Parallel Worlds

Parallel Worlds

John Hunter

Published by John Hunter at Smashwords

ISBN: 978-1-4580-7153-8

Copyright 2011 John Hunter

John Hunter has asserted his rights and moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This novel is a work of fiction. The names, characters and events portrayed in it are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to events or actual persons, living or dead is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved

No part of this ebook publication may be reproduced, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Iraq 2009

Chapter 2 – Timbuktu Mali West Africa

Chapter 3 – The Pyramid

Chapter 4 – Inside the Pyramid

Chapter 5 – The centre of the Pyramid

Chapter 6 – Another time and space dimension

Chapter 7 – New Atlantis

Chapter 8 – The Pyramid of Atlantis

Chapter 9 – The Forum

Chapter 10 – The escape

Chapter 11 – The disappearance

Chapter 12 – Attack over the Atlantic

Chapter 13 – The Pentagon

Chapter 14 – Mandarin Oriental Hotel

Chapter 15 – Arrival in Alaska

Chapter 16 – Ambush

Chapter 17 – H.A.A.R.P. Alaska

Chapter 18 – Death on the highway

Chapter 19 – The Organisation

Chapter 20 – The Hacker

Chapter 21 – Washington DC

Chapter 22 – New World Order

Chapter 23 – Secret research facility near NY

Chapter 24 – The UN General Assembly

Chapter 25 – Justice and Wedding

Chapter 26 – Death and Resurrection

Chapter 1 Iraq 2009

It’s extremely hot and difficult to breathe as desert dust from the operation fills the air. Five large armoured Caterpillar bulldozers driven by a corporal and four young mechanical engineers, on their first overseas posting are stirring up a dust storm. They are working inside the perimeter fence of a new US military supply base, levelling the undulating sand dunes to create a flat area for helicopter landings. The base is in Iraq near the border with Saudi Arabia, just south of Baghdad. In the protection of the air conditioned cab of one of the bulldozers is Hudson, a twenty eight year old private. He confidently manoeuvres the massive machine, adding power as he drives its blade deep into the next dune resembling a nine foot wave. As the blade cuts into the dune, sand slips away revealing a black, two foot diameter pillar rising vertically out of the sand, in that split second the bulldozer strikes the object. A brilliant white flash is followed by silence.

The radio in one of the other bulldozers is answered by ‘Pete’ another young mechanical engineer who acknowledges the call from his corporal,

Pete did you see that flash?

Yeah incredible, what was it?

No idea, possibly ordnance, Hudson was in that sector I’m going over to check it out, you keep working.

In the distance Pete sees the corporal’s bulldozer change direction, heading towards the area where the flash was seen. After fifteen minutes driving through the dust cloud the corporal cautiously stops behind Hudson’s bulldozer. Leaving his engine running, he dismounts and walks round the side of Hudson’s silent machine, opening the cabin door he finds it empty. He stands on the door frame, looking round for Hudson he shouts at the top of his voice.

Hudson, Hudson, Hudson there’s no response.

He pulls himself into the seat then sees the black post in front of the bulldozer noticing immediately that the huge blade has a large chunk missing where it’s touching the post. Now concerned that it could be some sort of unexploded bomb or missile he decides to call his team. Picking up the radio handset in Hudson’s cab he finds it has no power, after checking all the switches he discovers that the bulldozer is electrically dead. Hudson returns to his machine, climbing into the cabin he reaches for his radio which is now picking up background static. He orders the rest of the team to return to base until they find out what’s happened to Hudson. Moving off, he slowly searches around the immediate area for any sign of Hudson, finding none, he heads back to base to report the incident to his superior who can authorise a detailed search of the area.

In a temporary portacabin used as the briefing room the corporal makes his report to the gathered group, Major John Schick his superior, Captain Mike Henderson head of bomb disposal and Lieutenant Mark Johnson the Marines head of security. The corporal describes the bright flash, the fact that there was no sign of Private Hudson, the damage to the blade of the bulldozer and its total lack of electrical power. Captain Henderson asked him to describe the metallic object.

