Disclaimers – I own no-one, Steve Sommers does.
Rating – PG13
Summery – Ardeth thought all what happened in Germany was over – he was wrong. Credit must be given to Ladybug who helped with the title of this story.
Ardeths Terrible Return Journey
Chapter One
The Visit
It had been six months since Ardeths experience in Germany. He was getting over it slowly, at least everyone thought he was. Only Alex knew different.
He had become Ardeths second in command since Masala had his own tribe and it had been a unanimous vote with the rest of the Med-jai. Alex was thrilled about it although his parents had reservations. He was to get the tattoos done when he had been with them a year and then he would go through the official ceremony to become a Med-jai. Anyway, he was there when Ardeth had the nightmares.
At first it had been nearly every night then it started to get less and less until it was about one a week. Ardeth would wake up shouting, covered in sweat and shaking. All Alex could do was hold him till he calmed down and went back to sleep.
He couldn't begin to imagine what the man had gone through out there, all he could do was be there and help him.
"You're a good friend Alex. I don't know that I could have got this far without you"
"I'll always be here for you, you are like a second father to me and I am proud to stand by your side" replied Alex.
Ardeth smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. He was growing into a fine young man and reminded Ardeth of himself when he was that age. Strong, brave and ready to take on anything and anyone.
"I think we have both been through things that we would rather forget. You at a very early age. We will both get stronger because of it, I hope"
One day, Alex had been to Cairo to see his parents. His mum was surprised to see how grown-up he had become and he looked so different in the Med-jai robes.
"Are you happy Alex?" asked Evy.
"Very mum, I love it out there. Don't worry about me"
She hugged him and was so proud of him, she understood why he had become a Med-jai. It could also have been something to do with her past as a pharaohs daughter. Rick was out on a dig somewhere and they laughed about him finding another mummy.
"I hope not Alex, I think I found enough for all of us. How's Ardeth?"
Alex told her he was fine and back to his old self. He never mentioned the dreams.
"Oh by the way Alex, a letter came here for Ardeth. Would you give it too him" she said.
"Of course. I will see you in a couple of weeks anyway. Hopefully dad will be back then and Jonathan"
He left after having lunch with her and rode out to the Med-jai camp, where he gave the letter to Ardeth. He opened it and read it and then told Alex what it said.
"Father Shandor is coming to Egypt on business or something and wants to see us while he is here. He arrives next week" said Ardeth.
"That's great, be nice to see him again"
"Will also be a good time to thank him for helping me get back here"
In the back of his mind, Alex wondered why Father Shandor wanted to come all the way to Egypt on business when he could have sent someone else. His work was in Germany and Romania, getting people in and out of the country, especially out. Still there was nothing he could do about it till he arrived and then they would both find out what he really wanted.
He actually arrived about five days later in fact but it was another three before he rode out to the camp.
"Ardeth, it is so good to see you" he said hugging them "You look so much better than when I last saw you"
"I feel it, I must say. It is a pleasure to have you here. Will you be able to stay long?"
"Only a couple of days I am afraid, I have to return to Romania. There was some business I had to take care of that couldn't be left to anyone else"
He settled into the camp and then after a meal, they all sat down to talk and Ardeth told him what had happened to him after the man had left. He was grateful for all the help Father Shandor had given him. The Father asked if Ardeth wanted to know what was going on out there.
"I want to know Father" he replied "Don't be afraid to tell me because of what happened"
"I didn't want to bring back any bad memories for you"
Ardeth told him about the dreams and said he would never forget what had happened to him, those experiences would always be a part of him.
"Okay, you remember Treblinka and Auschwitz?"
"Yes what about them?" asked Ardeth.
Some of this Alex had not heard about before and listened intently to what the Father was saying.
"We traveled into Poland a couple of months ago. We had to find four British airmen that had been shot down and were hiding there. It took us a while but we eventually found them just outside a place called Kracow. This of course is where Birkenau and Auschwitz are located. What we saw from a little way away and from what some of the locals told us, those who weren't afraid to speak out, appalled us. We had heard stories about the places as you had and I must admit, I did think that some of them were exaggerated."
