Chapter 18
They had arrived too late. Ali had known from the time his cousin had announced that five Medjai were dead at the fortress that they were too late. Despite his weakness from the injury and the pain it caused, Ali had driven out to the fortress himself to inspect the site. Indeed, five of his warriors, men under his command, were dead at the steps of the fortress.
And Rose. Where was Rose? He had the men he'd brought search the fortress and the nearby area but they found nothing. Slowly, with Devraj at his side and Yasmeen at his other, they entered the fortress and looked upon the inscriptions on the wall that controlled the Fortress of Aten and Ali knew exactly where Rose was. She was in 1930.
"Ali, they've returned to 1930," Yasmeen announced as she left his side and looked at the wall. All the Medjai knew how the fortress operated and it was obvious from reading the pegs and pulleys that Victor's group had warped back to 1930.
"Yes," he acknowledged as he turned away from the wall.
"I am sure Rose will be all right," Devraj said as Ali sat on the steps that led to the platform. "After all, her brother is with her and Ardeth will be in 1930. He will not allow that group to compromise history."
"No, he will not," Ali agreed. "But still, we have failed, Dev. My first task as chief and I have failed it. I have lost my wife to be and have let the Medjai down."
"You have let no one down," an ancient voice insisted.
Hammad, cloaked in his dark robe, shuffled forward from the entranceway of the fortress. Ali was surprised to see him, for the old man had not ridden out with them. He wondered for a moment how Hammad had made his way to the fortress, then dismissed his thoughts for the old man had his ways of knowing everything and being everywhere when necessary.
"I have, Hammad," Ali argued.
"No. It was fate that these men escaped to the past with Rose. She was supposed to return to Ardeth's time. There is much you do not know, Ali, and much you must just trust will happen." The old man then glanced around the chamber, looked at the warriors dressed in their Medjai attire, then glanced at his watch. A faint smile played upon his lips as he announced, "Now is the time where you will prove yourself, my lord. This is where you will not fail your people."
No sooner did his words end when a stifling pressure filled the fortress. Ali felt the pressure the worst in his ears and he'd heard the stories enough to know what that meant.
"Take cover!" he ordered his warriors. "Someone is arriving."
He ushered Hammad behind a statue and took cover next to the old man.
"This is it, Ali," the man said excitedly. "You will make us proud."
****
Rose tossed and turned for the second night and hated the hard ground she had to sleep upon. She had been in the company of the Medjai for two days now, and she was positive she would never feel right in this era. There were no modern conveniences. She had to bathe in a river, eat at a campfire and sleep in a tent. They were large, white tents, however, but they were uncomfortable just the same.
She had yet to lose the sadness that had filled her soul upon the realization that she was stuck in 1930 without her Ali. Though the Medjai seemed curious about her, she kept to herself only speaking to Ali's mother whom she shared a tent with. As for Ardeth, since the night they had met, he paid very little attention to her.
It hurt her heart each time she saw him walking around the camp. He was Ali's twin and there were times when she actually thought she was back in 2001 and that it was Ali that was near and not Ardeth. But that fantasy lasted but a second when she would again scan her surroundings, the white tents nestled in a deep ravine, and realize just where she was.
And tonight, for the second night, she was haunted with thoughts of her own time and raking her brain wondering just how she could return there.
Then it hit her. She quickly sat up and realized that the Medjai must indeed have found that Staff of the Sun at one point in time. It was the only thing that made sense for Ali had mentioned to her that it had been stolen and used to kill his father. That meant, the Medjai had seen it! And maybe, if she was lucky, it was the Medjai of 1930 that had found it.
She pulled her tennis shoes on and quietly exited the tent. She had to speak with Ardeth. She had to tell him what she suspected about the Staff of the Sun for it was her only hope to make it back to Ali.
She sneaked across camp quietly. She knew where Ardeth's tent was for she had seen him enter it several times today. There was no one else about camp and the only sounds came from a few horses nickering nearby. A large silvery moon lit the way and she was able to make it to Ardeth's tent without causing any ruckus.
Slowly, she pushed aside the tent flaps, not wanting startle him with her entrance. She walked a few steps and saw in the far left corner of the tent the form of a man sleeping. He was lying with his head upon a pillow and wore only loosely fitting black cotton pants. His long hair was strewn around the pillow and his dark eyes were shut.
Rose continued toward him, then knelt beside him and reached a hand out to jostle his shoulder and wake him up. That was the plan anyhow. As soon as her hand made contact with his skin, however, Ardeth reached up, wrapped his hand around her throat, flipped her to her back and rolled on top of her. A small dagger was pressed to her neck and she felt its piercing prick before she could squeak out, "Ardeth, its me, Rose."
His body was heavy and his grip like a vice. Slowly, he released her and pulled the blade from her throat.
"If you know anything about the Medjai, woman, you should know better than to disturb a sleeping chief," he growled lowly.
Rose felt the vibration of his voice in her own body and wondered just when he would release her from this precarious position.
"Sorry," she finally answered. "But I have to tell you something."
"And it could not wait until morning?" he questioned less harshly than his words had been to her only moments ago.
"No, it couldn't," Rose insisted. Then she put her hands on his smooth, bare chest and asked, "Could you please get off me now?" as she pushed.
He did as she asked and returned to his bed. Rose pushed to a sitting position touching the area on her neck he'd pressed the dagger against, feeling for signs of a cut. There was none and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I hope you realize its inappropriate for you to enter my tent unescorted," Ardeth spoke up.
"What do you mean, inappropriate?" she asked.
"We are not married. It is inappropriate," he explained.
