Fadil knocked on Alex's open door and then sidled into the room. Alex was sitting up in bed, stroking his mongoose.

'Er... hi,' said Fadil. 'Well, here I am.'

'Great,' Alex beamed at him. 'Would you like to take a seat in my breakout area?'

'Your what?'

'The part of the room with the comfy chairs.'

Fadil smiled and went to sit down. Alex cupped his hands under his pet and transferred him to a comfortable position on the bedclothes.

'You'll be okay there, Tut,' said Alex. 'Just don't spread yourself out over the entire bed before I get back, okay?'

Tut made a non-committal vocalisation, then settled himself to sleep. Alex came over to join Fadil, and sat down opposite him.

'Alex, can I say something to you before we begin?' said Fadil.

'Go right ahead, Fadil,' said Alex.

'Ever since I first met you, I've known in my heart that you're the greatest of us all,' said Fadil. 'You are the Supreme Medjai – you have proven yourself worthy of that title time and time again. I want to assure you of my devotion and my loyalty; it will be my honour to serve under you.'

'Fadil, I don't want you under me!' said Alex. 'Well, not exactly. And I definitely don't want you to start acting like I'm better than you all of a sudden, just because I'm the Supreme Medjai!'

'I acknowledge that English is not my first language,' said Fadil, smiling slightly, 'but isn't that precisely what supreme means – better than everything else in every conceivable way?'

'Yes, that is what supreme means,' said Alex. 'And that's kind of what I want to talk to you about. You remember Ardeth's demonstration with the arrow shafts, don't you?'

'Of course,' said Fadil. 'But that doesn't really apply to you anymore – surely your shaft is sturdier and more powerful than any other.'

'Well, I'm not gonna disagree with you there,' Alex laughed, 'but to be completely honest with you, Fadil, all this Supreme Medjai stuff sounds extremely dangerous to me.'

'I know you're not talking about fighting monsters,' said Fadil. 'You can do that with your eyes closed.'

'You're right – it's the basic concept that I'm talking about,' said Alex. 'Supremacy – absolute power. It's dangerous and it's not right.'

'So what are you planning to do about it?'

'I'll tell you exactly what I'm planning to do – I'm going to share my supremacy out a little! I'm creating a Supreme Council, and I'm never going to make a decision without consulting them first.'

'How many people will be on this council?'

'Three – me and two others, I mean. That's the perfect number. If I have an idea and at least one of the other two agrees with me, I'll know it's probably a good idea. If I have an idea and both of the other two tell me it's a load of garbage, I'll know it's probably a load of garbage.'

'So the other two councillors will have the power to overrule the Supreme Medjai, if they both agree it's the right thing to do?'

'Correct! That's why it's gonna be called the Supreme Council. I'm not infallible – I've made plenty of mistakes and I've learned a lot from them. If I set myself up as supreme dictator over all the Medjai, what's to stop me from making a mistake that could mean terrible consequences for all of us? I need my Supreme Council to keep me grounded!'

'Truly you are the wisest of us all, Alex,' said Fadil. 'I feel honoured and humbled to call you friend.'

'Oh, don't be silly,' Alex laughed. 'So?'

'So what?'

'So are you really gonna sit there and wait for me to spell it out?'

'You mean you want me to be a member of the Supreme Council?' asked Fadil.

'Of course I do!' said Alex. 'Why else would I have told you all that stuff just now?'

'But... but... why me?'

'Because I like you and I respect you and if you ever disagree with me, I don't think you'll be afraid to tell me so. I'm ready and willing and excited to be the Supreme Medjai, but I don't want to do it without you, Fadil – I can't do it without you!'

'But I used to be so awful to you!' said Fadil. 'I was jealous and childish and rude and stupid!'

'We've all made mistakes, man,' said Alex. 'I just told you I have, and I know you have too. But I believe in you – I believe you should play a major part in the future of the Medjai.'

'And I believe in you, Alex,' said Fadil. 'But I'm sure there are others worthier than I to be on your Supreme Council.'

'That's nonsense,' said Alex. 'I've just told you that I want you and I need you because I think you're the best man for the job. Are you really going to tell the Supreme Medjai that he's wrong?'

'I thought that's precisely what you wanted me to do,' said Fadil, laughing.

'Hmm... yeah, I guess it is,' said Alex, laughing too. 'But only if you agree to be on my Council.'

'So I can only persuade you that I shouldn't be on your Council by agreeing to be on your Council?'