Suddenly a man came in the tent and asked to see Ardeth outside, he told them that he wouldn't be a minute.
"Do you think it is wise to tell Ardeth all this?" asked Alex "You have seen him when he has these dreams"
"Well he said he wanted to know. But if you think it's best not to"
"Not to what?" asked Ardeth coming back in.
"Alex was wondering if I should tell you about this, he is worried about you" said Father Shandor.
"Look Alex, I know you are trying to help me but protecting me from everything isn't a good idea. You forget I go into Cairo and I have people who tell me things. I am fine my friend and I am grateful for your concern"
Alex nodded and they listened as Father Shandor continued his story.
"Well, from this hidden place that we were in, we could see the landing ramps as they are called. This is where the trains arrive carrying new prisoners. Some of them are made up of about sixty covered wagons. Inside are the old and the young, men, women and children. SS guards stood at the ramps of each truck, some with dogs and rifles pointed. They were herded out and those that fell or were ill, were shot and left. Then they were put in lines and a man at the front of the lines, seemed to point, either to the left or right. We saw families separated, women and children screaming, oh the screaming, it echoed round the area. The locals who were with us told us that one line, I can't remember if it was the left or right hand line, were going straight to the gas chambers"
"Gas chambers, what the hell are they?" asked Alex.
"They are rooms that the people think they are going to have a shower in. but instead of water, they are gassed and then their bodies are put into the furnace. You can see that chimney for miles, smoke and flames coming out of the top, twenty-four hours a day. We have information that they can gas and burn over 5,000 people a day"
Ardeth sat there and looked shocked at what the man was telling him. He had seen a bit of it when he was there but he knew nothing of the magnitude of what was going on.
"I can't believe that they are getting away with this" he replied "Killing all those people and for what reason"
"The reason that they are Jews. Hitler wants to rid Europe of all of them, I told you that before but now it is worse. Death camps are springing up all over the place. Treblinka, Sobibor, Chelmno to name three and of course, Auschwitz. Only a few of the German people know what is happening and they are too scared to say anything. Others know and ignore it. You forget, the Jews are not popular, many would be glad to see the back of them"
Alex went and got them some more coffee and coming back in handed it to the two men.
"So, there are four main death camps that you know of, could there be more?"
"Oh yes, no doubt about it. These are the ones that we know of. I know there are more and of course the concentration camps are no better. The people in them are worked to death and starved"
"Right, if that is the case, then at least 20,000 people are dying every day in these camps. That's 140,000 a week" said Alex.
"That is right, of course it all depends on things working properly. I was told that if the furnaces pack up, they are without them for a few days. Then they get a back log of bodies. I would say 5000 a day is pushing it, on average it could be as few as 1000"
It was getting late and Ardeth suggested that they turned in for the night, they could finish talking the next day. Father Shandor thanked him for the food and retired to the tent he had been given. Alex was just about to leave Ardeth when he turned to him, his face angry.
"You know what I'd like to do, go there, take a sword and kill this Hitler. Is that wrong of me?"
"No Alex, I am sure a lot of people would like to do that. He will pay, one day he will pay for all this, believe me."
Ardeth laid on the bed and thought about what had been said. He hoped he would be able to sleep and not have one of his nightmares because of what Father Shandor had said. Thinking brought back the memories and the fear. But he was okay, he slept all night without waking once, in fact Alex had to come and wake him the next day.
"Ardeth, come on wake up. It is a lovely day out there" said Alex.
"Alex…why are you so full of life this time in the morning. Have pity on your elders please" replied Ardeth shaking his head as he took the coffee handed to him.
"You know what that is, Ardeth, it is called old age" laughed Alex as he exited the tent rather quickly.
