Hello, All. Here's the next chapter. Thank you for reviewing; you're all so
sweet! I love you all, and you all rock. ( Glad you liked that line, Deana.
;) Now, I am very sorry to report that I will not be adding any more
chapters...........................................................for
three days. Lol. Freaked ya out, huh? I'm going on a mini-vacation! Whoo
hoo! But I'll post more when I get back, ok? Til then, Enjoy! TTFN!
Chapter 7
Shanala swallowed hard, forcing her tears to stay hidden. The man ("Was Rick his name?" she wondered) was sitting before a fire and hitting the coals with a stick. It had only been around an hour ago that he had first seen her; he hadn't spoken at all since. Ardeth Bay, the leader of the Medjai, came up and sat down with him. "My friend, you must not stay like this. Even the most honorable of men has made mistakes in his lifetime."
"Tell that to my kid," Rick muttered, tossing the stick over the fire, "He's probably alone and scared somewhere, waiting for me to come..."
Ardeth stared into the leaping flames and sighed, "Rick, you cannot be there for everyone all the time."
"Yea? Bet me."
Rick stood to get up, but Ardeth stopped him.
"Rick, how can you expect your son...or anyone...to grow in strength if you're always the one saving them?"
"It's my job, ok? Alex is not a full-grown man yet. He's my son. And I don't want him living the life I had, ok?"
Rick turned then and stormed into a nearby tent. Ardeth stayed at the fire, thinking. Slowly, Shanala crept over to him and stood near him, watching the fire with her hands clasped behind her back. "It's all my fault," she said quietly; she normally wouldn't have said a word, but she felt that this man...this Ardeth Bay...was someone to trust and look up to. Ardeth didn't glance at her; instead he continued staring at the flames. However, he did answer, "My Child, no one can take the blame for what happened. Not you, or Rick, or even The Creature."
Shanala sat down by him and gazed at him in wonder, "Why do you call him that?"
"Who? The Creature?" Ardeth thought for a moment, and then smiled slightly, "I have no idea."
Shanala giggled, "For effect?"
"I suppose so."
"He's really not a creature like you say...he's more of...more of a..." Shanala blinked rapidly as tears entered her eyes again, "...a monster."
Ardeth's gaze flicked over to her, "Yes. Tis true."
Shanala angrily wiped at her eyes, "But not as much as....as...her..."
Ardeth nodded, "Anck-su-namun?"
"Yes. If anyone needs to be called creature, it's her."
Ardeth nodded, "I see. And why is it that you hate her so, Shanala?"
"Well, I guess it's because....how'd you know my name?"
Shanala was beginning to feel slightly anxious; could he read minds or something? However, Ardeth smiled, "It is inscribed on your locket."
"Oh!" Shanala scooped the necklace into her hand, "Ah yes...I'd forgotten..." She smiled slightly. Then, remembering that Ardeth had asked a question, she cleared her throat and muttered, "She...she...well...she's just so evil...and...just...she scares me, I guess..." Shanala bit her lip and looked off into the distance hoping Ardeth didn't ask too much m ore about Anck-su-namun, incase she gave something away. Luckily, Ardeth seemed to sense her discomfort, and he simply stoked the fire with Rick's discarded stick, and then stood, "We have a long day tomorrow. I guess you might say it was a lucky thing that we got you...it seems to me that you were in quite a bit of trouble back there."
Shanala nodded, "Yes...they...they were goin g to kill me..."
Ardeth raised his eyebrows, "Then I'd say it's very lucky. Come. Let's retire. We have quite a journey ahead of us." **********************************
Evelyn awoke, startled, and wondered what on earth had jerked her from her dreams. There was quite a commotion outside of her tent, but she was too sleepy and hazy-minded to care. Normally, she would have done what she could to see what was going on, but now all she did was sit back and try to remember the dream she'd been having. That girl--Shanala--had been in it. She had been crying and speaking in ancient Egyptian; Evelyn had only understood parts of it, but at the moment she couldn't remember any of it...That was there was shouting directly outside her tent, an all-to- familiar shout, and then someone flying in and landing at her feet. Evelyn screamed; so did the new prisoner.
