The so-called Curse of the Pharaohs – the deaths of people who investigated tombs in the Valley of the Kings – is regarded as a myth, yet people did die. Were they exposed to xenon, a radioactive gas that could have accumulated in the sealed tombs? Physicist Adam Lithgoe finds that suggestion intriguing. He learns of a new archaeological expedition and decides he should tag along and make some measurements. It’s an innocent enough decision. But he has no idea what is actually awaiting him out there.