Chapter Two - A Warrior Falls
"Only steel itself is stronger than an oath spoken by a Med-jai."
Old Bedouin saying
Bashaar Adnan and Ziyad Falhalil had been waiting. The others in Ardeth Bey's command had been scattered about the city, scouting any possible place he might return. Adnan had a feeling, though, that whatever was happening was dire, and his commander would return by the fastest means possible. So it was that when the small, private plane zoomed in for a landing, he headed for the runway with his general's horse, leaving his companion to catch up. At first, the sight of his commander exiting the craft made him grin. He'd been right! He held out his hand to Falhalil. They'd made a bet on where Bey would return. But as he watched Ardeth Bey move closer, Adnan saw two things that made his heart sink. First, he could tell that the news Bey had received in England was bad. Very, very bad. And second, he could tell that Bey was seriously injured. His hand dropped and he jumped from his mount and ran the remaining yards to Bey's side. "What is it?" he asked, a hand steadying the swaying chieftain.
"We talk while we ride," Bey ordered, pulling away from him and heading for the horses.
Bashaar stopped him again. "You are in no shape to ride, my lord."
Ardeth Bey turned the full force of his gaze upon his captain. "If I do not ride, we will all die. The Creature has been restored and he seeks the Scorpion King." Adnan gasped. "So you see," continued Bey, "I have no choice." His voice softened and he placed a hand on the man's shoulder. "There is much to be done by nightfall. I will tell you everything you need to know while we ride."
"Where are we going?" Bashaar asked as he turned Bey's horse so he could mount. Bey pulled himself up into the saddle with a moan he couldn't swallow. He closed his eyes a moment, waiting for the world to stop spinning. When he felt he could open them without wanting to retch, he looked to his warrior. "To the old woman's," he said. "And, Bashaar, listen carefully. I will tell you quickly all that I must for I tell you truthfully I will be very lucky to make it that far."
Bashaar nodded, acknowledging his commander's honesty, and listened carefully to all he was told. Falhalil led their race through the city streets, giving Bey the chance to relay his information. Where they rode, people scattered. The Med-jai were still held in fear and awe here and few dared to oppose them. Bey did make it to their destination. Barely. As they reined to a stop, Falhalil and Adnan had to leap from their horses as their leader fell from his mount, barely catching him before he hit the stones below.
"Safiya!" Bashaar yelled as he and Falhalil carried the unconscious chieftain into the house. "Safiya, come quickly!"
A soft shuffling came from the darkened corridor beyond them. "I come, I come. I am an old woman, remember. I will come as quickly as I may."
"He is injured!"Bashaar cried, not bothering to name the 'he'. Safiya seemed to know however, and the shuffling increased. "Zahrah! Light the lights!" The woman who served as apprentice to the healer hurried about, lighting the lanterns.
"Put him down, put him down! By the love of Allah, what has my boy gotten into now?" Safiya ran skilled hands over his face, noting the presence of fever.
"A mummy. One of the Creature's unholy guards," Bashaar answered as he and the other warrior gently laid Bey onto a low chaise.
"When?"she demanded.
"Almost two days."
Without being asked, Zahrah put a sharp knife in Safiya's outstretched hand and held the cloth of Bey's robes taut. Safiya ripped open the Med-jai's robes, exposing the blood stained bandages beneath, then cut again to reveal the deep, red furrows that were already swelling with infection.
"Zahrah," she commanded with the force of Bey himself, "you know what must be done. Get me my things."
"Wait!" Adnan spoke firmly. Falhalil reached out a hand to stop Zahrah from going further. Safiya began to protest, but the young captain kneeled beside her. "Old woman," he said reverently, "there is no time. He gave me explicit instructions: Get him on his feet as quickly as possible and keep him there for seven days at least."
Safiya gasped. "It is not possible. Look at him, Bashaar!" She ran a reverent hand over Ardeth Bey's forehead. "He is already fighting the fever and the wounds are infected. If we wait seven days, the very thing that will cure him could kill him, if the wounds themselves do not kill him by then!"
A soft moan from the man beside her caught her attention. "Enough!" The command was weak but firm. "It must be done, Old One."
Safiya turned sharp eyes on her leader. "You are in no shape to give commands to me, child," she warned with narrowed eyes.
"Then hear this, I command you not as chieftain, nor as commander of the Med-jai, but as your king. You will do this that I have asked."
The room went silent. For Ardeth Bey to invoke his power as sovereign was unheard of. Undaunted, Safiya continued to stare into his eyes. "It will be your death if you do this."