"Oh, well I don't care. Where I come from, there's nothing wrong with this visit," Rose insisted.
"Perhaps I care," Ardeth told her.
"Fine, then I'll leave," she snapped as she began to stand.
Ardeth's hand caught her arm and halted her progress.
"Tell me what it is that is so important you had to disturb my sleep," he demanded with a quiet voice.
Rose sat back down and leveled her gaze on his chest. He was as defined as Ali, and possessed several tattoos that Ali had never worn. She studied them for a moment, intrigued with their design, when his hand, which was also tattooed, reached out and pushed her chin up.
"You came to talk, not to stare," he warned.
"Sorry," she returned. "I was just wondering about those markings." She glanced at his face and hands, at the tattoos there, and added, "And I'm intrigued by the markings on your face and hands too."
"You say you knew the Medjai in your time. If that is true, these markings should be of no surprise."
Rose shook her head. "But they are. Ali's generation doesn't wear those markings on their faces or their hands. They have tattoos just like the ones on your face, but they wear them on their chest now. And those are the only markings they possess."
"Why?" Ardeth inquired and Rose could see the shock in his face.
"Because they have to blend in with modern society." Rose stopped and sighed. "There is so much about the future you should know. But I won't tell you unless you want to know. I wouldn't want to affect the course of history or anything."
Ardeth was silent for a moment as he sat cross-legged in front of her. His eyes were scanning her face as if looking for some sign of the truth. Then they swung down to her hand and landed on the ring. With an almost imperceptible nod, Ardeth said, "You may tell me, for I have no plans on changing the course of history. But first, I want to know what it is that drove you to my tent at this hour."
"Oh, the Staff of the Sun," Rose announced excitedly. "I have a feeling from all that I heard back in 2001 that the Medjai have seen the staff. You might have even possessed it at one time. If that's true, then I think we should go looking for it."
"We have never possessed the Staff of the Sun," Ardeth told her.
"Yeah, but I have a feeling you will. See, Ali knew an awful lot about it. He knew it was stolen by that man you killed at the fortress-Oscar Mann. He knew all about the powers of the staff."
"No doubt because we pass such information down from chief to chief. Of course this Ali knew about it," Ardeth argued.
"No, he didn't just know, it seemed as if he'd seen it before."
"And he told you this?" Ardeth questioned.
"No, he didn't. But in a round about way he did. He told me about the Fortress of Aten and how the staff was needed for it. He also said that staff could let one see things and that is was used for." She stopped her rambling explanation, for telling Ardeth that it had been used to assist in the assassination of his son was news she did not want to divulge.
"It was used for what?" Ardeth questioned.
"For nothing," Rose corrected just as Ardeth reached out and placed a large hand over her mouth.
She was startled by his swift move. His hand felt warm and callused against her face. She reached up to pry this hand off her face when he placed a finger to his bearded lips indicating for her to be quiet.
A male voice called quietly from the entrance of the tent.
Rose had never heard the approaching footsteps, but was glad Ardeth had. He hitched a thumb over his shoulder, indicating she move behind him and she scurried quickly to his bed. The area he slept in was just as hard as her bed in his mother's tent. But she would worry about that later, because right now it was obvious he wanted her out of sight.
Ardeth finally answered but Rose understood little for he spoke in his native tongue.
It was hardly urgent news and Rose could tell by the way Ardeth remained casually seated in front of her, shielding her from view with his body.
Ardeth returned some instructions and after a moment she heard the footsteps lead the man at the entrance of the tent away.
"What was that about?" Rose asked.
"Nothing too urgent. Just some news a caravan just sent of an archeological expedition that's rumored to be starting soon. We like to be warned in advance so we can keep watch over such expeditions that take place in the desert," he answered.
"So you can make sure no ancient secrets are revealed, right?"
"Right," he said.
"And why did you hide me? Aren't you the chief around here? What's the big deal if you're caught with a woman in your tent?" Rose then asked, curious about the rules and regulations that guided these Medjai of a generation past.
"I was protecting your reputation," he said. "It is of little consequence to my reputation for I am a man, but for a woman it is different."
"I guess I keep forgetting I'm stuck in the land that time forgot. The norms are quite different where I come from."
"I am beginning to think it is very different where you come from," Ardeth said. "Now, you had better return to my mother's tent. We will speak tomorrow."
Ardeth had turned toward her and Rose realized she was practically cornered in his tent. They were awfully close, but she didn't feel uneasy.
"What about the staff?" Rose questioned. "Can we look for it? Please."
Ardeth took a deep breath and Rose watched as his chest rose and fell with the effort.
"All right," he conceded. "We will begin a search. If for no other reason than to get you back to 2001 so I can get a decent night's rest."
"Oh, thank you, Ardeth," Rose said quietly, but excitedly as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely. "I love you, I really, really love you. Thank you so much."
She threw a sloppy kiss on his cheek, then jumped to her feet and carefully made her way back to her tent. Now that Ardeth had agreed to look for the Staff of the Sun, Rose felt that much closer to Ali.
****
Ardeth sighed with relief and fell back onto his bed when Rose left his tent. He had discovered something tonight that he hadn't wanted to discover and that was his growing desire for a woman who was supposed to marry his grandson.
Could fate really be so cruel as to allow him to fall in love with a woman who was destined for someone else? Could destiny play such an awful trick?
He had not wanted to be attracted to her when she had first kissed him two nights ago, thinking he was someone else. He had certainly tried to deny any feelings of pain or sympathy for her when she had clung to him, sobbing, in the Fortress of Aten. And he had forced himself to behave like a gentleman when she had surprised him in his tent tonight. But after those last words from her, spoken obviously only out of joy over the possibility of returning to her Ali, his grandson, Ardeth was realizing he had no choice but to admit he was in a very, very bad position.
