Blueblood

Story: Blueblood

Chapter 28 Amir

Author: Eric McQueen (mcqueen.richarderic@gmail.com)

Adult Readers, Sexual Situations, Sex

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Before the old stories in Europe about Vampires, there was a more ancient world of vampires that our team is brought into. Amir

We did go to sleep but woke up after a few hours to reset our bodies to this time zone. Now, I felt that lag because of the changes.

We woke after sunset, but it was important we try to adjust. "Why are we orienting ourselves?" I asked Colin as he rolled to regain a comfortable spot. "Vampires are night creatures."

"Not this one," Colin said with his voice muffled in the pillows. I heard him sigh and roll over and then sat up. "This is one time I really need that coffee."

I gave him a surprised look. "Am I to understand all the other times you didn't need the coffee?"

He reached up and was scratching his messed up, sleep tossed head of hair. "I can't even think right." He grinned. "I guess I need my caffeine fix."

I smiled as I kissed him. "We'll get that for you. We need to dress first." I ran my hand over the bed. "This is a comfortable mattress." I smiled touching the sheets. "I wonder what this is. It's very nice."

Colin chuckled. "What else? Egyptian cotton!"

I chuckled back. "Of course." I looked out the window at the night sky. "We should check to see if Amasis replied to our notification."

Colin got up. "I'm sure we'll hear from him soon." He stretched. "It will probably be like Edwin. He'll send someone to us."

We got in the oversized shower. Yes, together. It was almost big enough for a whole ball team. "Whoever this person was..." I said looking around. "He had money."

We headed out to the dining areas. We were some of the very few up at this time, but Mark was up. He was looking at fixtures on the lamps and checking behind other things.

"Mark?" Colin asked watching him. "What are you doing?"

Mark looked up and smiled. "Looking for surveillance devices."

"You think the house is bugged?" I asked.

"Of course," Mark said logically. "This house is amazing! They just happen to have this place for us. Fully staffed and this..." he held his arms out to engulf the house, "...is a palace!" He looked at us seriously. "Yes, I think it's bugged."

Colin nodded with a smile. "I hope it is."

Mark was not ready for Colin's remark. "What!? You want them to overhear and see what we do here?"

Colin nodded again. "Sure." He smiled. "What will they see? We're doing what we say we are. We are using our program to translate hieroglyphics. We don't have state secrets. And we are looking for vampires."

Mark was startled. "You want them to know that!?"

Colin gave a shrug and nod. "Sure." He grinned. "They might already know about the vampires. We do. They will learn that. If they don't believe in vampires, they'll think we're just crazy. Am I what I say I am? They know that already." He took my hand. "Other than perhaps seeing Devon and I loving each other..." He looked at Mark. "You are loving Stan. We are not doing anything of value to their government or endangering ourselves or others." He laughed. "I hope they enjoyed the show. Yes, I hope the house is bugged."

Mark was thinking about what Colin said. It took him a moment or two as his eyes moved left and right as he thought before he nodded. "Okay." He shrugged and walked back to wherever he was with Stan.

I pulled Colin's hand to my lips. "You want them to know," I stated, not as a question.

Colin smiled. "We got cooperation from our FBI. We got cooperation with MI5 for those in Great Britain. If Tad Morsi is connected to the government...and we know his brother is in the government. We'll find out."

"And the servants here?" I asked as a woman was going through the corridor.

Colin shrugged again. "I hope they are all agents."

"And if they...or even the government here has a connection to Amasis?"

Colin smiled. "Even better."

When the sun did rise, we called at a decent time to Tad Morsi and asked if we could come to the museum that day. We would test the program and computer. Tad agreed.

Stan had set up the portable CPU in the secured room and he now had the key. We took various items and devices with us. I knew about hieroglyphics, but I couldn't begin to know one symbol! Did they go from right to left? Left to right? Straight down?

We were escorted to an area of the museum where they had the writings.

Tad Morsi waved at the various scrolls and plagues that were covered with writing. "Here they are." He motioned to another area. "We have the translations over..."

Colin waved his hand at that. "We don't want to know what it says by someone else." He said opening his laptop and booting it. "This will be the first test." He smiled at Tad. "We'll find out if the program can do it as well translating." He handed me the scanner. "And you will do the scanning."

My eyebrows rose. "I will?" I took the scanner. "I will." I nodded and walked to the first scroll. I did the scan and we all looked at the screen as the Delkenzie program worked on what it got. We watched it go through the various symbols and began creating sentences in English on the screen. "It seems to be working."

Colin nodded. "It's going through syntax and making a readable sentence."

Tad Morsi watched with eyes widened. "It's fast."

"The thing is..." Colin smiled. "Can Devon read this and get it right on the screen. He doesn't read this."

"He doesn't know this?" Tad Morsi asked.

I shook my head. "No clue." I grinned as I was starting to be able to read it. "This is...a recipe?"

Tad laughed. "It is!" He gave a shrug and a nod. "Well, it's a remedy."

I turned my head as if that would help. "What hyssop?"

Tad grinned more. "It's for upset stomachs. It's a plant that grows in the water here. It's roughage for the stomach. It's boiled down into a stew or broth, it literally scraps your insides and if there's a blockage or just to cleanse the stomach and bowels, it will do that."

"And these other ingredients?"

Tad smiled. "Flavor." He said simply. He held his hands up. "I'm sorry, but I left that here on purpose. To see if you were really able to do this."

Colin nodded. "I hope we passed the first test."

Tad nodded again. "With flying colors."

Colin smiled. "Well, Devon can't read the original, but we were able to tell you what it says." He hit some commands on the computer. "This remedy can be translated to metric, too." He looked at the many scrolls and other samples. "Do we translate all you're already translated? Or can we try something not translated? Or even something you have problems seeing?"

Tad led us to some other samples. "There are writings that haven't faded. They're just missing. Portions of the scroll or writings were lost through time."

Colin laughed. "We can't help you there. We can't read what isn't there."

We spent most of the day translating what they already had translated to assure Tad Morsi the program worked. I learned there were different types of writing. Hieroglyphics were formal writings. There was also Hieratic, Demotic and Coptic! One was for every day, the other was for business and legal issues and the last was to bring other languages and sounds in Hieratic. Whatever. I just found out the program worked! Even Tad Morsi was impressed. I even forgot again why we were really here! I was fascinated!

We finally called it a day for that day and went back to the house we were staying in. Colin was checking his messages. Nothing.

"He knows we're here," I said.

