Elizabeth Hawthorne, cosmopolitan tomboy

"Lady Hawthorne, we shouldn't be here."

A middle aged man dressed in a light shirt and khaki shorts was drenched with sweat, obvious fear upon his face. "Lady... Goddamnit, Lizzie stop!"

The woman stopped shoveling away sand and looked up with mock horror, "Winston, such language!" She chuckled and turned back to digging, her own shirt and trousers drenched with sweat from the Egyptian heat and effort. Her black hair she wore short, as was the style. It too was in disarray from the labor. Her mother would have been shocked. Her mother had been shocked every time she found her daughter climbing trees or running through the town streets - with boys no less. Father disapproved too of course, but was too busy with business to pay much mind.

When the war broke out, they had sent Lizzie away from Europe and the horrors. At first she balked at being protected, but quickly realized that she could live her life on her terms out from the eyes at Hawthorne House. She could be free! And free she was, travelling the world - to America, the far east, and Africa. The family had sent Winston along to keep her out of too much trouble. They had enough sway left to keep him from the army, and his father had called in the favor after a lifetime of service. Elizabeth had found some trouble of course, and a variety of lovers. Winston had tried to stop her at first, but eventually found the trysts to be less trouble than the pick-pocketing or the **** or her adrenaline hunting.

"You don't know what's in there, and if the officials find us... "

"You brought that for the trouble", she gestured to the pistol on Winston's belt, "and Moe here will sort out the officials, right Moe?", Lizzie turned to the man digging next to her.

"Of course, Miss! I can handle anything!" Muhammad was a local. He'd been the one with the tip about the tomb, and the one with the contacts to get the supplies. Slighter in build than Winston, he had quick fingers and a silver tongue. He also claimed to know ancient Egyptian and the local museum head. Winston was sure it was all just a scam, but Lizzie smelled treasure or at least an adventure.

By now, the silhouette of a doorway appeared in the sand and the three cleared it out. Darkness lay beyond. "Lanterns? Torches?", Lizzie turned to see what they had. Winston frowned, but eventually produced a lantern and handed it to her. "Just one?", he shrugged in response.

She turned and led them into the darkness.