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She was going to need all the help she could get. It wasn’t just her own life at stake but Willy’s and now two children. Willy did not seem to see anything unusual in planning murder and adoption at the same time. Will wasn’t fit to be any child’s guardian in her present state of mind.

The problem was, how to make Will realize that without making her angry!

Cheops slipped out of her nighty and picked up a pair of lace panties to put on. She didn’t look at Will but she knew Will was looking at her. How would Will react to seeing her prosthesis for the first time? Will, whose own body was so physically beautiful and fit, had always loved sports and outdoor activity. Could she still find her attractive, when the last 30 cm. of her right leg was artificial? She could sense Will’s eyes on her. She wondered insecurely if Will was looking at her body or her prosthesis. Cheops straightened her shoulders; either way, this was who she was and she had to hope that she could rekindle in Will memories of the deep attraction that had once existed between them.

She glanced over at Will. She was definitely looking at her! What Cheops saw burning in those remarkable eyes made her throb with need. For the first time, Cheops began to feel real hope that she could find her old lover again. Your soul isn’t really dead, is it Will? You just buried it really deep, so the pain wouldn’t rip you apart.

Cheops didn’t bother with a bra. She slipped on an over sized T-shirt and a pair of slacks, then she turned to meet Will’s eyes. Will rose slowly, like a panther stretching out its long limbs. She moved over to stand right in front of Cheops. "This won’t work either," she muttered in a voice rough with desire.

"Yes, it will," Cheops responded softly, as she wrapped her arms around her warrior’s neck and kissed her with all the passion that had been building over the last two years. Will lifted her and put her up against the bulkhead, their kisses becoming more hungry and searching. When they finally came up for breath, Will was leaning into her and Cheops had wrapped her legs around the waist of her ex-lover. They looked into each other’s eyes, each realizing that they had gone a lot farther than they had meant to.

Cheops untangled herself from her lover and Will, once she was sure that Cheops had her balance, pulled back. "We’d better go see the kids, Malone. I tried to talk to them, but I don’t think we communicated very well."

Cheops nodded but the two of them didn’t move. Will bent her head and kissed Cheops once more. "I don’t have a bed."

"Yes, you do," Cheops promised and they kissed again.

They went to Will’s room where two small, wide eyed children sat on the floor looking well fed but bewildered. Cheops smiled broadly, sat on the floor and started chatting away to the older girl and her younger brother. Willy waited, not too patiently, behind.

"They are orphans, Will!"

"That’s what I told you."

"They look half starved! They’ve been sleeping down in the storage compartments and helping out the crew for board and food."

"I told you that too!"

"The girl’s name is Amand and the boy’s Zahi."

"Hello, Amand, Zahi." Willy smiled.

"Okay, I’ll talk to the captain. But Will, you understand that I’ll have to notify the police and they’ll have to do a search for relatives to take them."

Willy nodded her head seriously. Cheops turned and explained things to the two children, who smiled broadly and hugged Cheops and Will. Will met Cheops’ eyes with her own. For the first time, they were that soft sea blue that she loved. "Tell the children, it’s time for bed," Will ordered. Cheops complied. She thought she knew what her warrior wanted and she wanted it desperately too.

The children were coaxed to take turns showering and then they were given fresh R.A.F. t-shirts. Willy combed their wet hair as Cheops explained to them that they would be in the next room and that tomorrow they would no longer be stowaways but paid guests. Will’s hand shook. She was drained and the drugs were once again causing her joints to ache and her thoughts to be sluggish.

It was the girl who responded. In broken English she said, "You are so kind. You are so kind. My brother also, we thank you!" The women wished the children good night and tucked them into their new beds.

"They are not very old, Will," worried Cheops.

"No. Amand would be maybe eight or nine, Zahi, maybe five or six," responded Willy holding the door open for Cheops to pass through into her room.

Willy closed the door and leaned against it. Cheops turned in surprise. "I appreciate your help on this, Cheops, but I need to tell you that it is not going to make any difference to your fate."