**************************************
Jonathan Carnaham was possibly nothing but a selfish, lusting, money-hungry drunk...but he didn't care. Right now he thought he was just about the best person in the universe. He was strutting around the Medjai camp, bragging about how he'd saved his nephew from certain death and how he had managed to escape without a scratch. He kept going on and on until one of the night watchers asked him why he had run off without his nephew if he was sop brilliantly brave. Jonathan flushed crimson and mumbled something about turning in for the night. When he made it to his tent, he quietly sat down on his blanket and looked over at Rick, "Are you asleep, Rick?"
"I was."
"Really?"
"No."
"Oh. Ok."
Jonathan grinned, "So, old chap, how are you?"
Rick turned towards Jonathan, propped himself up on his elbow, and stared at him. Finally, after Jonathan turned from his intense gaze, Rick snapped, "Jonathan, I just found out that I failed my son, my wife, and the world. How do you think I feel?"
Jonathan, who was slightly drunk and very nervous, sputtered, "Well...if I were you, I'd feel like a bloody waste of space."
Rick blinked once, and then gave him a forced smile, "Very good. You win the grand prize."
"Really! Oh, well that's nice! What is it?"
"A royal kick in the a-"
"Ummm...Excuse me?"
The two men turned at the sound of the quiet voice; Shanala stood there, wringing her hands and looking nervous. Rick shut his mouth, cutting off the word he had just about muttered aloud. Swallowing, forcing himself to be calm, he asked "Yes?"
Shanala licked her lips, "Ummm...I just...wanted to tell you...that...I...ummm..."
Rick raised his eyebrows impatiently; then he felt bad. It wasn't her fault he'd failed miserably. He sighed slightly, and then sat up, patting the place next to him, "Why dontcha sit down?" Shanala looked extremely relieved as she joined Rick on his blanket, Jonathan grinned, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Jonathan Carnaham."
"I know," Shanala said, smiling, "Alex told me. Remember?"
Rick shook his head, "He's dead drunk, Honey. He won't remember anything for the next hour or so."
Jonathan scowled at him, "Well, I like that."
"Good. Want more?"
Jonathan shook his head and then promptly fell over. Shanala giggled. Rick sighed heavily, "I worry about him sometimes...now, can I help you with something?" Shanala turned to look at him, "Oh...yes. I...I just wanted to tell you that...that I'm sorry for...umm...what happened..."
Rick shrugged, "That's fine. It ain't your fault."
Shanala ran her hands through her hair and muttered, "But...even so...I'd...I'd like to make it up to you..."
"Yea? Whatcha gonna do? Sing me a nice song?" Rick was feeling bitter, and he knew it was wrong to take his anger out on Shanala, but he couldn't help it.
However Shanala simply gave him a small smile and said, "No. I don't have a good voice."
Rick chuckled despite the circumstances. Then, he chucked her under the chin, "You're a pretty good kid."
"Thanks. Now, do you want to know how I can help?" Rick nodded, "Sure."
"Ok. Well, you see, I know where Anck-su-namun has taken your son." Rick's eyebrows shot up, "Really?"
"Yes. See, she and Imhotep were traveling to Set's temple to renew their love or some lovey-dovey nonsense..." Rick grinned; he liked this kid. Shanala continued, "And...they were going to offer a sacrifice...me, to be precise and-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You? What for?"
Shanala shrugged, "Some evil plan of theirs."
Rick whistled under his breath, "And I thought I had troubles..."
"Yes, well, that's where they're headed...and until they get me, they won't leave. So, if we go as soon as possible...and if someone knows the way to Set's temple...well, I guess you might say you can count on a nice family reunion."
Rick, however,, had been through this kind of thing too often to fall for the this-is-quite-simple trick. Glaring slightly, arms crossed, he demanded, "What's the catch?"
Shanala looked surprise, "Catch? Oh, there's no catch! I mean, you'll have to fight them to get your son back, but from what I've seen you shouldn't have any trouble there."
Rick watched her for a second, sure there had to be something else, but she just stared at him blankly. Finally, Rick sighed, "Alright, Kid. Sounds too good to be true, but we'll try it. First thing tomorrow, we go to Cairo Airport a.k.a, Izzy."
***************************************
Alex felt his blood temperature drop about ten degrees in shock. After the recent trip with Anck-su-namun and Lock-Na, he was too tired to be scared like this. He didn't think he would live through anything else like that: Fight sodleirs, get thrown into a tent, face some screaming banshee. "Who are you?" asked a familiar voice, "What are you doing here?"
