Chapter Two
“I thought we were looking for gazelle and…that other thing you mentioned the other day?” Jeffrey asked.
“Didn’t see any signs…we’re just going wherever Ardeth feels like riding. And don’t be surprised if he just takes off…” Rick started.
“Takes off? You mean leaves us out here?”
“Well, Nafad’s here…and the guys are here” he said looking back at the warriors following. “And I could get us back to the village from here. But yes, sometimes he just has to ride fast. He’ll let Sharak run until she doesn’t want to run anymore, and then he’ll wait for us.”
Ardeth and Nafad had been riding a bit ahead of them, and were now stopped, obviously staring at something. When Rick and Jeffrey caught up to them, Rick asked “What’s up?”
“Someone out there” Nafad said.
“Where…I don’t see anything” Jeffrey said, trying hard to see what or who they were looking at.
Rick concentrated for a minute and then said “Straight out…squint just a tad and then relax your eyes…you’ll see ‘em. There’s what, four, maybe five?” At that distance, and with the shimmering of the sun on the sand and the unevenness of the terrain, Rick knew it was difficult for Jeffrey to see what they were seeing. He was not accustomed to affects the desert and the sun could play on one’s eyes.
“Yes…” Ardeth said. He watched for several minutes, and then hearing Jeffrey finally acknowledging that he could see them, he said “Let’s go.”
“What if they’re…” Jeffrey started, but then thought that surely Ardeth would not walk them into trouble.
As they rode and could see the travelers better, Ardeth explained “They are Maasai. They are a noble people, mostly herdsmen now, but they are strong and fierce in battle. They do not often venture from their homelands.”
“Where’s that?” Jeffrey asked. He really hadn’t thought much about Africa being such a huge place, with many countries and cultures.
“Most are from
“So, what else?”
“I was just thinking. My grandfather was friends with a Maasai chieftain many years ago. They fought together in battle and became good friends. They swore an oath of brotherhood that my family is bound to uphold.”
“So, you’re saying that whatever these guys are here for, we’ll help them. What if it’s something you don’t want to help them with?” Rick asked.
“An oath must be honored” Nafad said bluntly.
“We will see what they need and see if we can help them. Sometimes you help people in the way they wish, sometimes you help them in other ways” Ardeth said, never taking his eyes off the men they approached.
As they saw the riders approach, the Maasai stopped and set what they were carrying down on the ground. From their gentle manner with their cargo, Ardeth could see it was obviously an injured man.
Jeffrey looked back at the detail of warriors who’d accompanied them and saw that they had moved from their usual formation, fanned out riding side by side, into a column.
“Why have the warriors done that?” he asked Rick as he still looked back at the men.
“A little gesture from Nafad. Once he saw that our guests there were no threat, he didn’t want them to feel threatened. It’s a bit scary to have a bunch of warriors riding up on you like they’re going to surround you and possibly massacre you. This way, they could see that we don’t plan on attacking them.”
As they neared the Maasai, the four big warriors stood around their injured man, obviously non-threatening as they could not possibly win a battle against the number of warriors approaching, and yet boldly, showing their strength and fearlessness. Ardeth was sure they recognized them as Medjai, but it had been many years since their peoples had had any contact, so he was also sure they would remain a bit skeptical until he managed to convince them that they were among friends. He hoped that their peoples were still friends. Ardeth dismounted and boldly walked up to them, knowing his sureness and show of strength and power had to match their own, but suddenly feeling quite short for all his 6’2” as the Maasai were all most assuredly close to seven feet tall. In their traditional red attire, they seemed even more imposing. He realized that somehow they were the red in Ani’s dream.
Ardeth and their leader seemed to converse easily, their demeanor softening a bit, but only a bit.
“Now how would he know their language…if they’re from
“He knows several languages” Nafad said. “It has been many years I’m sure since he had to speak Maa, but he tends to remember these things easily when he needs to. With an oath to possibly someday honor, his father and grandfather would have insisted he be at least functional in the language.”
“So Kalil probably knows Maa?”
“Yes…some. He has never had the opportunity to converse with Maasai, so he may be only barely functional.”
“Well, he might get a chance to practice now” Rick quipped. He was sure from the looks of it that they would be helping these big warriors…at least back to the village so their injured man could be treated.
Ardeth knelt down next to the injured man and inspected his injuries, and then said something to their leader before speaking to Nafad. Nafad turned to the detail and began bellowing orders. Jeffrey was amazed at the way the warriors snapped into action.
Seeing that they had little with them, and knowing that hunting would have been poor in the stretch of desert they’d come through, Nafad brought them food and water. As soon as the injured man had been tended, his wounds bound with fresh bandages, and tightly so for the remainder of their trip, they mounted and turned towards home. Jeffrey could see that the Maasai were just a little amazed that warriors so readily offered their mounts, doubling up with other warriors. It was probably not something they were accustomed to in their long trip away from their home – strangers so easily offering assistance.
As they rode, Ardeth remained with the Maasai, as he knew it would make them feel more at ease and he wished to find out more about them and their reason for coming to
“So, they were coming to talk to Ardeth anyway?”
