Sands of Time - The Al-Hakim brothers - Javier and Amanda story - Completed

Chapter One

Mandy Russell held her breath as a rider of the desert, swooped down and scooped the blonde beauty up onto his magnificent Arabian stallion, who struggled wildly, helplessly, only to be trapped against his hard body. Mandy bit her lip as he savagely kissed the blonde into submission, then edged the horse around. He galloped off into the distance from whence he had come. Her eyes clouded over dreamily.

"Cut! That's a wrap!" Michael ordered. "Okay folks, let's get out of here!"

Mandy snapped out of her thoughts, shoulders sagging in sadness. That was the last shoot. All around her the crew was starting the procedure of packing away the equipment. Thrusting hands into the pockets of her denim pinafore, Mandy idly wondered over, joining Michael, the director, a tall scruffy looking man, who demanded nothing but perfection.

"Can I help?" She enquired softly, joining his side, where he was reviewing the last scene.

"Yeah, stay out of everyone's way," he answered gruffly. Nodding, Mandy walked away, heading across the sandy desert floor. She took no offence to Michael's tone that was just his way. She had found that out very quickly over the last past month.

Stopping, she stared out, taking in the rolling dunes in the background. The time had passed so quickly. Every minute she had spent with the film crew had been exciting and new. She could understand why so many people got caught up in the movie business.

Galloping hooves caught Mandy's attention. Turning sideways, she shielded her eyes with a hand as she watched the stallion, and the two major stars, closing the distance. Pulling up short, the blonde slid down at Mandy's side, and began to brush sand from her costume. "I'm glad that's over," Simone stated with relief, pushing back full blonde waves from her flushed, beautiful, classic features. A face that was world acclaimed. "This blasted heat is giving me a headache. I need to change. Can you grab a couple of tablets from the car?" Simone threw at her as she began to walk away.

Mandy nodded and headed towards their dust covered land cruiser, one of many. Activity was all around her. She glanced behind her at the desert now free of the intrusion. Free and wild. This is how she liked it best, without the clutter of human occupation. The wind stirred sand, lifting and playing with the grains. Twisting and twirling.

She raised her eyes to the clear pale blue sky that was free of any clouds, only to gasp as a falcon glided into sight. Mandy straightened, watching the magnificent bird swoop down, then soar high, its great wings beating. Fascinated, she watched its flight path, moving away from the cars, so not to lose sight of the bird.

Again, it swooped down, letting out a high-pitched shriek. She took to her feet as the bird vanished out of sight, behind a sand dune. Her heart pounding, when it didn't resurface. Circling the dune, her heart caught painfully at the sight of the bird on the sandy floor, flapping its wings frantically, squawking in terror.

Cautiously, she approached the bird, talking in a soft, caressing tone, while her mind raced in all directions at what she could do to help this poor bird. She had no experience with these creatures, though, did know, one had to be careful of their claws and beaks that could cause a lot of damage. Rip one to shreds or so she had heard.

Sand particles sprayed under the bird's strong wings. Mandy bent down on her haunches, seeing if she could find out what was holding the creature against its will. The falcon turned sharply, striking out with its beak. Startled, she fell backwards.

"Do not move!"

The commanding tone froze Mandy to the spot as she looked up and rested her eyes upon a rider and horse. This time she was staring at the real McCoy. Her eyes widened as the fully robed Arab dismounted his black stallion, attending to the distressed bird. Within seconds, he had the bird calmed, hooded, and perched back on his gloved hand. Steady dark eyes fell upon her as he stroked the birds back. "Are you always this foolhardy?" He enquired dryly