Alex blinked, unwilling to believe...then, he croaked, "Mum?"
There was silence, and then, "Alex?"
Alex grinned, "Mum! Mum you're ok! Oh thank God, Mum!" Alex threw his arms around his mother's neck and hugged her tightly.
"Oh, Alex! It's so good to see you!"
"Same here, Mum! I was so freaked out! I heard you were kidnapped and all, and it just...it..."
"Scared you?"
Alex nodde,d glad he hand;t had to say the words, "Yes. That."
Evelyn smiled and smoothed Alex's ahir back, "No, I'm fine, Dear. And it was my choise to go with Imhotep."
Alex jerked back form her, "What?"
Evelyn sighed, "Yes. It's...that girl that was with them...I came to find out more about her...but it seems they've lost her..."
Alex's eyes wided, "You mean Shanala?"
Evelyn frowned, "How do you know her?"
"We were locked in the same five-by-five closet for several hours."
"...that sounds suspicious."
Alex blushed, "Mum!"
"I was joking, Darling!"
Alex heard Evelyn laugh, and he crossed his arms, "Not funny."
"Oh, but it was! I wish I could have seen your face."
Alex cleared his throat loudly, "Anyway, Shanala seemed really interested in you too. Especially about you being Nefertiri. Do you know she's a reincarnated Egyptian too?"
"Really? How intriguing! I wonder form what era..."
Alex shrugged, "Forgot to ask. But she's obviously heard of you. She kept asking all this stuff, and she was about to tell me something when Anck-su- namun came in to get her..."
Evelyn but her lip, "Hmmm...I wonder what she was about to say?"
Alex shrugged, "No clue. But she did tell me what Anck-su-nmaun and Imhotep need her for."
"Whar?"
"A sacrifice."
"A sacrifice? A human sacrifice?!? That's low even for them!"
"I know."
Evelyn sighed angrily, "The nerve of those two...if I could, I would beat that wench's bum form here to the next millennia!"
Alex blinked, dazed; his mum had never been so angry. Evelyn sensed his shock and took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, Alex. I just really don't like her."
Alex grinned, "Who odes? Cept for Imhotep. And let me say, if the best that girl can attract is a rotting mummy, she has issues."
Evelyn burst into peals of laughter.
*********************************
Chapter 7
Shanala swallowed hard, forcing her tears to stay hidden. The man ("Was Rick his name?" she wondered) was sitting before a fire and hitting the coals with a stick. It had only been around an hour ago that he had first seen her; he hadn't spoken at all since. Ardeth Bay, the leader of the Medjai, came up and sat down with him. "My friend, you must not stay like this. Even the most honorable of men has made mistakes in his lifetime."
"Tell that to my kid," Rick muttered, tossing the stick over the fire, "He's probably alone and scared somewhere, waiting for me to come..."
Ardeth stared into the leaping flames and sighed, "Rick, you cannot be there for everyone all the time."
"Yea? Bet me."
Rick stood to get up, but Ardeth stopped him.
"Rick, how can you expect your son...or anyone...to grow in strength if you're always the one saving them?"
"It's my job, ok? Alex is not a full-grown man yet. He's my son. And I don't want him living the life I had, ok?"
Rick turned then and stormed into a nearby tent. Ardeth stayed at the fire, thinking. Slowly, Shanala crept over to him and stood near him, watching the fire with her hands clasped behind her back. "It's all my fault," she said quietly; she normally wouldn't have said a word, but she felt that this man...this Ardeth Bay...was someone to trust and look up to. Ardeth didn't glance at her; instead he continued staring at the flames. However, he did answer, "My Child, no one can take the blame for what happened. Not you, or Rick, or even The Creature."
Shanala sat down by him and gazed at him in wonder, "Why do you call him that?"
"Who? The Creature?" Ardeth thought for a moment, and then smiled slightly, "I have no idea."
Shanala giggled, "For effect?"
"I suppose so."
"He's really not a creature like you say...he's more of...more of a..." Shanala blinked rapidly as tears entered her eyes again, "...a monster."
Ardeth's gaze flicked over to her, "Yes. Tis true."
Shanala angrily wiped at her eyes, "But not as much as....as...her..."
Ardeth nodded, "Anck-su-namun?"
