Chapter 4

A frantic knock on the door brought Rick O'Connell out of his thoughts and he stood up from the bed he was laying on.

"Evie? Rick? C'mon guys open up! I know you're in there, so make yourself decent and open this bloody door!"

Rick smiled as he gripped the door handle and pulled the door open. "Hello Jonathan." he said, recognising Evie's younger brother.

Jonathan brushed past the tall American into the hotel room. "Hello there Rick." he called and went straight to the mini bar at the back of the room. "I thought I catch you here."

"How's Alex?" Jonathan asked, pouring himself a healthy glass of Bourbon. "I thought he wouldn't miss seing Egypt for the world."

Rick smiled. "Yes, I'm surprised that after the last time, he would not want to come back, but he was pestering us. Being kidnapped by a 3,000 year old mummy must have woken the adventurer's spirit in him." He took a sip from his glass. "But the timing was bad. His semester at boarding school is not finished for another two months and Evie didn't let him miss school. So he had to stay home."

Jonathan laughed. "Oh I can just picture that argument. I'm glad I wasn't there."

"And he was so looking forward to seeing Ardeth." Rick said in between two more sips as he leaned back comfortably in the chair. "Looks like he's developed some kind of hero worship for the man. Didn't stop talking about him for weeks. His idea of what he wants to be has now changed from archaeologist to Medjai warrior and I spent hours explaining to him that there isn't much need for Medjai in London and his room is too small to keep a horse."

Jonathan shuddered at the mention of the Medjai leader's name. "Well, I don't mind not having Ardeth around. He gives me the creeps. And when he's not trying to kill you, he's got all this negativity . apocalypse here, bringer of death there. That can get to you, you know."

"He's supposed to be like that, Jonathan." Rick said. "I guess it's a Medjai trait. The first time I met him at Hamunapra, he gave me the creeps, too. 'The world was coming to an end' and all that. And for good measure, he tried to chop my head off. But don't worry, Jonathan. You saved his life last time and he doesn't forget things like that. He owes you big time. And you've seen that he's not that bad once you get to know him."

"Yes, but every time we run into him, we almost get killed."

Rick grinned. "Okay, now that's mostly because your sister can't keep her fingers off cursed books and boxes."

Jonathan smiled also. "Yes, Evie is inquisitive." Then he looked around the hotel room. "So, where are you hiding my brilliant sister? I went to the museum and they said she'd gone to pick you up from the airport." Jonathan asked and looked towards the closed bathroom door. "Evie? Come out, old Mum, and greet your baby brother!"

"She's not here." Rick said. "And she never picked me up from the airport. Actually, I thought she was with you."

Jonathan turned around to look at the blond American. "No, I was at the Country Club all morning until now. That's not like Evie. If she isn't at the museum, hasn't picked you up from the airport and she's not here then . where is she?"

Rick shrugged and the uncomfortable feeling was now back in full force.



*

Evie had parted with Haarif who rushed back to his horse to return to the desert and she continued though the streets trying to find the quickest way back to the hotel, in which she and Rick stayed. She had to get help. The Nazis would not be satisfied with no's for answers and she knew that Ardeth Bay would rather die than betray his people or the secrets the Medjai had sworn to keep for centuries. And somehow she doubted that the Medjai would come in time to save their leader, if at all. Their first and foremost priority was to protect the ancient sites and secrets and the life of each tribesman came second to that. She had seen it more than once over the years, even though Ardeth Bey had decided to help her and Rick find Alex a few years ago rather than join his tribe to prepare them for the fight against the Army of Anubis. Evie still wondered about his motivation and reveled in the hope that it was a decision made out of friendship. She knew that the tall Medjai chieftan and her husband had become friends over the years, even though it was a friendship formed during several fights of life and death. Ardeth had seen Rick's tattoo and told him that he was a warrior of God, a Medjai, and Rick told him he had the wrong guy. But Evie knew that Rick had his doubts. She knew that he had all the qualities of a Medjai and she knew that he secretly admired them.

Evie was almost completely out of breath when she finally reached the hotel room she and Rick were staying. Without knocking at the door, she burst into the room and found herself face to face with her husband and her brother.

"Jonathan, Rick! Oh thank God you are both here! We have to hurry."

Rick looked at her and rushed forward to grab hold of her. "Yes, it's nice to see you, too, darling! The flight was okay, but the peanuts on the plane weren't up to much. Oh, and thanks for picking me up from the airport, by the way." He paused for a moment to see if she was listening to him. "Where have you been? We were worried!"