There was about six feet sticking out of the sand, a large black metallic post with a domed top approximately two feet in diameter.

At this point Major Schick takes control, he orders the bomb disposal team to immediately investigate the object then seal off the sector, whilst the security team make a full search of the area to discover the whereabouts of Hudson.

Several hours later the corporal and heads of department return to Major Schick’s office.

Did you find Hudson?

Johnson explains that his squad searched the area thoroughly with helicopter support,

There’s no sign of him, no footprints from his machine, nothing, he seems to have vanished without trace.

Schick turns to Henderson,

Could the explosion have killed him?

There was no sign of any explosion nor any remains of Hudson.

Schick is rattled,

No explosion, then what caused the flash?

We don’t know yet, strangely the only damage to Hudson’s machine was where the blade touched the post, draining all the electricity from the bulldozer. We’ve excavated four metres down into the dune the post seems solid and just continues into the sand, it’s not like anything we’ve come across before. It certainly doesn’t appear to be any kind of bomb or missile and it’s not emitting any radiation, so far we can’t identify the metal it’s made of, except that it’s extremely hard.

Schick cuts him off,

Then what do we know?

Henderson explains,

"We are continuing to excavate the object which is fixed to something deep below the sand, its slow work as we have to shore up the hole to keep the sand back and are working by hand.

Schick asks,

Why can’t you use a machine?

Henderson is getting annoyed,

With respect sir, we’re disposal specialists until we’ve a better idea of what we’re dealing with we need to treat the object as potentially dangerous, that’s why we’re digging by hand.

Schick apologises,

I’ve got the commanding officer breathing down by neck, demanding an explanation and nothing to tell him about this incident, others on the camp saw the flash too. Let me know as soon as you find something.

Johnson cuts in,

What about the search for Hudson, we’ve covered the whole camp area, there’s no way he could have got past the perimeter fences.

Search again, he must be found, I want some answers before the CO calls me back.

Two hours later Schick is sat at his desk studying maps of the camp area when his field phone rings, it’s Henderson,

Major, I think you should come out and have a look at this.

Schick is impatient,

What is it, what have you found?

He waits in silence as Henderson explains,

The post is thirty foot tall, it’s embedded in the top of a stone structure that seems to be pyramid shaped, the deeper we dig the larger it gets. We’ve cleared an area around it to a depth of ninety feet and it goes further, whatever it is, it’s looking to be a very, very large structure.

Is there anything else?

Schick asks pointedly,

Yes sir, the stones round the top have strange hieroglyphics on them and our radios are picking up loads of static, we checked this out, there’s a weak electromagnetic field emanating from around the structure and it’s getting stronger the deeper we go.

There’s a short silence,

Henderson, do you think this is an antiquity or something to do with Saddam Hussein’s military?

From what we’ve seen it looks like an antiquity, the markings remind me of some very old script I’ve seen in Baghdad. I’ve a feeling when it’s fully excavated it will look like one of the Egyptian pyramids, it’s just the electromagnetic field that doesn’t make sense.

I want you to carefully excavate the whole structure, seal the whole area off and personally make sure it’s not damaged in the process. This could be an important find, I’m going to report to the Commanding Officer, it’s his decision what to do next.

Sir, Is there any news about Hudson?

No, the second search has failed to find him but they’re still looking, I’ll let you know if we hear anything, in the meantime get back to the site I’ll come over after my meeting with the CO.

A dust covered Humvee arrives outside the camp headquarters. Schick gets out entering the main building which is another block of temporary portacabin’s stacked onto several floors. Passing through the reception area the administration sergeant announces his arrival to the Commanding Officer, Colonel Jack Thomas,

Major Schick please go right in, the Colonel’s expecting you.

Schick knocks on the door and enters, saluting smartly to his superior officer. Jack Thomas is sat at his desk smoking a cigar.

