Just Because You Used to Play in Dirt, Doesn’t Mean You Still Have To

Day Twenty One
So, waking up in a desert was mildly disconcerting. Greta started checking out her surroundings. She was in some kind of a camp, and there was a board “for intrepid adventurers.” You can get jobs here? Well, why not? Picking one, she decided to set out to talk to a Mr. Moussa.
On her way, Greta’s heart almost stopped. The most beautiful sight she had ever seen came walking out of his house. Greta’s heart started pounding, she wasn’t sure what to do when he came over and started talking to her.
It turns out his name was Youssef Nagi, but she just barely managed to catch it after the third time he said it. It was easy talking to him, but she had a hard time concentrating on any one thing, which also seemed to amuse him. God, he was blindingly stunning! The more she talked to him, the more she realized he was just a friendly soul. After another hour, she left with the promise to come back and talk another day, and that was one promise she intended to keep.
Making a wrong turn (which was easy to do in these twisting, turning streets, ) Greta ended up in  what she later learned was the market place. Taking a look at what was for sale, she made some purchases. Then she continued on to Mr. Moussa’s.
A TOMB!? Did she hear him right? He wanted her to go into a tomb and find some papers. Why would anyone stuff papers in a tomb full of dead people? Well, alright. She wanted a new experience right? Might as well try, as long as she got to meet Mr. Handsome again what was there to lose? She had better meet him again, or else she was going to be haunting someone for eternity.
Heading to the location they had discussed (someone needs to work on their direction giving skills,) she went down the stairs imagining an ancient trap or a mummy devouring her. Stop it Greta! Stupid imagination! It was going to kill her before she could get started. Well, this wasn’t so bad. It was well lit, and although a little musty smelling, quite comfy. Spotting something glittering on the ground, she went to check it out. Coins! A huge pile of coins. While picking them up, she looked around and spotted a treasure chest. Hmmm, well why not? He had said she could keep what she found as long as she gave him the papers.
A key? What was she supposed to do with this? Greta stood up, clutching the key in confusion. Honestly, this was weird. Sighing, she leaned against the wall, and found an indent in it. Wiping it off, there was a missing space in the shape of her key. Aha! Putting the key in the hole, she heard a snapping and creaking sound. Turning to see if she was about to die, she discovered one of the doors was now opened slightly. She entered, crossing her fingers that the papers would be on the other side.
Of course not. What there was was a nasty, creepy looking statue. Actually, it kind of reminded her of her Uncle Albert. It was the long pointy nose and the wing-tip hair she supposed. Um, ok now what? She had played enough Zelda to know that sometimes statues came to life and bounced you death. Ugh, death by Uncle Albert would just suck, at least this statue didn’t have his bad breath. Walking closer, she kept her eyes on it. Almost all the way to the statue, Greta stepped forward and the floor sank a little bit. She froze in shock as she heard the same sound as before and saw another door opening. Alright! The papers had to be through there. Moving forward towards the door, she paled as the door slammed shut in front of her. What was happening? Turning in confusion, her heart pounding, she looked for the danger. Ok, the statue was right where she left it. Good, she had been about to scream from sheer terror. Calming her heart down, she slowly walked back to the statue. Stepping on the spot from before, she heard the door open, turning and getting ready to dash she moved her foot off the ground and the door slammed shut. Oh! It must be a switch! Testing her theory a couple of times, she wondered how to make it stay. Her eyes wandered over to Uncle Albert. Hmm, does it move? Greta walked up to Uncle Albert and pushed. Yes! It moved, giggling a little bit she had to admit finally getting to push Uncle Albert around would be good for a change. Now we’re getting somewhere, pushing Uncle Albert over to the switch (chuckling the whole way,) she heard the door open. Smiling, she headed for the open door.
In the next room were more Uncle Albert’s (she could never escape the silly man at family gatherings either,) and with a little looking, another switch. Well, this is easy to deal with. Feeling confident, Greta pushed one of the statues on the switch and started looking around the walls. She heard a click, but no door opened. What? She walked over to the door, but it wouldn’t budge. Taking a deep breath, she spun around and started scanning the room. She had heard a click, something had happened. After a few moments, she noticed a new spot on the floor. Walking over, she noticed a drawing of footprints on it. Well, what was there to lose besides her feet? Stepping on it, she heard the door open. Gingerly stepping off, and waiting for the door to close, Greta started sidling toward another statue. However, the door remained open. Letting loose a small sigh of victory, she headed through the door.
Greta noticed the treasure chest first. Opening it, she found a few pieces of treasure and sheaf of papers. Yes! This must be what Mr. Moussa had wanted. Scooping them up, she quickly stood, and lost her balance. Reaching her hands out, she braced herself against the wall, and felt it move a little bit. Huh? Standing up, she took a look at the wall; it seemed a bit different from the rest. Giving it a few pushes, Greta discovered a new room. Oh sweet! Wait, isn’t this the part in all the movies when a dead mummy came and ate you? With her heart hammering in her chest, Greta entered the little chamber and discovered another chest. Oh, thank the stars! Feeling relieved, and wanting to get out of this creepy place, Greta took what she could and went back.
Back in the treasure room, she looked around and noticed another set of stairs. Well, she go forward, or go back. She pondered for a moment, and then chose the stairs. After all, what if she went back, but the rooms snapped shut and locked, and the switches wouldn’t work anymore? Giggling a little nervously (stupid Hollywood,) she mounted the stairs. At the top was a door, and to her left was another treasure chest. Directly in front of her was a footswitch. Opening the chest, she seized the treasure, then stood on the switch. Nothing happened. Uh-oh. Feeling a little panicky, she stomped and then jumped on the switch. Finally, the door swung open! Feeling like it was a limited time offer from some sadistic, fun-loving god, she practically ran into the next room.
Blinking in confusion for a few moments, she finally realized that she was back in the very first room again. Wait, how’d that happen? Had she really done it? Had she made it all the way through!? Feeling giddy, and triumphant, she jumped for joy, laughing out loud and feeling a bit silly. Well, wasn’t she talented. Time to get these papers to Mr. Moussa, and tell him all about it. Oh, and wouldn’t this make a good story to tell Youssef? Smiling to herself, Greta ran out of the tomb.
Man, that did not go as she had expected. When she had returned the papers to Mr. Moussa, he had smiled and congratulated her, and then told her to meet someone else and do more work. What was she, one of his workers? She didn’t think so, he was a fool if he thought she was doing that again! Feeling somewhat put upon, and extremely tired, she got directions back to her camp, had a bite to eat and sank into a blissful slumber in one of the smelly tents on the hard packed ground.

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