"Alex O'Connell, if you want to become a Med-jai you will have respect" shouted Ardeth getting up and going to the tent door.
Alex looked back and saw him as he stuck his head out of the tent and so the young man ride past on his horse.
"And less of the old" smiled the Arab commander as he watched him leave.
He called one of the men over and asked where Father Shandor was, the man told him that he had gone walking over the dunes at six that morning. Ardeth nodded and told him that he would eat and then go after him.
Getting on his horse, he rode out in the direction that the father had gone and soon found him sitting on top a sand dune, watching the wind blow the sand. He heard Ardeth arrive and dismounting walked over to where he was sitting.
"Your country is beautiful Ardeth, see how the sand swirls round in little whirlwinds, changing the landscape all the time"
"Yes, it is lovely, that is why I live here. It has it's dangers but I could never live anywhere else"
He sat beside Father Shandor and they talked about Ardeths home. Then the man got up and standing beside the Father….
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"I told you Ardeth, I had business in Cairo"
"No, anyone could have done that. What is the real reason?"
Father Shandor sighed and looked up at Ardeth, who was still looking across the sand.
"No-one can pull the wool over your eyes, can they my friend?"
"People have tried, few have succeeded" he said looking at the man seated on the sand.
"I'm sorry Ardeth. I didn't know how to ask you, I have no right to ask you. But there is no-one else. If you say no, then I will leave and no more shall be said on the subject"
"You want me to return to Romania with you, don't you?"
"Yes, I need your help. It will be dangerous, I won't tell you different. You could end up in a worse situation than last time, all I ask is you think about it"
"Tell me what you need and I promise… I will think about it. I can promise no more"
Father Shandor took him by the hand and thanked him. Ardeth suggested that they took this back to the camp, there was a sand storm coming up and he didn't want to be caught out in one. They got back to the tents with only a few minutes to spare before the storm hit.
Father Shandor looked worried but Ardeth assured him that it wouldn't last that long and that they were safe in the tent. He asked him to explain why he wanted him to go back to Romania.
Rating – PG13
Summery – Ardeth thought all what happened in Germany was over – he was wrong. Credit must be given to Ladybug who helped with the title of this story.
Ardeths Terrible Return Journey
Chapter One
The Visit
It had been six months since Ardeths experience in Germany. He was getting over it slowly, at least everyone thought he was. Only Alex knew different.
He had become Ardeths second in command since Masala had his own tribe and it had been a unanimous vote with the rest of the Med-jai. Alex was thrilled about it although his parents had reservations. He was to get the tattoos done when he had been with them a year and then he would go through the official ceremony to become a Med-jai. Anyway, he was there when Ardeth had the nightmares.
At first it had been nearly every night then it started to get less and less until it was about one a week. Ardeth would wake up shouting, covered in sweat and shaking. All Alex could do was hold him till he calmed down and went back to sleep.
He couldn't begin to imagine what the man had gone through out there, all he could do was be there and help him.
"You're a good friend Alex. I don't know that I could have got this far without you"
"I'll always be here for you, you are like a second father to me and I am proud to stand by your side" replied Alex.
Ardeth smiled at him and put a hand on his shoulder. He was growing into a fine young man and reminded Ardeth of himself when he was that age. Strong, brave and ready to take on anything and anyone.
"I think we have both been through things that we would rather forget. You at a very early age. We will both get stronger because of it, I hope"
One day, Alex had been to Cairo to see his parents. His mum was surprised to see how grown-up he had become and he looked so different in the Med-jai robes.
"Are you happy Alex?" asked Evy.
"Very mum, I love it out there. Don't worry about me"
She hugged him and was so proud of him, she understood why he had become a Med-jai. It could also have been something to do with her past as a pharaohs daughter. Rick was out on a dig somewhere and they laughed about him finding another mummy.
"I hope not Alex, I think I found enough for all of us. How's Ardeth?"
Alex told her he was fine and back to his old self. He never mentioned the dreams.
