Michael and Emma O'Connell were sitting side by side on the floor of a dimly lit cave, with their backs pressed against the wall and their chins resting on their folded arms, which in turn were resting on their raised knees.

'Do you feel like going home yet?' asked Michael.

Emma shrugged, made a face and then said, 'I really hope they're going to keep their promise.'

'You mean today?' said Michael.

'Of course,' said Emma. 'They said I could start my Medjai training when I was eleven, and today is my eleventh birthday, so!'

'You'll be eleven for a while yet, Emmy,' said Michael. 'They might not have meant you could start today.'

'It's the only birthday present I want,' Emma said, letting out a sigh of longing.

'If we don't get back in time for the party, you might not get any presents at all,' Michael pointed out.

'Better that than another one of those stupid Toni fashion doll things!' Emma said with feeling.

Michael laughed, then a slightly disagreeable expression crossed his face. 'You're lucky they're letting you start when you're eleven – I had to wait 'til I turned twelve!' he said, somewhat sulkily.

'Aw, poor baby!' Emma laughed, reaching out to smack him.

Michael laughed again and brushed her hand away. Emma grinned, and ruffled his hair instead.

'I really am vastly underappreciated at that place, though,' Michael persisted. 'My Medjai skills have advanced far beyond my training, and that's a fact! I don't know why Ardeth hasn't moved me up to purple sash level yet.'

'He probably thinks you're not ready.'

'What Ardeth thinks doesn't really interest me very much anymore, to be honest with you. He's old and out of touch – he has no idea what he's doing!'

'You're absolutely sure you're ready for a purple sash, then?'

'Of course I'm ready! I'm the best Medjai warrior in my class, despite the fact that everyone else is at least a year older than me! I'm just like Alex used to be... in that particular respect, at least.'

'You're getting a big head, Mikey,' said Emma.

'There's nothing wrong with being aware of your own abilities... and proud of them too, where appropriate,' said Michael. 'None of the instructors has anything left to teach me – I bet I could run rings around any one of them in single combat!'

'I thought the way of the Medjai was supposed to be all about teamwork,' said Emma.

'That's just another one of Ardeth's antiquated mantras!' said Michael. 'I deserve that purple sash, Emmy – I really, really do!'

'Well, I'm sure we'll both get what we want when the time is right,' said Emma, suddenly jumping to her feet. 'Anyway, let's do like you suggested and get back for the party.'

Michael adopted an unenthusiastic expression and said, 'Are you sure you wouldn't like to stay a while longer? They'd never find us – no one knows we come here.'

'I've decided I want my presents,' Emma grinned, 'even if one of them is a Toni fashion doll!'

Michael smiled, grasped Emma's proffered hand and pulled himself to his feet. The pair of them left the cave with their hands still clasped tightly together, and their heads inclined towards each other. They maintained this comfortable and companionable bearing as they walked back over the rope bridge, and then on towards the Medjai Academy.

Emma's birthday party was in its closing stages. Michael and Emma had both stuffed themselves with food and were sitting at a table together, looking and feeling quite replete. Alex and Evy were talking by the buffet table, while Ardeth Bay was saying something to Fadil that was causing them both to wear rather dour expressions. Yanit and Tara, who were both fairly heavily pregnant, were laughing together as they polished off the last of the sausage rolls.

'No Toni fashion doll, Emmy,' Michael grinned across the table.

'No,' Emma sighed, placing her chin on her right fist, 'but still...'

She watched with little interest as Alex suddenly ducked under the buffet table, but then she sat up and paid attention as he emerged with a small canvas bag in his hands.

'Just one more thing before we all go our separate ways, guys,' Alex announced. 'I have a couple more presents to give out. Come on now, Emmy – close your eyes; no cheating.'

Emma's hopeful gaze lingered on Alex for a few more seconds, then she forced herself to shut her eyes. Alex came over and pressed a length of silky material into her grip. When Emma opened her eyes and saw what she had been presented with, she squeaked in delight and beamed all over her face.

'A white sash!' Emma declared rapturously. 'Thank you so much, Dad!'

