“It’s the power of the Void, Bab,” said the Prof through her camel lips. “I don’t merely absorb people’s ka. I can sometimes borrow their appearance, too. That’s how I found the springy-haired face, you know. Mind you, the Void’s now forcing me to look like a camel, which I’m less happy with.”

“I guess it’s malfunctioning,” Bab said. “And you’re linked to it.”

Bab found himself shaking all over. He was suddenly angry with everyone – with Osiris, with his dad for keeping secrets, with his mum for building the Void. Why did she have to make something so terrible?

But then he remembered living his mum’s life, and he understood exactly why. “Whatever happens, Mum and Dad,” he said, “I want you to know I understand. You both did whatever you could to make things better.”

I know who I’m really angry with, he realised. I’m angry with the Unpharaoh. Everything goes back to her. If only –

BLUNK!

A pot smashed against Bab’s stony head. The cranky pyramid was spewing out pots from its tip.

“Ow!” said Bab. “Are they yours too, Mum?”

“Oh dear, my lovely pots,” said the Prof, dodging one. “Ever since my sister hid my mummified brain chunk in a pot, I keep all the unbroken ones I find and store them in the hallway. That way I know which ones I’ve checked. Ooh, HAHA-HEEHEE! What is that? Haha! Something’s tickling my legs!”

Bab spotted a bandaged thing flopping about at his mum’s feet. It was Scaler’s tail fin, poking from the sand.

WHUMPF!

The Prof was flung aside as Scaler burst out of the ground. “Hold it right there, Secret Sister,” the Fish Mummy said. “Or should I say Secret Camel?”

WHUMPF!

Beside Scaler, a spluttering Prong erupted from the earth. She flapped madly, spraying sand everywhere. “Plergh! That was a lovely sand bath, thank you Scaler. Ow!”

A flying pot thunked onto Prong’s head. It lodged there like a new hat, replacing her pink one.

“Er, hello there,” coughed Prof Sharkey, picking herself up. Prong and Scaler froze.

“Prong and I came up with a plan to defeat you,” Scaler said uncertainly. “But, er . . . do you remember the plan, Prong?”

“No. I’m too scared now that we’re looking at her,” honked Prong.

“Me too,” Scaler admitted. “She’s even scarier as a camel.”

The Prof was gazing at the two Animal Mummies in disbelief. The eggshell fell out of her hair. “That beard . . .”

Scaler put an ostrich talon over her nose. “What’s with these humans and their funky smell?”

“There’s no need to be afraid,” Bab told his friends. “The Secret Sister is on our side.”

“Oh!” said Prong cheerfully. “In that case, hi there, madam!”

The sweet bird strutted up to the Prof, one wing held out in greeting. She clearly didn’t recognise her as Bab’s mum. “I’m Prong the Ibis Mummy, and this shocked mummified fish is Scaler. Phew, you are funky. What’s your name?”

“Susan Sharkey,” the Prof said, stunned. “Though in ancient days I was called Shoshan. May I –”

“Whoa, what’s this?” Scaler interrupted.

Her Beard had begun to squirm. The gold threads that bound it unravelled.

“Oh man,” muttered Bab, “the Beard’s up to something.”

The hairs unplucked themselves from Scaler’s bandaged chin and the Beard flew into the air.

The Prof gaped at it. “Can it be?” she whispered. “My life’s work . . .”

The magic artefact sailed straight onto the camel face of the Prof.

BLING!

The golden threads bound the black hairs neatly beneath her furry camel chin. They shone so brightly that the very dunes around gleamed silver for a moment.

Bab, Prong and Richard stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

My mum has the Pharaoh’s Beard! thought Bab.

Scaler shrugged. “Gee, guys, what a surprise,” she said flatly. “A sorceress is smarter than a fish.”