Grunting with effort, Prong airlifted the chunky stone Bab up the sloping pot corridor and carefully squeezed through the entry brick.

SPLOODGE.

The ibis dumped Bab onto the outer platform, high up the side of the Great Pyramid. “You’re so heavy,” Prong panted, collapsing. “I need to hit the Camel Mummies’ gym.”

The fresh night air felt amazing in Bab’s rocky nostrils. But he noticed something strange about the sky.

Richard’s painted eyes widened as he looked up. He hadn’t seen beyond the Void’s walls for six long years. “I’d forgotten how beautiful Egypt is,” he said in awe. “I was hoping to see some stars, but those dark, threatening clouds are choice enough.”

Bab’s stones shivered from head to toe. It was eerie seeing storm clouds in an Egyptian sky. The night was not itself.

“It’s also nice to be able to move around a bit,” Richard said cheerily. “Look, son, now that I’m on your tummy I can stretch!”

Bab’s dad did a couple of lunges, then star-jumped along the width of Bab’s stone tummy. His footsteps felt like someone walking their fingers across Bab’s skin.

Bab chuckled. I’m so glad Dad’s finally free! Well, sort of free, anyhow.

Scanning the cool night air, Bab’s rocky eyes spotted dim torch lights patrolling the base of the pyramid, far below.

“Prong,” he whispered, “we need to keep the Beard on your beak. If you fly anywhere near one of the guards, it might attach itself to them. You have to steer well clear of anyone smarter than you – basically anyone who can think.”

Prong sat up, still panting. She patted the Beard on the tip of her beak. “Don’t worry, Mr Beard, I’ll protect you.”

“Now,” said Bab, standing. “We need to work out where Cainus took Scaler.”

“That lovely Donut also got sucked down the vacuum flap,” said Prong. “Ohhh, it was a terrible afternoon, losing the two bestest friends I ever had.”

“Scaler said that flap led to the Tomb of the Jackals.”

“Clever jackals,” Prong honked. “They built their home on top of the Mumphis dump.”

“That’s it!” Bab hissed. “Cainus never planned to put Scaler in the Void. He just wanted to trap me. He’s Donut – and Scaler’s still in his tomb! Now, how do we get there without anyone claiming the Beard from you, Prong?”

“I could fly you if I was fit,” she honked sadly.

“So that’s out. And the Beard can’t fly at all, so . . .”

Richard raised a painted hand. “Perhaps a super-long conveyor belt would work, son?” he suggested. “One that moves high in the sky, away from prying eyes and intelligent chins?”

“I dunno, Dad,” Bab sighed. “The Beard doesn’t like stretching very far. I was in bed once and asked it to stretch out and get me a snack from the kitchen, but it only grew about three metres.”

“The Beard works differently on an Animal Mummy,” Richard said. “Worth a try, isn’t it?”

Prong puffed out her bony chest. “I’m sure if I ask Mr Beard nicely, he’ll do as he’s told. Ahem, Mr Beard, please turn into –”

“Make your command nice and simple,” Bab interrupted, “maybe that’ll help. It might even stop it vibrating so much.”

Prong nodded. “Mr Beard, turn into a really high-up conveyor belt that leads all the way to the Tomb of the Jackals. Please.”

SWIKK-A-SWISH!

Bab couldn’t believe it. The Beard spun into a long hairy snake and twirled up into the sky, forming a vast, hairy path over the desert. Far ahead, the tip of the Beard vanished into the clouds above.

The surface hairs moved along like a very slow treadmill.

Prong hopped on. “It works!” she crowed. “It only vibrates a little. Feels like a nice talon massage as I walk. Let’s go and save Donut!”

Prong bounded along the moving hairs. The roots of the Beard connected to her beak the way a safety line connects to your belt.

“Nice one, Prong,” said Bab. “It’s a Beard Travelator. You’re better at commanding the Beard than I am!”

Bab felt so proud of his friend. He was sure she was the sweetest Pharaoh Mumphis had ever had.

He just hoped Scaler was okay.

Bab heaved his heavy stone boots onto the hairy travelator. He swayed perilously as he walked along its sloping surface, and put his rocky arms out for balance.

Whoa, I better not rush this. I feel like I’ve just eaten ten Christmas lunches. Every step is like lifting a sack of beans with my big toe.

“You can do this, Bab,” his dad reassured him with his toothy grin. “You don’t even need to walk. Just stand still and the Beard will move us along. Going slow will give us a chance to catch up, anyway. Maybe you can explain how on earth you got involved with these Animal Mummies?”

Bab felt stronger knowing his dad was there. He planted his feet firmly on the Beard Travelator and let it carry him upwards into the troubled sky.