"It will be all our deaths if I do not." Realizing he was not convincing her, Ardeth gently grasped the old woman's hands. "The Creature has been restored once more. He has the key to Ahm Shere. He seeks to wrest the power over Anubis' army from the Scorpion King." The old woman inhaled sharply. "So you see, there is no other choice. My friends, the O'Connells await me at the airfield in the morning and I must meet with the commanders tonight." Ardeth lowered his voice. "Grandmother, if you do not do this, we are lost."
Safiya closed her eyes, whether in contemplation or prayer, Bashaar was not sure. He could not know that it was her anger she wished to hide.
"Grandmother! How dare he use that endearment!" she raged to herself. "Does he not see that he is dearer to me than life itself? Does he not know how much I love him, this son of my daughter? I would sooner cut my own throat than do this to him." She sighed. "Still, he has commanded me and he is no longer the boy I sang to sleep." She sighed again and opened her eyes. Bashaar almost cheered. He saw resignation in their depths.
"I can give you four days. But, promise me this, Ardeth Bey - in four days you will seek the help you need."
He attempted a smile. "I promise," he assured her.
"Bashaar," Safiya barked sharply, "help me up. There is much for us to do."
"I will battle as long as I am able. Then I will fall or fight on as Allah sees fit."
Med-jai saying
Ardeth Bey watched with relief as the O'Connell's were lifted safely from the top of the crumbling pyramid by Izzy's dirigible. Again, things had gone their way, praise Allah. And again the Creature was returned to the Underworld where he belonged. His heart was saddened at the departure of his friends. It seemed that they only met when circumstances were dire and death was at hand. And he felt certain that he had cheated death one too many times and she would find him before long. Even now he felt the strong drugs that Safiya had given him to keep him going seep out of his veins, steadily weakening him. The pain that he'd kept at bay for a week now overwhelmed him and he clenched his teeth against the agony.
When he'd met up with the O'Connell's at the airfield, they had looked at him closely and inquired about his injuries. He assured them he was fine. His healer could work miracles, he told them. Seeing him seemingly fit and hearty had relieved their fears, just as he'd hoped, and they questioned him no further. They had no idea that the pouch at his waist contained powerful potions that would mask his pain and give him strength. He'd taken them sparingly, making the four day supply last six. Safiya would definitely not be pleased. Still, it was his risk to take, his life to risk. The O'Connell's had needed him. The commanders of the twelve tribes had needed him. Only he could lead them in this battle against Anubis' army. Oh, others could head the charge, but it was his presence alone that gave them the courage to continue. He knew that and it humbled him. But now the army of Anubis was safely restored to the desert sands from whence it came and he alone would pay the price for his actions.
Bey rode slowly toward his remaining troops, the majority of them having headed out already for home and hearth. His vision began to swim and the waves of silver radiating up from the sand were hypnotic. Ardeth looked ahead and, as if from a great distance, saw Bashaar frown and turn his horse toward him. He met his captain's eyes and smiled painfully, wanting to reassure him. But before any words could form on his lips, the world went dark and he plummeted out of his saddle, mercifully unconscious by the time he hit the ground, his wounds ripping open on impact.
Do not seek the wisdom of children in the elders, but seek the wisdom of elders in the children.
Med-jai saying
Alex O'Connell stood at the back of the dirigible and watched the departing Med-jai. It was far preferable to watching his parents kiss. He was amazed at how quickly the large army dispersed. He watched the lone figure of Ardeth Bey ride back to the warriors who remained. He was fascinated by the Med-jai warrior. He'd only met him a few, brief times, but Ardeth Bey had made quite an impact on the young man. So it was with no small amount of alarm that he saw Bey sway in his saddle and fall, one of his men racing to catch him before he hit the ground.
"Dad! Mum!" Alex yelled, terror coloring his voice. Rick and Evelyn raced to the back of the blimp as fast as they could. "What is it, Alex?!" Evy cried. Turning her son, thinking he'd been hurt. Alex struggled free. "Look!" He pointed to the desert below. Ardeth Bey lay in a heap next to his horse, a distinct crimson stain spreading across the white sand beside him.
Bashaar raced the wind, desperate to reach Ardeth Bey. He jumped from his still moving horse and landed on his knees beside his king. "Allah, be merciful. Allah, be merciful," he prayed over and over, tears streaming down his face, as he turned Ardeth over and held him his arms. His hands fumbled at Bey's neck and it was a moment before he found what he wanted - a pulse, thin and weak, beating against his fingertips.