Cheops limped forward until she was right in front of Willy. She searched deep into those remarkable eyes, realizing that the pupils looked dilated again. "You still love me, even if it is buried under a layer of hate. I will reach you again," she said reaching up to caress Will’s face.

Her hand was brushed away, sharply. "Give me the key. I’ll be back later to sleep in the other twin bed," ordered Will coldly.

Cheops nodded. Will had changed again and this woman was not to be pushed. "Here," she said, pulling the key from her pocket and handing it over at arm’s length. Will took the key and left without another word.

She strode along the hall and up two flights of stairs to the open deck. There, in the dark, she paced, until, hours later, she was too tired to walk any longer. Then she headed back down to Cheops’ cabin.

She stripped down and lay on the bed, enjoying the quiet and darkness. Why had she protected Cheops from Bob? It made no sense to do so. Maybe it was because something was not quite right about Bob Scott. He gave her the creeps! Maybe that was why. Or maybe Cheops was right, she was having trouble deciding if she was her former lover’s protector or executioner. Were the drugs still distorting her frame of reality? No, she was being rational. It was rational to save Cheops from being raped by Bob so that she could kill her later. Wasn’t it?

It was also logical that she should find Malone still physically attractive. You could hate someone and still be turned on by them, couldn’t you? That was rational anyway. She could hear Malone’s gentle breathing. How many nights had she laid in bed with that woman, after they had made love, and let her soft breathing lead her to sleep?

She had wanted to die after she had left Egypt but she hadn’t. Instead, she had been captured by terrorists and tortured and humiliated for months. At first, she had closed her mind to the pain and abuse by imagining the summer of love she had shared with Cheops and their children. But the fantasies had always ended in a horrifying pool of blood. Later, she stopped trying to hold on to the memories of what had been and fostered instead visions of what her life had become- hate. Hate for her torturers, hate for Cheops, hate for life itself. At her lowest point, she remembered the one single reason it go on- revenge. After that it was easier.

Will rolled on to her back and stared at the ceiling; the best thing was not to try and think, just react. If she started now to doubt her whole reason for surviving, she was not sure if she could hold it together. All that pain, humiliation, torture; what was the point of having survived if there was no revenge?!

Willy, groaning in her sleep, woke Cheops from her own troubled slumbers. She switched on her reading light and sat up. Will was lying naked on the bed. Cheops’ heart pounded as her eyes slowly drifted over the warrior’s magnificent body. Then her gut twisted into a knot, as she saw the deep scars from the electrodes. "Oh God!" she whispered softy and sat up, reaching for her prosthesis so that she could slip from her bed to go to the one she loved.

She checked herself just in time. If she touched Will now or even woke her from her nightmare, God knows what she would do! Cheops bit her lip. How could she help Will without endangering her own life? She leaned back against the bulkhead and tucked the stump of her amputated foot under her other knee. "A long time ago, a great king arose in the north. He brought prosperity and stability to the Upper Nile and then in a series of brilliant military maneuvers, he over powered the weaker kings of the Lower Nile and united Egypt for the first time. He was Narmer and this is his story..."

Slowly, the moans grew softer and Will’s stiff, jerky movements eased until she was in a deep relaxed sleep. Her breathing became regular and her face softened into classically beautiful lines.

"And so by using King Narmer’s tablet, we were able to look deep into the past and know of the pharaoh’s achievements. That simple scribe had made the mighty pharaoh immortal," Cheops concluded an hour later. Then she slipped back into her bed, turned off the light and slept deeply. When she woke, Will had already gone.

Cheops dressed quickly and went immediately to the captain. An hour’s heated discussion and the exchange of money and Cheops had managed to change the children’s designation from stowaways to first class passengers.

She found Will and the two children playing ping-pong on the top deck. The Brants and the Laytons were also there rooting, for the children in their bid to defeat Willy. Willy caught the ball in her hand without so much as looking, when she saw Cheops coming up the stairs with her uneven gait. Everyone turned and looked at her as she made her way over to the table.

