CHAPTER TWELVE

They entered the burial chamber once again and Jean stood in front of the wall. Ardeth put an arm around her shoulders, ready to provide her support in case she lost her strength.

"Be careful," he warned her.

Jean smiled, took a deep breath trying to relax and open her mind, and gently placed her hand on the wall. This time, she didn't feel Seti's emotional turmoil, but saw his face clearer than before. He was looking at her with a warm expression on his hazel eyes.

"Welcome. I thank your father Ra infinitely for bringing you to me. There is something I need to tell you."

"I am willing to listen, Pharaoh," she heard herself say.

"There is purity in your soul and you are the chosen one. But Imhotep is an evil, revengeful being; you must be careful for he will not stop until he has conquered the world. To stop him, the key is in the Golden Book. You shall succeed. Go in peace now."

Jean suddenly opened her eyes. Ardeth was holding her firmly and studying her face with great concern. He tipped her face up to his, spell bound by the clarity in her emerald eyes. She had changed. There was something different about her, almost as though she had awakened from a long slumber and there was a hunger in her eyes as her fists clenched involuntarily.

"Jean," he shook her shoulders a bit, "are you alright?"

"Yes, yes…"

"What happened? Did you see Seti?" He asked anxiously.

"Yes and he spoke to me. This time I was able to understand… he spoke Egyptian I think, but that didn't matter."

"What did he tell you?"

"That Imhotep would never give up until ruling the world," Jean said, trying to put her thoughts together.

"It is true; this creature is the bringer of death. He will never eat, he will never sleep. He will never stop."

"Good Lord!" She exclaimed. " He also told me that the key for defeating him is in a book, a golden book. Does this make any sense to you?"

"Yes, it does. It is believed that near his tomb, two books were hidden. One of them I already told you about. And the second one, the Golden Book of the Living, or the Book of Amun Ra, when red by the right person, can take an evil force's life away; maybe it will work with Imhotep."

"I hope so, Ardeth. Look, my arm is not bleeding!"

"Then this wasn't a nightmare or a vision, this was something else."

"I believe it's called extracorporeal experience."

She was feeling energetic, and was no longer afraid. Her destiny was inevitable and she would, with the help of God, emerge triumphant. "Shouldn't we go back to the camp?" Jean asked.

"Yes, we should. The Med-jai must be waiting for me to go around Hamunaptra," informed Ardeth.

"You mean us, right?"

"No, you are not entering that city again," he said flatly.

"You said you would only explore the surroundings."

"You got me there. Still, I do not want you anywhere near Hamunaptra."

"Ardeth, get real! Our camp is 300 metres away from Hamunaptra and I am not dead or anything like that, am I?" Asked Jean with a persuading smile.

"It is impossible to reason with you!"

"No, it's not. The thing is that you are not being reasonable..."

"Alright, fine," he gave up. " You can come with us. But I will be damned if I let you dismount."

Jean smiled, very pleased with herself. "I don't care, I am going anyway."

"Allah," he prayed in Arabic, "please give me patience." "Now let's go, we still have many things to do."

"Wait, I need to do something before leaving."

He shot her a questioning look, which Jean ignored. Tears filled her eyes as she stood in front of Seti's painting and spoke to him in a very low voice.

"Goodbye, Pharaoh. I don't think we'll meet again, but thank you for your help."

Despite his tone, Ardeth was able to understand her words and her gesture marveled him. After looking at the picture for a couple more minutes, Jean followed him obediently and mounted on Quicksand. They left the canyon. She was very quiet and Ardeth wondered why.

After a while, she sighed and said. "I wonder if I will ever return to this place."

The sadness he sensed in her voice made him want to say something to cheer her up, to push those sorrowful thoughts away from her mind, and from his, because he knew his 'special place' would never be the same if she wasn't with him.

"You will, Jean. Allah would never be so soulless as to keep you away from us for too long. He knows it would be unbearable," he stated in a low voice filled with emotions.

She smiled through the tears her eyes were threatening to spill and held on to Ardeth's waist more tightly. It took them a while longer to arrive the camp and when they did, Jean dismounted and frowned.

