Timeless Beauty

“What is the meaning of this?” Claudia pointed to a stone fragment partially covered in carved hieroglyphs.

“Now that, my dear, is a very interesting cartouche. These symbols are the name of the Pharaoh Akhenaten.” The white-haired man leaned down, his mouth very close to Claudia’s ear. “And here is the name of his true love, Nefertiti. He was devoted to her,” he whispered.

Normally, Claudia would have bristled at being called “dear”. After all, she was a capable secretary and an independent woman. But Colonel Forsythe was harmless. She realized that he meant his little endearments in the nicest way. Besides, assisting the Colonel to write his book about his adventures in Egypt was the most interesting job she’d ever had. He was a fossil when it came to social manners, but in a gentlemanly way. His eccentricities were charming, even if he did seem a little too fond of people who had been dead for thousands of years.

And so, she had no objections to sharing a little dinner and a glass of wine with her employer as he showed off the collection of antiquities he kept locked in his private study.

“This, my dear, is a copy of the bust of Nefertiti. The original was sculpted by the great Thutmose.” Colonel Forsythe urged Claudia closer. “Does she remind you of anyone?”

Claudia peered at the bust of the long-dead queen. She certainly deserved her reputation for beauty. And, did she seem familiar?

“Perhaps it is the wine,” Claudia answered “but I think she looks a bit like me!” A little giggle escaped her lips. It was definitely the wine. The fog clouding her thinking was getting thicker.

The last thing Claudia saw was the plaster that Colonel Forsythe was lowering her body into.

“My beautiful Queen.”


Word Count - 299