At ease John, it’s good to see you, take a seat, coffee?

Schick sits down and relaxes

Thanks Jack, a coffee would go down well.

Thomas picks up his phone, a few minutes later the sergeant arrives with two mugs,

Well now let’s get down to this strange business of yours.

Schick explains to Thomas all that’s happened, placing a written report with photographs on the desk in front of him. Thomas leans back in his chair silently puffing on his cigar, after some time he leans forward confirming he understands what’s been said and explains what he’s going to do.

John if this pyramid is important we need to have archaeologists with cryptologists working on it. If, as your team has suggested, it’s emitting some form of electromagnetic field this needs to be reported to the EMF specialists at the National Security Agency, which I’ll do immediately. Until we know more about what this is, it will be classified as Secret, please make your men aware of this.

Thomas leans back puffing on his cigar,

As you well know it’s now our responsibility to protect any important archaeological sites, a task the United States has so far failed to do successfully around Baghdad, where the museums have been plundered and ransacked, I don’t intend to let this happen on my patch, is that clear?

Yes Jack, I’ve already given explicit instructions for the team not to cause any damage during excavation. They’ve sealed off the entire sector.

John until further notice I want a 24 hour marine guard around the site, no one gets in without my specific authorisation, OK.

It’s done already.

Thomas continues,

And what’s happened to the driver, Hudson?

Schick pushes the report towards him,

Jack, it’s in the report, we’ve no idea. There’s no sign of Hudson, no explosion, no tracks, he’s vanished. We’ve searched thoroughly without success, if he’d been injured he could have collapsed in the sand perhaps been buried by the wind, but in that case the infra red on the helicopters would have picked him up. It’s a complete mystery.

Thomas stands up to his full six foot three and ends the meeting, Schick salutes as he turns to leave,

John thanks for the SITREP (Situation Report), keep me up to date with everything that happens, I’ve a strange feeling in my gut that this is only just the beginning.

Schick leaves the headquarters building creating a cloud of dust as he accelerates the Humvee into the desert towards the site. As he gets closer he is surprised by the amount of work that the bulldozers have done in moving a small mountain of sand, creating an enormous crater, in the centre of which sits the top of a large pyramid with a black pillar rising out of its top. As he gets out of the Humvee Henderson comes across to greet him.

Hi John, welcome to the excavation, so far we’ve dug out over five hundred tons of sand and there’s more to go, it just gets bigger as we uncover more layers of stone blocks. Interestingly the stone is highly polished and cut very precisely, the joints are difficult to find fitting perfectly, whoever built this were master craftsman.

Schick is mesmerised by the sight before him,

It already looks as tall as the Giza Pyramid in Egypt.

Henderson shakes his head,

We’ve checked on that, I think it’s going to be taller. The Giza Pyramid was originally 485 feet tall with each side of its base 755.5 feet long covering an area of 13 acres, we’re getting close to that already, so you can imagine how much sand we’ve shifted and there’s more to come. Strangely the disturbance affecting our communications gets worse the more we uncover, at this depth our radios won’t work for up to half a mile from the structure. How was the meeting with Jack Thomas?

Schick brings him up to speed with their discussion explaining that the CO is passing it up the line,

Our orders are to dig the pyramid out completely documenting and photographing as much as possible, then to clear and secure the site until the experts get here.

Chapter 2 Timbuktu, Mali, West Africa

An unmarked, modified desert Sikorsky H60-60G Pave Hawk US Special Forces helicopter stirs up a cloud of sand as it lands on the outskirts of the fabled Malian city of Timbuktu, which is located 15 kilometres north of the River Niger by the edge of the Sahara desert in Mali, West Africa. The door slides open, four armed US marines take up station around the helicopter. A well built man in his late thirties steps down, dressed in jeans and desert combat jacket without badges or markings. He carries a black holster containing a Smith and Wesson Compact automatic on his belt and a document pouch under his arm. Putting on his Rayban sunglasses and desert cap to shield his eyes from the bright sunlight he unzips his document pouch that is stamped with the badge of the NSA. He takes out map, using it to orientate himself with the single storey buildings facing him.

