Lair of the Winged Monster

by Dan Hunter

  Putting his worries to the back of his mind, and bidding the High Priest farewell, Akori led Manu and Ebe out towards the desert sands. At first the warmth of the rising sun in the east was like an old friend greeting him. But as the hours of travel wore on, the desert grew hotter and hotter. By midday the heat had become unbearably harsh, and Akori suggested they stop for a water break. There was no shade, so they squatted down on some sandy rocks and passed around the bulging waterskins.

  “Akori, come and look,” said Manu, pointing to an image in one of his scrolls. “This is Sekhmet.”

  The Goddess had the body of a warrior woman and the head of a lioness. Her fierce jaws gaped, showing rows of sharp teeth. She was holding up one hand, as if to stop evil in its tracks. On the other arm she bore a shield.

  Akori felt awed. “I’m glad she’s on our side!” he said. “Look at her, Ebe!”

  Ebe gave Akori a knowing grin, as if to say, Yes, isn’t she amazing? Ebe must have seen images of Sekhmet at the Temple, Akori guessed. What an ally Sekhmet would be! But no wonder Egypt was descending into chaos with this powerful Goddess imprisoned and no longer able to keep order. As Akori thought of Sekhmet in prison, her great lioness head hanging in defeat, his awe gave way to sorrow and anger. For such a mighty Goddess to be locked up like a wild animal, caged and shamed... Set would surely answer for that, along with all his other evil deeds.

  “Don’t worry, I’m coming to set you free,” he murmured to Sekhmet’s image.

  Manu unrolled another scroll. “I think we’re going the right way, but I’m just going to check the map,” he explained.

  “How do you even make a map of a place like this?” Akori asked. “There are no landmarks! There’s no anything!”

  Manu pointed out across the desert. “Look at the rock formations! That one over there looks a bit like a sheep lying down, that one’s like a capsized sailing boat, and that one – no, the other one, the one that looks like a man’s nose – marks the way to the hidden fortress.”

  “So where’s the fortress on the map?” Akori said.

  Manu pointed silently at the map’s very centre. A wind from nowhere fluttered the map’s edges. As Manu began to roll up the scroll again, the world suddenly went dark.

  “What the...?” Akori looked up.

  Something huge passed between them and the sun, casting a vast shadow. The next moment, the sun was in his eyes and he could see nothing at all.

  Akori shielded his eyes and tried to see what had flown over them, but the sun was blinding him. Whatever it had been, it was monstrous in size. Perhaps bigger than a lion.

  “Did you see that?” he asked the others. “What was it?”

  Manu looked around, then pointed to the sky with a yell. Something enormous was swooping back in their direction, blotting out the sun. Akori saw huge wings beating and smelled something foul and rank. A blast of wind whipped up the sand, forcing him and Ebe to their knees. It was coming! He glimpsed a gaping beak, an eye as big as a round shield. Then the massive body roared past overhead. Gritty sand blew into Akori’s face. He looked up and saw the fiendish creature clearly for the first time. It was a vulture, the largest he had ever seen. It was circling above them, horribly silent for something so big. When vultures circled like that, Akori knew, they were waiting for something down below to die. And then they would come and feast.

  Ebe made a terrified yowling sound in her throat.

  Akori reached for his khopesh. “I’m not dead yet,” he snarled. “You want a fight, you’ll get one!”

  As if it had heard him, the vulture began swooping down towards them. This time it beat its wings so hard that a huge cloud of sand filled the air. Akori cried out as it stung his eyes. He lashed out wildly with his sword but it was no good – he couldn’t see a thing. He heard a thud and then a yelp and then slowly the sand cloud began to clear.

  Akori rubbed his eyes and watched as the huge shadow of the vulture sailed over the dunes away from them. He and Ebe got to their feet and dusted themselves down.

  Akori felt a surge of relief. “That was too close,” he gasped, turning round. “Right, Manu?”

  There was no answer, and no sign of Manu.

  “Manu?” he said again, feeling a sickening dread rising in his chest. He and Ebe looked around desperately. “Manu!”