'I know how much this means to you, Emmy,' said Alex. 'You'll start your Medjai training tomorrow morning, with Ardeth and the other recruits. Everything's been arranged.'

Emma grinned, then she threw her arms around Alex's neck. Alex smiled and hugged her for a few seconds, then he pulled away and put his hand back into the canvas bag.

'Another present, Dad?' said Emma.

'Yes,' said Alex, 'but I'm afraid this one isn't for you, sweetheart.'

With that, Alex produced a purple sash and handed it to Michael, who seemed unable to do anything except sit and stare at it, dumbfounded.

'Do you like your present, Mikey?' Evy prompted him.

'Yes,' said Michael, sounding unusually quiet. 'Oh my God, yes. This is... this is...'

'This is what you've earned, and what you deserve,' said Alex. 'I hope you'll wear it with pride, Mike.'

Michael looked at Alex for several seconds with large, damp eyes, then he hugged him tightly. Alex smiled and hugged his brother back.

'Alex, I... I really didn't expect this,' said Michael. 'I mean, I thought -'

'That just proves you really deserve it, as you weren't expecting it,' said Alex. 'Why don't you try it on?'

Michael nodded, pulled away from Alex and then rose to his feet. He slipped the purple sash over his left shoulder and pulled it into place across his body, then he looked down at it, grinned, let out a deafening whoop and started jumping up and down in paroxysms of joy. Everyone smiled at the sight, except for Ardeth, who was still looking dour.

'Put yours on too, Emmy!' Yanit called across the room.

Emma averted her gaze from Michael; she had been smiling at him like almost everyone else. Finally remembering the sash in her own hands, she stood up and slipped it on, before beaming round at everyone. A round of applause rippled around the room; even Ardeth joined in with it, and allowed himself to smile at last.

Alex was getting into bed when a tentative knock sounded on the bedroom door.

'Come in!' Alex called, hastily pulling the covers over himself. 'Oh, hi Mom.'

Evy advanced a little way into the room and gave Alex an uncertain smile.

'Is Yanit in the bathroom?' she asked, nodding towards the closed door.

'Yeah, she is,' said Alex.

'Maybe that's for the best,' said Evy, half to herself. 'Alex, I know you're the Supreme Medjai and you don't need your ghastly old mother telling you what to do, but -'

'Mom, you're not ghastly or old!' Alex told her firmly. 'And that's the Supreme Medjai's official judgement, okay?'

Evy smiled, and came to perch herself on the edge of the bed.

'Darling,' she said, 'Ardeth is very concerned, and so am I. We both agree that Michael just isn't ready for a purple sash.'

'I'll be the judge of that,' said Alex, sounding suddenly a little hostile. 'I have been the judge of that, in fact.'

'But don't you think it would be better to wait for a few months?' said Evy. 'Michael's training has been advancing very swiftly of course, but -'

'He's ready for that purple sash, Mom,' said Alex. 'I'm not going to tell him he's not, and I don't think he'd appreciate his mother doing so either!'

Evy sighed and said, 'Alex, sweetheart, you know you're too soft on your brother, don't you?'

'I am not!' Alex said indignantly. 'I didn't let him start training at eleven, like Emma's about to!'

'But you would've done if I hadn't specifically asked you not to, wouldn't you?'

'Um, well... yeah, probably.'

'Don't get me wrong, Alex – Mike's a lovely boy in many ways and I'm over the moon that the two of you are so close, but... well, I've seen him in training and I have to agree with Ardeth that he can be something of a loose cannon amongst the recruits. He needs taking in hand, really... and you'd be the best person to do that, Alex, but you'll never hear a word against him!'

'Mom, I don't want to start messing with Mike's head! It would only make him lose confidence in himself and in his Medjai training; and I know – you know I know, Mom – just how awful and depressing that can be!'

'Yes, darling, I do know that,' Evy sighed, 'but the simple fact is that Michael lacks discipline and could be very dangerous in a real-life combat situation... to others and to himself, I mean. As I said, he needs to be taken in hand; not to be promoted to the next sash too soon.'