It had been years since he'd been intrigued by a woman. There were certainly several among the tribe who would marry him with only a question from his lips. Yet they had never intrigued him, never challenged him. The elder council members of the tribe had also been begging him to marry since he'd turned twenty and taken over the reins as chief. But he had rebuffed every one of their attempts at matrimony. Then suddenly, a woman from the future, a woman who could never be his, catches his eye and Ardeth was ready to curse the heavens for the cruel, cruel trick that was being played on him.
****
Ardeth appeared the next morning after Rose had eaten in the tent and readied herself for the day. He was a bold presence in the tent and his mother, Hana, greeted him with a kiss to the cheek and a few words in their native Arabic.
Rose stood as he returned words to his mother then turned her way. In his hands, he carried a dark robe and he tossed it at her and instructed, "Put this on. There is also a covering for your head. My mother will assist you. Meet me outside in five minutes. We have some places to go and you cannot look like an outsider when we leave camp."
He turned and exited without awaiting Rose's answer.
"Is he always so blunt?" Rose questioned his mother.
"Always," she said with a shrug and then approached Rose and took the garment from her. "Let me help you get dressed."
As Hana assisted Rose with the robe, she remarked surprisingly, "My son is dressing you like a man. This will never do."
"Actually, I think it will do just fine," Rose insisted as she glanced over Hana's long, cumbersome skirt and long-sleeved top. "At least I can wear this robe over my normal clothes. I wouldn't be comfortable in your skirts especially if Ardeth is taking me on an excursion."
Hana sighed. "I suppose you are right."
Her English was impeccable, and Rose had learned from her stay that this generation of Medjai also knew English along with several other languages. It had been explained to her that English had been brought to the Medjai in the 1800s when the British had run Egypt as a protectorate. It had come in handy knowing the language and the Mejdai had been sure to teach it to each succeeding generation. And Rose was especially thankful for the English for it meant she could communicate easily with Hana and any of the others she may run across.
"But a beautiful woman like yourself, should not be dressed as a man," Hana continued. "It is not right. As it is, your native clothes adorn you like a man's, and yet, they are very different than any I have seen."
"You mean these old jeans and tennis shoes?" Rose questioned back as she pulled the hem of the over-robe up to show Hana. "You'll see that this is quite common attire in the future. Everyone wears tennis shoes and blue jeans."
Hana chuckled. "Your time sounds very unusual. And the fact that you are even from the future still boggles my mind. I have grown up hearing the myths of the Fortress of Aten, but never before has it been used. It is strange to see it is real."
The aging woman who's beauty was still quiet evident in her finely structured brow and cheeks, smiled brilliantly at Rose and then finished with a final tuck of the veil over her face. Only Rose's eyes showed and she felt uncomfortable in the attire and mentioned so.
"You will be thankful once the heat of the desert and the sun is at full force. You do not want to bare your skin to those elements," Hana insisted. "Now, hurry along before my impatient son comes looking."
Rose remembered her sweatshirt and gun and grabbed them before she left with a "good-bye" for Hana in her wake. She found Ardeth in the middle of the camp atop his black steed. Little Hammad was also mounted on his horse and held a gray Arabian by the reins for Rose. The horses were not only saddled but also carried bedrolls and as Rose stopped next to Ardeth's horse, she asked, "Are we going to be gone for a long time?"
"Until we find the Staff of the Sun," Ardeth announced. "But do not worry so, I have brought Hammad as a chaperone. I could spare no other warriors."
His words were light and he laughed at her. It was the first time he had chuckled and Rose discovered that he sounded exactly like Ali and again she felt homesick.
Hammad handed off the reins of her horse and asked, "Do you know how to ride, Rose?"
"I can ride just fine," she told him.
The boy smiled at her, his veil down, and as Rose attempted to mount and caught the long robe in her stirrup and practically fell in the process, Ardeth laughed again.
"I thought you said you could ride?" he taunted.
Rose turned and glared up at him. "I can. Probably better than you," she snapped.
"Is that so?" he returned and his face had lost all humor at the challenge. Rose was sorry she had challenged him with her words for he seemed to be a man who did not take such a challenge to his ego as easily as Ali would have.
Unable to back down, however, Rose said, "Yes, that's so." She yanked the hem of her robe to the side and mounted with little incident and then stared hard at Ardeth.
"If that is what you believe, perhaps we shall test your horsemanship skills in the desert," he said to her before he kicked his horse into a gallop and raced out of camp. Rose and Hammad followed.
****
Of course Rose was an excellent rider. However, the intense heat of the Sahara and the long, bulky robes made the ride difficult and uncomfortable. They ran their horses for much of the morning and when the sun was high and hot in the afternoon sky, they rested in the shade of a ravine and then walked the horses until the sun dipped low. As the sun began to set, they again ran and just as darkness was upon them, they stopped in a deeply carved ravine.
"There is a cave where we will stop for the night," Ardeth announced. "We must start our journey here."
Rose glanced around the surroundings and then asked, "Is this where the Cave of Prophecies is located?"
Ardeth looked at her with some surprise and answered, "Yes."
"I told you I've been here before," Rose remarked after seeing his surprise.
Ardeth nodded and agreed, "You did. But now I see you were not lying."
"Lying? You didn't believe me when I told you that a few days ago?"
"I did not know what to believe," he stated as he looked away.
"Yeah, I suppose it isn't everyday you get some woman claiming to be from the year 2001," she said lightly.
