III. Ambushed

Something was unsettling him; every time he casted a glance towards the now black waters of the river they were sailing, he would get a funny feeling, like a knot in his throat preventing him from breathing normally. For the first time since the whole idea started, he actually was all balled up, wondering if this was such a good plan. Nellie hadn't bothered to hide her skepticism, but then again, she had always been like that; cautious, analyzing the situation instead of acting by impulse. He also knew that she hadn't told him all of her real thoughts, probably because she didn't have the heart to bring their hopes down… He just couldn't shake off the feeling that he should've taken her uncertainty more seriously. A glass colliding with the table snapped him out of his contemplations.

"Will ya get your head in the game, Burns?" Daniels snapped, his hand releasing the glass he had slammed and going back to reorder his cards.

"Yeah, what's got ya so silent?" Added Henderson, who was patiently waiting for him to finish his play.

Despite that they had been perfectly placed during all the game, Burns pushed his glasses further up to the bridge of his nose out of habit. He gazed at the board; the bets had increased, and he couldn't help but think that both of his friends were bluffing their way out of this game. Glancing back at his cards, he saw that he had already formed a 7-J straight flush. He called the bet, not changing cards. While Henderson in front of him was considering his next play, Burns finally spoke up. "I was just thinkin' about Nellie."

Both of his friends looked up. "What about 'er?" Queried Henderson as he too called the bet and switched two of his cards.

"Don't you boys have any doubts 'bout this?"

"Not ya, Burns! Ya were nearly the most enthusiastic of us 'bout this, don't be a wet blanket now as our Jane." Daniels said, filling his glass. Bernard could tell his friend was losing the game and that he didn't like it one bit. With an annoyed groan, Daniels threw his cards onto the board, indicating he folded and confirming his suspicions.

"I'm not, it's just…" He sighed. "Maybe I shouldn't have dragged her into this."

Daniels snorted. "Bit too late fer thinkin' that now, isn't it?"

Knowing what David was getting at, Burns glared at him. "I'm not sayin' I regret, you know she may be useful-"

"Yeah, I know, but that don't mean she belongs 'ere, surrounded by sand an' scum."

"Have to agree with 'im in that one, Burns." Said Henderson, making his adressed friend's jaw get tense. Daniels noticed, and proceeded to elaborate.

"Ya know we care fer 'er as our own sister, she's good as hell in her work an' her skills will be useful, but if somethin' happen to her it's gonna be the three of us who are gonna feel like shit... the rest a' our lives." A silence formed among them as the poker game came to an end. Burns had won.

The American sighed while collecting his money… "Ol' Dave, always straight to the point." He thought both bittersweet and fondly.

"Hey, think positive!" Exclaimed Henderson while shuffling the cards, "Ya need to visualize all that gold in our hands. Imagine the look in Nellie's face once she sees it! We'll make history, boys."

"An' when ya say to 'er "I told ya so"." Added Daniels. Burns grinned at the two of them.

"You now," He said, "Overall, I don't regret tellin' her and she comin' with us." He glanced at his five cards, reordering them by colors. "She deserves better than spendin' all her time in the cottage or the hospital…" He added absent-mindedly, making both of his companions silently agree.

They played one more game in which lady fortune finally smiled at Daniels. After taking the money, he got up with the empty bottle of liquor in his hand and headed to the bar in search of a new one, grumbling about the lack of service. Burns decided to occupy himself having a look around. The deck was livelier now that it was nighttime; a few women laughed while chatting perkily. Most of them were flappers who wore dresses or skirts short enough to partially show off their legs. Other women were dressed more modestly with longer skirts. Most passengers, though, were males in suits, also talking among themselves and sharing cigars and alcohol. From time to time, someone would approach one of the passengers of the opposite sex, trying to get some company. And above them, a sea of bright stars graced them with one of the most beautiful views Burns had ever witnessed. Back in America he had never seen so many stars together. He guessed it was because of the thriving car industry; pollution was a trend in every modern city. He himself had been poised to get his own breezer with the money earned from his office job and other less conventional businesses. Henderson suddenly grinned at someone at his right. "Doc, what a surprise! Come an' join us!"