'I disagree; I think that purple sash is exactly what he needs,' said Alex. 'I trust my brother, and I believe he'll come through and surprise us all.'

'Well... maybe you're right, Alex,' said Evy. 'You usually are, I suppose. Just... just promise me you'll think about what I've said, okay?'

'Okay, Mom,' said Alex, giving her a small smile, 'I promise I'll think about it.'

As Evy rose to her feet and headed back towards the slightly open door, Michael pulled away from the crack and ran to hide himself in the shadows of the corridor. He watched his mother emerge from the bedroom and then turn to walk away in the opposite direction. He kept his eyes trained on her back, and frowned.

Early the next morning, Emma was in the assembly hall with about a dozen other young recruits. Most of them – including Emma – were wearing white sashes, although two boys had already progressed to the level of orange sash. Emma was aware that several looks of curiosity were being cast in her direction, as well as a couple of somewhat suspicious ones. Just as she was beginning to feel acutely uncomfortable, Ardeth entered the room and took his place on the raised stage.

'The most important thing you will learn in these sessions,' Ardeth announced without preamble, 'is to trust your fellow Medjai. Any one Medjai on his own – or on her own, of course – is weaker and more vulnerable than any truly collaborative team of even the greenest recruits. You must all learn to rely on each other, and to regard your own personal skills as merely a component part of a much greater force. But I'm not asking you simply to take my word on that. Here is a single arrow. Try to snap it, Kevin.'

Ardeth threw the arrow to one of the recruits with an orange sash, who deftly caught it and easily snapped it in half, causing him to look unduly pleased with himself.

'As you see,' said Ardeth, 'the strength of one alone is easily overcome. However, when several are united as one...'

Ardeth produced a bundle of about ten arrows and threw them to Emma. She caught them without difficulty, then proceeded to stare at them blankly.

'Try to snap them, Emma,' Ardeth prompted her.

Emma grasped the arrows in both hands and made the required motion with her arms. There came several loud cracking sounds as all the arrows splintered down the middle.

'Whoa!' Kevin exclaimed.

'The new girl's a freak, man!' someone else whispered.

Emma went very red, and looked down at her feet. Murmurings went around the group until Ardeth spoke again.

'Right, well what should happen is,' said Ardeth, 'the arrows don't break when they're all bundled together, proving that they – like you – are stronger when united as one.'

'Unless they come across a single unexpectedly strong adversary, huh?' said Kevin.

Ardeth shot him a look, but did not reply. Still very red in the face, Emma handed him the broken arrows.

'I'm sorry I ruined your demonstration, Ardeth,' she said in a small voice.

'That's fine, Emma,' said Ardeth. 'I'm sure it was my fault – I didn't pick out the right arrows this morning. Now then, everyone, let's get to work on our team skills by playing our hoop game for a while. I'll come round and distribute the staffs, but if I see anyone deliberately hitting anyone else with one, they'll be straight out of my Medjai training programme, understand?'

'Yes, Ardeth,' everyone chorused.

'Good,' said Ardeth. 'Kevin, you're one team captain; Oscar, you're the other. Pick your teams while I hand out the staffs.'

'I want Emma!' Kevin said at once.

'Fine with me, man,' said Oscar.

'Er... hi,' Emma said nervously, as she approached her team captain. 'I'm Emma O'Connell.'

Kevin smiled, held out his hand and said, 'Hi, I'm Kevin Brook.'

Emma smiled back, and shook Kevin's hand.

Emma entered the dormitory corridor smiling all over her face, and ran straight into Evy.

'Oh, you're finished,' Evy remarked. 'How was it, sweetheart?'

'Goodness, Granny, it was so much fun!' said Emma, still beaming. 'I really enjoyed chucking that hoop around and I scored five goals, then I directed Ardeth all around the assembly hall with his eyes closed while everyone watched, then I fell backwards and Kevin caught me!'

'You mean you fell backwards deliberately?' said Evy.

'Of course!' Emma laughed. 'It was a trust exercise. Can I go along to Mikey's room and tell him all about it?'

