Chapter 4
Fog, why is there so much fog? Something is pressing up against me. PAIN! My God it is foggy, why can I not see anything. What was the last thing, oh yes, the water, the air ship. Where are Evie and Rick? I don't see Jonathon. Am I back in London? Why is everything hazy, why so much fog?
"Melissa!"
Who's calling me? Ardeth! Why can't I see you? Where are you my Guardian, my Protector?
"Melissa! Open your eyes."
Stop yelling, oh God so much pain, must forget about the pain. Blinding, searing pain! Darkness, everything grows dim. Evie where are you? Rick help me! It's dark. The fog is everywhere, I can't see you!
"Missy, please open your eyes, please."
Pleading, begging, why is Ardeth --- again the pain, hurts, more pain, coming in waves, hurts again, please make it stop. ARDETH MAKE THE PAIN STOP!
"Missy, please."
Ardeth why are you upset? I'll find my way in the fog, I'll find my way back to you.
"Please open your eyes, show me your beautiful green eyes."
The darkness is slowly disappearing. The fog beginning to fade.
"Missy, please open your eyes," Ardeth whispered.
Slowly I opened them. Why was there so much pain? Sunlight glinting through the tops of trees. Birds are singing. I inhale deeply. Oh God the pain started again. Darkness swirled before my eyes.
"Missy. Melissa look at me," his voice commanded.
I slowly turn in the direction of the voice. Ardeth. He was leaning over me, his face inches from mine.
"Are you OK?"
I nodded yes.
"Let me help you up. I want to get a good look at you, just to make sure."
He pulled me up into a sitting position. The pain started again. I looked up into his face, tears trickling down my cheeks. He expertly ran his hands up and down each of my legs.
"Nothing broken, let me help you stand."
He placed is arms around my torso and stood me on my feet. The pain was blinding hot and I gasped.
"You're hurt, where?"
I pointed to my left side.
"Is everyone OK!" Rick yelled over to us.
"I'm simply marvelous and so is your wonderful pilot!" Jonathon yelled back sarcastically.
"Ardeth, what about 'Lissa, is 'Lissa OK!" Rick yelled over again.
"We might have a problem, I'm just checking, give me a minute!" Ardeth yelled back.
Ardeth unbuttoned my blouse and lifted my camisole, placing it just under my breasts.
"I have to check Missy to see what damage I may have done," he said.
His fingers pressed gently up and down on my right side.
"Everything seems to be OK here."
He moved to the left side of my rib cage and when he started to press, I gasped and my knees buckled. He caught me before I hit the ground.
"I think you may have fractured your ribs. I need to press again to see how many," he said his voice filled with concern.
I nodded.
He placed his left arm around my waist and began pressing my ribs with his right hand. The pain started again, burning, searing, blinding. I bit my bottom lip and tried not to cry out. The tears flowed freely down my face.
"Two, maybe three."
He wiped the tears away from my face and kissed my lips gently.
"I am so sorry. I held onto you too tightly. I could not risk losing you," he whispered.
Evie and Rick picked their way through the scattered debris, of our air ship, to where Ardeth stood holding me.
Ardeth turned his head towards them, urgency in his voice, "Fractured ribs, Evelyn please find something, anything, I need three or four long strips of cloth. We have to bind her otherwise she will have trouble breathing." Evie ran off towards the air ship while Rick ran towards us.
"'Lissa!"
"I'm OK Rick, it's just hard to talk right now," I gasped.
I touched Ardeth's face, "This is not your fault, Alex is the only thing that matters now."
Evelyn came running back with a large cotton cloth. Rick held onto me, while Ardeth ripped the cloth into long strips and began binding my middle. After he was finished he pulled my camisole down and buttoned my shirt.
"Better?" he asked.
"Better. I can breathe a little easier," I lied.
"Jonathon!" Evie yelled, "Jonathon get over here!"
Jonathon came over whining about the expertise of Izzy's piloting skills. I noticed he had the staff of Osiris, in his hands, and was hurriedly shoving it into his pack. I smiled. "He will never change."
"Jonathon, stay here with Melissa while we gather up the packs and guns. If my calculations are correct Imhotep may have given us a slight advantage by pushing us ahead of them. Now we just have to lie in wait!" Evie explained.
Ardeth helped me to sit and then walked with Rick and Evelyn to the air ship debris. They were talking in hushed tones. Several times Evie and Rick looked over at me with concern and then turned back to Ardeth.
"Well old Mum, I see we're right back into a mess again," Jonathon said as he looked at me.
"Good Lord speaking of messes!"
"Whatever do you mean?" I said through clenched teeth. My breathing had become more relaxed but the pain continued.
He reached up, picked a twig out of my hair and twirled it between his fingers.
I gingerly lifted my right arm and begin running my fingers through my hair. Slowly, I removed the twigs and leaves caught in it, and then ran my fingers through again to remove the tangles.
"Jonathon do you have a handkerchief?"