Burns contained a smile and looked to his left at Dr. Chamberlain, who was clutching a book under the crook of his arm and looking disapprovingly at their empty glasses and their gambling. "If you can't tell, Mr. Henderson, I'm a man who doesn't waste either his money or his time." He said while sitting down near them and opening his book.

Henderson hissed, faking pain. "Harsh, doc…" He answered wryly. This time Burns didn't bother to hide his amused smile.

"Okay, hang on," said Adele, stopping her pace and positioning herself in front of the other woman. She gave Evelyn an incredulous look. "Mr. O'Connell did what?"

Evelyn sighed. "He kissed me." Adele's jaw dropped.

"When did that happen?"

"Back in Cairo Prision, actually right before he was taken to the gallows." Adele's expression changed from excited to incensed.

"How dared he?" She exclaimed. "Did he think it was a good idea?" She scoffed. "That man needs a good lecture about how to properly woo a woman." Evelyn chuckled, shaking her head while glancing distractedly at the river, a soft smile plastered on her face.

Adele squinted her eyes, looking intently at the other woman. "Wait, you enjoyed it, didn't you?"

Evelyn looked up, frowning. "Of course not!"

Adele laughed, not bothering to keep formality. They were alone at the opposite side of the main deck with only the camels she had encountered back in the day as their company. "Oh, for heaven's sake, you did!" Her pinkish lips curved into a smirk. "I thought you favoured middle-aged English gentlemen, Evelyn. Imagine my astonishment now that I know you're infatuated with a scoundrel..."

Evelyn sighed dramatically. "I should have never told you about that..." She mumbled.

"Why not? Professor Winter is a very respectable man, and kind of attractive too. Not my archetype of ideal husband, though, but I guess it's a matter of taste."

Now it was Evelyn's turn to smirk. "Then which is your archetype?"

Adele's smirk softened, forming a small smile. "I have no idea." She opened her mouth to keep talking when movement caught her eye. "I've seen something."

"Oh, come on! That's the most childish excuse I've ever heard, so don't change the subject. You're not getting away with it, and certainly not after teasing me so shamelessly." The older woman exclaimed joking.

She ignored her employer and walked closer to the gunwale, placing one hand on the rail. Something had moved towards the boat's side, something large and dark. "Evelyn, I'm serious! I tell you I've seen something coming in our direction..." She wanted to take a closer look, but didn't dare to even peek over the edge. She swallowed, her glare fixed on the river; the water was as dark as the night sky. Could her mind be playing tricks on her boundless imagination? "...No." She told herself firmly. She knew she had truly seen that... thing.

"Well," her friend walked up to her side and leaned slightly. Oh, how did Adele envy that small gesture... "I can't see anything." Evelyn straightened her back, her body once more wholly inside the boat. "Maybe it was just an animal, the Nile is plagued with various of them."

"Yes, maybe..." Casting one last glare to the point she had discerned that shadow, Adele released the rail and took a couple of steps back. "I think I'm going to retire." She faced Evelyn, who was looking concerned at her. "Goodnight, Evy."

"Try to get some sleep." Answered the librarian. Adele gave a curt nod and turned around, moving away with hurried strides. She entered her cabin and sighed. The unsettling feeling hadn't left her body yet. With a shake of her head, she crossed the room and closed firmly the small window which had the cabin. "You're overreacting..." She thought. Deciding to change into her nightgown and follow Evy's advice, she walked to the mirror and started to undo her bun, pulling out hairpins and freeing her long locks. She ran her fingers through the auburn cascade that was her hair, enjoying the feeling. Afterwards, she changed clothes and turned off the lamps, laying on the bed. It was a bit stiff. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, trying to relax her body and shut her thoughts. After what felt like an awfully long time she gave up and sat up, massaging her temples. "This is ridiculous!"

She got back to her feet and put on a robe to keep some modesty. She was tying it when she smelled something. Frightened, only one word came to her mind. "Fire."

A nausea woke her up. She could barely hear a thing and her head hurt a little, not as strongly had she kept drinking, but enough to give her a headache. Yet, it was her stomach what felt much worse. Sprinting towards the small bath attached to her cabin, Eleanor threw her hair back as she bent over a washbowl. She coughed and spat saliva until her gag reflex ceased, but luckily, she didn't throw up. Slowly, the American rose. "Last time I ever drink." She lied to herself for the hundreth time. After splashing some cold water on her forehead and neck, she tentatively took a sip of water. How much time had passed since she fell asleep? ...She didn't have a clue.