"Well?" asked Will, real worry in her voice.

"Everything is settled. The children are now booked into your cabin and you into mine," Cheops smiled.

"Yes!" cried Will, wrapping Cheops in her arms and spinning her around.

"It is okay dokay?" asked Amand nervously.

Will suddenly realized what she was doing and put Cheops back down again, taking a step away.

"Thanks, Malone," she said formally. Cheops nodded coldly and saved her smile to give to the children as she explained to them that all was well.

"Well, that’s fine news, isn’t it, Jean?" beamed Betty.

"It’s wonderful news!"

"Look, I’m a lawyer and if there is anything I can do to help with the paper work, well just ask," Bill Brant offered.

"Thanks," said Will now grinning again with delight.

"Can the children come with us on the tour today?" asked Jean, patting down Zahi’s thick crop of hair in a motherly way.

"Yes, of course, Will has paid for their tour! If everyone is ready, we will see Luxor this morning and Karnak this afternoon. I think that is our bus pulling up now." The group moved down the stairs, Cheops doing a little hop as she brought her artificial foot down each step. Will carried two giggling children over each shoulder as she galloped down the stairs ahead of everyone else.

"You’ve made her very happy. I would have not have thought her the motherly type," Jean observed walking along slowly with Cheops.

"Will is a wonderful mother," defended Cheops automatically.

Jean looked surprised. "She has other children?"

There was no avoiding this issue. "Will and I both lost children in the massacre at Deir El-Bahari," she said, her voice tight with the effort of controlling her emotions. " It is nothing we like talking about."

Jean looked truly distressed. "I’m so sorry," she said and wrapped an arm around Cheops and gave her a quick hug. Downstairs, they found the Scotts had joined the group. Will had a murderous look on her face.

Aaron Scott turned as Cheops dropped off the last step. "There was nothin’ about kids on this trip!" he complained to Cheops.

"There was nothing in the tour description that said there couldn’t be children either," observed Cheops happily. "The children’s trip has been paid for and so far they have been very well behaved. But I understand your concern, Aaron, I’m sure you have had your fill of children over the years." Her eyes strayed to Bob. "I’ll make sure Will keeps them well away from you."

Will smiled. Malone always could slit your throat verbally and you wouldn’t notice until you turned around and your head fell off! The party, smiling and giving each other knowing looks behind the Scotts’ back, proceeded down the gang plank and up the stone stairs that lined the river bank to get on the bus.

The bite to Cheops’ seemingly friendly remark had not been lost on Bob. He was, too, smarting from the slapping he had got from Will yesterday. He closed his eyes and felt the fire of desire growing in him. Desire and hate, side by side, became a burning need. He smiled. He was not a man not to have the last laugh.

Luxor sat at the edge of the road back-dropped by the city of Luxor. At first sight, the tour group was not impressed. They got off the bus some distance away and Cheops limped over to get their tickets. Willy played tag with the two children a little distance away from the others. "Now she smiles," observed Betty as she stood beside Jean watching the lone woman come alive as she played with the children.

"I don’t know what happened, but both Cheops and Willy lost children at Deir El-Bahari," explained Jean.

"The day of the massacre?!" Betty asked in shock.

"I think so."

"So that’s what ended their...that explains why they both seem so sad at times," said Betty, censoring her remarks in case Jean and Bill were not accepting of gay couples. Salt Lake City was not known for its liberal views.

"Everyone ready," called Cheops and then said something in Egyptian that brought the two children to her side. Willy scowled and followed at a distance. Betty shook her head. Watching the two women, reminded her of her old Ford on a wintry day. It kept turning over but there just wasn’t a big enough spark for ignition.

