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| The ancient Egyptians loved puns, puzzles wordplay and crosswords. |
“How did you people come by this note?” Anson said to the Homeland Security man Bloem.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“Did you spot the code in here?”
Bloem and Gemma exchanged looks.
Anson took out a pen.
“The ancient Egyptians enjoyed puns, wordplay and crosswords.
In fact, there’s a fiendishly clever and witty stela composed in honour of the
goddess Mut, housed in the British Museum. You can read it in three different
directions, across, down and around the outside edges.”
Anson used his pen to circle several letters in the text.
“This one involves an acrostic. The Egyptians considered such wordplays to be
powerful tools, which suggests that its author was aware of the sacred
practices of the ancients and wanted to do things in a ritually significant
manner.” He held up the piece of paper.
(H)istory will soon be made. (A) new dawn for Humankind
approaches. (T)he beginning of the end for today’s world order is at hand as a
force of hidden power will emerge and precipitate the fall. (H)ear this
prophetic warning to all the nations. (On) this day, the roots of the old
ideology will wither and die and a new order of the ages will commence. (R)ise
to a new illumination.
A hidden word - a name - made up from the first letter of
each of the sentences jumped out.
H-A-T-H-O-R
“The goddess Hathor. Of Hathor-Sekhmet fame.”
“That’s quick,” the academic, Melinda, said, respect in her
eyes.
“You don’t disappoint,” the English girl said.
Bloem’s tone was dismissive.
“Our people figured that out.”
Melinda gave a smile.
“Yes, but it took them considerably longer.”
“Now you see why we need your help,” Gemma said.
Excerpt from the Anson Hunter investigative archaeology series. See on Amazon Kindle