“Well, they were coming to see the chieftain, yes. Their leader, Umbatu…the tall one” Nafad almost chuckled, “…is actually the great nephew of Ardeth’s grandfather’s friend, the Maasai chieftain at the time Ardeth’s grandfather was chieftain. An American sent them a shipment of supplies, and from what they know it made it to Alexandria and was to be trucked down to
“They walked all this way?” Jeffrey asked, astonished that anyone would walk halfway across the continent. He was also wondering why the American hadn’t just had the supplies flown to
“They had a truck, but then it broke down, and it was probably unlikely that they’d find enough gas to get them all the way to Alexandria anyway. They made it across the Limestone Plateau before the truck broke down. Then they walked, and then the one was hurt, fell as they made their way through the Barqa hills. It is very treacherous. Had they known the terrain, they would have traveled around the south and east edges of the plateau. It would have taken longer, though, and again, they would have run out of gas. There is no place to obtain any there.”
“So they carried the poor man” Rick commented. He’d heard about the Maasai, their strength and determination. He knew they would not have left their fellow warrior, anymore than the Medjai would leave one of their own, even though the trip would have been much easier had they left him.
“Yes. Ardeth will learn more and then we’ll radio Nazeer in Alexandria and have him determine if the supplies are still there.”
~<><><><><>~
Ani saw them coming into the village, riding directly towards Fyad’s house, and saw that one of the big men with them was hurt, and looked unconscious. Fyad’s new house was quite large, looking more like a hospital than his old tent had, and it had been large. The entire front three-quarters of the building contained a large chamber he used as his office and waiting area, another large chamber for his surgery, and a huge ward with a couple dozen cots for the injured and ill. The back fourth was his living quarters, with his garden out in the back. She found Fyad, Ardeth, and two of the strangers in the surgery, Fyad inspecting the man’s injury.
“What can I do?” she asked Fyad, glancing up at Ardeth, her attention then quickly turning to the injured man.
The two men standing at the head of the table the man was lying on moved up between her and the table. Ardeth noticed that it didn’t seem to scare her, the look on her face telling him that she was in her doctor mode and was instantly a bit peeved that these men were now keeping her from tending the injured man. She glared up at them, their tall bodies a sea of red in front of her, and her nightmare flashed in her mind’s eye, the realization of it at once bringing her peace as it was not a loved one hurt, bleeding, as she’d feared it would be, but also worry that they would keep her from her duties. She knew Fyad was more than capable of tending the man, but being a doctor was part of who she was and she could not ignore the responsibility that brought with it.
As her emotions toyed with her, she heard Ardeth’s voice, words she didn’t understand, but words that obviously assured the strangers enough that they backed away from her and allowed her to help Fyad.
“This is really bad, Fyad. It’s infected and it doesn’t look like they even attempted to clean it out.”
“Yes, I gave him something for the pain before you came in. Some anyway. He kind of choked it down…wasn’t truly awake. I am hoping he stays out while we do this.”
“They did not have enough water to wash it out properly and stay alive, Little One” Ardeth said softly. “They knew it could mean his death, but there was no other choice.”
“I know, sweetie…it’s just really bad.”
She didn’t see how the Maasai watched her and Fyad, their expressions showing their appreciation for their efforts. And she didn’t see how Ardeth watched her and them.
The wound was a mass of long jagged cuts across the man’s stomach just under the ribs, one cut being very deep. He also had various other cuts and bruises about his body, but none as serious as those across his stomach.
“He did this in the rocks, didn’t he?” she asked, not sure who she was asking. She knew all too well how rock could tear skin in such a nasty, jagged way.
“Yes, Little One…they were coming down one of the passes through the Barqas. It is all shale, very loose. And very steep in places, so it is very difficult to traverse.”
“That’s what? A two…three day walk from there to where you found them? I’m surprised he’s even alive” Fyad said.
“Yes…three days. The Maasai are a very strong people.”
An hour or so into picking rock chips out of the wounds, excising infected and necrotic tissue, Fyad cleaning and stitching the smaller wounds as Ani worked on the worse ones, the man groaned deeply, the look of anguish on his face bringing tears to her eyes, and then before any of them knew what was happening, his hand flew up and grabbed Ani’s arm just above her wrist. His pain-filled grasp was so strong, she thought her arm would break. She tried to wrench herself free of his grasp, but as she pulled, his grip on her grew stronger. As she screeched in pain, she saw one of the big Maasai, a huge knife suddenly in his hand, begin a high swing of his arm, the knife aimed down at the injured man. She knew he wasn’t aiming at her, her only fear being for the injured man. With all her might, the pain in her arm excruciating, she pushed herself as far as she could over the man’s body to protect him. But the knife never reached them. As she looked up, she saw Ardeth had grabbed the big warrior’s arm. He spoke to the man, rapidly and firmly, again words she couldn’t understand, and again the man moved back away from her and the injured man. Dahar was instantly with her, prying the man’s hand from around her arm and moving her back away from the table, inspecting the rapidly growing bruise around her arm.