"Oh by the way Alex, a letter came here for Ardeth. Would you give it too him" she said.
"Of course. I will see you in a couple of weeks anyway. Hopefully dad will be back then and Jonathan"
He left after having lunch with her and rode out to the Med-jai camp, where he gave the letter to Ardeth. He opened it and read it and then told Alex what it said.
"Father Shandor is coming to Egypt on business or something and wants to see us while he is here. He arrives next week" said Ardeth.
"That's great, be nice to see him again"
"Will also be a good time to thank him for helping me get back here"
In the back of his mind, Alex wondered why Father Shandor wanted to come all the way to Egypt on business when he could have sent someone else. His work was in Germany and Romania, getting people in and out of the country, especially out. Still there was nothing he could do about it till he arrived and then they would both find out what he really wanted.
He actually arrived about five days later in fact but it was another three before he rode out to the camp.
"Ardeth, it is so good to see you" he said hugging them "You look so much better than when I last saw you"
"I feel it, I must say. It is a pleasure to have you here. Will you be able to stay long?"
"Only a couple of days I am afraid, I have to return to Romania. There was some business I had to take care of that couldn't be left to anyone else"
He settled into the camp and then after a meal, they all sat down to talk and Ardeth told him what had happened to him after the man had left. He was grateful for all the help Father Shandor had given him. The Father asked if Ardeth wanted to know what was going on out there.
"I want to know Father" he replied "Don't be afraid to tell me because of what happened"
"I didn't want to bring back any bad memories for you"
Ardeth told him about the dreams and said he would never forget what had happened to him, those experiences would always be a part of him.
"Okay, you remember Treblinka and Auschwitz?"
"Yes what about them?" asked Ardeth.
Some of this Alex had not heard about before and listened intently to what the Father was saying.
"We traveled into Poland a couple of months ago. We had to find four British airmen that had been shot down and were hiding there. It took us a while but we eventually found them just outside a place called Kracow. This of course is where Birkenau and Auschwitz are located. What we saw from a little way away and from what some of the locals told us, those who weren't afraid to speak out, appalled us. We had heard stories about the places as you had and I must admit, I did think that some of them were exaggerated."
Suddenly a man came in the tent and asked to see Ardeth outside, he told them that he wouldn't be a minute.
"Do you think it is wise to tell Ardeth all this?" asked Alex "You have seen him when he has these dreams"
"Well he said he wanted to know. But if you think it's best not to"
"Not to what?" asked Ardeth coming back in.
"Alex was wondering if I should tell you about this, he is worried about you" said Father Shandor.
"Look Alex, I know you are trying to help me but protecting me from everything isn't a good idea. You forget I go into Cairo and I have people who tell me things. I am fine my friend and I am grateful for your concern"
Alex nodded and they listened as Father Shandor continued his story.
"Well, from this hidden place that we were in, we could see the landing ramps as they are called. This is where the trains arrive carrying new prisoners. Some of them are made up of about sixty covered wagons. Inside are the old and the young, men, women and children. SS guards stood at the ramps of each truck, some with dogs and rifles pointed. They were herded out and those that fell or were ill, were shot and left. Then they were put in lines and a man at the front of the lines, seemed to point, either to the left or right. We saw families separated, women and children screaming, oh the screaming, it echoed round the area. The locals who were with us told us that one line, I can't remember if it was the left or right hand line, were going straight to the gas chambers"
"Gas chambers, what the hell are they?" asked Alex.
"They are rooms that the people think they are going to have a shower in. but instead of water, they are gassed and then their bodies are put into the furnace. You can see that chimney for miles, smoke and flames coming out of the top, twenty-four hours a day. We have information that they can gas and burn over 5,000 people a day"
Ardeth sat there and looked shocked at what the man was telling him. He had seen a bit of it when he was there but he knew nothing of the magnitude of what was going on.
