Chapter Two
As she sat filling out forms on the new patient she’d just admitted, she realized that the other nurses around her had stopped talking. Looking up, she saw that they were staring across the counter, seeing looks of mild fear on their faces. Her eyes followed their gaze and somehow she wasn’t surprised to see him standing there.
She stood and walked around the nurses station, standing right in front of him, looking up at him.
“Can I help you?” she asked calmly.
Nafad looked down at the little woman and then looked at the other nurses. None had moved from behind the counter, as if that could save them should he have any notion of harming them.
Looking back down at the nurse standing so boldly in front of him, he softly said “Yes…I wish to speak with you.”
She looked at him longer than he felt comfortable with, obviously realizing that she was disturbing him. She’d quickly learned that he wasn’t used to women standing up to him, not being afraid of him.
She then turned and handed the file she’d been working on to one of the other nurses, and turning back to him, said “I’m due for a break…we can walk outside if you wish.”
Nafad nodded to her and said “Yes…thank you.” As they left the building, he admitted “I do not like hospitals…people die in them” remembering that Ardeth had said the same to him the night he’d taken him from the place.
“People die everywhere. Now, what is it you wish to talk to me about…as if I don’t know” she said bluntly.
“I am sorry, but I do need to ask you about this woman, Grace.”
“Why?”
“As you know, she saved my Chieftain’s life…my friend’s life. He feels he must speak with her, to thank her…and he feels she needs him for some reason.”
She looked up at him, a puzzled look on her face, “She needs him? Why would she need him?”
“I do not know. But Ardeth needs to speak with her. He will not be at ease until he does. I assure you no harm will come to her.”
“Nothing you or your friend could do to her could be worse than what she’s already endured, but I’m still not sure I should tell you. Despite how your friend feels, she may not want to talk to him.”
“I understand…but he must try. And I promise you, if she turns him away, he will leave her be.”
She studied him for a minute and then said “Ok…I probably shouldn’t, but I’ll take you at your word and trust you. As he is your friend, she is mine. I hope you don’t make me regret this.”
“If she turns him away, she will never see him again…and I will bother you no more.”
“I didn’t say you were a bother” she said as she continued walking. He could see it was difficult for her, but she did tell him about her friend.
When he walked her back to the hospital door, he bowed to her and thanked her, again assuring her that they would do nothing to upset her friend.
~~***~~
Ardeth and the two warriors followed the doctor from the hospital. He’d assured Nafad that he would be fine by himself, but Nafad insisted that he wouldn’t allow him to go unless he was accompanied by at least two warriors. Nafad agreed to talk to the nurse again and Ardeth said he’d try to talk to the doctor again. He was sure Nafad still didn’t understand his need to talk to the woman, but he also knew that Nafad understood him well enough to know that once he set his mind to something, he could rarely be dissuaded.
Dr. Pierce lived in a nice section of Cairo, not a terribly expensive section, but nice enough that he wouldn’t have to worry about the undesirables of the city bothering him or disturbing his nice life. He lived in a nice neighborhood, worked in a nice hospital, and had probably never seen how most of Cairo’s citizens actually lived. Ardeth knew that most Europeans viewed Egyptians as dirty uneducated sub-humans. Those who were even aware of the Medjai viewed them the same as any other Egyptian. They rarely bothered to get to know them, usually fearing them, so never found out that Medjai were indeed well-educated, decent people, and happened to also be very clean people. Prejudice always seemed to cloud the mind, causing some to be unable to see that despite where and how some lived, they could be very loving, caring people, who valued their family and friends, and their people and country.
Ardeth told his warriors to find a place out of sight to keep an eye on the house. As determined as he was to talk to the doctor and hopefully convince him to provide information about the woman, he did not want to scare the doctor or his family.
“You are determined” Dr. Pierce said when he opened the door. “I don’t suppose you’d just go away if I said I don’t want to talk to you. I already told you I don’t feel comfortable talking about Grace.”
“I was hoping to persuade you otherwise. I assure you I mean her no harm. I mean you and your family no harm.”
The doctor looked at him for a moment, and then feeling that this big warrior whom he was sure could kill him in an instant, probably in a variety of ways, truly meant no harm. And his determination, despite obviously not having completely healed yet and taking the time to track him down and follow him home, now intrigued him.
He backed away from the door a few steps and said “Well, you’re here, so you may as well come on in.”
Ardeth stepped in the door and was surprised to find a very simple, modestly furnished home. He’d never been in such a home and until this moment had thought they were all lavishly furnished, even gaudily so by Medjai standards. He thought that maybe even he had his prejudices.
Mrs. Pierce served them coffee in what he said was his office. She seemed to be a very nice woman, whom he noticed didn’t seem to look down on him. It could be that he had been wrong about the foreigners…some of them anyway.
“As I’m sure you’ve gathered, Grace Adams is very special to us.”
“Yes…she has very good friends…very protective.”
He looked at Ardeth for a moment and then began. “Grace was a nurse at the hospital for some years. Her ex-husband, Richard, is a doctor…and still practices at the hospital. My wife and I became close friends with Grace and Richard over the years. Ten years ago, they had a son, Peter. Five years ago, Grace and Peter were driving home when they were hit by a truck…broadsided. The truck hit on Peter’s side of the car and he was killed instantly. Grace suffered injuries, broken ribs, severe contusions, and several bad cuts and gashes. She was in hospital for two weeks. It took her months to heal, though…I believe because her grief wouldn’t allow her to heal.”
