’
    â€˜It would absorb into your lungs first. From there it would enter the bloodstream, and then up to the brain.’
    â€˜Then what?’
    â€˜It can take hours’—he shrugged—‘or possibly weeks for the poison to work its way, but exposure will cause nerve poisoning. Sleep disorders. Paralysis. Death.’ Sezoine actually grinned.
    â€˜Sheez,’ Ginger said. ‘How do we make sure there’s none of that stuff in there?’
    â€˜We open it up and take a peek.’ Sezoine’s grin bordered on crazy.
    â€˜Yeah, right.’
    He nodded. ‘Seriously. But you need to leave the room. I’ll put on the Hazmat gear.’
    â€˜Professor Sezoine,’ Alessandro said, ‘how will you remove the baboon head by yourself? We tried and didn’t get anywhere.’
    His jaw dropped. ‘Thank heavens you didn’t. You could be dying of mercury poisoning right