Chapter 7
On the Trail
My level of ownership is still zero. I wish it was not so, but it is.
Sorry it took me so long to update, but I was a little (ok, a lot) blocked for a while. Here's something to keep you going until I've written the next chapter.
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Jonathon slowed the car to a stop in front a huge statue of Anubis when Ardeth directed him to. The three companions exited the car and stood in the fading light of the Egyptian day. Ardeth studied the sand around him, noting the subtle differences from the sand that had been moved by human feet rather than the breath of the wind that other men would never see.
"The Hath'ne were here. Rick was with them," he stated with confidence.
"With all due respect, how do you know that?" Evelyn asked curiously.
Ardeth crouched down and pointed at the sand. "These marks were made by men. They show that the men were wearing robes." He pulled a piece of fabric that was half buried in the sand. "Black robes. The men stood in a circle beneath the shadow of Anubis. Only the Hath'ne have such a ritual."
"And Rick?"
"He knelt there," Ardeth pointed. "And he left us a gift." The Medjai held up three strands of long, sleek, brown hair.
Ardeth stood and went to the car. He reached in and picked up his hawk, Horace. He stroked the bird's plumage, whispering, "Find them, my friend." He lifted his arm, and the hawk soared gracefully into the setting sun.
Evelyn watched, filled with worry. "Hurry, Horace."
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Rick scratched his head, pulling a strand of hair loose. He brushed it away and glared at Rasheed, who held his left arm captive, deciphering the tattoo. They were already half way to the site of the Weapon, and Rick had no idea what to do.
He couldn't escape because there were too many men, he couldn't refuse to help because they didn't need him alive to use the map, and he couldn't beat up Rasheed because Nekonkh was always less than three feet away.
"We are near," stated Rasheed. "I can taste victory."
"Oh, shut up," said Rick. "You're so melodramatic. So you're going to destroy all life. What's so great about that?"
Rasheed just smiled.
"And will you stop that? You're driving me nuts."
"Do not worry, Mr. O'Connell. Soon there will no one left to annoy you."
Rick leaned close to Rasheed. "Up yours, jackass."
Rasheed just smiled.
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A few hours later, just after dusk, the car stopped. Nekonkh pulled Rick out of the back seat, and Rasheed followed him out. There were five more cars behind them, filled with men. A hawk called overhead. Rick looked up as the bird soared away.
Looking around, Rick recognized where they were; The Valley of the Kings. Rasheed grabbed Rick's arm again. Rick felt a growing sense of worry in him and tried to struggle, but Nekonkh was too strong. Rasheed glanced at Rick's wrist at said, "This way, Nekonkh."
The men followed as Rasheed led them to one of the tombs, and Rick could tell it was one of the oldest in the Valley. Two men pulled the tarp guarding the entrance away, and Rasheed, holding a lantern, descended into the darkness. Nekonkh pushed Rick ahead of him as he followed the man he felt bound to.
----------
Evelyn was beyond tired. She was completely, utterly, exhausted to the core. They'd been following Horace in the car since he had showed up 6 hours ago. Finally, he had disappeared and they had stopped to rest.
Evelyn lay stretched over the back seat, while the men sat dozing in the front: Ardeth alert even in sleep.
She prayed to whatever Gods existed to bring Rick back to her safely. Ardeth's god, Allah, the Egyptian gods, hell, even the Tooth Fairy. All she wanted was Rick's warm body next hers and the knowledge that he was alive and unharmed. Tears started to form in her eyes, but she brushed them away angrily.
'No,' she thought violently, "I won't cry. I need to be strong. For Rick. For myself.'
Suddenly, a screech overhead broke her musings. Ardeth and Jonathon started awake. Horace came soaring down from the sky and landed on Ardeth's arm. They beautiful hawk dropped three small flowers into his lap. Ardeth picked them up and looked at them in confusion.
"These flowers. . . I have seen them before, sadik. But I do not know where," Ardeth said.
"Give them to me," commanded Evelyn. Ardeth complied. Evelyn studied them briefly, and then came to a conclusion. "I know where they came from. They're in the Valley of the Kings. Let's go, Jonathon."
Jonathon started the car and pressed the gas petal to the floor.
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Sadik- Friend.