  Ebe tugged at his sleeve, pointing at something.

  A single fallen sandal lay on the sand, half-buried where it lay.

  “Manu, where are you?” yelled Akori. He scrambled up a dune with Ebe close behind, hoping for a better view.

  There was no sign of Manu anywhere. Empty desert stretched as far as they could see. It could mean only one thing.

  “The vulture’s taken him! We have to rescue him!” Akori racked his brain. “If the vulture’s working for Set then it will be after me not Manu. When it realizes it’s got the wrong boy it’s going to be really angry – and it will come back. I’ll have to fight – somehow I’ll have to force it to bring Manu back.”

  He brandished his khopesh, feeling its reassuring weight in his hands. The sword had destroyed mummies, shattered stone, killed venomous serpents...it had even saved his life from the ravenous Sobek, the Crocodile God. But would it be able to help them against this new enemy?

  Ebe whined. She tugged at him again and pointed to the horizon. A distant black shape was winging its way towards them.

  “There it is!” Akori yelled. “Get ready to run, Ebe.”

  The vulture was closing in fast. Ebe’s eyes were wide with panic. Akori had told her to run, but there was nowhere for her to run to! Then he remembered the ring that Isis had given him. It gave the power of invisibility!

  “Ebe,” he said, “hold onto my arm and don’t let go!”

  Ebe clung on tight. He felt her sharp nails through his sleeve. The vulture was coming in for the kill, swooping low.

  “Lady Isis, Queen of Magic,” Akori prayed, “help us now!” He gave the ring a twist, hoping Isis would hear him.

  What happened next took him completely by surprise. His shadow vanished. One moment it was stretched out across the sand, and the next – nothing! Then Akori understood what had happened. The sun was shining right through them. Isis had heard him, and they were invisible! The vulture gave an angry croak. Confused, it sailed past above them. Another sound went by, like faint yelling, then that too was gone.

  “It can’t see us!” Akori whispered to Ebe.

  The vulture hovered above them. Stretching its long neck out, it hunted for its prey. It gave another croak, this time of frustration.

  Akori felt a grim satisfaction. The ugly thing would go hungry tonight. But what about Manu? He had to face up to the vulture to get his friend back. Then he heard the yelling again. It was coming from the vulture’s claw. Something was flailing about in the vulture’s grip. Manu! Thank the Gods!

  “Don’t worry, Manu!” Akori called out. “I’ll rescue you!”

  “Akoriiii!” Manu screamed. “Where are you? I can’t see you!”

  Akori had to get the vulture’s attention somehow. Maybe he could throw something – but what? His gaze fell upon his waterskin.

  He hefted the waterskin and threw it as high and far as he could. The moment it left his hand, it became visible. It flipped end over end and finally thumped into the sand at the foot of the dune.

  The vulture cawed in triumph. It plunged out of the sky, splaying its claws wide. Manu fell, arms and legs flailing, hit the ground and went tumbling down the sandy slope. The vulture tore at the waterskin, bursting it. Its huge beak ripped the leather into ragged strips.

  Manu stumbled to his feet. The fall had stunned him. He squinted around, looking for Akori. Behind him, the vulture pecked and tore. Dark blotches appeared on the sand as water gushed from the ruined waterskin.

  “Run!” Akori screamed at Manu.

  Manu looked around, completely confused. “Where are you hiding? Come out!”

  “It’s no good. We’re going to h
ave to grab him!” Akori told Ebe. “Come on, quick!” He set off at a run across the sand, Ebe hanging onto his arm and running alongside.

  The vulture took to the air again in a flurry of greasy feathers. There was nothing left of the waterskin now but scraps. Akori thought of what those claws could do to human flesh and put on an extra burst of speed.

  The vulture banked around in a wide curve and came swooping down. Manu just stood there in a daze. He seemed completely unaware of what was behind him.

  Akori ran. Above, the huge beak gaped and the vulture let out a furious shriek. The claws spread, ready to rip Manu apart.

  Akori slammed into Manu, catching him around the waist. Manu turned invisible instantly, just as all three of them fell over in a jumble.