Wayne frowned. "He's biding his time?"

Colin shrugged. "Keeping an eye on us." He said waving at the computer. "We could be...escorted any time."

Stan nodded. "I'll be on top of it."

It was later that night when we were in our room. We sat together on the sofa before a huge fire in the fireplace.

We both turned at a knock on our door.

Colin looked at the door. "Come in."

A young man I'd seen working here came in. "Excuse me." He said coming in a bowed slightly. "I am Amir."

He was a nice-looking man in his late twenties. Dark hair like all Egyptian men about six feet tall. His skin was distinctive as was with most Egyptians. A light color that wasn't white, but...

"Is there something we need to know, Amir?" Colin asked.

"I will get to the point," Amir said smiling. "Amasis wants to meet with you." He smiled. "I will take you to him."

Colin turned slightly. "I see." He stood up with me. "Let's go." He waved to the door.

Amir smiled and shook his head. "It won't be that simple." He produced a little vial of liquid. "You must take this first."

I chuckled. "Just to be clear," I said walking toward Amir. "We came for this reason. We're not supposed to know where we go or how we get there?"

Amir nodded. "Yes."

Colin walked closer to Amir. "You're not a vampire." He sniffed near Amir and looked him in the eyes. "We're to simply take what could be poison and simply come with you."

Amir nodded again. "Yes." Colin nodded slowly. He took the vial. "Is this for both of us or just for me?"

Amir brought out another vial. "For one of you." He held the other vial. "The other vial is for the other." He looked sheepish. "If you don't mind. Take it in the car. I don't want to drag you both through the house."

I nodded and took the other vial. "That would be cumbersome."

"Not to mention the others on our team would come to our rescue." Colin nodded. He thought and looked at Amir. "You know?" He handed the vial back to Amir. "On second thought, no."

I was startled when Colin said that. "No?"

Colin nodded. "No." He said again simply. "Whoever this Amasis thinks he is, I know what I am. What we are." He waved to me and him. "I am a vampire. So, is Devon. We're out in the sun. Is Amasis? We have what he wants. I understand he may not be able to travel in daylight. Fine. But I will not allow Devon or me or anyone here to be spirited away in the night to places unknown to meet someone unknown."

Amir looked surprised. "He's willing to meet with you."

Colin nodded. "And I want to meet with him." He frowned. "But not like this." He shook his head as he began pacing again. "I'm tired of all this...paranoia! I don't want anything from him. I can go to the airport and go back home just fine." He looked at Amir. "No. We won't be taken. We'll come to him! I have something he might want. I am a vampire. Everyone with me, except four of them, are vampires. We go in the sun; we eat and we have lives. It's in the posts on the internet what we have worked. The United States is hard because it's so spread out. England is gaining control. Now, we're here offering that help to you. He doesn't trust me? What reason has he given for us to trust him?" Colin shook his head. "No. We won't take this. We won't be kidnapped or taken to wherever he is. If he wants to rejoin the world. He will take all of us, or we just go back to the United States."

Amir looked worried. "He will not like this."

"And?" Colin asked. "I don't like this!" He held up the vial and threw it down on the ground where it shattered. "I won't do this. He can send us information as to where we can meet..." Colin fumed. "Or any potential deal is off."

"You heard him." I looked at Amir's worried face. "If we don't come with you, will there be problems for you?"

Amir looked at me. "No, not really." He shrugged. "Amasis isn't used to not getting what he wants."

"Few people get whatever they want." I grinned. "That's not you, it's us. Tell him that."

Colin walked over to Amir and moved him to the door. "We'll wait for his response. Tell him the old ways are done for us now. He can either join us or not. Either way, we're fine." He moved Amir out the door and shut it.

I smiled at Colin as I got near him. "That wasn't a bluff, was it?"

Colin shook his head. "No." He smiled at me. "Not trusting is our nature. That needs to change and he should be the one to do it to win our trust. I don't have to do a damned thing to win his." He looked at the door. "We need to tell the others what just happened and they need to be on alert."

We told everyone with us what happened as gathered for a meal.

Mom looked worried. "Do you think they'll try other drastic means?"

Colin shrugged. "Maybe, but it won't work."

"Colin's right," Mark said. "He and George have what they want. They'll be back."

Colin smiled. "Yes, they will." He looked at everyone at the table. "Everyone goes." He looked at Stan. "We'll let Ruben know and he can keep track of us by satellite. Also, Edwin. If help is needed, it will have to come from them."

For two days, we heard nothing. Colin and I spent time with Tad Morsi as he had us go through writings that still needed translating. Partial scrolls were read, too.

"This program works!" Tad Morsi said at last.

"It has for three days." Colin pointed out. "Are there tombs or caves that need reading? We need to test in the field."

Tad Morsi nodded. "There is a new find we're going through. He wasn't a king or anything, but the walls are faded. We can test that scanner and the program there." He smiled. "It's sort of remote."

Colin looked a little worried. "How far away?"

"Two hours by vehicle."

"If we fly?" Colin asked.

Mr. Morsi smiled. "Fifteen minutes to half an hour?"

Colin nodded. "I'll make arrangements."

We returned to the house just before sunset. Colin found Mom and Willie had gone downtown. George and Burke were upstairs doing...whatever. Stan, Mark, Chuck, Alex, and Gabriella were in the pool.

"Anything new?" Stan asked as he lounged on a floating lounge.

"No." Colin shook his head.

Mark surfaced next to Stan. "We're bored."

Colin raised his eyebrows. "Bored?"

Mark grinned. "Well, yeah. You're off doing...whatever. What do we do?"

I chuckled. "You're living in a palace. There's nothing to do?"

Stan shook his head. "Not really."

Colin gave a frown. "Poor babies." He said in mock pity.

That's when Amir came in the pool area. "Amasis asked you to meet him." He produced a map. Unrolling it, he brought it over to Colin and me. "Here." He pointed on the map.

Stan swam over to the side and came out of the pool and leaned over the map by us.

I shoved Stan away a little. "You're dripping on the map."

"And us." Colin chuckled.

Stan grinned. "It's water, it will evaporate." He looked at the map. "Sure, I'll scan it. I'll have the coordinates in no time."

Amir looked cautious. "You can?"

Stan nodded. "Sure. These two towns are on the map. To get to this..." Stan looked closer. "...peak, I just have to triangulate and we'll be there."

Colin smiled at Amir's surprise again. "When do we go here?"

"Tomorrow night," Amir said. He looked at Stan. "You can do that?"

