Three Wishes: Cairo, page 20
“Our dinner last night messed with us. Hell, even damp weather messes with us. Last night, I couldn't fall asleep because a fly in my room was messing with me. I finally drifted off to sleep, well aware that this same fly was sitting on my head. ON MY HEAD! Let’s just say that he wasn’t exactly intimidated by my air of danger.” That brought another laugh between the two.
“Rorgue, I never thought it would happen to us. We should have seen the writing on the wall. Our conversations provided all of the clues we ever needed.”
“How so?” muttered Rorgue.
“When we started out, all we talked about was wine, women and song. Each conversation was about a party, a fight or some other animal driven instinct that one of us felt at the time.”
“I like animal instincts,” said Rorgue, as his eyes glazed and mind obviously drifted to times and places that neither would ever have been able to discuss in proper company.
“Then, without conscious decision, the conversations changed. Soon, we were talking about tools and chores and gardens. Why did we let that happen?” Atiene shook his head disgustingly.
“Simple,” said Rorgue. “It’s because our bodies won't let us do the fun things anymore.” Again, they both chuckled.
“Now, it seems our talk centers on aches, pains, and upset stomachs. I swear, when one of us starts in with the complaining, my mind wanders back to days, and I actually wish I would have been impaled and killed on the battlefield.” Atiene smiled.
“But what would she do then?” Rorgue looked at his friend of over forty years.
“She would be alone in her quest.”
“I doubt she's ever really needed us. I've seen her fight and she hasn't lost a step over the years. I love her, respect her, but most importantly, I still fear her as much as I ever did. I’ve been in more battles than I care to count, yet her eyes can scare me even if I’ve done nothing wrong.”
“On that we both agree. But I fear that the time is running out for us. I keep thinking that our next journey together could very well be our last. These adventures hold less and less reward, as the trail for a man we both barely remember grows colder and colder. Khayri was like a brother to both of us, but if he somehow was still alive and fighting to get back to us, I think we'd have heard something by now.” Atiene looked pensive. He had now spoken aloud something that obviously they'd both been thinking for quite some time. At some point, the incredible loyalty they felt for their friend had turned to loyalty and respect for Ameerah. She still organized parties to search for signs of someone that she probably had trouble even picturing in her mind.
“If he only could know that she's never given up and never will, I think he'd be proud of the leader she's become. I know that I've had doubts about these search parties. And that usually lasts right up until the time I walk through her door and see that fire still burning in her eyes. The moment I see her, I am again twenty-four years old and full of the same piss and vinegar that has kept me alive for probably much longer than I should have been!”
They both shared a laugh as they felt that small spark of adrenaline coursing through their ever-hardening arteries.
“Who are we kidding?” added Atiene. "As long as that girl still sees fit to call our names at the top of her list, we'll drag these sorry forms to her aid for as long as we still draw breath. And if the situation calls for it, we'll make her proud that she did.”
With those inspirational words, Rorgue's back straightened, his stride improved and his pace increased. “Then let’s go down fighting, with our heads held high, with the smell of blood and heat in the air; not with the stale smell of our own homes and the cold of old age in our bones.” This warrior's eyes practically glowed with anticipation. Without one word from the girl, they were already warming up.
“We’ll make anyone who would dare mess with us, pay a dear and final price for the privilege.” Atiene looked ten years younger as he stared at his lifelong friend. “We'll never let her down and we'll climb that mountain together!”
“But first, let's get some breakfast and sit down. My leg is killing me.” Rorgue rubbed the site of a previous injury to his leg.
“I hear you, and I'm starving. I didn't sleep too well last night. Damn!”
Rorgue put his arm around his friend and they headed for breakfast.
A Second Set Of Eyes
“Genie… Genie!”
Aladdin had to admit that even now; when he'd witnessed this display numerous times, he never grew tired of the supernatural lightshow of smoke and crackling atmosphere that accompanied the appearance of his friend. The Genie was starting to look more comfortable appearing on the scene. His first few ‘materializations’ had looked a little off balance and awkward, but it seemed that he was adapting to his new life situation.
“Aladdin, it’s so nice of you to call. To what do I owe this honor?”
“Good morning to you as well, my friend. You look very well-rested. I trust that your chambers were more comfortable than the dog belly I rested my head on?” That reference brought forth a bark and hunger whine from Darius.
“I slept quite well, indeed. But I guess you'll never know about the comfort of my quarters unless you choose to spend your final wish on a trip inside the lamp?” He smiled as well.
“No, unfortunately, I have promised my final wish to a friend who has saved me from death twice now.” The Genie nodded in appreciation. “I was hoping to convince you to help me search for Enna as well as for clues to your friends and your past. I am concerned about her safety and I would appreciate your opinion as I go about trying to locate her. I know you have your own course to chart, but…”
“I'll hear nothing about leaving this tale before I know the ending, Aladdin. My past life has been running for quite some time on its own and without my participation. We'll find your Enna and then we'll start trying to fill in the large pieces of my story that still remain a mystery.”