“Ani…are you ok?” Ardeth said as he watched the Maasai move back a few steps from the table.
“Yes, sweetie” she asked as she moved her wrist, a pained look on her face. “It’s not broken…just felt that way, I guess.”
“Fyad, are you ok?” Ardeth asked, now looking at his old friend.
“Yes…I guess I am getting old. I didn’t see that coming.”
“What was all that about, Ardeth?” Ani asked now that she was sure her arm was functional, though she knew it would surely hurt a great deal later, and was now back to work on the man’s injuries. “We need to give him more drugs, Fyad.”
“Earlier, I explained that you were a healer and that you were my wife. He could not allow one of his own, even though it was not his will, to harm you. He would sooner die then cause harm to you, and he would surely kill even one of his own who does.”
“Well, you assured him that this poor boy didn’t mean any harm, didn’t you. It was just the pain. We all know what pain can do to you.”
“Yes, he understands.”
They were all silent for some time as they watched her and Fyad finish with the man’s injuries. Now she knew why Ardeth had remained so close. He, too, had realized that this was her nightmare and he feared she would be hurt.
“I’ll clean up here” Fyad said as two of his assistants moved the man to a cot in the other room and he inspected her arm. “That hurts.”
“Yes…but only now that you’ve twisted it around so” she quipped with a little smile.
“Go on home now and rest...and don’t use that too much for the next couple of days.”
As they left the house, the Maasai watched as Ardeth talked to Ani, obviously seeing his affection for her and noting the two guards who had followed her into the healer’s surgery were there behind her now.
“Little One…I must see that Umbatu and his men are settled and then I will be home” he said softly looking her in the eyes. She knew he wanted to check her arm, but would not as the Maasai might feel their friend had hurt her more than she was letting on and might yet feel they must make some kind of recompense.
“I’m fine, sweetie” she said with a little smile.
Dahar moved up next to her as they walked back towards their cluster and said “You are not fine, Ani…your arm is swelling. Are you sure it is not broken?”
“I’m sure, but thank you, Dahar. What I could use, though, is some fresh cold water. A soak in cold water will do it some good.”
As he told the other guard to get the water, a bucket of water, fresh and cold from the springs, his eyes only briefly looking away from her, she thought she was going to like this young man. He was new to her guard and a bit shy and quiet, even inexperienced, but he didn’t hesitate to take charge of the situation and seemed truly concerned for her. She remembered that Rashid had told her that since he’d put him in charge of picking those assigned to her detail, Duma took pride in choosing only those with what he considered special qualities. Duma would be proud of Dahar.
~<><><><><>~
Ardeth woke earlier than he normally did and laid there holding her. He thought for a while, not realizing that his hands had been moving slowly up and down her back and that she was waking.
“Ardeth…it’s early.”
“Yes…I am sorry I woke you.”
“You’re worried… about me?”
“Only that you were hurt…”
“I’m fine. It’s just bruised and it will heal.”
“And…” he said and then paused.
She pushed up and looked down at him as best she could in the near dark, “And?”
“Do you want to go watch the sunrise?”
“Sure…” she said knowing he wanted to talk to her, and about what.
They dressed quickly and walked to the edge of the village where they could watch the sun slowly creeping up over the vast waves of dunes. Ardeth sat and pulled her down onto his lap. He knew that at least two of the guards would have followed them, but knew they would think nothing of their behavior, as all knew they were quite affectionate with each other when most could not see them. In the midst of their people, though, they were quite respectful of the Medjai ways.
They sat quietly for a few minutes, the sun dawning but not yet peeking over the dunes, and then Ani said “You have to go to Cairo, don’t you?”
“Yes, and Alexandria. I need to make sure Umbatu gets his supplies, and I can meet with Armad about this new magistrate he’s having problems with.”
“And you want me to go with you.”
“Yes…would you?”
“Yes…” she said, seeing the surprised look on his face.
“Are you sure, Little One? I know you would prefer not to leave the village, and I will understand…”
“No…no…sweetie…I’ll be fine. I’ve been thinking since yesterday that you’d probably need to go and I’m ok with it…I think. I can’t avoid Cairo or Rick and Evy’s house forever just because…”
“Promise me you will tell me if it makes you too uneasy. We will stay at the compound.”
“I keep telling myself it’s just a room, just a bed. Kareem could have taken me from anywhere. He’d have found me anywhere; even here in the village…he wanted it that much.”
“Yes…it was part of his plan. But he would not have come here. He knew he could never have made it to the border from here…and thankfully, he did not even from Cairo.”
Ani looked up at him, knowing how much it all still hurt him, and still needing his assurance, but not wanting to burden him with her fears.
He could see it in her eyes, though, “I will be with you each night we are gone, Little One. I won’t leave you. I’ll take care of my business during the day,” a promise he hoped he could keep. He could see something else was bothering her, “You don’t want to leave Daya, do you? It has been only a few days.”
