Chapter 16
Rose had been lucky enough to avoid Victor all day. She wasn't lucky enough, however, to avoid him as the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon began to make its appearance.
Sitting in front of the campfire someone had started, talking quietly with Tony, Victor approached with another man and sat very near her. Rose attempted to slide away, but Victor threw an arm around her shoulders and kept her near.
"Oscar, I'd like to introduce you to my Rosalinda," Victor said proudly. "What do you think of her?"
The man Victor called Oscar was middle-aged with white-blonde hair and pale blue eyes. The moment Rose saw his face, she disliked him. There was something to be wary of in his eyes, he was dangerous, and she only hoped Ali would be prepared to face this advisory.
"She is beautiful," Oscar answered and Rose shuddered at the way his blue eyes roamed over her face.
"She is," Victor agreed, turning his head to look down at her. "But she's been a very naughty girl. Haven't you, sweetie?"
Recalling Tony's words from earlier about not angering Victor further, Rose bit her lip and turned her eyes away from Victor's squarely cut face. The only thing about his face that gave her comfort was the bruise upon his left cheek that Ali had put there. She almost started laughing as she remembered that scene.
"So, Rose?" Oscar asked her, and Rose turned back to look at him as he spoke. "How do you like our City of the Dead?"
"Its interesting," she replied, not wanting to sound too sarcastic and say it was nothing but a pile of rubble.
"And it has an interesting history," Oscar continued. "Four years ago, a curse was unleashed upon this site and upon Egypt in the form of an immortal being. He was a creature so deadly, he could suck the life-blood from a person. He was said to be immortal, but somehow he was put back in his grave. A grave right here beneath the sand."
Rose subtly wiggled her shoulder, trying to rid Victor's hand from her arm. He kept his hold on her, however, and refused to let her go.
"Nice story," she then said and was sorry she had allowed the sarcasm to escape for Victor had heard it in her voice and he squeezed her arm painfully.
"Be nice to our host, Rosa," he warned.
"It is all right," Oscar said with a sneer upon his lips. "I am certain she will lose her attitude eventually. Allow her to settle in. Once she discovers that the women here in this time are more demure, she will conform."
"In this time? What does that mean?" she asked, curiously.
"It means we're in a completely different era," Oscar answered. "You have heard of the Fortress of Aten, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you understand its powers. We used those powers and thus we are back in 1930. It is a prime year. Not only is Hamunaptra still around and in relatively good condition, but the year is ripe for a man such as myself to make himself known," Oscar told her.
Very curious over this man's words, Rose leaned forward, staring over the fire at him, trying to see if he was serious. Everything about his countenance told her he believed his words, so she asked, "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying we have traveled back in time, using the Fortress of Aten," Oscar said. "We have come to this year because the world is plunging into a devastating economic depression. It is weak and each country is too worried about their own internal affairs to be able to respond to any serious threat of power. I plan to change history and the economic forecast of the future. When we return to 2001, you will see a new world with me and my friends as the leaders."
Rose gaped at the man, thinking he must really be demented to believe such a farce, then forced the look from her face fearing angering him and asked, "And this place? Why are you starting your quest here amongst a pile of ruins?"
"We have come to this spot on a little sight-seeing tour," he answered. "A friend of mine is looking for a book and I owe him this indulgence. It is said to be buried in this spot along with more treasure than one could imagine."
"Really?" Rose asked, knowing she sounded disbelieving, but not caring for his story was growing more far-fetched than any that Ali had told her. "And this treasure has just remained buried in this spot for centuries and no one has bothered to take it?"
"Like I said, this is a cursed place," Oscar replied. "It is said to be protected by a powerful creature. Many have tried to uncover the treasure of this site, and many treasure seekers have failed, scared away by the legend of the creature that lurks below the earth."
Talk about scary campfire stories, Rose thought, just as an eerie cry erupted in the otherwise quiet night. Rose was certain she had heard that cry before. Was it a desert animal or bird that was catching her attention? She wasn't sure. As she struggled with those thoughts, another man joined their small group. He was the eldest member of the villains and possessed a round, approachable face. His expression, however, showed only apprehension as he took over Oscar's explanation.
"Or, perhaps it is that treasure seekers fear the Medjai," the man postulated.
"Danton, you worry too much about a group that was quiet ineffectual at guarding the fortress back in 2001. What makes you think the Medjai of 1930, with the inferior technology that exists in this time, would be any match for us now?" Oscar posed.
"Because, I have read much about them," the man returned. "I tell you, Mr. Mann, they are not to be trifled with."
Oscar turned away from the man and again looked in Rose's direction. "You'll have to excuse Danton, I'm afraid all his historic studies have tainted his mind."
"I don't know," Rose answered. "I've seen the Medjai in action before." She paused to look at Victor square in the face and added, "They did disarm Victor and his group like they were mere children."
Victor frowned down at her and Oscar chuckled. It was not a laugh of good humor, but one of deviousness.
"Perhaps," he agreed reluctantly. "However, we plan to stay here only long enough to satisfy Danton's curiosities and have no designs on meeting the 1930's version of the Medjai. Then, I'm afraid we must move on. Europe awaits us. As I have already explained, it along with the rest of the world is in turmoil right now with the American stock market crash of 1929 plunging the world into a depression. And my poor motherland of Germany is feeling the bite the worst. They will be thankful I have arrived in this era."
Rose shook her head, thinking all these men had been drinking heavily over the years to actually believe they had time traveled.
"You are all living some sort of twisted fantasy," Rose insisted, finally shaking Victor's hand free and jumping to her feet. "I mean, time travel is impossible. And granted, the stories I've been hearing since arriving in Egypt are quite interesting, but definitely not true."
Jean Danton jumped to his feet too and countered, "Oh, but they are, Madame. And once I find the Book of the Dead I will show you just how true all this is." Then he held up the long staff that had been resting in his hands, but which Rose had not noticed until now, and added, "Just look at his. The Staff of the Sun is a perfect example of just how real the secrets of Egypt are. And with this and the Fortress of Aten, Mr. Mann and myself will surely make a huge impact on the world-bigger than anyone who has yet lived!"
"Danton!" Oscar suddenly said roughly. "Sit. You will frighten our guest."
Frighten was right. Rose was certain she was surrounded by escapees from the mental ward. She prayed Ali hurried to rescue her from this madness.
****
"My lord, we are ready," a voice said quietly next to him.
He nodded, then turned to his men.
"We have been watching the interlopers all day. They are armed, but right now they are unawares. Kill them all but the woman. She is obviously a prisoner," their leader said, then mounted his horse and galloped toward the City of the Dead.
****
Standing next to Rose and throwing another arm around her shoulders, Victor said, "Don't worry. I've learned that very little frightens my Rosa." Then he waved to the men and turned them both away from the fire and said in parting, "Excuse us, Rosalinda and I have a lot of catching up to do."
Rose tried to fight subtly, but she was no match for Victor's strength. She feared what he had planned and all the while she racked her brain trying to think of a way to escape.