“I do not believe that is a wound that can heal…not truly” Ardeth said sincerely.
“You’re probably right. Richard blamed her for Peter’s death. It wasn’t her fault. It was late afternoon. The truck driver was driving right into the sun, it obscured his vision, and he didn’t see them. But Richard couldn’t deal with his grief and he had to have someone to blame.”
“He blamed her.”
“Yes. He treated her cruelly and then divorced her. When she was finally able to return to work at hospital, he made her life there so miserable she finally just quit.”
“She doesn’t work? How does she live?”
“Her family had money and her father did quite well as an archeologist. She inherited enough to live on for quite some time. She keeps busy, mostly helping the poor.”
“That’s what she was doing in that part of town.”
He nodded. “It worries me…and Alfred…that she’s often there at night. But she frets over some of the older, sick folks. But no matter what she does, it truly hasn’t helped her heal. We’ve watched her deteriorate over the past five years. Deep down she doesn’t believe she has anything to live for. And then as if that wasn’t enough, that she wasn’t tortured enough, she’s contracted cancer. So, now she’s simply waiting to die.”
“You cannot heal this cancer?”
“No…it’s inoperable. I’m estimating she’s got only a couple months left. I try to make her take it easy. She simply wears herself out some days. I sometimes think she’s trying to force her body to the end.”
“She was driving when the accident happened? Why wasn’t their driver with her and her son?” Ardeth ask.
“Alfred was quite ill, pneumonia…he was in hospital, so she and Peter went to the marketplace and were heading back home when it happened. As horrific as it is that Peter died in that accident, if Alfred had driven them to the marketplace, Grace would have been sitting in the passenger front seat, and chances are that Peter would have been in the passenger side back seat. They both could have been killed instead of just Peter. The truck hit the car full on the passenger side. It wasn’t Grace’s or Alfred’s fault, or the truck driver’s. He simply didn’t see them there. But Richard blamed her. He was quite vicious with his anger. And she blames herself.”
“But she didn’t kill her son. It was an accident. She should not blame herself” Ardeth said, though he knew that if it was him, he would also blame himself.
“Yes, but if someone tells you something often enough, beats it into your head, or you tell yourself that something often enough, it becomes real to you. She believes it was her fault. If she just hadn’t gone out that day, he wouldn’t have been there and wouldn’t have died. It isn’t enough that she feels that guilt herself, but Richard pounded it into her so thoroughly that she can’t see that it truly wasn’t her fault. Her guilt is killing her as much as the cancer is. She was once a truly spiritual woman, her faith was very strong. But she’s lost her faith. She simply doesn’t have the will to fight for life anymore.”
~~***~~
Ardeth found a secluded spot to watch her home, staying most of the day. He saw movement within from time to time, but could not see her clearly. Her vehicle was parked in front of the house the entire day.
Then early in the evening when it began to cool down, she came out the back door of the house. He watched as she wandered around the courtyard and used a watering can to water the potted plants. She then walked to where the courtyard opened up facing the river. The house was not directly on the river, but it was only a short walk down to the green grasses and palm trees lining the banks.
Several wooden lounge type chairs sat facing the river and she sat in the middle chair. He thought she did look a bit stiff as she walked and a bit stiffer as she sat in the chair, holding onto the arms as she did. He continued watching her, moving to a new vantage point closer to her, yet where he knew she still could not see him. He could see her beauty, the beauty that once must have radiated from her, beauty that had been stolen from her. Her life had stolen it from her. She was probably about fifteen years older than himself, but she looked older. The sparkle in her eyes and the shine of her hair that he was sure were once there were now gone.
About an hour later, Alfred walked slowly out to where she sat. Ardeth worked his way closer, hoping to hear what they said to each. He didn’t like eavesdropping on them, but thought he might learn more about her. She did intrigue him. She went out of her way to help the poor and sick, she risked her life to save him, a man she’d never seen before, didn’t know, and from what Dr. Pierce had said, had lost her young son and had been treated cruelly and then abandoned by her husband, someone he was sure she must have loved greatly. And she had cancer, a disease that was destroying her body and what was left of her life.
“Come inside now, Grace. I have dinner ready.”
“Just a few more minutes, ok. It really is lovely this evening.”
“That’s what you say every evening. But you haven’t recovered from the other night. You overdid seriously. You need to eat and then go to bed.”
“Yes, father” she said with a grin. “You do worry about me too much, Alfred.”
“I do feel for you as a father would, Grace, and I don’t want to lose you. You must take care of yourself, and if you won’t, I must.”
Grace sighed and again smiled at him “But you will lose me, I’m afraid. And I worry what will happen to you when I leave you alone.”
“Then don’t leave me. Now come on…your dinner is getting cold” he said as he offered her his hand to help her up.
Ardeth watched as they went inside and then left. He knew what he would do and knew he’d have to explain it to Nafad. He also knew that Nafad would disagree, but he’d have to convince him that he had to follow his heart in this.