He reached into his pocket and produced a white linen cloth with "JC" monogrammed on the corner. He handed it to me and I wiped away the rest of my tears and the dirt that had gathered on my face. I handed it back to him and smiled.
"Thank you darling."
He looked at it in disgust, crumpled it into a ball and shoved it in the pocket of his trousers.
"Well what the hell are we going to do now?" he asked.
I looked up. The trees were tall and the vegetation that surrounded us was lush and green. This truly was an oasis, after days of sand and heat. A fluttering noise caught my attention.
"Look," I said.
Jonathon looked up to where I had indicated and saw Horus sitting on a branch.
"The damn bird also made it!" he yelled over to Ardeth.
Ardeth looked up from where they were gathering the guns and saw Horus. He raised his arm and called to him. The bird lifted his wings and floated over to Ardeth's waiting arm.
"Bloody things not big enough to feed the five of us," Jonathon muttered.
"Jonathon!" I admonished and then started to giggle.
The pain flared up again, blinding, hot and I gasped. Jonathon reached out for me.
"You really are hurt badly, aren't you?" he asked.
"Yes," I whispered, "please don't make me laugh again it's just to painful."
"Promise," he said as he crossed his heart.
"You two about ready!" Rick yelled over.
Jonathon helped me to my feet and we made our way over to where the others stood.
"Izzy see if you can get this damn thing together," Rick said, "the rest of us are going to get Alex."
"How come he gets to stay here?" Jonathon questioned.
I reached up, swatted his head and pointed down the trail. It hurt like hell, but it was worth the look on Jonathon's face.
Ardeth finished scribbling a note and place it in Horus' small pouch. He lifted the bird on his arm and commanded it to "fly". Horus floated up to the top of the trees and disappeared from our sight.
Rick turned and headed down the trail with Evie directly behind him. Jonathon, still muttering about staying with Izzy, followed closely behind Evie. Ardeth pick up a long stick and held it out to me.
"Lean on it. It will help you with the walk," he stated.
And so I followed Jonathon and Ardeth brought up the rear. We had walked no more than few minutes when a shot was heard from somewhere far behind us. The forest went silent.
"Horus!" Ardeth yelled.
Stopping, we turned to Ardeth. His expression was one of pain. I reached over and touched his arm.
"We don't know that it was him." I said.
Ardeth turned to face us, "Move," was all he said.
We continued forward down the trail.
We had walked for what seemed like hours. The pain was blinding at times, but I kept silent. I focused on the staff of Osiris, which was peaking out from the sack slung across Jonathon's shoulders. The pain was intense, and I was finding it hard to breathe. Tears formed in my eyes but I willed them not to fall. I still kept silent. I didn't want to slow them down. Twilight had come and gone. The sky was dark and the urgency to retrieve Alex grew minute by minute. We started to climb upwards towards an outcropping of rocks. The green vegetation hung down over them and that would give us the cover we needed. I used the walking stick to aid with the climb and stopped every few steps to catch my breath. Each time I did Ardeth stood behind me and held onto my waist. Each time he leaned down and whispered in my ear "I've got you, breath slowly." When we finally reached the top he helped me over the side and slowly lowered me down against the back wall of the ledge. He joined Rick, Evie and Jonathon at the edge. Towards the north you could see the Temple glowing in the moonlight. Imhotep would have to take the same trail we had just used. He would pass directly below us. This would be the perfect spot to ambush them.
I leaned my head back against the rocks and watched as they loaded the guns. Evie walked over and knelt down beside me.
"You all right?" she asked, concern written all over her face.
"I'm fine," I replied and tried to smile. Another wave of pain took hold of my body and I slowly exhaled to get through it. I didn't want her to see how badly I hurt.
She went back to the group and turned her attention to Rick as he laid out their plan. They nodded their heads in agreement and continued to check their weapons. Jonathon had moved away from them and was investigating a small cave hidden behind the green vines.
"GOOD LOOD! It's full of shrunken heads!" he cried as he quickly exited the cave and swatted away cobwebs.
"Jonathon please! Pay attention." Evie scolded. He walked over to Rick and again listened to the instructions.
Ardeth knelt down beside me.
"Rick and I are heading back down to the trail. We plan to ambush them from above and below. You are to stay here. Once we have Alex, Evelyn, Rick, and Jonathon will continue onto the Temple. I will come back for you. You and I must warn my people. I can't be sure if Horus made it to them safely. They must be prepared to fight incase Anubis' warriors awaken. It will be easier this way. We are more than half way to the top of the oasis. When I return, you and I will climb out."
I nodded my head, "You promise you will come get me?"
"Med-jai always keep their promises."
"I know that but do you promise to come back for me."
"I promise."
He reached into his robes and pulled out a small gun. Opening my hand, he placed it into my palm.
"Just in case, be careful there are only six bullets," he whispered and then leaned down to kiss my cheek. He stood up quickly, turned and walked away from me. Rick kissed Evie and then nodded to Jonathon. I watched as they headed down the cliff and disappeared into the night.
"Look sharp, Jonathon!" Evie warned.