“I wish there were some way you could stay in this form. A second set of eyes could be quite helpful in both of our quests and with you trapped in the lamp; I fear I could walk right by important clues and never even know I've missed them.”
“I think that my presence outside the lamp would cause you much more grief than our current setup. Though you've grown familiar with my current appearance, I fear that others would not be quite so accommodating. But perhaps we could find a compromise. Rather than burying the lamp in your traveling pack, what if you were to tie my lamp to your waist? I have managed to secure a place in the lamp where I can view the outside. It became necessary on all of the occasions you’ve gotten yourself into trouble. It would not raise any eyebrows, yet we could converse easier and also, my eyes could be put to some use?”
“That is a great idea. I wish I had thought of it earlier!” Aladdin began to rummage through the straw and limited flat surface areas of the shed. Darius barked excitedly as he was sure that whatever conversation his two masters were having must certainly have something to do with securing some breakfast. Soon, Aladdin found a short piece of twine which he looped through the leather strap on the lamp's handle and then secured to his waist.
“I think this part of town is going to be waking up soon, and I’m not really sure we were supposed to be in here. We'd better get going so as to not arouse any suspicion.” With that, the Genie just disappeared back into the lamp with a slight crackle of atmospheric particles which quickly filled the void he had just recently occupied.
“Come on Darius, let's find some food.”
Darius never needed real encouragement to be excited, but his tail started all the same and the three companions set off to continue their quest for answers in a city they'd never seen before.
Room At The Inn
Enna's body continued walking. Alchemy had no real need to rest or sleep, so he continued to push on. The girl he held captive within her own body was currently exhausted and sleeping fitfully. He knew that he had pushed her body to its breaking point, but had trouble working up any real sympathy on that matter. There were plenty of suitable 'donors' he could jump to when this one was used up. He'd also noticed a distinct difference in the fight she had presented once they had passed the young man lying by the road. She had almost overwhelmed him at that point but seemed to have lost her will to oppose him once he regained control and forced her to walk by without stopping.
Alchemy was actually invigorated by the thought of completing some checks on the checklist that was The Plan. He would simply continue scanning the town and asking questions in the voice of his captive.
He would use this body today and then discard it for something more suitable. For now, he should make the physical appearance more presentable. Then, when the crowds hit the marketplace, he could begin to ask questions and hopefully track down the clues he needed to find the seat of power here. If luck was on his side, he might just find clues to Ameerah’s whereabouts as well.
As they passed a tiny inn, there was a portly gentleman who was doing some work in preparation for the day. At first, Alchemy was shocked by the way the older man looked at him, but he quickly realized that this man was admiring the form of the young woman whose body he currently inhabited. Alchemy had never really had any interest or experience with the romantic arts, so he just smiled politely at the man. That simple act encouraged the man to approach.
“My dear, you look absolutely exhausted. Are you okay?” he said with genuine concern.
“I haven’t slept in a few days as I’ve been on the road from Altanan,” said Alchemy. He tried to bat his eyes seductively, but it came out looking more like a bug had flown into his face. “You don’t think I could possibly use a basin and perhaps clean up a bit in one of your rooms, do you?”
True to Alchemy’s beliefs about the human male in general, the man’s eyes lit up at the mere suggestion that this pretty, young, filthy-looking female had shown a flicker of interest in spending some time with him. He could not get to her side fast enough. “Of course young lady, I have some extra rooms available and I have a wash room that has a basin where you can clean up and wash the dust off of your tired body.”
Alchemy smirked. “Humans were so predictable,” he thought.
Then the old man continued. “I might even have some clothes you can try on. My daughter has moved out of our house, but we still have some of her things. She is having my grandchild, so she won’t have need for her old clothes for quite some time. I’m going to be a proud grandfather soon.”
Without even knowing it, the old man had shown compassion for a young female who reminded him of his daughter. He had no ulterior motives. Alchemy nodded and thanked him as he gratefully took the clothing and headed into the wash room.
He quickly cleaned up the young girl, washed her hair and simply let her hair hang naturally. This was the best he could do. He never understood the complicated machinations that females went through to make themselves beautiful. But, as he checked the results in the mirror, he was quite pleased with himself.
As he made his way back into the main chamber of the inn, the keeper also asked if he'd be interested in some breakfast. Though he wasn't really hungry, he accepted the food and drink in hopes that he would be able to keep the body going throughout the heat of the day. He was amazed at just how kind the older man treated his human female form. Though he really felt ridiculous chatting with the older gentleman as a young female, he realized that this private chamber was an excellent place to practice, making ready for today's events.
“This is such a beautiful city and so big. How do you keep track of where you are?” Alchemy smiled.
“You'll get used to things after a while. I was born here, so I'm quite familiar with the workings of a city this large. I also give advice to many foreign travelers so my job requires me to know things,” the Innkeeper said importantly.
“So, you're important enough to know leaders and government officials… even the King?” Enna smiled.
