Chapter Seven
The Rich Samaritan
Egypt, 1926
This wasn't good, O'Connell thought. They were still at least a full day away from the river, and Evelyn was sleeping way too much and when awake starting to slur her words and ramble. The journey to Hamunaptra with Imhotep, novel as it must have been travelling in a cloud of sand, had, dressed only in her night dress, exposed her to the elements, and in tandem with this long dry journey home again it was beginning to take it's toll on her. He'd covered her up from the sun as best he could, but feared she might already be suffering from heat stroke and was certainly dehydrated.
They'd not stopped since his too long sleep, and they could not afford to now. He'd kept his eyes open for any sign of vegetation, hoping he might see a cactii that could hold some water within it's green fleshy leaves. But they were out in the desert proper now, the rocky outcrops had gone, and a sea of sand dunes surrounded them, where there was no proper hold for plants.
"Is she asleep again?" Jonathan said tiredly reining his camel back alongside his sister's and Rick's. Rick noticed he was keeping his injured arm clamped in tight by his side, it was obviously bothering him.
He nodded. "Yeah. Maybe it's the best thing for her. But we need to find something to drink soon."
"Absolutely!" Jonathan agreed wholeheartedly, "My throat's so dry I feel like I've gargled with half of this damnable desert, and you could sand wood with my lips!" his eyes grew wistful "God, I'd kill for a whiskey and soda right about now." he looked over at Rick, only to be met by an impatient look. "Or some water..." he amended quickly. "That would do too."
"Y'know, Jonathan." Rick's tone matched his look, his patience running low thanks to his own heavy thirst, the pains and aches he had, and his worry about Evelyn. "I like you and all, but sometimes you can be a real...."
"I say." Jonathan interrupted him before he got fully into his tirade, pointing with his whip hand. "What's that?"
Despite the feeling that Jonathan was just doing this to get out of a bawling out, Rick looked in the direction he was pointing, and was mildly surprised to see that there was actually something out there. Something that was moving.
It was hard to tell in the heat haze that rose in the distance.
"It looks like a camel with a rider on it." Jonathan observed, peering like Rick.
"It could be just a mirage." Rick muttered warily, having seen things in the desert before that turned out not to be there.
"Only one way to find out." Jonathan said quietly, before suddenly rising up as high as he could on the back of his camel and waving his whip in the air. "Hello! HELLO!"
"Jonathan! No!" Rick made a grab for him and missed. Jonathan gave him a confused look. "Goddamn Jonathan!" Rick swore "Had it occurred to you, that there might be more than one of whatever might be out there, and that they might not be friendly?"
"Ah..." Jonathan considered ruefully "Good point." He looked out at the shape again. There was no way, if it was real and human, that they could've failed to hear him. Sound carried a long way in this wilderness. "Still you're armed and there are two of us..."
"Wha's happenin'?" Evelyn's slurred, muffled voice came out from beneath the blanket where she was shrouded in Rick's arms.
"Nothing, sweetheart." Rick said automatically, before wondering where the hell that endearment had suddenly sprung from. He'd never called anyone that in his life before. He composed himself. "It's okay." He soothed. "We just think there's someone out here with us."
From her cradle of blankets she looked up at him and smiled, but her eyes were glassy and the smile was detached and vague.
"Tha's nice." She sighed, her voice cracking slightly. "More the merrier...." She mumbled, before her eyes closed again. He frowned his concern growing, she sounded drunk, but there was nothing amusing about her talking that way without the benefit of a bottle of 12 year old Glenlivet.
"Rick." Jonathan hissed in a suddenly worried voice. "It's moving towards us!"
"Oh." Rick shot back sarcastically. "I wonder why?"
He dropped his whip into Evelyn's lap and with his free hand reached up to pull the one revolver he could easily reach out of his shoulder holster. Only it wasn't there. He looked quickly down, and then remembered.
Jonathan had taken them from him in the treasure chamber to help fight off Imhotep's mummy pals. They were currently lying in there, probably with Beni, having been chucked at a couple of mummy's heads by Jonathan when he'd run out of ammo. In fact his entire gunny sack was down there.
"Oh boy..." he said softly, but not softly enough. Jonathan all senses now on full alert, heard him.