Stan nodded. "It's not hard." He couldn't understand why Amir didn't understand that. "It's science." He looked at Amir. "You do understand that don't you?"

Amir nodded. "I guess."

Stan frowned. "Do you use a computer? You went to school, right?"

Amir shook his head. "I went to school at home. My mother taught me. I do use a computer. I send Amasis' emails."

"From your home?" Stan asked.

Amir nodded. "From where I live."

Colin looked at Amir. "Tell this...Amasis. We'll be there."

We went with Tad Morsi to the remote site and I scanned the writing there on the walls. Once that was done, Colin and I were done. The computer did its job reading the writings and we even printed out the translation. We also said we had a little business to take care of, we might have to go somewhere but would be back.

"Business?" Dr. Morsi asked.

"Definitely." Colin nodded.

Stan did scan the map to Buddy and used his own digital map to see the land better. He then saw the topography and saw the terrain. "It is a few miles away. I used the two towns or villages and the distance Amir put down in kilometers...looking at the map, it will take a couple of hours to get there through the desert. Your destination should be here." He said pointing on another map. He looked at Mark. "A few hours before sunset should have you there on time." He pointed to the map. "This is all desert."

Colin nodded. "We'll be in SUVs. We got those big balloon tires; we get through anything." He shrugged. "We'll be ready for whatever." He looked at George. "We'll need our sun guns and all the equipment. Serum?"

"I'll bring it," George said.

Colin gave Stan a smile. "And unfortunately, you have to stay and man Buddy."

Stan nodded. "Yeah, I knew that." He sighed.

Mark nodded also. "And he can't be alone, so I stay, too?"

Colin nodded. "Yep."

Mark put his arm around Stan. "It will just be you and me here."

"I'll be working!" Stan smiled. "But glad you're here. I'll keep a fix on your location the whole time." He said to Colin.

Mark became serious. "But keep in touch!" He held his satellite phone up.

It was three in the afternoon when we headed out. The driving was done by Colin and Chuck. The SUVs had large tires for traveling in loose sand. We didn't know what we'd find. We made our way with me looking at a computer screen to see the best route and whether we were heading in the right direction. The computer was determining the best route as we left a "road" behind. I had visions of camel ridden caravans going across the sands.

To my surprise, it was mostly rock where we went. It was after sunset when we got close to the area we were supposed to meet Amasis.

"I assume we're being watched," Colin said to everyone and no one.

I nodded and looked at the map again, zeroing in. The mountain was a big pile of stone, windblown sculptures in the rock of a mound that stood several hundred feet. It could be a forgotten tomb. It wasn't too large, so we traveled around the whole thing. Colin pulled to a stop and put the SUV in park.

It was night now, but the stars were out and the moon was half full. It was a few minutes later we saw three dark figures come out from somewhere.

"Here we go." Colin clipped his translator on and turned it on. We all did. The earpieces in our ears, we were ready.

When the figures got closer, we saw one was Amir. He was dressed bare-chested but had a white cloth around his waist and a gold belt. He carried a tall...something with a wide blade. He had on a folded head covering in a blue cloth. Around his neck was a decorative something in gold. He also had a sword strapped to his waist. He was clearly a guard. The other two men were dressed like him, with some other decorative neck ware. The rank? Amir bowed slightly. "Amasis will see you now. If you drive this way, we'll show you where you can secure these vehicles." He turned and began walking away.

Colin started the SUV and we did follow Amir. The truth was, if he hadn't led us, we never would have found the entrance to this cave. I guessed it was a cave. It did not look man made, or maybe it was to make it easier to hide. We drove around an outcropping and turned back in. Never would we have seen the cave opening. We drove deep into this cave, the headlights showing where to drive. The floor of this...cavern was bumpy, but well-traveled by foot. Then I saw there were torches as we got further in. Amir held his hand up for us to stop and we got out. Then he turned to the other two men and spoke to them. I glanced at my portable screen and saw the computer working on what Amir had said. He continued to speak to these other two men, who walked behind our vehicles, took a stance, and held their spears firmly. No one would get these vehicles!

"They're speaking an ancient form of Arabic," I said quietly to Colin. "The computer at home is searching for any spoken form and getting the resources."

Colin nodded at me and smiled. "I hadn't thought to do that. Good thinking."

I grinned and pulled his portable screen up. "But you did." I showed him the screen as it worked on the language. "Buddy will be accessed by all of us," I whispered. I looked again at the screen as it needed more information. "We need more input."

"Amir," Colin said making Amir look at him. "Could you say more in that language you used with those guards?"

Amir looked at us puzzled. "Why?"

"So, we can learn it," I said. "Is this the language that Amasis uses?"

He nodded. "He can speak a little English, but I translate for him. That's why I send the emails. He cannot read English or write in that language."

Colin smiled. "But we will speak in his if you give us more."

Amir looked doubtful. "What should I say?"

"Talk about your day," Colin suggested. "Or tell us about Amasis."

Amir began talking. I could see a few words appear on the screen, but it was still working. "This is an old form of Arabic," I said to the others who were looking at their own screens. I smiled when the screen soon came up with complete sentences. I grinned. "You just told us about what you had for lunch," I said and heard it spoken from the speaker on my device. Amir looked shocked again.

"You guys eat camel?" Colin asked and I heard it in the old Arabic.

Amir's eyes widened. "Yes, but only young ones. The older ones are a little tough. It's pretty good." He grinned. "Amasis will be pleased with this."

"We have the backup batteries." I grinned at Colin.

Wayne was right behind us. "We have the solar chargers, but we need the sun for that to work." He looked at the surrounding rock of the cave. "I feel like I'm back in a mine."

I patted his arm. "It will be fine." I chuckled.

Amir led us deeper in the tunnel. We traveled a long way. Torches were lit at various points. Then the torches became small bowls of metal that burned brighter. The ground now was not a slant like it had been, but steps that at last flattened out to a floor that had been smoothed down. Going in more, the cave tunnel widened and then suddenly, we were in a vast cavern with a very high ceiling that was jagged rock, but before us lay a polished stone floor. It was like someone poured liquid rock from wall to wall and it was frozen solid and it shined. There was a decorative pattern to the dark stone floor of a large starburst. Then we saw what had to be gold thrones sitting on a raised section of floor. There were two thrones at the other end unoccupied. Beside the thrones were tall gold lamps that burned with a flame. Two grand statues of a gold something, it had the head of a dog or some canine. A jackal? It had the body of a human male garbed with the cloth in gold around it's waist like Amir had on. They also held spears.

