The Egyptologist - Arthur Phillips [154]
It will interest you to know that, given the apparent magnitude of Mr. Carter and Lord Carnarvon’s find in the tomb of Tut-ankh-Amen, making it without question one of the great discoveries in all Egyptological history, Mr. Carter will need vast resources to complete the enormous task ahead of him: cataloguing, preserving, and removing the contents of this frankly “overstuffed” tomb. Given the tasks, which will certainly take Mr. Carter several years, the curator of the New York Metropolitan Museum has put at Mr. Carter’s disposal many of that institution’s resources currently dedicated to the Metropolitan’s own excavations. Specifically, Mr. Lythgoe has offered Mr. Carter the services of photographers, artists, skilled workmen, philologists, chemical and criminological experts, and others. As you can well imagine, this reduces greatly the likely productivity of Professor Winlock and the amount of surface area he can profitably examine in the Deir el Bahari area, at least for the present season and perhaps much of next season as well. And so, Professor Winlock has been kind enough to inform me that if the Antiquities Service wishes to issue temporary concessions for areas that are outside his current area of investigations, he would be willing in the interest of science to consider the temporary partitioning of his concession. Considering your previous interest, I would like to offer you the opportunity to resubmit an application. While the Antiquities Service reserves the right not to issue any new concessions, any project showing a likelihood of success and professional management will certainly be considered. With every good wish, please believe that I am your devoted and unwavering servant,
Pierre Lacau, Director-General of
the Antiquities Service
Monday, 11 December, 1922
Journal: Cats, bank, post: and there an overdue reward to my patience awaits me in my poste restante, honouring my time in the wilderness when none would support me! Lacau has offered me my concession at last.
Slow down and savour these events! I raced to Carter’s site, without even cleaning off the traces of my days and nights in the field. The pain in my leg was excruciating as I set off to find Lord Carnarvon. The tide has finally turned, but I turned back myself, returned to the tomb for a moment to mark this down, because in my hurry, I nearly forgot to take a copy of Desire and Deceit in Ancient Egypt. I have just now inscribed it, “To Lord Carnarvon, Egypt’s patron, knowledge’s financier, Atum-hadu’s Champion, Atum’s most creative right hand, from his admirer and dare I say partner, R. M. Trilipush, 11 December 1922.” Off again!
I am wondering if Lacau is not part of a far-flung conspiracy to break my heart. I arrived at Carter’s site but found no trace of him or the Earl, no crowd of tourists, no pashas demanding unholy peeks at Tut. Instead the tomb was covered again. I asked one of the numerous native guards where his masters were. “His Lordship’s returned to England with Lady Evelyn. Mr. Carter has gone to Cairo to see them off.” Gone, My Lordship, gone to London on the big boat. I could hear Carter’s simpering relief, squiring Carnarvon away from me just as my opportunity ripened, then quickly rotted.
Bank. Despite my rigid economies, I am nearly out of money. My backers have abandoned me. My rivals are determined to see me fail. Post: send Desire and Deceit and a detailed proposal to Carnarvon’s estate in England, but this will take far too long. Merely what I have discovered to date would win me a new backer, I am certain. Go home? Wed Margaret with nothing to show for my time here, with no job at home, and her still under the influence of Ferrell? And even if I could refresh her affections, we would live off of what? Sit and wait for Carnarvon’s word? Show him the History Chamber next season?
Carter’s up in Cairo.
Sleep indoors for the first time in eleven days. I left the Victrola 50 down at the tomb, unfortunately, as I would appreciate the help in falling asleep, and there is no gramophone here.
Tuesday,