The Lost Relic (A “Book of Choices” Story)

People sometimes say that windows are like a world of opportunities, and you could miss it if you’re not paying attention. I guess that’s why I’m here in Egypt digging through the hot golden sand in search of a long-lost relic that I believe the aliens buried a long time ago. My very own window of opportunity for fortune and fame. 

I’m not alone, my partner and benefactor Arby Lawrence, is here with me sitting comfortably in his air-conditioned trailer. He looks ridiculous wearing white shorts with a matching t-shirt and knee-high socks. If he had any compassion he would be out here getting his hands dirty with me, but that man only cares for riches.    

Six months ago, we started scanning the area using the latest high-tech satellites, and we spotted a strange anomaly about a hundred fifty feet south-west from the Great Pyramids of Giza. Infrared scans revealed a bright hot-spot pulsating beneath the ground. Arby put together a world class team of scientists, and archaeologists - an expedition of discovery, he called it. 

A window of opportunity indeed…  

After several months of digging and exploring, the team came up empty time and time again. A second scan of the topography yielded the same results - something was buried there. Over time, Arby started to grow impatient, and anger filled his heart. Without warning he fired everyone in the team leaving me as the last man standing.  

That window just got a lot bigger.

So, here I am digging by myself while that selfish prick sips his tea in comfort. I wish something would happen to him. I would like to see him choke to death on one of his biscuits. I would rush over to his rescue of course, but I wouldn’t act. I would simply watch the life drain from his greedy little eyes and whisper negative thoughts from my unfulfilled life. 

A sharp shrill voice interrupts my chain of thoughts. “William! I need you to get me more strawberry biscuits. I seem to have run out!”  

I throw my shovel down, and reply, “How can I find this lost relic, when you have me running errands for you all day?”  

After an awkward chuckle, he utters, “Don’t be silly William! We are the only ones left. Don’t mistake my brashness for foolishness. Once we find that relic, we will split the profits fifty-fifty!” 

I close my eyes as his words of an empty promise echo through my brain. I choose to remain here because this is my last opportunity for a successful life. My last chance to do something with myself. 

“Well… What are you waiting for?” he yells, wiping the sweat from his wrinkled forehead. “Go get my biscuits before I melt in this dreaded heat!”   

I wish you would melt in this heat, you old fart bag!

I waste little time walking back to the supply van parked several yards away. I can feel the sun getting hotter as it burns the back of my already tanned neck. My sun visor is useless against this mighty power. I rummage through several unmarked boxes until at last I find a pack of strawberry biscuits. I snatch it up like a thief in the night and run back to the dig site. 

“What took you so long?” Arby shouts, standing in the shady area behind his trailer. 

He has no concept of kindness. “I ran as fast as I could!” 

He looks at me with judgmental eyes and points his finger at me. “That’s no excuse for laziness!” 

I take a deep shuddering breath and look at my watch. “It’s break time, I’ll dig some more once I rest a bit. This heat is unbearable.” 

“You will do no such thing William!!” 

What the hell is he talking about?

“You already had your break when you took your time getting my biscuits! Get back to work before I bury you in that hole you dug!”

I can’t believe his unfiltered cruelty! 

I ruffle my face in anger as Arby stomps back into his trailer and slams the door. I turn towards the dig zone, which is roped off with bright yellow tape. My inner thoughts weep in silence. My heart beats heavy and my breath is labored, but I know I need to continue until I find this mysterious relic. I reach into the cooler and grab a bottle of water. I chug about half and pour the rest of the cool liquid over my jet-black hair. Feeling revitalized and refreshed, I pick up the shovel and continue digging.

I dig and plow through the hot sand with quivering arms. I know deep down that I can’t keep this pace up. I’m only one person, I think I can manage a few more scoops before calling it quits for the day. I plunge my shovel deep into the ground and I hear a clank. My eyes light up like exploding fireworks. I raise the shovel high above my head and drive it down again.

Clank!

I throw the shovel to the side and plunge my hands deep into the loose sand. My hands grip around a rectangular object, and I pull with all my might. Sure enough, I soon find myself staring at a black iron container. I dust the access sand away and look over towards Arby’s trailer. I see him through the window stuffing his face with biscuits. My eyes narrow with evil intentions. Maybe I can hide this from him, and keep it for myself…

The window of opportunity has grown exponentially! 

I hunch myself deeper into the hole, so that Arby won’t see me. My curiosity is like a fierce cat. I don’t even know what this thing is yet. I open the box to find a book wrapped in a matted gray cloth. With trembling hands, I slowly reach in and pull it out. 

The book is heavier than I expected, and I quickly rip off the dry rotted cloth like a child would open a Christmas present. The book feels cool to the touch and I gasp in excitement as I see all its wondrous glory. The book is wrapped in a dark leather cover with no words or symbols whatsoever, and its sealed closed with two black straps wrapped around silver gilded edges. 