"Oh, boy," Colin grumbled to me only. "Whoever this person is...he has a very high opinion of himself."

I nodded. We watched as several people came from behind the throne dressed in white, with the decorative neck pieces. Four were females and two were males. The men were bare-chested like Amir. Like Amir, they were handsome. All of them. The women were very pretty and the men were very handsome, but clearly Egyptian. The men had shaved heads. The women had long black hair that had gold bands in their hair. Not one of them was a vampire. A man and woman came from behind these people and they were vampires. They both had the eyes of vampires and even though their skin pigment was dark like Egyptians, the skin was paler than the others. "This must be the bad version of the Ten Commandments," I said to Colin who smiled at me. "Or a weird episode of Stargate: SG1." That made him chuckle.

"You and TV and movies." Colin said. "I have an addiction to coffee you tease me about?"

The man had on the headdress of a pharaoh and the woman had a crown of gold. He was bare-chested, but he had more around his neck and waist. He also had those two things I would find out was a crook and flail later. I looked it up. Even though he was a vampire, he was very, very handsome and became a vampire in his thirties. The headdress hid the fact that his head was also shaved. He had a nice chest with no hair of any kind on it. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Supermodels should look as good! She looked to be in her early to mid-twenties. Her long dark hair fell below her shoulders and she wore a white gown. Also, a wide neck piece covered the front. She sat, but the man remained standing.

"I am Amasis." The man said in a loud voice. He waved to the woman on the throne. "My wife, Queen Nabia." He said it in English.

Colin walked a little closer and the two males came down to stand between Colin and Amasis. Colin chuckled. "Sorry, I didn't think of the protocols." He said quietly, but his translator said in old Arabic louder.

Amasis' eyes widened as he heard it. "You speak my language?"

Colin shook his head. "I don't, but this does." He held the translator out a little.

Protocol or not, Amasis came down staring at the translator. "What magic is this?" He asked amazed.

Colin shook his head again. "It isn't magic. It's science. We had Amir teach this device to speak your language."

Amasis looked at Colin and sniffed. Then he walked past Colin to me and then looked at the others with us. "All but two of you are...like me." He looked at Colin. "But not like me. How?"

Colin waved to George. "This man came up with a medication we all take." He brought George forward. "He can explain better why we're no longer like you."

George looked questioning at Amasis. "Do you know what you are?" Amasis frowned. "I am a resident of the Otherworld."

"You consume blood," George said. "You must drink that daily. Isn't that true?"

He waved at the others on his raised dais. "They provide me with my nutrients; as they do with Queen Nabia."

George nodded. "You don't know about the venom or what you became?"

Amasis frowned. "I am a god." He said simply.

Colin rolled his eyes and muttered to me. "Here we go." Colin walked forward. "How long ago did this...trip to the Otherworld happen?"

Amasis looked around. "I've always been here."

Colin nodded. "We were all like you are now." He waved at Amasis. "Are we gods as well?"

"You're here." Amasis reasoned. "You must be something like that. How else would you get here?"

Colin shook his head. "We're from a whole other world." He looked at Amasis. "Do you know about this world?" Colin pointed down to the ground. He waved at the others there. "These people are human. Where did they come from?"

Amasis looked at his servants. "They were sent to serve me. Every so often new ones come to take the place of those less worthy." He looked at Colin. "Why are you asking me these questions?"

"To explain what we do and what we are, we need to understand what you know about your life," Colin said. "Do you ever go above?" He asked pointing up through the cavern roof.

"I cannot go above," Amasis said.

"But we can," Colin said. "We can make it possible for you to do the same, but we need to instruct you."

"We need a little history from you," George said.

Colin looked at the people here. "How are you feeding these people? They have to eat. They have color, meaning they go out above. Where do they live?"

Amasis looked at the others. "They come and work. Others come at different times and it rotates."

"How do they do that?" I asked.

"There are tunnels they go through." He waved at his wife. "She is from those tunnels. I gave her the gift of life for this Otherworld."

Colin nodded. "You bit her." He took a deep breath. "Do you know the word vampire?" Only the translator didn't have that word.

Amasis' eyebrows came together. "I do not know this...vampire."

Colin looked at Amir. "How can he not know?" He asked Amir in English. "I sent the message about us. How can he not know?"

Amir nodded. "We have gotten written messages for several generations. Only I was shown how to get them and respond by the one trusted before me." He shook his head. "I do not know of the ones except for the one you sent us."

Colin shook his head. "You didn't see the one I sent through the Internet?"

"I have heard of this Internet, but I don't know this message. It must not have able to be seen. There are some that don't come through. I responded to what I received."

"Oh, boy," I said to Colin. "He doesn't know what he is."

"He may not know what a vampire is," I suggested. "Even Amir may not know. English isn't his first or second language."

George nodded. "It would be the same as going through the streets of Pompeii warning them of the volcano before it erupted. There is no word for volcano yet. They didn't know what it meant."

I nodded, "Just like that episode of Doctor Who when they traveled to 79 A.D. and Pompeii, they would say volcano, but no one knew what they were talking about."

"What!?" George balked.

I waved at George, "Never mind, I'll explain later. Amir saw the word vampire, which could be in English or any other European language and thinks it must be the word for a god." I shrugged. "Their language is older than when the oldest English ever even began."

"How long has you been down here?" Colin asked Amasis.

Amir looked at Amasis concerned. "Forgive me." He bowed to Amasis and spoke in old Arabic. Then he looked at Colin. "I do not know how long. He's always been here. He had many wives." He thought. "It's said he had a thousand; just not all at one time."

"A thousand!?" Colin looked at Amasis shocked. He spoke again in old Arabic. "You've had a thousand wives?"

Amasis nodded. "Some were like these are now." He pointed to his servants that were human. "I gave the gift to a couple, as I did with Queen Nabia."

Colin looked at Amir. "How can he not know what he really is?"

Amir shrugged. "He knows what he is. He's a god."

"How is he supporting all of you?" Colin asked. He waved at the gold. "I see gold, but how does he support these people?"

Amir shrugged. "There were more servants before. There were soldiers." He explained. "They would seize and take what is needed. Our treasury is well stocked."

I walked over to Amir. "Fine. You know what he really is."

Amir shook his head. "I know what he is." He shrugged. "I read this word vampire. Doesn't it mean god? I assumed there were other lesser gods that wanted to be greater gods. I contacted you to make Amasis a greater god."