As they neared a small tent and Victor's grip tightened, Rose knew exactly what kind of catching up he had planned. She, however, was not going to let him have her and she balked just before the entrance to the shelter.
"Vic, come on," she said. "What are you doing with these guys?"
Victor halted, interested for the moment in explaining his plans to her.
"These guys have a plan," Victor explained. "I mean, a real huge plan. They have the means and the brains to literally gain more wealth and power than anyone could imagine. By the time we're all done time traveling through history, we will own everyone. Why would I not want in on that?"
"And what about my father? You're just going to quit his business and join with these men?" she asked.
"Why do you care about Al?" he returned. "You ran out on him. And what we're going to accomplish is going to make your father's business look incredibly small in comparison."
He stepped forward and grabbed her upper arms. "Just think, Rosa, we could have the world at our fingertips. You and me. That's how it was going to be in Chicago before you left. But this.this is huge. Don't you want to be in on it?"
Victor was showing a moment of weakness for her. Every once in a while when they'd been together, he'd allow that to slip. Part of him did care for her, she reasoned, but most of him just wanted to control her.
Not wanting to ruffle his feathers, Rose shrugged diplomatically and asked, "What would I do with all that power?"
He chuckled and moved a hand to her face. "You never were interested in money and power, were you, babe? Part of me has to love you for that."
The charm would only last so long, Rose figured. Because as soon as she turned him away, he'd become the thug she was so used to.
"Yeah?" Rose asked back, unable to control her mouth. "Well, not one single part of me loves you. Why else would I have run away five years ago?"
She saw the change in his eyes, though it was dark. He gave her that blank stare and again grabbed her arms and squeezed harshly.
"You'll love me, Rosa," he growled. "You'll love me again if I have to force you to." Then he gave her a push toward the tent. "And we're going to start tonight."
Rose kept her wits about her as she fell to her knees in front of the tent entrance from his push. She was going to fight him if it killed her.
He began to bend down to push her further into the tent when the pounding of horse hooves invaded the night and another high-pitched cry reached them. Everyone in the camp stood and cocked their weapons. Tony appeared from behind a ruin, looking confused and luckily Victor forgot all about Rose and turned toward the sound.
"What the hell?" he asked, and when his back was to Rose, she jumped to her feet and yanked the handgun out of his belt. It was the only weapon he had on him and after she took it, she ran as fast as she could in the thick sand.
"Rosa!" he yelled at her, and she turned to see him pursuing her.
She heard one last cry and knew exactly who was invading the camp. It was the Medjai. Ali had finally come for her!
Darkly robed warriors tore into camp upon their swift steeds. Their war cries echoed eerily through the City of the Dead and everyone stopped to look at and assess the attackers. Even Victor paused, but Rose continued running toward the warriors not daring to stop and heed their entrance.
"Help! Help!" she called in the night, tucking Victor's gun in to the waist of her jeans and waving her arms. "Ali! Over here."
With the darkness of the night and the swiftness of the attack, Rose couldn't determine which veiled man was Ali. A small figure upon a horse, however, rode towards her and held out a hand.
In a voice indicating more of a boy than a man, the warrior said, "Lady, here. Grab my hand."
As the small warrior halted his horse next to Rose and reached down to clasp her hand, Victor reached up and grabbed the boy from his saddle.
"Damned if I'll let you take her anywhere," Victor growled as he tossed the boy to the sand, a hand gripping his robe.
He then lifted a fist to punch at the boy, when Rose drew the handgun from her waist and threatened, "Touch him, and I'll take you out, Vic. Don't think I won't either. Because I will."
As she made her threat, gunfire erupted all around them, and Victor being more concerned for his own welfare, dropped the boy and dove for cover.
Rose glanced up to see Oscar's men having the advantage over the Medjai. Several warriors fell from their mounts, victims of bullets, and Rose wondered why the Medjai were only firing back sporadically. Didn't Ali and his men possess equal firepower? Why were so many of the warriors using only their swords?
She had little time to contemplate the tactics the Medjai were using, for the little warrior who's head only reached as high as her shoulder, was yanking on her arm, saying in a hurried voice, "Come, we must leave."
They mounted his horse and the boy's head whipped back and forth, looking for an escape route. At the same time, a deep warrior voice cried out a command in Arabic and all the Medjai who were left uninjured turned their horses and raced out of the city. Rose and the small warrior followed.
****
They'd had no choice but to retreat. It was unusual the Medjai found themselves out-matched. But these interlopers possessed weapons that were obviously far superior. Their rifles had fired consecutively and he had not seen them reload once. Who were these men who had invaded the City of the Dead and how could they be stopped? Perhaps the woman they had rescued would have they knowledge they needed.
****
The ride through the desert behind the boy warrior was a short one. They rode but a few miles, climbed a rise and then stopped. Rose slid off the back of the horse and the small warrior jumped down beside her. The other Medjai began to dismount their horses and Rose's stomach fluttered with anticipation as she searched the eyes of each warrior, trying to find Ali.
A tall rider with long raven hair rode his black horse in front of her. His dark, unmistakable eyes burrowed into her face and Rose knew instantly she had found Ali.
He dismounted and as soon as his feet were stable upon the ground, Rose rushed at him and threw her arms around his neck.
"Ali, thank goodness!" she cried.
She squeezed him tightly, then pulled down his veil and kissed his lips soundly. Ali barely responded, his lips still upon hers and his hands rested lightly upon her hips as though he couldn't decide if he wanted to touch her or not.
Breaking the kiss and burying her head in his solid chest, Rose sobbed, "Ali, I'm so sorry that I told you I didn't want to marry you last night. I do want to marry you. And I don't care that you're the chief of the Medjai. I love you."
He remained quiet and Rose sensed the rest of the warriors hovering nearby. She wondered for a moment if he was hurt from the recent gunfight or if her brother's bullet had injured him badly. That could be the only explanation for his muteness. Moving her hands to his face and looking at him urgently, Rose asked, "Are you hurt, Ali? Are you." Her words trailed off as she saw bluish-green tattoos upon the cheeks of the man in front of her. They were the same marks Ali possessed upon his chest. Then she looked into the man's eyes and was confronted with a cold, hard stare that Ali would surely never give her.
"You're not Ali," she said quietly, disbelieving what she was seeing. She saw a thin line of beard along the man's jaw-line and remembered Ali had only worn a goatee. Then she tugged on a strand of raven hair and noticed it was longer and wavier than Ali's had been. She pushed the turban from his head and saw another ancient tattoo upon his forehead. Aside from those few differences, however, this man could have been Ali. They looked like identical twins.
"Who are you?" Rose questioned, feeling the stares of the other Medjai upon her back. Her hands were still resting on the man in front of her--one touching his hair curiously, the other on his chest. Normally, she felt uneasy touching strangers so intimately, but she felt she knew this man. She was certain she knew him and he reminded her so much of Ali, it only felt natural to touch him so.
