14/05/2023 – The Mosque of Ibn-Tulun (4)
Tuesday, 12 March 1935
Janwillem Van Heuvelen
Over breakfast the next day, the Investigators discuss why the Carlisle Expedition came to Egypt. If they were looking for evidence of the Black Pharaoh, why, because it is clear the Penhew Foundation is in thick with the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh. And what is their connection with the Cult of the Bloody Tongue?
They then discuss where to go that day. Cassandra asks Zalkador to do a reading to help them decide. The cards suggest the end of the world again and “The Emperor” is waiting for them, but he tells them the cards say to visit the Dutch archaeologist. They have his address from Nigel Wassif and they get Mahmoud to guide them there. They end up in a slightly seedy ally in a poor district of the city where there are a lot of cats.
They cautiously knock on the door of his flat. The door is open and Jeziah enters, asking for Mr Van Heuvelen or his best attempt to pronounce that name. The flat is in a bit of a mess, with unwashed dishes, empty alcohol bottles and a dirty, unshaved white man asleep on the couch. Alex then steps in and wakes him up, finding his speaks English but has a big hangover. He asks them if they have anything to drink.
The Sarcophagus of Queen Nitocris
Alex wants to ash him some questions, but he says he needs breakfast and something to drink first, which they arrange to do. Mahmoud takes them to a local café and they buy Mr Van Heuvelen some food, but as it is Muslim establishment they do not sell alcohol. He begins to recover his wits and apologies for his situation, he has fallen on hard times.
Alex asks him about the Clive Expedition. He confirms they definitely found the sarcophagus of Queen Nitocris in a secret burial room, along with a number of very interesting scrolls dating back to her burial, but they all mysteriously disappeared despite the armed guards. It took two days to extract the sarcophagus from the burial room using hoists and pulleys, but it was left in an anti-room overnight and in the morning it had disappeared. He says that Agatha, another member of the Expedition, believes it was stolen using magic, but that is just nonsense.
Dr Clive then decided, for financial reasons, the expedition had to cut expenses and sacked Dr Van Heuvelen. Dr Clive did not seem particularly surprised by the disappearance of the sarcophagus but the Dutchman does not think he was behind its disappearance.
Employment Opportunities
Dr Van Heuvelen continues to ask for alcohol and Alex gives him his hip flask, which the Dutchman drinks fairly quickly. He says he could use some money to pay for a return trip to the Netherlands and asks them if they need any jobs doing. He is an archaeologist and can read Egyptian hieroglyphs. Zalkador says they want to visit the Bent Pyramid and he says he can help them with that.
Cassandra then asks about what he know of the Carlisle Expedition. Dr Van Heuvelen says they were looking for evidence of the Black Pharaoh and Queen Nitocris, who worshipped him and started a cult called the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh. He has heard rumours that the Brotherhood still exists.
He tells them about Agatha Broadmoor, who is a spiritualist medium. She talks to spirits and is still a member of the Clive Expedition, along with James Gardner, who is crackpot archaeologist who believes there are tunnels under the Sphinx and Pyramids in Gaza. There is also Johanna Schlecht and Martin Winfield, who is the manager of the expedition, but answers to and looks up to Dr Clive.
Return to the Hotel
Zalkador negotiates to pay for food, drink and lodging until they are finished in Egypt and then they will give him money to get home. He agrees to this and heads back to his flat to pack up his things. They wait for him and hope, despite being an obvious drunk, he can help them when they visit the Bent Pyramid. When he returns, he has changed into his best suit and is carrying bags, but his landlord has followed as he is behind with the rent. Jeziah has to pay two shillings to pay off his debts.
They then go to the Sheppard Hotel and he is given one of the sofas to sleep on. Jeziah takes him upstairs to allow him to have a bath and have the hotel wash his clothes.
The others go straight into lunch and decide to visit the Mosque of Ibn-Tulun this afternoon. Mahmoud joins them and sits next to Zalkador. The boy asks questions about why they are in Egypt and Cassandra tells him about her connection to Roger Carlisle and the Expedition. Zalkador does a reading for Mahmoud. They tell him that the boy is quite talented, but his future is troubled due to strangers such as themselves. He does not tell Mahmoud about this.
The Mosque of Ibn-Tulun
The follow Mahmoud on a long walk through Cairo to the mosque. They notice the afternoon heat after a while. They are harassed by local street sellers, who are sitting in the shade until they see white people approaching and swarm them. One tries to pick Alex’s pockets, but he notices and the man runs off. Jeziah uses his stick to get them to keep away.