"What? What?! What's the matter?" he looked from the shape to Rick, to the shape and back again. Rick smiled the kind of smile that Jonathan recognised as the one you tend to see on someone's face when they have something really nasty they have to tell you, Things like a 3,000 year old Mummy has your sister, or I'm afraid that leg will have to come off, Mr Carnahan or I'm sorry, sir, we're all out of liquor.
"Remember what you said about us being armed?" Rick informed him in a round about way.
There was silence from the English man for a moment and then. "Oh. Well...isn't that just RUDDY WONDERFUL!" he stormed. "You might have told me that before I yelled out!"
Rick was genuinely astonished, and so it took him all of 3 seconds before he roared back his response. "WHAT?! You're trying to make out that this is my fault?! As I recall it wasn't me that threw my guns at those mummies like some big....sissy, Jonathan!"
Jonathan's eyes narrowed "Oh really...well I didn't hear you complain at the time! And might I remind you just who saved your life when you were down and out at the hands of those soldier mummy types?!"
"Oh yes...right...thank you sooo much!" Rick smiled "And might I remind you, who it was who woke them up in the first place?!?"
"Well, I like that!" Jonathan
"Well I'm glad you did, cause buddy, I sure as hell didn't!"
"Now listen here, O'Connell!" Jonathan leaned towards him angrily, then stopped. "Oh hell..."
Rick, still furious, followed Jonathan's eyes back towards the shape that was finally emerging from the heat haze into proper focus.
There was in fact more than one camel, there were three in fact. But thankfully there was only one rider.
Jonathan heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God for that..."
Rick nodded, calming down a little. "Yeah, well, don't get too relaxed. Hand me that knife from the saddle bags and then make sure that those bags are well covered . There may be two of us, but he's probably armed." He said getting in a last shot at the elder Carnahan.
Unsheathing the knife from it's scabbard, he hid the knife between his belt and Evelyn's blanket and tucked the scabbard in with Evelyn. Before he turned his camel towards the approaching rider.
From his dress the approaching rider was a Bedouin, and the two camels that trailed his own mount were laden down with covered packs. He uncovered his lower face as he approached them, revealing himself to be a man of middle years, unremarkable of feature and mild of expression.
As they reached one another, both parties drew their camels to a halt. There was silence for a moment, as the men regarded each other.
"Salaam." Rick said finally giving the traditional heart, mouth, head greeting.
"Yes...um...salaam." Jonathan repeated nervously, hand waving in a vague impersonation of his friend's movements. There was another moment of silence, as the lone rider formed his final impressions.
" Al salaam a'alaykum" The rider responded in a guttural voice and repeated the greeting process, before smiling a less formal greeting. "I am Akim Abdulaziz, a merchant. You are far from home, gentlemen." He said in perfect English with hardly a trace of accent, causing Rick to look at Jonathan and Jonathan to smile happily.
"Name's Jonathan Carnahan, and indeed we are, my good fellow," the young Englishman said relieved. "And are we glad to see you might I add."
"Indeed?" The Bedouin inclined his head in thanks. "Are you in need of assistance? Are you lost?"
"We're not lost." Rick replied "But we could use some help." He looked down at Evelyn "Our companion is not well, and we have no water, we would be grateful for any you could spare."
"I would imagine you would be." The Bedouin smiled grimly "It is not wise to travel without it."
"Let's just say we didn't have much choice in the matter." Rick's smile matched the Bedouins.
"I see." Their new acquaintance nodded taking this in, and digesting it. Finally he came to a decision. "You are fortunate then that I came along when I did. I would be glad to help you..."
"Oh good!" Jonathan interjected happily.
"...providing," The Bedouin continued without breaking pace "that you remove the knife you have hidden in the folds of that blanket." He looked blithely at Rick, who in turn looked surprised at the man's perceptiveness. "You will find," the newcomer said by way of an almost apologetic explanation "that those of us who travel the desert wastes alone for much of the time, often develop a keen eye and an almost sixth sense about potential hiding places, a necessary survival technique I'm afraid."
Rick looked at Jonathan again, and then extracted the knife, trying his best not to show how richly decorated the hilt was as he slid it into the top of his boot on the side facing away from the Bedouin.
