After listening to Sherlock Moriarty’s arrangement,
Klein then took out a grey‑iron metal mask and put it on, leaving only his eyes and nostrils exposed.
Sharon and
Their reasons for this concealment differed, however. The «Wraith» and the «Living Corpse» simply did not want to reveal their true features, lest they be identified by the Loen military and be unable to operate in
After waiting a while longer, a low whistle sounded and a ship entered the harbour in the darkness.
Klein went back to the vent, raised his monocular telescope and directed his gaze once more at the cordoned‑off dock.
He saw a hybrid steamer with sails slow down and come to a steady stop. At the same time, two ranks of soldiers in red coats and white trousers ran over with rifles and lined up on both sides of the road.
Before long the gangway was lowered and people began to come ashore. First came sailors carrying wooden crates, then a young man in a major’s uniform, who with a solemn expression carried a crystal box, surrounded by several crewmen. Those crewmen all held lanterns, letting the light shine on the box from every angle, illuminating its surface and revealing what was inside.
It was a human skull with not a shred of flesh left, and under the light it shimmered with strange colours.
This group moved very slowly, as if constantly checking the angle of the lanterns, leaving no spot unlit.
When they had disembarked and walked along the road toward the nearest freight tracks, toward the steam train that waited there like a giant snake, a man in a black suit came out of the rear hatch.
He was carrying a large iron bucket; from above one could dimly see layer after layer of ice inside.
For a second Klein thought there might be a bottle of wine inside that ice, as was done in high society and expensive restaurants, but he quickly made out what was stuck in the ice: A hand made entirely of gold!
Unlike the previous group, the man with the iron bucket moved quickly, his forehead constantly dripping sweat, and the metal surface under his palm was covered with condensation.
He seemed anxious that the ice would melt completely before he reached his destination.
«The military has looted quite a few sealed artefacts from places like Star Plateau, Pas Valley and Hagati Prairie this time…» Klein let out a heartfelt sigh and patiently waited for Tutankh II’s coffin.
More than ten minutes passed, and he, Sharon and Maric all heard heavy footsteps from the distance.
It was as if a giant were walking on the hollow deck below.
Next, the side door of the cabin opened and four «knights» in full black armour carried out a golden sarcophagus, stepping one by one; their footfalls echoed, accompanied by a creaking sound.
The surface of the sarcophagus was carved with strange birds, long snakes, feathers, masks and other designs, giving it an archaic and mysterious look with a strong ancient Highland Kingdom feel. This was the «bed» of Tutankh II’s mummy!
The sound of chains turning and metal rubbing arose. The dark metal crane slowly revolved, lowering cables and hooks, which were then fastened around the four corners of Tutankh II’s coffin.
Then the complex pulley system engaged. The heavy coffin was lifted steadily and moved to an open‑topped carriage at the outer edge of the dock.
The four knights in full black armour immediately felt the pressure lift; they sat down on the deck together, breathing heavily.
Amid the commotion, one of the knights suddenly grunted.
Dark red blood flowed out of the gaps in his armour, more and more, becoming increasingly evident. In the end, small, hard black beetles even began to appear.
Clang!
The knight fell backward, his helmet fell off, revealing a head with empty eye sockets and dangling strips of flesh, with countless black beetles crawling in and out.
A curse… The mummy of Tutankh II is the incarnation of a curse… Even with blessed armour, it seems one cannot completely escape being cursed… Klein sighed silently and shifted his gaze to the golden coffin slowly settling onto the carriage.
The carriage outside the dock had no horses; around it stood the same four knights.
As the coffin landed, they drew closer, preparing to pull the carriage.
At that moment, the carriage’s wheels suddenly turned, maintaining their own balance, and began to run sideways!
In that instant, it seemed to come alive!
Thump, thump, thump — the wheels spun at high speed, constantly bumping over stones, wooden blocks and steps on the uneven ground. The horseless carriage, carrying the golden coffin, galloped on its own across the open area of the dock.
The sight looked like something out of a ghost story.
Near the dock, a steel monster with a funnel, cannon and machine‑guns turned, and a low voice penetrated from inside without obstruction: «Possession of objects is forbidden here.»
The moment those words were spoken, the self‑running carriage lost its power, leaving two long skid marks, and came to a safe stop.
At the same time, a figure materialised in midair. He was wrapped in a white robe threaded with gold, his hair pale‑yellow and slightly curly, his eye sockets conspicuously sunken, his face thin to the bone.
He was a middle‑aged man who gave the impression of being a half‑breed of the Northern and Southern Continents. His brown eyes held barely suppressed malice and madness, and a row of golden nails covered with fine patterns sealed his rather thick lips, closing his entire mouth, giving an eerie and terrifying feeling.