Chapter 11



The professor looked Ardeth over and then turned to the general. "A fitting choice, Herr General. He is the leader of his people. Descended from an ancient line of rulers. A ruler sacrificed for a ruler. How truly fitting!"

Schwanter motioned at the soldiers standing behind Ardeth who grabbed him roughly and dragged him across the room onto the altar. Ardeth did not put up a fight and eyed the General and the Professor proudly.

After a few moments, the soldiers had dragged the Medjai leader on top of the altar and secured his arms and legs with rope at each end of the large rock.

Schwanter and the General walked up to the top end of the altar and looked down at the tall Arab. "Well, not so smug now, what?" the General said with a smile. Then he made way for the academic who walked forward, holding the ceremonial dagger in his hands. "I will carry out the ritual and read the incantation." He said and the general nodded. Schwanter took the dagger and stepped forward. Looking down at Ardeth Bey, he smiled again.

"You know, I have never actually carried out an ancient Egyptian ritual. It's really my first time. I am really excited, so I hope you will make this easy for me. In return, I promise to make it quick for you." Schwanter raised the dagger slowly. "Your day has come, Medjai. Prepare to meet your maker!"

"Yeah, well, not today, buddy."

Rick stepped from out of the shadows. In one swift movement, he picked up Ardeth's scimitar and plunged it into the professor's heart, stopping the dagger in its deadly decent. A horrified scream echoed through the chamber as the man dropped dead to the floor. But the soldiers of Anubis were still there, unmoving. But the German soldiers rushed at the tall American. Rick took a deep breath and fought them off one by one. After the last German sank to the floor, Rick looked around to see if there were any more Germans ready to attack him.

Watching the tall American stand over the body of the professor, the General took a deep breath. "I don't need him or them. I need the Army of Anubis. When the sacrifice is completed as it is written, it will be mine to control!" With that, the German General pulled the dagger out of Schwanter's hands, raised it above his head and with a quick motion drove the sacrificial knife deep into Ardeth's chest. The Medjai leader screamed out in pain and struggled against the bonds that tied him to the altar. His body shook violently and then went still.

"Noooo!" Evie shouted and together with Jonathan, they rushed from their balcony down the stairs and to their Medjai friend. Rick had turned around too late to see the General plunge the dagger into his friend's heart. He raised the sword that had seconds before killed Schwanter and the soldiers and hurled it at the general. His aim was true and he pierced the soldier's chest, sending him flying across the room. He was dead before he hit the ground.

Rick rushed forward to grab his sword and fight off the Anubis soldiers around them, but as Ardeth went still, all of them exploded into black ash and mixed with the sand on the floor. Rick stood confused and stared at the enemy that was no longer there. "Where'd they go?" he asked.

Evie started at Rick and then at the engravings on the altar Ardeth was laying on. "The sacrifice of a warrior's heart will destroy the army of Anubis." she whispered, her fingers tracing the ancient writing on the Anubis altar. "Oh God, oh God, oh God ." Evie whispered then and gently removed the dagger from Ardeth's chest. The Medjai was only semi-conscious and blood began to pour out of the wound. Jonathan took off his jacket, handing it to his sister. She took it and used it to stop the blood flow. But it was useless. The injury was too severe.

"We're loosing him, Rick!" Evie shouted as she held her hands pressed over the wound in Ardeth's chest.

Rick stepped closer, his eyes filling with tears as he looked into Ardeth's face. They had been through so much together over the years. He couldn't just watch him die. Just then the Arab opened his eyes. "O'Connell..." he whispered, his voice pain-filled and it seemed that each letter caused him immense pain to pronounce.

Rick moved close to him and took his hand. "Yes, my friend."

"My time has come as it was written. I thank Allah that I was allowed to do my duty .. my brother." Ardeth whispered.

"My brother." Rick whispered, a tear escaping from his eye as he nodded in acknowledgement of what Ardeth had so strongly believed to be his destiny.

Jonathan stood behind the altar and averted his eyes as the grief hit him.

Ardeth smiled and then slowly closed his eyes, his body going limp. Rick shook his head in denial. Then he shouted in rage and shook the body on the altar as if he could simply wake him from a light sleep. "Ardeth, c'mon don't do it. Don't give up. Your time hasn't come and nothing is written! Your people need you! I need you to tell me all about this Medjai thing! And if not for yourself or for your people, then think of Zamira and the baby!"

But there was no reaction from the form he now held in his arms. And they were no longer alone in the chamber. Outside, the Army of Anubis was destroyed together with those inside the pyramid, and the Medjai had come into the chamber to find their leader. They now stood in a silent circle around the altar. As Ardeth fell still, they all sunk to their knees in mourning.