“Not really, but she’s doing fine, and the baby is fine. And she has Becca and Mara and Alana. She’ll be fine. But how will you be if you can’t see Nabil and Inara each day? I think you will miss them as much as I will.”
“Yes…they remind me of when Kalil and Daya were babies. I miss that. We will make it a short trip…as short as possible” he decided. He knew he truly would miss the babies. Ani had always told him that a baby’s first year was exactly that, a year of firsts, every day bringing new and wonderful changes and achievements. Babies grow so much in the first year, and he hated the thought of missing even one day of it. But he could not ignore his duties, he never had and he knew he never would, even for the simple pleasures his family could give him. “Talk to Daya and then decide. I will understand if you want to stay here.” He said it and she knew he meant it, he would understand, but she knew he really did want her to go with him.
“I will go…I’d miss you too much and worry about you too much…”
“You will worry about me even if you are with me, Little One” he said flatly.
“Yes, I will, but if I’m with you, I will worry just a little less. I think sometimes we both worry too much” she said, wiggling just a little on his lap. “Besides, how can you make love to me in that great big tub if I’m here and you’re there all alone?”
~<><><><><>~
Cairo…
Ani laid back in the tub. A long hot soak would soothe her. Ardeth had promised to be back before she went to bed and she knew he would.
She thought about all the times they’d bathed in this big tub, all the times they’d made love in it, this tub that seemed made for lovers. And in that huge bed. It, too, seemed made for lovers, for them. Their passion often became quite lively. She knew she had nothing to fear in that room, or that bed. She told herself that her fear was irrational. They had spent a couple weeks in that bedchamber, and in this bathroom, while they were recovering from what Kareem and Horab had done to them and nothing had had happened to them. And they were dead, so they could not possibly hurt her, or kidnap her again, from this house or anywhere. And she knew there were guards on the landing and stairs outside their room, and that Duma and Dahar would stand out in the hallway by their door until Ardeth returned.
And if for some reason Ardeth didn’t get back by the time the water grew cold, she knew she could certainly go to bed and have nothing to worry about. He was obviously tied up in his business with Armad. She knew there had been some trouble with the new magistrate and he couldn’t ignore that because of her fears. She had always known his duties had to come before even her and their children.
She laid her head back and pressed a wet washcloth over her face, the heat feeling quite soothing. And she wondered how long the water would stay hot. Maybe she should add more hot water.
How long it had been she wasn’t sure, at first thinking she was dreaming it, his deep soothing voice whispering “Little One…” and then feeling his hand gently sliding down her neck, down to her breasts, caressing, softly squeezing her. She moaned, letting him know she wanted his touch. She could hear him breathing, long, slow, deep breaths, and knew his nostrils were flaring as they always did when he was aroused. She thought to reach up and pull the washcloth off her face, to look at him as he touched her. But she didn’t, knowing he would take it when he was ready. And then he did, slowly sliding it off her face as his other hand slid down her belly, his fingers slipping in to find her. She shifted slightly allowing his hand better access to her as he whispered “Little One,” again, his lips nibbling her cheek, moving to her lips. And then his fingers slid inside her, his powerful mouth took hers, chuckling into her mouth as she moaned and whimpered as he found just the right spot. She was barely able to concentrate on his kiss, his tongue, the taste of him.
As he watched her body slowly calming from her orgasm, he nuzzled her cheek and neck.
“I am sorry I am so late, Little One. It was unavoidable.”
“I know…I was waiting for you. Want to join me?”
“Your water is getting cold…let’s go to bed.”
He woke late into the night feeling something wasn’t right. Then he realized that she wasn’t sleeping on him any longer; which in and of itself wasn’t so unusual, as most nights they tended to shift positions at some point during the night. But now she was lying on her side, up against his side, with her head wedged up in his armpit. He could feel one of her arms underneath him, the other, her bruised arm, folded up between them with her hand on his ribs. He thought it was as if she’d become frightened and was hiding there, shielded by his body. He thought that being once again in this room obviously scared her more than even she was willing to admit. And he thought that if he’d known she would end up there with her face in his armpit, he would certainly have taken her up on her offer of a bath.
He slowly edged away from her enough to move down beside her, facing her, his hand caressing her face. “Little One…” he whispered, trying to wake her gently. She moved, her hand reaching out until she could feel him again, moaning softly as she opened her eyes.
“Ardeth?”
“Little One…were you afraid…did something scare you?”
“No…why?”
“You were hiding here against me as if you were afraid.”
“I don’t remember being afraid. Maybe I was…” she said, trying to think, edging closer to him.
“I am here…” he said, trying to soothe her. He felt like laughing at himself for even the thought, as if him simply being there could ease her fears.
As if knowing his thoughts, his worries, she caressed his face and said “I always feel safe with you, my love.” She stretched along his body and rolled him back, wiggling into in her usual spot on him. She kissed him and then kissed down to his neck as she settled, nuzzling her face against his neck. He pulled the covers over them and wrapped his arms around her. He looked around the room, watching all the lights and shadows of the room. It would be only a couple hours until dawn, but the moonlight still shown enough through the open curtains to cast eerie contours throughout the room, and he could see how she might fear what could hide in the shadows. The mind could so easily play tricks on someone who had experienced all the terrors that she had. And he wished there was some way he could take her fears from her. He didn’t sleep again until he could feel that she was again asleep.
