Song of Isis

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Northwestern University - present day

Only a lighted panel illuminated the clustered, shrouded figures. Their voices, like the beating of wings, rose in an increasing crescendo. The tallest among them, silver-haired and imposing, placed a large film against the light and traced his finger along the glowing image. "Cries of surprise erupted, then fell silent. The onlookers restrained excitement evidenced only by the flapping of their white coats.

"Where's Stone?" The obvious leader of the scientific gathering spoke with a quiet tone of authority that commanded immediate respect and attention. "She's the expert on orthopedics."

A robust radiologist nodded. "Stone's the one all right. She'll know what to make of this."

"Doesn't her father work for the Egyptian Antiquities Department?" someone asked.

"Yeah," another physician chimed in. "In fact, this is his find. Look here, Jim, the breaks are patterned. Odd isn't it?"

Silence fell in the room, each expert toying with his own theory. Quick footfalls tapped against the tiled hallway and grew louder. Anticipation and curiosity weighted the lab and the huddled team drew back exposing the x-ray mounted on the panel. The door opened.

"Dr. Stone." The tall man smiled. "Alex, come in." The team turned as one in her direction and shaded their eyes against the hall light.

Alexandria Stone's entrance parted the air as if it had substance. Small and dark, her carriage and demeanor made up for her delicate size to give the illusion of height and stature. Exactly as she wanted it.

The door thunked shut behind her. She flipped the switch on her beeper, crossed her arms over herchest, and eyed the eager scientists crowding the room.

"So, Doc, gentlemen, what was so important you had to interrupt my class?"

Dr. James Harrold nodded at the x-ray. "Something I thought you'd want to see."

Alex strode over to the lit panel and studied it closely.

"Wow! How old is this?" She leaned closer. "It sure looks like you've found something here."

James shook his head. "Not me, Alex. It's your father who's found something. And I was hoping you could shed some light on these fractures."

"What period is this from?" Reluctantly, she pulled her gaze from the film and met his.

"It's believed to be from the tenth or eleventh Dynasties. No one knows, yet. But it's at least four-thousand years old. These are the x-rays your father sent. He's still chasing legends, you know." Her father's old friend and her long-time mentor grinned. "And this is definitely what legends are made of. Legendary archeologists, anyway. It looks like he's discovered an unknown sarcophagus. This could well be the find of the century."

"That's wonderful! It'll make his career." Pleasure in her father's triumph paled beside her fascination with the x-ray and she turned back to the translucent picture. "I'm joining him next week, on his dig in the Faiyum Valley. I can't wait."

"He's not in Faiyum."

"Oh?"

Jim shook his head. "No. These films are from his find near Abydos."

She snapped her head around. "What? The Valley of the Kings? Are you sure? There are no tenth Dynasty burials there."

"Who cares?" an impatient observer snapped. "What's your verdict on the x-rays?"

Jim pointed to the film. "From the pattern, I'd surmise his chest was crushed by a great deal of weight. Probably the cause of death."

Alex stared at the film until abrupt realization widened her eyes. She swivelled and crossed quickly to the window, throwing open the drapes. Sunlight blinded her momentarily and slashed across the room. The scientists blinked in surprise, throwing up their forearms to shield their eyes against the sudden glare. Ezekiel Stone had been chasing legends, no, one specific legend, all his life and now at long last it looked like he just might have found it.

"You say this is a new dig?" She forced a note of calm to her voice. "He didn't tell me. Probably didn't want to lure me away from my last few days of class..." her voice drifted off and she stared out the window as if looking halfway around the world at a quest and a dream.

"That fellow's chest wasn't crushed." Her voice softened to little more than a shocked whisper. The gathering leaned forward as one to catch her words.

"What do you mean?" Jim stepped to her side.

Alex strode back to the panel and ran her finger along the spectral glow of skeletal remains. "Look at this." She resisted the impulse to slap the screen in emphasis. "And look closely. The sternum is compressed, not crushed. These are only cursory fractures. Fractures in a significant pattern. Jim, can you think of any ancient medical practices that could account for this?"

Jim drew his brows together in a puzzled frown. His gaze searched her face as if struggling to understand the question, let alone the answer. "Alex," he shook his head, "I know you did your residency in forensic pathology and your expertise in archeological radiology is impressive. Add to that your unique childhood, you were practically raised in the tombs and pyramids of Egypt, and you may be way out of my league." He shrugged. "But, I have no idea what you're getting at."

She smothered an urge to laugh hysterically with the incredible significance of her father's discovery. "Those breaks along the sternum are indicative of only one thing." She stepped to the light switch, flipped it on and pulled a deep breath. "Cardiovascular Pulmonary Resuscitation."

Shocked silence filled the room, then laughter erupted and scorn.

"CPR? That's impossible. Absolutely ridiculous."

"You might as well claim it's a heart transplant."

"I'd say someone needs a vacation."

Anger swept through her. What a group of ignorant, closed-minded, stick-in-the-muds! And they called themselves scientists. She clenched her teeth to keep her temper in check.

"Yes, boys. It is time for a vacation. Mine." She turned on her heel, stalked to the door, and yanked it open. "If anyone needs me, I'll be in Egypt."

"Alex, don't go off half-cocked." Jim grabbed her arm. "And don't get mad at them. What you just suggested is crazy. No one knew CPR a century ago, let alone four-thousand years."

"How do you know that?" She jerked her arm free, a pleading note sounded in her voice. "Come on, Jim, don't you remember that obscure reference Dad found once and has been trying to prove ever since? You know, the one about the healer with the touch of life?"

"Of course I remember," he said impatiently. "But that's the stuff of legends, fairy tales, myths. It's right up there with the lost city of Atlantis or Camelot. It's for children, Alex, or fools."

Are you sure?" she said softly. "Are you so very sure?"

"Yes." His firm tone brooked no argument. "And I'll repeat myself: no one knew CPR in ancient Egypt."

Alex glared for a long moment, then a smile slipped through her lips and she raised a shoulder in a casual shrug. "I'd bet a month's pay...someone did."

Copyright © 1998 Diane L. Kirkle