| The Sisterhood Of One By V.N. Levitsky |
| Chapter 7 Author’s Notes: In this chapter, the “chant” recited by Bethany in this chapter is in actuality the lyrics to the song “Viento del Arena” written by The Gipsy Kings. In this chapter, the poetry Ardeth finds that begins with: “Soul Child” are actually the lyrics to the song “Soul Child” written by Shawn Mullins. “Listen as the wind blows” are actually the lyrics to the song “Possession,” written by Sarah McLachlan. “The greater cats” is indeed the poem “Greater Cats” by Vita [Victoria] Sackville-West. No infringement is intended. The poem “Be Tween” is by me, V.N. Levitsky. Please do not post it anywhere without my permission or at least, please give credit to the author, as I always endeavor to do so whenever I utilize the work of others in my work. Thank you and enjoy… ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It was after breakfast. The sun was high and bright in the sky. The somber and surreal discussions of last night between Ardeth and Bethany as she tried to answer his concerns regarding the possibility of Imhotep’s power being harnessed by someone who savored the idea of world domination. Their talk was halted by numerous shouts piercing the air around them. The shouts were coming from the front of the camp. Ardeth quickly sprinted towards the voices and Bethany fell in behind him. The shouts became clearer as they neared them, each becoming more distinct. “Cheb’s trapped!” “Yallah… imshi!” “Someone throw me a rope or staff so I can get out of here!” “Cheb’s fallen in quicksand!“ “Saleem, go grab a length of rope from the supply tent!” “Somebody help me… I’m sinking!” “See about tying that rope to the camp gate!” “Sweet Allah… someone help me! I can feel something grabbing at my feet!!!” As Ardeth and Bethany cleared the gate, they saw a commotion. Several Medjai on their knees digging near Cheb while another was trying to get a staff close enough to Cheb’s outstretched arms. Yet another warrior was knotting a length of rope to the camp gate. Ardeth and Bethany joined in and dug cautiously near Cheb’s waistline to free him from the quicksand. Their digging movements caused Ardeth to notice Bethany’s arms. Today, she still wore her black leather gloves again, but the sleeves of the pale yellow buckskin shirt she wore were rolled up, allowing some of her dark caramel skin to show. The markings that Ardeth saw reminded him of the ones on his own hands. But where his markings were stark, straight lines… hers seemed to curve around her entire forearm…dipping down towards her gloves and upwards under the shirtsleeves. While his markings were rather austere and enhanced the dour look of the Medjai… hers were almost lyrical, making him think of some sheet music he had once seen on Evie’s desk at the museum. Alex’s piano teacher had left an assignment for Alex and Ardeth had been intrigued by these strange symbols. Evie explained to him that this was the manner in which music was written down. Where his markings were symbols in an ancient language, hers resembled a design that might be found embroidered on the hem of a dress or found along the entrance of a doorway. As Ardeth continued in helping to dig out Cheb, he recalled O’Connell telling him that long ago criminals were sent to the continent of Australia and were often tattooed or branded. But Ardeth had also heard other stories of far away lands where tribes such as the Maori who tattooed and marked their bodies as the Medjai did. As a sign of their culture, their bravery, their exploits and as blessings and prayers of safety. But he had never heard of women being tattooed, except temporarily with henna. Only recently had the Medjai begun to tattoo their women. Healers, scholars and a very new class of female warrior all received distinctive markings. Silently he pondered how far along her body did the markings went. Quickly he admonished himself for thinking such thoughts at such a time as this, but he would have to remember to ask Bethany how she came to have her markings. Ardeth spoke in a comforting tone. “Not to worry, Cheb. We will have you loose soon enough.” They were making little progress and it seemed as though they were only burying him deeper, not digging him free. Even when they tried tying the rope around Cheb’s waist, it seemed that a supernatural force made it impossible for nine men and Bethany to pull him out. Finally, they realized they had to stop or they would risk breaking Cheb’s ribs and killing him by inadvertently puncturing his internal organs. Bethany felt herself getting lightheaded and ill. This was not a natural type of quicksand, something inside her screamed. This is all wrong! She wasn’t an expert on sand, but the leverage of ten people would certainly be sufficient normally. But the realization deepened within her… this… was… not… normal. Bethany stepped away from the rope and surveyed the scene. Good goddesses, she thought to herself, this man is going to drown… drown without a single drop of water anywhere near him! Cheb is now actually deeper in the sand than when we began digging! She closed her eyes in resignation. She had wanted to avoid a display like the one she was about to do, because she knew it would only add distance between her and the Med-jai. A distance that was just starting to lessen… at least with some of the men, with Ardeth and Joshua, especially. Even the burly bear Fahd had managed to tolerate her enough to take fighting lessons from her! But a man’s life was at stake. NO! I can’t let him die. She took a deep breath and spoke in a tone that she hoped hid her own apprehension over what she was about to do. “Everyone... let go of the rope and stand back.” Fahd turned around and glared at Bethany, shouting, “Woman… are you mad?! If we let go, Cheb is doomed for certain!” She turned her compassionate gaze towards Fahd. “I know that better than you, my friend.” Suddenly her lion-colored eyes