Colin walked over to Amir. "But you were working in the house we were staying in. You were out in the world. You know this isn't the afterlife or Otherworld."

Amir looked at the Queen. "I know what my mother taught me." He waved at Queen Nabia.

I nodded. Here was the age thing again. She looked several years younger than Amir. "I see."

"I was raised to do this," Amir said simply. "So were they." He pointed to the other Egyptians with him. "The guards as well."

"You're in contact with other groups," I said to Amir. "You tell him what they say?" I pointed to Amasis.

Amir nodded. "I maintain contact with the others, I can read some of their languages like I do English. We had the contact in the past. They received things written on parchment or paper. Now, a man told me about this email. I had a man I thought was a friend set it up for me." He looked sad. "He was killed in a conflict near here." He frowned. "But he was a thief!"

I walked to Colin. "This may take a while."

Colin nodded. "It's going to." He sighed. He looked at Amasis. "So, you're Amasis?"

Amasis nodded.

"THE Amasis?" Colin wanted to clarify.

"Named after one that died before I was born," He said, "when I was in the world."

I frowned. "That was over twenty-five hundred years ago." I hissed at Colin.

Colin nodded. "Yes. We've got nearly three thousand years of history to tell him about."

"And tell him what he really is," I added. I shook my head. "Two thousand years below ground? I'd go crazy!"

Colin nodded. "Maybe he has." He walked closer to Amasis and the two males stepped in front of Colin. "Come on, guys!" He said to the guards. "If we wanted to hurt him, what would you do? We want to help him! Why do you think we're here?"

Amasis looked at the men and nodded his head away for them to back off. "They are my protectors."

Colin nodded. "I have them, too." He waved at Shelly and Chuck. "I also have the ones like me. They don't just protect me, but all of us." He smiled. "We want to help you." He said to Amasis. "We'll begin teaching about the real nature of this world."

Amasis nodded. "You have been out there. I have not." He looked at his surroundings. "If I can leave here, that would be wonderful. I've been through the tunnels, but I can't go up." He smiled at us. "Of course, you must stay as my guests." He chuckled. "I haven't had that many guests." He looked at Burke. "I had a few down here with hair like yours. They wore strange clothing, too. But they were military."

I nodded. "Nazis?" I speculated to Colin. "That was a while ago, wasn't it?"

Amasis nodded. "It was just a while, but they didn't speak my language. You do." He looked at our translators. "They didn't have your science magic."

We talked some more but was beginning to get near dawn. There was no sun down here, but there was still a schedule. Amasis took us to another chamber where showed he had food prepared.

"I understand you eat," Amasis said.

"We do." I patted Colin's stomach. "Some more than others."

Colin looked warily at Amasis. "This man is my husband." He wanted to see if that bothered Amasis.

Amasis nodded. "Some of my wives were male." He wasn't bothered at all. I tapped the translator to see if I heard right.

The food was pretty good! Well-cooked and tasty. We showed Amasis our devices which fascinated him. He wanted to know how it worked. How do you explain to someone who didn't even seem to know about electricity? Nabia didn't say much. She hardly spoke at all but listened. My mother and Gabriella came to speak with her. She spoke in hushed tones and not much even to them. Nabia knew Mom and Gabriella were vampires like she was...or had been like she was.

Later we were shown where we would sleep. The chamber Colin and I were taken to was pretty big. The floor again was smooth like stone poured over the cave floor and gleamed. There were a lot of pillows and coverings to keep warm, not that it was cold underground. It looked comfortable.

"Wow." Colin sighed sitting on a thick pillow and nearly landed on the ground. "Whoa." He chuckled as he steadied himself. Then bounced a few times. "This is comfy."

But I was thinking about what we'd seen and learned. "I can see how this society evolved."

Colin looked up at me and pointed out of the chamber. "That guy is the real Amasis!" He rolled his eyes. "I thought my being two hundred was old, but if he is, he's ancient!"

I nodded. "But these people serving him aren't!" I began pacing as Colin did in a circle as I thought. "They lived in the world! How can they not know? Amir came and went those many miles. He got there by camel!?"

Colin leaned back on his elbows and smiled. "We'll have to find out."

"And if he granted this gift to other wives...where are they? Are they still around?" I asked. "He doesn't even know he is a vampire! He thinks this is the afterlife and he's a god!"

Colin nodded. "I heard. He does think he's in his afterlife."

"And Amir?" I asked. "He's smart. He got this friend to hook up something to get emails, but Amir is pretty unsophisticated on many things!"

Colin nodded. "Whose mother is now Queen!"

"Which means she was turned after Amir was born," I said. "Where is his natural father?"

Colin shook his head. "I have no clue." Then he grinned as I walked past him thinking more in my circle. He grabbed me down and threw me on the pillows. "The problem for you is there aren't any instant answers. You're used to hitting a browser and the answer is delivered to you." He smiled. "We'll have to get to know them." He chuckled. "There were areas in the South where homes didn't have electricity until the 1960s or 1970s! Or plumbing! This area is even more isolated!"

I nodded having heard that. "There still are." I grinned. "Wait. You didn't have plumbing at Wentworth?"

"Nope. We didn't have electricity."

"Plumbing," I growled. "I know you couldn't have electricity. You didn't have plumbing?"

"Oh," he smiled. "No, the old place didn't have that. Pumps and outhouses." He smiled. "If it was just pee, a chamber pot."

My eyes widened. "You didn't have toilet paper then either?"

He shook his head. "No. We had shitrags!" He grinned more. "If they were clean and available, that is. Why do you think it was important to have a bath before sex?" He brightened. "Now, the bidet! That was a great thing in Europe and fancy houses in New York of mansions in other places. Rinsed your ass clean!"

I grinned but groaned. "That's disgusting!" I laughed.

"We don't know how isolated these people are. We drove a long way through the desert. They might not have electricity yet or if they do, no TV." Colin reasoned. "Amir does. We need to find out how and how he got to work and back."

"How is that going to help us find those other vampires? I know the answer is here." I said to his smiling face.

"We'll have to find out," Colin said simply with a shrug. "And you will be the one to talk with Amasis, Nabia, and Amir."

I looked surprised. "Me?"

Colin rolled his eyes. "Yes, you." He grinned. "No one can resist the Devon charm." He smiled kissing me.

I pushed him back a little. "You're not bothered by this?"

Colin shrugged. "Sure, I am, but worrying over it isn't going to get the answers." He smiled. "Nabia was gorgeous."

My eyes widened. "You think so?"