Is this the lost relic?

I unbuckle the straps and slowly open the book. To my surprise, the thick yellow pages are filled with nothing. I only see a red fabric bookmark carefully sewn into the spine. This can’t be! I flip through the entire book like a supersonic speed reader only to find that every page is empty. 

This must be a mistake, it’s nothing!!  

At that moment, I hear Arby shout from behind me. “Give that to me now!”  

My face grows pale as I look at him. Without saying a word Arby yanks the book from my hands, and one of the thick pages cuts my finger. A small drop of blood soaks into the book causing it to come alive. I see Arby open his mouth wide in astonishment. The book starts to tremble like a small earthquake in his hands, and soon a message appears on one of the blank pages. I quickly make my way over for a closer look. 

Twisty and shiny.

The serpent path lies.

Thrust quickly for thy future awaits.

The message shines brightly for a few seconds, and swiftly disappears. Arby shakes his head in disbelief and fumbles through the pages. He finds nothing…

After a moment of silence, he asks, “Did you get a good look at that message?”

I reach up and rub my face. “I did, but what does it mean?” 

Arby scrunches his lips. “Twisty and shiny, the serpent path lies… Hmm…”

As that selfish prick utters those words, an idea springs to life! 

I snap the idea like a wild animal tamer. “You don’t suppose it’s talking about the Nile River, do you?” 

He lifts his head in an arrogant way, and proclaims, “Mmm… It very well could be. I think we should head over there right now. Maybe another message will appear!”  

I nod my head in agreement, and we rush to the van. I hold the book tightly as Arby drives five miles west from the city Centre of Cairo in unspoken silence. The tension between us is so thick I can literally taste it. As we approach the banks of the Nile River, the first thing I notice is how brightly the sun is reflecting off of the water. 

I lean forward in my seat, and shout, “Look Arby, the Nile is a twisty river, and look how shiny it is, just like a serpent!”  

Arby’s face lights up like a kid in a candy store. “Twisty and shiny like a serpent… You know for once in your pathetic life, you just may be right!”  

How dare you talk to me like that! 

I wish you were dead!  

We park the van by the side of the road and run down to the river which is slithering along like a wild snake. We look around for some type of sign but see nothing. Arby gives me another arrogant look, and I want to punch his lights out!  

“Give me that book again, William! There has to be something more here.” 

I toss the book to him and watch in amazement as he flips through the pages again. His face goes through a wide range of contorted shapes as he finds nothing. He starts laughing, like a mad scientist and throws the book to the ground. 

“This book is worthless! It’s not the lost relic we were looking for!!”  

I don’t know what to say, my gut tells me that there is something more here. Something that we missed. My eyes burst open as I see Arby reach into his pocket to pull out a long-twisted dagger with a serpent on the handle. The blade shines in the sunlight.  

Twisty and shiny.

The serpent path lies.

Thrust quickly for thy future awaits.

No… No… This can’t be what that message means!!  

Arby waves the dagger in front of me like a doggie treat. “I think I know what that message means,” he pauses, to smile. “If I use this blade to kill you, that book will tell me where the lost relic is.”  

I can’t believe this is happening! 

Before I have a chance to speak, Arby thrusts the dagger deep into my stomach with fire in his eyes. Pain races through my body like a hundred wild horses set loose on an open plain. I drop to my knees and a single tear falls from my cheek. As Arby withdrawals the dagger from my abdomen, some of my blood splatters on the book that lies just a few inches away from me. 

I fall to my side unable to speak because I’m too busy coughing up thick globs of blood. My teary eyes glance over to the book as it starts to shake on the ground. To my horror, the book rises up to Arby’s face like some kind of invisible ghost holding it high and proud. 

The book opens before Arby’s eyes. “Yes, this is it William! Now I will know the secret location of the lost relic!!”  

He starts laughing again, and like a snapping dragon the book lunges forward and bites Arby’s face. Before he can scream, his face explodes like a grenade went off in his head. The book suddenly drops to the ground lifeless and empty. Arby’s body falls to the ground and turns into a pile of ash. 

I lay on the ground holding my wound. I have only one thought in my mind. The book gave me what I wanted. Arby is dead, but in some twist of fate, I feel my life coming to an end… 

After a few minutes I see a strange man approach me. Am I saved by a stranger? I see that stranger reach down for the book. The man has no intention of saving me, the stranger only wants the book. My eye’s follow him as he gets into a canoe and thrusts himself down the twisty, shiny, serpent like path of the Nile River where an unknown future awaits...

The last thing that goes through my mind as my eyes grow dark is the message from the book. 

Twisty and shiny.

The serpent path lies.

Thrust quickly for thy future awaits.

The book wanted to escape. 

My window of opportunity is forever closed…  

Daniel R. Hayes