His name is Rick Taylor. He’s a good looking man apart from an old scar on his forehead where a bullet ricocheted off his skull nearly killing him during a covert operation on the Russian border. Rick is a veteran Special Agent of the National Security Agency/Central Security Service. After he left the Navy Seal Teams he studied cryptology at MIT University where he became one of MIT’s top cryptology students. It was his later work with Electromagnetic Fields that attracted the attention of the NSA who recruited him to join their specialist unit. Rick is single but married to his work. His female relationships tend to be very short lived a few weeks at the most, almost as if he’s afraid to make a long term commitment.

He looks across at the impoverished old city with its collection of small plain houses built from local handmade, tan coloured mud bricks that blends them perfectly into the desert. The noise of the helicopter’s arrival has attracted a group of dusty, curious local children. As the helicopters engines shut down the desert silence is deafening. The silence is broken by the sound of a diesel engine as a very dusty white Toyota Land Cruiser appears from one of the narrow streets, heading toward the helicopter. Rick is expecting it and walks over to meet the vehicle. Before the Toyota comes to a complete stop he has the door open. Clambering in he greets the driver, Mohamed, who is a desert Tuareg in traditional loose fitting robes with a blue turban wound round his head veiling part of his face. Rick speaks to him fluently in French instructing him to go to the Ahmed Baba Institute on the Rue de Chemnitz, the Toyota moves off bumping its way across the uneven ground as they skirt round the city.

Timbuktu is currently home to around 32,000 inhabitants, a mix of desert people; Songhay, Tuareg, Fulani and Mandé, most of whom coexist in conditions of simplicity and degrees of poverty. This is in complete contrast to the golden period between the 11th and the 14th Century when the ancient City of Timbuktu had a population of 100,000. Its status originated because of its important strategic position between the Sahara Desert and Niger River. Timbuktu was a wealthy trading post attracting Berber, Arab and Jewish merchants, becoming a great centre of learning for travellers wishing to break their journeys at the intersection of the east-west and north-south Trans Saharan trade routes. The merchants brought gold from the south which they traded for valuable salt from the north.

The Toyota passes several sand coloured domed Nomad tents set up on the outskirts just as they had done for centuries before, with their camels tethered alongside. Mohamed turns into the city, heading down a narrow street towards the centre. On each side of the street most of the ancient brick buildings have single storeys surrounded by low walls, some in better upkeep than others reflecting the level of poverty of their owners. Every now and again they pass a taller white, more modern villa with a predominant parabolic satellite aerial on the roof; these are the homes of the few wealthy people working for non-governmental organisations. The vehicle slows to a walking pace as they come to a crowded street market. The shoppers are more intent on the stalls than traffic. The Toyota is brought to walking pace by a very tall Tuareg sitting astride a tiny donkey that’s ambling slowly along the centre of the street. The rider has his feet stretched out in front of him to keep them from scraping the ground, a comical sight.

The manuscript library of the Ahmed Baba Historic Research Centre is housed in an inconspicuous, traditionally constructed building made from the same mud bricks as the houses, the ancient wooden entrance door looks none too secure. Inside the research centre the walls are lined with shelves, stacked with dusty leather bound manuscripts. In the centre of the main room is a large wooden table, behind it sits Samuel (Sam) Amos an American Doctor, who at thirty five is a highly acclaimed Archaeologist and renowned expert in ancient languages. Since university Sam has been an active member of the gay community. He has worked for various government agencies when they have required expert translations from ancient documents. Sam is sitting with the curator of the research centre, an old friend, Ishmael Haidara who is responsible for cataloguing and documenting the 30,000 manuscripts so far discovered which form an important part of the relatively unknown advanced history of West Africa. Usually the manuscripts have been written in ancient Arabic on fragile yellow parchment imported originally from Europe.

