Ch. 8~ Magic Carpet
"-I'll have you know," Jeweli waved her finger at Jon. Ardeth had been trying to start a conversation with the woman who, because of lack of space, had been akwardly half sitting on his lap for the last two hours. He had complemented her on her excellent marksmenship at the museum, which led her cousin in-law to question her. Apparently, she'd never shot around him. And this led her to go on a tirade of all the times she went hunting when money was tight.
"Jonathan, I'd shut up now, if I were you," Rick counsiled. "Besides, we're here."
The two men in front got out, followed by Evie in the back, "This is your Magic Carpet?"
"Believe me, this guy's a professional. Jewels?" he held his arms out to help her out of the car without making the Madji anymore uncomfortable. "Jonathan, get our bags."
"Oh, my hands are full." All he had was that stupid gold rod, which Rick snatched away from his.
"Now."
"I got it, Rick." Jeweli told him, her arms already full.
"Jonathan, help the girl out. Anyway, he's a good buddy of mine."
Ardeth tried to take some of the bags from her, "Please, let me help. You should not have to carry all of these."
"I'm fine. Jon's helping. Besides, you've got Horus to look after." The large grey falcon turned his head when she said his name. "Yeah, I was talking about you." Jeweli reached up and started rubbing his soft breast. Sure enough, Jon skulked over to grab a few bags.
"'Jonathan do this,' 'Jonathan do that.' Really, you'd think I was a pack mule."
"Oh, you're not? I'm sorry," Jeweli grinned. "Y'know, the resemblance is scary. What with all the braying he does and such," she joked to Ardeth, who laughed...actually laughed.
"Oh, yeah, laugh at the jackass. I get it." The other man griped as he hoisted the bags up.
Suddenly, a man in an aviator cap and eyepatch came through the entrance of the Magic Carpet. "Izzy!" Rick called. But the man saw him and ran back inside, locking the door. "Hey!"
"He definantly remembers you." Evie said.
"He's a little shy." Rick pulled out his gun and shot the lock.
"Honey, you're not a subtle man."
"We don't have time for subtle." He kicked in the door and went in, the others trailing behind. "Hey, Izzy, c'mere."
"He doesn't look happy to see you."
"Well, he's never turned me down before."
"You sure about this, cuz?"
"Whatever it is, whatever you want, O'Connell, I don't care! Everytime I hook up with you, I end up getting shot! Last time, I got shot in the ass. I'm in mourning for my ass."
"Oh, this is gonna be good," Jeweli shook her head. When she turned back to Ardeth, he wasn't there. "Jon, did you see where Ardeth went?"
"Probably to go talk to his Madji friends." Then he too walked away.
"Right."
"-You can shave my head, wax my legs, and use me for a surfboard." Izzy stated, leaving the young woman confused. "Just give me that golden rod there." And Rick did. Oh, Jon was ganna be so pissed.
"Didn't we do that in Tripili?"
"Oh, good Lord." Jeweli facepalmed, trying to get the image out of her head.
Izzy heard her, noticing only pretty eyes behind a veil and a nice figure under her robes. He sidled up to her. "And who might this lovely Nile gem be?" he raised her hand to his lips.
She gave him a coy look, then grabbed his hand and twisted it behind his back, forcing him to the sand. "Izzy, meet Jeweli, my cousin."
\She pulled her veil down. "Howdy. Nice guess with the gem part. However, flattery gets you nowhere with a girl with brains. Especially if she likes guns."
"I'll remember that. I can see the family resemblence, O'Connell."
"Thanks."
Jeweli let the man up, then turned to see Ardeth walking away from a group of men. "The commanders of the twelve Madji tribes," he answered simply to her questioning look.
"Right. How many men to each?"
"It depends on the area. Do not worry, we will have enough men...I hope." The last part was said more to himself. Jeweli put a hand on his arm, smiling gently.
"What d'ya think?" Izzy cuaght their attetion, leading it right to a boat with a giant balloon attatched to it.
"It's a balloon," Rick and Jeweli said at the same time. "Jinx, double jinx-"
"Triple jinx, ha, I win," the woman stuck her tongue out at him.
"Very mature."
"Why, thank you, cuz."
"It's a darigable."
"What happened to your airplane?"
Izzy scoffed, "Planes are a thing of the past."
"Izzy, you were right."
"I was?"
"Yeah, you're gonna get shot." Rick pulled out his gun.
"Whoa, whooooa. She's faster than she looks, and she's quiet. By the sound of it, that's what you need. Unless we go with your way. Kicking in the front door, going in, guns blazing, and getting your friends shot in the ass."
Rick shrugged and put his gun away. The Madji shook his head. "Why can't you people ever keep your feet on the ground?"
Jeweli laughed. "Scared of hights there, mister Cool and Calm?" She walked away and got on the aircraft.