John held his breath as he opened the box. The hinges creaked and dust flowed from the lid. Valerie moved the lantern closer, raising on to tip toes as she did, peering over his shoulder. John glanced back at her, annoyed at her impatience. Slowly he moved the lid until the hinges stopped and it rested open. Softly he exhaled, blowing away two millennia of cobwebs and dirt. In the gloom of the catacomb he squinted through the haze of hanging fog. As the dust settled he let out a low whistle.

‘What is it ?’ her whisper rattled an echo about the tomb.

‘The most beautiful treasure in the world’ his hushed tones full of awe as cautiously he raised the object from the shadows of the box.

Her mind raced, gold, jewels, precious stones of all kinds, what wonders did the box contain. Again she raised the lamp to observe the shrouded item in his shaking hands

Her eyes widened as she watched him unwrap the filthy clothed shape

‘It’s a brick!’

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