Colin nodded. "Sure. For a second she even tempted me! Now, Amasis, he was scrumptious!" He grinned a little evilly.

My eyes widened even more. "Is he?"

"You think so, too!" Colin said. "I'll be letting you get close to Amasis and Amir and Nabia. They're all tempting."

I grinned. "Nah." I said pulling Colin closer. "They don't have what you do that I love," I said slipping my hand in his shirt. "They had nice chests, but yours is so much nicer," I said as my fingers went through his chest hair. "And there's one more thing."

Colin grinned. "What's that?"

"I love you."

Colin smiled. "I know. I love you, too."

I grinned kissing him deeper. "I know." Then my hands went to the pillow we were on. "This is comfy!"

Colin pulled his shirt off. "Let's test it out!"

We were definitely in another world now. We were underground, but we contacted Stan and Mark and told them we were fine. There was nothing in these rocks to prevent us from making contact. They reported no problem on their end. Colin sat up and stretched.

"Do you get a cup of coffee in Egypt?" He asked worriedly.

I grinned. "They do now, but I don't think they had it back then." I smiled at the look on his face. He was worried about that. I shook my head. "I'm afraid they may not. This is going back about two to three thousand years." I smiled even more at the realization hit home with Colin.

"No coffee!?"

I shook my head. "Not two thousand years ago. No."

Colin almost looked like he was going to cry.

I leaned into him kissing him gently. "Do you think I wouldn't prepare for this?" I looked in his eyes as I smiled.

Colin shook his head. "Don't toy with me." He said in a pitiful voice. "Did you?"

I smiled. "Yes, I did." I waved at packs we carried down with clothes and other needed essentials like the extra battery packs. I looked around. "Where do they pee?"

Colin chuckled. "Look for an urn or something." He grinned. "If it's something else, I have no clue."

I nodded. "Right now? Just pee."

I did find what I needed and Colin ended up using it, too. I would worry about the other when I needed to.

Colin brought out the bag of coffee. "Yes!" He said happily. "And you brought Death Wish! I love you!" Then he looked again worried. "There's no coffee pot!"

"We should have gotten one of those gas-powered coffee pots for camping." I laughed. "The pot I can't help you with. They have to be able to heat water." I shrugged. "We'll find a way."

Then someone was at the chamber's entrance, knocking. Amir looked carefully in and then smiled. "Good, you're awakened."

"Hi, Amir." I greeted as I pulled my shirt on.

Amir looked a little hesitant. "I thought you might need help." He looked over to where we had found the urn. "I see you found that." He grinned. "We have other facilities if needed."

Colin walked determined to Amir. "Do you have coffee pots? That's what I need now."

Amir smiled. "I am well aware of your love for coffee." He shrugged. "I worked with your house a few days. I have a solution for you." He chuckled. "Follow me."

We followed Amir through the corridors...or tunnels...after thousands of years of habitation, it was looking more like a hall and corridor than a simple cave tunnel.

"All this was made?" I asked.

Amir gave a shrug and nod. "Both naturally and created by man. These tunnels were originally created by water. There was a river that ran underground a long time ago. We just continued the process widening and making it more capable of travel by people. It took several hundred years; almost a thousand people to create this."

I nodded. "This is the afterlife?"

Amir looked at me calmly. "It is for Amasis."

"But not for you?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Not for me. I was born in a village accessed by the tunnels." He waved his hand in the direction of the village.

"This isn't your afterlife?" I asked.

Amir shook his head. "My next life is determined by how well I serve this god."

I nodded. "And your mother?"

Amir smiled. "She was granted admission to this afterlife by the kiss of Amasis."

This was going to be an interesting search for vampires. What did I say to them without destroying thousands of years of beliefs? "I'm sorry for all the questions, but..."

Amir turned with a smile. The smile was almost angelic and innocent, like a child's. Who was I to take that away? "Is this a test?"

I thought quickly. "I suppose it is." I smiled.

"Question me all you like," Amir said gesturing for me to continue.

"You know who your father is?" I asked.

Amir nodded. "I am the son of Eamon. He is now in his afterlife."

"That was when?"

Amir gave a shrug. "Before I was born."

"Your mother is very pretty," I said.

Amir nodded with a smile. "She is. That's how she became a goddess."

"And you're okay with this?" I asked.

Amir looked me puzzled. "Of course. She was chosen by Amasis."

Colin got his coffee. They had water and they boiled it. When I saw what they did, I smiled. In an earthen pot, they dipped a cloth of sheer material with the coffee in the cloth like a pouch. A few minutes later they placed a metal weight in the coffee to squeeze it out.

"An Egyptian French press!" I marveled with a nod.

Colin was just thankful for his precious coffee. We were joined by all of our team. Mom leaned into me.

"Gabriella and I will try to speak again to Nabia." She said. "She's a sweet woman but seems afraid in many ways."

"Maybe you can find out what she's afraid of," I said.

"That's part of it." Mom said. "I get the feeling she feels trapped."

"Trapped? By Amasis?"

She shrugged. "I think she regrets giving herself to Amasis. This is not the life she envisioned...or the afterlife she hoped for."

"Yet, Amasis has lived if for millennia." I nodded. "She's only had it for twenty years or more."

Colin pushed his plate back with a sigh. "That...was good." He looked at Amir. "What did I just eat?"

Amir chuckled. "Camel." He remembered Colin's reaction the day before when Amir said he'd had it for lunch.

Colin nodded. "Okay." He said letting his mind adjust to this idea. "It was good like you said." He sniffed and then held his arm up. "Amir? Is it possible for a man to get a shower here?"

Amir's eyebrows rose. "No. We do bathe, but it is in water. You get in. A hot bath."

Colin smiled. "Sounds good to me."

"You will not bathe alone," Amir said cautiously.

"Who all will be joining us?" Colin asked.

Amir waved at the others in our group. "The male members of these people." He looked to understand. "Is that a problem?"

Colin shook his head. "No, just wanted to know."

"Amir, you're English is pretty good. Who taught it to you?" I asked.

"There have been others that have visited. Some spoke English and taught it to my mother and father, their mothers and fathers." Amir explained. He shrugged. "I got better when I started to receive the messages."

"You have to go somewhere to get these messages?" I asked.

Amir nodded. "I have a place in the village I was born. I have the messenger there. Before that we got written messages delivered, but those were not reliable and often out of date. Now, they are not."

"You have electricity there?" I asked.

He shook his head. "I have a generator I use."

"So, what's your tie to the network?" I asked. "You have to log on, correct?"