~~***~~
Late into the night, he snuck into her home, feeling bad for doing so, but knew she would never know he was there unless he wished her to. He had to learn as much about her as he could before actually introducing himself. It was sparsely furnished, though he could see from the marks on the floor and the walls that it had once been fully furnished. He wondered if her husband had taken some of the furnishings. He found she had very little in the pantry. Maybe her illness made it difficult to eat much or she simply had no appetite. He’d seen that in the old and ill of his people.
He listened for some time before making his way up the stairs. He looked in the half dozen rooms along the hallway, again finding few furnishings. He found Alfred asleep in the room immediately at the top of the stairs. He stood for some time in what had obviously been the boy’s room, seeing that it was obviously as it had been when the boy lived. The room was still fully furnished, now a heavy layer of dust covering almost everything.
Slowly, he crept down to the last room, a faint light showing under the door. The door was slightly ajar, so he peeked in, seeing she was asleep in the bed. The faint light came from the bathroom, likely left on in case she needed to get up during the night. He stood off in the shadows around the edge of the room, watching her sleep. She slept fitfully, her gaunt pale face contorting from her nightmare, tears rolling down the sides of her face as she cried in her sleep.
He stood there for some time, how much time he wasn’t sure, no longer truly watching her, simply caught up in his thoughts. He sighed out loud, catching himself, his mind screaming at him for making such a stupid mistake. Only a very young novice would have been so foolish.
Finally, he resolved to wait and speak with her, hoping he would not scare her. But somehow, he didn’t think he would. He silently moved to the big chair near the bed and sat. His body had still not recovered fully and the day’s activities had worn on him a bit. He was tired.
Sometime later, she dreamed that she could hear a man’s soft snoring, a deep steady breathing. But she hadn’t heard that sound since Richard left her. When had he left her, she couldn’t seem to remember now. The sound was unmistakable, but she couldn’t make it fit into her dream. Or was she dreaming – she couldn’t remember that either now.
Slowly opening her eyes, forcing herself to wake as she couldn’t seem to focus on the dream she must be having, she could still hear the sound. It was a soothing sound. She remembered when things were good with Richard. She loved him sleeping next to her, feeling safe with him there, hearing his breathing, his snoring. But she knew it couldn’t be him there with her now. He’d left her, hated her, and the thought of his hatred and anger for her now forced her to wake.
She lay there in the semi-dark for a few moments trying to focus, trying to think. Still she heard the soft snoring, sure it was a man, but somehow was sure it was not Alfred. No other man had been here in her bedroom since Richard left. When Alfred felt the need to enter her room, he always knocked and announced himself. Slowly, she scanned the room, at first not seeing anything but alternating phases of light and shadows. She remembered leaving the light on in the bathroom and now the beginning of dawn lighting parts of the room as it pushed the night’s darkness away. And there were still shadows throughout the room. She thought there were always shadows in her life, the dark places that never seemed to accept the light. As her eyes filled with tears, her gaze passed the chair and she realized it was different. And then she realized the sound came from the chair.
She thought she should be afraid, but she wasn’t. Somehow she knew if whoever was there sleeping in her chair had meant to harm or kill her, he would have already done so. She watched the figure as it now appeared to her, her focus now clearing. She could see a dark form, dark hair, dark clothing. It confused her that his face also seemed dark, but not really. She watched him for a few minutes and as the dawn continued pushing the night away, she gradually saw him. As she realized who he was, a soft gasp escaped her. She had asked about him the day after she left him at the hospital and Jeffrey had said he’d made it through the night just fine and was taken from the hospital by his men that morning. He’d have preferred the warrior stay a few days in case infection set in. But he could only hope that his people’s healers could tend his wound and prevent infection.
She sighed again as she thought that she was glad he’d lived and was obviously doing well, well enough anyway to break into her home and find his way into her bedroom. She wondered how long he’d been there, asleep in her chair.
Then seeing his eyes open, she did smile, just a little smile “You’re awake. I’m glad you’re ok” she said softly.
“I am sorry if I’ve scared you” mentally chastising himself for falling asleep, but realizing that he obviously felt at ease with this woman and in her home, as normally he slept lightly.
“You haven’t. I was dreaming that I heard someone snoring.”
“I’ve disturbed your sleep…I am sorry” he said as he stood. “I did not mean to disturb you. I simply wanted to see that you were…”
“Alive? I guess I did look a bit scary that night. I was just tired” she said as she sat up and reached for the robe across the foot of the bed.
“You looked fine, and I wanted to thank you for saving my life. But you should not have risked your life for mine.”
“It seemed a good enough trade if it had come to that. But it didn’t. You are obviously fine. You are, aren’t you?”
“Yes…” though he knew he was still a ways from healing completely, his shoulder still stiff and sore, his body still growing tired sooner than it should.
“And I am fine” she said, but he could see she thought better of the statement, though she didn’t correct herself.
They stared at each other for a few moments, and then he said “I am sorry…”
“You need to stop saying that…you have nothing to be sorry for.”
“Yes, I do…I have intruded into your home but have not introduced myself.”
“I was just going to ask…it does seem proper to introduce yourself when you sneak into a woman’s house and into her bedroom.”
“Yes…I am Ardeth Bay, Chieftain of the Twelve Tribes of the Medjai. I do appreciate your saving my life, and if there is anything I can do for you, please ask it of me.”