'Yes, of course,' said Evy. 'I've just been to see him myself, actually. He seems a little down, but I'm sure he'd be pleased to see you.'

Emma smiled and nodded, then she ran along to Michael's room and pushed the door fully open. Michael was sitting on the floor beside his bed, staring down into his lap. He looked up with a dejected expression on his face, but he smiled when he saw who his visitor was.

'I've finished my first training session, Mikey!' Emma informed him enthusiastically. 'Can I sit on your bed and tell you all about it?'

'I'd really like that, Emmy,' Michael replied, pulling himself up onto the edge of the bed as he spoke. 'You sure look like you enjoyed yourself.'

'I did!' Emma grinned, taking a seat next to him. 'I played stick-hoop and I did a couple of trust exercises and I think some of the recruits think I'm a bit weird – I'll tell you why in a minute – but I know Kevin likes me and I think maybe some of the others are starting to come around.'

'You made friends with Kevin, huh?' said Michael, looking slightly put out. 'I've heard him being spoken about with quite a lot of enthusiasm.'

'Who by?'

'Alex and Ardeth, mainly. So, he's your friend now, huh?'

'Yeah, he is,' said Emma. 'But you don't need to be jealous, Mikey – he may be my friend, but he's not you!'

'Hey, who said I was jealous?'

'The look on your face when I mentioned him.'

'I wasn't even thinking about Kevin, okay? I was thinking about... something else.'

'You can't hide the truth from me, Mikey,' Emma said gravely. 'You were jealous and that's all there is to it... and jealous people have to be tickled!'

With that, Emma launched herself at Michael and subjected his ribs to a thorough tickling. Michael laughed and squealed and went very red.

'Emmy, stop it!' he protested half-heartedly. 'Okay, okay, I admit I was jealous! I'm sorry, I'm really sorry!'

Emma continued her assault for a few more seconds, then she retreated. She grinned at Michael as he wiped his streaming eyes.

'You know, Mikey, you're getting real pecs now,' Emma remarked.

'So, are you going to tell me the details of your first training session, then?' Michael asked, when the power of speech returned to him.

'Yes, I am,' said Emma. 'Just wait 'til you hear this!'

A little later, in the refectory, Alex was finishing off his evening meal when Ardeth came to sit opposite him.

'I want to talk to you about your daughter, Alex,' said Ardeth.

'Go right ahead, Ardeth,' said Alex.

'I believe that she is developing the powers of the Supreme Medjai,' said Ardeth. 'This morning she managed to snap ten arrows at once, during my teamwork demonstration. Even you couldn't snap ten arrows at once when you tried it, Alex.'

'Hey, my powers hadn't started to show themselves yet!' said Alex. 'Besides, I bet I could've done it if I'd really wanted to.'

'Perhaps so, but let's not get sidetracked,' said Ardeth. 'Emma is definitely developing Supreme Medjai powers.'

'I know she is,' said Alex, sighing heavily. 'She can read minds – I've felt her inside mine several times – although I don't think she realises she's doing it. I should've talked to her about it before now... I really did mean to, but then I kept putting it off just in case... well, just in case I was mistaken.'

'But in your heart of hearts, you always knew that you were not mistaken, right?'

'Yeah, that's right. I only held back because the last thing I'd ever want to do is screw with Emmy's head... but I guess by not telling her, I'm doing that even more than I would've done by telling her. I promise I'll speak to her, Ardeth... real soon, I mean.'

'I think that would be wise,' said Ardeth.

'Ardeth, I want to thank you for your concern about my family,' said Alex. 'Not just Emma, but Michael as well. I have to say, I'm very glad you came straight to me about Emma, instead of going through my mom, like you did with your concerns about Michael.'

'Evy had her own concerns about Michael too,' Ardeth said levelly. 'She is his mother, after all.'

'You don't have to tell me that,' said Alex. 'Anyway, you can rest assured that I'll deal with both those kids, in my own time and my own way.'

'But I don't suppose you're considering taking that purple sash away from your brother, are you?'

'Not for a moment.'

