Banna did so, revealing several bronze cogwheels on the underside. The largest two were solid discs marked with Greek numerals, while the others resembled the inner workings of an analogue watch. The Egyptian cautiously rotated the biggest cog, causing some of the others to move in turn. The pointer in the slot shifted position slightly. A turn of the second disc set other cogs into motion, the end result also being translated to the pointer. ‘It is a machine,’ he said, anger replaced by wonderment.
‘Yeah, but a machine to do what?’ Macy asked.
‘I guess this’ll tell us,’ said Nina, pointing out the text. ‘We need to get it translated, as soon as we can.’
‘Yes, yes,’ Banna said, nodding absently. ‘It resembles the Antikythera Mechanism. Not as complex, but similar precision in the workmanship.’
‘The what?’ Eddie asked as he stood. The ASPS were still regarding him with suspicion. ‘It’s all right, lads, I don’t think he’s bothered about me breaking the statue any more.’
‘It would have been better if you had let us X-ray it first,’ said Banna, ‘but yes, I think this is the true treasure.’
‘So do I,’ Nina told him. She reluctantly shifted her gaze from the artefact to her husband. ‘The Antikythera Mechanism was found in a shipwreck from the first century BC,’ she explained. ‘Our best guess is that it was a kind of astronomical calculator — basically, an early computer. It seems that you could enter dates using the dials, and it would tell you the positions of the planets at those times.’
‘So what does this one do?’ Macy asked.
‘Tells you how to find the Spring of Immortality, at a guess,’ said Eddie. ‘Although it’d have been a lot easier if Andreas had just painted a little map on the horse.’
Nina looked back at the text. ‘He didn’t do that because… because it’s meant to be a challenge,’ she said. ‘You have to prove that you’re as smart as Alexander in order to reach it. “Those who believe themselves Alexander’s equal shall learn the truth if they have the wisdom and bravery and endurance to follow the path to the spring.”’
‘Sounds a bit ominous,’ said Eddie.
Banna also peered at the inscriptions. ‘I think this describes a landmark,’ he said, pointing out one line. ‘It says the Gate of Alexander is found on a mountain. But it does not say which mountain.’
‘That’s the challenge,’ Nina realised. ‘You have to use the mechanism on the fish to work out the route. It looks like a pretty complicated procedure, so it’s a test of your intelligence as well as your navigational skills.’ She continued reading; a word caught her eye. ‘It mentions a gnomon here…’
‘What’s a gnomon?’ Macy asked.
Eddie grinned. ‘Gnome drugs.’
‘Huh? Ohhh,’ she added with a groan as she got the joke.
‘It’s part of a sundial,’ said Nina. ‘The stick that casts the shadow — wait, is that what this is? A way to navigate by using the sun?’ She poked the tip of her little finger into the fish’s eye. ‘If you put a gnomon in here and aligned the slot with the shadow at midday, you could use it to work out your latitude…’
‘There is a height written here,’ Banna said with sudden excitement. ‘One dichas — half a foot.’
‘A gnomon that tall would be enough to produce a shadow, yeah. But how would you deal with seasonal changes in the sun’s inclination?’ The answer came to both archaeologists simultaneously. ‘The dials! Turn it over!’
The Egyptian flipped the relic to reveal the mechanism. ‘One dial for months, another for days, perhaps?’
Nina examined the metal cogs. ‘I think you’re right. It’s a way to set the date.’
Habib re-entered the room. ‘Why are they here?’ he asked as he regarded the ASPS with concern — then his expression turned to shock on seeing the statue’s remains. A high-pitched burst of Arabic, then: ‘What is going on? What happened to the statue?’
‘The statue is not important,’ Banna told him almost absently, his focus on the bronze fish.
The official seemed on the verge of panic. ‘Not important? Not important? But I have told the Minister that I will bring it to Cairo…’
‘The raiders weren’t after the statue,’ said Nina. ‘They wanted something hidden inside it. That.’ She gestured at the object in Banna’s hands.
Habib finally noticed the relic. ‘Inside the statue?’ he asked.
‘Yeah. It’s a sort of treasure map. We don’t know where it leads yet, but we will, given time.’
‘I see, I see. Then yes, I suppose the statue is not important.’ He nodded slowly, as if trying to convince himself of his own words. ‘But the — a fish, is it? The fish should still be taken to Cairo. It will be safer in the Ministry than here. Even you must see that, Dr Banna.’
The Egyptian archaeologist was annoyed at having his authority challenged again, but conceded the point. ‘I… yes, it will. But we must arrange secure transport — I will not have you drive it there in your glovebox!’ He put down the artefact and spoke to one of the ASPS before having an exchange with the increasingly unhappy Habib, Banna countering some objection with a dismissive wave. ‘The ASPS will arrange an armed convoy to Cairo tomorrow morning,’ he finally told Nina. ‘Until then, the Andreas relic will remain under guard here. I shall continue to examine it.’
‘I think,’ Nina said gently, ‘it might be better if you took the rest of the day off.’
‘What do you mean?’ he asked, almost affronted.
‘I mean that… you almost died today. And people you know, your friends, did die. You might think that pressing on regardless is the best way to deal with it, but it’s not. Trust me, I know. Ignoring what’s happened isn’t the way to honour Dr Assad, or Bill Schofield and Dina, and all the others who were killed. Right now, you need time to process what’s happened.’
The young man seemed about to object, then looked down at the broken sculpture. ‘You are right,’ he said at last. ‘A lot has happened, and…’ He tried to find the right words to express his feelings — or to admit to them. ‘I cannot pretend that it has not. You are right,’ he repeated.
‘Is there anyone you can be with?’ Macy asked.
‘In Alexandria? No, my family are all in Qena. I will…’ His face turned downcast. Nina realised the person he had probably been closest to was the late Assad. ‘I will go to my apartment. I will be okay,’ he went on quickly, raising a hand to forestall any further suggestions or sympathies. ‘I just want to be on my own, to think.’
‘If you need anything…’ Nina offered.
Banna shook his head. ‘I will be fine. But yes, we shall begin again tomorrow.’
‘Will that thing be safe here?’ Eddie asked.
‘The ASPS will protect it; this building also has soldiers guarding it. And the men who attacked us are now fewer in number, thanks to you.’
‘Doesn’t mean they’ve given up. If they’re that desperate to get hold of your clockwork fish, they might try again.’
‘I am sure the ASPS and the army will protect it,’ said Habib. ‘I shall contact Cairo and tell the Minister when to expect our arrival.’ He left the room, signalling for the ASPS to follow.
‘We should go too,’ said Nina to Eddie and Macy.
Her husband nodded. ‘Yeah. It’s been one hell of a day.’
Nina was about to exit when Banna spoke, his voice surprisingly hesitant. ‘Dr Wilde?’
‘Yes?’
‘I perhaps… underestimated you. You were right about the danger to the dig.’
‘I never expected anything like what happened,’ Nina told him. ‘Nobody could have.’
‘Maybe not. But I did not take you seriously, and… and now, people have died.’