She did smile now as she slowly eased her legs off the bed and stood. He noticed she did steady herself against the bed as she stood.
Offering her hand, she said “I’m sure you already know this, but I am Grace Adams, and I am happy to finally meet you, Ardeth. Please call me Grace.”
“Yes…and it is nice to meet you…Grace” he said hesitantly. He was sure she caught the hesitation in his voice. It was not customary or appropriate to be so familiar with a woman who was not your wife or relative. But then he thought it was not appropriate to be in a woman’s bedroom either.
“I guess you convinced Jeffrey to tell you who I was and where I live. He’s very protective of me, so you must have been convincing. He must trust you.”
“I hope he does, but he was not easy to convince.”
Then hooking her arm in his, “Come on downstairs…I’ll bet Alfred already has coffee brewing, and we’ll scare up something to eat.” It amazed her that she felt safe with this man she didn’t know, this man who had crept into her home in the middle of the night. She liked him and somehow felt as if they were already friends. She knew it was something she’d felt that night when she’d touched him.
As they made their way downstairs, he asked “I do not mean to be disrespectful, but why do you have so few furnishings. This is a big house, but…”
“Richard took the rest when he left. The house belonged to my grandparents and then my parents. Otherwise, he’d probably have kicked me out on the street with nothing. He was so angry…” she said, her voice quivering. “But Alfred and I have enough.”
“Alfred is your driver?”
“He’s my dear friend. He was more Richard’s butler, and driver, before…” she hesitated and he could see her body stiffen a bit. “He opted to stay with me when Richard left. He fusses over me so.”
“Well, someone has to…” Alfred said as he looked out the kitchen door. He’d obviously heard them talking and from the look on his face was concerned about who might be there that early in the morning. “You!” he said, just a bit of shock in his voice, as he saw who was with her.
“Yes…I am sorry it is so early.”
“You really must stop apologizing for every little thing” she said, and then patting his arm, quipped “But your mother should be proud…you are very polite and considerate. She raised you well.”
“My mother would have been happy to hear that. She often said I was slow to learn such things.”
“Yes, I can imagine you were quite a handful when you were little.”
The three sat and talked as they ate.
“So tell us…what does a Chieftain of the Twelve Tribes of the Medjai do? You must lead an exciting life” she asked, and though he could see her inquiry was sincere, he wasn’t quite sure what to say. No one had ever asked him to explain his life before.
~~***~~
“As much as I enjoy your company, you know you don’t have to come by everyday. I’m sure you have better things to do with your time than visiting with an old woman. People are probably talking.”
“You are not so old…” he started. He would never ignore his duties, and he did realize that Nafad didn’t fully understand his need to spend time with this woman, that a simple ‘thank you’ should have been enough. But he felt compelled to see her each day, knowing her days were short, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the evening. Some days he spent a few hours, but others he was there most of the day, enjoying her company until the hours got away from him.
“Old enough to be your mother…”
He thought for a moment and then said “Yes…my mother would be about your age. I think you two would have liked each other.”
“I’m sure you’re right…but you’re ignoring me. I’m sure you have duties or other more important things to be doing every day.”
“I am not ignoring my duties, and I enjoy spending time with you…”
“And you know I have relatively little time left. But as much as I do enjoy your company, I don’t want to monopolize your time.”
“Well, I am here now, and Alfred said he had errands to run, so we will spend the afternoon together” he said flatly, giving her no room to argue.
“Ok…I was going to tell you something anyway. Actually, I was going to give you something, but I can’t find it. The basement is full of boxes and crates my father hadn’t dealt with before he died. I know there were a few boxes of things that you might be interested in” she said as she moved up in front of him. “I remembered there being something similar to this” she said as she touched his amulet.
“Oh?”
“Yes, my father had digs all over the place and he often brought things home. He also kept journals on all his digs…as I’m sure every archeologist does. But I looked through every box and crate down there after you left yesterday and I can’t find those boxes. I’m thinking that Richard took them. Several other boxes are missing also…and as you’ve already noticed, half the furnishings from this old house.”
Ardeth found that he enjoyed talking to her. She was quite easy to talk to. He’d never known a woman, other than Ani, though she was just a girl when she was taken from him, who was so totally unimpressed with him, the Chieftain, only interested in him as a friend. He often thought of Ani and missed her and wished she was there with him. Grace had said she knew he was special, but she didn’t ooh and aah over him, didn’t giggle like even some of the older women of his tribe did, and didn’t want anything from him, except his friendship. And most importantly, he didn’t scare her as he did a lot of women. They took his dark looks and demeanor, and especially his tattoos, as menacing. Ani had often said she looked forward to him getting tattoos. He now had many for someone his age, but sadly she’d never seen any of them.
One day, as they walked out to the river, he risked upsetting her and said “Grace…you have not spoken of your son. I do not mean to upset you, but I want you to know that if you ever wish to talk about him, I am here.” He knew it was possible that she would tell him to leave her alone and never come back. But Dr. Pierce had said she never spoke of Peter and he felt it would help her if she did. He felt she needed to let herself release her grief and let someone help her. She had internalized it for so long, he was sure it was killing her as surely as the cancer was.
Instead, she sighed heavily, and finding a shady place under a small grove of palms, sat, patting the ground next to her, inviting him to sit with her.
