Desert Rose (Book One of The Medjai Saga)

Chapter Three: Fire on The Water

Language Key:

Arabic, English , Ancient Egyptian

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Evy and Jonathan stood at the Giza Port, awaiting Rick and Molly's arrival. Perhaps they were a little earlier than expected, Evy thought. She hoped the O'Connell's would turn up soon enough. But she also questioned Rick's reliability. If Molly had anything to do with it, she knew they'd be here soon enough.

"Well personally, I think he's filthy, rude, a complete scoundrel." Molly overheard Evy say as they approached

"Anyone I know?" Rick asked and Molly supressed a laugh.

Evy was stunned by how well Rick had scrubbed up, "Oh, hello."

Evy's gaze seemed to linger on Rick, taking him in. Even Molly had to admit that her brother had grown into a handsome man.

When he'd dressed for the journey, Molly had been reminded of when they were young. But back then, the last time they spent together in 1915, he'd been thirteen, lying about his age to join the military, and she had been twelve. He had been tall for his age, worn slightly by their time in the orphanage. He'd enlisted in the war and promised to return for her when he could financially support them both. He had dressed nice then too, to make an impression on his commanding officers.

And yet, he hadn't returned for her.

She hadn't blamed him though; war could be treacherous.

Molly, like him, was dressed for adventure, in a pair of dark grey slacks, brown leather suspenders over her shoulders. The pale green shirt she wore was pinstriped and the sleeves were rolled up to the elbows. Her feet were booted in brown leather, laced up to the knee. Her orange hair was loosely braided, hanging over her shoulder. She was ready for anything.

"Smashing day for the start of an adventure, eh, O'Connell?" Jonathan greeted Rick, patting his chest.

"Yeah, yeah, smashing," Rick said, checking his pockets, realizing Jonathan had sticky fingers. But nothing was taken.

Jonathan patted him on the chest and shoulder again, "Oh, no, no, I'd never steal from a partner, partner."

They both chuckled, uncomfortable, trying to unnerve each other. Evy and Molly rolled their eyes and linked their arms together. Evy smiled, thankful her friend is there with her, a whole journey with the two men alone would have driven her insane.

"That reminds me, no hard feelings about the uh-" Rick mimicked the punch he had given Jonathan at the prison

"Oh, no, no," Jonathan waved him off, "Happens all the time."

Molly fought a smirk, even she had punched Jonathan in the face when he'd made a drunken advance on her a couple years back. But that was all water under the bridge. He was her brother, not by blood, but by bond. A decade would do that.

Evy had the determined look on her face that Molly knew all too well, "Mr O'Connell can you look me in the eye and guarantee me that this isn't all some kind of a flimflam?" she said, pulling away from Molly.

Molly understood her questioning of him. He may have been her brother, but eleven years apart could change a person. Yet with the full story under her belt, Molly had no reason not to trust her long lost brother.

Evy continued, "Because if it is, I am warning you I will-"

"You're warning me?" he questioned, "Lady, let me put it this way; my whole damn garrison believed in this so much that without orders, they marched halfway across Libya and into Egypt to find that city." Evy was rapt. He continued, "And when we got there, all we found was sand and blood. Let me get your bags."