Chapter Sixteen
Ardeth-Bay and the Medji were no more then thirty miles behind Anubis and his prisoners. The scorpions were abundant, even in the fading light. The desert warriors were growing in numbers every minute; the troupes of the other Medji leaders were joining Ardeth-Bay's warriors as they traveled. Ardeth-Bay prayed that they would get there in time to stop Anubis and save the O'Connells.
Horus still rested on Ardeth-Bay's fist; Horus was getting restless. Ardeth-Bay had been watching the falcon's behavior ever since they had gotten closer to where Ardeth-Bay thought was the Blue Nile. The bird had become restless, ruffling his feather and flapping his wings. Ardeth-Bay thought that his master might be near, which was a good sign.
The Blue Nile. The long, twisting, river lay in front of the prisoners. Jennifer stared at the Blue Nile, one of the wonders of Egypt that she hadn't seen. The moonlight shimmered upon the crystal water. The sand along the bank was softer then the desert sand; the Blue Nile lay in between two canyons. The canyons seemed to lock the travelers in, looming above them. Jennifer shivered, not from the cold but from the thought.
Anubis dismounted his camel and grabbed Jennifer by the shirt and pulled her off the camel as well. Sahure dismounted her camel and commanded the O'Connells to do the same.
Evelyn dismounted and landed on weak legs; her husband and son did the same and also nearly feel. Evelyn didn't know if the weakness was from riding on a camel all day or from the lack of food, water and rest.
Anubis held Jennifer tightly by her bound wrists; Sahure began unloading the weapons off of the camels' backs. Jennifer saw her doing this and knew what was coming; Anubis was bringing their desert journey to an end. Jennifer's mind began to reel; after everything, it didn't deserve to end like this.
Sahure forced the O'Connells to join Jennifer and Anubis; by this time, they had realized what was happening as well. Alex clung to his father and mother as Sahure handed one of the long-necked guns to Anubis. It was clear the jackal wanted to deal with Jennifer himself; he would leave the O'Connells to Sahure, who had her own long-necked gun. After knocking Jennifer out, nearly two days ago, Sahure had replaced the crossbow for the other long-necked gun.
Anubis loaded the gun and cocked it. Jennifer thought quickly and with her bound hands knocked the muzzle of the gun as hard as she could. The gun was knocked from Anubis's claws and into the Blue Nile. Sahure was as surprised as the jackal was but she still managed to keep her thoughts about her. She loaded her own gun and pointed it at Jennifer.
Rick hit Sahure across the face and took the gun away from her. Sahure cried out and clutched her hand to her cheek, cursing Rick.
Anubis struck Jennifer across the face his face claws, leaving three seemingly deep claw-scratches. Jennifer, however, didn't have too much time to think about the pain. "Run!" She cried to the O'Connells, just as Anubis grabbed her wrists again and dug his claws into her hands.
Realizing that Jennifer had given them the prefect chance to escape, Rick took it. He dropped the gun and grabbed his wife and son by their hands and they took off running down the bank of the Blue Nile.
Anubis threw Jennifer to the ground, watching the other prisoners escape. They might find help and put an end to his plan before he was able to awaken his warriors. Anubis decided against picking up the two abounded guns, in favor of keeping Jennifer alive. He couldn't let the prisoners find help, he couldn't let them leave. With Jennifer, he could lure the prisoners back and kill them all, like he had planned before. He could wait to raise his army; yes, he could wait.
Ardeth-Bay and the Medji were no more then thirty miles behind Anubis and his prisoners. The scorpions were abundant, even in the fading light. The desert warriors were growing in numbers every minute; the troupes of the other Medji leaders were joining Ardeth-Bay's warriors as they traveled. Ardeth-Bay prayed that they would get there in time to stop Anubis and save the O'Connells.
Horus still rested on Ardeth-Bay's fist; Horus was getting restless. Ardeth-Bay had been watching the falcon's behavior ever since they had gotten closer to where Ardeth-Bay thought was the Blue Nile. The bird had become restless, ruffling his feather and flapping his wings. Ardeth-Bay thought that his master might be near, which was a good sign.
The Blue Nile. The long, twisting, river lay in front of the prisoners. Jennifer stared at the Blue Nile, one of the wonders of Egypt that she hadn't seen. The moonlight shimmered upon the crystal water. The sand along the bank was softer then the desert sand; the Blue Nile lay in between two canyons. The canyons seemed to lock the travelers in, looming above them. Jennifer shivered, not from the cold but from the thought.
Anubis dismounted his camel and grabbed Jennifer by the shirt and pulled her off the camel as well. Sahure dismounted her camel and commanded the O'Connells to do the same.
Evelyn dismounted and landed on weak legs; her husband and son did the same and also nearly feel. Evelyn didn't know if the weakness was from riding on a camel all day or from the lack of food, water and rest.
Anubis held Jennifer tightly by her bound wrists; Sahure began unloading the weapons off of the camels' backs. Jennifer saw her doing this and knew what was coming; Anubis was bringing their desert journey to an end. Jennifer's mind began to reel; after everything, it didn't deserve to end like this.
Sahure forced the O'Connells to join Jennifer and Anubis; by this time, they had realized what was happening as well. Alex clung to his father and mother as Sahure handed one of the long-necked guns to Anubis. It was clear the jackal wanted to deal with Jennifer himself; he would leave the O'Connells to Sahure, who had her own long-necked gun. After knocking Jennifer out, nearly two days ago, Sahure had replaced the crossbow for the other long-necked gun.
Anubis loaded the gun and cocked it. Jennifer thought quickly and with her bound hands knocked the muzzle of the gun as hard as she could. The gun was knocked from Anubis's claws and into the Blue Nile. Sahure was as surprised as the jackal was but she still managed to keep her thoughts about her. She loaded her own gun and pointed it at Jennifer.
Rick hit Sahure across the face and took the gun away from her. Sahure cried out and clutched her hand to her cheek, cursing Rick.
Anubis struck Jennifer across the face his face claws, leaving three seemingly deep claw-scratches. Jennifer, however, didn't have too much time to think about the pain. "Run!" She cried to the O'Connells, just as Anubis grabbed her wrists again and dug his claws into her hands.
Realizing that Jennifer had given them the prefect chance to escape, Rick took it. He dropped the gun and grabbed his wife and son by their hands and they took off running down the bank of the Blue Nile.
Anubis threw Jennifer to the ground, watching the other prisoners escape. They might find help and put an end to his plan before he was able to awaken his warriors. Anubis decided against picking up the two abounded guns, in favor of keeping Jennifer alive. He couldn't let the prisoners find help, he couldn't let them leave. With Jennifer, he could lure the prisoners back and kill them all, like he had planned before. He could wait to raise his army; yes, he could wait.