Chapter 18: The Lotus Sarcophagus

⁠​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​​‌⁠The sun was casting its last shafts of gold across the fringe of the Libyan Desert when Barry Cumberland stepped over the threshold and entered the tomb of Zalithea. He had pleaded for this privilege, and it had been granted to him. Danbazzar and John Cumberland followed, Professor Blackwell hard upon their heels; and Hassan es-Sugra, smiling in gentle triumph, brought up the rear.

Sweat-grimed wor