“You assume much…Grand Vizier,” Amon quietly replied.
I sucked in a tremulous breath. I’d suspected there was more to Osahar Hassan than met the eye, and by the lack of response behind us, I knew that the pronouncement was right. Dr. Hassan had a much bigger role to play than that of simple archaeologist.
Glancing up at Amon, I noticed the tightening of his jaw. He still hadn’t moved, and I wasn’t sure what to do.
“Come, then,” Amon demanded.
A desperate shuffling ensued, and a moment later the older man threw himself at Amon’s feet. The archaeologist lifted his head, his face filled with wonder.
“I knew it!” Dr. Hassan called out, quickly dropping his gaze in a submissive gesture once again. “None of the others believed in the old stories. But I did not doubt. To have you rise in my generation is…it is a blessing beyond hoping for!”
“Is your man Sebak in the order as well?”
“He is, though he joined recently. He will be so happy; they will all be so thrilled!”
“Have you shared your knowledge of my identity with him?”
“No, Master. I did not want to say anything until I was sure.”
Amon took Dr. Hassan’s hand and bid him to stand. “I wish for you to keep this a secret for the time being,” Amon said. “Can you do this?”
“Yes, Great One.”
“First, you must not address me in such a manner. It is too obvious. Please continue to call me Amon.”
“Yes, Mas…I mean, Amon.”
“Very good.” Amon graced the man with a smile, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the hero worship Dr. Hassan was displaying. I glanced at Amon; though he seemed to handle his role of a god who walks among men like it was old hat, I could tell that he was uncomfortable. I wondered if he had always felt like that, or if it was somehow different now.
Sebak crested the dune before we could speak further, and Amon took the arm of Dr. Hassan. He whispered, “Where can we meet with you…alone?”
Dr. Hassan reached into one of his cargo vest pockets and withdrew a business card, flipping it over so he could write on the back.
“Here.” He thrust the card and a set of keys into Amon’s hands. “This is my address in the city. I will be there as soon as I can. But please, go and rest there as long as you like. I have no family, so you will not be bothered. Help yourself to anything you need.”
Nodding, Amon slipped the card and keys in a pocket, waved at Sebak as if nothing was going on, and took my arm purposefully, quickly guiding me away. When we rounded a mountain of sand, I asked quietly, “How did you know?”
“That he was the grand vizier? I knew it from the moment he approached us in the temple.”
“But how?”
“I was unable to control his mind.”
“I wasn’t aware you were trying.”
“Yes. At first I was grateful for his help, but then when I knew you were recovering, I tried to make our escape. He would not hear of it, though I insisted as stridently as I was able.”
“So you knew what he was talking about? You understood all that stuff about Hatshepsut?”
“Do you remember when I told you that we once were honored with feasting and song on the day we awoke?”
“Of course. Wait a minute, do you mean these are the guys who do that?” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder, indicating the men we’d left behind.
Amon nodded. “As far as I know, the Order of the Sphinx is new, but the chief priests, including the grand vizier, have been around for centuries. When I was a prince, our royal family had a vizier. His job was to serve the king. When Anubis took my brothers and me, my father charged the vizier with watching over us, or rather, over our tombs, and a vizier has always done so, no matter what century. The vizier has always been immune to mind control. It was a blessing given by Anubis. For what purpose, I know not.”