Scarab of Death ( short story ) Scarab of Death was the fifth story in the anthology " Decalog " . It was written by Mark Stammers . It featured the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith . Summary . Edwin Carver is on the run . He has been shot , and he is making his way through the desert away from the Black Pyramid . A sandstorm gives him a little cover , but he soon finds himself right back at the Black Pyramid . He knows he is dying , but he must keep the scarab he is holding from falling into the men ' s hands . He buries himself in a sand dune and dies . The Doctor and Sarah are on a tour of Beta Osiris . The Doctor annoys the tour guides and the other passengers with his comments about archaeological methods . At the pyramid , they don ' t join the guided tour , but instead the Doctor inspects markings on the outside of the pyramid . Sarah trips over something , which turns out to be the dead body of Edwin Carver . The Doctor takes the scarab from him and they contact the authorities . Sarah decides to go back to the TARDIS , while the Doctor plans to search Carver ' s hotel room . Neither notice that they are being followed . At the hotel , the Doctor searches through Carver ' s belongings , learning that he intended to sell the scarab to Anwar Nazir . As he leaves the hotel , the Doctor is captured . Sarah notices she is being followed and heads for Carver ' s hotel . She is just in time to see the Doctor being carried away . She searches the area for an hour , then finally asks a beggar , who gives her information and a card key in exchange for her camera . After she leaves , the beggar ' s appearance changes and he dematerialises into the vortex . When the Doctor awakens , he meets Nazir , who asks him for the scarab . The Doctor fakes ignorance , and Nazir leaves him for now , waiting for his men to bring in Miss Smith . At the Black Pyramid casino , Sarah assumes the Doctor is on the top floor . Before she goes after him , she heads to the basement and disguises herself as a maid , complete with cleaning cart . On the top floor , she enters a room where five men are playing poker . Her pursuer is one of them , but doesn ' t recognise her . She cleans for a bit , then tries to go into a closed room but is told to leave it . She goes into the next room , which has a communicating door to the forbidden room . There she finds the Doctor , and she hides when they hear Nazir come in . He claims to have Miss Smith . The Doctor gives him the scarab that he had earlier hidden on Sarah ' s person . Nazir leaves , planning to finish off the Doctor later . The Doctor and Sarah follow him to the Black Pyramid . By heading for the true entrance , they are able to arrive just before Nazir and his men of the Cult of the Black Pyramid . Nazir plans to use the scarab , a micro - circuit key , to release Horus from his sleep . The Doctor tries to warn Nazir off , but he threatens Sarah ' s life . The Doctor has to let Nazir fit the key into its slot , but when Nazir does , he is disintegrated by psionic energy . The Doctor explains that he carved scratches on the scarab , making it worthless . They examine the sarcophagus and verify that Horus is long dead , his suspended animation equipment having short - circuited . Psionic energy is about to shower the pyramid , and the Doctor warns off Nazir ' s men . They all escape the pyramid while energy spews forth from the pyramid . The Doctor keeps the now useless scarab .