"Is there anything wrong Jean?" Asked Tarek who had come to greet them.

"Yes…I am in a lot of pain…but it's nothing."

"Where?" He asked.

"It doesn't matter," Jean answered, looking away.

"Tell us, Jean, maybe we can do something about it," offered Ardeth.

"I doubt it." Jean blushed, but couldn't suppress a smile.

He lost patience. "For Allah's sake, woman, tell us where it hurts you!"

"Let me put it this way, Ardeth. Where did you felt intense pain the first time you rode a horse for a long time?"

"I doubt you, as a woman, can feel any pain in there. See, I am a man and…"

"Spare me the lecture, Ardeth…" Jean cut him in, "which was the second part then???"

"Oh, I see."

At that moment, Tarek broke into laughter and his brother and Jean joined him. Tarek paused to look at his brother with curiosity. He knew Ardeth very well and never had he heard him laugh as he was now. He glanced back at the woman who was laughing with them, and then he returned his gaze back to his teary-eyed brother. He smiled a knowing smile and went on cracking.

"I am glad to see you so cheerful, my children." Ahmed smiled at them benevolently.

"Grandfather, we are sorry…" Said Ardeth.

"Never apologize for laughing, Ardeth. Now tell me, where have you been?"

Jean spoke for Ardeth. "We went to…" she saw Tarek and was forced to lie, "to an oasis. There, your grandson explained Imhotep's story to me."

"Good. I shall go rest now." He turned and left, but Jean followed him and when they had reached a prudential distance from Tarek, she addressed to him.

"Sir?"

"Tell me, young one."

"Ardeth didn't just take me to an oasis, he took me to the real place where Seti is buried," she declared.

The man smiled pleasantly. "It was very wise from you not to mention it in front of Tarek."

"Ardeth told me it was a secret…"

"A secret you deserve to know."

Jean hesitated for a second before going on. "And there… Seti spoke to me."

The old man's eyes widened. "You mean he appeared to you?"

"Something like that, sir. It was like a vision."

"You are very fortunate to possess such a gift. What did he tell you?"

"He warned me about Imhotep and told me that the way to defeat him can be found in the Book of Amun Ra."

"Then I am more than pleased to know that my grandson had the sense to take you there." Ahmed studied her face. "You seem somewhat tired, my child, and it is most understandable after what you have experienced. You should try to rest for a while."

"We are going to explore Hamunaptra now, but I will rest later. Thanks for your concern over me."

The man caressed her cheek very softly. "You are a real Aiwa Sayadi. I wish you and my grandson good fortune on your exploration."

"Thank you sir. I will see you at dinner."

"Yes, goodbye. And may Allah be with you." He turned and entered his tent.

Jean hurried back to where Ardeth was.

"So, when are we leaving?"

"You haven't desisted, have you?"

"Only in your dreams," she said, giving him a soft shove.

Ardeth smiled and took a black Arab horse's reins. "Do you know how to guide a horse?"

"Well of course I do!" She retorted, trying to look indignated but failing miserably.

"Then you shall ride this one on your own. My men have just bought it."

"How beautiful…what's its name?"

"We haven't named him yet." intervened Ahmad, who had just arrived with two canteens filled with fresh water. "Here, for the journey."

"Thank you, Ahmad," Ardeth said and turned to Jean. "Would you like to name this animal?"

"You serious?" She asked, full of wonder.

"Of course."

"I would love to! But I don't know…"

"Just look at him and think of a name you feel it suits him."

Jean took a faltering step forward, running her hand across the animal's neck. It was a splendid specimen of the native Arabian breed - compact and muscular, tail held high, nostrils flared, the glossy coat a deep chocolate black - exactly the same shade as Ardeth's horse. It contrasted sharply with the gold harness fittings and the red embroidery that festooned the horse's body. She noticed a patch of white hair on the animal's forehead. It was shaped like a… "Diamond," she said softly, "Do you like it?"

"Very much." Ardeth smiled. "Now that we are done with this, we must leave at once. So go on, mount on 'Diamond'."