Some of the oldest of these cultural treasures are manuscripts dating back to 1198 most were found buried in the desert or hidden in caves or odd places by local families over the centuries, as they were revered as heirlooms of their ancestry. The manuscripts prove that a comprehensive knowledge of Astronomy, Mathematics, Science, Medicine, Poetry, Music and Law existed in Africa over a thousand years ago. Sam is in Timbuktu at the personal request of his friend Ishmael. He is studying a particularly old and unusual manuscript as unlike the others that Ishmael has studied, it’s not written in Arabic. Ishmael interrupts the silence in the room, which apart from the heat, dust and very basic furniture, is reminiscent of an English reference library,

Have you any idea what this strange language is?

Sam stops working, looks across at Ishmael from over his glasses, smiles then slowly lights a Marlboro cigarette. The smoke drifts lazily up to the ceiling, highlighting the dust in the atmosphere.

Well you’re right it’s certainly not any form of Arabic I’ve ever seen

Ishmael sighs in disappointment,

Then you can’t help me?

Sam draws on his cigarette, smiles again,

I only said it wasn’t Arabic, not that I didn’t know

He pauses for a second to make his friend suffer a little longer.

This manuscript is fascinating, it’s written in very ancient Sanskrit, a language I’ve only seen once before, in the Vedus Scriptures dating from 4000 BC. Sanskrit was the Classical Language of India and Hinduism, where on earth did you find it?

Ishmael is shocked.

It came from a find on the outskirts of the city along with other Arabic manuscripts, can you translate it?

Sam looks at the frail manuscript in front of him.

It will take more time than I have available this trip, unless it’s possible for me to take it back for a few weeks. Providing you’ve something to pack it in that’ll protect the pages, they are very delicate. I’d also be able to accurately date it for you.

In the Toyota Rick and Mohamed take a diversion to avoid the throngs of people around the market, now they’re able to progress a little faster down the narrow streets, passing numerous ancient domed bread-baking ovens that are omnipresent and essential in this city. The bread is baked on the street as it has been for centuries. Their diversion takes them past the Sankore Mosque built in the 15th century which now double’s up as the university complex.

Driving along its walls they pass tall tapering towers built of mud bricks, which because of their height are reinforced with numerous old timbers protruding a few feet out of all the walls.

They arrive at their destination in the centre of the city stopping outside the Ahmed Baba Research Centre. Rick tells Mohamed to stay with the vehicle then enters the building. As his eyes adjust to the dim light he discovers he’s in a small entrance hall, hearing a cough followed by a voice he recognises in the next room, he steps through to see Sam and Ishmael, who being engrossed in their work have not heard him arrive.

Sam Amos, I thought you’d given up smoking.

Sam and Ishmael look up surprised,

Rick, I wasn’t expecting you yet?

Rick introduces himself to Ishmael,

Sam you did get my message?

Sam nods, apologising to Ishmael,

"It looks as if my time is up I’m needed elsewhere, may I take the manuscript with me? Ishmael hands him a flat cardboard box which is tied round with string.

It’s wrapped in protective paper let me know when we can have it back.

Rick checks his watch,

We have to go now.

Sam shakes Ishmael’s hand then kisses him on both cheeks,

Good bye old friend I’ll return the manuscript personally, it would be good to spend more time together.

Rick and Sam leave the Research Centre.

Rick where to now, the airport?

Rick explains he has a Pave Hawk nearby. Sam, is surprised,

How did you get permission for that?

Well I guess one of our clandestine organisations lined the Mali Presidents’ palm with gold, lots of gold.

They get into the hot Toyota, Mohamed starts the engine and moves off, speeding through the streets as quickly as the local traffic allows. Sam lights another cigarette offering one to Rick who refuses.

Rick, tell me why you’ve dragged me away from my work, and exactly where we’re going?

Sam has worked with Rick and the NSA before on specific translation projects that require expert knowledge of archaeology or obscure ancient languages.