Ardeth didn't answer her, instead he said, "We must dismount. This is the entrance to the cave."
They led the three horses into the first large chamber of the cave and dismounted. Ardeth took the bedrolls from the three horses and instructed Hammad to feed and water the horses while he led Rose through the narrow entrance to the interior of the Cave of Prophecies.
It was just as he had remembered it from the time she and Ali had ventured in. The only difference was, there were a few less names on the wall and her picture was missing.
Ardeth dropped the bedrolls on the dirt floor and lit a torch. Rose moved to the far wall and touched where Ali's name and her picture had been.
"You need to eat, Rose, and get some rest. We have an early start in the morning," Ardeth called to her across the cave.
"Not yet," she returned. "This wall." she began to explain when Ardeth's presence next to her caused her to startle.
He'd been on the other side of the cave and then suddenly beside her. His movements were swift and silent, like Ali's had always been.
"Do all you Bays possess such stealth? Ali always sneaked up on me too," Rose said, a little breathless from the scare.
"Ali? My grandson?" Ardeth asked with some disbelief.
"Yes. Why is it that you don't entirely believe me?" Rose inquired. She pointed to the wall. "Right here was the name of your son, Aarif, your grandson, Ali and his son, Adan. And here," she placed her finger on the spot her picture had been, "there was a picture of me."
Ardeth regarded her for a long moment and Rose could read nothing in his dark eyes. Then hesitantly, he asked, "Tell me of this Ali you speak so fondly of."
Rose smiled wistfully and said, "He is a man I can love him with all my heart." She looked again at Ardeth's face, so much like Ali's and then touched his cheek and added, "He is very much like you."
****
Ardeth gritted his teeth and nonchalantly turned away from her touch. He didn't need her touching him or looking upon him lovingly as if she was seeing her Ali through him. He'd brought Hammad along as a buffer and he prayed the boy returned from taking care of the horses soon. For if he didn't, Ardeth wasn't sure he would continue to act appropriately with this woman who was causing his emotions to run rampant.
"Is he a brave warrior?" Ardeth questioned walking away.
"Yes," Rose answered.
"He leads his men well?"
"I guess so. He just took over as chief."
Ardeth halted his retreat and turned back toward Rose. "He did? And what of his father.my son?"
"Look, Ardeth, I don't think we should be talking about these things," Rose said, and Ardeth wondered why she avoided his inquiry when she seemed like a woman who avoided nothing.
"I think we should. I need to know the course of my family's life. It is only right," he declared.
"I don't know everything. See, Ali and I were friends for a very long time in America before I knew anything about the Medjai. In fact, I only found out he was the leader of the Medjai the night I was kidnapped and brought here to 1930."
"Really?" Ardeth asked, shocked by her explanation. How could she have not known about the Medjai and what had his grandson been doing in America?
"Yes. I was very angry with Ali when I found out. He'd hidden it from me and I felt betrayed. In the future, the Medjai don't tell anyone who they are. They're very secretive because the world is so very different. There's technology beyond your imagination, Ardeth. Satellites in space can take pictures of individual people, pictures can be emailed and faxed from one continent to another in a matter of seconds and a group like the Mejai could be seen as a threat to some people if they broadcasted their existence for all to see. So they keep a low profile, send people out into the world to do important jobs and help gather information about any groups who might be looking to unleash any of Egypt's secrets."
"Satellites? Faxes? What are these things you speak of?" Ardeth questioned slowly, stunned by the revelations Rose had just laid upon him.
"You must already be able to see how the world has changed just in your life-time," Rose prodded.
"Yes. I have seen many changes. They have been coming for many years. We saw the machine guns and planes of World War I and now the cars that are driven on the streets of Cairo are a sight to behold," he admitted.
"And the cars of the future are three times as fast and everyone in America owns at least two," Rose told him. "And if you think World War I was something, just wait. In ten years, the armies of the world will fight again. It will be the bloodiest of wars and North Africa will see its share. You need to be sure to keep your tribe safe during this war, Ardeth. The German Panzers, their mighty tanks, are going to capture much of North Africa. It will be a horrible war, and it will end with the most treacherous of bombs being dropped by the Americans."
A sadness settled over Rose's face and Ardeth moved near her, wanting to hear more of this future that awaited the world.
"What bomb?" he asked.
"An atomic bomb," she said quietly. "It has the power to disintegrate an entire city in one second. But only two were ever dropped in warfare and I hope we'll never see it again."
"Did you witness it?" he questioned.
Rose chuckled. "Heaven's no! It happens in 1945. I wasn't born until the 1970s. But I've seen video footage of it."
"Video footage?" Her words were confusing Ardeth. He could barely keep up with all her stories. He was trying to image what was to come, but he cold hardly process it quickly enough.
"Like a film. You've seen one, haven't you?" she questioned.
He nodded and confessed, "I once saw a moving picture in Cairo when I was younger."
"A video is very similar. The technology is just more advanced," Rose explained simply.
Ardeth said nothing more to her and merely stood still, thinking about all she had said, his thoughts distracted from her and focused on history. Finally, after several long moments, Hammad entered the cave and announced he was hungry.
They lit a fire in the small fire pit and ate the dried meat and dates they had stored away. It was a small dinner, yet Ardeth was barely hungry after imaging the world that was to come. It sounded like a complicated place and he suddenly felt daunted by the role that awaited him as chief.
