CHAPTER 14

It had been five weeks since he had returned from Cairo and there had been no word of Ali.

Ardeth and ten warriors were returning to the village from a trip to Hamunaptra. They had stopped yet another party of scavengers.

Ardeth had hoped that the party might be Hudson and Ali, but it was not.

As they neared the halfway point between the City of the Dead and their village, Ardeth saw a rider coming from the direction of the village.

The rider was riding hard and coming toward them. It only took Ardeth and his men only a moment to realize that it was Ahmen. He had survived the gun shot and was just now returning to full duty.

"My Lord, My Lord!!!!" Ahmen started yelling as he neared them.

Ardeth rode out to meet him "What is wrong, Ahmen?"

Breathlessly Ahmen spoke "Ardeth, there is word from Okmun. A party set out just over a day ago. It is believed they were headed for Hamunaptra."

Realizing that his meaning was not sinking in for Ardeth he added "Ardeth, Okmun thinks it is Hudson and Ali."

Ardeth was speechless for a moment. 'Could it really be?' "Why does he think it is them?" He had wished for so long, he was afraid to get his hopes up.

"I will explain on the way. Are the men capable?" asking if any of the men had been wounded or worse at the last battle.

By then the other warriors had gathered around them. They had heard enough to understand.

"We are fine." "We ride" they shouted.

Ardeth turned to look at them. He knew his men were loyal, but this was his battle. "I would understand if any of you chose not to go back to Hamunaptra. This is a personal battle. I can't not ask you to fight it for me"

Mascal spoke "My lord, you are not asking. We are offering. We ride together."

Ardeth didn't know what to say. He didn't know if he could speak even if he had tried. He only nodded his head.

Within moments Ardeth and his men had turned back toward Hamunaptra.

As they rode, Ahmen rode to Ardeth's side. "Ardeth might it not be better if we attack before they get to the city?"

Ardeth thought for a moment. "Why do you say that, Ahmen?"

Ahmen grimaced and spoke quietly "It is believed that Ali was injured when they left Cairo. It might be of her best interest to get to her as soon as possible." As he finished speaking Ahmen watched the expression on Ardeth's face. It was one of both pain and anger.

"Yes, then we should attack soon. We can get to the Formations of Netizi before they do. We can attack from above there." Ardeth stopped and cleared his throat and continued "When we get there I want to know exactly what Okmun told you."

"Yes My Lord" was all Ahmen said before he rode off to tell the men.

As Ardeth rode he felt many feelings. Fear, anger, love. 'How has he injured her? What has he done to her?' Ardeth thought. "I will make him beg for mercy before I finally end his retched life." Ardeth spat to the wind. Then he whispered "Hold on kalila. I will be there soon. I am so sorry I have brought this on you. Someday I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

Ardeth and his men reached the rock formations of Netizi at sundown and there were no signs of Hudson and Ali. They set up a minimal camp for the night knowing that were ever Hudson and Ali were they were most likely doing the same thing.

"We will attack them tomorrow when they come through the pass." Ardeth told the men as they eat the provisions Ahmen had brought with him.

After they had eaten Ardeth and Ahmen made their way to Ardeth's tent.

"Now tell me. Why does he think this is Hudson and Ali?"

"Several days ago one of our contacts, Beknel, came to Okmun. He was reasonably sure that Hudson, his men and Ali were at his hotel. They had checked in a few days before. But only that day had Beknel actually seen the woman. She fit Ali's description. So Okmun went to the hotel and basically took Beknel's place at the front counter. Two days ago the party checked out."

"That does not explain why he thinks Ali is...injured"

Ahmen nodded and continued "When Hudson came to the counter his men came down the steps behind him. One of them was carrying Ali. Okmun said even though she had a scarf wrapped around her head, he could still see her face enough to see that she was very pale. Okmun asked if she was alright and Hudson immediately answered that she was just a little under the weather. So Okmun reached across the counter and handed her a small paper fan. Saying that it would help keep her cool. He said that as he handed it to her she must have saw part of his tattoo on the underside of his wrist. He could see the recognition in her eyes. Then she looked at him and in very plain Arabic spoke your name."

Ardeth was dumbfounded for a moment, finally getting out "She said my name?"

"Yes Ardeth. Okmun said she looked him directly in the eyes and spoke your name in Arabic. He also said that the man holding her looked angry and asked Okmun what she said. He told him that she had only thanked him."

Ardeth didn't know what to do. He wanted to laugh, to cry, to kill. Ali was alive, but apparently injured and there was a real possibility that she was headed right for them.

"Ardeth?" Ahmen said touching Ardeth's arm.

"I'm sorry Ahmen" Ardeth said shaking his head trying to keep all his emotions in check.

"No need. But there is more"

Ardeth did not like the tone Ahmen had used or his facial expression.

"Alright, tell me"

"After they had left Becknel and Okmun went up to the rooms to look for any signs that Hamunaptra was where they were leaving for. What they found shocked them."

"Tell me"

"Okmun said it looked as though there had been a battle in the one room. That there were still ropes tied to the bed. That several pieces of the furniture were broken and that......." He stopped for a moment. He knew the next bit of information would greatly upset Ardeth. Finally he said in a very hushed tone "that the sheets to the bed were covered in blood."

Ardeth felt as though someone had stabbed him in the heart. He felt as though he was going to be violently ill.

"Why?" he mumbled.

"They do not know. Becknel said that the night before he went to Okmun that several of the other patrons of the hotel complained about a woman's screams and muffled cries coming from that room."

Ahmen watched as a rage overtook Ardeth. He cursed with words Ahmen had never heard before. He kicked anything that he could find. Finally making his way outside of the tent, he walked out into the black desert night.

Ardeth had walked only a few feet when he fell to his knees. Although he had been trained to never show emotion and to never let it overcome him he could not hold back his tears. Kneeling there in the sand he cried to Allah "What have I done? Allah please help her. This is all my doing. Please." Then more quietly he added "Habibi, how can you ever forgive me? I will save you, if it takes my dying breath"