CHAPTER THREE

I yawned and my eyes felt heavy as our camels plodded on silently as we continued our journey to find the 'City of the Dead'.

I twitched in annoyance as the Warden's loud snores broke the peace that I had been enjoying.

I opened my eyes and shot a glare in his direction not caring that he wouldn't see it,

"Annoying, arrogant, chauvinistic pig!"

I mentally screamed at him, Evy had told me about him while we were changing our clothes and I felt disgusted by his actions but couldn't help the snicker at the image of Evy's face in response to his insinuations.

"What I wouldn't give for a gnat to fly into his mouth." I said quietly to Rick who snickered quietly.

A movement caught my eye and I grinned as I saw Jon who was just a bit ahead of the Warden smack him with his stick before faking sleep as the Warden woke up muttering some incoherent words before going back to sleep.

I let my gaze travel the night desert that was lit up by the full moon and saw several men on horses.

"Rick." I said in a low voice keeping my gaze on the outlined figures,

"I see them." Rick said his voice as low as mine so we didn't wake up the others.

I kept an eye on the outlined figures but soon they turned and left the ridge.

Rick and I exchanged glances as we continued forward both of us slightly tense waiting for an attack, the adrenaline rush keeping me wide awake.

Soon the sun was starting to rise causing the clouds to change from grey to a peach color and the other three woke up.

Not long after that I saw what I mentally labeled as Beni's party, coming towards us from the other side.

"Good morning my friend." Said Beni his voice grating on my nerves.

I clenched my jaw and tried to think happy thoughts since Evy had asked me not to pick a fight with anyone while we were traveling.

Rick just nodded with an slightly disgusted and annoyed smile on his face, as he turned his camel to face towards the sun.

One of the American's spoke up, "What the heck we doing?"

"Patience my good barat'm, patience." Beni said.

A different American spoke up,

"Remember our bet O'Connell, first one to the city, five hundred cash bucks."

Rick gave him a half-smile and silently looked towards the rising sun.

Then the first American spoke back up, "A hundred of them bucks is yours if you help us win that bet."

I assumed he was talking to Beni and found my assumption correct as Beni replied.

"Oh my pleasure."

Rick scoffed at that, catching Beni's attention.

"Hey O'Connell, nice camel." Beni said.

I rolled my eyes,

"Does the idiot not realize that he's sitting on a camel too?" I thought.

Rick gave the camel a pat as he said softly to the rest of us,

"Get ready for it."

Evy who was beside him and to my right, spoke up,

"Ready for what?"

Rick nodded in front of him, "We're about to be shown the way."

There was silence in both groups as we all waited for the sun to come up and within a minute it had climbed up into the sky.

Causing the desert to shimmer and contort into the remains of a city almost like ancient magic being weaved.

"Here we go again." Rick said softly.

I gave him a sideways glance and saw the resignation, remembrance on his face and a hidden fear in his eyes before glancing back out in front of us.

A twinkle from the ruined city seemed to light the spark of competition and immediately we were off, racing towards Hamunaptra.

Beni was in front but not for long as Rick caught up to him, then Beni started hitting Rick with his whip.

I smirked as Rick took care of him causing Beni to fall off his camel as we all raced on.

"And that serve's you right!" Evy said as she passed him.

I laughed at that.

Evy was not a violent person but if you got her cross at you she would find a way to get even.

Evy soon caught up to Rick and then passed him, Jon and I came up beside Rick then and soon we were all in the City of the Dead.

We set up our small camp away from the American's who grudgingly paid up on their bet with Rick.

Walking around Evy found the statue of Anubis and she wanted us to go down below it.

I left the group to pee which I had been holding for several hours now, when I came back I saw everyone getting ready to go down the hole.

Rick tossed down two torch's before going down the rope then I went, then Evy, Jon and last the Warden.

I couldn't contain my laughter as Jon let go of the rope and looking around with his nose wrinkled asked,

"What is that awful stench?"

Before he looked up and saw the Warden coming down right above him,

"OH." Jon said before walking towards me where I was standing and snickering trying not to laugh out-loud had my body shaking so I turned slightly away from the others.

Evy walked over to a big mirror and began to wipe off some cobwebs while I took the second torch and began to explore.

I walked further into the cave, faintly hearing Rick say something as I checked out the numerous passage ways and the hieroglyphs on the walls.

I turned around when I heard Evy call for me and caught up with them again before following them as they started walking down a different passage way, the Warden at the end of our small procession.

All the sudden what sounded like a million tiny bugs skittering across a hard wood floor echoed through the passageway.

"What's that?" The Warden demanded as we all turned and searched for what was making the sound.

"What is that?" Jon said as well, directing his question toward Rick,

"It sounded like bugs." Rick said.

Evy and I turned toward the Warden with matching mischief filled grins,

"He said bugs." We said at the same time.

The Warden pipped up, "What do you mean bugs? I hate bugs!" He said fearfully looking around before reaching up and grabbing the torch that I had been holding out of my hands.

"Jerkwad." I muttered under my breath along with several Korean expletives that had Evy pinching my arm lightly and giving me a look.

We continued and soon found a pair of legs coming down from the ceiling.

"The legs of Anubis, the secret compartment should be hidden somewhere around here." Evy said.

All of the sudden there were strange sounds echoing around the chamber.

Rick was already holding one of his guns now he handed Evy his torch and pulled out another gun holding them at the ready.

The Warden pulled out a gun as well, and so did Jon.

I took one of Rick's guns and stood beside Evy with Jon on my other side.

Evy grabbed a hold of my free hand and held it tight as we all pressed up against the statue bottom.

Then Rick stepped out and pointed his guns, Jon and the Warden beside him as I stood back with Evy who would not let go of my hand, holding my gun at the ready.

It was the American's, and all of them were holding guns and the annoying creation known as Beni was as well.