He nodded. "We have the tower in the village. If needed, I have a password to connect to the...network?" He said hoping he got it right.

I smiled. "I'd love to see your village. You have vehicles there?"

He nodded again. "They were left in some cases and pretty old. I used some of the treasure we have to get one to use...with permission, of course." He explained. "That's how we get supplies for this place. Caravans used to be camels and horses, now we have the mechanized versions to go back and forth." He chuckled. "In some ways, the camels and horses are easier. They don't get stuck in the sand."

Colin looked around. "Where is Amasis? And your mother?"

"It is too soon after it became dark. There are preparations they do." Amir said.

Bathing was very...interesting. Okay, I'm gay and yes men attracted me. Now I got them all naked with Colin and me. Now all the men of our group were naked in the big, recessed area in a very large tub, enough room for many people. Willie was known to me; Wayne was also known to me. I grinned as Chuck looked wary as he approached the steaming water. He was in good shape and he worked hard to be fit to do his job. He was handsome! There was George, Burke, me, and Colin who were in relationships that were gay.

I grinned at Chuck's expression. "It's okay, Chuck. We don't bite."

Burke chuckled. "Unless asked to." He added.

Wayne smiled. "We all have the same things. The only time I noticed really was when what's supposed to be there...wasn't there."

I smiled at that. "We have to be careful with these people." I cautioned. "Their whole meaning for living surrounds Amasis. He is a god to them. We don't want to educate them too fast and too much at once."

That's when Amasis came in. "I see no..." he searched for a word in English. "...the magic to know I said." It was in broken English.

I jumped up and went to our pile of clothes and brought one over. "No, we do." I looked at everyone. "No splashing. I don't know how this will be if wet."

I got salutes from all of them. I was surprised when Amasis was pulling his clothes off.

"As we are all..." he smiled, "...alike." He nodded to Chuck. "You have not been given the gift yet. A god can share a bath with you?" He chuckled. "Water is still very precious."

Colin smiled. "We have room for ten more."

Amasis nodded. "Just me..." he looked up as Amir came in, "...and Amir."

Ordinarily, I'd enjoy seeing them as well...okay, I did enjoy it. They were handsome men so I did look. One was a vampire, but he was a very nice-looking vampire. He had nothing missing on him anywhere, believe me. Except for the hair, no hair on their chests. Armpits had hair and the groins. That was it.

"How many from the outside world have been down here?" Colin asked.

Amasis thought. "There have been many. The world where my afterlife is, has conflict, too. There was a few that came...it's been a recent while back." He pointed to Burke and Chuck. "The last ones had hair your color." He frowned. "They had strange language. I could not understand them but seemed to think what I have here was theirs to take." He frowned. "I think they were from Ammit, the Devourer of Souls. They looked like men but did not behave as men." He made a couple of stripes on his own arm. "They had this letter on their clothing. Crisscrossed."

"A swastika." I nodded. We all looked at the translator did not have a word for that word.

"A swastika?" Amasis repeated. "That is a new word for me, but you recognize it easily when I tell you what it is."

I nodded and ventured ahead. "The...part of this world these men were from is well known in the outer world. They are very few now."

Amasis nodded. "I will admit. This isn't how I thought the afterlife in the Otherworld would be. Conflict and new demons or gods I don't know. I knew of Ammit, Apep, and Shezmu, but these were new."

I nodded. "Are there other new demons or creatures that are evil here?"

He nodded. "There are some." He frowned. "There were times I questioned this Otherworld. At times I thought my trip was to the Underworld."

Colin smiled seeing an opportunity. "We can teach you about this world."

Amasis looked up with a smile. "I was afraid to ask for that. You might see me as unworthy."

"No way you're unworthy. Why shouldn't we teach you about it?" I asked. "You've been here a long, long time. Things change. This world changes."

Colin nodded. "That was why we sought you out. To bring that change to you."

"We can start whenever you're ready," I said. "But it may change how you see things," I warned.

Amasis nodded. "I understand." He sighed. "I'll let you know."

"Has no one ever told you about the outside world?" George asked.

Amasis nodded. "They tell me about many things. Amir has told me some things are hard to believe about it." He smiled at Amir. "I guess I wasn't ready."

"Just tell us when you are ready to listen," I said. "But remember to be openminded."

Colin toward the end of our bath looked at his pile of clothes. "Is there a laundry here?"

I grinned. "I know you're not asking me."

Colin raised his arms. "I'm just asking! In general."

I smiled. "You're asking someone that has no answers!"

Amir came over chuckling. "I can have them laundered. I can also get some clothing for you until they're clean."

Colin looked at what Amir had on. "Like that?" He pointed to Amir's white waist cloth, I found out they called a kilt. I knew my Scottish Clan had kilts, but not Egyptians.

Amir looked down at himself and looked up nodding. "You don't like it?"

Colin frowned. "I just never imaged I'd wear a skirt."

I reached over and pinched him lightly, making Colin yelp in surprise. "It's not a skirt, you barbarian." I grinned.

Colin waved at Amir. "If it waddles and quacks, it's a duck!" He sighed. "We need to get our things from the house."

I nodded. "And check in with Tad Morsi."

"And I need to take the used battery packs to the surface and charge them with the solar charger." Chuck reminded.

We put on what Amir had given us to wear, including the sandals.

Going into the corridor, I met my mother, Gabriella, and Queen Nabia come from where they had apparently bathed. Mom and Gabriella were wearing nice Egyptian gowns. And of course, Gabriella's was light blue. Naturally.

Gabriella grinned and whistled at me. "Nice legs!" She smiled.

Then Colin came up behind me.

"You, too, Daddy," Gabriella added. "Showing all that chest hair, very sexy."

I saw Nabia smile and hid it from us. I bowed to her. "Is something wrong, your majesty?"

She shook her head. "I am amazed by how the women behave in your group."

I smiled. "They're kind of brazen, aren't they?" I grinned, chuckling.

The queen looked puzzled, but hearing the word in old Arabic, she nodded. "Free."

"They are free," I said. "You're queen. Aren't you free?"

She shook her head. "No. I belong to Amasis."

"And that's not good?" Colin asked.

She looked terribly guilty to say something. "It was nice at first. I can never go anywhere or do anything. I get up, take my nourishment and sit by Amasis." She held her hands up. "Forgive me. I didn't mean to sound..."

I looked at her hands. "Am I allowed to touch Amasis' wife? I know from stories and history; that is sometimes against the law."

