The Claws of Evil - By Andrew Beasley Page 0,18

scared,” said Jonas, taking over the tale. “I went over to him and introduced myself, to see if he was in trouble, anything I could do, and he gave me this look – it sent a shiver right through me. It was as if he was in prison and I was the first light he had seen in years.”

Jonas’s expression became distant, as if he was remembering something he would rather forget. Then he continued. “He grabbed my wrist. His hands were as bony as claws, although I don’t think I could have broken his hold if I’d wanted to.” He shook his head slightly, as if trying to shake off the memory of that skeletal grip. “Then he forced the coin into my palm. ‘Take it,’ he said. ‘Take it and destroy it.’ And then he ran away.”

“Ran like the bobbies were after him,” laughed Nathaniel.

“Why would he want you to destroy it?” asked Ben, incredulous.

“Perhaps he wasn’t right in the head,” Jonas suggested, forcing a laugh as if to chase his own doubts away. “Don’t suppose we’ll ever know his half of it. And truth be told, it doesn’t matter, because for once a bit of luck has landed in our laps.”

All three of them gazed at the small circle of silver; the miracle in their midst. “I could take it if you like,” suggested Ben eagerly, breaking the silence. “I’m sure Professor Carter would be able to tell me all about it. He could even give us an idea of how much it might be worth—”

“Right before he took it away and put it in a case in that blasted museum.” Jonas shook his head in disbelief. “I just don’t get you sometimes,” he told Ben. “You act like you’re so full of learning, yet you don’t do much thinking.” He paused to let his words sink in. “Do you think anyone else is going to believe for one minute that some Egyptian geezer just gave us this coin? Don’t you think that Carter will start asking questions that we don’t have the answers to?” He closed his fist around the coin to display his resolve. “No, Ben, my mind’s made up. Your precious professor is just the same as the rest of them. He’d take this coin off us and keep it for himself.”

Ben wanted to protest. Professor Carter was not like that. He’s a good man, Ben thought, like you.

Instead, he held his tongue.

“This coin isn’t going anywhere, you understand?” said Jonas. “Not until I’ve had proper time to think on how best we can use it.” Nathaniel showed his agreement by nodding hard. “In the meantime, we’ve got to keep it out of the way of prying eyes and sticky fingers.”

Jonas turned to Ben. “Make yourself useful, lad, and go and keep watch on the stairs. Sing out if you see anyone. I need to get this treasure buried.”

The man was not from Egypt as Jonas Kingdom had assumed. His name was Nazir el Hussain and before he became a murderer he was once a prince of Persia.

None of his subjects would recognize him if they saw him now. His robes had lost their lustre, and his face, which some had called the most handsome in all of Arabia, was haunted and gaunt. He was old before his time.

Nazir looked at his hands and wondered when they had wasted away to skin and bone. They were trembling and he understood why. He was shaking with need. Since he had given the Coin away it was as if he was burning up from the inside.

He wanted it back so terribly.

A year ago, when he first saw the Coin, it had belonged to another man who was as consumed by its power and beauty as he had become. He would never forget the surprise on the old man’s face when he had pushed the dagger into his chest, or the sound of the aged fingers snapping as he broke their dying grip.

“The Coin is mine; you shall not have it,” his father had said with his final breath.

It was poison to the soul, Nazir understood that now. That was why he had to put as much distance between himself and the Coin as possible, if he was to have a chance to be free. Since he had given the Coin to that poor fool at the docks, Nazir had not stopped running. Or looking over his shoulder.

That same day he took passage on the first ship