Gradually, sound began to reach her ears. Eleanor frowned. Why was she hearing screams? She made her way to the cabin's window, still weaving a little, and unlocked it, pulling her head out to take a look. She felt her eyes widening. "A fire!" She could see smoke coming from her left, from where the stable improvised for their horses was located if she remembered correctly. A man dressed in a white suit appeared on her line of vision as he ran around the corner, yelling a woman's name. Now, a thing like that was to be expected. What she wouldn't have expected even in a million years was to see another man, clad from head to toe in black robes and toting two guns with both of his hands, also carrying a curved sword attached to his belt. The man took aim and fired, making Eleanor scream and instantly dive her head back inside the cabin. She slammed the window shut as hard as she could, quickly locking it. She leaned her back against the window. "What in Jesus name?!"

Someone banging on her door made her jump out of her skin. Faster than thunder, she grasped the closest thing within her reach, which was one of the lamps, and placed herself at one side of the door. Okay, a man was yelling while banging her cabin door. What now? She was answered after a kick made the door open violently and a tall man entered the cabin. Without thinking, she hit him on the head with the lamp, using all of her strength. He yelled, both for the pain and the surprise, his hands coming up to his head, where he had been hit. She was already moving her arm back, ready to give another blow, when the intruder turned around and faced her. "Nellie! What the hell?" Her other hand came up to cover her mouth while the one holding her improvised weapon opened, releasing the object. It crashed against the wooden floor.

"Bernie! I'm so sorry!"

"I come rescue you an' that's what I get?!" He exclaimed, still a bit angered.

"I thought you were gonna kill me!" She took two steps forward. "You okay? What's happened?"

"I'm fine, so are the boys; the boat is being attacked." He looked at one of his hands, his fingers covered with a little of blood. "You know, for bein' so skinny you hit damn hard!" She opened her mouth to make another apology, but Bernard beat her, taking a hand gun from his belt and placing it in one of her hands. "You remember how to use it?"

She swallowed nervously. "I think so..."

"Good." He grasped firmly her free hand and lead her out of the cabin. They ran down the corridor and, as they were about to turn one of the corners, another attacker appeared and fired at them. She thanked her brother's quick reflexes, who pushed both of them back into the corridor, avoiding the bullets. He took his own gun out, ready to fire it, when both siblings heard a couple of shots and a man's scream of agony. After exchanging a perplex gaze, both prepared themselves. Eleanor felt her whole arm shaking with fear and adrenaline. They stepped out of the corridor, their arms stretched out.

"Daniels!" Eleanor exclaimed, immediately lowering her arm and running up to him. The man with black clothes was laying dead on the floor, face down.

"We could've killed you, Dave." Bernard exclaimed, following her sister.

Their friend snorted as he patted Eleanor's back, who was giving him a quick hug. "Fuck off Bernard, ya wouldn't have time to even take your glasses off!"

The three started to head to the deck. "Where's Henderson?" Asked Eleanor, worried.

"Up, preparin' the rodeo for us." Answered Daniels with a little smirk which Burns soon copied.

"Oh, no-way. Don't you boys dare leaving me just to blow off steam!" Eleanor exclaimed, making both of their smirks grow. After avoiding another attacker, which Daniels and Burns took charge of, the three found themselves on the deck. It was a chaos. People were screaming and running up and down the ship; others were jumping over the gunwale. She recognized some of their workers, leading the horses to the water or simply jumping out of the boat. However, the people who claimed her attention were the passengers and workers that were laying on the ground, dead. She felt tears forming in her eyes.

The warmth of two strong hands, one giving a squeeze to her free hand, the other closed firmly around her wrist, reminded her that they were still alive. "Don't look," she heard Bernie's soft voice.

Obeying, she swallowed her tears and let her brother and friend drag her to the boat's prow. There, Eleanor saw quite the comical picture. Henderson was crouching behind an improvised barricade composed of chairs and tables, shouting excitedly like a little boy during Christmas while firing his revolvers. His inner cowboy had taken control of her friend. And, on Henderson's left, there was Dr. Chamberlain, covering for protection while jumping every time a gun was fired. He had his book and his umbrella pressed against his chest as if they were shields. After he killed the last of the men in black robes, Henderson faced them with a big smile. "Ah, Doc! Look who decided to join the party!"

