The splashing subsides and David Gore watches Maki Watanabe clamber out of the crocodile pool. Her hair is dripping wet. She sheaths her katana and limps off into the gloom between the pillars.

David edges closer to the sarcophagus. The aisle is dark and empty, but there is an eerie shuffling in the distance.

The whole pyramid shudders and there is a thundering crash as another block falls from the ceiling.

He can hear the Russian cursing on the other side of the chamber. The puzzle-lock on the artefact case must be proving tougher than expected. David grins and jams his crowbar under the sarcophagus lid.

The lid grates as it slides to one side. Ancient dust puffs out and he coughs and blinks.

A scorpion scuttles up to his boot and he stamps on it quickly. He turns back to the sarcophagus and reaches for the golden statuette inside.

Another crash reverberates through the tomb. The beam of sunlight illuminating the vault suddenly narrows. The frescoed passageway is plunged into shadow. Time is running out.

David fumbles for the figurine in the darkness. He can hear shouts as the other adventurers scramble for the entrance through the fallen stonework. He tucks the statuette into his backpack as the echoes of the last collapse fade away.

There is a low moan behind him. He starts to turn, but a final falling slab blocks out the last of the light.

Mummified fingers wrap around his neck.

(more…)