"I can't believe that they are getting away with this" he replied "Killing all those people and for what reason"
"The reason that they are Jews. Hitler wants to rid Europe of all of them, I told you that before but now it is worse. Death camps are springing up all over the place. Treblinka, Sobibor, Chelmno to name three and of course, Auschwitz. Only a few of the German people know what is happening and they are too scared to say anything. Others know and ignore it. You forget, the Jews are not popular, many would be glad to see the back of them"
Alex went and got them some more coffee and coming back in handed it to the two men.
"So, there are four main death camps that you know of, could there be more?"
"Oh yes, no doubt about it. These are the ones that we know of. I know there are more and of course the concentration camps are no better. The people in them are worked to death and starved"
"Right, if that is the case, then at least 20,000 people are dying every day in these camps. That's 140,000 a week" said Alex.
"That is right, of course it all depends on things working properly. I was told that if the furnaces pack up, they are without them for a few days. Then they get a back log of bodies. I would say 5000 a day is pushing it, on average it could be as few as 1000"
It was getting late and Ardeth suggested that they turned in for the night, they could finish talking the next day. Father Shandor thanked him for the food and retired to the tent he had been given. Alex was just about to leave Ardeth when he turned to him, his face angry.
"You know what I'd like to do, go there, take a sword and kill this Hitler. Is that wrong of me?"
"No Alex, I am sure a lot of people would like to do that. He will pay, one day he will pay for all this, believe me."
Ardeth laid on the bed and thought about what had been said. He hoped he would be able to sleep and not have one of his nightmares because of what Father Shandor had said. Thinking brought back the memories and the fear. But he was okay, he slept all night without waking once, in fact Alex had to come and wake him the next day.
"Ardeth, come on wake up. It is a lovely day out there" said Alex.
"Alex…why are you so full of life this time in the morning. Have pity on your elders please" replied Ardeth shaking his head as he took the coffee handed to him.
"You know what that is, Ardeth, it is called old age" laughed Alex as he exited the tent rather quickly.
"Alex O'Connell, if you want to become a Med-jai you will have respect" shouted Ardeth getting up and going to the tent door.
Alex looked back and saw him as he stuck his head out of the tent and so the young man ride past on his horse.
"And less of the old" smiled the Arab commander as he watched him leave.
He called one of the men over and asked where Father Shandor was, the man told him that he had gone walking over the dunes at six that morning. Ardeth nodded and told him that he would eat and then go after him.
Getting on his horse, he rode out in the direction that the father had gone and soon found him sitting on top a sand dune, watching the wind blow the sand. He heard Ardeth arrive and dismounting walked over to where he was sitting.
"Your country is beautiful Ardeth, see how the sand swirls round in little whirlwinds, changing the landscape all the time"
"Yes, it is lovely, that is why I live here. It has it's dangers but I could never live anywhere else"
He sat beside Father Shandor and they talked about Ardeths home. Then the man got up and standing beside the Father….
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"I told you Ardeth, I had business in Cairo"
"No, anyone could have done that. What is the real reason?"
Father Shandor sighed and looked up at Ardeth, who was still looking across the sand.
"No-one can pull the wool over your eyes, can they my friend?"
"People have tried, few have succeeded" he said looking at the man seated on the sand.
"I'm sorry Ardeth. I didn't know how to ask you, I have no right to ask you. But there is no-one else. If you say no, then I will leave and no more shall be said on the subject"
"You want me to return to Romania with you, don't you?"
"Yes, I need your help. It will be dangerous, I won't tell you different. You could end up in a worse situation than last time, all I ask is you think about it"
"Tell me what you need and I promise… I will think about it. I can promise no more"
Father Shandor took him by the hand and thanked him. Ardeth suggested that they took this back to the camp, there was a sand storm coming up and he didn't want to be caught out in one. They got back to the tents with only a few minutes to spare before the storm hit.
Father Shandor looked worried but Ardeth assured him that it wouldn't last that long and that they were safe in the tent. He asked him to explain why he wanted him to go back to Romania.