  For a split second, great claws raked the sand. Then a cheated screech came from above. The vulture was winging back into the sky.

  Akori held on tight to each of his friends. “Don’t let go or it’ll see you!” he hissed to Manu. “We’re using the ring of invisibility.”

  “Oh, now I understand!” Manu said excitedly. “That’s why I couldn’t see you before!”

  “We need to get out of here,” said Akori. “When I say the word, everyone run together. Ready? Go!”

  They set off at a sprint across the hot sand. An angry squawk told them the vulture was still up there, hunting.

  Hand in hand, they ran until their chests burned and their feet ached. Once he thought they were safe, Akori looked back over his shoulder.

  To his horror, he saw the vulture bearing down on them, with a triumphant look in its eye!

  “It can see us!” he yelled. “Someone must have let go of me! Which of you was it?”

  “I didn’t!” Manu said. Ebe shook her head violently.

  “Then something must have broken the ring’s power!” Akori guessed desperately. “Or Isis herself has abandoned us!”

  Manu had no answer to that.

  The vulture was coming closer every second. It would not be tricked again. This time, Akori knew, those knife-like claws would draw blood.

  The gigantic vulture landed heavily in the sand. Its huge head lunged out, snapping wildly. Great wings buffeted Akori, sending up clouds of sand that made his eyes sting.

  “It’s going to kill us!” Manu howled.

  “Hold on! Don’t let go of me!” Akori said. The vulture was snapping here and there at random. “Look at it! It’s not sure where to strike! It knows we’re here somehow, but we must still be invisible.”

  The vulture seemed to hear him and a claw shot out, only just missing him.

  “Akori, do something!” Manu begged. “We’ve got no protection! We’ll be torn to bits!”

  “Use the bags!” Akori said. “Shield yourselves with them. They’re only leather but it’s better than nothing!”

  Akori and Ebe backed away from the vulture, holding their precious bags up in front of them to ward off the claws and the vicious, lashing beak. But Manu was moaning.

  “My scrolls are in there!” he whined. “I probably shouldn’t risk them...”

  Akori couldn’t believe it. “Manu, you have to—”

  He never finished the sentence. The vulture struck.

  With a dreadful ripping sound, Akori felt a claw tear into the front of his chest. A flood of something warm and wet splashed down his stomach. Akori knew right then he was as good as dead. He’d been mortally wounded. The claw had torn right through the bag and into his body. He would bleed to death out there and Sekhmet would lie in prison for ever. He touched his chest and his fingers came away wet. But it was only water, spilling from the torn waterskin and warmed by the desert sun, not his own blood!

  The vulture began attacking again. A claw lashed out and this time it hit home. Akori felt Manu’s whole body jerk and heard a dreadful scream. Manu had paid dearly for his devotion to his scrolls. He now had a ragged cut in his shoulder, and the vulture’s claw was splashed with blood. It croaked and the sound was like a cruel laugh.

  “No!” Akori yelled. He held his last bag up like a shield. The vulture pecked at him, eager for the kill.

  “How did that thing find us?” Akori asked Ebe angrily. “We were meant to be invisible!”

  Ebe gave a groan of despair and pointed down at the sand.

  Akori felt like the biggest fool in all creation. All the way they had come, three sets of tracks led across the desert. Why hadn’t he thought of that?

  “We were invisible, but we were leaving tracks! That’s how it found us! But that means the ring does still work...”

  Akori quickly twisted the ring off his finger and pressed it into Ebe’s hand. “Look after Manu for me,” he said. “I’ll try to lead that thing away.”

  Ebe frantically shook her head and made a high-pitched yowling sound.

  “I have to!” Akori insisted. “If I don’t, we’re all dead!”

  Without waiting to argue any further, he drew his khopesh and broke out of Ebe’s grip.

  Instantly the vulture’s head jerked up. It could see its prey clearly at last! Flapping up into the air, it gave chase.

  Akori ran. The desert swayed and lurched around him and the air was dry and harsh in his lungs, but he ran as hard as he could. He prayed his plan was working. All too soon, he felt wind from the vulture’s wings blowing cold on his sweat-soaked back. He glanced over his shoulder and saw it swooping down on him. It was now or never.