Then she remembered the stories in the cave Ali had told her and the explanation Yasmeen had given her last night about the history of the Medjai and Rose knew exactly who was standing in front of her.
"You're Ardeth Bay," she said upon a breathless gasp. She touched his face again and asked, "But how?"
With little ceremony Ardeth removed her hands from his face and stepped back from her.
"How do you know my name?" he questioned in English, with an accent heavier than Ali's. "And who are you? Who are those men?"
He took little time with greetings or courtesies, she noticed, and that was very unlike Ali.
"I'm Rose." she began to explain, but halted as she realized how absurd her explanation would be. She was a woman from the future. How bizarre would that sound to the ears of these men! And how bizarre it sounded to herself. Had she really been catapulted back in time? Had the myth of the Fortress of Aten just been proven?
"Tell me where you came from," Ardeth demanded.
"Well, you're certainly a cheery fellow," Rose quipped, forgetting for the moment the incredible revelation she had just experienced about the fortress and feeling rather put off by Ardeth's abruptness.
Suddenly, a stern-faced warrior was standing in front of her, glowering at her from under his turban.
"You speak with disrespect to our chief, woman," he warned. "Who are you to talk so?"
The little warrior who had ridden her to this spot stepped forward and pointed to her sweatshirt.
"Look," he announced in English. "She wears the Greek god of victory. Is she Greek?"
Rose furrowed her brow, wondering just what this boy was talking about when she realized the logo on her sweatshirt read "Nike." She let out a small laugh and said, "No, this is just a logo. A brand name. They make sports apparel."
Everyone around her stared at her as if she had just spoken in an unrecognizable tongue. Even Ardeth Bay stared at her strangely.
Suddenly the stern man who had spoken so harshly to her just a moment ago looked her up and down disapprovingly and circled her for inspection. He spoke in English, obviously just to show her his distaste, and said, "Look at her, my lord. She is dressed like no woman I have ever seen before. There are letters written on her shirt and her hair," he reached out and tugged on the ends, "it is too short for any woman to wear. Her accent is certainly American, but I have never seen any American woman act as she does and blatantly lay affection upon a Medjai chief."
Rose jerked her head out of his reach and warned, "Back off, buddy. Touch me again and I'll knock you silly."
The man glared at her. "You wanted us to rescue this woman, my lord? What for?" The man then grabbed her face and drew his scimitar. He touched the sharp point to her cheek and insisted, "I could kill her with one quick swipe, my lord. Say the word and we can return her carcass to her friends in Hamunaptra."
Rose placed her hands on his wrist, trying to pry his hand from her face but to no avail. She feared these Medjai of the 1930s. They were no doubt more brutal and untrusting than Ali's generation. She wondered how she could free herself of this man, when a small hand touched the ring on her finger.
"Rashid, no!" the boy warrior cried. "Look! Look what she wears upon her hand."
Slowly, Rashid released her and his eyes moved to her ring. He lifted her hand in his and when recognition entered his countenance, he quickly dropped her hand, replaced his sword and bowed before her.
"Forgive me," he said quietly. "I did not realize you wore that ring."
There was a murmuring amongst the men and Rose glanced down at the ring, wondering why it had humbled Rashid so quickly.
Ardeth stepped in front of her and lifted her hand. When his eyes landed on the ring they showed with emotion for a brief second. Then slowly, he released her hand and asked, "Why do you wear the ring of the wife of a Medjai chief?"
"It's a long story," she answered.
"That ring," Ardeth continued, "it holds the symbols of our tribe. It would appear as if you were my wife, but that is impossible, because I have no wife." He crossed his arms and stood stoically in front of her.
"Of course I'm not your wife," Rose explained. "I was to marry Ali, your grandson."
****
Few things surprised Ardeth. This woman's words, however, sent a shock through his system. How could she confess to being engaged for marriage to his grandson when he was but thirty and had no wife or children of his own?
He studied the woman in front of him for a long moment. She was very pretty with intriguing blue eyes. Her attire was strange and her manner quite bold. She snapped at his warriors as if she feared nothing from them and that was dangerous ground to tread. Yet she wore a Medjai ring with the symbols of his tribe engraved in gold, so she must know something of his tribe and their ways.
"Tell me, woman," he began when she interrupted him to insist, "It's Rose."
He ignored her interruption and continued, "How is it that you came upon that ring? And just where do you come from? Where do those men at Hamunaptra come from?"
"If I tell you, you'll surely think I'm insane," Rose answered.
"I have seen stranger things in the desert, I am sure," Ardeth argued.
"And since I came to Egypt with your grandson, I have seen nothing but strange things too," Rose quipped then inquired, "Do you know about the Fortress of Aten?"
"The fortress?" he returned. "You know of the fortress?"
"Yes, its how I got here."
Rose's admission sent a murmur of incredulous belief through Ardeth's men. The Fortress of Aten was rumored to control the power of time. The Medjai had always been aware of its possible power, but until now, had never heard of anyone wielding it. This woman, however, in her strange clothing and brave manner could very possibly have been a traveler through time.
"Are you telling me you traveled in time using the Fortress of Aten?" Ardeth asked and circled her himself looking her up and down, trying to force his mind to comprehend just what this woman had said.
"I guess that's how I got here. I was kidnapped by those men at Hamunaptra," Rose said. "I woke up here and just assumed we were still back in 2001 until I ran into you."
"And you know who I am, how?" Ardeth posed, carefully probing this woman's story. He wanted proof that she truly was a Medjai ally from the future before he gave her his trust.
"Ali told me. You're the one who brought the Medjai into the modern times. You're going to be single-handedly responsible for turning your warriors into people who can blend in with the modern world. You're going to."
"Enough!" Ardeth growled, cutting off her rambling explanation. "That proves nothing to me. How do I know you're not a spy for those men at Hamunaptra?"
"Well, if you thought that, why in the hell did you bring me along for the ride?" Rose countered.
Ardeth halted his pacing and looked sharply at her. "What did you just say?"
"I asked, why in the hell you rescued me if you thought I was a spy."
"Do all women talk so.disrespectfully in the year..2001, was it?" he asked, completely taken off balance by this woman's language. She not only acted boldly, she spoke like no woman he'd ever heard before.
"Its slang. Its quite common in my time." Rose then shook her head and began laughing. "You know, until I laid eyes on you, I never would have thought the Fortress of Aten was real. Time travel! Who would have thought? I'm completely blown away. And now you don't believe me. Funny, I was the one who never believed Ali when he was telling me stories about the secrets of Egypt while we were holed away in that Cave of Prophecies."
"You have seen that cave?" Ardeth questioned, finally hearing something from her that hinted she knew more about the Medjai.
"Yes. My picture is in it, after all," Rose answered. "Along with your name and your son's name, Ali's name and supposedly Ali's son's name. Ali told me you were the one who helped to defeat some creature that was brought back to life and created plagues, and then you had to battle some army made of sand."
Ardeth stared at her intensely for several moments, then finally asked, "You know about the battle with Imhotept?"
"Is that the creature's name?"