~<><><><><>~
When Ani woke, he was lying on her, his head on her chest. She laid there for a while, feeling him on her, his warm breath on her skin, his hard muscles against her soft body, his beard prickling her skin, listening to his breathing. And then she couldn’t help herself, she combed her fingers through his long soft hair, feeling him move just slightly. She did it again, feeling his beard chafing her skin as he moved his face between her breasts as he began to wake. She knew that were he anywhere else, waking anywhere but with her in their bed, he would wake instantly, probably much earlier than it was now. Only with her could he sleep so deeply and wake so leisurely.
Finally, he woke, kissing and licking and suckling her breasts, smiling as her body moved in anticipation, before kissing his way up to her lips, taking her mouth passionately.
“I should have let you sleep longer, but if you’re going to go to Alexandria today, I selfishly wanted as much time with you as I could get” she said as she caressed his face.
“How did you know I need to go today?”
“I just assumed. I know you want to get this all worked out for the Maasai.”
“Yes, Rick and I decided to leave early so we can get back this evening.”
“If everything works out ok…”
“Yes…” he said, pausing for a few moments, and then “But I will be back tonight, Little One. I promised you I wouldn’t leave you alone at night, and I will not.”
“I know, sweetie…you must do this…” she said and he did hear understanding in her voice. And then he felt her legs sliding up his thighs to his sides, and she cooed “But right now, you must do this, for me” as she used her legs to pull him down on her.
“As you wish, my love” he whispered as he slipped inside her.
~<><><><><>~
Late that night…on the road from Alexandria to Cairo…
Ardeth paced around the car, muttering to himself. Though he knew he had no choice but to go to Alexandria, he now wished he hadn’t. Nazeer had done as he’d asked and found out what had happened to Umbatu’s shipment of supplies. And they’d confronted the American’s representative, a man named Homer Carlson. He had in effect stolen the Maasai’s shipment and sold it to another very unscrupulous man who was known to buy and sell just about anything, often double crossing both sides and profiting quite nicely from his shady deals. Ardeth confiscated the supplies and had them loaded on another boat to be taken to Cairo, and from there they would arrange to have the supplies trucked to
He had to make the trip. He kept telling himself that. But he worried about Ani. He’d promised her he’d be home before she went to bed, probably late evening, but certainly not the middle of the night…or later. She’d assured him she would be fine, and she had, he had to admit to himself, been doing find during their visit to Cairo. He knew it still bothered her, the memory of what happened to her there. And he knew she’d told herself that it wasn’t the city or the house or the bedroom, there was no reason to fear those places. But those places triggered the memories, the nightmare that was that day. He could push the horrors of his life back someplace deep in his mind so that they didn’t affect him so, but Ani’s mind was more fragile and sensitive. Things and places and sights and smells so easily brought the horrors to the surface so quickly that sometimes those emotions overwhelmed her. He thought of how so many times over the years she fought so fiercely for others, to save their lives, to help them cope, to help them heal, sometimes fighting physically with the enemies they’d faced, and yet she was so hopelessly incapable of fighting her own fears. But he guessed that it was that way with most people.
He pictured her sitting in the big chair in their bedchamber, waiting for him, probably reading her Bible, as she so often did when she was afraid or worried. And then he turned to Rick, hoping to rush his progress.
“Rick…”
“I’m sorry, Ardeth…but the tire is flat…and the spare is…well, also flat…” Rick growled angrily, and leaning heavily against the car. “She’ll be ok. You know Evy will keep her busy and make sure she’s not alone. You know she’s stronger than any of us ever give her credit for. And you know…
“Yes, I know she is strong, but that…what they did…it hurt her deeper than anything else. And I also know that once again I have not kept my word to her. I promised her I would be there at night, every night. She does not tell even me how afraid she is being there again.”
“There? She’s afraid of being in my house?”
“Yes…no…it’s just what happened, everything that happened. It just started there in your house, in our room.”
“I’m sorry, Ardeth…I didn’t realize…”
“It’s ok…we just have to get back there…soon.”
“Then we’ll have to walk. It’ll take us a couple hours, I’m guessing…maybe longer.”
Ardeth didn’t wait for him to continue, simply grabbed his things from the car and then looked at Rick as if asking what was keeping him. Rick gathered his things from the car, extinguished the lantern, set it down next to the car, and said “Ok, let’s go.” Ardeth noticed he looked back a couple times before they got too far from the car, realizing that it was Rick’s pride and joy and it obviously bothered him leaving it out there alongside the road.
“She’ll forgive you, you know…for being late.”
“Yes, she always forgives me. It’s not that. It is…”
“What?” noticing the hesitation in his brother’s voice.
“It is that I always promise to protect her…and how many times have I failed. And I promise to be with her when she’s scared. I promised if she came with me on this trip, I would not leave her alone at night. And yet again I have failed her.”
