The next few days are a blur of preparations. Before you know it, you

and Bruce are on a TWA jet heading for Rome on the first leg of the

trip to Cairo. On the plane, your uncle explains his plan to place

special instruments in a chamber under the center of the largest

pyramid at Giza. He hopes to test the pyramid's effect on the paths

of cosmic rays—rays made up of high-speed particles from space that

usually penetrate deep into the ground. "If my theory is correct," he

says, "these rays could be concentrated by the pyramid to produce an

unlimited amount of energy." While Bruce is talking, you notice that

a man nearby is straining to hear him. No doubt he's just curious. He

is strange-looking, though! In Rome you change to an Egyptair jet You

are startled to notice the same man from the other jet aboard your

Cairo-bound plane. "I will have lots of red tape to take care of at

the airport when we land," says Bruce. "Why don't you just breeze

through customs and take a cab to the Star and Crescent Hotel, where

we're staying? My assistant, Andrea, will be waiting there for you.

She can get you settled in our room while my equipment is unloaded

from the plane." As soon as you land, Bruce is off to the baggage

area, leaving you alone in a foreign land. As if that isn't enough,

the stranger from the plane appears and hands you a small, folded

piece of paper, then dashes toward the taxi stand outside the

terminal.

Quickly you unfold the note. Scrawled in red ink are the words

"Beware the Sphinx." You have heard about the statue of the Sphinx

next to the Pyramids. But why should you beware of it? The thought

occurs to you that "sphinx" could be a code word and not refer to the

actual Sphinx at all. Maybe the note is a meaningless hoax. On the

other hand, it could spell danger for you and Bruce. You remember the

time you felt an urge to get off a bus in your hometown—just before

it was hit by a truck. Now you have a hunch that you should follow

this man.

If you try to follow him,

turn to page 13.

If you decide that it is wiser to go to your hotel,

go on to page 4.

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