Rick tells Sam he’ll brief him once they’re airborne. Twenty minutes later, Rick looks at his watch then calls the Pave Hawk pilot on his radio.

We’ll arrive in five, warm her up, ready to go immediately we’re on board.

The pilot acknowledges,

Affirmative

Five minutes later they’re airborne, Rick starts to relax as the helicopter banks away from the city. Despite there being no smoking on military helicopters Sam lights another cigarette. Looking directly at Rick,

Now how about telling me where we’re going and what this is all about?

Rick explains they’re on their way to Iraq, a location 1,150 miles away as the crow flies, they’ll be refuelled in the air with two stops depending on time. They’re to be part of an expert team called in at the highest level of the NSA to examine an unusual pyramid structure that has been discovered under the desert at a new supply base south of Baghdad.

Why is it unusual and why me?

Rick explains everything he knows about the events leading to the discovery. The unusual electromagnetic fields emitting from the Pyramid, the fact that it was buried completely prevented it ever being picked up by satellites.

Sam we needed you, because apart from the Pyramid, they’ve discovered strange symbols and markings which may give us some clue to its origin or purpose. You for your sins are one of the best experts on ancient languages that the NSA has ever worked with, that’s all I know to date. We’re going to be in this helicopter for at least twenty four hours so I would try and get some sleep, if you can.

Although Sam is used to being called upon at short notice he asks,

Why, if this is so urgent aren’t they flying us by jet?

Rick laughs,

It’s a covert operation they don’t want us too comfortable. This aircraft can get us to our destination without attracting too much attention.

Twenty four hours later the Pave Hawk is arriving at its destination, the Supply Camp. Rick asks the pilot to hover close to the excavation site so that they can see the pyramid from the air, the pilot commences his descent.

As they approach the site Rick and Sam get their first view of the pyramid sitting at the bottom of a very large crater surrounded by sloping walls of desert sand, the engineers have cut a long sloping access road down to what seems to be an entrance. Rick and Sam are glued to the windows.

Rick, it’s massive, much larger than other pyramids I’ve seen, it looks to be of a different construction the stone looks like glass, that mast at the top is weird too, I can’t wait to get down there.

Rick is equally awed by the sight before them, but is suddenly distracted as his headphones crackle, the pilot’s urgent voice instructs them.

Strap in, emergency positions we’re going down.

The helicopter seems to hesitate for a moment then banks away from the pyramid obviously in trouble. It commences an emergency decent, auto gyrating onto the desert floor without engine power. The pilot flares the aircraft just before they hit the ground, landing harder than usual. Rick and Sam are more than a little shaken. After taking off their headsets they go up to the cabin to find out what happened. The pilot is busy checking his instruments.

We just lost all electrical power, here look at this.

He points to his weather instruments,

Somehow we just passed through a large electromagnetic disturbance, but from where?

A Humvee skids to a halt beside the helicopter which has force landed some distance from the site. Henderson races over to the helicopter as the door opens with Rick and Sam at the top of the step.

You guys all OK, we thought you were goners.

Henderson introduces himself,

Captain Mike Henderson, we tried to warn you to stay further away but our radios are not working at close proximity since we completed the excavation, the signal from the pyramid has become so strong that none of our communications function for up to a mile.

Rick and Sam are coming to terms with the intense heat it’s like stepping into an oven.

They introduce themselves to Henderson who offers to take them over to the pyramid. A recovery team is organised to collect the helicopter. Rick explains he has orders to take command of the project asking Mike if anyone else has arrived.

Yeah an English lady, Professor Joanne Simons arrived yesterday, since then she’s been taking measurements around the pyramid, strange women, doesn’t seem to like men around her but very professional certainly knows what she’s doing. We’ve set up an office and accommodation for you on site, we thought you’d prefer to be nearby, it’s only portacabin’s but they do have aircon.

Rick thanks him and asks how the aircon was possible with the electrical interference.