"That is a beautiful blade." Abdulaziz said automatically. Rick swore internally. "I am pleased to see that you will be able to pay for what you require of me."
Again, Rick and Jonathan exchanged looks. It would seem that their new acquaintance was no Good Samaritan. Again, the man smiled almost apologetically.
"Your forgiveness sirs, but I am a merchant first and foremost, and by your dress and blades, you are no paupers, so charity is perhaps not appropriate in this situation?" he asked without expecting an answer.
The haggling began, and though Akim quite obviously wanted the knife, Rick did not want to let him have it, and spent a great deal of time convincing the man that it had been left to him by his grandfather and was a family heirloom.
Fortunately Jonathan had money on him, and for the unbelievably exorbitant, according to Jonathan, fee of £50.00, they bought a goodly supply of water, 4 days worth of food, a couple of pots, some cooking fuel, some more blankets, a robe for Evelyn and a small tent from the merchant.
Rick frowned a little during the purchases. Though he was intensely grateful for the mans' appearance it seemed a little strange to him that the man had exactly the supplies they needed in his packs.
Jonathan had dismounted and with the man was finalising the deal. Goods and the money were exchanged, Jonathan picked up two goat skins full of water, brought them over to Rick who was still seated with Evelyn on the camel and handed one up to him.
Rick uncorked the goat skin quickly and as Jonathan began to take a long deep drink from the one he still held in a manner he normally reserved for whiskey, he looked down at his friend.
"Go easy, Jonathan." He warned him from long experience. "It's not good to down water too fast if you've not had it for a while. Sip it or you could end up on your knees retching it all back up again." As he spoke O'Connell poured a little into his hand and placed the moisture at Evelyn's mouth.
"Evelyn," he said softly "Evelyn, wake up." He tipped his had forward a little and some of the water trickled into her mouth, though most of it fell on her parched lips.
She stirred a little and coughed a little as the tiny trickle of water made it's way to the back of her throat. Her eyes were groggy and dull when they opened. "Hey." He smiled fondly down at her "How're you doing?"
She opened her mouth to reply, but he shook his head.
"No, shh...I've got us some water. I want you to take some for me, but in real small sips okay?"
She nodded imperceptibly, and slowly he began to dose her with water, pouring some on her face and hair and on the blanket to help cool her down. He dosed her slowly, until she gave a little smile of satisfaction at the feeling of a moist tongue and throat once more.
"Okay," he said pushing a stray damp hair away from her face and pulling the blanket back around her. "That's enough for now, there'll be more in about an hour."
"You are wise, sir." Abdulaziz said from where he had been observing them, Rick looked over at him, and the merchant indicated Evelyn with a nod of his head. "She is your wife?"
"Wife?" At that word Rick felt half a dozen conflicting emotions flood through him, having the unfortunate side effect of completely blanking his mind. In trying to find a response he looked down at Jonathan who simply raised an eyebrow at him in amusement. "Umm....no...no...she's, umm...that is she's....."
"My sister." Jonathan finished for him, getting him out of a hole.
"And yet you let him hold her and care for her?" Abdulaziz said incredulously. Jonathan coughed.
"Yes, well you see he's an old family friend..." a wicked grin crossed his face "...actually more a sort of retainer if you will, serves the family well. Good chap. If a bit mouthy." He looked knowingly at the merchant "American you know." Rick shot him a glare that would turn mud to stone.
"I think you jest with me, Mr Carnahan." The merchant half smiled. "For I know if a servant of mine were to hold my sister thusly, I would be forced to introduce him to my sword."
"Really? I'll keep that in mind," Jonathan said looking back at Rick ignoring the glare. "might be something to that."
Adulaziz reached into one of the saddle bags that hung on the lead camel, and pulled out another goat skin. He walked with it over to Jonathan and Rick.
"Here." He said handing it to Jonathan. "My gift to you."
"Thank you." Jonathan said in surprise, and then opened it and took a whiff. His recoil was instant and he coughed several times before managing a choked "What is it?"
"It is a goat milk yoghurt," the merchant replied "It is much favoured among my people and light to the stomach, I think you will find it is best to give your sister that rather than solid foods until she is better still."