In fact, he continued to lie on the floor of the cave quietly as the other two slept, staring at the last of the fire's flames dancing off the ceiling and he wondering just what would come of the Medjai in the future. ****
They had arrived too late. Ali had known from the time his cousin had announced that five Medjai were dead at the fortress that they were too late. Despite his weakness from the injury and the pain it caused, Ali had driven out to the fortress himself to inspect the site. Indeed, five of his warriors, men under his command, were dead at the steps of the fortress.
And Rose. Where was Rose? He had the men he'd brought search the fortress and the nearby area but they found nothing. Slowly, with Devraj at his side and Yasmeen at his other, they entered the fortress and looked upon the inscriptions on the wall that controlled the Fortress of Aten and Ali knew exactly where Rose was. She was in 1930.
"Ali, they've returned to 1930," Yasmeen announced as she left his side and looked at the wall. All the Medjai knew how the fortress operated and it was obvious from reading the pegs and pulleys that Victor's group had warped back to 1930.
"Yes," he acknowledged as he turned away from the wall.
"I am sure Rose will be all right," Devraj said as Ali sat on the steps that led to the platform. "After all, her brother is with her and Ardeth will be in 1930. He will not allow that group to compromise history."
"No, he will not," Ali agreed. "But still, we have failed, Dev. My first task as chief and I have failed it. I have lost my wife to be and have let the Medjai down."
"You have let no one down," an ancient voice insisted.
Hammad, cloaked in his dark robe, shuffled forward from the entranceway of the fortress. Ali was surprised to see him, for the old man had not ridden out with them. He wondered for a moment how Hammad had made his way to the fortress, then dismissed his thoughts for the old man had his ways of knowing everything and being everywhere when necessary.
"I have, Hammad," Ali argued.
"No. It was fate that these men escaped to the past with Rose. She was supposed to return to Ardeth's time. There is much you do not know, Ali, and much you must just trust will happen." The old man then glanced around the chamber, looked at the warriors dressed in their Medjai attire, then glanced at his watch. A faint smile played upon his lips as he announced, "Now is the time where you will prove yourself, my lord. This is where you will not fail your people."
No sooner did his words end when a stifling pressure filled the fortress. Ali felt the pressure the worst in his ears and he'd heard the stories enough to know what that meant.
"Take cover!" he ordered his warriors. "Someone is arriving."
He ushered Hammad behind a statue and took cover next to the old man.
"This is it, Ali," the man said excitedly. "You will make us proud."
****
Rose tossed and turned for the second night and hated the hard ground she had to sleep upon. She had been in the company of the Medjai for two days now, and she was positive she would never feel right in this era. There were no modern conveniences. She had to bathe in a river, eat at a campfire and sleep in a tent. They were large, white tents, however, but they were uncomfortable just the same.
She had yet to lose the sadness that had filled her soul upon the realization that she was stuck in 1930 without her Ali. Though the Medjai seemed curious about her, she kept to herself only speaking to Ali's mother whom she shared a tent with. As for Ardeth, since the night they had met, he paid very little attention to her.
It hurt her heart each time she saw him walking around the camp. He was Ali's twin and there were times when she actually thought she was back in 2001 and that it was Ali that was near and not Ardeth. But that fantasy lasted but a second when she would again scan her surroundings, the white tents nestled in a deep ravine, and realize just where she was.
And tonight, for the second night, she was haunted with thoughts of her own time and raking her brain wondering just how she could return there.
Then it hit her. She quickly sat up and realized that the Medjai must indeed have found that Staff of the Sun at one point in time. It was the only thing that made sense for Ali had mentioned to her that it had been stolen and used to kill his father. That meant, the Medjai had seen it! And maybe, if she was lucky, it was the Medjai of 1930 that had found it.
She pulled her tennis shoes on and quietly exited the tent. She had to speak with Ardeth. She had to tell him what she suspected about the Staff of the Sun for it was her only hope to make it back to Ali.
She sneaked across camp quietly. She knew where Ardeth's tent was for she had seen him enter it several times today. There was no one else about camp and the only sounds came from a few horses nickering nearby. A large silvery moon lit the way and she was able to make it to Ardeth's tent without causing any ruckus.
Slowly, she pushed aside the tent flaps, not wanting startle him with her entrance. She walked a few steps and saw in the far left corner of the tent the form of a man sleeping. He was lying with his head upon a pillow and wore only loosely fitting black cotton pants. His long hair was strewn around the pillow and his dark eyes were shut.
Rose continued toward him, then knelt beside him and reached a hand out to jostle his shoulder and wake him up. That was the plan anyhow. As soon as her hand made contact with his skin, however, Ardeth reached up, wrapped his hand around her throat, flipped her to her back and rolled on top of her. A small dagger was pressed to her neck and she felt its piercing prick before she could squeak out, "Ardeth, its me, Rose."
His body was heavy and his grip like a vice. Slowly, he released her and pulled the blade from her throat.
"If you know anything about the Medjai, woman, you should know better than to disturb a sleeping chief," he growled lowly.
Rose felt the vibration of his voice in her own body and wondered just when he would release her from this precarious position.
"Sorry," she finally answered. "But I have to tell you something."
"And it could not wait until morning?" he questioned less harshly than his words had been to her only moments ago.
"No, it couldn't," Rose insisted. Then she put her hands on his smooth, bare chest and asked, "Could you please get off me now?" as she pushed.
He did as she asked and returned to his bed. Rose pushed to a sitting position touching the area on her neck he'd pressed the dagger against, feeling for signs of a cut. There was none and she breathed a sigh of relief.
"I hope you realize its inappropriate for you to enter my tent unescorted," Ardeth spoke up.
"What do you mean, inappropriate?" she asked.
"We are not married. It is inappropriate," he explained.