She looked confused. "But you're a god. That doesn't apply to you."

I nodded. "And if I tell you I'm not, what would you feel?" I watched her look alarmed. "I am like Amasis. I am." I hurried on. "If you believe that makes me a god, then I am. So, are Colin and Gabriella and my mother. We're the same. Do I even mention that maybe Amasis isn't a god? Making me not a god or them?" I saw panic in her eyes. "Okay, okay..." said in a hurry. "This was a test. A test. Your husband and we are the same." I assured her. "We are, but listen, your majesty. My views about women are like this: they are the same as we are. The same freedom we have, they also have." I looked at her vampire eyes. I could only imagine what they looked like when she was human. She was beautiful. I could see where a lot of Amir got his looks. She was slowly smiling. I grinned. "They can also be a great pain in the backside!" I watched as Nabia laughed in a hushed way. "It's okay to laugh. It's okay to disagree with me. Be yourself!"

Colin nodded. "That goes for all of the men in our group." He smiled as he waved at her. "We're just the same as you are." He looked at her with compassion. "Didn't Amasis make you a goddess when he..." he felt my nudge to his abdomen, "...when he kissed you?"

She nodded. "Yes, but...he is Amasis. He has always been. I am much less a god than he is." She said looking at me to understand.

"We'll deal with that, too." I smiled. "Know this. You can tell us anything. About you or even about Amasis, we won't punish you or make you feel less." I pointed at my mother. "Or tell her! She's a good listener. How do you think I became a good listener?"

Mom nodded at Nabia. "That's right. I taught him all he knows."

Nabia nodded. "I'll..." she thought, "...do that."

After Nabia headed off to do whatever a queen did that had nothing to do...Colin frowned. "That's why she's so quiet? I thought Egyptian women were treated as equals."

"Think about it, Colin," I said to him. "They might be Egyptian, but she is from the outside world. Views about women in this part of the world are influenced by religion and other factors. Be it Christianity, Islam, or any other religion. Women often have to wear Burkas! Burkas! They have no rights. For generations, these people lived outside, even though they worked and lived here. They might be isolated, but they are made up by men that had a thousand years of views on what woman can and can't do. She is a queen, but she's still a woman." I smiled and bounced a little. "But I feel we're making headway with them!"

"Oh?" Colin asked.

"Amasis is a victim," I said. "So, is she." I waved at the path Nabia took. "He's a victim of beliefs he held to for so long and tried to fit in this..." I waved to the surrounding cave, "...this world. He doesn't know he's not a god. He doesn't know he is a vampire." But I turned to Colin. "He's opened the chance we can tell him."

"Will it upset him?"

I nodded. "It will."

Colin grinned pulling me in and kissed me. "You know?" He waved down at his kilt. "I'm kind of liking this." He chuckled as he moved. "It's kind of...freeing?"

I chuckled. "I like seeing you in it." I ran my fingers over his free chest hair. "No extra layer to have to go through." I grinned kissing him again. "It's sexy on you."

Colin nodded. "I think it's sexy on you!" He grinned kissing me on the neck.

I chuckled as he hit a sensitive spot. "I think if you keep that up, we'll need another bath."

Colin smiled and stood up a little. "So? We take another bath." He shrugged. "Do you think Amasis was talking about those other vampires?"

"When I asked him about demons and evil creatures?" I shrugged. "Maybe. He's been alive a long time, if anyone's seen them, he would be the one." I smiled again at Colin and ran my fingers again over his chest. "Damn, that's sure a turn on for me!"

Colin chuckled. "I grew it just for you." He grinned evilly. "So, seeing everything Amasis had didn't make you see him differently?"

I shrugged. "I saw him as a man." I looked at Colin in his emerald eyes. "Wait, you're not jealous of him, are you?" I pushed him away a little. "Are you worried about ME?"

Now, Colin looked guilty. "Well...no, but..."

I threw my hands up. "Here we go again!" I said as I pushed him against the wall. It was rocky and probably hurt a little more than just a wall. "Listen, Colin Wentworth. I love you, damn it! These insecurities you have about me and other handsome men are getting old! I would never...and I will never cheat on you! I hope I never give you a reason to question if I would!"

Colin was raising his hands to stop me. "I didn't say you..."

"Yes! You did! Just now!" I argued pointing that out. "You owe me at least an hour of undisturbed play time with that gorgeous chest of yours," I said. "I mean no interruptions and no manscaping allowed. Got it?"

Colin was smiling as he nodded. "Absolutely! I got that. You can have it!" I began to walk on. He looked suddenly curious. "When have I ever manscaped anything?" He asked hurrying after me.

We checked in with Stan and Mark.

Mark looked at us through the screen. "It's been...interesting here."

Colin frowned. "Interesting how?"

"Well, Dr. Morsi was by," Mark reported.

"He knew we had left! Why did he come by?" Colin asked.

Mark nodded. "That's what I asked him." He now looked concerned. "If I didn't know better..." he grinned, "...and I don't know any better. I think he was coming for the Delkenzie program." He smiled. "Of course, it could also be because of those things I was looking for that you said you hoped they saw you..." he waved his hand at us, "...and Devon doing whatever you guys do."

I looked surprised. "You didn't leave the room unlocked? He could have another means of access."

"Really, Devon?" Mark looked offended. "We had a job to do! Of course, we didn't leave the room unlocked! Except when nature called we took turns. They don't have a bathroom in here. If they have any knowledge of the vampires you're spending time with now, they might be looking for information about that." He looked with narrowed eyes. "I'd almost bet my paycheck it is about that."

Colin looked at me. "I need to go get the computer and all the information we keep there."

I nodded. "Okay. You'll do it at night? You'd be harder to track."

Colin nodded. "Mark, you and Stan get ready. It will be sunup soon. I'll be there tonight and we'll get you and our things out of there." He looked at me again and shrugged. "I can bring more coffee back here." He grinned. "I'll bring Gabriella, Chuck, Wayne, and Shelly. We'll get everything from the house and bring it here."

"Talk with Amir. Find out if it's better to come through where we parked the vehicles or better in his village." I sighed. "There are some parts of that passage that's narrow."

Colin nodded. "I'll do that." He looked at Mark. "I'll be there about five in the evening. That way we have time to load up and get our stuff out of there."

Mark made a victory thrust with his arm. "At last! We're part of the team!!"

"You're part of the team!" I said quickly.

Mark nodded. "Uh, huh." He said grimly. "Always left behind. You guys have all the fun. Now Stan and I will in on it, too!"