When they arrive, the mosque looks old and in need of renovation. They see nurses and medical staff moving around. Inside, they see wards with sick people in beds. A doctor asks who they are and why they are here. When they ask about the history of the mosque, they are directed to the back, where the Ulama are – the scholars of Islam, who still live there.
The Ulama
At the back, they find some old, bearded Imams who are carrying swords on their belts and Mahmoud defers to them. Initially, their leader tells Mahmoud he is not interested in tourists, but when they ask about the history of the mosque, he agrees allows them to enter and sit down. They are told that although the building is mostly a hospital, it is still a consecrated mosque and they are here to look after the sacred areas. The mosque was built by Saladin in the 13th century.
Now it is a hospital, mainly for the care of those who are considered mad. They are touched by Allah – there is no cure for them, but they are looked after.
Zalkador has Mahmoud ask about the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh and their interest in some artefact held here. The old man confirms that he and his scholars are aware of this and they are in part there to guard against this. That is why they are carrying swords. Mahmoud asks about the artefact and there is the Golden Girdle of Queen Nitocris, which was taken from infidels in battle many centuries ago. It is held here because it is evil. The Ulama are its guardians and they warn that the forces of evil are growing in Egypt.
Befriending the Guardians
Mahmoud asks if he can tell them about their mission and they agree. The old man seems to know the Brotherhood of the Black Pharaoh and Omar al-Shakti are coming for it. When they come, the Ulama will fight them. The Investigators are a little sceptical, as the scholars look to be in their 70s. Zalkador warns them that they control powerful, dark forces.
Mahmoud tells the leader why they are in Egypt, looking for what happened to the Carlisle Expedition. The leader introduces himself has Ahmed al-Dhahabi. He has some tea made for them and asks more questions about who they are. He seems to warm to them after learning they are on a quest too. They tell him more about events in London and he listens with interest.
Zalkador tells them about the leaders of the cult being able to conjure powerful, evil demons. He describes the Hunting Horror to them via Mahmoud. The Ulama look at each other nervously at this, but they say the power of Allah will protect them. Zalkador warms them to use light against much monsters, which makes sense to them that creatures of darkness would fear the light. They also warn about fire demons who can burn down shops.
Tacking the Brotherhood in Egypt
They discuss how powerful the Brotherhood much be in Egypt. Mr al-Dhahabi replies that they are not as powerful as the followers of Islam. Zalkador wonders if they should strike at their possible leader, Omar al-Shakti, but it is likely he is rich and has a lot of friends and contacts.
They wonder if Mr al-Shakti has any enemies, but they have very little way to find out. Mr al-Dhahabi has made some enquiries about him, but has not found many people prepared to take him on. He asks them if they know when the Brotherhood is coming, but they are not sure. The scholars pledge to maintain their vigil then.
The Girdle of Queen Nitocris
Tiger then asks if they will hand over the Girdle into their protection. Mahmoud tells them that is very unlikely. They are foreign, white infidels. Cassandra asks if they can see the Girdle and Mr al-Dhahabi agrees to get it. He brings it in from the back and unwraps it from cloth. It is shiny and new looking, even though it is hundreds of years old. It consists of a plate that sits in front of the belly and is held in place by chains that go around the body. In the middle of the plate, there is a beautiful, blood-red ruby.
Zalkador asks to touch it and he is allowed to. He tries to sense something from it and feels that this is very old but he will need to do a Tarot reading to get more information. When he takes the cards out, though, the Muslims are aghast and stop him. Such pagan things are not allowed here.
Mr al-Dhahabi then tells them it is time for them to leave and begins to wrap up the Girdle again. Tiger asks the others if they should just take the item. Cassandra does not agree though and she does not want an angry mob to hunt them down. Instead, they will try to find out when the Brotherhood is likely to attack, then come and help. They leave their details the Sheppard Hotel.
End of the Day
They leave and return to the hotel, over Tiger’s objections. It is cooler on the way back, but they are still harassed by street sellers again. This time Tiger has his watch picked from his pocket. Furious, he gives chase and the thief trips, allowing Tiger to catch him. He lifts the boy off his feet and gets his watch back, then throws the boy to the floor. Some of the crowd seem to approve of his actions.
At the hotel, they find Dr Van Heuvelen at the bar and a little drunk. Jeziah tells him off as he is not to get drunk while working for them. Zalkador decides to do a Tarot reading about the Girdle in the privacy of their room. He learns there are two other “sister” items that are in a dark place. It senses the Queen, who wore this item, has been found and it is waiting.