'Exactly. Quite a paradox, huh?'

'Alex, I am honoured by your offer,' said Fadil. 'And I am also honoured to accept it.'

'Great,' Alex grinned. 'I knew you'd agree in the end.'

'Who is to be the third member of the Supreme Council?'

'Yanit.'

'Oh, I see,' said Fadil. 'You, er... you haven't asked her yet, have you?'

'No, I haven't,' said Alex. 'Hey, wait a second! What was that pronoun you just used?'

'Oh, yeah,' said Fadil. 'The thing about that is, I had a quick chat with Yanit on my way to see you just now and she told me her secret, and showed me her hair.'

'She did, huh?' said Alex. 'That's a good sign – I'm hoping I can persuade her to stop pretending to be a boy.'

'At the same time as you persuade her to join the Supreme Council?'

'Yeah, that's my plan.'

'So why haven't you talked to her yet?' said Fadil. 'Er... if you don't mind my asking.'

'No, I don't mind your asking,' said Alex. 'The fact is that I'm not sure exactly what I'm going to say to her... I mean, I'm not sure exactly how much I'm going to pluck up the courage to ask of her. There's the Supreme Council thing, there's the pretending to be a boy thing, and there's... well, there's another thing as well.'

'Are you planning to ask her to be your Medjai Queen?' Fadil asked, flashing Alex a grin.

'Well, not exactly,' Alex laughed. 'But I do want to ask her if she'd like to... I mean, if she feels the same way about me as... well, if there's any chance she might want the two of us to...'

'Be a couple?' Fadil suggested.

'Yes, be a couple,' said Alex. 'I missed Yanit a whole lot while I was away – I often found myself aching to see her again... I mean actually physically aching, if you can believe that.'

'I certainly can,' Fadil assured him.

'I'm in love with her, Fadil – I know that now,' said Alex. 'And when I saw her today after so long, I knew I had to tell her.'

'So why are you wasting time talking to me, when you could be thrashing all this stuff out with her?'

'Oh, talking to you was just as important to me. I need you both, Fadil... just in slightly different ways. I thought our conversation would be shorter and easier to complete, so I could build up to having a similar conversation with Yanit.'

'You could have it right now,' said Fadil. 'That conversation, I mean. She's probably not asleep yet – I only left her room a few minutes ago. Why don't you go along and talk to her?'

'She might not want to talk about it in the middle of the night,' Alex demurred.

'I bet she will!' said Fadil.

'Will you... will you come with me?'

'Okay, but I'm leaving after you've explained to her about the Supreme Council business.'

'What if she's asleep?'

'Then we won't disturb her and we'll talk to her in the morning instead. But we could just take a look round the door, couldn't we?'

'Okay,' said Alex, jumping to his feet, 'let's do it!'


Alex peered into Yanit's room, then he sidled around the door; Fadil followed close behind him. They were both surprised to see that there was no sign of Yanit, although a candle had been lit at her table since Fadil had left the room.

'This doesn't feel right,' said Alex. 'Where is she?'

'I expect she's gone to the... well, you know,' said Fadil.

'Her bed's a total mess!'

'Maybe the sensation caught her unawares and she had to leave in a hurry. It's happened to me.'

'No,' Alex muttered, going to examine the bed. 'No, there's something wrong here...'

Fadil wandered over to the table, where a scrap of paper had caught his attention. As he stared down at the wet ink that had been left upon it, his eyes opened wide in alarm.

'Er, Alex,' said Fadil, 'I think you'd better sit down.'

'What? Why?' Alex asked sharply. 'What's wrong, Fadil?'

'There's a message on this piece of paper.'

'Is it from Yanit?'

'It's in Yanit's handwriting, but it's not exactly from her.'

Alex sank onto Yanit's bed and took several deep breaths.

'Okay,' he said. 'Can you read it to me?'

'Sure, if you want,' said Fadil. 'Unless you'd rather read it yourself...'

'No,' said Alex. 'You read it to me, Fadil... please.'

'All right,' said Fadil. 'To the so-called Supreme Medjai. This is deliciously perfect. I came here tonight with the intention of taking a young Medjai hostage so that I could be sure of attracting your attention, and this fine young lady unwittingly revealed to me that she would be the perfect young Medjai for the job. I am far from finished with you, boy. If you value Yanit's life, come to the large cave to the west of the old rope bridge and surrender yourself to me. You must come alone. If you bring Ardeth Bay or that stupid great Minotaur or any other of your precious Medjai or even that ridiculous furry pet rat of yours, I will slice Yanit in two before you can stop me. I will keep her alive for twenty-four hours, after which time I will kill her in your place if you have not come to me. You know that I am not bluffing you, boy – it is not in my nature to do so, and it is not in your nature to misjudge me. I look forward with great enthusiasm to renewing our acquaintance. Yours, the Scarab.'