On the Trail
My level of ownership is still zero. I wish it was not so, but it is.
Sorry it took me so long to update, but I was a little (ok, a lot) blocked for a while. Here's something to keep you going until I've written the next chapter.
----------
Jonathon slowed the car to a stop in front a huge statue of Anubis when Ardeth directed him to. The three companions exited the car and stood in the fading light of the Egyptian day. Ardeth studied the sand around him, noting the subtle differences from the sand that had been moved by human feet rather than the breath of the wind that other men would never see.
"The Hath'ne were here. Rick was with them," he stated with confidence.
"With all due respect, how do you know that?" Evelyn asked curiously.
Ardeth crouched down and pointed at the sand. "These marks were made by men. They show that the men were wearing robes." He pulled a piece of fabric that was half buried in the sand. "Black robes. The men stood in a circle beneath the shadow of Anubis. Only the Hath'ne have such a ritual."
"And Rick?"
"He knelt there," Ardeth pointed. "And he left us a gift." The Medjai held up three strands of long, sleek, brown hair.
Ardeth stood and went to the car. He reached in and picked up his hawk, Horace. He stroked the bird's plumage, whispering, "Find them, my friend." He lifted his arm, and the hawk soared gracefully into the setting sun.
Evelyn watched, filled with worry. "Hurry, Horace."
----------
Rick scratched his head, pulling a strand of hair loose. He brushed it away and glared at Rasheed, who held his left arm captive, deciphering the tattoo. They were already half way to the site of the Weapon, and Rick had no idea what to do.
He couldn't escape because there were too many men, he couldn't refuse to help because they didn't need him alive to use the map, and he couldn't beat up Rasheed because Nekonkh was always less than three feet away.
"We are near," stated Rasheed. "I can taste victory."
"Oh, shut up," said Rick. "You're so melodramatic. So you're going to destroy all life. What's so great about that?"
Rasheed just smiled.
"And will you stop that? You're driving me nuts."
"Do not worry, Mr. O'Connell. Soon there will no one left to annoy you."
Rick leaned close to Rasheed. "Up yours, jackass."
Rasheed just smiled.
----------
A few hours later, just after dusk, the car stopped. Nekonkh pulled Rick out of the back seat, and Rasheed followed him out. There were five more cars behind them, filled with men. A hawk called overhead. Rick looked up as the bird soared away.
Looking around, Rick recognized where they were; The Valley of the Kings. Rasheed grabbed Rick's arm again. Rick felt a growing sense of worry in him and tried to struggle, but Nekonkh was too strong. Rasheed glanced at Rick's wrist at said, "This way, Nekonkh."
The men followed as Rasheed led them to one of the tombs, and Rick could tell it was one of the oldest in the Valley. Two men pulled the tarp guarding the entrance away, and Rasheed, holding a lantern, descended into the darkness. Nekonkh pushed Rick ahead of him as he followed the man he felt bound to.
----------
Evelyn was beyond tired. She was completely, utterly, exhausted to the core. They'd been following Horace in the car since he had showed up 6 hours ago. Finally, he had disappeared and they had stopped to rest.
Evelyn lay stretched over the back seat, while the men sat dozing in the front: Ardeth alert even in sleep.
She prayed to whatever Gods existed to bring Rick back to her safely. Ardeth's god, Allah, the Egyptian gods, hell, even the Tooth Fairy. All she wanted was Rick's warm body next hers and the knowledge that he was alive and unharmed. Tears started to form in her eyes, but she brushed them away angrily.
'No,' she thought violently, "I won't cry. I need to be strong. For Rick. For myself.'
Suddenly, a screech overhead broke her musings. Ardeth and Jonathon started awake. Horace came soaring down from the sky and landed on Ardeth's arm. They beautiful hawk dropped three small flowers into his lap. Ardeth picked them up and looked at them in confusion.
"These flowers. . . I have seen them before, sadik. But I do not know where," Ardeth said.
"Give them to me," commanded Evelyn. Ardeth complied. Evelyn studied them briefly, and then came to a conclusion. "I know where they came from. They're in the Valley of the Kings. Let's go, Jonathon."
Jonathon started the car and pressed the gas petal to the floor.
----------
Sadik- Friend.