How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
Since this was the first Ceremony for the Dead there was no record scroll to follow, and it was necessary to stop now and then for discussion and new suggestions. Afterwards, of course, Melanie would make a record of the things that were done—and any future Ceremony for the Dead wouldn't have to stop and start. (15.14)
This whole Ceremony of the Dead is completely new and untested by the Egypt Game kids, so they have to do it all from scratch. That's why it takes so long: they don't have a set of instructions to follow as they carry out the ceremony. But that makes it all the better from an exploration perspective, after all.
Quote #8
That afternoon's two hours in Egypt turned out to be mostly a long discussion of the What and How of the Egyptian Oracle. (16.9)
The kids aren't lazy when it comes to creating new parts and aspects of the Egypt Game. They spend lots of time exploring different options for the oracle and determining how exactly the ritual is going to work. If they put the same amount of planning and effort into their schoolwork, they'll be top of the class in no time.
Quote #9
Then, when he'd picked out a nice mysterious quotation, he'd sneaked back to Egypt at night with a flashlight and written it on the back of the paper.
"But how'd you get out of the house like that, late at night and in the rain and everything? Did your dad know?" (19.4-5)
Toby is a brave soul when it comes to adding new and exciting aspects to the Egypt Game. He's even willing to sneak into Egypt at night—when no one else is around—to answer the oracle's questions. Sneaky, but it adds to the fun of the game.