CHAPTER 3

"It all started about a year ago" Ali said as she sat down on the animal hides and course blankets that made up the 'bed' Ardeth had prepared for her. Ardeth said down across the small tent from her.

Staring at the design on one of the blankets she continued "My Mother passed away rather unexpectedly and it sent my Dad into a very deep depression. He had always been such a strong man. But Mother's death, well it broke him". Ali stopped for a moment then continued "He started drinking and gambling. He would stay out for days at a time. My brother and I were so worried about him. He had been such a brilliant professor but, the alcohol started to eat away at him. One night we heard a knock at the door. When I opened it there were two huge men holding Dad by his arms. There was a smaller man standing behind them. The two larger men pushed Dad into the house causing him to fall. As he lay there pathetic and shaking the smaller man walked and said to him 'You have 24 hours Duncan, to come up with the info and the money.' Then he squatted down beside my father. He looked at him then up to me and whispered in my father's ear "Or I'm sure we can find something here to take for payment".

Ali stopped lost in her thoughts. Ardeth spoke bringing her back "What information did they want from your Father, Ali?" He did not like where this story was going.

She finally looked at Ardeth and replied "They wanted the map to this place and they wanted the $2000 my Dad owed them for his gambling debt. They thought we had that kind of money. And well at one time we did, but in the time that had past since Mom's death, Dad's gambling had used most of it up. After they left, Dad was frantic, running around the house throwing stuff into trunks. He kept saying we had to get out of there. And so we took off with just a few belongings and clothes and headed to the docks to try to catch a ship back to the United States. But we never made it. As we were trying to board the ship, Hudson found us."

Ardeth could see the pain in Ali's face "Ali if you want to..........."

"No that's ok, Ardeth. I've never told anyone this" she let out a small sarcastic laugh "who would I tell" then continued "I think I might feel better if I talk about it"

"Alright, if you wish. I'm here for you."

As Ardeth spoke Ali looked at his face, in particular his eyes. They seemed so warm, so caring. For some reason they made it seem okay to talk about what she had been through. It just seemed ok to share her most intimate thoughts with this virtual stranger.

After being lost in her thoughts for a few moments Ali spoke again "Well like I said Hudson found us. Dad tried to buy more time, but it was obvious what we were trying to do. And well that didn't make Hudson very happy."

Ardeth watched Ali speak. Her voice was almost monotone. As if she was just relating a story she had read, not as if she was telling him about her life. But Ardeth suspected that after being through some of the things he imagined she had been through, that he too would sound so unattached.

"Hudson, listened to my Dad for a few seconds, then walked up and hit him in the head with the butt of his gun. As he paced back and forth in front of him he told Dad 'Jason, I gave you a chance and you ruined it. I will get want I want. But I guess instead of you giving it to me, well I'll just have to take it.'

"Then Hudson stopped, turned and shot my Dad at point blank range." Ali stopped for a moment then added quietly "of course it killed him instantly. Then he turned the gun on my brother and with one shot killed him too." As the last word was spoken she dropped her head into her hands and cried softly.

Ardeth did not know what to know. He knew that earlier his physical closeness had scared her, yet when he woke her from her nightmare she had clung to him. So with that thought in mind he stood and moved across the small space between them. Softly he sat down beside her.

Ali looked up to find Ardeth sitting beside her. She could not explain the calmness that came over her as he took her hand and stroked it.

"I'm so sorry you had to witness that Ali. Was Hudson the leader of the group we killed earlier today?" Ardeth had hoped he was. Then he would feel even more satisfaction from knowing he was dead.

"No. He wasn't. That was Stephen, Hudson's right hand man."

"Oh" Ardeth said slightly agitated that it had not been Hudson he had killed.

"Do you want to hear the rest?"

Ardeth looked down into Ali's green eyes. They looked so tired yet there was still the slightest spark of fire there. That truly astounded Ardeth. That after all she had been through that there was still some fire left in her soul. That made Ardeth happy. And he didn't know why. He had only known Ali for a few hours. But he felt protective of her. He felt a connection to her.

"Yes of course, Ali. Unless you are too tired to continue"

"No I'm okay. After he.....shot them......well he grabbed me and told me that I would show him where the map was and that I now belonged to him"

"I kept trying to tell him I didn't know where the map was. But he wouldn't listen. They took me to our house and ram sacked the place. The whole time Hudson had a death grip on my arm. He kept yelling at me to tell him where it was. I tried telling him I didn't know, but he didn't believe me. Every time I would tell him I didn't know he would hit me. I was so scared of what else he would do to me. Finally it dawned on me where Dad might have the map hidden. I know I should not have told him, but I was so scared. I was totally alone. There was no one to rescue me, so I had to do the best I could."

"Well the map was hidden right where I thought it would be. I was so relieved but only for a few moments. Hudson put the map in his coat pocket and turned to me. He smiled the most sickening smile I've ever seen. Then he grabbed my arm again and started dragging me toward the stairs." Ali bit her bottom lip trying to hold back the sobs, but they came anyway. Through her tears she continued "He looked at me and announced to all his men "Now I'm going to go upstairs and start collecting on the $2000 her old man owes me. And after I'm done, any of you boys that want a try at it can have it".

By the time Ali was finished she was crying so hard Ardeth could barely understand her. But he would not have had to heard her exact words to understand what she was saying. He watched as her sobs become more violent, shaking her body with each one. Ardeth reached tenderly and pulled her to him. This time there was no resistance. Again she clung to his robes. He gently stroked her hair. After several moments he quietly spoke into her auburn hair "Ali, I can not erase what has happened to you. Although I wish with all my being I could. But I can tell you that you are safe. Stephen and the rest of those vile men are dead and they can never hurt you again."

Ali pulled back from Ardeth and looked into his beautiful caramel eyes "But you don't understand, Ardeth, Hudson is still out there. Stephen stole me and the map one night and we have been on the run ever since. Hudson will stop at nothing to get the map and me. He thinks he owns me. Over the past several months I've become a possession to him and I doubt he let either me or the map go."

Ardeth softened face hardened as a steely mask came over it. In almost a growl he spoke "Well then, we will just have to make sure that never happens. If Hudson comes looking for you or the map he will have to face me and the rest of the Med-Jai. And I can guarantee you he will end up on the losing side of that battle."