Chapter Two

"Enchanted Casaba"

Local Casaba

Fort Brydon, Cairo

Egypt

1933

Inside, the room was filled with travelers, locals, belly dancer girls, and just about every type of character one would expect to find in a casaba on a Friday night in Cairo.

The joint was dim, but there was enough light emitting from the faintly lit lamps that from hung above to see the shadows of people mingling and downing shots of liquor. Jonathan wasn't particularly fond of this place, as it reminded him of the awful taste of blood in his mouth from a day not far enough in the past.

Ardeth disliked the room even less, but for far more different reasons; the noise. His eyes wandered around the bar and sized up the men and women who could be a danger. Ardeth Bey was always on guard, he was a Med-jai after all, and his hand brushed his scimitar.

A tall, burly man with a stomach, which was perhaps larger than the rest of him, stepped to prevent Ardeth from following Jonathan and Izzy to the far end of the room. When the two realized their friend was not with them, they stopped and turned about.

"Um… He's wit' us," stated Izzy, pointing at the Med-jai and then himself with his thumb.

"Really? Big sword…" said the burly man, stealing a glance at it and then at Ardeth. He smiled peculiarly, making Ardeth quite uncomfortable.

"It is no bigger than most, I assure you," insisted Ardeth, trying to step around the man, but he was stopped by a hand on his chest.

"Uh uh! You give it to me and then we'll see about lettin' ya pass," said the man, showing his crooked teeth. Ardeth was most displeased and showed it with his eyes.

"This weapon was given to me by the former leader of the twelve tribes of the Med-jai on his deathbed. I will not just hand it over as a payment for entering a would be brothel."

The man looked seriously back into the eyes of Ardeth for a moment before releasing a loud and raspy, and also quite annoying, laugh. His belly shook and he turned around to smack Jonathan on the shoulder, hard.

The Englishman was caught off balance and nearly fell into the lap of a local male alcoholic, but luckily for everyone involved, Izzy was there to catch him before there was a violation of sorts.

"Your friend sure takes life seriously. Give him a few drinks. On the house!" he cried, throwing his arms up into the air. The entire joint cheered and the fat bellied man laughed again. Ardeth wondered who had let this man out and was about to state that drinking was against his religion, but Jonathan thankfully for all of their sakes, broke in.

"Come on, let's go," said Jonathan. "Wouldn't want things to get rough," he added, rubbing his shoulder and stretching his neck to the side.

Together the three found a booth near the back of the casaba and sat themselves down. They had certainly already attracted an awful lot of attention and Jonathan was glad he had placed a black cloth over his diamond. Perhaps it hadn't been the best idea to come here to show it off. Mostly he had wanted to make Izzy jealous, but now that he was here… things seemed dangerous. Not that he wasn't used to danger, he thought gallantly and smugly to himself.

Jonathan reminded himself that if things did get messy, he had his gun with him and he was mostly sure that Ardeth Bey would protect him as well. Mostly.

Needless to say, the three were definitely a sight to see; a gambler, clasping on for dear life to the largest diamond in the world; a junk dealer/pilot, wearing his cap and goggles atop his head; and a grumpy Med-jai warrior, which one did not usually find in such an establishment.

"So, Ardeth, ready for your first lesson in love, Old Boy?" asked Jonathan, rubbing his hands together excitedly after setting the clothed diamond on the table. Ardeth looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"I am a Med-jai warrior, a warrior for God. I do not partake, nor have I ever partaken in such a display of behavior." Ardeth was certain that would spark a protest with this duo and awaited the results.

Jonathan and Izzy exchanged a look which had the both of their mouths hanging wide open. "You can't be serious!" exclaimed Jonathan to Ardeth.

"Man, you don't know what you're missin'!" cried Izzy.

"Izzy, this man needs our help," said Jonathan in all seriousness.

Izzy quirked an eyebrow. "I don't know. He seems awfully fond of that sword of his."

Ardeth was not pleased with that statement and grabbed Izzy by the ear, pulling his head down onto the table.

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! OW!" Izzy sputtered quite rapidly.

Drawing his scimitar, Ardeth brought it down hard just in front of the junk dealer's nose. Izzy went cross-eyed in horror.

"I believe you have offended the 'lady,'" he said with a smile on his lips. Jonathan chuckled and Ardeth released Izzy, before putting his sword away.

"That wasn't funny!" cried Izzy, pointing at the both of them. "Why's everybody always tryin' t' kill me?" he muttered, crossing his arms and slouching in his seat to sulk.

"Heh! You're one to talk," said Jonathan.