"Oh, right." Jonathan said, quickly corking the foul smelling stuff "Thank you. Jolly decent of you."
"My pleasure," Abdulaziz walked back and picking up the rein of his lead camel. "It is a small token for a welcome interruption on a tedious journey, a most enjoyable haggle and a good deal struck."
"For you maybe." Jonathan muttered, forgetting about the merchants sharp eyes and ears.
"Is there another kind of good deal for a man?" he chuckled as he climbed aboard his lead camel, and raised her up. "Well, If there is nothing else you need of me, I shall be on my way gentlemen. I must reach market with my goods or else the deal I have done with you will be the only one I do this week."
"What goods do you carry, out of interest?" O'Connell asked him suddenly.
The merchants smile was enigmatic. "Pots, pans, food both exotic and domestic, clothes, tents and blankets. Things people of the desert often need."
"I see." Rick nodded. "You wouldn't happen to know a man named Ardeth Bay by any chance would you?"
The smile remained as it was. "I cannot say I do, sir. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go. I hope your sister will be well, and I wish you god speed on your journey. Salaam gentlemen."
"Salaam." The two men chorused, as Abdulaziz spurred his mount on, and moved on back in the direction from which he had come.
Jonathan looked up at Rick. "You think Ardeth sent him after us?"
"Be a helluva coincidence if he didn't" Rick watched him go. "Still, it was strange he didn't let us know it, and he made us pay."
"Maybe," Jonathan posited "It's a Medjai thing. You know what Ardeth is like, you heard him back there," he did an impersonation "You have gained the respect of my people...and then off he toddles on his merry way, and just ups and leaves us there! Maybe this was his tangible way of saying thank you, without actually looking like he was saying thank you."
Rick absorbed this, it actually made some kind of warped logic. He looked down at Jonathan. "A couple of nights back just after we left Hamunaptra, I thought I saw someone watching us, I guess it could've been the Medjai."
"Bound to have been." Jonathan nodded. "After all who else would be out here watching us."
Rick turned his eyes back to the departing man. "Right."
The Rich Samaritan
Egypt, 1926
This wasn't good, O'Connell thought. They were still at least a full day away from the river, and Evelyn was sleeping way too much and when awake starting to slur her words and ramble. The journey to Hamunaptra with Imhotep, novel as it must have been travelling in a cloud of sand, had, dressed only in her night dress, exposed her to the elements, and in tandem with this long dry journey home again it was beginning to take it's toll on her. He'd covered her up from the sun as best he could, but feared she might already be suffering from heat stroke and was certainly dehydrated.
They'd not stopped since his too long sleep, and they could not afford to now. He'd kept his eyes open for any sign of vegetation, hoping he might see a cactii that could hold some water within it's green fleshy leaves. But they were out in the desert proper now, the rocky outcrops had gone, and a sea of sand dunes surrounded them, where there was no proper hold for plants.
"Is she asleep again?" Jonathan said tiredly reining his camel back alongside his sister's and Rick's. Rick noticed he was keeping his injured arm clamped in tight by his side, it was obviously bothering him.
He nodded. "Yeah. Maybe it's the best thing for her. But we need to find something to drink soon."
"Absolutely!" Jonathan agreed wholeheartedly, "My throat's so dry I feel like I've gargled with half of this damnable desert, and you could sand wood with my lips!" his eyes grew wistful "God, I'd kill for a whiskey and soda right about now." he looked over at Rick, only to be met by an impatient look. "Or some water..." he amended quickly. "That would do too."
"Y'know, Jonathan." Rick's tone matched his look, his patience running low thanks to his own heavy thirst, the pains and aches he had, and his worry about Evelyn. "I like you and all, but sometimes you can be a real...."
"I say." Jonathan interrupted him before he got fully into his tirade, pointing with his whip hand. "What's that?"
Despite the feeling that Jonathan was just doing this to get out of a bawling out, Rick looked in the direction he was pointing, and was mildly surprised to see that there was actually something out there. Something that was moving.
It was hard to tell in the heat haze that rose in the distance.
"It looks like a camel with a rider on it." Jonathan observed, peering like Rick.