They both peered over the edge into the darkness. The pain started again and I raised my right hand to the bindings. My fingers slowly pushed against my ribs and the blinding pain returned. I felt something move and the tears came again. "This is not the time to cry out, Oh God their broken, not fractured," I thought.
There was noise from down below and I realized that the ambush had begun. I wanted desperately to crawl over to the edge and peer into the darkness below but the waves of pain were washing over my body again. I needed to rest before my climb out of the oasis. I could not be a burden to Ardeth; he must to get to his people.
"Jonathon, be careful, that's my husband and son down there," Evie cautioned.
I watched as both Evie and Jonathon fired their guns.
"Let's go!" she said hurriedly. She stopped and reached down to touch my shoulder.
"Go Evie. Save Alex!"
"He'll be back for you," she said over her shoulder as she followed Jonathon quickly down the side of the cliff.
I sat alone in the darkness. All was quiet. I held the gun firmly in my hand and waited.
Noise, there was noise coming from below. Branches snapping as they broke under foot. I lifted one knee and laid my hand to rest on it. The gun, in my hand, now pointed towards the oncoming noise. My heart was beating faster. The pain had vacated to the back of my mind and fear had now taken its place. The noise was coming closer. I inched forward and positioned myself to take a clear shot. Only six bullets, only six.
Ardeth burst through the vegetation and ran forward to me. I dropped the gun and held up my arms. He lifted me to my feet and we began to ascend the steep cliff. Holding me at my waist, he pushed me forward towards the top. We did not speak. My side ached and I feared uttering a word. I could not slow him down we must reach the top. "Almost, almost there," I thought. When we did finally reach the top Ardeth climbed over, I raised my arms up to him.
"This will hurt," he said as he reached underneath my arms and lifted my over and onto the sand.
Hot, searing, blinding pain. I lay on the sand and tried to steady my breathing it was then I noticed the sun rising in the east.
"Look," I pointed towards the east.
Ardeth stood up and then lifted me onto my feet. He turned me around to face the dark west and my heart leaped into my throat. Before me stood tens upon thousands of Med-jai warriors, some on horseback, thousands more on foot. A young boy walked forward with Ardeth's stallion. He handed the reins to Ardeth. Ardeth took them and then spoke in Arabic. Three men dismounted and came over to where we stood. Ardeth mounted his horse and moved to the back of the large saddle. The three warriors gently lifted me up and placed me in front of him. He wrapped his large arm around my waist and I leaned my head back against his chest. Lifting the reins he turned the horse and walked slowly towards the west. The other warriors fell into place behind him.
My head rested just under his chin, he leaned down and whispered into my ear "You will go to my village. The women will tend to you."
"Where are you going?"
"The sun is rising, the creature still lives. Rick will get Alex to the Temple, I am sure of it, but Imhotep is still alive and Anubis' army could still arise. We head into the desert to do battle."
I nodded my head. Ardeth spoke in Arabic again and another warrior trotted up beside the stallion. He turned and spoke directly to the man and then raised his arm to stop his tribesmen. Three men dismounted and came over to the stallion.
"Azmeed will take you back to the village. You need to be tended to immediately."
"They're broken," I said knowingly.
His eyes widened in surprise.
"Evelyn and Rick. You told them, back at the air ship."
He nodded his head.
"I would have only slowed them down that's why they let you take me."
He nodded again.
The three men still stood by Ardeth's mount waiting patiently for instructions.
I turned to look into his eyes and whispered, "Promise………"
"I promise Green Eyes," he said as he kissed my cheek.
Ardeth raised his head and instructed the awaiting men in Arabic. They reached up for me and gently slid me from his saddle. I was carried over to where Azmeed stood with his horse and again was gently lifted onto the saddle. This time they placed me in the sidesaddle position and I rested in the crook of his arm. Ardeth spoke in Arabic to Azmeed, they nodded towards each other and then Ardeth galloped towards the darkness of the west, his tribesmen followed. Azmeed turned towards the east, towards the rising sun and slowly walked his horse.
"Are you in much pain?" he asked.
"Yes," I said softy.
"He is so sorry he hurt you. He did not mean to hold on so tight."
"But he didn't hurt me, he saved me, I could have died."
Azmeed nodded his head and then went on, "You are very precious to him. I have never seen him act this way before."
I looked up at him and then noticed how much he looked like Ardeth.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"He threatened the men. He said he would cut off their hands if they dropped you."
Horror registered on my face and he quickly went on, "he would never do that it was just his way of telling us that we were carrying someone very special, very precious to him."
He looked behind him at the retreating warriors.
"I need to get you to the village, as quickly as possible. I must return to stand with my brothers. This will hurt a great deal, but I will be able to get you to our women faster."
"Please!" I pleaded, "Please bring him back to me."
Azmeed kicked the side of his horse and it broke into a full gallop. The pain returned, more intense, more searing! I could not get my breath. "Please keep your promise, please return to me." I thought as darkness slowly descended around me.
"Hang on, we're almost their Miss Melissa," I thought I heard Azmeed say as the darkness swirled up to claim me.