Ardeth nodded, then said, "And what of this army? Was it the Army of Anubis?"
"I can't remember," Rose said. "Could have been."
Another murmur went up through the crowd of warriors and suddenly the small warrior moved in front of Ardeth and bravely looked up at him. "My lord, I am sure she speaks the truth. I believe her and so must you."
Ardeth glanced down at the boy with a comical expression.
"Hammad, I am afraid your boldness knows no bounds," Ardeth quipped. "First, you defy my orders and ride into the City of the Dead. Then, you interrupt both Rashid and myself with your insistence. When you are an elder warrior, then you may pose your opinion. Until then, follow and learn. Understand?"
The boy's shoulders sank but immediately Rose grabbed him and spun him around to face her.
"Hammad? Is that your name?" she asked with much excitement.
"It is," he answered.
"And how old are you?"
"I am twelve," he announced proudly, as he threw his shoulders back and stood as tall as he could.
Rose laughed and threw her arms around the boy. "Where I come from," she told him, "you're a lot older than twelve. You're the eldest member of the tribe and you are very wise."
"I am?" the boy asked and Rose pulled away and nodded at him.
"Enough," Ardeth interrupted with his order. "We must know about those men at Hamunaptra, woman, and you are going to tell us how to defeat them and their weapons."
****
Ardeth Bay, Ali's "famous" grandfather, was certainly not the most patient of men. His mission was obvious, and Rose was interrupted by his insistence. Slowy, she straightened and stepped back from Hammad. How strange to see the wise old man a mere child. And what a brave child at that! But she could think about that later, right now, Ardeth Bay was demanding answers.
"Those men, Ardeth," Rose began slowly, wondering if her using his first name would anger him, "are armed with automatic rifles that can shoot a magazine of bullets faster than your old Springfield rifles can fire two rounds. And their leader, Oscar Mann, has plans to change history."
If it was at all possible for Ardeth to look more serious than he already did, her words caused him to do just that. His dark eyes narrowed to mere slits and his mouth deepened in what could only be described as an angry frown. He stepped closer to her, his six-foot, two-inch frame towering above her as he asked lowly, "And just how do you defeat such weapons?"
Rose gave a shrug. "You're the warrior, figure it out."
His face was a mere inch from hers and Rose could smell the desert sand on his clothes.
"Are you being coy on purpose?" he inquired.
"I'm only being honest. I don't know how you can defeat them," she answered. "But I certainly hope you do, because those men are dangerous and I really need to get back to 2001. I have no idea what shape your grandson is in and I have to find him."
"Tell me no more of this future you come from," he warned quietly, almost in a whisper. "Tell me only of these men."
Rose sighed, then took a good five minutes to tell Ardeth everything she knew about Victor, Oscar, Jean Danton, Jeffreys and her brother. She pleaded with him to not harm Tony, but made it quite clear he could do as he pleased with the rest.
"I will do as I please with all of them," he assured her. "I can give you no guarantees that I can save your brother. If he survives our next raid, so be it. But those men must be gone from Hamunaptra and from this time. It will only change history for the worst if they succeed."
"You can say that again," Rose replied under her breath, then asked, "How did you stumble upon us anyhow?"
"Hamunaptra is a site we guard fiercely. The creature you spoke of earlier is buried there and should he ever be returned to life again, I fear what he would do to the world. I nearly lost my life trying to defeat him last time. There can not be a second time."
His words held such conviction. It was quite obvious to Rose that this man's entire life was dedicated to guarding the desert. Ali's actions and words had held a similar dedication, but not as extreme. Ali had found a balance between life and duty, whereas this man had not.
"And does this creature also command that army you were talking about? The Army of Anubis that you defeated?" Rose inquired.
Ardeth took a step back and glanced at his warriors who were listening intently. Their eyes were large with surprise and Rose wondered why her words had caused such a reaction from them.
Looking back at Rose with some anxiety, Ardeth answered, "We have not fought the Army of Anubis."
"Apparently you will," Rose said, still finding this situation to be merely incomprehensible. Perhaps it was that injection she'd received the night before? Maybe she was still asleep, sedated, and this was just some bizarre dream? She hoped, but she seriously doubted that.
"Yes, we will. Our prophets have predicted it for centuries. But they have never predicted the outcome," Ardeth revealed.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Or maybe you just think I'm insane," Rose said wearily. She was growing tired and just wanted to sleep, hoping it would make all these strange happenings feel somehow less strange.
"I think," Ardeth began as he looked at her with less apprehension and more trust, "that my warriors and I should make a plan of action." Then he placed a hand on Hammad's small back and pushed the boy toward Rose. "Meanwhile, why don't you and our wise elder here get reacquainted."
He left with the briefest of smiles and Rose realized Ardeth Bay did possess a small inkling of humor after all. ****
The dust settled in the City of the Dead and an eerie silence filled the night. It was a dead silence. Not a single sound ensued and Tony took that as a good sign. If the Medjai were still around, there would be some sound, some hint. Carefully, he crawled out from under the fallen pillar he'd been hiding under and glanced around. There were dead bodies-all Medjai-and Oscar's men were regrouping slowly appearing from out of their own cover. The silence continued until Victor's voice broke the night.
"Damn it all to hell!" he shouted and as Tony rounded another prone pillar, he saw Victor kick angrily at the sand.
"What is it, Vic?" Tony inquired.
"They took Rosa again. Again! Can you believe it?" he snapped and then halted his tantrum and stood with hands upon his hips.
"And you know what's the worst part of it all?" he continued. "The worst part is, your sister held me at gunpoint to escape with them! I swear, when I get my hands on her I'm going to kill her. To hell with your father wanting her back and to hell with you for wanting to protect her. I'm going to kill her!"
There was a dark fire raging in Victor's eyes and Tony knew it was wise not to argue with him or comment. Let Victor have his outburst and hoped to God that Rosa was safe with these Medjai like she had been safe with them in their own era.
Oscar's group joined them at that moment, and it was apparent that one was missing. His friend and pilot, Eric, was not present.
"Where's Eric?" Tony asked, wondering if the Medjai had hit at least one mark.
A cold, hard expression filled Oscar's face and he said with little emotion, "Dead."
Tony said nothing in return. He was standing between two very volatile men and one wrong word to either would mean certain death. He would have to continue to play along and hope he could thwart their insane plans to change history.
"So, what's the plan, Oscar?" Victor inquired after a long, tension-filled silence.
"The plan continues," Oscar said. "We are down one more man, but that will not stop us." Then he looked at the five dead Medjai warriors on the ground a few yards away, turned to Jean Danton and added, "It appears as if your Medjai warriors of the 1930's are worthless. They pose us little danger. But I must insist we cut your archeological expedition short and begin moving on. In case they do come back, I would rather not have to waist any more ammunition killing them."
The group agreed, and Jean agreed reluctantly. They all began the process of packing their supplies and gathering their horses. They would move on shortly and if the Medjai never found them again, it was entirely up to Tony to stop them. ***
Rose had been lucky enough to avoid Victor all day. She wasn't lucky enough, however, to avoid him as the sun dipped below the horizon and the moon began to make its appearance.
