The Life and Times of Bonnie Chance

Making Arrangements

"Okay, so we need to warn the head general that Carol is definitely being held captive, and get the crude oil..." Bonnie said once she, Izmir, Kurush, Hassan, and Carep were safely away from the tower.

"Crude oil?" Izmir and Kurush asked.

"It's unrefined petroleum," Bonnie said. Everyone, including Hassan and Carep gave her blank looks. "Look, other explanations will only get more complicated. What you need to know is that crude oil mixed with air, in the presence of a source of ignition, can cause rapid combustion or an explosion. So we need to be careful when transporting it, or it'll go boom! ... Which is probably why Carol wants it. I think she wants to blast her way out of the tower!"

"Will that work?" Carep asked.

"As long as she's careful where she puts it, I don't see why not," Bonnie said. "The blast should cause confusion and panic, which should make it easier to flee in the chaos."

"Got it," Hassan said. "You girls are so smart!"

'They really are,' Izmir thought.

"I know where the 'crude oil' is, if its the black stuff in the water, so I can get it," Hassan said. "I think I should also be the one to warn the general..." he added with a glance at Izmir.

"I agreed," Izmir said.

"But I could do that," Bonnie said.

"I'm not letting you out of my sight, and if the general sees me, he won't keep quiet. He'll likely make things difficult for me because I'm an enemy of Egypt," Izmir said.

"Also, you don't want to get involved in something that could cause Babylonia to become angry with you," Bonnie said.

"Exactly," Izmir said.

"Then, can we at least stay until Carol escapes, just to make sure she does?" Bonnie asked.

"All right," Izmir agreed. "We'll keep a watch on that tower."

"But, Prince, what about the eclipse?" Kurush asked nervously.

"I told you, you'll be fine," Bonnie said.

"Perhaps we'll take cover then, just to be sure," Izmir said.

"I'm telling you there's nothing to worry about," Bonnie said.

"I'll believe that when I see it," Kurush said.

Inside the Tower of Babel, Carol was yelling at Ragash.

"Ragash, don't forget that I am the only wife of Pharaoh Memphis of Egypt!" Carol said. "If you touch any part of my body, both you and Babylon will face terrible consequences..."

"Hehehehe, why must you be so ferocious, my beloved Carol... I just think that this room is too spacious... I want to stay with you to brighten the mood!" Ragash said. "You have two guards behind you... You need not fear me! Hehe..." Unas and Ruka glared at Ragash.

—∞—

"What is the meaning of this? Why does Carol still no want to return to me!?" Memphis asked back in Egypt, upset. "What has Babylon got to keep her there? How can she be so selfish to worry me and stay happily in Babylon for so long?"

—∞—

The door to her room was left open, and Carol, Unas, and Ruka peeked out cautiously.

"Bring my essential things in here!" Ragash ordered.

"Right away, Your Highness!" a servant carrying a box said.

"Hurry up now!" Ragash said.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" the servant said, hurrying. "Be careful with that!" he told another servant who was carrying another box of more fragile items.