The three went quickly towards them, crouching behind the tables. "How can you be so damn happy when this whole boat is on fire!" Eleanor exclaimed. The blonde cowboy just winked at her, then proceeded to reload what he called his "two girls".

"Nellie," Bernard said, "I want you to jump out' this boat an' swim as fast as you can to the shore."

She faked laugh, humorless. "I'm not goin' anywhere without any of you!"

"Oh, of course ya are, girl." Said Henderson seriously. Right after, her brother shoved her over the gunwale, making her scream because of the shock as she was swallowed by the frozen waters of the Nile.

"Evy, Addie!" Adele had never been so happy to see Jonathan Carnahan.

"Jonathan!" She yelled. She hugged him with the force of a boa constrictor. "What's going on?"

"Oh, nothing of importance, love. Just some crazy sect that has decided to start a bonfire and are shooting everybody!" He shrieked sarcastically. Her brown eyes widened in fear as she felt her whole body grow heavy. Mr. Carnahan didn't seem to notice her panic.

"What...?" She whispered. "How did those men get in the boat?"

"No one seems to know," Said he, already dragging her down the corridor. "Come, let's go find Evy!" They continued their way, screaming for Evelyn. Adele's mind was racing; could the shadow she had seen be the attackers Jonathan had spoken of? If so, how could no one have noticed them before? Once they were reaching her employer's cabin, Mr. Carnahan released her hand and sprinted into the room. "Evy-!"

Adele heard a man screaming in pain and, fearing the worst, she rushed towards the cabin's entrance, only to slam herself against Jonathan's back. "Jonathan! Are you-" She interrupted herself mid-sentence when she saw a man rolling on a couch, the fire quickly devouring his black clothes. She was paralyzed. Mr. Carnahan suddenly dove for something on the floor, but the man, still on fire, copied him and moved his arm, holding a hook towards the European. Mr. Carnahan spread his arms while pushing her out of the room, guiding her away from the cabin on fire and the assailant.

"What have you done?! You pushed that man!"

"Excuse me if I was busy thinking my sister was being burnt!"

They ran again until they reached the deck. "Look, Jonathan!" Adele exclaimed happily, pointing at something in the water. He looked, and relief flooded through his body as he recognised his sister and O'Connell swimming towards the river's bank.

"Great! Now that we know they're safe, how about we go find the box and get out of here!" People were going in all directions, forming a riot. She could hear the horses neighing scared as they both reassumed the running.

"What are you talking about? Have you lost the map?!" She shouted, confused. He didn't answered, just kept running. Adele didn't know where they were going, and she honestly didn't care. She just wanted to be by her friend's side, even if Mr. Carnahan wasn't the most reliable of men. The smoke made her feel exhausted. Jonathan stopped his sprint, trying to get back his breath too. She followed suit, noticing they were in the prow. Both heard yells of glee coming from their left. Facing that direction, she saw four men, three of them shooting two men in black robes and the other jumping in fear. Jonathan shook his head.

"Americans..." He mumbled, irritated. Suddenly, the man who had attacked them in Evelyn's cabin appeared, charging furiously at them. Acting by reflex, Mr. Carnahan pushed her as hard as he could, trying to get her out of the way. In a second, Adele lost her balance and found herself falling over the edge of the boat, towards her worst fear.

"I'm gonna kill them, I'm gonna kill them..." Eleanor kept thinking viciously, fuming as she swam back to the surface. She gasped for air, feeling the cold digging into her bones. She casted one last glance towards the boat and then forced herself to start swimming, before she caught a hypotherm or a crocodile noticed her. She hadn't advanced much when behind her she heard a body colliding with the water. She turned around quickly, hoping to see Bernie's or one of her friends' head coming out of the water. But after some seconds passed, nothing but a few bubbles indicated that something had happened. Whoever had fallen, it seemed he or she wasn't going to come out onto the surface.

"At least not by himself..." Eleanor thought.