flashed bright gold for a moment, “Now do as I say. Let… go… of… the… rope… and… stand… back.” Fahd took a step away from Bethany and looked at Ardeth, who had also seen the change in Bethany. Ardeth reluctantly nodded and spoke, “Do as she says.” Bethany gazed quickly at Ardeth, silently grateful for his willingness to trust her. It could not be easy for a man in Ardeth’s position to place the fate of one his men into the hands of a virtual stranger. “Don’t be too surprised if I faint after this. Just take me back to my teepee and I’ll be as right as rain in a while.” She spoke the words so matter-of-factly, Ardeth decided it was best not to argue and simply nodded solemnly. He signaled to the men. Obeying immediately, but with obvious trepidation on their faces, they all let go of the rope and stepped away. Cheb, to all appearances, saw his only chance at escaping the sand pit, cried out, “Nooo! Have mercy! Don’t leave me!” Bethany spoke gently trying to soothe him. “Cheb, stay calm. You must do exactly as I say. This is going to be difficult… but if you listen to me, I can get you out. Do you understand me?” “Y-y-yes,” he stuttered as he feebly pushed the slowly enveloping sand away from his chest. “When you feel the sand start to churn, I want you to imagine that you going up a flight of stairs. Bend one knee… raise that leg and place your foot on the sand as if it were as solid as a brick. Continue to slowly take these steps until you are free from the sand. Is that clear?” “Y-y-yes,” Cheb responded weakly, the terror he felt quickly sapping any strength and nerve he might have left in him. His mind had registered her words, but his heart could not grasp the possibility of doing what she was about to do. How was one woman going to help him when 10 people could not wrest him away from this hole in the desert floor? Bethany walked right up to the very edge of where the quick sand began. She closed her eyes and opened her palms upward. As she began to chant softly, the air around them began to move. But it was not the movement of wind; it was as though the air had shifted itself in deference to Bethany. If the air had any true shape or color, it would have appeared to be seen kneeling all around Bethany. The sandy ground blew about softly, never lifting more than an inch or so off the soft ground. Bethany’s strong yet soft alto voice began to chant: “Dimelo partir y ir al dimelo dilalo latira malacali latira malacali masimela la malacali” The sand continued its delicate dance of bouncing and spinning. It was nothing like when Imhotep had the opportunity to periodically rise from his eternal sleep of death. When he summoned the sand to do his bidding, it was evil and emitted evil all around it. The sand would shape-shift into daggers, lashing out at anyone unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity, cutting the skin, not deeply enough to kill, but sufficiently enough to hurt and to make the wounds bleed profusely. Sometimes a virtual wall of sand would rise up and simply scrape layers of skin away if they weren’t covered. Ardeth trembled slightly at the memory of when O’Connell, Jonathan and himself were flown to Hamunaptra by Winston. The trip had begun on a fun note. Ardeth had never flown before. It had been so exhilarating! He must have had the silliest look on his face as he soared through the sky, strapped to the wing of Winston’s plane. But they barely escaped the grasp that Imhotep had on the sand. The sand turned into a roaring face and consumed the plane in a wall of sand. The plane’s engine stalled and they fell from the sky, like a falcon diving towards a rabbit. Only Winston did not survive Imhotep’s wrath… but he had died with a smile on his face. He died in action and that is all poor Winston had ever wanted. The sand here now around Bethany seemed to be sighing in relief and pleasure of being in such a kindly presence. As she continued chanting, the sand began to tumble about. Then it started to swirl. Before long, the sand began to whorl about and churn. Cheb watched in awe, as the sand seemed to curl away from him. He experimentally lifted one leg and as he straightened it. He was thoroughly shocked to feel firm ground beneath his boot! Oh most merciful Allah! He continued taking steps in the sand, each step slowly raising him out of the ground. The timbre in Bethany’s voice shifted as she sustained this difficult feat, continuing the chant: “va tirando de la malacali va tirando de la malacali dimelo hay un martir y ir al dimelo hay un martir y ir al miralo miralo dimelo partir y ir al latira malacali latira malacali “ Ardeth was observing all this from where he stood, a few feet next to Bethany. As she maintained her chanting, Ardeth bent down next to Bethany and placed his hand into the dancing granules. They were powdery-soft and warm, like ash. The grains caressed him in an almost erotic way, making his skin tingle. It even tickled a little. By the time Ardeth looked up again to see Cheb’s progress, Cheb took a final step or two and was now standing atop the quicksand, astounded to see himself free. Ardeth turned just in time to watch Bethany begin to falter. Ardeth barked at Cheb, “Move off the quicksand! Imshi… yalla imshi!” Cheb did as he was ordered, striding quickly away from the dreaded spot that mere moments ago he had thought for certain would be his grave. Ardeth grabbed Bethany by her shoulders just as her knees gave out. He placed one arm under the backs of Bethany’s knees and lifted her up. She managed to keep her eyes open for a moment as she smiled weakly into Ardeth’s dark brown gaze, finding herself tickled at the amount of concern she saw in them. She croaked out, “You have wonderful… eyes. Timing… I meant… wonderful… timin’…” Then everything went black as her head tipped back over Ardeth’s arm and she lost consciousness. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ The Sisterhood Of One - Chapter 8 |