For three days and nights in the Red Land the dust storm blew. Wandering in the great desert, I prayed to Sebek, God of Water, as I huddled close to my camel. Thirty days since the last oasis with no star to show the way. I thought I was lost for ever.’ Cy heard Aten’s voice before he actually saw him sitting on the front steps of the school the next morning.
‘I don’t believe this!’ Cy marched right into the little group gathered around Aten in the playground. ‘What are you doing?’ he demanded. ‘I was worried about you. I thought you were lost!’
Aten looked up. ‘I was,’ he said. He grinned at Cy. ‘In fact, I suppose I still am.’
Cy grabbed Aten’s arm and dragged him to one side. ‘What happened last night? Where did you go?’
‘Mrs Fortune kindly gave me food. Then she spoke at the thing you call telephone and said that your mother had told her that Grandfather was safe at the place of the doctors. Then she said it would be dark soon, and did I know where I was staying. I could say truthfully that I did, and I knew it was time to go. So I went.’
‘Where?’
‘I was very clever,’ said Aten proudly. ‘I had considered all things carefully. I knew that I might not find my way to your house, so I returned to Grandfather’s house. I did not think he would mind. As he was not there, I could guard his property against thieves. I slept on the floor. It was very comfortable. Also,’ Aten waved his arms in front of Cy, ‘I borrowed some of Grandfather’s clothes. They fit better than yours did.’
Cy shook his head. Apart from having a slightly crumpled appearance, Aten didn’t look too bad. He had one of Grampa’s more modern jumpers over a shirt, and a pair of corduroy trousers which were doubled over at the waist. Cy shoved the pocket linings back inside the trousers, rebuttoned the shirt and explained as best he could the purpose and function of a trouser zip.
‘Is your grandfather well?’ asked Aten.
‘Mum phoned the hospital this morning. They said he was a bit better but hadn’t eaten anything yet. She’s going to see him later.’
‘That is good. You are happier today?’
Cy nodded. ‘Yes . . . except I’m worried in case anyone saw you at Grampa’s house. They might have phoned the police, and then I’d have to try to explain how you got here.’
‘No-one saw me,’ said Aten. ‘I knew to stay away from the windows in case people thought I was a thief. This morning I ate a strange, lumpy, grey substance from what I hope was a cooking pot. Although this food was more like elephant spoor than camel, it was not unpleasant.’
‘Porridge,’ said Cy. ‘Grampa makes porridge every night for his breakfast the next day.’
‘So . . .’ Aten smiled at Cy. ‘Everything is cool.’
‘Yeah, right,’ said Cy.
‘Right on. Actually,’ said Aten.
‘What?’
‘Vicky told me that was a good thing to say.’ Aten stuck up his thumb and jabbed it forwards at Cy. He nodded his head several times. ‘Right on!’
‘I was being sarcastic, actually,’ said Cy. ‘Things are neither cool nor right at this moment. If you remember, certain people,’ he stopped for a moment and glanced around the playground, ‘certain people have got your ankh, and I’m not sure how we can get it back.’
Aten raised his hand. ‘Do not worry any more. Already this morning I have spoken to Mrs Chalmers. I said that I believed that I had mislaid it. She said that as soon as class starts we shall all have a great ankh hunt.’
But, despite everyone enthusiastically searching, Aten’s ankh did not turn up. Cy watched Eddie and Chloe as they happily helped look in drawers and under chairs, and he knew by the expressions on their faces that the amulet was not going to be found in the classroom. The Mean Machines were completely unconcerned as Mrs Chalmers went from desk to desk.
‘Perhaps Aten dropped it in the assembly hall during rehearsal yesterday?’ suggested Chloe.
Mrs Chalmers stared hard at Chloe’s innocent, smiling face. ‘I think it would be a very good thing indeed,’ she said firmly, ‘if the ankh turned up before school finished this afternoon. We’ll begin lessons now, but perhaps later on some of us could go along to the assembly hall and have a look.’
Aten glanced at Cy. ‘The great hall,’ he said, ‘is where they have hidden it.’
‘We’ll go there at last bell,’ Cy told Aten. ‘It’s sure to be empty, and we’ll have plenty of time to search around.’