"Yes. If anyone needs to be called creature, it's her."
Ardeth nodded, "I see. And why is it that you hate her so, Shanala?"
"Well, I guess it's because....how'd you know my name?"
Shanala was beginning to feel slightly anxious; could he read minds or something? However, Ardeth smiled, "It is inscribed on your locket."
"Oh!" Shanala scooped the necklace into her hand, "Ah yes...I'd forgotten..." She smiled slightly. Then, remembering that Ardeth had asked a question, she cleared her throat and muttered, "She...she...well...she's just so evil...and...just...she scares me, I guess..." Shanala bit her lip and looked off into the distance hoping Ardeth didn't ask too much m ore about Anck-su-namun, incase she gave something away. Luckily, Ardeth seemed to sense her discomfort, and he simply stoked the fire with Rick's discarded stick, and then stood, "We have a long day tomorrow. I guess you might say it was a lucky thing that we got you...it seems to me that you were in quite a bit of trouble back there."
Shanala nodded, "Yes...they...they were goin g to kill me..."
Ardeth raised his eyebrows, "Then I'd say it's very lucky. Come. Let's retire. We have quite a journey ahead of us." **********************************
Evelyn awoke, startled, and wondered what on earth had jerked her from her dreams. There was quite a commotion outside of her tent, but she was too sleepy and hazy-minded to care. Normally, she would have done what she could to see what was going on, but now all she did was sit back and try to remember the dream she'd been having. That girl--Shanala--had been in it. She had been crying and speaking in ancient Egyptian; Evelyn had only understood parts of it, but at the moment she couldn't remember any of it...That was there was shouting directly outside her tent, an all-to- familiar shout, and then someone flying in and landing at her feet. Evelyn screamed; so did the new prisoner.
**************************************
Jonathan Carnaham was possibly nothing but a selfish, lusting, money-hungry drunk...but he didn't care. Right now he thought he was just about the best person in the universe. He was strutting around the Medjai camp, bragging about how he'd saved his nephew from certain death and how he had managed to escape without a scratch. He kept going on and on until one of the night watchers asked him why he had run off without his nephew if he was sop brilliantly brave. Jonathan flushed crimson and mumbled something about turning in for the night. When he made it to his tent, he quietly sat down on his blanket and looked over at Rick, "Are you asleep, Rick?"
"I was."
"Really?"
"No."
"Oh. Ok."
Jonathan grinned, "So, old chap, how are you?"
Rick turned towards Jonathan, propped himself up on his elbow, and stared at him. Finally, after Jonathan turned from his intense gaze, Rick snapped, "Jonathan, I just found out that I failed my son, my wife, and the world. How do you think I feel?"
Jonathan, who was slightly drunk and very nervous, sputtered, "Well...if I were you, I'd feel like a bloody waste of space."
Rick blinked once, and then gave him a forced smile, "Very good. You win the grand prize."
"Really! Oh, well that's nice! What is it?"
"A royal kick in the a-"
"Ummm...Excuse me?"
The two men turned at the sound of the quiet voice; Shanala stood there, wringing her hands and looking nervous. Rick shut his mouth, cutting off the word he had just about muttered aloud. Swallowing, forcing himself to be calm, he asked "Yes?"
Shanala licked her lips, "Ummm...I just...wanted to tell you...that...I...ummm..."
Rick raised his eyebrows impatiently; then he felt bad. It wasn't her fault he'd failed miserably. He sighed slightly, and then sat up, patting the place next to him, "Why dontcha sit down?" Shanala looked extremely relieved as she joined Rick on his blanket, Jonathan grinned, "I don't believe we've been properly introduced. I'm Jonathan Carnaham."
"I know," Shanala said, smiling, "Alex told me. Remember?"
Rick shook his head, "He's dead drunk, Honey. He won't remember anything for the next hour or so."
Jonathan scowled at him, "Well, I like that."
"Good. Want more?"
Jonathan shook his head and then promptly fell over. Shanala giggled. Rick sighed heavily, "I worry about him sometimes...now, can I help you with something?" Shanala turned to look at him, "Oh...yes. I...I just wanted to tell you that...that I'm sorry for...umm...what happened..."
Rick shrugged, "That's fine. It ain't your fault."
Shanala ran her hands through her hair and muttered, "But...even so...I'd...I'd like to make it up to you..."