  With a mighty yell he spun around, khopesh in hand. “Come on!” he roared. “Come and get me! Here I am!”

  The vulture plunged down like the shadow of approaching death, claws spread wide for the killing blow. Akori waited, choosing his moment, and just as the vulture struck he hacked hard at its leg.

  The khopesh bit deep. The vulture gave a terrible, chilling scream of pain, sounding almost like a woman in agony. It flew up into the air, wrenching the khopesh from Akori’s grip. Akori braced himself for the next attack, but the creature was flying away.

  “Is that all you can take? Coward!” Within moments, the vulture was vanishing into the distance.

  Akori stood, hands on hips, laughing in happy disbelief. “Minions of Set, eh? You tell your master he can expect the same from me!” He heard a weak cheer from behind him. Manu was staggering across the sand, leaning on Ebe for support. He was clutching at his wounded arm. Blood welled between his fingers.

  “I think...you did it, Akori,” Manu gasped.

  “We’re safe for now,” Akori agreed. “We should rest!” He suddenly felt very tired and squatted down on his heels. “I don’t think I have a drop of sweat left in me. Who’s got the water?”

  “Akori?” Manu asked. He didn’t sound delighted any more. “Where’s your sword?”

  “Sword?” Without thinking, Akori groped for the blade, but there was nothing there. The leather knot hung loose. Far too late, he realized what had happened. He leaped to his feet and stared after the retreating vulture.

  “My khopesh! It’s still stuck in that thing’s leg!” Akori began to run – but he knew already there was no point. He couldn’t possibly catch up. There was nothing he could do. His enchanted golden sword, the gift of Horus, was lost.

  Slowly, Akori trudged back to Ebe. She put his ring back into his hand.

  “At least we’ve still got this,” he said gloomily.

  “And we’re still alive!” Manu said, trying to smile. His brown face was ash pale now. “That’s the most important thi—” He staggered forward and back, then fell over sideways like a rag doll.

  Akori ran to his side. Ebe ripped off Manu’s cloak.

  Manu’s wound was much deeper than they had realized. The vulture’s claws had slashed his flesh like a butcher’s knife. Blood was flowing steadily down his arm, dripping freely from his elbow and staining the sand.

  Manu looked down at the gaping wound. All at once, he seemed to realize how badly hurt he was. “I spoke too soon, didn’t I?” he stammered.

  “Just keep still!” Ak
ori said. “Ebe, tear off some cloth. We need to bandage this.”

  Beside him, Ebe began ripping long strips off the bottom of her tunic.

  “You’re going to be fine,” said Akori, laying his hand on Manu’s forehead. “Come on. It’s only a scratch!”

  But as Ebe laid a bandage across the wound, blood soaked through it instantly.

  “Akori,” whispered Manu, his voice deathly quiet. “I have to ask you something.”

  “Yes?”

  “If I die, don’t leave my body here for the vultures,” Manu pleaded. “If you do...my spirit won’t ever find rest.”

  Akori grabbed Manu’s hand. “Don’t talk like that! You’re not going to die, not when I have the Scarab of Anubis! Why didn’t I think of it before?”

  Akori tore the bandage away, then quickly took the little scarab pin from the pouch at his waist and placed it on the wound. “Anubis,” he prayed, “jackal-headed Lord, please help us! Heal our friend!”

  The scarab twitched. Its golden wings flickered as it came to life – and then it became a blur of motion, whirring back and forth across the wound like a weaver working on a loom. Akori held his breath – the Scarab of Anubis had healed Ebe before, but she had not suffered a wound like Manu’s. Would the God’s gift be powerful enough to heal such a deep cut?

  Manu sucked in breath through his teeth, flinching in pain. The scarab darted here and there, moving almost too fast to see. Slowly, the patter of blood drops stopped.

  “I think it’s working!” Akori said. Ebe held Manu’s other hand tight, looking into his face. Then, to their amazement, Manu giggled.