“No…you haven’t failed her. And she will understand. There are simply things beyond even your control. You cannot possibly foresee everything, and you can’t keep some of the bad stuff from her. Sometimes all you can do is the best you can do and then deal with the rest as it happens.”
“That is truly profound, my brother…” Ardeth sighed, shaking his head. He understood what Rick was trying to say, but it didn’t help how he felt. “I know Ani will understand and she will forgive me. But she also needs to feel that she can depend on me…and I often give her reason to feel that she cannot. And it causes me great concern that I cannot take away her fears. I cannot make her feel safe. Because of me, my life, she has endured too much stress…”
“Well, no one’s life is stress free, Ardeth. You think my life, and Evy’s, is peaceful…you know it’s not.”
“No, that is not what I’m trying to…”
“I know…your life is just a bit more intense than most people’s, but everyone has tough times. It’s what makes the good times so much better. And I’m sure Ani wouldn’t give you up even if it meant fewer bruises…um…she wouldn’t give up those good times just to have more peace…well, crap, you know what I mean.”
“Yes, but…”
“No buts, little brother. Just enjoy what you can in life, and deal with what you can’t enjoy. Life’s too short to dwell on what you cannot change. And I’d bet if you asked Ani, she’d tell you the same thing…right before she jumped your bones…to make you feel better…I mean…well…”
“You truly have a way with words, my brother” Ardeth said half smiling, half grimacing at his reference.
They walked in silence for a while, and then Rick said “It bothers you, doesn’t it?” He knew that how Ani was coping without him there was not the only thing bothering him.
“What?”
“What you would have done to get Carlson to talk. He was stubborn, wasn’t he?”
“He was sure he was safe. He thought we didn’t know what he’d done…at first anyway.”
“He thought if he played stupid, we’d think he didn’t know the shipment wasn’t where it should be…the Maasai just hadn’t shown up yet. I have to admit that I find it amazing how you can keep someone guessing about how much you know while you’re cleverly getting them to talk.”
“Not so amazing…we wasted hours getting him to tell us where the supplies were.”
“And you dreaded what you might have to do to him. I know you, little brother. You would have done what was necessary, but you wouldn’t have liked doing it.”
Ardeth was quiet for a few minutes. Rick was right. He would have used other means to get Carlson to talk, but he was grateful it only took describing what he would do to him and then what the Maasai would do to him to loosen his tongue. So many people had died throughout Africa because of the long drought that had ravaged vast regions of the continent, and to know that hundreds, possibly thousands, would die because of Carlson’s greed was unthinkable. Ardeth’s anger grew again at just the thought. And it did bother him that he could turn into such a monster, that he could torture someone, that he even knew how to torture someone. And what haunted him at times was that he had actually tortured people.
As if he truly could read his brother’s thoughts, Rick said, “I know all that bothers you. No one should have to do such things, but sometimes it is necessary, for the innocent, for those who cannot defend themselves. Sometimes you have to do what no one else is willing to do. It doesn’t make you a monster.”
“Thank you, my friend, but somehow that doesn’t…”
“Make you feel any better about it? No, I don’t suppose it does” Rick said and then thinking for a few minutes, “Can they…do that, what you told Carlson the Maasai would do to him? I mean, dismembering someone without killing them doesn’t seem possible, but then, over the years, I’ve seen a whole lot of things that shouldn’t be possible.”
“The Maasai are fierce warriors when they need to be, and I remember stories my grandfather told me about what their ancestors would do to captives. But I do not know about that. I was just trying to scare him. I felt sure he would not know if it was possible, but would not risk that it was. The Maasai are herdsmen now, and I am sure it has been many generations since they have tortured anyone.”
“But you wouldn’t hesitate to give Carlson to them if he didn’t give up the goods…whatever they would do with him.”
“They are struggling to provide for their people, Rick. Desperation often leads to extreme measures and horrific consequences. I am just glad that threatening to torture him was all it took.”
After they walked a while, Rick said “She knows she can depend on you, Ardeth.”
~<><><><><>~
As they approached their rooms, Rick said “See, everything’s just fine…you worried for nothing. Sleep well…see ya in the morning.”
Ardeth watched him enter his bedchamber, thinking maybe he was right, maybe he had worried for nothing, and then turned to Duma.
“Thank you, Duma. Why don’t you and Dahar go on downstairs and get some sleep.”
Duma nodded and then jerked his head, telling Dahar to follow him. He was tired and was grateful to be able to lie down and sleep for even a few hours.
When Ardeth entered the bedchamber, he found her on the far side of the bed, the covers pulled up to her face, on her side facing away from the door, as if all that would protect her from any intruders. He was actually surprised to find her asleep at all. He’d expected to find her still awake, even at this late hour. The last time he’d asked Rick what time it was, it was one o’clock in the morning, and he guessed that had been about an hour ago. Maybe he had worried for nothing.