“I cannot say I understand how you feel…I have never lost a child. I have lost my father and my mother, but I know that is not the same. But I do not believe that Peter’s death was your fault.”
“Jeffrey told you?”
“Yes…but do not blame him. He cares for you very much and he worries about you. He was not easy to persuade to tell me anything about you or where to find you.”
“Why did you feel you had to find me? I didn’t do anything extraordinary. Alfred and I were there and it just seemed to be the right thing to do.”
“You saved my life. And I felt something that night, when you touched my face…that you needed my help as much as I surely needed yours.”
She looked at him, and surprising him, she took his hand. “I don’t think I can” she said with a shaky voice.
They sat for a while, looking at the river, watching as a barge leisurely floated by. He thought that though she hadn’t told him to leave, she wasn’t going to talk to him about her son, about her grief. And he knew it was foolish of him to even think that she would. She had only known him a few weeks and her grief had been buried so deep for so long. How could he expect her to pull all that pain back through herself and relive it openly. It was one thing to know it was there and push it back every day, to feel it slowly eating away at you. Some would say that that is learning to live with it, to function everyday as if you could live with it. But it was quite another to call it forth and allow it to consume you, though he knew that was the only way that it would cease its slow murder of her heart. Then he noticed her grip on his hand tighten just a bit. As her grip continued to tighten, he felt her entire body start to shake, and soon she began to sob.
She cried for some time, years of grief heaving from her body. She leaned against him, and at first he hesitantly wrapped his arm around her, then pulled her close and held her, letting her cry until she could no more.
She stayed there, leaning against him for some time, the sun finally beginning to set, and then softly said “He was such a happy child…a good boy.”
“He had you for a mother…I’m sure he was very happy.”
“Why did he have to die? I don’t understand…”
“I do not believe we are meant to understand such things. It truly was an accident, Grace. It was not your fault, but from what Dr. Pierce told me, it was unavoidable. The truck driver could not see because of the setting sun.”
“It was my fault…I chose to go to the marketplace…”
“You cannot live each day hidden away because something might happen. You were not meant to be hidden away…and neither was Peter. We all live our lives and pray we get through each day. We cannot stop living because of the evils of the world…or the accidents. I do not say these things to upset you. I believe that God put us here on this earth to live the best lives we can, and endure the things that happen to us as we do. And if we believe He is with us, He gives us strength to endure those things.”
“I don’t know anymore…” she said, and then began to shake and cried “Why couldn’t it have been me. I should have been the one to die…not Peter.” She cried again and again he held her, hoping he wasn’t wrong about making her face her grief.
They sat there talking until well after dark, Alfred finally coming out to find them, gently chastising them for letting dinner get cold – again.
“Thank you” Alfred said sincerely as he walked Ardeth to the door that night. He’d watched them as they sat by the river, and realized that Ardeth had done what he and Jeffrey and her other friends had been unable to do.
“I hope she rests easy tonight, and you also, my friend. I hope that I have not made things worse.”
~~***~~
Her body continued to lose its battle with the cancer, but her heart did seem to be more at peace. She actually smiled from time to time.
“Have you ever seen the sunrise at the pyramids?” Ardeth asked one evening as he was leaving.
“No…but you know, you really shouldn’t be spending all your time with me. What about your duties, and your men. What must they think about you spending so much time with me?”
This was a discussion they seemed to have every few days, both accepting it for what it was, each reaffirming their need to spend her last days together.
“They understand that this is something I want to do. I do not neglect my duties, and I have some very good men to assist me. My second can handle things at the village for now, and I have Nafad here with me in Cairo.”
“And they understand they will have you back soon” she said. She could feel she didn’t have too much time left. She stood and moved in front of him, and with a little grin, said “You should go then and get some sleep. You’ll need to be up early if you’re going to take me to see the sunrise at the pyramids.”
“As you wish” he said with a nod.
~~***~~
He came to the house early the next morning, and as Alfred drove them to the pyramids, he explained that where they were going was one of his favorite spots. His father had shown him the perfect place from which to watch as the sun rose, creating a shimmering halo around the pyramids, making them appear painted in gold as they were so many centuries ago.
Feeling his discomfort, she patted his hand and asked “You don’t like cars much, do you?”
“No…I prefer riding a horse…or even a camel.”
“I don’t like them much myself” she sighed.
Alfred waited in the car, dozing, missing the beauty of the sunrise, as they sat in just the right spot. They watched the sunrise without speaking, but he could see that she, too, found it beautiful. For the first time since he’d met her, he saw a sparkle in her eyes and he was sure it was not simply the sun glistening in them, it was her appreciation and awe at the sight. He wondered, but would not ask, if her husband had ever taken her to see anything so amazing, had they shared any such wonderful moments together, but somehow he doubted it. Though he thought that at some point in their lives, her husband must have loved her, as she obviously had him, his abandonment of her showed that his love was obviously painfully shallow.
“That was beautiful, Ardeth…the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen, except the moment Peter was born and I held him in my arms.”
“Yes, as beautiful as this is, it pales in comparison to the birth of a child” he said as if he’d experienced that himself, though he’d only dreamed of it.
As if knowing his thoughts, she said “Tell me about her…your Ani. You’ve mentioned her a few times but you’ve really told me nothing of her.”