Evie shook her head. "There is not time to explain! We have to help Ardeth. He's in trouble."

Jonathan sat back on his chair and raised his glass. "Ach, there's that name again."

Rick stared at his wife. "Take it easy, take it easy. What happened?"

Evie tried desperately to catch her breath and calm down enough to form a conscious thought. But all she managed was to spill out everything in one go. "It was my fault. I told the German scientist about the bracelet of Anubis and then the soldiers captured Ardeth because he's the only one who knows how to raise the army of Anubis and . and . and now they shot him. I managed to escape, but he's still there and . he . he .Oh, God they had the bracelet and . I didn't know what to do! He just knew that I lied about it! And Ardeth said he'd rather die than tell them anything . and you should see that place they're holding him in!"

Jonathan and Rick exchanged worried glances. "Are you okay?" Rick asked and Evie nodded.

Then the tall American walked over to the cupboard. "Let's go." he said.

"Whoa, wait a minute before we run off like headless chickens!" Jonathan said as he put his glass down on the table next to his chair. "What are you planning to do?"

"We have to help Ardeth." Rick said, pulling his jacket on.

Evie also changed into a clean shirt and jacket. "If they don't get the information they are looking for, they will kill him. And if they get it, then they can use the bracelet of Anubis, raise his army and destroy the world."

Jonathan sighed. "Ah, the old destroy the world ploy again. You know this is getting old by now. Can't his Medjai friends help him? I mean afterall, they are trained for this sort of thing and it's in their job description. All this saving the world and defeating evil stuff."

Evie walked over to stand in front of her brother. "If we don't help him, then the Germans will kill him."

"Evie's right." Rick said, reaching for his gun in the suitcase and loading it carefully. "You know what he's like. He won't give them any information and knowing the Germans, they can get pretty nasty when they don't get what they want."

His wife nodded. "And the Medjai's priorities are somewhere else right now. They will protect Am Shere and will not come to rescue him. To them, he's expendable. So, it's up to us, and because I told them about the bracelet, I have to do something ."

"Okay, so we're going to save the world again." Jonathan said, defeated, and reached for his jacket. "I hope somebody somewhere will appreciate it this time!"

*

Ardeth Bey was roughly pushed into a chair inside a pale, almost sterile room. He had been only semi-conscious when they had dragged him in here. After the German's had opened the door to his prison and realised that Evie had escaped, they had hit and kicked the tall Arab. Still in pain from his gunshot wound, Ardeth could do little to defend himself. He had lain on the floor, curled up protectively as the two soldiers repeatedly kicked him in the ribs. Then they had grabbed him and dragged him upstairs.

Ardeth was tied to the chair and watched as the General who had shot him at the museum now stood before him. The German looked him over and then examined the gunshot wound in Ardeth's side and his bruised ribs. He turned and hissed at his men. Then he turned back at the Arab.

"Do you understand German?" he asked.

Ardeth glared at him in open hatred. "We have learned to speak the language of our enemies." he answered in almost fluent German. Then he continued in Arabic. "As you no doubt have learned to speak the language of yours."

The General laughed. "You are wise, Medjai." he answered in also almost fluent Arabic. "And that is why I have need of you. You know the secrets of Am Shere."

Ardeth remained silent, but still struggled against the bonds tying him to the chair. But he couldn't get free.

The General assessed him again and then turned around, pacing up and down in front of his prisoner. "You are the one who leads your people. Don't you think there are more important things to do with your life than die for this? Your people will be without a leader. One that is strong and brave and wise. And what about your family?"

"My tribe will find another leader. Many have been trained to take my place." Ardeth hissed proudly, not giving the soldier any satisfaction about his current situation. "I am expendable and I would dishonour my family if I should not fulfill my duty." Whatever the Germans would throw at him, he was ready to face it. In the dark cell after Evie had escaped with Haarif, he had made his peace with Allah.

"Trust me, I understand all about honour, Medjai." the General said. The door opened and a German soldier walked in with a tray covered with a white cloth. The general lifted the cloth and took an item from the tray. Then he turned around, holding a syringe in his hand. "You see, I really do need the information you have and I have no time to play games. And I know that no matter how much I torture you, you will not talk. That's why I will have to resort to more than simple pain to get the answers I need from you.""

Ardeth's eyes went wide in realisation and as the General approached him with the needle held high in his hand, he began more strongly to struggle against his bonds. A feeling of despair and helplessness knotted up his stomach and he panicked. The Medjai knew what the contents of this needle would do to him and he knew that he stood no chance against its powers.

"No ..." he whispered.

TBC .