The Chronicles of Samuel Carter

A Novella – Chapter One: The Call

On a rainy Sunday morning, Doctor Samuel Carter receives a phone call that will change his life. Curious, he joins a secret expedition to Egypt to “find what no one else could,” only to stumble from one mishap to the next. Upon returning to London, feeling not quite himself, his entire world begins to unravel.

Part One

1 The Call | 2 The Expedition | 3 The Chamber | 4 The Nightmare | 5 The Invitation | 6 The Staff | 7 The Cage

Part Two

1 Hellstone Lake | 2 The Custodian | 3 Thyme | 4 Eye in the Sky | 5 The Circle | 6 The Ritual | 7 The Ninth Circle

Part Three

1 Sacrifice | 2 Bellatrix | 3 Island in the Sun | 4 Realisations and Relations | 5 The Trap | 6 Secrets under the Sands | 7 The Great Nothing

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Foreword

This is the first of seven chapters of Part One of The Chronicles of Samuel Carter, in which our main protagonist, Samuel, receives a mysterious phone call.

I hope you enjoy The Chronicles of Samuel Carter. If you do and know anyone who would, too, please share.

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The Call

Samuel Carter was married to his job at the Royal Archaeological Institute of London, specialising in Egyptology and fascinated by the origin of life on earth and beyond. In his thirty-three years, he had spent most of his time with his nose buried in books. His big, wide hazel-brown eyes, curly dark hair and slender physique may not have screamed bookworm. However, his idea of fun, transcribing Egyptian hieroglyphs and citing scientific facts about the universe, was a dead giveaway.

On this particular rainy Sunday morning, Samuel lounged on a comfy couch with his tablet on his lap, contemplating the title of his latest essay.

“Celebrating Ancient DNA.” He pronounced each word slowly, mulling it over, sipping his hot tea. The soft pitter-patter of raindrops lured his vacant stare towards the chessboard on the coffee table in front of the window, erect in silent protest against months of neglect. He wondered about his online opponent, gazing at the pieces on the board. The loud ring from the tablet jolted him back into the present. Frowning, he set down his cup and answered the call.

“Listen carefully.”

“Who is this?” Samuel replied.

“A car is waiting for you around the corner. You have exactly five minutes.”

“Sorry, who are you?”

“Your chance to discover The Staff of Amun-Ra.”

The line disconnected. Samuel stared at his tablet.

A prank call. Something in the woman’s voice gave him pause. Did she know about his research? Was this some elaborate scheme?

“The Staff of Amun-Ra,” he mumbled, feeling a tingling sensation of hope. It’s only a myth.

The clock over the kitchen counter struck twelve. More precisely, five minutes to twelve since it was always ahead. He liked it that way. It gave him more time.

“Goddammit.” He threw on his windbreaker, slung his messenger bag over his shoulder, and shoved the tablet inside. Three minutes, seven floors. What else? Umbrella. Keys. He ran out of the door, slamming it behind him. His neighbour, Mrs Saganaki, stepped out of the elevator as he squeezed past her.

“Good heavens, Mr Carter!” she scolded, “Off in a hurry again?”

Uttering an apologetic “Good morning,” Samuel pressed the ground floor button. The door closed. He forced a smile, waving back at Mrs Saganaki, who shook her head, her lips a thin line.

On the fifth floor, heralded by the sweet scent of pipe tobacco, stout Mr Bates and Rooster, his Chihuahua, joined. The dog yapped and growled and then proceeded to sniff Samuel’s shoe vigorously, prompting him to move, his face contorted into a grimace, which Rooster matched with more teeth baring. All the while, the owner stared at him in disapproving silence from behind gold-rimmed spectacles. The elevator door finally opened. Relieved, Samuel darted out of the building and around the corner. A black limousine was rolling away.

“Hey,” he waved, “Wait!”

Samuel ran up to the car, gasping for breath. The car stopped, and the rear window lowered.

“Doctor Carter,” said a woman in the backseat, her ruby lips curled into a smile. Long red hair framed her alabaster face. Dressed in a white silk suit, a crimson pocket square drew his gaze from her deep, dark eyes.

“Yes, is this…the call…are you—”

“Jackie Rogers.”

The door opened, and the driver turned in his seat, “Now or never.”

Samuel got in the car, clutching his messenger bag so tight his knuckles turned white.

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Next time on TFTD

Tune in next week when Doctor Carter finds himself in a bind and hear him say, “I hate tunnels!”

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TFTD Community

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E-book Preview

Below is an early preview of Chapter One.

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