Погребённый с фараонами
Chapter 2
Theywereworshippingbeforeagreatblackfetor-belchingaperturewhichreachedupalmostoutofsight,andwhichIcouldseewasflankedatrightanglesbytwogiantstaircaseswhoseendswerefarawayinshadow. OneofthesewasindubitablythestaircaseIhadfallendown.
Thedimensionsoftheholewerefullyinproportionwiththoseofthecolumns —anordinaryhousewouldhavebeenlostinit,andanyaveragepublicbuildingcouldeasilyhavebeenmovedinandout. Itwassovastasurfacethatonlybymovingtheeyecouldonetraceitsboundaries... sovast,sohideouslyblack,andsoaromaticallystinking. DirectlyinfrontofthisyawningPolyphemus-doorthethingswerethrowingobjects—evidentlysacrificesorreligiousofferings,tojudgebytheirgestures. Khephrenwastheirleader;sneeringKingKhephrenortheguideAbdulReis,crownedwithagoldenpshent andintoningendlessformulaewiththehollowvoiceofthedead. ByhissidekneltbeautifulQueenNitocris, whomIsawinprofileforamoment,notingthattherighthalfofherfacewaseatenawaybyratsorotherghouls. AndIshutmyeyesagainwhenIsawwhatobjectswerebeingthrownasofferingstothefetidapertureoritspossiblelocaldeity.
Itoccurredtomethat,judgingfromtheelaboratenessofthisworship,theconcealeddeitymustbeoneofconsiderableimportance.