“She was taken from me years ago…” he started and then found himself telling her everything about Ani, their youthful flirtation, how he often touched her bright red hair when she and his friends weren’t looking, his friends’ incessant teasing about her, their desire for each other even though they were both truly too young to know what it was they were feeling, the accident with the scorpions and how he’d stayed with her and held her as she suffered the affects of the stings. And then, the worst day of his life when she was sent away. His father had said that true love could not be destroyed and that some day she would come back to him. He understood that his father believed his love for her was true, though everyone else told him that he’d soon forget her, that he was simply intrigued by her as she was so different from them and he was full of her obvious infatuation with him. He knew it was so much more than infatuation. He loved that his father didn’t discourage his love for her, though at the time he didn’t understand how he let them send her away. When he became Chieftain, though, he learned that he also had many difficult decisions to make. He couldn’t always do as he wished, he had to think of his people and his country.
“So why haven’t you gone to find her. It’s obvious you still love her.”
“And I always will…I will not be complete until she is mine. But I have no idea where to even begin to look. Her father remained here after she was sent back to
“As I’m sure some of them do not understand you spending time with me.”
“You are correct, but here I can still perform my duties. And when I return to the village, there will be much to do. The Medjai have many responsibilities. I wish I could just put my life and my people’s needs on hold to find her. But I believe she will come back to me. It is something I have felt in my heart for years. I do not know why, but I know it will be.”
“You do truly love her…I can see it in your eyes” she said. She’d watched him as he’d talked about his Ani, seeing that he became alive and animated, his hands talking along with his voice, his eyes sparkling, his voice purring each time he spoke her name. “I believe you are right…she will come back to you and you will love each other more than anything.”
“Yes…more than life.”
They talked until the sun was high in the sky, Ardeth seeing that she was tiring, though she protested when he suggested they should find Alfred and take her home. She truly had enjoyed the sunrise and he was happy that he’d given her that moment. He wished he could give her more moments of happiness, but he knew he could not. Her life would be cut short, too short.
~~***~~
Only a few days later…
Ardeth woke to Nafad calling his name through the door to his quarters at the compound. He knew it was the middle of the night. If morning was approaching, his internal clock would be slowly waking him.
“Alfred is here. He said you must go back to the house. He fears she is dying.”
A short time later, as he sat on the edge of the bed next to her, holding her hand, she saw tears welling in his eyes.
“We knew this was coming, Ardeth…but I must admit, I did think I’d be around for a little while longer.”
“I do not know what to say. I will miss you, Grace, more than I could ever find the words to tell you. I have enjoyed our visits.”
“You said that just fine, dear.” She pulled something from the pocket of her robe and handed it to him. “I want you to have this…so you won’t forget me.”
“I will never forget you, my friend” he said as he looked at the object. It was a cameo on a fine gold chain. With shaky hands, he opened it and saw that on one side was a small picture of her, and on the other a small picture of a young boy of about five.
“Peter…” he said softly.
“Yes…my sweet baby.”
“I cannot take this, Grace…”
“Please…I want you to have it. And I want to ask you to do something for me.”
“Anything you wish.”
“Help Alfred. He and I have had many talks about this, but I don’t know how he’ll do once I’m gone. He’s spent so many years taking care of me, and he has no family. I’ve arranged for the house and everything in it to go to him. It’s been his home as much as mine.”
“Grace…”
“No, please, listen to me. There are things in the basement…the rest of the things my father collected. I know Richard must have those boxes I had thought to give to you. But I need you to help Alfred go through what’s there and figure out what to do with it all. He thinks it should go to the museum…and it probably should.”
Seeing that she was firm on discussing her final wishes, he asked “Does Alfred have enough money to live on? Maybe we should sell what we can…”
“No...there’s plenty of money in the bank, and he’s been on the account since Richard left me. He does worry about what will happen when he’s gone. The house has been in my family for a long time. But I think once we’re both gone, it won’t matter anymore. Maybe you can help him make some arrangements.”
Though he tried not to show it, he was relieved when Dr. Pierce came and gave her something for the pain. He’d watched her trying not to show the pain racking her body as they talked, but the frequent hard squeezing of his hand told him.
They all three sat with her the rest of the night, only Ardeth remaining awake as the end neared.
“Thank you, Ardeth” she whispered with her last breath, a look of peace on her face. He hoped she had finally found peace.
He sat there until dawn, holding her hand, tears streaming down his face.
~~***~~
Terrified and unable to move, Dr. Richard Adams stood stone still at seeing the big dark man come out of the shadows in his study. Unlike Dr. Pierce’s modest home, Dr. Adam’s was big and gaudily furnished. Ardeth had no problem finding places in which to conceal himself while making his way through the big house in search of just the right place to confront the man.
“Who…who are you and…and what do you want?” his shaky voice sputtered.
“I am Ardeth Bay, Chieftain of the Twelve Tribes of the Medjai…and friend to Grace Adams. I will not harm you…not because I do not wish to relieve the world of your miserable presence, but because Grace would not want me to harm you.”