Mike smiles,

That was the easy job, we located the generator outside the zone of disturbance then ran shielded cables into the site we’ll supply you with anything else you need. I’ll also be nearby for any assistance you may require. My priority at the moment is finding a way of getting our comms working.

Rick thanks Mike for the phenomenal excavation task his team has accomplished and setting up their facilities. The four marines from the helicopter transfer Rick and Sam’s bags into the back of the Humvee then Henderson drives them to the site. The pilot and crew head off in another vehicle towards the supply camp.

Chapter 3 The Pyramid

It’s now late afternoon as they drive down the long ramp into the crater stopping outside the portacabin’s which are in the shadow of the great pyramid. Getting out of the vehicle they are intimidated by the majesty and sheer size of the structure towering above them, its polished blocks reflect the sunlight like mirrors. Sam is entranced by a strange feeling that has overcome him as he walks over to examine the base blocks. In almost disbelief he runs his hand over the smooth surface which is more like glass than rock. A woman’s voice calls to him breaking his concentration.

Dr Amos, it is magnificent isn’t it.

He turns to see a tall blonde striding towards him from the portacabin,

Sam it’s good to see you. Welcome to the great discovery,

She shakes his hand,

Jo, it’s great to see you again it must’ve been seven years ago, in Cairo if I remember correctly.

Joanne smiles as she recalls then looks serious,

You were preoccupied with pyramids I’m surprised you remembered me.

Jo, once met you are never forgotten, I heard on the grapevine something happened to you in Cairo after I left, you seemed to disappear for a couple of years, what was it?

Jo looks down at the sand,

Sam, it’s not something I can talk about yet, not even to you,

Sam respects Jo’s privacy and returns to studying the base blocks.

Professor Joanne Simons (Jo to her friends) is forty years old and a leading Egyptologist, her particular speciality is her extensive knowledge of pyramids, her work over many years has taken her to some of the most inhospitable places in the world, including Egypt, Mexico, South America, Europe, and to almost everywhere pyramids have been found. She has a natural authority combined with a practical, independent and confident manner. With many years spent in hot climates Jo has developed a deep natural tan which highlights her blonde hair, her good looks are emphasised by the loose fitting safari style jacket and trousers which hang over her physically fit body.

Rick comes over. Sam introduces him to Jo who is fascinated to hear that his speciality is electromagnetic fields in addition to cryptology, as she too has encountered EMF’s in Egyptian Tombs.

Jo invites them to have coffee and a snack so that she can brief them on what she has discovered in the last 24 hours. Rick and Sam are starving.

Jo food first, we’ve not eaten for some time and the coffee in the helicopter was crap.

They follow her into the first sand coloured portacabin which is the office area and are hit by the most wonderful smell of fresh percolated coffee. Jo places a coffee pot on the table in front of them.

This is the priority, I’ll show you round once your caffeine levels are higher, that was a remarkable entrance you made. We saw you go down, I was about to call Washington for some new assistants.

Laughing, they sit down at the table which is covered with sketches of the pyramid and photographs of various aspects of it. Whilst drinking their coffee Sam offers round his cigarettes they all take one. Sam is surprised glancing at Rick,

It’s a relief to know I’m at last in good smoking company, as I’m sure we’re going to end up in some pretty confined spaces together, apart from this cabin.

The portacabin’s office area is already well organised with three desks, a large board table around which they are sitting, powerful laptop computers, scanners, printers and a large array of more specialised equipment, including an oscilloscope. Jo suggests she shows them round their accommodation so that they can freshen up before discussing the pyramid. They follow her to their small individual rooms which have just enough space for a single bed, tiny sink and a grey metal wardrobe for clothes. Then to the rest area, which is a small kitchen with basic equipment, a large fridge and dining table with four chairs. The toilets and shower are through a door into the adjoining portacabin. After dumping their gear and taking a quick shower Rick and Sam make their way back into the office, on the table there are three plates loaded with sandwiches and three cold beers. Rick and Sam snap