She was drowning. The water was icy, making her skin ache. She was moving desperately her limbs; her arms drew a circle, trying to imitate the proper movements of swimmers, and her legs kicked the water up and down as fast as she could. But it wasn't working. The river didn't seem willing to give her a lull, and Adele was convinced that she was going to keep drowning until she reached the bottom of the river; she would die right there, the Nile would be her tomb. She was running out of air, and could barely discerned an orange light above her; the boat on fire. Oddly enough, she briefly wondered which death was worse; to die burnt or to die drown. Her vision was more and more blurred, and her lungs were burning. She thought of the irony of wanting to cry below water. On a desperate move, she kicked her legs one last time, but nothing happened. She was drowning.

So, she prayed. She closed her eyes and prayed to God. So concentrated was the woman on her prayers that she faintly felt something grasping her arm, pulling her up towards the surface, towards life.

Eleanor first saw her hair, floating above her head. The woman wasn't moving. She was wearing only a robe and a nightgown, that much she was able to distingish, although it was too dark to make out her features. Ignoring the uncomfortable feeling of the cold soaking her, stabbing her skin like hundreds of tiny blades, she forced herself to swim faster. When she finally reached the body, she quickly grabbed the woman's pale arm and started to swim back to the surface. Her boots weren't making it easy, but after a few seconds, she finally made it. She took a deep breath and quickly pulled the woman's arm, getting a hold of her from underneath her shoulders and pulling as fast as she could her head out of the water. The woman was still concious, and she began to cough violently. When she was done, she started to tremble while moving her legs and arms, confused. Eleanor got a kick on her stomach that made her almost go back below water. "Stop!" She said. "Stop, or we'll both drown!"

The woman immediately did as told, trying to turn around to look at her saviour. However, Eleanor didn't allow her. She wrapped an arm around her torso and began to swim towards the shore, using both of her legs and her right arm. Once their feet were able to touch the sand, Eleanor let go of the other woman, and both made their way to land tiredly, falling to their knees the moment they got out of the water. She wringed her black hair and white blouse as best as she could. Most people, the majority of them a part of the workers they had hired, and horses were already on the bank, waiting for the rest or getting out of the water.

"You were on the docks..." A female voice said. She turned to her left, finding the familiar British woman's visage. She looked paler than she remembered, her lips colored with purple shadows and her hair clinging to her back and chest. Her eyes were not cold anymore, nor were they judging her; instead, she was looking at her inquiringly. Slowly, Eleanor nodded.

"Yeah..." The woman blinked.

"Thank you." She said, and Eleanor could see that, unlike when she had thanked her for her hat in the docks, this time the woman was being sincere.

Before she could answer her, the American heard something that made her stop dead in her tracks. "Come, get 'em out of the water! Get 'em out of the water!" Henderson's voice reached her ears. She glanced to the opposite direction of the woman, finding the two of her friends as well as her brother and Dr. Chamberlain, all of them soaked. She got up and headed to their encounter. Henderson was holding the reins of two horses while leading them out of the water; she smiled, thinking about the love the two of them shared for the animals. Daniels and Bernard were not far behind, the water still reaching below their knees. David said something grumpily to her brother before walking away, only to trip and fall to his knees, splashing water everywhere. She chuckled in a very unladylike way, not being able to help herself. His brother looked at his hat as he emptied it of water; miraculously, his spectacles were still intact, resting on his nose. She approached him, gaining his attention and a smile. Burns opened his mouth to greet her, but was cut by a sharp slap on the back of the neck.

"Wha-?" Again, Eleanor cut him mid-sentence with a bear hug.

"You ever do this to me again, Bernard Burns, and I kill you." She said burying her face in his shoulder. Sighing to himself, he returned the hug.

A.N/: No lame excuses; finally here it is! Sorry this chapter it's shorter; I truly hate to cut it here, but otherwise it would have taken me about another two weeks or so to post it. Agh... Well, it'll have to do. Any guess concerning Eleanor's "skills" ?

Here's a hint: NO, she doesn't have an amazing past life in which she was a badass warrior/princess and saved the day, earning amazing fight skills and a certain priest's wrath.

I can't thank everyone who has read, followed, faved and reviewed enough ^^ Hope you enjoy your reading!

I'm not sure when I'll be able to update, but I'll try to do it as soon as possible.

~Se acerca el invierno

Wet blanket = A person who's a killjoy

Jane = Any female

Breezer = A convertible car