Seven Ancient Wonders - Matthew Reilly [0]
He lives in Sydney.
Also by Matthew Reilly
ICE STATION
TEMPLE
CONTEST
AREA 7
SCARECROW
HOVER CAR RACER
HELL ISLAND (FOR BOOKS ALIVE, 2005)
For Natalie
This is a work of fiction. Characters, institutions and organisations mentioned in this novel are either the product of the author’s imagination or, if real, used fictitiously without any intent to describe actual conduct.
First published 2005 in Macmillan by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited
This Macmillan edition published in 2006 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Limited
1 Market Street, Sydney
Copyright © Karanadon Entertainment Pty Ltd 2005
The author hereby asserts his moral rights.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher.
National Library of Australia
cataloguing-in-publication data:
Reilly, Matthew, 1974–.
Seven ancient wonders.
ISBN-13: 978 1 4050 3705 1.
ISBN-10: 1 4050 3705 9.
1. Quests (Expeditions) – Fiction. I. Title.
A823.3
Typeset in 11/14 pt Sabon by Post Pre-press Group
Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group
Cartographic art and illustrations by Laurie Whiddon, Map Illustrations
Papers used by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd are natural, recyclable products made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The manufacturing processes conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.
These electronic editions published in 2007 by Pan Macmillan Australia Pty Ltd
1 Market Street, Sydney 2000
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. This publication (or any part of it) may not be reproduced or transmitted, copied, stored, distributed or otherwise made available by any person or entity (including Google, Amazon or similar organisations), in any form (electronic, digital, optical, mechanical) or by any means (photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise) without prior written permission from the publisher.
Seven Ancient Wonders
Matthew Reilly
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In ancient times, at the peak of the Great
Pyramid at Giza, there stood a magnificent
capstone made of gold.
It disappeared in antiquity.
A COLLECTION OF WONDERS FROM
AROUND THE WORLD
TITLE OF A COLLECTION OF DOCUMENTS WRITTEN BY
CALLIMACHUS OF CYRENE, CHIEF LIBRARIAN OF THE
ALEXANDRIA MUSEION, LOST WHEN THE FAMOUS
LIBRARY WAS DESTROYED IN 48 BC.
COWER IN FEAR, CRY IN DESPAIR,
YOU WRETCHED MORTALS
FOR THAT WHICH GIVETH GREAT POWER
ALSO TAKES IT AWAY.
FOR LEST THE BENBEN BE PLACED AT SACRED SITE
ON SACRED GROUND, AT SACRED HEIGHT,
WITHIN SEVEN SUNSETS OF THE ARRIVAL OF RA’S
PROPHET,
AT THE HIGH-POINT OF THE SEVENTH DAY,
THE FIRES OF RA’S IMPLACABLE DESTROYER WILL
DEVOUR US ALL.
4,500-YEAR-OLD HIEROGLYPHIC INSCRIPTION FOUND
ON THE SUMMIT OF THE GREAT PYRAMID AT GIZA IN
THE PLACE WHERE THE CAPSTONE ONCE STOOD.
I HAVE BOTH HELD AND BEHELD UNLIMITED
POWER AND OF IT I KNOW BUT ONE THING.
IT DRIVES MEN MAD.
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
SUDAN
14 MARCH, 2006
6 DAYS BEFORE TARTARUS
THE GREATEST STATUE IN HISTORY
It