by Clay, Verna
Hesitantly, Tahnoon returned to a cross-legged position. He studied Roth for a long time, and finally said, "Yes, I will help you."
Roth smiled. "Thank you, my friend. Now, tell me about your wife and family."
Although still wary, Tahnoon hesitantly returned his smile. "She is the love of my life and we have many children and grandchildren, and even a great-grandchild."
For the next hour, Roth and Tahnoon worked out the details of a secret trip into the White Desert.
* * *
"You’re kidding, right? We’re not really going back to the Bedouin camp."
Roth and Rainey sat in the courtyard of their rental as the sun slipped behind a far dune, the colors exploding across the barren landscape of the Western Desert beyond Bahariya Oasis. Rainey had actually been enjoying the relaxed atmosphere after their hectic day of travel to and from the Bedouin camp, that is, until Roth broke the news of a return visit.
"Yes, we are. Day after tomorrow we’re returning."
"For God’s sake, why?"
"You’ll find out soon enough."
"What the hell kind of answer is that? You know what I think?" She didn’t wait for a response. "I think the ‘dark force’ sent you to torment me."
"Sounds like you’ve been watching too many sci-fi flicks."
"No, I’m just stating a fact."
"You’re being melodramatic. Why can’t you just accept the reality that you’re on an extended leave of absence, and enjoy the adventure of Egypt?"
"Because I’m on the verge of the greatest breakthrough known to modern man—a discovery that could help millions—and I’m stuck with you!" Rainey watched Roth's jaw tighten and his blue gaze darken.
With quiet determination, he said, "We're returning to the Bedouin camp precisely because of your research." He rose and crossed the courtyard to the house.
Rainey groaned and smoothed her hands over her disheveled hair. Her sharp tongue had gotten the best of her again. Well, he’d deserved every word. And what the hell did he mean they were returning to the Bedouins because of her research? That was crazy. What on earth did a tribe of Bedouins living in the midst of the Western Desert have to do with scientific research?
She sighed and thought about her time with the women. It had been interesting sitting among them. Although she hadn’t been able to understand their language, they had been nice and offered her food and drink. When she had refused, however, they’d looked at her strangely, shrugged, and then gone about their business. Immediately, she’d wished she had accepted their offer. Her relationship skills were sorely lacking, and everyday with Roth only made her more aware of it. He had an easy manner with anyone but her. People liked him. Rarely, did anyone seem to like her. It hadn’t bothered her before because of her absorption in her work. But now, with nothing to absorb her time, Roth made her desire things she didn’t want to put a name to.
The next day, they drove to the town center and purchased cases of water bottles, sturdy boots for both of them, socks, bags of dried fruit and jerky, more sunscreen, sunglasses, chapstick and body lotion, and various other items. To say that Rainey was confused would be an understatement.
"Why do we need all this?"
"I’ll explain tomorrow."
"I don’t want to know tomorrow. I want to know now."
"I’ll explain tomorrow. Not one day sooner."
"You are absolutely the most hard-headed, stubborn-"
"-and best bodyguard you ever had," he interrupted.
"Don't flatter yourself."
After arriving home, Rainey stomped to her bedroom and reread the printouts on eagles. Her fascination with the species confounded her.
Late that night, she slipped to the bluff, but her eagle did not show himself. She waited for well over an hour before returning disappointed to her room.
Early the next morning, Roth banged on her door. Still asleep because of her late night waiting for her eagle, she groaned. "Go away!"
He opened the door and started going through her bureau drawers, pulling out clothing.
"Exactly, what do you think you’re doing?" Her voice cracked from exhaustion.
"I told you yesterday we'd be leaving this morning. If you're not at the Toyota in half an hour, I’m coming back to dress you myself. Do you understand?"
