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Riki stuck out her chin “You rees in biochey and worked extensively in the field at your Thebes site”
“Of course You were there e found the mummified body of the child Your stepfather always overshadowed things Frasier was such an important benefactor and participant in the field excavations, I tend to forget events without hirateful your family supports our work, and I am thankful for your presence here”
“We all harbor a keen interest in the reign of Pharaoh Akhenaten,” Riki said, “and are excited at the prospect of another tomb discovery”
“You may well be disappointed,” Stanley said “As you know, the royal tombs of Amarna were carved in the valley several kilometers east of the city One wouldn’t expect to find a tonificance where we stand”
“You just did”
Stanley flashed a wide grin “Perhaps,tables have been known to be placed above ancient to the early excavations here Of course, those were associated with the temples, and they were made of ceramic Still, there is the inscription on this one So just perhaps”
“Harry,” Zeibig said, “what’s your interpretation of the s?”
Stanley pulled a small notebook fro eleives to the Ruler of the Two Horizons, so that he will give a voice offering in bread, ox, fowl, and every good and pure thing, on behalf of the son of Henuttaneb, beloved sister of the King’”
“So the table itself,” Zeibig said, “is an offering for the dead?”
“Yes, for the unnados of food were ods and the deceased on their journey to the underworld By the tis were uratively In the sah the king, or pharaoh, as the sole interods”
“This deceased boy,” Riki asked “Could he be the nephew of Pharaoh Akhenaten?”
Stanley’s eyes glistened “That’s whatThis would appear to be a royal—or at least a noble—offering table We know Akhenaten had a sister na What’s curious is the carving of the ship with the boy That’s an i table It would be difficult not to assume a connection with the vessel buried behind us”
“Perhaps the youngsaid “Or died on one”
Stanley nodded “Entirely plausible”
“What is your plan for excavating ben