"It could be just a mirage." Rick muttered warily, having seen things in the desert before that turned out not to be there.
"Only one way to find out." Jonathan said quietly, before suddenly rising up as high as he could on the back of his camel and waving his whip in the air. "Hello! HELLO!"
"Jonathan! No!" Rick made a grab for him and missed. Jonathan gave him a confused look. "Goddamn Jonathan!" Rick swore "Had it occurred to you, that there might be more than one of whatever might be out there, and that they might not be friendly?"
"Ah..." Jonathan considered ruefully "Good point." He looked out at the shape again. There was no way, if it was real and human, that they could've failed to hear him. Sound carried a long way in this wilderness. "Still you're armed and there are two of us..."
"Wha's happenin'?" Evelyn's slurred, muffled voice came out from beneath the blanket where she was shrouded in Rick's arms.
"Nothing, sweetheart." Rick said automatically, before wondering where the hell that endearment had suddenly sprung from. He'd never called anyone that in his life before. He composed himself. "It's okay." He soothed. "We just think there's someone out here with us."
From her cradle of blankets she looked up at him and smiled, but her eyes were glassy and the smile was detached and vague.
"Tha's nice." She sighed, her voice cracking slightly. "More the merrier...." She mumbled, before her eyes closed again. He frowned his concern growing, she sounded drunk, but there was nothing amusing about her talking that way without the benefit of a bottle of 12 year old Glenlivet.
"Rick." Jonathan hissed in a suddenly worried voice. "It's moving towards us!"
"Oh." Rick shot back sarcastically. "I wonder why?"
He dropped his whip into Evelyn's lap and with his free hand reached up to pull the one revolver he could easily reach out of his shoulder holster. Only it wasn't there. He looked quickly down, and then remembered.
Jonathan had taken them from him in the treasure chamber to help fight off Imhotep's mummy pals. They were currently lying in there, probably with Beni, having been chucked at a couple of mummy's heads by Jonathan when he'd run out of ammo. In fact his entire gunny sack was down there.
"Oh boy..." he said softly, but not softly enough. Jonathan all senses now on full alert, heard him.
"What? What?! What's the matter?" he looked from the shape to Rick, to the shape and back again. Rick smiled the kind of smile that Jonathan recognised as the one you tend to see on someone's face when they have something really nasty they have to tell you, Things like a 3,000 year old Mummy has your sister, or I'm afraid that leg will have to come off, Mr Carnahan or I'm sorry, sir, we're all out of liquor.
"Remember what you said about us being armed?" Rick informed him in a round about way.
There was silence from the English man for a moment and then. "Oh. Well...isn't that just RUDDY WONDERFUL!" he stormed. "You might have told me that before I yelled out!"
Rick was genuinely astonished, and so it took him all of 3 seconds before he roared back his response. "WHAT?! You're trying to make out that this is my fault?! As I recall it wasn't me that threw my guns at those mummies like some big....sissy, Jonathan!"
Jonathan's eyes narrowed "Oh really...well I didn't hear you complain at the time! And might I remind you just who saved your life when you were down and out at the hands of those soldier mummy types?!"
"Oh yes...right...thank you sooo much!" Rick smiled "And might I remind you, who it was who woke them up in the first place?!?"
"Well, I like that!" Jonathan
"Well I'm glad you did, cause buddy, I sure as hell didn't!"
"Now listen here, O'Connell!" Jonathan leaned towards him angrily, then stopped. "Oh hell..."
Rick, still furious, followed Jonathan's eyes back towards the shape that was finally emerging from the heat haze into proper focus.
There was in fact more than one camel, there were three in fact. But thankfully there was only one rider.
Jonathan heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank God for that..."
Rick nodded, calming down a little. "Yeah, well, don't get too relaxed. Hand me that knife from the saddle bags and then make sure that those bags are well covered . There may be two of us, but he's probably armed." He said getting in a last shot at the elder Carnahan.
Unsheathing the knife from it's scabbard, he hid the knife between his belt and Evelyn's blanket and tucked the scabbard in with Evelyn. Before he turned his camel towards the approaching rider.