He undressed quickly and quietly, hoping not to wake her, and went into the bathroom to wash up. Anxious to get into bed with her and feel her body against his, he didn’t want to take the time to bathe. He slid under the covers and edged up behind her, slipping his arm around her waist, wishing she was naked, but understanding that she would not sleep so there without him. She always wore night clothes when she knew he would not be there with her, and he remembered that she’d said she was grateful she’d been wearing them when Kareem took her that night. If she’d expected him back that night, she’d probably have been naked and she worried about what Kareem would have done to her if he’d found her naked. So, he knew it had been quite late when she finally gave up on him coming back and went to bed. She’d felt that for whatever reason, he was going to be very late, if he even returned at all during the night.
He molded his body to hers, nuzzling his face in her hair and was soon asleep. He didn’t feel her wake, her hand holding his as he held her tightly to him. She laid there for a while, grateful that he was there with her. She could feel from how tense his body still was how worried he’d been about her, and knew he cursed himself for whatever had kept him from being there with her when she went to bed. She tried to be strong and not show how upset she was at being there in that room again, though she knew it was truly irrational. And when she thought about it, she didn’t feel so afraid. She had slept many nights in that room, with him and without him, before that awful night. It was the same room, showing no signs of Kareem or his hatred for them. But when she laid there in the dark, alone, the whole ordeal played through her mind. It wasn’t as strong and painful as it once was, but the fear did creep back into her nonetheless. She thought it would fade more with time.
She slowly rolled onto her back, wrapped her arm up and around him, and pulled him down on her. He woke enough to settle on her, quickly unbuttoning her tunic so that he could feel her warm skin as he nuzzled his face against her neck, and whispered “Little One” before falling back to sleep.
When she woke in the morning, smelling Evy’s pancakes cooking down in the kitchen, he was still lying on her, his face still nuzzled against her neck, his hand now grasping her breast. She smiled to herself, even in sleep he had to feel her, especially her breasts. She held him for a while and then felt him stir. She slowly rolled him back on the bed, and leaned over him, kissing his lips softly and then his forehead and cheeks.
“Little One…I am sorry I was so late” he said, not fully waking.
“It’s ok, sweetie. You sleep for a while. I’ll go help Evy in the kitchen. I’ll bring you something to eat later.” They’d brought a couple dozen warriors with them, and they would be up and busy, and hungry.
“We had a flat tire…walked the rest of the way back. But I am sorry I left you alone.”
She kissed him again, caressing his face, “It’s ok…I’m ok.”
“You weren’t afraid…to be alone here?”
“Yes…some…but it’s hard to be afraid, about something like that, for myself, when I’m worried about you.”
“I know, Little One…but I am fine. It was just a…”
“A flat tire, I know. I guess we both worry too much” she said, kissing him softly again. “Sleep now. I’ll be back in a while.”
She got off the bed, and smiled when he grabbed her pillow, wrapping his arms around it and turned on his side, hugging her pillow to him, and was asleep again.
She watched him sleep for a few minutes and then got dressed and went downstairs. She found Evy and Marie in the kitchen.
“Ardeth still asleep?”
“Yes…it was very late when they got back. And I believe his worrying for me made him even more tired. I think he’ll sleep for a while longer.”
“Yeah, Rick may spend the entire day in bed. He said they had a flat. They walked the rest of the way.”
“If I know Ardeth, he probably had them running part of the way back” Ani said with a little grin.
~<><><><><>~
While Rick and Ardeth slept, Evy and Ani, followed by Duma and a dozen warriors walked to the marketplace. They were an imposing sight.
Looking at Ani’s list of items requested by some of the women of the village, Evy said “We can’t possibly carry all this back in one trip.”
“I know. We’ll get what we can today and come back tomorrow…or the next day.” She knew the warriors would help carry the supplies, and she would accept their help to a point, but they were not there to serve as pack mules. They were warriors, there to guard her and Evy, and she would not distract them from their duties.
It was still early and only about half the stands were open. As they wandered around the square, Evy looking for the best fruits, vegetables and breads for their day’s meals, Ani checking for fabrics, they heard one of the vendors yelling and turned to see what the problem was. Ani noticed that the warriors nearest Evy moved closer to her, ushering her towards Ani, and the guards nearest her circled around her.
They watched for a minute, seeing that two of the Maasai who’d accompanied them to Cairo, and who were staying at the compound, were now obviously trying to make a purchase and weren’t having much luck. She knew they had precious little money, anyway, so whatever they were trying to purchase was important to them.
“Duma…take this and help them, will you?” Ani said, handing him her small coin pouch. Ardeth always made sure she had money when they were in Cairo so that she could shop at the marketplace. She generally had a list of things people in the village needed or wanted when they knew she would be going to the city.
Duma looked at her, just the hint of a question in his eyes. “The merchants won’t take their money…and I don’t think they’re having much luck communicating. And from what Ardeth said, I doubt the Maasai will accept help from a woman…especially me.” Ardeth had explained that from tribe to tribe, the Maasai had varying customs where women were concerned. Maasai women were very strong and often held high status among them. They did not mistreat their women and the fact that one of them had hurt her would put even more distance between them and her. They respected her as a woman and especially as the Chieftain’s wife, but also feared her for that status and possibly because she might still have them punished for their fellow warrior’s actions.