Alex roared in anger and slammed his fist into the wall, causing the rock to shatter. Fadil stared at the sight in awe.

'I knew it – I knew he'd do something like this!' Alex snarled. 'Damn that Scarab! I'll fix him this time – I'll fix him for good!'

Alex jumped to his feet and stormed towards the door. Knitting his brows, Fadil stepped into Alex's path.

'Where are you going, Alex?' said Fadil.

'The cave to the west of the old rope bridge!' Alex snapped. 'I have to save Yanit.'

'We have to save Yanit, you mean,' said Fadil. 'We must wake Ardeth and the others, and we must all -'

'He'll kill her if I don't come alone!'

'He'll probably kill you both if you do come alone! Think of your own words, Alex – remember the arrow analogy! If you won't take a whole army, at least let me come with you.'

'No,' said Alex. 'Thank you, but no – I have to do this myself. Now get out of my way, please.'

'Alex,' said Fadil, 'you're breaking your word. You've just made a decision without consulting your Supreme Council – a decision that I believe to be a big mistake that could have dire consequences for all of us, just like the big mistake you described yourself!'

'You know I can make you get out of my way if I want to,' Alex said darkly.

'Yes, I know that,' said Fadil. 'But I don't believe you'll do it, Alex. You meant what you said about the dangers of absolute power, and you meant what you said about needing your Supreme Council to keep you grounded. I am a member of that Council and I say that you are making the wrong decision! You are making it for the right reasons, of course – you care about Yanit more than anything and you're desperate to save her life. But I'm telling you, you're just putting your own life in danger! You can't do this alone, Alex – the Supreme Council has spoken!'

Alex raised both his arms in front of him; Fadil winced. Alex's hands grasped Fadil's shoulders; Fadil was surprised to find that he was being hugged.

'You're right,' Alex said into his ear. 'Of course you're right. I'm sorry.'

'That's okay,' said Fadil, patting Alex on the back. 'Wow, I really thought you were going to hit me just then!'

'So did I,' said Alex, 'for a few seconds. I was right about you, you see? You weren't afraid to stand up to me when you thought I was wrong. You are the right person to be on the Supreme Council!'

'Wow... yeah, I suppose I am,' said Fadil. 'Okay, so let's get everyone out of bed and prepare the horses and -'

'No,' said Alex, 'we're not going to do that.'

'You mean just you and I are going?'

'No; we're not doing that either.'

'But you said I was right,' said Fadil.

'Yes, I did,' said Alex. 'But I don't think you're right about me not going alone – I think you're right that I shouldn't do it unless the decision is endorsed by my Supreme Council.'

'But... but... we're at a stalemate!' said Fadil. 'We don't have our third Council member – she's the one who's been kidnapped!'

'Then we'll appoint a temporary member,' said Alex. 'We'll wake Ardeth, show him the note and explain exactly what's going on. If he says we should attack in force, I'll abide by his decision. If he says I should go alone, I'll do that and you'll be okay with it. Agreed?'

'Um... yes, I suppose so,' said Fadil.

'Don't you think it's a good idea?' Alex pressed him. 'Do you think there's someone more qualified than Ardeth to be deputised onto the Supreme Council? Go ahead and tell me if that's the case – I promise I won't hit you.'

'No... no, your proposal is both wise and fair,' said Fadil. 'We'll go to Ardeth, and we'll abide by his decision. That is the way of the Supreme Council.'


Ardeth looked deeply into the faces of Alex and Fadil, both strained with more emotion than he had ever seen in them before. He read through the note one more time, then let out a long, slow breath.

'Alex will go alone to the cave,' said Ardeth. 'If he has not returned by dawn, the rest of the Medjai will ride out to join him. Does the Supreme Council agree to this proposal?'

'Yes,' said Alex.

'Um... yes, I suppose it does,' said Fadil, looking incredibly worried.

'Remember what I said about the Manacle, Alex,' said Ardeth. 'It will be able to defeat the Scarab if you believe you can make it defeat the Scarab! I believe in you – I've seen you knock ten bells out of that bug, and I know you have the power to defeat it. Go now, and do what you must do.'