As always they had to line up for a security check. Each person went through a metal detector and bags were searched by the tourist police. Every effort was being made to make sure that there would not be another terrorist attack. Once they entered the site and took the stairs down into the outer court, the full impact of Luxor left them speechless. Cheops smiled; she had seen this reaction many times before. To their left was the Avenue of the Sphinxes. At one time rows of Sphinx lined a ceremonial road that joined Karnak to Luxor. Sadly, the city had grown over most of it. In some homes, the sphinx were still there, used for tables and chairs! Only a half mile remained of this impressive walkway now but it still never failed to fill the visitor with awe at the majesty that was ancient Egypt.

To the right stood the main gates to the temple of Luxor, towering over head. On each side of the entrance stood the two colossal statues of Ramses II. The base alone on which each figure stood was taller than a man. "Ladies and gentlemen, meet Ramses the Second, the conqueror," announced Cheops dramatically, and then waited for her group to take pictures of the gate and walk down the Avenue.

She explained to Amand and Zahi, in Egyptian, the significance of the site and then led them over to one of the sphinx. Carefully, she lifted Zahi up on the back of one of the mythical creatures and then offered Amand a leg up. Suddenly, strong arms swung Amand up and onto the sphinx.

"Thanks," said Cheops. "I wanted to get their photo. Why don’t you get in the picture too? The police can use it for evidence at my inquest," suggested the archaeologist, cheekily.

An eyebrow went up. "Sure," agreed Willy ghoulishly. "You’re in rare form today. First, you nail Aaron and then me."

"You might not have realized this, Willy, but I am a reluctant player in this little game of yours," came the response from behind the camera.

"Like I care, Malone," responded Willy, turning to lift the two children down again after the photo.

"You do care," observed Cheops. "You just won’t let yourself believe it. You owe me a favour and since I might not have much time left, I’d like to claim it right now."

Willy went still. The intense, blue eyes locked on Cheops’. "What do you want?"

"The four of us to spend the day together as a family," dared Cheops.

Anger flowed from Will like a storm surge hitting the shore. "Bitch!"

"Your debt. My terms," responded Cheops, holding her ground.

"It won’t work, Malone," Will growled.

"It is working," smiled Cheops. "Agreed?"

"Like you said, I owe you a debt that needs to be paid quickly. Just don’t believe this illusion, Malone. There is only one thing left between us."

Will swung Zahi up onto her shoulders so he could see above the crowds. He giggled happily down at his sister who held onto Cheops’ hand possessively. As a family, they walked back to the main gates and joined the other. Betty and Jean were beaming knowingly. Aaron, Abe and Bill were discussing the Republicans’ chances in the upcoming elections and Bob was standing in the shadows watching quietly, a feverish light shining in his dark eyes.

Cheops showed them the white alabaster statue of the sitting pharaoh and his wife. She explained that it was probably some other poor pharaoh’s statue but that Ramses was the world’s worst graffiti artist. He had during his reign written his name over the top of many other pharaohs’ names! She showed then the beautiful and graceful hieroglyphs of King Sety’s rule and below it, in big messy symbols, the boasts of his son, Ramses the Second.

"Sety was the philosopher-artist and his son the warrior and propaganda master supreme," explained Cheops with a laugh! "I guess if you are going to be a warrior pharaoh you are likely to be very concerned about protecting your after life."

"How long ago did Sety live?" asked Bill, taking notes for his travel journal while his wife handled the family camera.

"In and around 1280 B.C.," Cheops replied and led her group on to see the standing wall of Ramses statues and the inner sanctum where the sacrificial table still sat. Here the high walls were still roofed in massive slabs of limestone and the walls were blackened by thousands of night fires. They followed Cheops through the rows of towering columns and she pointed out the Greek style and the Egyptian lotus leaf capitols.

It was a tired and hot group that headed back to the bus to return to the ship for lunch. "Lunch will be served in half an hour and then, at two, we’ll head over to Karnak," Cheops explained.

"Not me," grumbled Aaron. "I’ve seen all I need to see of temples. I’m staying here this afternoon."

"Are you sure, Mr. Scott? Karnak is an amazing site," Cheops said encouragingly..

