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'We're going home,' he said

They had chosen the first pyra peered at the cartouche on the door

'"Blessed is Queen Far-re-ptah",' read Dil dutifully, "Ruler of the Skies, Lord of the Djel, Master of-"

'Grand 'She'll do' He looked at their startled faces 'That's what I used to call her when I was a little boy I couldn't pronounce Far-re-ptah, you see Well, go on then Stop gawking Break the door down'

Gern hefted the hammer uncertainly

'It's a pyra to Dil 'You're not supposed to open theest, lad? We stick a tableknife in the slot and wiggle it about?' said the king

'Do it, Gern,' said Dil 'It will be all right'

Gern shrugged, spat on his hands which were, in fact, quite daain,' said the king

The great slab booranite, and held A few flakes ofback and forth along the dead avenues of the necropolis

'Again'

Gern's biceps rease

This tiht be caused by a heavy lid crashing to the ground, far away

They stood in silence, listening to a slow shuffling noise froain, sire?' said Gern They both waved hirew closer

Then the stone moved It stuck once or twice, but never the less iton one side so that a crack of dark shadow appeared Dil could just make out a darker shape in the blackness

'Yes?' it said

'It's

The shadow stoodPootle?' it said, suspiciously

The king avoided Dil's face

'That's right, Grandma We've come to let you out'

'Who're theseman,' she said to Gern 'I don't keep any money in the pyrahten

'Have they got any identification?'them, Grand hours,' said the late queen, e, except that the o and have a lie down, come the finish No-one cares about you when you're dead Where're we going?'

'To let the others out,' said the king

'Daood idea' The old queen lurched into step behind him

'So this is the netherworld, is it?' she said 'Not much of an i man?'

'No, ma'ahtrope over the chasms of madness

'It's not worth it Be told'

'Yes,shuffled across the ancient pavings to the next pyramid

'I know this one,' said the queen 'It was here inAshk-ur- man?'

'Please, ma'am, I have to hammer on the door, ma'am,' said Gern

'You don't have to knock He's always in'

'My assistant means to smash the seals, ma'am,' said Dil, anxious to please

'Who're you?' the queen demanded

'My name is Dil, O queen Master eot so to'

'It will be an honour and a privilege, O queen,' said Dil

'Yes It will,' she said, and turned creakily to Gern 'Ha ht the ha, fast arc It passed in front of Dil's nose e and sed, when the dust had settled, was not dressed in the height of fashion The bandages were brown andand, Dil noticed with professional concern, already beginning to go at the elbows When it spoke, it was like the opening of ancient caskets

'I woket up,' it said 'And theyre was noe light Is thys the netherworld?'

'It would appear not,' said the queen

'Thys is all?'

'Hardly worth the trouble of dying, was it?' said the queen The ancient king nodded, but gently, as though he was afraid his head would fall off

'So,' he said, 'must be done'

He turned to look at the Great Pyramid, and pointed hat had once been an arm

'Who slepes there?' he said