Rainey jumped off the bed, so angry she forgot she was tired. She stomped over to Roth and shoved her index finger in his chest. "I’m flat-ass tired of you giving me orders. I will dress when I want to dress. You have been nothing but an ogre for three days. Other than breathing, I don’t know what I’ve done to piss you off." She stopped long enough to suck in a breath and opened her mouth to lambast him again.
"Ogre, huh?" He grinned and looked down, taking in the nightgown that had gotten caught in her lacey pink panties.
"Get out!" she yelled, and grabbed the nightgown out of her panties, yanking it down. Unfortunately, the action stretched it over her breasts, revealing their voluptuous outline. "Crap!" She dived for the covers.
Roth only laughed and walked to the door. "Actually, maybe you shouldn’t get dressed. I think I might like the challenge of dressing a hellcat." He quickly snapped the door shut.
Every bump and jolt of the Toyota incensed Rainey more. Roth refused to explain the reason for their return to the Bedouins and she was plagued with a nagging sense of foreboding. So far, he had not sprung a surprise on her that she liked. She was also starting to itch under the protective head scarf.
"There’s the camp," Roth said.
Rainey looked at the oasis floating in the distance. "Are you going to tell me now why we’re here?"
"No."
She bit her tongue to keep from verbally lashing him for the umpteenth time. It would only make her more uncomfortable and hot, and fall on deaf ears.
They reached the oasis. Several men stood waiting, waving their hands for Roth to follow them. He drove the Toyota into a tent set back from the others while the men held the flaps open. Rainey wasn’t getting a good vibe about parking the 4x4 in a tent.
"Why are-"
"Later," Roth snapped.
Rainey stepped from the vehicle and Roth motioned for her to follow him outside the tent. She watched him greet the elderly man from before and then the other men. She saw the women watching in the background. Roth spoke to the men in their language and gestured with his hands. The men laughed.
At least someone thinks he’s funny.
The elderly man called and motioned to one of the women and she came to stand beside him. He grinned at her, and Rainey could see the responsive grin in her eyes through the opening in her head covering. He seemed to be making introductions to Roth. Roth smiled and said something that made her laugh and her eyes light up.
Roth turned to Rainey. "Go with Tahnoon's wife, Nadia. She'll bring you back to me later."
You're starting to sound like a freaking sultan, thought Rainey. She threw him a scathing look and followed Nadia toward the other women. As before, except for the youngest girls, they all wore black veils with only their eyes peeking through. Shivers ran up Rainey’s arms. What had Roth gotten her into?
She entered the same tent as before. The women spread a small royal blue rug and gestured for her to sit. Rather than offend as she had the last time, she sat and accepted the drink handed to her. She was mildly surprised to sip sweet mint tea from a tiny glass. She pointed to herself and said, "Rainey." Then she pointed to the woman closest to her. The woman looked confused, and then realized what she was asking. The woman pointed to herself and said, "Halima." Rainey smiled, and one by one the women began pointing to themselves and saying their names. The group seemed to accept her and she felt ashamed of her previous standoffish behavior.
A Bedouin man called from outside the tent and Nadia left their group to lift the flap and join him. When she returned, she spoke to the women and they giggled.
"What?" Rainey laughed.
Halima went to a corner of the tent and return
ed carrying a black dress and black face veil decorated with red cross-stitches. She said something to Rainey with gestures. Rainey gave her a look that conveyed her confusion. The two women closest to Rainey urged her to her feet. They raised her hands and pulled the black dress over her head and clothing. Next, they placed the veil over her face. She peeked out the eye slits and laughed. Okay, I can play their dress-up game. Halima pointed to her own veil and said, "burqa." Rainey pointed to the veil she was wearing and repeated, "burqa." The women giggled and nodded.
Again, a man called from outside the tent, and Nadia motioned for Rainey to follow her. Rainey started to disrobe, but the women quickly stopped her, pushing her toward the tent flap. Confused, she walked outside. The women led her to an open area near some tethered camels. Several men standing near the camels began loosing them. The camels knelt in the sand. About half a dozen men climbed onto the backs of the camels. Rainey thought the sight very interesting. She looked for Roth. Scanning back and forth, her gaze stopped when it reached a tall, muscular Bedouin dressed in white layered robes and a white turban. Huh?
