(An excerpt from Isis’ Secret Treasure)
Although the article Beckowitz sent and the information mentioned online, stated that the Egyptians had a presence on the island in the 26th dynasty after Taharqa’s rule, no news of a temple to Isis had been found. But what if it was there and the archaeologists had just not gone far enough in their searches? Perhaps funds had run out, preventing further exploration? Or had the lake waters inundated the lower areas of the ruins before they could dig further? All of a sudden, a familiar rush of excitement began to rise up from his gut. That feeling had many names: excavator’s exhilaration, prospector’s pleasure, pitman’s thrill, digger’s delight, but most called it gold fever. It wasn’t gold that Sheridan was looking for, but that same feeling surged through his body. It was the excitement that all archaeologist experience when they feel they have discovered something no one else has before them. It was possible, even probable, that a temple could be there, still waiting to be found.
Sheridan wanted to drop everything and immediately go to Qasr Ibrim, but the school spring term was only part way through. Besides, his back was not fully healed and a formal exploration would need to be planned. Also, he had not been a professional in the field for years, and it would take time, money and a lot of paperwork to begin any real digging, which would take months. This gave him pause. But what if he were not to seek permission to dig? What if he simply wanted to see what was there? What if he first thoroughly explored the island, looking for clues as to where the temple of Isis might be? What if he only took photographs and made notes of his observations? Then a formal written request to dig on the island would not be needed. Sheridan felt strongly that the scroll in the canopic jar was a positive lead as to the existence of a temple to Isis. If there were hieroglyphs of Isis or Imsety anywhere on the island, they could be clues that others simply didn’t know how to follow, or simply didn’t have time to further explore. After all, all the previous archaeologists had been there to find what they could before the waters rose and they had not been focused specifically on locating a temple of Isis.
That Thursday in class, Sheridan surveyed the room full of students. If he could figure out who might be inclined to help him from among the three dozen students, he could send them to Qasr Ibrim to look for him.
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