“Egypt has no king, my dear. We are ruled by the gods and by a council of men and women.”
“You mean that women are allowed to rule in Egypt?” Alchemy almost allowed his enthusiasm to get the best of him as his voice lowered for just an instant. He covered it by coughing. “I apologize; this dry air has really affected my breathing. Please tell me more about the ruling council.”
The Innkeeper smiled sympathetically. “My dear, our leader up until recently, was one of the most powerful women in the history of the world. Her name was Cleopatra and she ruled for many years. She was a descendent of Isis herself. She was a great politician, a brilliant strategist and she helped modernize many of the systems we use in our government. When she died, her son Caesarion ruled in her place. After her son died, the void of leadership was filled by a council of elders from many different walks of life. But that’s a lot to take in when you haven’t rested in a few days.”
“I want to know about the members of the council,” said Alchemy bluntly. “Tell me about each member… especially the women.”
That pointed question wiped the smile off of the older man. Alchemy had pushed one step too far and now he had raised suspicion. But he didn’t really care because he had things to do and napping wasn’t on his agenda. “Please tell me what I need to know,” he said with more force behind his words.
At this point, the old man paused and looked down at the young woman with concern on his face. “It seems like you've had quite an ordeal, my child. Perhaps you should lie down for a bit and rest. When you are rested and fed we can discuss all sorts of things.” He reached across the table to help her stand. But at this point, his arm began to cramp terribly. Though he didn't want to alarm the young girl, the pain in his arm was agonizing and he wasn't able to move it. “Oh my… I seem to have a cramp. I cannot move my arm. Please child, go and fetch my wife for me!”
But the young girl seated across from him made no attempt to stand or even move. She just smiled innocently. “Now, we’ll start again. Please tell me more about the members of the ruling council.”
Finding A Grain Of Sand
The crowds grew larger as the city crawled toward noon. Aladdin walked through the busy streets just waiting to hear the Genie yell or for Darius to bark. He knew that finding one person in a city this large was going to take an incredible amount of good fortune. But in reality, he was fortunate to be alive, even more fortunate to find the dog that found the Genie that was currently watching over them and… one step further, even more fortunate to be searching for his true love. Could the gods provide one more measure of good fortune, or had he exhausted his allotment?
The trio made their way slowly from the east to the western edge of town and arrived at the banks of the Nile. In the distance they could again see the intimidating outline of the temple and the huge lion that guarded the pyramids and also protected the southern end of the city. Aladdin marveled at this creation. “Have you ever seen anything like this, Genie?”
“No, but I’ve certainly heard about it,” came a voice from below. “It is truly amazing what motivated beings can do when they're not killing each other or trying to squabble over land that will still be here long after they have passed. We all have precious little time to be alive. I was once a king and now, I spend my days strapped to a belt around the waist of a boy. And in the grand scheme of things, the world wasn't much different with me or without me.”
“There I must disagree with you Genie. You had such a profound effect on those around you that tales still are told about you today. According to the stories, those to whom you were the closest still search for you, though by all rights, you should be dead. I'd say for them, the world has changed dramatically since you departed.”
“Don't misunderstand me, Aladdin. I am not feeling sorry for myself, rather, seeing that amazing creation just reaffirmed how small we all really are in the grand scheme of things. It has not diminished my desire to find Ameerah or Enna one bit.”
All through the day, the trio continued scanning the crowd. They moved slowly and observed hundreds of faces just hoping to find one that registered as familiar.
Finally, with no real discussion or forethought, they made their way to the temple at the base of the lion and simply stood, again basking in its brilliance. They rested and continued to monitor the people that passed them.
“It is some sort of chamber,” said Aladdin as he noticed that some of the people were disappearing through a door at the base of the lion between the two massive paws. From a distance, they didn’t see this opening, but now that they were close, they were starting to get the full picture and were seeing light from torches illuminating the entryway.
“THERE! I know those faces!” said the Genie. Aladdin had never known the Genie to raise his voice, so his adrenaline immediately kicked in as well. Darius sensed that something had changed so he began barking and wagging his tail excitedly.
Aladdin had grown used to having the genie on his back, so he was a little disoriented and on instinct, he spun around. But then, he remembered that his friend was facing exactly the same way he was. So he quickly spun again. To those who didn’t hear the Genie’s voice, Aladdin just seemed to be doing some strange sort of dance in honor of the lion.
“It’s the two men, heading into the lion!”
Now a little dizzy, he finally saw two older warriors entering the opening to the great lion and disappearing into its unknown depths. Aladdin immediately sprang to action and sprinted toward the opening. As he grew closer, he quickly became aware that the entrance to the lion was guarded by two huge guards. Neither of them reacted in the slightest manner to the fact that he was quickly closing in on their position. That is, until he got within striking distance. The guards reflexively closed the gap he was shooting for with their massive bodies, leaving Aladdin to bounce off harmlessly like a bird flying into clear glass. He was stunned and reflexively rubbed his mouth to remove the taste of sweat and muscle.