Alex nodded, and ran from Ardeth's bedroom at top speed. Ardeth sighed again, and crumpled the note into a ball.

'Ardeth, do you really think Alex can defeat the Scarab and save Yanit all by himself?' Fadil asked, somewhat shrilly.

'I believe it is well within his capabilities, yes,' said Ardeth. 'Though I do not say it is a foregone conclusion.'

'So... so you're thinking the same thing I am!' said Fadil. 'That we'll ride out there in the morning and find both Alex and Yanit utterly eviscerated and the Scarab fled!'

'I can't help entertaining that thought as a worst case scenario,' Ardeth admitted.

'Then why did you let him go alone?'

'Because the only time that Alex is truly vulnerable is when he does not believe in himself. I have seen it, Fadil – I have seen it more often and more extremely than you have. I truly believe that the only limits to Alex's capabilities exist in Alex's own mind, and if I stand here and tell him that he can't defeat the Scarab by himself, that is the one thing that will make him unable to do it!'

'I see,' said Fadil. 'Then I... I did the wrong thing, didn't I? I shouldn't have told him not to go alone.'

'You did not do the wrong thing,' said Ardeth. 'Alex chose you for his Council because he values your opinion and he wants to hear it. Everything you had to say about the situation was wise and well judged – I did not disagree with any of it, in principle. However, I do believe that the best chance for both Alex and Yanit to survive this experience is for Alex to go in there and squash that bug while he believes himself to be capable of doing so!'

'And if the challenge proves too much for him?'

'Then we must pray that he can at least hold the creature at bay until dawn, at which time we will ride out to assist him.'

'If there's any assistance we can give him by then,' said Fadil.

'Yes,' said Ardeth, 'if there's any assistance we can give him by then.'


Alex dismounted from his horse and tethered it to the end of the rope bridge. The restive animal churned up the desert sand with its front feet, and blew clouds of steam into the cold night air.

'I know, boy,' Alex said reassuringly, stroking the horse's muzzle, 'I can feel it too. Now, you just wait here for me, okay? I'll be back soon... I hope.'

Alex found no trouble in picking his way across the sand in the moonlight. He soon found the cave, and entered it. As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he was sure he could make out a huge, hulking shape in the middle of the cavernous space in front of him.

'Scarab!' he called. 'I'm here! Come out and face me, bug-breath!'

Alex was forced to blink rapidly as the cave suddenly filled with light. A large wall torch had been lit by a long, insectoid limb, which now drew itself back to the enormous armour-plated body of the Scarab. Yanit was held fast between the creature's massive mandibles, unmoving. Alex's face clouded over and he balled his fists in anger and frustration.

'Good,' the Scarab chuckled. 'Very good. You came alone, just as I knew you would. You came alone, to save your friend...'

Alex took a step forward, whereupon the Scarab squeezed its colossal mandibles closer together. Yanit let out a scream of agony; Alex stopped moving at once.

'Stay where you are, boy!' the Scarab screeched. 'One more move and she dies!'

Alex's fingers dug into his palms; he forced himself to remain as still and calm as he could.

'If you kill her, I am going to rip your heart out with my bare hands,' Alex told the Scarab.

'Good luck finding it,' the Scarab laughed. 'I have lived for more than three thousand years, and I'm far from convinced that I have one.'

'Then I'll reach inside you and pull out whatever the heck you do have in there! Do you think I'm not capable of doing that?'

'I am well aware of your capabilities, boy – that is precisely why I have acquainted myself so closely with your young friend here!'

'Let her go,' said Alex.

'I don't think so – no!' the Scarab snarled. 'Listen to me, boy – you are going to do what I say, when I say it. You are not going to move a muscle unless I direct you to do so! You are going to keep quiet when I tell you to! You are going to follow my instructions to the letter! Because if you don't...'

The Scarab squeezed its mandibles once again. Yanit let out another scream; Alex could see that the material of her clothing around the point at which she was being gripped was now stained with blood.

'Don't worry; it's only a flesh wound,' said the Scarab. 'Well, probably. But the next one will tear her in half! Do you think I'm not capable of doing that? Do you think I wouldn't enjoy doing that?'

Alex gazed up at Yanit's terrified face; his hands relaxed and his expression became one of submission.

'What do you want?' he asked weakly.

'You – just you!'

The Scarab's terrible laughter echoed around the cave; Alex looked and felt like a very small figure standing before it.

To be continued...