From his dress the approaching rider was a Bedouin, and the two camels that trailed his own mount were laden down with covered packs. He uncovered his lower face as he approached them, revealing himself to be a man of middle years, unremarkable of feature and mild of expression.
As they reached one another, both parties drew their camels to a halt. There was silence for a moment, as the men regarded each other.
"Salaam." Rick said finally giving the traditional heart, mouth, head greeting.
"Yes...um...salaam." Jonathan repeated nervously, hand waving in a vague impersonation of his friend's movements. There was another moment of silence, as the lone rider formed his final impressions.
" Al salaam a'alaykum" The rider responded in a guttural voice and repeated the greeting process, before smiling a less formal greeting. "I am Akim Abdulaziz, a merchant. You are far from home, gentlemen." He said in perfect English with hardly a trace of accent, causing Rick to look at Jonathan and Jonathan to smile happily.
"Name's Jonathan Carnahan, and indeed we are, my good fellow," the young Englishman said relieved. "And are we glad to see you might I add."
"Indeed?" The Bedouin inclined his head in thanks. "Are you in need of assistance? Are you lost?"
"We're not lost." Rick replied "But we could use some help." He looked down at Evelyn "Our companion is not well, and we have no water, we would be grateful for any you could spare."
"I would imagine you would be." The Bedouin smiled grimly "It is not wise to travel without it."
"Let's just say we didn't have much choice in the matter." Rick's smile matched the Bedouins.
"I see." Their new acquaintance nodded taking this in, and digesting it. Finally he came to a decision. "You are fortunate then that I came along when I did. I would be glad to help you..."
"Oh good!" Jonathan interjected happily.
"...providing," The Bedouin continued without breaking pace "that you remove the knife you have hidden in the folds of that blanket." He looked blithely at Rick, who in turn looked surprised at the man's perceptiveness. "You will find," the newcomer said by way of an almost apologetic explanation "that those of us who travel the desert wastes alone for much of the time, often develop a keen eye and an almost sixth sense about potential hiding places, a necessary survival technique I'm afraid."
Rick looked at Jonathan again, and then extracted the knife, trying his best not to show how richly decorated the hilt was as he slid it into the top of his boot on the side facing away from the Bedouin.
"That is a beautiful blade." Abdulaziz said automatically. Rick swore internally. "I am pleased to see that you will be able to pay for what you require of me."
Again, Rick and Jonathan exchanged looks. It would seem that their new acquaintance was no Good Samaritan. Again, the man smiled almost apologetically.
"Your forgiveness sirs, but I am a merchant first and foremost, and by your dress and blades, you are no paupers, so charity is perhaps not appropriate in this situation?" he asked without expecting an answer.
The haggling began, and though Akim quite obviously wanted the knife, Rick did not want to let him have it, and spent a great deal of time convincing the man that it had been left to him by his grandfather and was a family heirloom.
Fortunately Jonathan had money on him, and for the unbelievably exorbitant, according to Jonathan, fee of £50.00, they bought a goodly supply of water, 4 days worth of food, a couple of pots, some cooking fuel, some more blankets, a robe for Evelyn and a small tent from the merchant.
Rick frowned a little during the purchases. Though he was intensely grateful for the mans' appearance it seemed a little strange to him that the man had exactly the supplies they needed in his packs.
Jonathan had dismounted and with the man was finalising the deal. Goods and the money were exchanged, Jonathan picked up two goat skins full of water, brought them over to Rick who was still seated with Evelyn on the camel and handed one up to him.
Rick uncorked the goat skin quickly and as Jonathan began to take a long deep drink from the one he still held in a manner he normally reserved for whiskey, he looked down at his friend.
"Go easy, Jonathan." He warned him from long experience. "It's not good to down water too fast if you've not had it for a while. Sip it or you could end up on your knees retching it all back up again." As he spoke O'Connell poured a little into his hand and placed the moisture at Evelyn's mouth.
"Evelyn," he said softly "Evelyn, wake up." He tipped his had forward a little and some of the water trickled into her mouth, though most of it fell on her parched lips.
She stirred a little and coughed a little as the tiny trickle of water made it's way to the back of her throat. Her eyes were groggy and dull when they opened. "Hey." He smiled fondly down at her "How're you doing?"