Sitting in front of the campfire someone had started, talking quietly with Tony, Victor approached with another man and sat very near her. Rose attempted to slide away, but Victor threw an arm around her shoulders and kept her near.
"Oscar, I'd like to introduce you to my Rosalinda," Victor said proudly. "What do you think of her?"
The man Victor called Oscar was middle-aged with white-blonde hair and pale blue eyes. The moment Rose saw his face, she disliked him. There was something to be wary of in his eyes, he was dangerous, and she only hoped Ali would be prepared to face this advisory.
"She is beautiful," Oscar answered and Rose shuddered at the way his blue eyes roamed over her face.
"She is," Victor agreed, turning his head to look down at her. "But she's been a very naughty girl. Haven't you, sweetie?"
Recalling Tony's words from earlier about not angering Victor further, Rose bit her lip and turned her eyes away from Victor's squarely cut face. The only thing about his face that gave her comfort was the bruise upon his left cheek that Ali had put there. She almost started laughing as she remembered that scene.
"So, Rose?" Oscar asked her, and Rose turned back to look at him as he spoke. "How do you like our City of the Dead?"
"Its interesting," she replied, not wanting to sound too sarcastic and say it was nothing but a pile of rubble.
"And it has an interesting history," Oscar continued. "Four years ago, a curse was unleashed upon this site and upon Egypt in the form of an immortal being. He was a creature so deadly, he could suck the life-blood from a person. He was said to be immortal, but somehow he was put back in his grave. A grave right here beneath the sand."
Rose subtly wiggled her shoulder, trying to rid Victor's hand from her arm. He kept his hold on her, however, and refused to let her go.
"Nice story," she then said and was sorry she had allowed the sarcasm to escape for Victor had heard it in her voice and he squeezed her arm painfully.
"Be nice to our host, Rosa," he warned.
"It is all right," Oscar said with a sneer upon his lips. "I am certain she will lose her attitude eventually. Allow her to settle in. Once she discovers that the women here in this time are more demure, she will conform."
"In this time? What does that mean?" she asked, curiously.
"It means we're in a completely different era," Oscar answered. "You have heard of the Fortress of Aten, haven't you?"
"Yes."
"Then you understand its powers. We used those powers and thus we are back in 1930. It is a prime year. Not only is Hamunaptra still around and in relatively good condition, but the year is ripe for a man such as myself to make himself known," Oscar told her.
Very curious over this man's words, Rose leaned forward, staring over the fire at him, trying to see if he was serious. Everything about his countenance told her he believed his words, so she asked, "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying we have traveled back in time, using the Fortress of Aten," Oscar said. "We have come to this year because the world is plunging into a devastating economic depression. It is weak and each country is too worried about their own internal affairs to be able to respond to any serious threat of power. I plan to change history and the economic forecast of the future. When we return to 2001, you will see a new world with me and my friends as the leaders."
Rose gaped at the man, thinking he must really be demented to believe such a farce, then forced the look from her face fearing angering him and asked, "And this place? Why are you starting your quest here amongst a pile of ruins?"
"We have come to this spot on a little sight-seeing tour," he answered. "A friend of mine is looking for a book and I owe him this indulgence. It is said to be buried in this spot along with more treasure than one could imagine."
"Really?" Rose asked, knowing she sounded disbelieving, but not caring for his story was growing more far-fetched than any that Ali had told her. "And this treasure has just remained buried in this spot for centuries and no one has bothered to take it?"
"Like I said, this is a cursed place," Oscar replied. "It is said to be protected by a powerful creature. Many have tried to uncover the treasure of this site, and many treasure seekers have failed, scared away by the legend of the creature that lurks below the earth."
Talk about scary campfire stories, Rose thought, just as an eerie cry erupted in the otherwise quiet night. Rose was certain she had heard that cry before. Was it a desert animal or bird that was catching her attention? She wasn't sure. As she struggled with those thoughts, another man joined their small group. He was the eldest member of the villains and possessed a round, approachable face. His expression, however, showed only apprehension as he took over Oscar's explanation.
"Or, perhaps it is that treasure seekers fear the Medjai," the man postulated.
"Danton, you worry too much about a group that was quiet ineffectual at guarding the fortress back in 2001. What makes you think the Medjai of 1930, with the inferior technology that exists in this time, would be any match for us now?" Oscar posed.
"Because, I have read much about them," the man returned. "I tell you, Mr. Mann, they are not to be trifled with."
Oscar turned away from the man and again looked in Rose's direction. "You'll have to excuse Danton, I'm afraid all his historic studies have tainted his mind."
"I don't know," Rose answered. "I've seen the Medjai in action before." She paused to look at Victor square in the face and added, "They did disarm Victor and his group like they were mere children."
Victor frowned down at her and Oscar chuckled. It was not a laugh of good humor, but one of deviousness.
"Perhaps," he agreed reluctantly. "However, we plan to stay here only long enough to satisfy Danton's curiosities and have no designs on meeting the 1930's version of the Medjai. Then, I'm afraid we must move on. Europe awaits us. As I have already explained, it along with the rest of the world is in turmoil right now with the American stock market crash of 1929 plunging the world into a depression. And my poor motherland of Germany is feeling the bite the worst. They will be thankful I have arrived in this era."
Rose shook her head, thinking all these men had been drinking heavily over the years to actually believe they had time traveled.
"You are all living some sort of twisted fantasy," Rose insisted, finally shaking Victor's hand free and jumping to her feet. "I mean, time travel is impossible. And granted, the stories I've been hearing since arriving in Egypt are quite interesting, but definitely not true."
Jean Danton jumped to his feet too and countered, "Oh, but they are, Madame. And once I find the Book of the Dead I will show you just how true all this is." Then he held up the long staff that had been resting in his hands, but which Rose had not noticed until now, and added, "Just look at his. The Staff of the Sun is a perfect example of just how real the secrets of Egypt are. And with this and the Fortress of Aten, Mr. Mann and myself will surely make a huge impact on the world-bigger than anyone who has yet lived!"
"Danton!" Oscar suddenly said roughly. "Sit. You will frighten our guest."
Frighten was right. Rose was certain she was surrounded by escapees from the mental ward. She prayed Ali hurried to rescue her from this madness.
****
"My lord, we are ready," a voice said quietly next to him.
He nodded, then turned to his men.
"We have been watching the interlopers all day. They are armed, but right now they are unawares. Kill them all but the woman. She is obviously a prisoner," their leader said, then mounted his horse and galloped toward the City of the Dead.
****
Standing next to Rose and throwing another arm around her shoulders, Victor said, "Don't worry. I've learned that very little frightens my Rosa." Then he waved to the men and turned them both away from the fire and said in parting, "Excuse us, Rosalinda and I have a lot of catching up to do."
Rose tried to fight subtly, but she was no match for Victor's strength. She feared what he had planned and all the while she racked her brain trying to think of a way to escape.