"Yea? Whatcha gonna do? Sing me a nice song?" Rick was feeling bitter, and he knew it was wrong to take his anger out on Shanala, but he couldn't help it.
However Shanala simply gave him a small smile and said, "No. I don't have a good voice."
Rick chuckled despite the circumstances. Then, he chucked her under the chin, "You're a pretty good kid."
"Thanks. Now, do you want to know how I can help?" Rick nodded, "Sure."
"Ok. Well, you see, I know where Anck-su-namun has taken your son." Rick's eyebrows shot up, "Really?"
"Yes. See, she and Imhotep were traveling to Set's temple to renew their love or some lovey-dovey nonsense..." Rick grinned; he liked this kid. Shanala continued, "And...they were going to offer a sacrifice...me, to be precise and-"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! You? What for?"
Shanala shrugged, "Some evil plan of theirs."
Rick whistled under his breath, "And I thought I had troubles..."
"Yes, well, that's where they're headed...and until they get me, they won't leave. So, if we go as soon as possible...and if someone knows the way to Set's temple...well, I guess you might say you can count on a nice family reunion."
Rick, however,, had been through this kind of thing too often to fall for the this-is-quite-simple trick. Glaring slightly, arms crossed, he demanded, "What's the catch?"
Shanala looked surprise, "Catch? Oh, there's no catch! I mean, you'll have to fight them to get your son back, but from what I've seen you shouldn't have any trouble there."
Rick watched her for a second, sure there had to be something else, but she just stared at him blankly. Finally, Rick sighed, "Alright, Kid. Sounds too good to be true, but we'll try it. First thing tomorrow, we go to Cairo Airport a.k.a, Izzy."
***************************************
Alex felt his blood temperature drop about ten degrees in shock. After the recent trip with Anck-su-namun and Lock-Na, he was too tired to be scared like this. He didn't think he would live through anything else like that: Fight sodleirs, get thrown into a tent, face some screaming banshee. "Who are you?" asked a familiar voice, "What are you doing here?"
Alex blinked, unwilling to believe...then, he croaked, "Mum?"
There was silence, and then, "Alex?"
Alex grinned, "Mum! Mum you're ok! Oh thank God, Mum!" Alex threw his arms around his mother's neck and hugged her tightly.
"Oh, Alex! It's so good to see you!"
"Same here, Mum! I was so freaked out! I heard you were kidnapped and all, and it just...it..."
"Scared you?"
Alex nodde,d glad he hand;t had to say the words, "Yes. That."
Evelyn smiled and smoothed Alex's ahir back, "No, I'm fine, Dear. And it was my choise to go with Imhotep."
Alex jerked back form her, "What?"
Evelyn sighed, "Yes. It's...that girl that was with them...I came to find out more about her...but it seems they've lost her..."
Alex's eyes wided, "You mean Shanala?"
Evelyn frowned, "How do you know her?"
"We were locked in the same five-by-five closet for several hours."
"...that sounds suspicious."
Alex blushed, "Mum!"
"I was joking, Darling!"
Alex heard Evelyn laugh, and he crossed his arms, "Not funny."
"Oh, but it was! I wish I could have seen your face."
Alex cleared his throat loudly, "Anyway, Shanala seemed really interested in you too. Especially about you being Nefertiri. Do you know she's a reincarnated Egyptian too?"
"Really? How intriguing! I wonder form what era..."
Alex shrugged, "Forgot to ask. But she's obviously heard of you. She kept asking all this stuff, and she was about to tell me something when Anck-su- namun came in to get her..."
Evelyn but her lip, "Hmmm...I wonder what she was about to say?"
Alex shrugged, "No clue. But she did tell me what Anck-su-nmaun and Imhotep need her for."
"Whar?"
"A sacrifice."
"A sacrifice? A human sacrifice?!? That's low even for them!"
"I know."
Evelyn sighed angrily, "The nerve of those two...if I could, I would beat that wench's bum form here to the next millennia!"
Alex blinked, dazed; his mum had never been so angry. Evelyn sensed his shock and took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, Alex. I just really don't like her."
Alex grinned, "Who odes? Cept for Imhotep. And let me say, if the best that girl can attract is a rotting mummy, she has issues."
Evelyn burst into peals of laughter.
*********************************
