sideways and caught sight of Natalie and Dennis as they made their way along the red carpet towards the foot of the steps. Dennis was admiring the six huge Roman fire baskets on stands blazing, merrily away, twenty feet high across the front of the museum at the top of the steps at the entrance. The excitement in Nguyen’s voice quickened.
“Here come the renowned journalist Peter Dennis and the very beautiful marine archaeologist Natalie Feltham, hitting the headlines earlier in the summer, for the failed search for Alexander the great’s sarcophagus. Natalie, Peter can I get a word,” Nguyen called as they got to her.
Dennis smiled into the news camera.
“Can I ask you about your involvement tonight?”
“Hi Kim. Yes it’s a truly great turnout tonight for the exhibition.”
Dennis stopped to put his hand up to a group of journalists he recognised.
“Now Mr Dennis you wrote an article on the spear,” Nguyen said, holding up a copy of ‘the country’ magazine’s latest issue. A photograph of the Holy lance on its cover, “How convinced are you that this may be the spear which pierced Christ’s side, that it has magical powers?”
“I think the magic, Kim, is in what people believe. It has brought so many here tonight. The exhibition will be sold out every day and night for two months. That’s the magic it holds.”
“Some say that the lance doesn’t resemble a Roman spear at all. That’s it’s quite possibly a hoax.”
“Well if it is a hoax we’ll have enough experts here tonight to prove it, one way or the other.”
“That wasn’t really an answer.”
“Look Kim. It’s been added to over the millenia. The Roman soldier Maurice lived four hundred years after the crucifixion when he carried it into battle. It contains a Roman nail from Christ’s cross for goodness sake. What more proof do you want.”
“I have all the proof I need Peter. Here in this beautiful article you’ve written,” Nguyen said holding up the magazine again, “And speaking of beautiful, I must say Natalie you are looking exceptionally stunning tonight. Tell me what’s it like to be with the most handsome, eligible, bachelor in journalism.”
Natalie leaned in to the microphone.
“It’s an adventure Kim.”
Nguyen smiled as the couple moved on down the line of photographers and reporters.
“There you have it,” she said into the camera, “Hoax or not. It will be hard to convince this couple. Just three months ago they were involved in a kidnap plot when their search for Alexander’s sarcophagus ended also in a hoax. The sarcophagus never found, waiting perhaps to be discovered as the ‘spear of destiny’ once was.”
“I take it you know her,” Natalie said looking back at Nguyen who was staring after them, microphone held nonchalantly across her chest away from her mouth, one eyebrow raised back at Natalie.
“Yes.”
“How well?”
Dennis too looked back at the television reporter who was smirking at him.
“I used to date her. Hey look it‘s the Mayor of London and his wife.”
Natalie stared after him as he continued down the line of extended cameras and microphones.
Inside the museum waiters dressed as Roman legionaries were moving amongst the milling crowds with trays of champagne and vol-au-vents. Dennis looked up at the impressive tessellated glass roof of the great court.
“What an amazing building.”
Natalie nodded. In the centre of the floor space was an area roped off. Men in dark glasses and suits patrolled nearby. Security for such an important night.
Dennis grabbed a glass of champagne from a passing waiter and a handful of vol-au-vents. The look from Natalie suggested she wasn’t impressed. He stuffed one of the small pastries into his mouth.
“Hm! Prawn.”
“What are you doing?”
“Soaking up the alcohol a bit.”
“I told you not to drink too much on an empty stomach. You know you can’t handle it.”
“I’m fine. I’ll make this my last glass until the speeches are finished.”
“Well they’re about to start,” Natalie said as the select few press photographers rushed forward as Sir Nigel Phillips, director of the museum, took to the lecturn. He adjusted the microphone to his mouth and as everyone turned to face him all conversation stopped. The only sounds now were the whirring and clicking of cameras.
“Mr Mayor, ladies and gentlemen, honoured guests, esteemed members of the press, may I extend to you a very warm welcome from the Great court of the British museum on this the opening night of ’The Spear of Destiny’ exhibition.”
The blue cloak covering the glass case with the spear inside was pulled down rapidly to reveal the Spear