In all four
corners of the room stood colossal statues of men carved with such detail that
Nick could see the intricate designs in their Egyptian attire. Each held an
oversized oil lamp thrust out before him. Nick ignited the wick of each lamp
one by one. The orange glow from the giant lamps revealed the most horrifying
scene Nick had ever laid eyes on in his life. A mahogany wood dining table
with seats and place settings for six was positioned at the back of the
chamber. In each chair, sitting patiently as though waiting to be served their
last meal, were human shapes bundled in blackened strips of linen.
Crystal glasses filled
to their rims with black liquid that had never touched thirsty lips, and gold
rimmed china holding uneaten, rotten food sat upon the tabletop. Silver
candelabra, garlanded with shimmering cobwebs, held unburned black candles. It
was depressing, this grand feast for the
dead.
“Such an
elaborate scene,” Nick spoke quietly out of respect. “What a waste.”
Nick had
experienced this place more than he cared to think about. He packed enough
cash and drugs in two of the larger duffle bags to keep him in high heaven for
the rest of his life and sat them next to the car. It was impossible for him
to take even one sixteenth of the treasure in the room. His plan was to take a
small amount in the Corvette and come back in the future for more. At the
moment, he needed to focus on staying alive and that meant getting out of town
as soon as possible. Before he left, he needed to know what was in the marble
vault. The idea of a new, more exciting treasure was intoxicating.
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