CHAPTER THREE

"Jean," Ardeth entered. "Come with me, I will show you your tent where you will be able to rest"

She followed him as he led her inside and was marveled at what she saw: the tent looked like something out of the Arabian Nights stories she used to read as a girl, dreaming of far away places. Beautiful rugs covered the ground, large pillows everywhere. The linen walls had been covered by rich fabrics in different colors. The bed was situated near the back of the tent. Not exactly a bed like in America but more of a wooden platform with a mattress on top of it. It was covered with a luscious purple blanket, its edges made of white fur. There was a mirror, an oil lamp and two trunks. The smallest one was opened, revealing different jewels, and the second one was filled with clothes, real Egyptian clothes.

"I am sorry this is so rudimentary, but…"

"Rudimentary??" se cut him in "This is… Wow… How did you do all this?"

"So you like it…I am pleased. My men did most of the job."

"Where did they get all these clothes and jewels?"

"We have the jewels for most of them are good luck charms. Also, sometimes, when we help a merchant who is in trouble, he pays tribute to us by giving us some jewels or fine clothes, which we usually give away."

"I shouldn't accept… at least let me pay you… '

"Don't even think about it. In my culture, it is the man the one who has to provide everything for his woman."

"Geez, but I am not your woman."

"No, you are not, but you are under my care."

"Okay… and thank you, Ardeth."

"It is nothing. However, I was expecting a bigger argument. Western women tend to proclaim their financial independence and refuse to accept that the man has to provide them, right?"

"Yes… but I am kind of old fashioned."

"Good, I like that. Oh, there's another thing… "

"What?"

"These clothes… You see, my men won't try anything. They are honorable, and after what they saw today, they will consider your body as a sanctuary. However, I will ask you not to wear any of them as we travel… who knows who we might run into, and it would be better if you looked… well, like one of us."

Jean laughed, "I understand, Ardeth, and I appreciate your concern over my welfare. I will wear the whatever you consider the best."

"Good. I will bring you some black tunics. I would give you a Med-jai robe, but only a Med-jai can wear them…"

"It's ok."

Without another word, Ardeth opened the tent flap and called for Ahmad, who entered and bowed at Jean.

"My Chieftain has asked me to serve you. If I please you, I would be most honored to do so."

Jean glanced at Ardeth and then looked back at Ahmad.

"Thank you very much, Ahmad. I appreciate your offer and I am willing to accept it, although I don't think I will need much." The young man left the tent, radiant of joy and Ardeth spoke to Jean.

"Now, try to get some rest. Ahmad will guard outside"

She lay on her bed and smiled as she fell asleep.

***

Ardeth was sitting by the edge of the Nile, immersed in his own thoughts. As the years passed, the Med-jai had evolved. They were now a very different people much to the protests of their elders and had learnt to integrate within the globalized economy and the urban life along with their parallel lives as the Bedouins that they were. Other than their tattooed bodies, the Med-jai passed for normal men from the city when they had to travel in order to establish commercial relations. The trade community in Egypt trusted them and their expertise in the desert and its products. And thanks to that, the Medjai were had progressed into the 21st century with large bank accounts. But still old menaces came from the past and threatened them…

"Penny for your thoughts Ardeth?"

He smiled up at his brother beside him, he chuckled, "By the generosity of our Lord, we are blessed to have the family back in the camp!"

"We've just got back from Cairo… and we heard about a red haired woman in our camp… and I've been told your orders were: only English and well…"

"Yes, and don't come here playing innocent on me, I bet you already know the whole story."

"I do, I do."

"And, by Allah, how did you know about her hair color?"

"You are kidding me? The whole tribe is talking about it. And maybe you were thinking about her…"

"I was thinking about our new investment in leather manufacturers, Tarek" Ardeth smiled at him. "It should prove fruitful."

"Careful, my brother" Tarek looked concerned, "If you have a beautiful woman in the camp and all you can think about is that, there must be something wrong with you!"

The handsome Egyptian warrior laughed and then let out a sigh. "Ah Tarek, come now! Why must you ruin my fun? I am the leader of our tribe, a Med-jai; can you really think I could ever forget that?"

"You should."

"I suppose you are right, we are all allowed to be a little human."

"It is about time you start a family, Ardeth…"

"You start one, I am too busy."

"For Allah, you are impossible."

Ardeth pushed his brother in a friendly way.

"I shall go see how Jean is doing."

Tarek smiled and waved at him. "Send her my greetings."

"Go to hell", laughed the older brother and left.