The following morning, Safin was woken by a sudden beam of sunlight finding its way through a gap in the curtains and shining on his face. He blinked, yawned and stretched, then he turned to look into the eyes of the person who was lying in bed next to him.

'Hey,' said James.

'Hey,' said Safin.

'Are you glad you didn't go back to your own room last night?' James asked.

'I'm incredibly glad,' Safin assured him. 'Can I stay here again tonight?'

James grinned and said, 'You can stay here forever if you want.'

Safin reached out with his lips, James moved to meet them, and the two kissed each other tenderly. When they finally drew apart, Safin noticed that James was looking a little pensive.

'What's up, Jimmy?' Safin asked.

'I have a confession to make, Saf,' said James. 'Me and Iqbal had a fight last night, in the refectory after you'd left. He... he knows about us.'

'Oh dear; I kind of thought he might,' Safin sighed. 'He's not taking the change so well, huh?'

'I've never seen him so upset,' said James.

'I suppose he thinks I stole you from him.'

'You can't steal someone who doesn't want to be stolen. I love Iqbal and I always will but... well, the way it was with me and him, it was never like it is with you, Saf.'

'How is it with me?' Safin said quietly.

'You know,' said James.

They kissed each other again, very passionately this time.

'Oh no, I've just remembered something!' Safin suddenly exclaimed. 'I'm supposed to go out on patrol tonight, with Fadil. We won't be back 'til after midnight. Kind of puts a damper on our plans, huh?'

'Not at all,' James purred. 'I'll wait up for you.'

Early that afternoon, Yanit and Tara were drinking coffee together in the refectory.

'This is nice,' said Yanit, smiling at Tara over the top of her mug.

'Yes,' said Tara, smiling back. 'It's always pleasant to spend a few moments together, just the two of us, and talk about ladies' things. Plus I'm glad to be able to take the weight off my feet whenever I get the chance. My legs are swollen up like balloons!'

'I know exactly what you mean,' Yanit assured her. 'I just ache all up my legs and back if I stand up for more than about ten seconds at a time!'

'The thing I find most tedious is the constant trips to the toilet,' said Tara. 'I swear this baby thinks my bladder is some kind of head rest!'

'Maybe we shouldn't be drinking all this coffee, huh?' Yanit laughed.

'Yeah, maybe not,' Tara grinned back at her.

'It's the constant heartburn I'm not looking forward to,' said Yanit. 'It's not really painful as such, but it just gets so tedious... rather like the incessant trips to the bathroom, I suppose.'

'How are you finding your current pregnancy compared to your first?'

'I'll let you in on a little secret, Tara. I found the experience much easier on my body when I was pregnant at seventeen... and I'm quite certain that everything isn't going to just spring back nicely into place when it's all over, like it did last time... but I probably shouldn't spread that point of view around because it might set a bad example to the young recruits... or an undesirable precedent, maybe.'

'Yanit, you're an exemplary role model and you must never think otherwise, for any reason,' Tara said firmly. 'But still, that's very interesting. I suppose the human body really is at its physical peak between the ages of about sixteen and twenty, even though we're very much still growing up emotionally during that period.'

'Ain't that the truth!' Yanit said with feeling. 'Of course, Alex entered his physical peak at the age of thirteen and I don't think he's come out of it yet.'

'That's how old he was when you met him, right?' said Tara.

'That's right.'

'And you were driven mad with sexual desire for him even then?'

'God, yes.'

'But you didn't actually... do it with him when he was thirteen, did you?'

'Not when he was thirteen, no,' said Yanit, giggling slightly.

'Yanit, you're such a cradle-snatcher!' said Tara, giggling too. 'You'll probably dump Alex and move on to Michael in a few months!'

'Hmm... I don't think so,' said Yanit. 'Even if I did experience an insatiable desire to get myself a new thirteen-year-old O'Connell boy, I don't think Michael's the choice I'd make, to be honest with you. I mean, what really attracted me to Alex – all joking aside – was the incredibly strong emotional bond we formed, and Michael... well, I really don't think he has what Alex has.'

'I think your daughter might disagree with you there,' Tara remarked.

