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said.
    â€œWhoa. I’m s-sorry?” I stammered. He’s a museum guard, I thought. He’s caught me in this valuable mummy case. I’m in major trouble.
    I fumbled with the strips of cloth and managed to tug the cloth away from my eyes. “I—I’m really sorry,” I started. “It was just a joke. I—”
    I gasped as I saw the men standing around the mummy case.
    They were short and thin and very tanned. Their heads were shaved bald.
    They wore knee-length white robes that looked a lot like girls’ dresses. And leather sandals with straps that went all the way up their legs.
    I frantically tore away strips of cloth. “Who…are you?” I asked.
    And as I stared at them in shock, I realized that the room had changed. The dark, tiled museum walls were gone, as was the low green ceiling. These walls were made of bright-yellow brick that seemed to reach up to the sky. The room was enormous!
    The other mummy case had vanished. Flaming torches hung on the walls. A giant golden statue of an owl towered over the doorway.
    My mind was spinning. “This…this is unreal,” I whispered.
    An older man in a long white gown reached out a tiny tanned hand to help me from the case. He had bright-blue eyes and a tight smile. Wrapped around his head was a white-and-blue headdress that hung down over the sides of his face to his shoulders.
    â€œPrince Akor,” he said. “So this is where you are hiding. We have been searching for you since the sun’s first light.”
    â€œPrince what? ” I cried. “There is a big mix-up here. I’m—I’m not a prince.” My voice came out high and shrill. I was so frightened, so stunned and confused, I didn’t sound like me at all.
    His smile faded. Those bright-blue eyes burned into mine. “Fear not,” the man said. “You are in my hands, Prince Akor. As you have always been.”
    â€œBut—but—you don’t understand!” I sputtered. “I don’t know how I got here. I—”
    â€œWe all know why you were hiding here,” the man said, nodding solemnly. He placed his hands on my shoulders and squeezed them.“We cast no blame for your terror.”
    â€œMy —what? ” I cried out again.
    The man turned to the others. I counted six of them, all tanned and bald, all standing stiffly in their white robes. “Priests, take the prince to the altar,” he ordered.
    They all bowed their heads in unison. “Yes, High Priest,” they said.
    â€œNo. Wait!” I shouted. “It’s a mistake! I—I’ve got to find Joanna and the other kids.”
    I took off. I didn’t know who these men were. I just knew I had to get away.
    I started for the door, but the men surrounded me. They formed a tight wedge and forced me to move with them. The High Priest led the way.
    â€œYou’re making a big mistake!” I shouted. “I’m not who you think I am!”
    We walked through a long, wide tunnel lighted by torches all along the wall. The tunnel seemed endless. My legs shook so hard, I could barely walk. My brain spun with questions.
    How did this happen? I asked myself. This looks like ancient Egypt. But how can that be? Who is Prince Akor? Where are these men taking me?
    The tunnel led to a big chamber that reminded me of a church. The altar at one end was covered with tall candles. Black cats stalked everywhere. A large golden sun hung across from the altar.
    â€œAll bow to Ra, the God of Sunlight,” the High Priest ordered. The priests all bowed, murmuring strange words to themselves.
    The High Priest stepped forward and took my hand. “I am sorry for your fear, Prince Akor. But it will not last long.”
    I opened my mouth to speak, but only a squeak came out. Myheart was beating too hard for me to talk!
    The High Priest led me away from the altar. We crossed to the other end of the vast chamber.
    â€œOh