Ardeth shook his head and decided to give in. "If I have a choice I would prefer the lesson instead of the complaints." Secretly he was quite interested in what Jonathan and Izzy would say on this matter and where exactly chickens came into the whole picture.

Jonathan smiled and seemed to grow excited that he now had a new protégée. "Good, good! You've made the first step. Now, all we need are some drinks!" he said, snapping his fingers. "Waitress! Over here," he called to a woman. "A round please." The young woman nodded and went to the bar.

"You better not be payin' for that with my half of the diamond," Izzy said with some bitterness.

"Oh bugger off," said Jonathan, leaning forward to speak to Ardeth.

Izzy's jaw dropped and he couldn't get any words to come out. He just pointed and made little squeaks.

"Yes…" said Jonathan, looking at the junk dealer oddly, before turning to the Med-jai again. "Well, first of all, you have to look about the room," explained Jonathan, acting out his instructions. Ardeth awkwardly, from confusion, did the same to see what, or who Jonathan was looking at.

"Next you need pick out a woman, one that looks good and spunky, not too bright, they're the best at b…" Jonathan stopped when he noticed Ardeth looking at him. The Englishman blushed and chuckled. "It's not so important at this point. You'll find out on your own. Trust me, Old Boy," he said, patting Ardeth on the shoulder.

The Med-jai just sat there and Izzy snickered.

"Almost bit your tongue on that one, didn't ya?" he teased. "Honestly, what would your wife think?"

Jonathan sighed and rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Bloody wanker…" he muttered.

Izzy suddenly straightened and cried excitedly, "Ha! That's right! 'Cause you ain't got a wife!"

"But I do have a diamond," added Jonathan.

Izzy's forehead fell and hit the tabletop with a thud, just as the waitress brought the three men some drinks.

"Thank you, Doll," said Jonathan, lifting his shot. "Cheers," he added, winking at the woman. She smiled and walked away, as Jonathan downed his drink.

Wincing he swallowed and slammed the glass down on the table. "Ah," he said. "That hit the spot. Now… where exactly was I? Oh yes," he said, blushing a bit for the second time now. He smiled almost boyishly and continued.

"Find a broad that will listen to every word that you have to say. Admiration is key, my good sir."

Ardeth smirked. "And why is that?"

Izzy actually snorted at this point from the expression on Jonathan's face.

"I don't believe I've had enough drinks yet to answer that yet!" retorted Jonathan, taking Ardeth's shot and downing it now. He made the same face as before after swallowing and then proceeded to look about the room. His two friends just smirked in amusement and shook their heads.

Jonathan gazed about until he found a woman with blonde hair wearing a rather revealing dress for this day and age, which sparkled, which meant she was rich! She was perfect for this lesson he thought, but before he could make his move to call her over, he was suddenly slapped across the face!

"I say!" he cried. Jonathan blinked his eyes repeatedly and placed his hand upon his cheek, which was stinging quite profusely. After a few moments he was able to regain a clear vision and looked up to see Shelia. The blonde showgirl that he had been with the night that Meela and her minions had come and mistaken him for his brother-in-law.

She stood before him, wearing another one of her famous glittered dresses with a look of complete fire in her eyes. If she had had the ability, he was sure that she would have burnt him to a crisp, but what could he have possibly have done to cause such a rage in her?

"You said that you would call me! I've been waiting for two weeks! And what do I get? NOTHING! And then I come here and find you gallivanting around in the local casaba. How could you!? I thought we had something special!?" she shouted.

Jonathan, who had just been staring at her (and her breasts) in complete and utter shock, along with Izzy and Ardeth, finally found the ability to open his mouth again.

"But Shelia, I- There were mummies and scorpion beasts! Large claws!" he said, mimicking the claws.

"I went along with your lies before because I thought it was cute that you tried to impress me, but this! This is just sick!" Shelia backhanded him this time, hard, across his other cheek and stormed off in tears into the night. Izzy was completely scared to death and was glad that he wasn't the one that had dated her.

"I take it that was your wife?" joked Izzy. Ardeth smiled, but as usual did not allow a laugh to form. Jonathan was too riled up to pay any mind to Izzy's comment.

"Good Lord! What in bloody Hell got into that wench!? You try to be a good man and tell them the truth and where does it get ya!" he cried as he licked his wounds.

"Smacked in the face?" Izzy pointed out.

"No! Well, erm, yes!" said a very confused Jonathan. "But, oh hell. Who needs her anyway!?" he shouted toward the door. It was then that he suddenly noticed that every eye in the joint was on him.