'Yes, I'm sure she would,' said Yanit. 'In some ways I'm over the moon that Emma and Michael are so close, but in others... well, I can't help thinking he might be a bad influence on her somehow, or he might thoughtlessly put her in some kind of terrible danger someday. But I haven't told Emmy any of that because I don't want to smother her.'

'Yeah,' said Tara, 'then you'd get the chair.'

They both laughed appreciatively at this quip, and took another sip of coffee.

'Was it really your emotional bond that most attracted you to Alex?' Tara asked at length.

'Yes,' said Yanit.

'Not the fact that he's always been pure, unadulterated sex on legs?'

'That's completely incidental, I assure you. And you're not allowed to think Alex is sexy, okay?'

'Why not?'

'Because he's too young for you!'

They both collapsed into fits of laughter, and then drank some more coffee.

'Listen to us, gossiping away like a couple of teenagers,' said Tara. 'Let's get back to more grown-up matters, shall we? I suppose I shouldn't complain about being pregnant. It might be a trial at times, but you get the most wonderful reward at the end of it. Not that I need to tell you so, of course.'

'Becoming a mother really is the most wonderful reward, and it really does make the whole thing more than worthwhile,' said Yanit. 'Of course, the actual physical act of becoming a father is still far, far easier, and I guess it always will be. The men still get all the luck, no matter how much the world changes for the better! Oh, not that I'm complaining about anything Alex has done... or anything he hasn't done. I just... I can't help finding myself envying him sometimes... for not being the one who's actually pregnant, I mean.'

'But you still... want him, don't you?' said Tara. 'Like you did when he was thirteen, I mean.'

'Oh yes, very much so,' said Yanit. 'Although that's another trial of being pregnant, come to think of it.'

'You mean the constantly shifting libido?'

'Exactly. Some nights I can hardly bear for Alex to touch me, but then other times I just want to keep doing it all night!'

Tara giggled again and said, 'I bet Alex is still more than capable of doing that, right?'

'Yeah, he is,' said Yanit, going slightly red, 'but it must be hard on him when I blow hot and cold. He won't admit that he finds it frustrating, of course. Alex is so wonderful, Tara. He's always been incredibly kind to me, and imperturbably patient. Last night we just fell asleep holding hands, and we woke up in the same position seven hours later. I can't believe he got much satisfaction out of that.'

'Of course he did!' said Tara. 'Yanit, he loves you. Your happiness is the most important thing in the world to him – I noticed that the first day I met him, and I've never seen even the slightest reason to think about changing my mind.'

'Yeah, it was really nice and comfortable and emotionally intimate,' Yanit agreed, 'but Alex must have found it very frustrating from a sexual point of view.'

'I don't believe that,' said Tara. 'Maybe Alex just doesn't have a very high sex drive.'

'You wouldn't say that if you'd been cohabiting with him for twelve and a half years,' said Yanit, smiling slightly.

'In that case, his undying love for you is obviously far more important to him than any physical aspect of your relationship,' said Tara.

'Mmm... yes, I suppose you're right,' said Yanit, smiling quite a lot now. 'How's the old sex life treating you and Fadil, then? Are you experiencing similar issues?'

'The shifting libido on my part, yes,' said Tara. 'But Fadil's a one bonk a fortnight man anyway, so it doesn't really make any practical difference!'

Yanit laughed so much that coffee started coming out of her nose in torrents. Tara fetched a handful of napkins and the pair of them cleaned up the mess.

'Oh dear,' said Yanit, wiping her streaming eyes, 'we seem to be out of coffee.'

'I'll go get some more,' said Tara.

Fadil and Safin were walking together through the rapidly darkening desert.

'Tara's getting pretty big now,' Safin remarked.

'She sure is,' Fadil replied.

'I'm looking forward to becoming an uncle,' said Safin.

'I'm glad,' said Fadil, fixing his brother with a smile.

'It's taken long enough, though, hasn't it?' Safin grinned. 'I thought maybe you were firing blanks, bro.'

'Shut up,' Fadil laughed, giving Safin a playful shove.