Falhalil landed on his feet beside Bashaar, then, he too, fell to his knees. He looked desperately into Bashaar's face.
Bashaar looked at his friend. "He lives."
"We must get him to the healer!" Falhalil cried desperately, not noticing the other warriors gathering around.
Bashaar ripped the Med-jai leaders robes away with his bare hands and saw flowing blood staining the bandages. He saw the yellow seepage of infection as well and he prayed again. "We must take him to the oasis at Ahm Vier," he said gravely.
"Ahm Vier is a two days ride!" one of the other warriors lamented, none of them bothering to hide their concern.
"Ahm Vier is where the Old Woman waits. She is his only hope now."
Bashaar turned his head at a commotion from the ranks around them. Rick O'Connell burst through the men around him and crouched down beside Bey, his eyes taking in the bloody bandages and their implications.
"Jesus! What in the hell has he done?" Rick shook the still form, yelling into his face. "Ardeth, what the hell kind of stunt did you pull?"
Small hands tried to pull him back. "Rick! Rick! Stop it! You're hurting him more! Rick!" Evelyn's voice reached him and he dropped his hands. He looked at Bashaar Adnan. "English?" he asked curtly. Bashaar nodded.
"What in the hell has he done to himself? He was fine when we left Cairo."
Bashaar shook his head. "He was not fine. He was gravely injured even then. The sense of well being and strength was a mask. A healer gave Ardeth enough potion to keep him on his feet until he accomplished his mission."
Evelyn was aghast. "A healer? How could a healer let him do this to himself?"
Bashaar smiled without humor. "Have you ever tried talking him out of something?"
Rick bowed his head. He knew the answer to that one. Evelyn was still shaking her head. She couldn't believe this was happening. "Why would he have done this? I don't understand."
Bashaar's gaze drifted behind her. She turned and followed his gaze to her son.
"Alright," Rick was determined to see this right, "what now?"
Bashaar sighed inwardly. "We need to get him to our healer. She awaits us in Ahm Vier, two day's journey from here."
"Two days? By horseback?"
"Yes, but I fear that Ardeth will not make it that far. Already he bleeds heavily and the wounds are dangerously septic."
Rick thought a moment. Then he looked at Izzy who'd joined the group around Bey. "Do you know where this place is?" Izzy nodded. "How long?"
Izzy thought a moment. "One day at most with a good wind. One and a half if we're not so lucky."
Rick stood up determinedly. "You better pray we're lucky." He pointed at Bashaar. "You - what's your name?"
"Bashaar Adnan."
"Right. Let's get him aboard. We'll get him to this oasis of yours."
Bashaar laid Ardeth's head in Falhalil's arms and stood as well. "I must insist on coming with you. I have some skill with this kind of wound."
Rick nodded. Bashaar turned to the soldiers around him and quickly issued commands in Arabic. Warriors scattered to do his bidding and before long a blanket had been brought to use as a stretcher and Ardeth Bey was carried carefully to the waiting aircraft.
Izzy pulled Rick aside. "We'll make better time without the added weight," he muttered, indicating Bashaar.
Rick grinned and jerked a thumb over his shoulder towards the heavily armed warrior. "You wanna tell him he can't go?"
Izzy blanched under his dark skin. "No way! But still, we would do well to let someone else off in his place."
Rick thought a moment, then nodded. "Bashaar," he called. "Come here a minute." Rick and the Med-jai captain spoke quietly for a moment. Bashaar turned and looked at Jonathan, who was leaning against the edge of the craft, looking important. Then he laughed and nodded. Rick slapped him on the back and they made their way back to the blimp. "Hey, Jonathan, great news. You're gonna ride back with these guys," he gestured to the remaining Med-jai, "while we take Ardeth here to the oasis. We'll see you in a couple of days, okay? Great. Okay, Bashaar, let's get going." He lifted a foot to climb aboard.
Jonathan's hand pulled him back. "I'm what?! You can't be serious? You want me to ride with them?" He gave Bashaar what he hoped was a friendly look and pulled his brother in law aside. "They're vicious killers," he said very quietly through clenched teeth, even though he continued to smile at Bashaar and his men. "They'll leave me for dead in the desert. I don't think they've quite forgiven us for that little incident with you know who."
Rick laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Oh, sure they have! It won't be that bad. Think of it as an adventure. Besides, you might like it."
"I don't know, Rick. . ."
O'Connell cut him off with a serious look. "Jonathan, if we don't get Ardeth to this healer of theirs, he's gonna die. Plain and simple. The sooner we get him there the better his chances are. Izzy say's we'll make better time without your added weight."