"Said I was staying here," repeated the stubborn man.

"I’ll stay with my father," offered Bob, playing the dutiful son.

"Fine, just as long as you don’t mind missing the site," agreed Cheops, just as glad to get rid of them. With that, people disappeared to freshen up before lunch.

"We need to get the kids some better clothes," remarked Willy, rubbing her temple.

"Yes, that’s my job," stated Cheops and when Willy looked up sharply, she added., "I’m the bargainer and I speak the lingo. I’ll take the kids out right after lunch to the market down the street. Why don’t you have a nap, then?"

"I’m fine," snapped Willy defensively.

"It’s going to be a long afternoon, Will," Cheops responded softly. "Try and get some rest. The kids are going to need you. It will be a long day for them too."

Will nodded moodily. She wasn’t feeling well. The chemical taste was back in her mouth and her head ached but she was not going to admit that to Malone. She would start that crap again about her not being rational because of the drugs.

"Will?"

"What?!"

"I said I’ll see to the kids in their room and you can have the bathroom first, okay?"

"Yeah, okay," Will agreed gruffly and patted the two dark heads before using her key to enter Cheops’ room. The bathroom smelt of the two of them; spice and sweet, warm herbs. Images of them showering together came uninvited to her mind. She had loved Malone from the moment she first saw her. She had thought that love would have lasted forever. Memories came flooding back.

"My God, you are sexy!" Malone had gasped as she had entered their bedroom and seen Will dressed in her regimentals for the first time. Will laughed and sided stepped the grasping arms.

"Don’t even think about touching me! My commanding officer would blow a gasket if I showed up with strawberry bond hair on my shoulder or lipstick on my collar. Hell, a crease in my jacket would probably get me court-martialled!"

"Hmmm, those medals. What are they for?" asked Cheops looking at the three ribbons with their decorative metal discs.

"Actions beyond the call of duty," answered Will vaguely. "You look beautiful. Just my luck to have to go to this damn evening on one of the rare nights when the kids are staying over at a friends."

"Hmmm. What are the little bars of colour?"

"Service ribbons. Places overseas were I served," Will explained, her eyes following the curves of Malone’s body. "Take your clothes off."

"What?!"

"Please." Cheops smiled in surprise but followed the instructions, slowly undoing her shirt and letting it trail to the floor. Then she unzipped her shorts, watching Will’s eyes following every move. The shorts dropped to a puddle around her feet and she stepped out of them. Then the bra went and she lifted her arms through her hair, letting Willy enjoy the view of her upturned breasts before she let her hair tumble golden over them. Her hands slid down her body and under her lace panties. The underwear fell in a gentle cloud leaving her completely exposed to her warrior.

Will’s mouth curled softly in a knowing look and her eyes sparkled with devilment. One eyebrow went up. "There is some body oil warming in the bathroom. Would you mind getting it, please," requested Will. Cheops trotted to the bathroom and returned with the sweet oil bottle that had been soaking in hot water in the sink. Clearly, her warrior had planned this love game well ahead of time.

"Now, lie on the bed and pour some of the oil right there," purred her lover stroking a line down between Cheops’ breasts with the tip of her finger. Cheops had shivered with excitement at the touch and giving Will a challenging look, she had gone over and laid down.

Will moved to the side of the bed and nodded and Cheops had poured a small pool of warm, fragrant oil were she had been instructed. "Now take your hands and rub the oil over your breasts. Play with yourself while I watch. Close your eyes and imagine me running my hands over your lines and planes. Feel my warmth and my need."

A small moan came from Cheops as she pleasured herself at the bidding of her lover. Lips dropped to whisper just above hers. "When I come home tonight, I am going to make love to you until the morning sunrise wraps the two of us in a pink blanket of love. Feel me in you, Malone. All evening the scent of you will be haunting my thoughts." Their lips had touched in the softest, whisper of a kiss before Will had left.

