Chapter 4
Back at Humanuptra everyone is bowing to master Kurai.
" It is good to be back." said the master in Mariana's body.
" What year is it?" he asked
" It is the year of the serpent M'Lord." Nomi said
" Good.:" he said with an evil grin.
The men were somewhat confused to hear a mans voice coming from a women's body
" What shall we do master Kurai?" one of the men asked
" We will relax for a while, so I can get use to this useless body." " Then I will decide what's next." he answered in a stern voice.
Meanwhile back at the campsite where everyone was, we find the group talking.
" Alright, so everyone knows what to do?" Rick asked each in turn. Everyone nodded.
" Good... Ardeth?" Rick called turning to the forlorn Medji," I know that Kurai has possessed Mariana's body, but its not Mariana... so if you need any help... please don't hesitate." Rick finished.
Ardeth sighed and nodded his head. The rested in what was left of the night.
Rick was the first to wake up, or so he thought. All the horses had gone, and on the ground where Malik had been sleeping was a piece of wrinkly parchments. O'Connell picked it up and read it.
Hey O'Connell,
Looks to me as though I've got all the horses!
Malik
" Dammit!" he hissed and woke the others, explaining the situation.
" Ugh, thieves..." Ardeth said in disgust.
" That's not what bothers me. I've only heard those words once before. Spoken by my little buddy Beni." Rick explained.
" Oh my god... Rick your right... I remember." Evy replied.
We come to Malik talking to herself while riding on the horse.
" If all this reincarnation mumbo jumbo works... Beni, my brother, I'm getting you back!" Malik said to herself and yet aloud.
" You! Horse! Faster! Hurry up you stupid horse!!" Malik cried, the heat was getting to her. The horse jumped up and Malik fell off and hit the ground.
" Was that necessary?" she said getting up.
She started to walk to the horse, but all of a sudden it ran off.
" Fine! I don't need you!" she called after it. She looked around as though what to do but something caught her eye.
" Jackpot!... fortune, here I come!" she said rubbing her hands together at the sight of a tomb.
Ardeth saw his horse coming back, leading the others. He and Rick exchanged glances.
" Surely she didn't send them back? You don't think she perished do you O'Connell?" he asked
" I doubt it." Rick replied
"Hello, Mr. Golden Anubis!" Malik squealed picking up the large gold head and sticking it in her pouch.
" Hello, Mr. Golden Jewelry box with Mr. Golden Jewelry." these also went into her pouch.
Then she heard something. She turned. A scarab beetle was scuttling towards her.
" Sc... Sc... Sc... Scarab!!!" she said in a high pitch. It scuttled closer. She whimpered.
" ... Ahhhhhhhhh!" she cried tearing out of the tomb.
Kurai walked out to meet his men so they could go.
" Lets go." he instructed
The nodded their heads and left.
Ardeth looked around and spotted figures in the distance.
" Rick, they are here." he said
Rick nodded and motioned for everyone to get ready.
The horses rode up. Kurai got off his horse.
" Hello, Ardeth..." he said in Mariana's voice.
Ardeth shuddered
It was hard not to go over to her.. even though he knew she wasn't really in there. One of the men was holding up Malik by the neck.
" That hurts! Let me go!" she screamed, kicking and squirming
" We don't take kindly to tomb robbers." the man said.
" What?! I've never stolen in my life!" she protested.
The man turned her upside down and shook her by her feet. The Golden Anubis head, the box and all the things she found in the temple fell from her pack.
" Did I say never? I mean until I was 3." she smiled
" Well if it isn't our buddy Malik..I think you guys should kill her." Rick said glaring at her.. Evy was doing the same.
Maliks eyes got wide.
" But what about...my.. my...gold?" she asked
Kurai turned to Malik
" You don't have any gold... not now anyway." he said
Malik shrugged
" But someday I might." she exclaimed
" You know, just shut up!" Rick yelled
Malik got wide eyed.
" Well lets worry about that later O'Connell, just help." Malik whined
" I don't know if I want to do that..." Rick said " I think you have gotten yours Malik." he finished.
She looked at him strongly.
" Releaser her." Kurai said and the man let Malik go.
" So, Mariana, who are your friends?" Evy asked. " We've never seen them before." she replied.
Kurai trying to stick to his part to getting them to believe he was Mariana said
" Oh well, um..." Kurai started in Mariana's voice.. " I met them on my way back, and well I just met them." he replied.
" Really?" Evy said.. " You would never hang out with these kinds of people." she finished
" What makes you so sure?" Kurai said
" Because they are like Jonathn." Evy said with a tone that Rick knew was serious.
" Hey! Just wait a minute." Jonathan said drunkenly
" Shut up Jonathan!" Evy said sternly.
" Well, I needed the company." Kurai answered
Evy and Kurai looked at each other strongly.
" Well." said Rick changing the subject and giving Evy the " drop it, stick to the plan" look.
" We should settle the matter at hand." he finished
" Its about time!" said Malik
" Why don't you tie her up on that tree over in the oasis so we wont have to worry about her leaving." said Rick.
" Fine." said Kurai " Tie her up!" he commanded to the men.
" Ardeth.." Rick whispered while the others and Kurai were watching Malik, " Keep him distracted so I can talk to Evy for a minute will you?" he asked
" Alright, ill try." Ardeth answered
Rick walked over to Evy
" What are you doing!" Rick said sternly.
" I'm asking questions trying to get him to talk." Evy replied
" No! What are you're doing is letting him know we can tell its not Mariana." Rick said
" Well, what are we suppose to do Rick?" she asked
" Stick to the plan, that what!" he answered
" Oh, that right, your plan." she said sarcastically
" Well, do you have any brighter ones?" Rick asked still talking sternly but still in a whisper
" No, not at the moment I don't." she replied
" Well then we have not choice, Evy we cant play games like this, this isn't just our life that's being toyed with." Rick said
" I know." Evy answered getting angry
" Well, then stick with the plan." Rick said
Evy looked at Rick and he got the shiver that let him know she was mad.
" Well, its done.. what now?" asked Kurai
" Evy, why don't you go stay with Alex, till he goes to sleep?" Rick said
Evy looked at him and could tell what he was trying to do, but she decided she would go with it because she didn't want to be in anymore trouble with Rick than she already was.
" Fine!" she said and started to walk away, but stared at Mariana's body standing in front of her for a few minutes before she walked away. Kurai looked at her in return.
" This one is strong." he though watching her walk to her son.
" She could be the one I need." he thought.
" Well, its late... we need to get some sleep." Rick said
" Good Idea." said Kurai, still in Mariana's voice " Ill go tell the men." Kurai said walking off
" O'Connell, what are you doing? We cant sleep with him here." Ardeth said
" I know, but that's why I'm not worried, because you wont take your eyes off of him, and I wont take my eyes off my family." Rick answered
" Oh, right." Ardeth said getting Ricks point.
" You better let me loose O'Connell!" Malik yelled
" Quiet Malik! Alex is sleeping! I mean it!" Rick yelled back.
Everyone settled down and Rick went over to Evy.
" Evy..." Rick whispered..
" I don't want to talk about I." she said sternly
" I'm going with your plan so just be satisfied. I wont say anymore from now on." she finished
" Evy, I didn't mean.." Rick started
" Goodnight." Evy said and she turned over, but stayed awake to keep her eye on Alex
Rick stared at her for a while, took a look around and settled down, shotgun in hand and closed his eyes, but really wasn't sleeping.