As they neared a small tent and Victor's grip tightened, Rose knew exactly what kind of catching up he had planned. She, however, was not going to let him have her and she balked just before the entrance to the shelter.
"Vic, come on," she said. "What are you doing with these guys?"
Victor halted, interested for the moment in explaining his plans to her.
"These guys have a plan," Victor explained. "I mean, a real huge plan. They have the means and the brains to literally gain more wealth and power than anyone could imagine. By the time we're all done time traveling through history, we will own everyone. Why would I not want in on that?"
"And what about my father? You're just going to quit his business and join with these men?" she asked.
"Why do you care about Al?" he returned. "You ran out on him. And what we're going to accomplish is going to make your father's business look incredibly small in comparison."
He stepped forward and grabbed her upper arms. "Just think, Rosa, we could have the world at our fingertips. You and me. That's how it was going to be in Chicago before you left. But this.this is huge. Don't you want to be in on it?"
Victor was showing a moment of weakness for her. Every once in a while when they'd been together, he'd allow that to slip. Part of him did care for her, she reasoned, but most of him just wanted to control her.
Not wanting to ruffle his feathers, Rose shrugged diplomatically and asked, "What would I do with all that power?"
He chuckled and moved a hand to her face. "You never were interested in money and power, were you, babe? Part of me has to love you for that."
The charm would only last so long, Rose figured. Because as soon as she turned him away, he'd become the thug she was so used to.
"Yeah?" Rose asked back, unable to control her mouth. "Well, not one single part of me loves you. Why else would I have run away five years ago?"
She saw the change in his eyes, though it was dark. He gave her that blank stare and again grabbed her arms and squeezed harshly.
"You'll love me, Rosa," he growled. "You'll love me again if I have to force you to." Then he gave her a push toward the tent. "And we're going to start tonight."
Rose kept her wits about her as she fell to her knees in front of the tent entrance from his push. She was going to fight him if it killed her.
He began to bend down to push her further into the tent when the pounding of horse hooves invaded the night and another high-pitched cry reached them. Everyone in the camp stood and cocked their weapons. Tony appeared from behind a ruin, looking confused and luckily Victor forgot all about Rose and turned toward the sound.
"What the hell?" he asked, and when his back was to Rose, she jumped to her feet and yanked the handgun out of his belt. It was the only weapon he had on him and after she took it, she ran as fast as she could in the thick sand.
"Rosa!" he yelled at her, and she turned to see him pursuing her.
She heard one last cry and knew exactly who was invading the camp. It was the Medjai. Ali had finally come for her!
Darkly robed warriors tore into camp upon their swift steeds. Their war cries echoed eerily through the City of the Dead and everyone stopped to look at and assess the attackers. Even Victor paused, but Rose continued running toward the warriors not daring to stop and heed their entrance.
"Help! Help!" she called in the night, tucking Victor's gun in to the waist of her jeans and waving her arms. "Ali! Over here."
With the darkness of the night and the swiftness of the attack, Rose couldn't determine which veiled man was Ali. A small figure upon a horse, however, rode towards her and held out a hand.
In a voice indicating more of a boy than a man, the warrior said, "Lady, here. Grab my hand."
As the small warrior halted his horse next to Rose and reached down to clasp her hand, Victor reached up and grabbed the boy from his saddle.
"Damned if I'll let you take her anywhere," Victor growled as he tossed the boy to the sand, a hand gripping his robe.
He then lifted a fist to punch at the boy, when Rose drew the handgun from her waist and threatened, "Touch him, and I'll take you out, Vic. Don't think I won't either. Because I will."
As she made her threat, gunfire erupted all around them, and Victor being more concerned for his own welfare, dropped the boy and dove for cover.
Rose glanced up to see Oscar's men having the advantage over the Medjai. Several warriors fell from their mounts, victims of bullets, and Rose wondered why the Medjai were only firing back sporadically. Didn't Ali and his men possess equal firepower? Why were so many of the warriors using only their swords?
She had little time to contemplate the tactics the Medjai were using, for the little warrior who's head only reached as high as her shoulder, was yanking on her arm, saying in a hurried voice, "Come, we must leave."
They mounted his horse and the boy's head whipped back and forth, looking for an escape route. At the same time, a deep warrior voice cried out a command in Arabic and all the Medjai who were left uninjured turned their horses and raced out of the city. Rose and the small warrior followed.
****
They'd had no choice but to retreat. It was unusual the Medjai found themselves out-matched. But these interlopers possessed weapons that were obviously far superior. Their rifles had fired consecutively and he had not seen them reload once. Who were these men who had invaded the City of the Dead and how could they be stopped? Perhaps the woman they had rescued would have they knowledge they needed.
****
The ride through the desert behind the boy warrior was a short one. They rode but a few miles, climbed a rise and then stopped. Rose slid off the back of the horse and the small warrior jumped down beside her. The other Medjai began to dismount their horses and Rose's stomach fluttered with anticipation as she searched the eyes of each warrior, trying to find Ali.
A tall rider with long raven hair rode his black horse in front of her. His dark, unmistakable eyes burrowed into her face and Rose knew instantly she had found Ali.
He dismounted and as soon as his feet were stable upon the ground, Rose rushed at him and threw her arms around his neck.
"Ali, thank goodness!" she cried.
She squeezed him tightly, then pulled down his veil and kissed his lips soundly. Ali barely responded, his lips still upon hers and his hands rested lightly upon her hips as though he couldn't decide if he wanted to touch her or not.
Breaking the kiss and burying her head in his solid chest, Rose sobbed, "Ali, I'm so sorry that I told you I didn't want to marry you last night. I do want to marry you. And I don't care that you're the chief of the Medjai. I love you."
He remained quiet and Rose sensed the rest of the warriors hovering nearby. She wondered for a moment if he was hurt from the recent gunfight or if her brother's bullet had injured him badly. That could be the only explanation for his muteness. Moving her hands to his face and looking at him urgently, Rose asked, "Are you hurt, Ali? Are you." Her words trailed off as she saw bluish-green tattoos upon the cheeks of the man in front of her. They were the same marks Ali possessed upon his chest. Then she looked into the man's eyes and was confronted with a cold, hard stare that Ali would surely never give her.
"You're not Ali," she said quietly, disbelieving what she was seeing. She saw a thin line of beard along the man's jaw-line and remembered Ali had only worn a goatee. Then she tugged on a strand of raven hair and noticed it was longer and wavier than Ali's had been. She pushed the turban from his head and saw another ancient tattoo upon his forehead. Aside from those few differences, however, this man could have been Ali. They looked like identical twins.
"Who are you?" Rose questioned, feeling the stares of the other Medjai upon her back. Her hands were still resting on the man in front of her--one touching his hair curiously, the other on his chest. Normally, she felt uneasy touching strangers so intimately, but she felt she knew this man. She was certain she knew him and he reminded her so much of Ali, it only felt natural to touch him so.
