Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars

Next chapter of my Broken Sword story, enjoy.

Reviews

Boris Yeltsin: Yes, indeed it has :)
Wolfgirl2013: Thanks :)

Now onto the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Broken Sword or its characters.

Need Some Dollars

Returning to the club I approached the owner and thought for a moment. There didn't seem much point in launching an in depth conversation, when I couldn't speak Arabic and he couldn't speak, period. Well, I did know a few words of Arabic, but doubted the wisdom of using them. Instead I took out the toilet brush and held it out to him.

"Here's your brush sir, it wasn't easy getting it back."

He gave me a grimace of a smile, took the brush from me, put the toilet keys down on the bar and then stomped off into a back room. I took the keys and turned to Ultar.

"What was all that about?" I asked.

Ultar explained. "Manager he say 'bah, look at state of this, need much cleaning in detergent before go around MY U-bend.'"

"He said all that?" I wondered.

"Body language account for much you know, oh yes indeedy." Ultar replied.

Nodding I walked over to the toilet, unlocked the door and, slipping the keys into my pocket, I entered, and then stopped dead. No wonder the guy kept it locked up after the brush was stolen, attempting to keep the toilet clean, this place was immaculate. I'd never seen a toilet so clean, everything, the tiled floor, the tiled walls, the sinks, even the mirror was shining. The green cubicle was spotless and when I opened it, so too was the oddly designed floor level toilet and the ceiling high cistern with toilet chain. Finally taking the chance to wash my face, trying not to drip too much water, I cleaned my hands and face off on the roller towel before noting the keyhole in the dispenser.

I paused, worried, I was technically stealing after all, but after everything I'd been through and done so far, especially with learning how the strangest objects had their uses, I just had a gut feeling I'd need the towel. So I unlocked the dispenser with the other key on the keyring given to me and pocketed both. I left the bathroom, nodding to Ultar as I passed and made my way back down to the market, I still needed to find fifty dollars to get Ultar to take me to Bull's Head Hill. I heard a sound and noticed that Nejo was already playing with the ball I gave him, bouncing it against the wall of his house, just by the door. I approached his stall and paused, I looked around, spotting Duane, before finally sighing. It was no good, there was no way I could get the money. Duane probably had some, but I couldn't ask him to let me borrow it as I had no way of paying him back. I couldn't even get anything from Nejo's stall, or convince Nejo to part with any of it to sell to Duane, he was after antiques, not junk.

'Wait a minute...' I realized as my eyes landed on the cheap plaster statuette.

Plaster was highly absorbent and I still had the greasepaint smeared tissue, with a little artistic work I could make the statuette look less like cheap plaster and more valuable maybe. But I didn't have the means to get it. At least not until I realized something, something which made me grimace and feel guilty, but I was in a tight spot. I had accidentally almost touched the cat resting on the stall, making it hiss at me and leap up onto the shelf next to the statuette. Hoping this would work I timed it just right and rang the bell, just as Nejo threw his ball at the wall again.

Ayub barged out, the opening door catching the ball and making it bounce around the stall, nearly hitting the cat which shrieked and darted off, running away, knocking the statuette off the shelf and onto the ground. Ayub glared and took the ball off Nejo before heading back inside. Nejo turned back around and heaved a sigh, hands in his pockets, but simply resumed his business as usual. I still felt guilty and hoped he'd get the ball back soon. Turning my attention to the statuette I picked it up and moved out of sight, it looked sorry for itself after its fall, both arms broken off, pretty chipped. But my plan still just might work. I pulled out the tissue and began to wipe it over the statuette and before long the greasepaint had worked magic, it now looked like aged marble instead of cheap plaster. Pocketing both items and trying to appear casual I approached Duane.

"Hi there Duane."

He smiled. "Hi George, how can I help you, young fella."

I pulled out the statuette. "Feast your eyes on this."

"Good gravy, looks old."

"Uh huh." I nodded. "I had to turn this town upside down."

"Your luck's better than ours." He remarked. "Looks Roman."

"I wouldn't know." I replied with a shrug.

"What'll they say back home, how much do you want for it George?"

"Oh I couldn't." I replied with as much effort as I could muster. "It's the find of a lifetime..."

Duane smirked. "Fifty bucks take it or leave it."

"I'll take it. Here you go." I said, giving Duane the statuette.

Duane took it and grinned, handing over the money. "And here you go."

I gratefully took the money, pocketing it. "Thanks for the money Duane, this is gonna come in real handy."

"I should thank you for finding this Roman statuette." Duane returned with a grin.

Satisfied I immediately began making my way back to the club.

Entering the club I stepped up to Ultar.

"Hello again Ultar."

He gave his usual grin. "Praise be to Allah, I am blessed with your bountiful presence once more."

"About Bull's Head Hill?" I queried casually.

"Are you desirous of seeing this most splendid place?" He asked.

"Well, maybe."

"A terrific bargain." He continued. "For just fifty of your Yankee Dollars."

"Fifty huh." I drew it out with a smirk. "It's a deal, here's the cash."

I handed the money over and Ultar counted it.

"Ah splendid. As you say, the cash price moolah is correct." He replied delighted.

He leapt down from his stool.

"Mister, we must make haste." He cried.

I had to ask however. "Where exactly is your taxi, because the only vehicle I've seen is a beat up old army truck."

"Yes?"

I realized. "Ah, okay. I'll be along in a moment."

With that Ultar left and I turned back to the bar. It didn't seem right to take off with the toilet keys, so I fished them out of my pocket and put them on the bar before heading back down to join Ultar in the market square, next to the old army truck.

"Ah, is most splendid and adventurous client." He greeted me.

I looked incredulously at the truck. "That's your taxi?"

"Oh yes." He remarked. "Is most wonderful taxi in all Marib."

"Looks like an old army truck to me."

Ultar gave me a disgusted look. "Pah, you Americans with your checky-board cabs and your Judd Hersches. You have lost sight of what a taxi should truly be."

"About four tons by the look of it." I quipped.

But again Ultar smiled, seemingly missing my sarcasm. "There you have the nail on the nutshell."

I just shook my head, smiling, I had my ride to pick up the trail, that was what mattered.

Deciding to get things back on track I spoke up.

"Okay, let's get going."

Ultar's face fell however. "Regrettably not most esteemed fare, there is a tiny problem of an insignificant nature, the fan belt has taken it upon itself to break."

That was not tiny or insignificant by any means. "What are you gonna do?"

"What can I do?" He lamented. "I must wait for ride to garage for replacement."

"How long will that take?" I asked worriedly.

"One day, maybe six."

I gasped. "I can't wait that long, I have to get moving."

"But how, my friend?" Ultar shot back.

I sighed. "I'll think of something."

I pondered for a while, trying to think, how could this be resolved. I of course had the solution, I had been wondering if it was right to take it and now here I was with confirmation.

"Is this any use to you?" I asked Ultar, pulling out the towel from the club toilet.

Ultar's face lit up. "My friend, the very thing, yes."

He took the towel from me, tore it in two lengthways and gave me half back. With his half, he did the kind of fan belt repair normally done with stockings.

"Now, if I knot the ends together." He muttered as he worked. "Serviceable yes, very serviceable indeed."

Stockings might work on a Bently, but on the truck, the coarse towelling did the job.

"Come along my friend." Ultar said as he closed the hood. "You want to see the Bull's Head, yes!?"

I nodded and we climbed in, Ultar started the truck up and began to drive out of Marib. He wasn't kidding about the air conditioning, it was heavenly as we drove out into the wilderness, heading for Bull's Head Hill.

End of chapter, hope you enjoyed it, read and review please.