The spotlight marking their path, Ferzal led them over toward the rough-hewn rock enclosure that
housed the mighty Sphinx, the most enigmatic of all ancient monuments. Its red sandstone blocks
almost glowed in the fast-fading sunlight, changing to purple as the shadows deepened.
Ferzal was about to drop a few pearls of wisdom regarding its age and pedigree when he heard a
startled shout from one of the others: Cindy's husband, Don, the lanky bookworm. Ferzal hoped he
hadn't tripped and hurt himself.
But Don was looking back at the Great Pyramid. Cobalt blue flames poured from its top and ran down
the limestone casing like dry ice, rushing down to the ground below.
Ferzal and the others turned to run, but an avalanche of swirling cold fire engulfed them before they'd
gone twenty yards.