Then she remembered the stories in the cave Ali had told her and the explanation Yasmeen had given her last night about the history of the Medjai and Rose knew exactly who was standing in front of her.
"You're Ardeth Bay," she said upon a breathless gasp. She touched his face again and asked, "But how?"
With little ceremony Ardeth removed her hands from his face and stepped back from her.
"How do you know my name?" he questioned in English, with an accent heavier than Ali's. "And who are you? Who are those men?"
He took little time with greetings or courtesies, she noticed, and that was very unlike Ali.
"I'm Rose." she began to explain, but halted as she realized how absurd her explanation would be. She was a woman from the future. How bizarre would that sound to the ears of these men! And how bizarre it sounded to herself. Had she really been catapulted back in time? Had the myth of the Fortress of Aten just been proven?
"Tell me where you came from," Ardeth demanded.
"Well, you're certainly a cheery fellow," Rose quipped, forgetting for the moment the incredible revelation she had just experienced about the fortress and feeling rather put off by Ardeth's abruptness.
Suddenly, a stern-faced warrior was standing in front of her, glowering at her from under his turban.
"You speak with disrespect to our chief, woman," he warned. "Who are you to talk so?"
The little warrior who had ridden her to this spot stepped forward and pointed to her sweatshirt.
"Look," he announced in English. "She wears the Greek god of victory. Is she Greek?"
Rose furrowed her brow, wondering just what this boy was talking about when she realized the logo on her sweatshirt read "Nike." She let out a small laugh and said, "No, this is just a logo. A brand name. They make sports apparel."
Everyone around her stared at her as if she had just spoken in an unrecognizable tongue. Even Ardeth Bay stared at her strangely.
Suddenly the stern man who had spoken so harshly to her just a moment ago looked her up and down disapprovingly and circled her for inspection. He spoke in English, obviously just to show her his distaste, and said, "Look at her, my lord. She is dressed like no woman I have ever seen before. There are letters written on her shirt and her hair," he reached out and tugged on the ends, "it is too short for any woman to wear. Her accent is certainly American, but I have never seen any American woman act as she does and blatantly lay affection upon a Medjai chief."
Rose jerked her head out of his reach and warned, "Back off, buddy. Touch me again and I'll knock you silly."
The man glared at her. "You wanted us to rescue this woman, my lord? What for?" The man then grabbed her face and drew his scimitar. He touched the sharp point to her cheek and insisted, "I could kill her with one quick swipe, my lord. Say the word and we can return her carcass to her friends in Hamunaptra."
Rose placed her hands on his wrist, trying to pry his hand from her face but to no avail. She feared these Medjai of the 1930s. They were no doubt more brutal and untrusting than Ali's generation. She wondered how she could free herself of this man, when a small hand touched the ring on her finger.
"Rashid, no!" the boy warrior cried. "Look! Look what she wears upon her hand."
Slowly, Rashid released her and his eyes moved to her ring. He lifted her hand in his and when recognition entered his countenance, he quickly dropped her hand, replaced his sword and bowed before her.
"Forgive me," he said quietly. "I did not realize you wore that ring."
There was a murmuring amongst the men and Rose glanced down at the ring, wondering why it had humbled Rashid so quickly.
Ardeth stepped in front of her and lifted her hand. When his eyes landed on the ring they showed with emotion for a brief second. Then slowly, he released her hand and asked, "Why do you wear the ring of the wife of a Medjai chief?"
"It's a long story," she answered.
"That ring," Ardeth continued, "it holds the symbols of our tribe. It would appear as if you were my wife, but that is impossible, because I have no wife." He crossed his arms and stood stoically in front of her.
"Of course I'm not your wife," Rose explained. "I was to marry Ali, your grandson."
****
Few things surprised Ardeth. This woman's words, however, sent a shock through his system. How could she confess to being engaged for marriage to his grandson when he was but thirty and had no wife or children of his own?
He studied the woman in front of him for a long moment. She was very pretty with intriguing blue eyes. Her attire was strange and her manner quite bold. She snapped at his warriors as if she feared nothing from them and that was dangerous ground to tread. Yet she wore a Medjai ring with the symbols of his tribe engraved in gold, so she must know something of his tribe and their ways.
"Tell me, woman," he began when she interrupted him to insist, "It's Rose."
He ignored her interruption and continued, "How is it that you came upon that ring? And just where do you come from? Where do those men at Hamunaptra come from?"
"If I tell you, you'll surely think I'm insane," Rose answered.
"I have seen stranger things in the desert, I am sure," Ardeth argued.
"And since I came to Egypt with your grandson, I have seen nothing but strange things too," Rose quipped then inquired, "Do you know about the Fortress of Aten?"
"The fortress?" he returned. "You know of the fortress?"
"Yes, its how I got here."
Rose's admission sent a murmur of incredulous belief through Ardeth's men. The Fortress of Aten was rumored to control the power of time. The Medjai had always been aware of its possible power, but until now, had never heard of anyone wielding it. This woman, however, in her strange clothing and brave manner could very possibly have been a traveler through time.
"Are you telling me you traveled in time using the Fortress of Aten?" Ardeth asked and circled her himself looking her up and down, trying to force his mind to comprehend just what this woman had said.
"I guess that's how I got here. I was kidnapped by those men at Hamunaptra," Rose said. "I woke up here and just assumed we were still back in 2001 until I ran into you."
"And you know who I am, how?" Ardeth posed, carefully probing this woman's story. He wanted proof that she truly was a Medjai ally from the future before he gave her his trust.
"Ali told me. You're the one who brought the Medjai into the modern times. You're going to be single-handedly responsible for turning your warriors into people who can blend in with the modern world. You're going to."
"Enough!" Ardeth growled, cutting off her rambling explanation. "That proves nothing to me. How do I know you're not a spy for those men at Hamunaptra?"
"Well, if you thought that, why in the hell did you bring me along for the ride?" Rose countered.
Ardeth halted his pacing and looked sharply at her. "What did you just say?"
"I asked, why in the hell you rescued me if you thought I was a spy."
"Do all women talk so.disrespectfully in the year..2001, was it?" he asked, completely taken off balance by this woman's language. She not only acted boldly, she spoke like no woman he'd ever heard before.
"Its slang. Its quite common in my time." Rose then shook her head and began laughing. "You know, until I laid eyes on you, I never would have thought the Fortress of Aten was real. Time travel! Who would have thought? I'm completely blown away. And now you don't believe me. Funny, I was the one who never believed Ali when he was telling me stories about the secrets of Egypt while we were holed away in that Cave of Prophecies."
"You have seen that cave?" Ardeth questioned, finally hearing something from her that hinted she knew more about the Medjai.
"Yes. My picture is in it, after all," Rose answered. "Along with your name and your son's name, Ali's name and supposedly Ali's son's name. Ali told me you were the one who helped to defeat some creature that was brought back to life and created plagues, and then you had to battle some army made of sand."
Ardeth stared at her intensely for several moments, then finally asked, "You know about the battle with Imhotept?"
"Is that the creature's name?"
