Chapter 23

Alex threw all he could get his hands on at the impending creatures that struggled over the edge of the dirigible.  Sometimes they were lucky, and the Medjai, swinging on the ropes below, would dispatch the Anubis warriors before they could make it into the dirigible.  There were more Anubis warriors than Medjai, however, and the slapping of clawed hands on the edges of the dirigible became more numerous.

"Looks like this is it, kid!" cried Izzy.   He brandished a short plank of wood, slamming down on the claws of the Anubis warriors ineffectually. 

"I'm nine!" cried the boy in return.  "I am TOO young to DIE!"

"Tell it to THEM!" shouted Izzy, pointing at the muzzle of a monster as it slavered and peeked over the side of the ship.

A strange thing happened then.  The air grew empty, as if it had been sucked away, then heavy, the pressure of it nearly crushing them, then a huge wave of light blasted through them from the direction of El Amarna.

Alex was blown over sideways, and the little boy tumbled on the deck, grabbing for all he could and holding on for dear life.

"What's going on?!" he shrieked, eyes clamped shut.

"I dunno!" wailed Izzy over the roar of air.

As quickly as the disturbance struck them, it swept away, leaving the desert still and silent.

The little boy had seen plenty of strange things in his short life, most of them at temples while he was on digs with his mother.  This seemed to be yet another, and with a deep, dusty breath, he thanked God that he was allowed to be alive, at least for a little bit longer.

A familiar, excited howl pierced his ears, and looking up, Alex saw Izzy dancing on the deck.  He didn't get to ask the funny dark man whether this meant that they had won.  He would have been drowned out by the great, hollering roar of the victorious Medjai Warriors below them.  Slowly, carefully, he pulled himself to his feet shakily, and looked out of the craft.

There was no sign of the Anubis Warriors that had choked up the landscape.  All that could be seen was dancing and cheering men in black robes, waving their gleaming swords about triumphantly, thanking Allah with beautiful chanting prayers and hugging each other for all they were worth.

With a tiny smile, Alex looked to Izzy. "Maybe this means everyone's okay?"

Izzy took gulping breaths from all his dancing and quietness took him.  He nodded.

"Yeah.  Maybe."

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Hello From Sunny Hamunaptra – Chapter 24