Unis took up his residence in one of the abandoned tombs. With unremitting assiduity and stoical fortitude he spent day after day among the excoriated boulders, the dusty mounds, the bat-infested shafts and tumbled-in shrines which constituted the older corner of the Theban necropolis.
In this fruitless search the Gods Hunger and Thirst were his only companions.
Unis turned once more to the library. With indomitable patience he continued his researches among its unending shelves of musty documents.
Soon he noticed that the name of Amenhotep, the son of Hap, was very frequently coupled with that of the lost Book. In fact, Unis finally convinced himself that the Book lay buried with the body of that old sage, in the subterranean vault of the little temple at which he had formerly served.
Armed with permission to spend a night in the temple, Unis waited until Ahmes, the present ka-priest, had retired into the outer forecourt, in an alcove of which he slept. When the aged priest had snuffed out his lamp, Unis descended into the vault immediately beneath the offering-tablet and altar.
With determined perseverance, Unis tapped walls and floor, slowly, systematically. In the western corner of the floor his work met with success. The pavement thereabouts emitted a hollow sound. In a few moments Unis had lifted a square slab which fitted so nicely to the floor that the joints had been invisible. Lamp in hand, Unis descended a short flight of steps, picked his way along an uneven rocky passage, and presently stood in the vaulted tomb-chamber of the son of Hap.
For an instant unreasoning fear clutched at the heart of the reckless priest. There stood the alabaster sarcophagus which held the body of the sage. Unis read the inscription engraved upon the side: “Amenhotep, born of Yatu; his father Hap, son of Hap, Justified of Osiris.” There lay Amenhotep and, with him, the Book.
The Book! Unis’ fears vanished. Trembling with excitement and high hopes the young priest set himself to his self-imposed task. It was an auspicious night in the calendar of the prophets of Amen! The Star of Thoth was in the ascendent!
Unis set to work with a short, stout bronze bar. Hour after hour went by unnoted by the feverishly excited youth.
At last the stone cover yielded to his efforts. Unis’ eyes gleamed with joy and anticipation. Enana, his master, would be hailed as one with Imhotep, builder of the pyramids, with Ptahhotep the Philosopher, with Amenhotep, son of Hap, himself! Perhaps he too would compel the gods to do his bidding!