Ardeth nodded, then said, "And what of this army? Was it the Army of Anubis?"
"I can't remember," Rose said. "Could have been."
Another murmur went up through the crowd of warriors and suddenly the small warrior moved in front of Ardeth and bravely looked up at him. "My lord, I am sure she speaks the truth. I believe her and so must you."
Ardeth glanced down at the boy with a comical expression.
"Hammad, I am afraid your boldness knows no bounds," Ardeth quipped. "First, you defy my orders and ride into the City of the Dead. Then, you interrupt both Rashid and myself with your insistence. When you are an elder warrior, then you may pose your opinion. Until then, follow and learn. Understand?"
The boy's shoulders sank but immediately Rose grabbed him and spun him around to face her.
"Hammad? Is that your name?" she asked with much excitement.
"It is," he answered.
"And how old are you?"
"I am twelve," he announced proudly, as he threw his shoulders back and stood as tall as he could.
Rose laughed and threw her arms around the boy. "Where I come from," she told him, "you're a lot older than twelve. You're the eldest member of the tribe and you are very wise."
"I am?" the boy asked and Rose pulled away and nodded at him.
"Enough," Ardeth interrupted with his order. "We must know about those men at Hamunaptra, woman, and you are going to tell us how to defeat them and their weapons."
****
Ardeth Bay, Ali's "famous" grandfather, was certainly not the most patient of men. His mission was obvious, and Rose was interrupted by his insistence. Slowy, she straightened and stepped back from Hammad. How strange to see the wise old man a mere child. And what a brave child at that! But she could think about that later, right now, Ardeth Bay was demanding answers.
"Those men, Ardeth," Rose began slowly, wondering if her using his first name would anger him, "are armed with automatic rifles that can shoot a magazine of bullets faster than your old Springfield rifles can fire two rounds. And their leader, Oscar Mann, has plans to change history."
If it was at all possible for Ardeth to look more serious than he already did, her words caused him to do just that. His dark eyes narrowed to mere slits and his mouth deepened in what could only be described as an angry frown. He stepped closer to her, his six-foot, two-inch frame towering above her as he asked lowly, "And just how do you defeat such weapons?"
Rose gave a shrug. "You're the warrior, figure it out."
His face was a mere inch from hers and Rose could smell the desert sand on his clothes.
"Are you being coy on purpose?" he inquired.
"I'm only being honest. I don't know how you can defeat them," she answered. "But I certainly hope you do, because those men are dangerous and I really need to get back to 2001. I have no idea what shape your grandson is in and I have to find him."
"Tell me no more of this future you come from," he warned quietly, almost in a whisper. "Tell me only of these men."
Rose sighed, then took a good five minutes to tell Ardeth everything she knew about Victor, Oscar, Jean Danton, Jeffreys and her brother. She pleaded with him to not harm Tony, but made it quite clear he could do as he pleased with the rest.
"I will do as I please with all of them," he assured her. "I can give you no guarantees that I can save your brother. If he survives our next raid, so be it. But those men must be gone from Hamunaptra and from this time. It will only change history for the worst if they succeed."
"You can say that again," Rose replied under her breath, then asked, "How did you stumble upon us anyhow?"
"Hamunaptra is a site we guard fiercely. The creature you spoke of earlier is buried there and should he ever be returned to life again, I fear what he would do to the world. I nearly lost my life trying to defeat him last time. There can not be a second time."
His words held such conviction. It was quite obvious to Rose that this man's entire life was dedicated to guarding the desert. Ali's actions and words had held a similar dedication, but not as extreme. Ali had found a balance between life and duty, whereas this man had not.
"And does this creature also command that army you were talking about? The Army of Anubis that you defeated?" Rose inquired.
Ardeth took a step back and glanced at his warriors who were listening intently. Their eyes were large with surprise and Rose wondered why her words had caused such a reaction from them.
Looking back at Rose with some anxiety, Ardeth answered, "We have not fought the Army of Anubis."
"Apparently you will," Rose said, still finding this situation to be merely incomprehensible. Perhaps it was that injection she'd received the night before? Maybe she was still asleep, sedated, and this was just some bizarre dream? She hoped, but she seriously doubted that.
"Yes, we will. Our prophets have predicted it for centuries. But they have never predicted the outcome," Ardeth revealed.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. Or maybe you just think I'm insane," Rose said wearily. She was growing tired and just wanted to sleep, hoping it would make all these strange happenings feel somehow less strange.
"I think," Ardeth began as he looked at her with less apprehension and more trust, "that my warriors and I should make a plan of action." Then he placed a hand on Hammad's small back and pushed the boy toward Rose. "Meanwhile, why don't you and our wise elder here get reacquainted."
He left with the briefest of smiles and Rose realized Ardeth Bay did possess a small inkling of humor after all. ****
The dust settled in the City of the Dead and an eerie silence filled the night. It was a dead silence. Not a single sound ensued and Tony took that as a good sign. If the Medjai were still around, there would be some sound, some hint. Carefully, he crawled out from under the fallen pillar he'd been hiding under and glanced around. There were dead bodies-all Medjai-and Oscar's men were regrouping slowly appearing from out of their own cover. The silence continued until Victor's voice broke the night.
"Damn it all to hell!" he shouted and as Tony rounded another prone pillar, he saw Victor kick angrily at the sand.
"What is it, Vic?" Tony inquired.
"They took Rosa again. Again! Can you believe it?" he snapped and then halted his tantrum and stood with hands upon his hips.
"And you know what's the worst part of it all?" he continued. "The worst part is, your sister held me at gunpoint to escape with them! I swear, when I get my hands on her I'm going to kill her. To hell with your father wanting her back and to hell with you for wanting to protect her. I'm going to kill her!"
There was a dark fire raging in Victor's eyes and Tony knew it was wise not to argue with him or comment. Let Victor have his outburst and hoped to God that Rosa was safe with these Medjai like she had been safe with them in their own era.
Oscar's group joined them at that moment, and it was apparent that one was missing. His friend and pilot, Eric, was not present.
"Where's Eric?" Tony asked, wondering if the Medjai had hit at least one mark.
A cold, hard expression filled Oscar's face and he said with little emotion, "Dead."
Tony said nothing in return. He was standing between two very volatile men and one wrong word to either would mean certain death. He would have to continue to play along and hope he could thwart their insane plans to change history.
"So, what's the plan, Oscar?" Victor inquired after a long, tension-filled silence.
"The plan continues," Oscar said. "We are down one more man, but that will not stop us." Then he looked at the five dead Medjai warriors on the ground a few yards away, turned to Jean Danton and added, "It appears as if your Medjai warriors of the 1930's are worthless. They pose us little danger. But I must insist we cut your archeological expedition short and begin moving on. In case they do come back, I would rather not have to waist any more ammunition killing them."
The group agreed, and Jean agreed reluctantly. They all began the process of packing their supplies and gathering their horses. They would move on shortly and if the Medjai never found them again, it was entirely up to Tony to stop them. ***