Outside, the sound of the stone doorway slamming down over the sanctuary reverberated from within the temple of Ramesses. Wilder spun around in surprise. He knew immediately what had happened: The voices, footsteps, breathing sounds and heartbeats of his friends were suddenly and completely cut off.

"Ina!" He yelled, leaping forward, back into the temple, even though he doubted he could help.

Just as he passed under the Ramesses carvings and frieze of crazed baboons, Wilder felt a blazing shock as every muscle in his body seized out of control. He began to fall forward onto the steps but caught his balance. He could barely twist his neck enough to look behind himself, but he saw the several telltale wires of a taser hanging down from a spot somewhere between his shoulder blades.