“Then…why…”
“To tell you that Grace is dead…and to tell you that though you tried with all your hate and anger to destroy her life…and almost succeeded…you did not, in fact, succeed. You took many years from her, when she was in pain and her heart was broken, when she needed your love. But you did not take her last weeks from her. She found peace and she is with Peter now. The accident that took him could not have been prevented, but your treatment of her could have been and was not necessary. You are a reprehensible being, and if you don’t release your anger and hatred, you will destroy the family you now have.”
Richard Adams hadn’t moved the entire time Ardeth spoke, listening intently, believing this man would indeed kill him once he was finished. But when he simply turned to leave through the French doors on the back wall of the room, Adams called out “Wait…” but watched as he ignored him and stepped out the door and into the night.
~~***~~
Ani hugged him a little tighter as they sat there, the memories of Grace bringing tears to his eyes.
“That’s what’s sewn in the lining of your chest, isn’t it? Her cameo” she said softly.
“Yes, Little One. I haven’t thought about it…I guess since Alana sewed it in there. She knew it was important to me, but she didn’t want it to be a constant reminder either.” Ani got off his lap and went to his chest, pulling the fabric loose enough to retrieve the cameo. She took it back to him and got back on his lap.
Ardeth opened the cameo and smiled, then handed it to Ani.
“She was beautiful, Ardeth…and that’s her little boy?”
“Yes. She never got over his death. And obviously neither did her husband…ex-husband. I wonder why his son would come all the way out here. Rashid said he had something to give me…probably the things his father took from her when he left her. But he could have just sent them” he wondered out loud.
“Well, I guess we’ll see. When is he coming?”
“Soon, I think. I’ll radio Armad today and see if he knows.”
Ani looked at the cameo again and said “This should not stay hidden away any longer. We’ll find just the right place for it.”
Ardeth looked down at her, a puzzled look on his face. “If you knew something was sewn in the lining of my chest, why haven’t you ever asked about it…or taken it from the chest? You weren’t curious?”
“I was…when I noticed it there. But I figured that whatever it was, you put it there for a reason and you’d tell me about it when you wanted. And then I guess I forgot about it, too. It’s sad that in a way we both forgot about her.”
“Yes…but obviously her ex-husband never did.”
“Grace wouldn’t have wanted you to continue grieving for her as she did for her son, so maybe God helped you forget for a time.”
Ani moved on him, straddling him, and took his face in her hands, caressing him. “You made her final days pleasant and gave her peace, sweetie. You couldn’t change what happened to her anymore than she could have prevented what happened to her son.”
He rolled her onto her back and laid on her, kissing her lips softly and then her forehead and cheeks before moving down her neck, kissing and nibbling.
“It’s late, sweetie…you don’t want to get up and go for your walk?”
“No…I want to stay right here” he sighed as he moved down to her breasts, his hand and his lips caressing and suckling until she moaned and wiggled underneath him. He wedged himself between her legs, groaning as he sank deeply inside her, the feeling of her body accepting him, caressing him, her strong muscles grasping him overwhelming his senses. She pulled her legs up around him as be began to thrust and moved with him, their bodies becoming one. As he felt her orgasm nearing, he thrust faster and deeper until his warm fluids exploded inside her.
He rested on her, soothed by her messaging his back, and thought again of Grace. She felt his warm tears on her skin and knew he would never forget his friend Grace. He hadn’t truly forgotten her all these years. He’d simply cradled her away in heart. She was at peace and now maybe he was finally at peace with her death.
“She’s at peace, my love…” she whispered as she felt him relax on her.
~~***~~
“He’s here” Kalil said as he caught up to his father.
“I expected him days ago.”
“I know. He said it took him a few extra days to adjust to the heat. He’s been living in the states for the past eight years. Armad sent a detail with him. They’re all settled and he’s in the guest house.”
“I’ll see him in my tent when he’s ready…” Ardeth said and then realized he didn’t have a tent anymore. Noticing the look on Kalil’s face, he said “You know what I mean.”
“Yes, it is a bit difficult to get used to. Becca seems to have adjusted nicely, but then she’s so busy with Nabil she really hasn’t spent much time fussing around the place.”
“I was going to go by and see Daya later. Your mother helped her get her house in order.”
“Yes…she’s getting so big she can hardly move, and she’s still got six weeks left” Kalil laughed.
~~***~~
Ardeth stood as Kalil led the man into the house and noticed the look on his face when he saw how much they looked alike, looking back and forth between them. They each carried two boxes and set them down by the door.
After introducing them, Kalil nodded to his father and then to Isaac Adams, “I’ll leave you two to talk…I have novice training this afternoon.”
“Come…sit” Ardeth said motioning to the two chairs Rick had sent him.
Isaac looked around the modest home and then focused on the weapons on the wall behind the chairs.
“These are impressive.”
“Only when being used in battle…” Ardeth quipped.
“Have you…used them in battle?” he asked and Ardeth could tell from the tone in his voice that he was curious, and impressed.
“Some…some were my father’s and my grandfather’s. They used them in battle. Some have been in my family for centuries.”
“Centuries!”
“Yes…we are not a people of war, but sometimes it is necessary. These weapons are quickly becoming obsolete in this age of weapons that can spew hundreds of rounds with the press of a trigger. It is not honorable…but unfortunately, it is the way of things now.”
They both rose as Ani came in with a tray of coffee and bread and cheese. “Just a little snack while you talk…” she said as she set it on the table between the chairs.