The women guided her toward him. "Why are we dressed like Bedouins, Roth?"
He ignored her and grabbed the reins of a camel. The other camels began to rise with Bedouins on their backs. Roth motioned her forward. She got that uneasy feeling again.
"Rainey, we’re going on a little adventure."
Rainey’s jaw dropped. But of course, no one could see her mouth because of her veil. She watched the camel kneel. She looked at the split saddle, apparently for two riders on the same camel. "No way," she whispered, feeling her breath bounce off the veil. Louder, she said, "There is absolutely no way I’m getting on that beast. I don’t know what kind of weird joke this is, but I am not, not, NOT, riding a camel to God knows where with you!" Her voice rose in volume until she was shouting.
The camel nonchalantly watched her while chewing something. Roth looked at her too, and shook his head. "I've said this so many times Rainey that I sound like a broken record. We can do this the easy..."
Rainey turned on her heel and stomped back toward the tents, stumbling when her toe caught in the long dress. She had just righted herself when she felt arms whisking her off her feet. She squealed and pushed at Roth’s chest. Before she could whack him, he lifted her robe and straddled her legs over the back portion of the saddle. He jumped in the front and the camel started to rise.
Rainey squealed again, only this time in fright. She was sure she was going to fall off the ungainly beast as it tilted sideways when it rose. Grabbing Roth by the waist she held on for her life. The animal stood erect and Roth urged it forward behind the other Bedouins on their camels.
"Where…where are we going?"
"Across the White Desert."
"Why?"
"There's something important to your research there."
She practically screamed, "What can possibly be important to my research in the desert! I want you to stop this animal and take me back to Bawiti! In fact, I demand that you take me back to the United States!"
"Rainey, I suggest you loose your death grip on my waist, settle back, and enjoy the ride. It will take us two days to reach our destination."
"Two days! No! You can’t make me go!"
"I can, and I am."
Rainey released her grip on Roth’s waist and started to pound his back. "I won’t go! I won’t go!" She slipped sideways in the saddle and had to grab his waist again to keep from falling."
The camels plodded forward in a caravan.
Chapter 9: Adventure
Roth could feel Rainey’s head lolling against his back. Her hands had gone slack and he held both of them in one of his against his stomach to keep her upright on the camel. He’d actually felt bad about springing their caravan travel on her. However, she'd left him no other option. If he’d told her beforehand, he would have had a spitfire on his hands. Roth smiled. For all her primness in dress, she was definitely a fiery woman. When his thoughts turned to the implications of that, he quickly suppressed them. He would not allow free reign to his imagination with her tightly tucked against his body.
They had been traveling for about two hours. Although hot, it was not dangerously so because of the spring season and Roth had made Rainey drink water often. Tahnoon halted his camel and their caravan began dismounting. When Roth’s camel bowed to the ground, the movement jarred Rainey awake.
"Wh-what’s happening?" She clutched his waist again.
"We’re stopping to drink and rest." He dismounted and reached to lift her. She didn't fight him.
"Awgh," she said.
He held her arms to steady her. She glared at him and jerked away. Her action sent her unstable body pitching backward. He caught her by the waist before she landed on her rear in the hot sand. The veil covering her face slipped askew and one eye peeked through.
Reaching for the burqa, she jerked it off and said, "It’s as hot as a frying pan out here!" She pushed his hands away from her waist and reached to lift the dress over her head.
"Don’t," Roth warned, and grabbed her hands to stop her. "The dress is protection. And even though you’re wearing street clothes underneath, it would be vulgar to remove it in the midst of these men. I’ll give you some water to drink and bathe your face. Then put the burqa back on."
