The Lost Pyramid

In the winter of 1876 Professor Canardlie-Beherd delivered a paper to the Royal Morvalistan Society on the lost Pyramid of the Pharaoh Nutt An Kmon.  The pyramid, as everyone was to discover at the reading was quite untouched and so it was confidently expected to contain quite the largest and most fabulous treasure trove of Egyptian treasure.  The Professor’s study showed that from amongst the treasure did Nutt reserve twin giant emeralds for his death mask.   The Professor showed that the pharaoh had fled from Egypt after a palace revolution led by his queen Nefrdi Ditt and her lover, Prince Ksan Oa Var.  Not unsurprisingly, the Pharaoh’s treasures disappeared at about the same time.  

Nutt An Kmon, his loyal retainers and mercenaries headed south into the depths of Morvalistan, then over the sea westwards and established a kingdom.  Later legends tell of expeditions of Greeks, Romans and Byzantines not to mention Arabs, Turks and others which either vanished or retuned with tales of the fabulously rich light skinned tribe living in the deepest recesses of the jungle in strange mist shrouded valleys.  They also told of the many strange and varied creatures to be found there and of vast treasures of gold and precious stones hidden in temples and graves.  

The academics argued for some time while the officers of several nations in the audience at the Royal Morvalistan Society were much more interested in viewing the professor’s strikingly beautiful daughter than in listening to the paper and the ensuing arguments.  

Finally, and many did not notice, the Expeditions Committee commissioned the Professor to mount a dig to recover the death mask.  The professor’s expedition would have been forgotten, for there were many such papers presented to tiny audiences, but for the rescue of a dishevelled, raving madman in a lifeboat far off the coast of Morvalistan.  He, too, would have been ignored but for the fact that Commander Mytilie-Smityn RN, Captain of the gunboat HMS Dragonfly, had been part of the Professor’s audience - not that he was interested in the paper but the professor did have a very pretty daughter!  

In short the tale was one of an expedition that faced disaster after disaster.  A giant snake destroyed the boat carrying the supplies several leagues inshore in an almost land locked lake.  Natives shot poisoned arrows from the riverbanks.  Strange creatures attacked by night carrying off bearers.  Eventually the Professor could persuade them to stay no longer and the bearers deserted one night.  The members of the expedition now numbered the Professor, his daughter, the guide and this sad lunatic.  These gallant survivors attempted to reach the pyramid that they could see.  

The party then took what supplies they could carry and set off over land towards the hills and the pyramid that could be seen inland.  The unseen tribesmen followed. Never seen always present. 

 Eventually as their supplies were running out they met with light skinned people who welcomed them.  Only later did they discover that they were prisoners and destined either for sacrifice or slavery. 

The madman was set to work in the fields from where he escaped.  From this point the journal ended and the ravings began.  All that was clear was that the Professor, his daughter and one other adventurer were still alive and destined to become sacrifices.  Apparently, those selected for sacrifice, are to appease the followers of the sun religion and will be sacrificed when “the gods march in line when Hecate leads them across the heavens”.  

Unfortunately, despite the best efforts of the Surgeon Lieutenant the wretched man died without revealing his name.  His last words were “Tell Harry Flashman ... Suzannah ... Ruby ... fire ... rescue them.”   

 The Governor of Morvalistan, Sir Trafalgar Erringe Goodfellow, immediately despatched a detachment of the Royal Morvalistan Constabulary and other, less altruistic, notables have assembled rescue parties.  

He knew of Sir Harry Flashman who was, coincidentally, in Morvalistan at that very moment.  Jacques Etoilevoyeur, the famous French astronomer places the event as being the conjunction of the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn that is set for 21 July 1878.  The reference to Hecate is unclear.   

The story soon leaked out to the other interested parties in Morvalistan.  A British rescue mission was mounted on the hastily armed steamer “Pride of Morvalistan”. 

 At the same time the Belgians offered the steam ram “Kangu” and a detachment of the Force Publique. 

 Somewhat surprisingly, the Sheikh of Khazi also offered to send an armed expedition.   

What did it look like?  Click Here

The expedition took state-of-the-art food and equipment.

(Click on the picture for more information)

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