"Oh, well I don't care. Where I come from, there's nothing wrong with this visit," Rose insisted.
"Perhaps I care," Ardeth told her.
"Fine, then I'll leave," she snapped as she began to stand.
Ardeth's hand caught her arm and halted her progress.
"Tell me what it is that is so important you had to disturb my sleep," he demanded with a quiet voice.
Rose sat back down and leveled her gaze on his chest. He was as defined as Ali, and possessed several tattoos that Ali had never worn. She studied them for a moment, intrigued with their design, when his hand, which was also tattooed, reached out and pushed her chin up.
"You came to talk, not to stare," he warned.
"Sorry," she returned. "I was just wondering about those markings." She glanced at his face and hands, at the tattoos there, and added, "And I'm intrigued by the markings on your face and hands too."
"You say you knew the Medjai in your time. If that is true, these markings should be of no surprise."
Rose shook her head. "But they are. Ali's generation doesn't wear those markings on their faces or their hands. They have tattoos just like the ones on your face, but they wear them on their chest now. And those are the only markings they possess."
"Why?" Ardeth inquired and Rose could see the shock in his face.
"Because they have to blend in with modern society." Rose stopped and sighed. "There is so much about the future you should know. But I won't tell you unless you want to know. I wouldn't want to affect the course of history or anything."
Ardeth was silent for a moment as he sat cross-legged in front of her. His eyes were scanning her face as if looking for some sign of the truth. Then they swung down to her hand and landed on the ring. With an almost imperceptible nod, Ardeth said, "You may tell me, for I have no plans on changing the course of history. But first, I want to know what it is that drove you to my tent at this hour."
"Oh, the Staff of the Sun," Rose announced excitedly. "I have a feeling from all that I heard back in 2001 that the Medjai have seen the staff. You might have even possessed it at one time. If that's true, then I think we should go looking for it."
"We have never possessed the Staff of the Sun," Ardeth told her.
"Yeah, but I have a feeling you will. See, Ali knew an awful lot about it. He knew it was stolen by that man you killed at the fortress-Oscar Mann. He knew all about the powers of the staff."
"No doubt because we pass such information down from chief to chief. Of course this Ali knew about it," Ardeth argued.
"No, he didn't just know, it seemed as if he'd seen it before."
"And he told you this?" Ardeth questioned.
"No, he didn't. But in a round about way he did. He told me about the Fortress of Aten and how the staff was needed for it. He also said that staff could let one see things and that is was used for." She stopped her rambling explanation, for telling Ardeth that it had been used to assist in the assassination of his son was news she did not want to divulge.
"It was used for what?" Ardeth questioned.
"For nothing," Rose corrected just as Ardeth reached out and placed a large hand over her mouth.
She was startled by his swift move. His hand felt warm and callused against her face. She reached up to pry this hand off her face when he placed a finger to his bearded lips indicating for her to be quiet.
A male voice called quietly from the entrance of the tent.
Rose had never heard the approaching footsteps, but was glad Ardeth had. He hitched a thumb over his shoulder, indicating she move behind him and she scurried quickly to his bed. The area he slept in was just as hard as her bed in his mother's tent. But she would worry about that later, because right now it was obvious he wanted her out of sight.
Ardeth finally answered but Rose understood little for he spoke in his native tongue.
It was hardly urgent news and Rose could tell by the way Ardeth remained casually seated in front of her, shielding her from view with his body.
Ardeth returned some instructions and after a moment she heard the footsteps lead the man at the entrance of the tent away.
"What was that about?" Rose asked.
"Nothing too urgent. Just some news a caravan just sent of an archeological expedition that's rumored to be starting soon. We like to be warned in advance so we can keep watch over such expeditions that take place in the desert," he answered.
"So you can make sure no ancient secrets are revealed, right?"
"Right," he said.
"And why did you hide me? Aren't you the chief around here? What's the big deal if you're caught with a woman in your tent?" Rose then asked, curious about the rules and regulations that guided these Medjai of a generation past.
"I was protecting your reputation," he said. "It is of little consequence to my reputation for I am a man, but for a woman it is different."
"I guess I keep forgetting I'm stuck in the land that time forgot. The norms are quite different where I come from."
"I am beginning to think it is very different where you come from," Ardeth said. "Now, you had better return to my mother's tent. We will speak tomorrow."
Ardeth had turned toward her and Rose realized she was practically cornered in his tent. They were awfully close, but she didn't feel uneasy.
"What about the staff?" Rose questioned. "Can we look for it? Please."
Ardeth took a deep breath and Rose watched as his chest rose and fell with the effort.
"All right," he conceded. "We will begin a search. If for no other reason than to get you back to 2001 so I can get a decent night's rest."
"Oh, thank you, Ardeth," Rose said quietly, but excitedly as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely. "I love you, I really, really love you. Thank you so much."
She threw a sloppy kiss on his cheek, then jumped to her feet and carefully made her way back to her tent. Now that Ardeth had agreed to look for the Staff of the Sun, Rose felt that much closer to Ali.
****
Ardeth sighed with relief and fell back onto his bed when Rose left his tent. He had discovered something tonight that he hadn't wanted to discover and that was his growing desire for a woman who was supposed to marry his grandson.
Could fate really be so cruel as to allow him to fall in love with a woman who was destined for someone else? Could destiny play such an awful trick?
He had not wanted to be attracted to her when she had first kissed him two nights ago, thinking he was someone else. He had certainly tried to deny any feelings of pain or sympathy for her when she had clung to him, sobbing, in the Fortress of Aten. And he had forced himself to behave like a gentleman when she had surprised him in his tent tonight. But after those last words from her, spoken obviously only out of joy over the possibility of returning to her Ali, his grandson, Ardeth was realizing he had no choice but to admit he was in a very, very bad position.
