J) You splash out to the basket. The water is a little chilly, but not overwhelmingly so. As you near the basket, you see a hand sticking out from the wicker lid. But wait! You hear groans from inside the basket! Maybe the person inside isn't dead after all! You reach for the basket and lift the lid. The person inside falls out, into the brisk water. He comes to, apparently unaware of his surroundings. Then you recognize him! He is the scribe who passed you the note in class. He tells you of a plot by the two older scribes to steal gold from pharaoh. The two of you swim to shore in Amon's golden rays of the setting sun. As you swim you begin to believe that your dreams of being a real scribe in pharaoh's court might some day in fact become a reality.

THE END

START OVER

copyright Jay D'Ambrosio 1998