Will smiled at the memory. Her return that night had been everything that she had imagined and more. And as they had lain in the pink of the desert sunrise, Will had slipped a simple gold band onto Cheops’ finger. "I love you. This ring is a pledge to you of my life, my soul and my love."

I wonder what happened to the ring? Will pushed the thoughts out of her mind. She could feel her thoughts getting slow and sluggish. Maybe she would just lie down for a few minutes before lunch.

Part 3

The woman called Cheops Malone had taken her and her brother to the street market. At first, Amand was afraid that she would leave them as indentured labour with some merchant. To her surprise and delight, the blond woman bought them beautiful clothes instead. Each of them got four outfits, two Egyptian and two European. Amand had been very proud of and impressed with Cheops Malone. She drove a hard bargain and got good prices for their clothes. She was known in the market place and people treated her with great respect and kindness. It made Amand and Zahi feel proud. No one had ever treated their parents with such honour.

Here too, she had learned from a shop keeper, while Cheops was busy picking out clothes for Zahi, that the woman limped because she had an artificial foot. Her real foot had been cut off, the shopkeeper had said, during the terrorist attack at Deir el-Bahari. Perhaps that was why the blond woman was helping them; maybe she had known their parents.

"Why are you being so kind?" Amand had asked at Zahi's insistence.

"Will Kyrtsakas wishes that you have these things. We will see that you are found a good home and that you get the chance to go to school," explained Cheops.

"Will Kyrtsakas and you are very kind. My brother and I pray for you and thank you a thousand times. Always we will be grateful."

Cheops smiled and gave the serious child a quick hug. "Don't you worry, sweetheart, everything will be fine. I'm going to see to that."

Back on the boat the two excited children waited impatiently for Will to wake to thank her for her kindness and show off what Cheops had bought them. Amand explained at great length, to the puzzled soldier, the pride she had for Cheops. Will turned to Cheops for an explanation, realizing by the girl's gestures that she was talking about the archaeologist.

Cheops blushed. "She wants you to know that I drive a hard bargain and that many people know me in the market."

Will's eyes traveled over the small, blond woman. dressed in the green gallabeeya. "Tell her that I have seen you bargain."

But before Cheops could translate, Amand responded. "She is good so much. But you send her. I thank you. My brother thank you."

Will smiled and stroked Zahi's hair as he stood close to the tall woman's leg. "You and your brother are very welcome, Amand.

Cheops supervised the two children changing into their new clothes. Then once again as a family, they left their cabins to meet the group for the afternoon tour. The others were delighted with the two clean and well dressed children who now waited quietly behind Will's tall legs. Cheops saw Will reach down with pride and rub each dark head reassuringly and a lump formed in her throat. Oh Will, no, don't get attached to these children, she prayed.

With a smile, she didn't feel, Cheops led her small group down the gang plank and up the worn stone stairs of the embankment to the waiting bus. Much to Cheops' surprise Will came up beside her and took her elbow, steadying her as she laboriously lifted her artificial foot up each step. She hesitated and looked up at Will. "You said as a family," the soldier explained coldly and Cheops, nodded not sure at all about what was going on in Will's head.

The tour group followed Cheops through the courts and ruined temples of Karnak with their mouths open in wonder. Fields of pillars towered over their heads. The bases of the columns alone were as tall as Cheops. The cross lintels of these massive structures were mounted on smaller blocks at the top of the column giving the feeling that the ceiling was floating. The underside of these huge, stone beams, protected from wind and sun, still had the remains of colourful, mysterious murals. They were ghostly images of the activities of this lost civilization.

The delicate hieroglyphics were like musical scores, as they flowed in rhythmic patterns across walls and columns. Cheops showed them the vast sacred pool, the inner temple with its sacrificial alter, and the hidden obelisks. Then, she gave them some free time to wander.

Will had followed, with the children, keeping to the family role with grim determination. She listened intently to what Cheops said and amused the children with hide and seek games or pointed out interesting scenes of animals in the frescoes.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14