Duma took the pouch and nodded before walking off to help their new Maasai friends, hoping he could remember what little he knew of their language. Ani and Evy watched as he helped them communicate their needs to the merchant as best he could and noticed that they were hesitant to allow Duma to pay for the merchandise. Ani smiled when Duma said something to the Maasai, who then held out his hand, obviously showing him what money he had, and then Duma traded the man’s coins for the pouch of money Ani had given him. She could see the gratitude on the man’s face when he looked into the pouch. Duma spoke to him a little longer, a bit louder than he needed to, obviously so that the merchants would understand that these men were friends of the Medjai and were not to be cheated or mistreated. After respectful nods all around, Duma returned to Ani.
“That was very nice, Duma…thank you.”
“Don’t thank me so soon, Ani…I just gave away all your money” he chuckled.
“That’s ok…I’m sure Ardeth will approve…and I’ll ask him for some more and we’ll come back tomorrow or the next day.”
“Well, let’s just get what we need for dinner tonight” Evy said, “and we’ll go home.”
When they got back to the house, it still seemed quiet. Dahar said that Marie was out back and Rick and Ardeth were still sleep. It was about ten o’clock and as grateful as Ani was that Ardeth was getting some much needed sleep, she knew he would be appalled that he’d actually slept so late.
She stood by the bed watching him for a minute. He was on his back with the covers pulled up to his waist, his arms up with his hands pushed under the pillow, and did seem to be sleeping quite peacefully. She looked at the tray of food and tea she’d left for him on the nightstand next to the bed in case he woke up before she got back from the marketplace. He hadn’t eaten anything so she guessed he’d slept the whole time.
She edged onto the bed and stretched out alongside him, moving up next to him, resting against him, her arm across his chest. He moaned “Little One…” and moved his arm down around her, pulling her tightly to him. After a few moments, he asked “What time is it?”
“About ten. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes…but not as well as I would have had you been here with me.”
“I’m sorry, sweetie. Evy and I went to the market.”
“Did you get everything you needed?” he asked and she could tell he was still a bit sleepy. He held her, but hadn’t really moved much.
“No…I need some more money…”
“Oh?”
“Yes…I gave all your money away…” she said knowing that would wake him fully.
“You did?” he asked, raising his head a bit to look at her. “A good cause I’m assuming?”
“Yes. Your Maasai friends were having trouble with a merchant, so Duma took the money and helped them out. He said he told them if they need anything else, to let Armad know while they’re staying at the compound and he’ll help them. So, I didn’t really get any shopping done. We’ll go back to the marketplace tomorrow or the next day. Will you be done with your business soon?” she asked, and he knew she was trying to determine when they’d be going home, but she would not ask him to rush his business.
“In a few days, Little One. Rick and I met with Nazeer in Alexandria. He found that there was a shipment of supplies from
“Good, that should give their warrior time to heal some before making that long trip home.”
Ardeth pulled her up onto him, wishing she was naked and under the covers with him, and took her hand, gently pulling her arm up to his lips and softly kissed her bruise. It had been a large deep bruise, and still was, though beginning to lighten some.
“It doesn’t hurt so much anymore, Ardeth.”
“I am glad for that” he said and wrapped his arms around her. She settled on him and nuzzled his neck, her warm breath on his skin exciting him.
“You wouldn’t want to get under here with me, would you?” he asked, a mischievous tone in his voice, his hands sliding down her back and grasping her bottom.
“I could…” she started, but then jerked at hearing Rick’s voice booming outside their door “Hey, you going to stay in bed all day, or what?”
Then, trying to ignore Rick’s interruption, she wiggled a bit on him, “You know, if you get back early enough tonight, we could take a nice long bath before bed…and then I’ll make love to you, slowly. I’ll kiss every inch of your body…every…inch…slowly…” she whispered, as she pushed her hand between their bodies and caressed him through the covers. He closed his eyes and moaned and then reached down and grabbed her hand.
“Little One…if you keep that up, you will have to join me under here.”
She looked at him, seeing more in his eyes, more that she knew he would not tell her. “I think this trip has been harder on you than it has on me” kissing his lips softly. “You are still so tense…”
“I am fine, Little One. And I am glad that you are fine. You are, aren’t you?”
“I will be…and I’m always fine when I’m with you” she whispered, and he felt her hand now sliding under the covers, inching down to him. “Maybe I’ll make love to you now…and tonight” she said as she shifted on him to give herself better access to him. She stroked him for just a few moments and then sat up on him, unbuttoning her tunic, seeing his eyes sparkle, his breathing quicken.
As she dropped her tunic on the bed behind her, he sat up, wrapped his arms around her and laid her back on the bed. He kissed her softly and whispered “You know how much I love you, Little One.”
“Yes, sweetie, as much as I love you…more than life.”
The End
* Inara means ‘ray of light’ and ‘heaven sent’
* Nabil means ‘noble’