Jonathan wasn't convinced. "But. . ."
"I thought he was your friend, too." Evelyn's soft, disappointed voice from behind him made his mind up for him. He threw up his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright. He is my friend. And I'll ride with his . . . his . . . um, other friends if it will help. Just don't expect me to like it." And with that he huffed off towards a horse that Falhalil was obviously holding for him. He looked into the brown eyes and sighed with resignation. "At least you're not a camel," he stated to the beast.
Evelyn smiled at him and waved as the band rode away in a cloud of dust. Then she and Rick climbed into the balloon. Bashaar and Alex had made Ardeth comfortable on a small pallet in the front of the craft. Izzy fired up the heat and they rose slowly into the sky. "West, right?" Izzy asked Bashaar. "West," the warrior confirmed.
Evelyn settled next to the warrior captain. "I'm Evy. Um, Evelyn O'Connell. And this is Alex," she smiled at her son. "Your name is Bashaar?" Bashaar nodded and took her hand in his, raising it to his lips. "Bashaar Adnan. A captain of the Med-jai. I am honored to meet you. And your esteemed husband. Ardeth Bey has spoken much of you over the years."
"I'll bet," grumbled Rick with good humor as he knelt on the other side of Med-jai leader. "What now?"
Bashaar looked grave. "We should remove the bandages and wash the wounds as best we can. It will be an unpleasant task. The infection is great. If you choose not to help, I would understand."
Evelyn and Rick exchanged a glance. "We'll help,"she offered. "Alex, would you see if you can help Izzy with anything?"
Alex didn't move. "Mum, this happened to Ardeth because he wanted to help you and Dad find me. I want to help him, too." Evy looked at his solemn face. "I'm not a baby anymore." She admired him for his bravery. He'd been through so much in the last week and yet he thought only of helping Ardeth. Evy threw her arms around her son and held him tight. "I'm very proud of you," she whispered tearfully. "But if this is too much, I want you to walk away, alright?"
Alex looked into his mother's eyes. "I will."
Rick swallowed as the Med-jai took a razor sharp dagger from it's sheath at his waist and cut away the gore soaked bandages. Alex gasped and Evy turned away at the sight of the yellowish fluid oozing out of the cuts along with the blood. She could tell that the cuts must have come open when he fell. The angry, raw edges had the look of half healed skin that had been ripped apart. Evy dug her fingernails into her palms and forced herself to look back. She saw Bashaar looking at her with a small smile of pity. "It is always thus with these types of wounds. Although, I have not seen one this bad in a very long time."
"What happened to him? The other guy like this?" Alex asked breathlessly. He wanted to turn away from the horror of Ardeth's mangled chest but couldn't.
"He did not survive," Bashaar told him gravely.
"Well, that's not going to happen this time, now is it." Evy stated matter- of-factly, heart felt conviction evident in her tone. "What do we do next?"
For the next hour they washed and cleaned the deep gashes. Bashaar poured a herb scented oily liquid into the wounds, telling them it would help some with the infection. Ardeth remained mercifully unconscious through the process and they soon had him bandaged with fresh linens. "Now we must watch. We must try and get him to drink this potion every time he wakes." Bashaar produced a small bottle from his pocket.
"What's that for?" Rick asked.
"Fever. When the mummy strikes thusly, it is not the wound so much as the fever that can kill. That, and the pain." "Well, can't your healer give him something for that? I mean, if they can make potions to keep him on his feet when he's like this. . ."
Bashaar shook his head. "You do not understand. The process for treating these wounds can be almost as deadly as the wounds themselves." He could see that they didn't understand. "When the mummy strikes, all that is rotten and evil in his skin imbeds in the wounds. The wounds must not only be washed and treated, but they must be debrided."
"Debrided?" Alex asked, not sure what it meant but figuring it couldn't be very pleasant.
"All that came in contact with the mummy's fingers must be scraped away," Bashaar explained, "otherwise, the victim will never be free of the infection. It is a terrible cure but we have found nothing else that will work."
Evy's hand was against her mouth. She couldn't believe this! "That's inhuman!" she gasped.
"As is the mummy. Believe me, Mrs. O'Connell. There is no other way."
Evy wanted to protest but Rick gathered her in his arms. "Evy, I know what you're thinking but we aren't the experts here. They are. After three thousand years they would have found another way if there was one."
Her shoulders racked with sobs. "I know," she whispered. "I just can't stand to think of him going through that. I thought it was over. I thought it was all over."
Rick held her close. "We all did, Evy. We all did."
