Погребённый с фараонами
Chapter 2
Thefamiliardetailsofmyescapingprocesscommencedtoengrossme,andnowthatthelongropewasgoneIhalfregainedmybeliefthatthesupremehorrorswerehallucinationsafterall,andthattherehadneverbeenanyterribleshaft,measurelessabyssorinterminablerope. WasIafterallinthegatewaytempleofKhephrenbesidetheSphinx,andhadthesneakingArabsstolenintotorturemeasIlayhelplessthere? Atanyrate,Imustbefree.Letmestandupunbound,ungagged,andwitheyesopentocatchanyglimmeroflightwhichmightcometricklingfromanysource, andIcouldactuallydelightinthecombatagainstevilandtreacherousfoes!
HowlongItookinshakingoffmyencumbrancesIcannottell. Itmusthavebeenlongerthaninmyexhibitionperformances,becauseIwaswounded,exhausted,andenervatedbytheexperiencesIhadpassedthrough. WhenIwasfinallyfree,andtakingdeepbreathsofachill,damp,evillyspicedairallthemorehorriblewhenencounteredwithoutthescreenofgagandblindfoldedges,IfoundthatIwastoocrampedandfatiguedtomoveatonce. ThereIlay,tryingtostretchaframebentandmangled,foranindefiniteperiod,andstrainingmyeyestocatchaglimpseofsomerayoflightwhichwouldgiveahintastomyposition.
Bydegreesmystrengthandflexibilityreturned,butmyeyesbeheldnothing. AsIstaggeredtomyfeetIpeereddiligentlyineverydirection,yetmetonlyanebonyblacknessasgreatasthatIhadknownwhenblindfolded.
