DISCLAIMER: All recognisable characters and concepts...belong to somebody else.


Chapter 7: Power

Marion launched herself forward, swinging the sword in a wide arc. Two of the five men fell dead, unable to even cry out. The laughing cut off. Marion twisted around and faced the other three men, if they could be called that. They gritted their teeth and then charged at her. Marion jumped up and flipped over them. She spun again and stabbed one right through the heart. Marion then raised her sword and brought it down diagonally, slitting the necks of the final two.

Marion flicked her wrist, sending the blood flying from her blade.

'Uh haw.'

Marion spun around, hand tightening around the hilt of her sword. She relaxed when she saw who was there. Indiana Jones was leaning against the side of a building. His arms were folded across his chest and one leg was crossed over the other.

'How long have you been standing there?' Marion asked, sliding her sword back into its sheath, tucked under her skirt.

'Long enough to see that.' Indy pointed at the bodies. 'I was gonna help you, but you clearly didn't need it.' He grinned and straightened up, walking over to her. 'Your father sent me. Why'd you take so long if you knew the Shiyan were around?'

'I lost track of time,' Marion said.

'Well, let's go then,' Indy said. 'How long have you had that thing?'

'The sword?' Marion asked. 'It was a gift.'

'From who?'

Marion smiled. 'Someone who cared about me way more than Abner ever did.'

Out of the corner of her eye, Marion noticed Indy wince. She wondered if his own father had some kind of similarity to Abner. It wouldn't be the exact same thing, but it could've easily been there. And it would explain Indy's reaction.

'The same person who taught you to use it?' Indy asked. 'I don't think it was Abner. He doesn't think you can defend yourself.'

Marion looked at her feet as they walked. 'There's a lot Abner doesn't know.'

'Including that you can sword fight,' Indy said. 'It looks old. That crucifix on the handle looks like it was welded in the old-fashioned way – over a hot flame. Can I take a look at it?' He held a hand out for it.

Marion smiled. 'Maybe some day, but not now.' As much as she knew he wanted to, Indy couldn't hear about this yet.

'If I said please?' he tried.

Marion laughed. 'You're like a little kid, Jones. Learn some patience.'

~NQM~

Kamau and Adeola Kawar sat on opposite sides of a pentagram. In between of them and at the centre of the symbol was an image, in a small washbasin, of Marion Ravenwood and Indiana Jones walking towards the American archaeological camp. Kamau waved his hand over the basin. The image changed to a map of El Jawf. A white light glowed on a building near where Marion had fought.

A black woman came in, her burga down around her shoulders. She joined them in the circle. 'It appears Marion has given us access to the Shiyan.' She spoke Arabic, as did her husband and daughter.

'When will her father and Dr. Jones be arriving, mama?' Adeola asked.

'About eight o'clock tomorrow morning,' Chinaza Kawar said. 'We'd best attack the Shiyan now.'

'Hm.' Kamau stood up.

'I think I already like this Jones fellow.' Adeola also stood up. 'He was rather impressed with Marion's swordplay rather than the usual reaction.'

Chinaza also stood up. 'Very good. I do hate men who take a powerful and independent woman as an offence to their masculinity.'

Adeola raised her hand to her lips and giggled. 'In that case, mama, you live in the wrong country.'

~NQM~

Once Marion went into her tent, Indy went back to the main tent. He opened the door and walked in. Abner glanced up before returning his eyes to his work.

'Did you find her?'

'Yeah,' Indy said. 'She's back in her tent. Apparently, she lost track of time.'

Abner scowled at the documents. 'She picked a hell of a night to do so.' It almost sounded like he thought she'd done it on purpose.

Indy considered telling Abner about the sword. His attitude stopped him though. Far be it for Indiana Jones to assume anyone was an infallible human being but that was the way Abner had always seemed to him…until now. And it was only Marion's opinions of her father too, but it was enough to tell him there was a lot of himself that Abner never let people see.

'Did anything happen?' Abner asked.

Indy made his decision. 'No.'