It had been years since he'd been intrigued by a woman. There were certainly several among the tribe who would marry him with only a question from his lips. Yet they had never intrigued him, never challenged him. The elder council members of the tribe had also been begging him to marry since he'd turned twenty and taken over the reins as chief. But he had rebuffed every one of their attempts at matrimony. Then suddenly, a woman from the future, a woman who could never be his, catches his eye and Ardeth was ready to curse the heavens for the cruel, cruel trick that was being played on him.
****
Ardeth appeared the next morning after Rose had eaten in the tent and readied herself for the day. He was a bold presence in the tent and his mother, Hana, greeted him with a kiss to the cheek and a few words in their native Arabic.
Rose stood as he returned words to his mother then turned her way. In his hands, he carried a dark robe and he tossed it at her and instructed, "Put this on. There is also a covering for your head. My mother will assist you. Meet me outside in five minutes. We have some places to go and you cannot look like an outsider when we leave camp."
He turned and exited without awaiting Rose's answer.
"Is he always so blunt?" Rose questioned his mother.
"Always," she said with a shrug and then approached Rose and took the garment from her. "Let me help you get dressed."
As Hana assisted Rose with the robe, she remarked surprisingly, "My son is dressing you like a man. This will never do."
"Actually, I think it will do just fine," Rose insisted as she glanced over Hana's long, cumbersome skirt and long-sleeved top. "At least I can wear this robe over my normal clothes. I wouldn't be comfortable in your skirts especially if Ardeth is taking me on an excursion."
Hana sighed. "I suppose you are right."
Her English was impeccable, and Rose had learned from her stay that this generation of Medjai also knew English along with several other languages. It had been explained to her that English had been brought to the Medjai in the 1800s when the British had run Egypt as a protectorate. It had come in handy knowing the language and the Mejdai had been sure to teach it to each succeeding generation. And Rose was especially thankful for the English for it meant she could communicate easily with Hana and any of the others she may run across.
"But a beautiful woman like yourself, should not be dressed as a man," Hana continued. "It is not right. As it is, your native clothes adorn you like a man's, and yet, they are very different than any I have seen."
"You mean these old jeans and tennis shoes?" Rose questioned back as she pulled the hem of the over-robe up to show Hana. "You'll see that this is quite common attire in the future. Everyone wears tennis shoes and blue jeans."
Hana chuckled. "Your time sounds very unusual. And the fact that you are even from the future still boggles my mind. I have grown up hearing the myths of the Fortress of Aten, but never before has it been used. It is strange to see it is real."
The aging woman who's beauty was still quiet evident in her finely structured brow and cheeks, smiled brilliantly at Rose and then finished with a final tuck of the veil over her face. Only Rose's eyes showed and she felt uncomfortable in the attire and mentioned so.
"You will be thankful once the heat of the desert and the sun is at full force. You do not want to bare your skin to those elements," Hana insisted. "Now, hurry along before my impatient son comes looking."
Rose remembered her sweatshirt and gun and grabbed them before she left with a "good-bye" for Hana in her wake. She found Ardeth in the middle of the camp atop his black steed. Little Hammad was also mounted on his horse and held a gray Arabian by the reins for Rose. The horses were not only saddled but also carried bedrolls and as Rose stopped next to Ardeth's horse, she asked, "Are we going to be gone for a long time?"
"Until we find the Staff of the Sun," Ardeth announced. "But do not worry so, I have brought Hammad as a chaperone. I could spare no other warriors."
His words were light and he laughed at her. It was the first time he had chuckled and Rose discovered that he sounded exactly like Ali and again she felt homesick.
Hammad handed off the reins of her horse and asked, "Do you know how to ride, Rose?"
"I can ride just fine," she told him.
The boy smiled at her, his veil down, and as Rose attempted to mount and caught the long robe in her stirrup and practically fell in the process, Ardeth laughed again.
"I thought you said you could ride?" he taunted.
Rose turned and glared up at him. "I can. Probably better than you," she snapped.
"Is that so?" he returned and his face had lost all humor at the challenge. Rose was sorry she had challenged him with her words for he seemed to be a man who did not take such a challenge to his ego as easily as Ali would have.
Unable to back down, however, Rose said, "Yes, that's so." She yanked the hem of her robe to the side and mounted with little incident and then stared hard at Ardeth.
"If that is what you believe, perhaps we shall test your horsemanship skills in the desert," he said to her before he kicked his horse into a gallop and raced out of camp. Rose and Hammad followed.
****
Of course Rose was an excellent rider. However, the intense heat of the Sahara and the long, bulky robes made the ride difficult and uncomfortable. They ran their horses for much of the morning and when the sun was high and hot in the afternoon sky, they rested in the shade of a ravine and then walked the horses until the sun dipped low. As the sun began to set, they again ran and just as darkness was upon them, they stopped in a deeply carved ravine.
"There is a cave where we will stop for the night," Ardeth announced. "We must start our journey here."
Rose glanced around the surroundings and then asked, "Is this where the Cave of Prophecies is located?"
Ardeth looked at her with some surprise and answered, "Yes."
"I told you I've been here before," Rose remarked after seeing his surprise.
Ardeth nodded and agreed, "You did. But now I see you were not lying."
"Lying? You didn't believe me when I told you that a few days ago?"
"I did not know what to believe," he stated as he looked away.
"Yeah, I suppose it isn't everyday you get some woman claiming to be from the year 2001," she said lightly.