In one easy motion, she stepped into the stirrup and swung herself up onto the horse. Diamond bucked a little, but she gained control immediately, talking soothingly, her fingers combing through his shiny mane. She trotted in little circles around Ardeth, while he watched her indulgently.

"He's a little spirited," Jean remarked. "But dependable." Ardeth laughed.

"Sounds like you're made for each other!" he said and Jean wrinkled her nose at him.

"Very funny. Who is coming with us?"

"Five of my best men: Tarek, of course, Hajeb and Sabi, the two warriors who trained you and two more, Vosloo and Amid."

"Hey, you can speak Arabic during the journey…"

"That will not be necessary, Jean, but I appreciate the offer. " As Ardeth was speaking, the five men gathered around them.

"Are we all set?"

"Yes, Chieftain," said Hajeb.

"Good, let's go then."

They all spurred the horses and set off to Hamunaptra. Jean couldn't help but notice that Tarek and the other four men were riding in a circular formation around her and Ardeth.

"Ardeth?"

"Yes…"

"Why are your men surrounding us?"

"You just don't miss a thing, do you? It is a way of protecting us against any enemy attack."

"Wow…you mean that they are willing to die in order to protect you?"

"And you," he replied.

"Geez."

"This reminds me…you need a weapon to defend yourself, just in case." He took a scimitar from a huge bag he was carrying and handed it to Jean. "Here, take this one."

"Thank you." Jean took it and studied it. "It's really nice. By the way, what are you carrying inside that bag?"

"Weapons and ammo."

"Am I missing something here?"

Ardeth didn't understand. "What do you mean?"

"I just thought we were going to explore a tumbledown city, not that we were going into battle."

"This is just a precaution."

"Some precaution."

Suddenly, they heard voices coming from the city they were investigating only from the outside. They stopped the horses and tried to understand what they were saying, but it was in vain.

"Tarek, Sabi, come with me. You, Jean stay here with them," Ardeth said, pointing at the other three men.

"No way, darling, I am coming with you," whispered a resolute Jean.

"I thought we had already discussed this issue."

"Yes, and you said I could come along if I didn't dismount, which right now couldn't be farther away from my mind. Besides, it is better to stick together."

"Brother," interceded Tarek, "Jean is right."

Ardeth finally gave up. "Fine, fine, follow me."

They all entered Hamunaptra and were surprised to find the main corridors empty.

"Where did those voices go?" Asked Vosloo intrigued.

"They are at Anubis' feet. Where Imhotep's buried," said Jean.

"How did you…?"

"Don't ask how, Tarek, I just know it."

"Then we must go inside. Jean…"

"Oh, come on! I've come this far to miss all the fun? I don't think so." She dismounted, followed by the Med-Jai and Ardeth shot her an angry look. "Easy, Ardeth, don't kill me. Don't forget I am the only one here who can lead you to those people."

She started walking inside a dark tunnel. The warriors pulled out their scimitars and walked behind her. Jean led them to a chamber and there they found about 100 men who appeared to be worshipping Imhotep. It was as if they were transported back 3000 years.

***

So, the action starts! I hope you liked this chapter. Since I don't know Arabic I am using Aiwa Sayadi as desert rose, even though it doesn't mean that. I think it stands for 'yes sir', but well... it sounded so nice!

Now I'd like to answer to last chapter's reviews. They were very good. I am so grateful for them that I have decided to implement this new system. First of all, thanks everyone for reviewing. After all, it is what keeps me going.

Cindy, here's more!!! I'm glad you noticed Jean's strength, since I've enjoyed creating her that way.

Laurus Nobilis, Indeed, Jean's got a great responsibility... wouldn't like to be in her shoes! Thanks for being such a faithful reader!

Dead-Girls-Watch, thank you very much for your kind words!!!

Robyn, wow, I really appreciate you pointing that out! Quite frankly, I wasn't even thinking about the difference between a wife and a concubine when I wrote that part and used them as equivalent terms. Bad me! And thanks a lot for following the story, without readers like you, writing would lose a lot of its fun.