He reached into a pouch on the saddle and pulled out two water canteens. Handing one to her, he opened the other and took a long swig. Looking around for Tahnoon, he said, "Stay here." Rainey opened her mouth in what looked to be the beginnings of a harangue, and he quickly walked away.
When he approached Tahnoon, the men parted, allowing him access to their leader. Tahnoon said, "We will set up temporary shelters, eat and rest for awhile. That way, we can travel longer. It will turn cold tonight, so be prepared. The woman will need to be wrapped in a blanket. Before darkness, we will erect our tents. We will arise at dawn and camp again at sundown tomorrow. Dawn of the next day, I will lead you to the Sacred Cave." Roth nodded his understanding.
He returned to Rainey who was pouring water down the inside of her garment. She held the burqa in her free hand.
"You're wasting water, which is never a good idea in the desert. Also, if you don’t want to suffer sunstroke, I suggest you put the burqa back on." He advised with a scowl.
"I have sunscreen on," she defied him.
Roth reached to grab the veil.
"Okay, okay." She jerked it over her head. "What are we doing now, besides baking in the sun?"
"The men are going to erect some temporary shelters so we can eat and rest. We'll continue when the weather cools. You should be happy it's not the height of summer."
"I’ll be happy when I’m back in the U.S. and away from you, Mr. Beowolf."
"Someday, Ms. Childress, your mouth is going to get you into trouble." He stalked away and helped the men erect the shelters.
* * *
Rainey sat under one of the shelters, a simple lean-to, and watched the Bedouins converse under the other two shelters. Roth had handed her some kind of dried cheese he'd poured water over to create a soupy mixture, along with a piece of flat bread. She’d started to decline the food, but he’d grabbed her hands and made her take the unappetizing concoction. He’d admonished her to eat. The food sat untouched beside her. She removed her burqa and pulled her knees to her chest, lowering her head and staring at the sand.
A shadow fell across her and she looked up. Roth started to sit beside her. Irritated, she scooted away from him.
"I'd advise you to eat. You’re going to get very hungry."
As if to verify his words, her stomach growled loudly. She ignored his advice, and said, "Exactly where are we going, and why?"
Tonight we’ll reach the Black Desert, camp there, and leave at dawn. Around noon tomorrow we’ll reach Crystal Mountain, and then in the evening we’ll arrive at our destination just beyond the White Desert."
"Are you making that up? Is there really a Black Desert and
a White Desert and a Crystal Mountain?"
"Absolutely."
"Why do they have such common names?"
"It’s very simple. The Black Desert is black, the White Desert is White, and the Mountain is made of crystal."
"That’s ridiculous."
"Alright, how’s this. The Black Desert and the White Desert are part of the Western Desert, which is part of the Sahara Desert. The Black Desert gets its name from magma that has oozed through cracks and covered the surface of the ground in a thin layer. In some places, however, it was thicker and created large lumps when it cooled. In areas where sand has blown away from the hills, there are thick basalt rocks exposed. The Black Desert is very stark and dramatic."
"And what about Crystal Mountain?"
"Between the Black Desert and the White Desert is Crystal Mountain. The word 'mountain' is actually misleading in the English language. In Arabic, it's referring to a formation. So Crystal Mountain is actually a series of rocks with crystals cascading down the sides. In the sunlight the rocks shimmer and create a prism affect."
Rainey gave him a disbelieving look and finally asked, "So, that leaves the White Desert. I can’t wait to hear why it’s white." She edged her remark with sarcasm.
Roth didn’t react to her tone. "Because of wind erosion, the White Desert has limestone chalk formations erupting from the sand. The shapes take the form of mushrooms, animal figures, mounds, and unnamed bizarre sculptures. The figures run the gamut from tiny to huge. In some areas, all you see is white. It's ethereal."
"From your descriptions, I take it you’ve been to these places?"
"Yes."
"When?"
"Some years ago."
"How many years ago?"
"Several."
"Several. Now that’s a creative answer. How many years are several?"