Ardeth didn't answer her, instead he said, "We must dismount. This is the entrance to the cave."
They led the three horses into the first large chamber of the cave and dismounted. Ardeth took the bedrolls from the three horses and instructed Hammad to feed and water the horses while he led Rose through the narrow entrance to the interior of the Cave of Prophecies.
It was just as he had remembered it from the time she and Ali had ventured in. The only difference was, there were a few less names on the wall and her picture was missing.
Ardeth dropped the bedrolls on the dirt floor and lit a torch. Rose moved to the far wall and touched where Ali's name and her picture had been.
"You need to eat, Rose, and get some rest. We have an early start in the morning," Ardeth called to her across the cave.
"Not yet," she returned. "This wall." she began to explain when Ardeth's presence next to her caused her to startle.
He'd been on the other side of the cave and then suddenly beside her. His movements were swift and silent, like Ali's had always been.
"Do all you Bays possess such stealth? Ali always sneaked up on me too," Rose said, a little breathless from the scare.
"Ali? My grandson?" Ardeth asked with some disbelief.
"Yes. Why is it that you don't entirely believe me?" Rose inquired. She pointed to the wall. "Right here was the name of your son, Aarif, your grandson, Ali and his son, Adan. And here," she placed her finger on the spot her picture had been, "there was a picture of me."
Ardeth regarded her for a long moment and Rose could read nothing in his dark eyes. Then hesitantly, he asked, "Tell me of this Ali you speak so fondly of."
Rose smiled wistfully and said, "He is a man I can love him with all my heart." She looked again at Ardeth's face, so much like Ali's and then touched his cheek and added, "He is very much like you."
****
Ardeth gritted his teeth and nonchalantly turned away from her touch. He didn't need her touching him or looking upon him lovingly as if she was seeing her Ali through him. He'd brought Hammad along as a buffer and he prayed the boy returned from taking care of the horses soon. For if he didn't, Ardeth wasn't sure he would continue to act appropriately with this woman who was causing his emotions to run rampant.
"Is he a brave warrior?" Ardeth questioned walking away.
"Yes," Rose answered.
"He leads his men well?"
"I guess so. He just took over as chief."
Ardeth halted his retreat and turned back toward Rose. "He did? And what of his father.my son?"
"Look, Ardeth, I don't think we should be talking about these things," Rose said, and Ardeth wondered why she avoided his inquiry when she seemed like a woman who avoided nothing.
"I think we should. I need to know the course of my family's life. It is only right," he declared.
"I don't know everything. See, Ali and I were friends for a very long time in America before I knew anything about the Medjai. In fact, I only found out he was the leader of the Medjai the night I was kidnapped and brought here to 1930."
"Really?" Ardeth asked, shocked by her explanation. How could she have not known about the Medjai and what had his grandson been doing in America?
"Yes. I was very angry with Ali when I found out. He'd hidden it from me and I felt betrayed. In the future, the Medjai don't tell anyone who they are. They're very secretive because the world is so very different. There's technology beyond your imagination, Ardeth. Satellites in space can take pictures of individual people, pictures can be emailed and faxed from one continent to another in a matter of seconds and a group like the Mejai could be seen as a threat to some people if they broadcasted their existence for all to see. So they keep a low profile, send people out into the world to do important jobs and help gather information about any groups who might be looking to unleash any of Egypt's secrets."
"Satellites? Faxes? What are these things you speak of?" Ardeth questioned slowly, stunned by the revelations Rose had just laid upon him.
"You must already be able to see how the world has changed just in your life-time," Rose prodded.
"Yes. I have seen many changes. They have been coming for many years. We saw the machine guns and planes of World War I and now the cars that are driven on the streets of Cairo are a sight to behold," he admitted.
"And the cars of the future are three times as fast and everyone in America owns at least two," Rose told him. "And if you think World War I was something, just wait. In ten years, the armies of the world will fight again. It will be the bloodiest of wars and North Africa will see its share. You need to be sure to keep your tribe safe during this war, Ardeth. The German Panzers, their mighty tanks, are going to capture much of North Africa. It will be a horrible war, and it will end with the most treacherous of bombs being dropped by the Americans."
A sadness settled over Rose's face and Ardeth moved near her, wanting to hear more of this future that awaited the world.
"What bomb?" he asked.
"An atomic bomb," she said quietly. "It has the power to disintegrate an entire city in one second. But only two were ever dropped in warfare and I hope we'll never see it again."
"Did you witness it?" he questioned.
Rose chuckled. "Heaven's no! It happens in 1945. I wasn't born until the 1970s. But I've seen video footage of it."
"Video footage?" Her words were confusing Ardeth. He could barely keep up with all her stories. He was trying to image what was to come, but he cold hardly process it quickly enough.
"Like a film. You've seen one, haven't you?" she questioned.
He nodded and confessed, "I once saw a moving picture in Cairo when I was younger."
"A video is very similar. The technology is just more advanced," Rose explained simply.
Ardeth said nothing more to her and merely stood still, thinking about all she had said, his thoughts distracted from her and focused on history. Finally, after several long moments, Hammad entered the cave and announced he was hungry.
They lit a fire in the small fire pit and ate the dried meat and dates they had stored away. It was a small dinner, yet Ardeth was barely hungry after imaging the world that was to come. It sounded like a complicated place and he suddenly felt daunted by the role that awaited him as chief.
In fact, he continued to lie on the floor of the cave quietly as the other two slept, staring at the last of the fire's flames dancing off the ceiling and he wondering just what would come of the Medjai in the future. ****