She opened her mouth to reply, but he shook his head.
"No, shh...I've got us some water. I want you to take some for me, but in real small sips okay?"
She nodded imperceptibly, and slowly he began to dose her with water, pouring some on her face and hair and on the blanket to help cool her down. He dosed her slowly, until she gave a little smile of satisfaction at the feeling of a moist tongue and throat once more.
"Okay," he said pushing a stray damp hair away from her face and pulling the blanket back around her. "That's enough for now, there'll be more in about an hour."
"You are wise, sir." Abdulaziz said from where he had been observing them, Rick looked over at him, and the merchant indicated Evelyn with a nod of his head. "She is your wife?"
"Wife?" At that word Rick felt half a dozen conflicting emotions flood through him, having the unfortunate side effect of completely blanking his mind. In trying to find a response he looked down at Jonathan who simply raised an eyebrow at him in amusement. "Umm....no...no...she's, umm...that is she's....."
"My sister." Jonathan finished for him, getting him out of a hole.
"And yet you let him hold her and care for her?" Abdulaziz said incredulously. Jonathan coughed.
"Yes, well you see he's an old family friend..." a wicked grin crossed his face "...actually more a sort of retainer if you will, serves the family well. Good chap. If a bit mouthy." He looked knowingly at the merchant "American you know." Rick shot him a glare that would turn mud to stone.
"I think you jest with me, Mr Carnahan." The merchant half smiled. "For I know if a servant of mine were to hold my sister thusly, I would be forced to introduce him to my sword."
"Really? I'll keep that in mind," Jonathan said looking back at Rick ignoring the glare. "might be something to that."
Adulaziz reached into one of the saddle bags that hung on the lead camel, and pulled out another goat skin. He walked with it over to Jonathan and Rick.
"Here." He said handing it to Jonathan. "My gift to you."
"Thank you." Jonathan said in surprise, and then opened it and took a whiff. His recoil was instant and he coughed several times before managing a choked "What is it?"
"It is a goat milk yoghurt," the merchant replied "It is much favoured among my people and light to the stomach, I think you will find it is best to give your sister that rather than solid foods until she is better still."
"Oh, right." Jonathan said, quickly corking the foul smelling stuff "Thank you. Jolly decent of you."
"My pleasure," Abdulaziz walked back and picking up the rein of his lead camel. "It is a small token for a welcome interruption on a tedious journey, a most enjoyable haggle and a good deal struck."
"For you maybe." Jonathan muttered, forgetting about the merchants sharp eyes and ears.
"Is there another kind of good deal for a man?" he chuckled as he climbed aboard his lead camel, and raised her up. "Well, If there is nothing else you need of me, I shall be on my way gentlemen. I must reach market with my goods or else the deal I have done with you will be the only one I do this week."
"What goods do you carry, out of interest?" O'Connell asked him suddenly.
The merchants smile was enigmatic. "Pots, pans, food both exotic and domestic, clothes, tents and blankets. Things people of the desert often need."
"I see." Rick nodded. "You wouldn't happen to know a man named Ardeth Bay by any chance would you?"
The smile remained as it was. "I cannot say I do, sir. Now, if you will excuse me, I must go. I hope your sister will be well, and I wish you god speed on your journey. Salaam gentlemen."
"Salaam." The two men chorused, as Abdulaziz spurred his mount on, and moved on back in the direction from which he had come.
Jonathan looked up at Rick. "You think Ardeth sent him after us?"
"Be a helluva coincidence if he didn't" Rick watched him go. "Still, it was strange he didn't let us know it, and he made us pay."
"Maybe," Jonathan posited "It's a Medjai thing. You know what Ardeth is like, you heard him back there," he did an impersonation "You have gained the respect of my people...and then off he toddles on his merry way, and just ups and leaves us there! Maybe this was his tangible way of saying thank you, without actually looking like he was saying thank you."
Rick absorbed this, it actually made some kind of warped logic. He looked down at Jonathan. "A couple of nights back just after we left Hamunaptra, I thought I saw someone watching us, I guess it could've been the Medjai."
"Bound to have been." Jonathan nodded. "After all who else would be out here watching us."
Rick turned his eyes back to the departing man. "Right."