Ardeth moved next to Ani and said “Ani…this is Isaac Adams, the man I told you about.” And then looking at Isaac said, “Mr. Adams…my wife, Ani Bay.”
Isaac held out his hand, and Ardeth realized that he’d noticed that men tended to nod respectfully in greeting, but since Ani was obviously not Egyptian, he was assuming that his western customs were in order. He hesitated when Ani looked up at Ardeth, and only when he nodded to her did she extend her hand to him.
“I’m sorry…I’m not familiar with your customs. I assumed…”
“That’s ok, Mr. Adams” Ani said. “Help yourselves…” she said nodding to the tray, and then “I’ll leave you to talk.” To Ardeth she said “I’m going to check on Daya.”
Ardeth nodded to her, his eyes sparkling as he did, and she was sure if he could hold her in his arms at this moment, she would feel a low deep growl rumbling through him.
They sat and talked and ate. Ardeth found he was much surprised by the man. He didn’t seem to hold any animosity towards Grace or him for anything that had occurred those many years ago or for how his father had obviously suffered at the loss of his first son. He looked much like his father, tall, sandy colored hair, blue eyes that slanted just a bit. But he didn’t seem anything like his father.
“My father asked that I find a way to return your things. He took them from his first wife out of spite, but later regretted it. I believe he regretted many things.”
They looked through the boxes he and Kalil had brought into the house.
“I didn’t know how to find you, so I went to the museum. I figured if they didn’t know who you were, they might take the things. I was worried, though, about leaving them there since father had asked that you get them. I was grateful to find that Martuf was a friend of yours. He said these things were of your family.”
Looking through the things, Ardeth agreed. “Yes, Grace had said her father had a dig at what was once a village, presumably a Medjai village. My family has led the Medjai since the time of the pharaohs.”
“Wow! Centuries.”
“Yes.”
“This amulet” he said, pulling something from the box in front of him, “is similar to the one you wear, but not exactly the same.”
“Yes” he said remembering that Grace had said she couldn’t find some things, things she thought he might be interested in. She, too, had recognized the symbol he wore.
“It belonged to an uncle…this little swirl indicates it was someone who was not in line to be chieftain, but he was obviously a beloved relative.”
“And I believe from what he said that father recognized your amulet when you came to see him…to confront him about her…Grace. He knew he had things that belonged to you, but he couldn’t bring himself to tell you or give the things back. He was so angry. When I was very young, I knew he was sad about something, but he would never talk about it. Then when I was old enough he told me he’d had another son, who died. But he didn’t explain everything until he was dying.”
“I am sorry for you, and your father” Ardeth said sincerely.
“Thank you” he said and then pulled something else from the box. “This journal…Grace’s father’s…has notes about that dig…and drawings” he said as he handed it to Ardeth.
“I appreciate you bringing these things to me. I hope your father found peace with himself.”
“I think he did. He was angry for so long and when he realized that his anger was destroying him, he wanted to take it all back. But then it was too late.”
“It is never too late, Isaac. I wish your father had contacted me later…when he realized he couldn’t hold onto his anger.”
“You aren’t what I expected” Isaac said.
“Oh? What were you expecting?”
“I don’t know, actually. Father said you were big and mean, and actually quite heathen. He thought you loved Grace and blamed him for her death. He could tell you wanted to hurt him.”
“I did blame him. He abandoned her when she needed him most. And I guess in a way, I did love her. She saved my life once and she was a good friend. I hope I was as good a friend to her.”
Ardeth smiled at Ani as she came back in. She’d heard what he’d said and knew that in some way, he probably had loved Grace. It wasn’t the same as their love, but she knew he couldn’t help himself. In such a relatively short time, he and Grace had spent a lifetime together, becoming friends, each saving the other’s life in a sense. And she knew in her heart that Grace had found peace, in his friendship and in her life.
She went into their bedchamber and when she came back out, she handed Ardeth the cameo.
“This is all I have of her and her son…your brother” Ardeth said as he handed the cameo to Isaac.
“My brother…” he said softly as he looked at both pictures. “She was beautiful…and he had father’s eyes.”
Isaac stared at the pictures for several minutes. When he finally looked up at Ardeth, Ardeth knew what he wanted, possibly what he needed, and then said, “You may keep it if you wish. They are your family.” Ardeth remembered what Ani said earlier about finding a place for the cameo, and he thought that leaving it with Isaac was a good place, an appropriate place.
“Yes…I have no family left. Mother passed away when I was in medical school.” With tears in his eyes, he said “It’s a horrible thing that he died…my brother…and to know that it’s only because he did that I’m alive.”
Not knowing what to say to that, Ardeth simply said “As long as there are Medjai, you will have family. You are welcome here as long as you want, whenever you want.”
Ani smiled lovingly at Ardeth and he knew she agreed, as he was sure Grace would.
“Thank you. I was thinking of staying in Cairo. I’ve been living in the states, but I never felt right there. Father wanted me to open a practice there, away from here. But I always had a feeling I needed to return to
“Then you should stay. We have friends in Cairo who can help you get settled.”
“That would be nice. I have father’s house and I thought I’d inquire at the hospital about a job. Maybe I’ll find peace here, too.”
“Yes…I believe you will” Ardeth said, and then “Let’s walk.”
The End