'Do the two of you still make love?' Safin asked. 'While she's pregnant, I mean. You can't have much of a sex life now, so far as I can see.'

'Well, we didn't have much of a sex life bef... -' Fadil said carelessly, quickly cutting himself off. 'I mean, that's enough about me and Tara. Tell me about you and James. I'm just dying to hear everything, Saf.'

'Everything, huh?'

'Well... okay, maybe not everything. But I'm really pleased and excited for the two of you.'

'I must confess, I'm relieved to hear that, Fadil,' said Safin. 'I was worried you might think that what me and James are doing is... well, wrong.'

'Of course I don't!' said Fadil. 'How could I? I once attempted to start a homosexual relationship myself, as you know.'

'But your prospective partner turned out to be a girl,' Safin pointed out, 'so you weren't having homosexual feelings after all.'

'Maybe not, but the fact remains that I tried to initiate a homosexual relationship, based on what I thought I knew at the time,' said Fadil. 'Love is love, and happily we both have it now.'

Safin smiled and nodded, and snaked an arm around Fadil's waist. Fadil hugged him back.

'So you and James have actually done it, then?' Fadil asked at length.

'Yes,' said Safin. 'We've done quite a lot of stuff, if you really want to know. That's why James realised he needed to break up with Iqbal, because he started doing that stuff with me and it just felt right to both of us. We didn't set out to hurt Iqbal, of course, but...'

'I know, Saf,' said Fadil. 'Sometimes these things can be tricky. I remember how disappointed I was when I realised that Yanit had the raging hots for Alex, but the three of us have always remained the best of friends, and I'm sure the same will be true of you, James and Iqbal.'

'Thanks, bro,' said Safin. 'I am deriving a great deal of comfort from your words. What's that up ahead?'

'Um... it looks like a person,' said Fadil, squinting into the encroaching darkness. 'One who's lying on the ground, I mean.'

'Maybe he's hurt, or dying of dehydration after getting lost in the desert,' said Safin. 'We must investigate, and help him if we can.'

'That's right,' Fadil agreed. 'As Medjai warriors, it's part of our job really.'

Fadil and Safin ran to the motionless body, which was lying face-up on the sand. Safin immediately let out a cry of extreme distress, and turned his face away.

'Oh my God, it's Iqbal!' Fadil exclaimed. 'It is Iqbal, isn't it, Saf?'

'It's Iqbal all right,' said Safin. 'Is he okay? Please tell me he's okay, Fadil.'

Fadil dropped to his knees and examined the unmoving form. After a few seconds, a grave expression crossed Fadil's face and he reached out to close Iqbal's unseeing eyes.

'I'm sorry, Saf,' Fadil said quietly. 'He's dead.'

Safin let out a wail of anguish and sank to his knees on the sand. Fadil placed a comforting hand on his brother's shoulder.

'What happened to him?' Safin asked croakily.

'I'm not sure,' said Fadil. 'He's still warm, so he can't have been dead for long. Can you see how extremely pale he is, Saf?'

'Yes,' said Safin, staring at his dead friend in abject horror. 'And what are those strange wounds on his neck?'

'They look like puncture marks of some kind,' said Fadil. 'We need to get him back to the Academy at once – the physician must examine him, then the body must be prepared and stored according to Medjai tradition.'

'Who's going to tell his mother?' Safin said quietly.

'Ardeth will send her a telegram,' said Fadil.

'But who's going to give her all the horrible details, once she turns up at the Academy to see the awful truth for herself?'

'I will.'

'I'd like to be there when you do,' said Safin. 'And maybe James would too.'

'Of course,' said Fadil. 'But right now, Saf, we just need to concentrate on taking him home. Are you up for it?'

'You mean you want me to help you carry him?'

'Yes. Do you think you can do that for me?'

'For you, and for Iqbal...' said Safin. 'Yes, I can.'

'Good man,' said Fadil. 'Would you prefer to take his feet or his shoulders?'

'His shoulders,' said Safin. 'It's the very least I can do for him.'

Fadil and Safin carefully lifted Iqbal's body and then turned their steps back towards the Medjai Academy.