Jonathan stopped and smiled awkwardly. "She started it," he said, as people gradually forgot about his outbursts. In the meantime, Jonathan tried to regain his dignity and pride.

He began to open and close his jaw, making sure that it was still in place, it sure didn't feel like it. At least now his cheeks had gone completely numb, but that wouldn't last long. He figured he would need a lot of drinks tonight to dowse the pain. Boy, would he be regretting this in the morning.

"My friend, perhaps next time, you should call her, or else let me teach you how to properly defend yourself," said Ardeth, who was actually feeling a little sorry now for the man on top of the urge to chuckle a bit.

"Oh not to worry, happens all the time!" he said, brushing it off.

"I'll bet!" said Izzy, putting on his spare eye patch.

"I am almost afraid to ask, but what is that for?" asked Ardeth.

"Oh this?" smiled Izzy, in a very proud of himself way. "It accentuates my dashing looks!" he said, bobbing his eyebrows up and down and lifting the patch to reveal his eye.

"Perhaps explanations are better kept to yourself," replied Ardeth, rolling his eyes. He was right, he shouldn't have asked. Izzy gave him a look and put the patch back over his eye.

From the back of the casaba, a woman snuffed her cigarette into the ashtray on the table and rose from her seat. She walked with grace across the room. All that stood in her way seemed to part like water and stare at her as she made her way by. Jonathan Carnahan felt a cool whisper reach his ears and he turned his head to discover this beauty.

She wore a tight, gold and white dress with lotus blossoms bordering the top of her breasts. Her hair was full of luster, contrasting its blackness. Her bangs were cut bluntly at the forehead and a uraeus was around her head. Jonathan was spellbound.

"Jonathan Carnahan?" she asked with some difficulty. It was apparent by her accent that English was not her first language.

"Y-yes?" he answered nervously.

The woman smiled, her eyes of coal shining. She reached out and took his hand. Jonathan stood, his eyes locked in hers in a strange way. Ardeth and Izzy looked at one another worriedly.

"Hey! Where are you goin'?" asked Izzy, as the woman wrapped a sash around Jonathan's neck and started to lead him away from the table. All Jonathan did was wave a hand to let them know he was fine and continued on his way.

"Something is not right with this," said Ardeth, standing and drawing his scimitar. He started to approach the woman, but three men jumped in front of him.

"What are you going to do with that?"

"Please, you must let me by. My friend is not himself," insisted the Med-jai, indicating Jonathan.

The men smirked. "You're new to this game, aren't you?" said the first.

Izzy greedily pulled the diamond toward himself and looked over his shoulder at Jonathan who was now standing between two fountains. The woman was pressing her breasts against his chest and breathing upon his neck, as her sash yanked his hips against hers.

Jonathan let out a slight cry and shut his eyes, as she slid down, raking her nails along his chest and stomach over his shirt. Turning around, she slid back up his body, wriggling her hips against his obvious need for her. Jonathan opened his eyes and watched her drunkenly. There was no one else around in his mind and she turned her head enough to blow him a kiss. Her lips were just inches from his and she smiled. Jonathan ached for that kiss to be real.

Starting to walk away, she pulled her sash back and walked toward the hotel rooms, motioning for him to follow. Jonathan tripped a bit and caught himself on the fountain, his shoes now sopping wet, but he didn't care. He just watched her and followed.

"Jonathan!" shouted Ardeth from behind the men. "Do not go with her! What about the diamond of Ahm Shere?" he tried, thinking it would bring him back. He couldn't get by and he felt his friend was in grave danger, but his reminder did not bring him back at all.

Jonathan and the woman disappeared as they made their way up the stairs and Ardeth grabbed Izzy by the arm. "Come. We must get the others."

"For what?" asked Izzy. "I've got my diamond now, he's gettin' laid, and you're… turning into the biggest mother hen I've seen!"

Ardeth tried to calm himself. "But don't you see? Something is not right. Jonathan would never leave the diamond of Ahm Shere here like this."

"Let me see… Do I care? No! It's mine, where it belongs! Might even get a few women of my own out of it," he said with a grin.

Ardeth sat down, exasperated. "As a warrior for God, I have come to trust my gut. I know when something is not right. She was dressed as the ancients. Witchery is going on this night. I can say that no good will come of it…"

"Someone ran over your dog in a past life, didn't they?" asked Izzy, taking a shot of bourbon. "Relax, he's not going t' get shot in the ass. That's only when O'Connell is about…" he muttered. "Another round!" he shouted to the waitress. Ardeth just sat there, contemplating things quietly.