The Adventure Begins

By Donna and Abby

The four horses galloped away from the collapsing temple behind them. Marcus Brody was hanging on for dear life, his mount in the lead, while the Egyptian guide named Sullah, Professor Henry Jones Sr and his adventure seeking son, Indiana, chased after him. As they clattered through the tunnel and back out into the afternoon sunlight, they suddenly found themselves about to race through the streets of a town that none of them had ever seen before!  

The streets were cobbled, the buildings made of stone and brick.  It was nothing like the Monument-Valley sort of landscape they had just been in!  Marcus tried to pull his horse to a stop, but he was an awful horseman, so Indy put on the gas and overtook him.  His father and the Egyptian guide had already pulled up and were looking about worriedly. 

Sullah moaned deep in his throat, his eyes wide as he looked around. "Where are we?" he gasped. 

"I haven't the foggiest," the elder Jones said with a shake of his head.  “It is as if we are now in a completely different part of the world!” 

Indiana came back, leading Marcus' horse by the reins.  The Museum curator was more than happy to hand them over!  Meanwhile, he was also looking at the strange place they had wandered into. 

"It looks like Boston," Marcus said. "Or maybe even New York? But where are the people? Surely a place this size would be quite busy during the middle of the day like this!"  

Sullah said, "Hush!  I hear someone!"   

Sure enough, when the voices were lowered, the sound of a horse's hooves could be heard, clip-clopping over the cobbles.  The men froze as a menacing voice said, "Who goes there?" 

Before any of the others could say anything, Henry Sr spoke up. "I'm Professor Henry Jones, good sir. We apparently have taken a wrong turn." They were all looking around, trying to see where the sound of the voice and horses hooves had come from. 

In front of them appeared the strangest sight!  A man on a pale horse, wearing metal body armor, but certainly predating the Middle Ages!  Half of his face was painted with Woad. 

Sullah moaned again, praying to Allah under his breath. This was getting too strange.  "I'm Indiana," the younger Jones said with a cocky looking grin, his hand resting on his thigh. He appeared relaxed and friendly, but he was ready to make a grab for the pistol on his hip if necessary.  

"I am Methos.  What is your business in Esperanza?" 

"Esperanza?" Marcus spoke up. "Hope? Please, sir, where are we? One moment we were in the desert, the next, we are here!"  

"Esperanza is the City of Hope," said the horseman in his baritone. "South of here is a City without Hope . . . Sadaam.  To the southeast you will find Edan, and northeast," he turned, waving, "is Camelot." 

That got everyone’s attention!  

"Camelot!" they all gasped in unison. "The Camelot?"  

"Where King Arthur reigns.  Yes.  It is a peaceful place."  He said the last like it was a detriment. 

They all exchanged quick looks. "Maybe we should not be so hasty to try to make our way home," Henry Sr suggested. The others agreed with him. A chance to explore the legendary Camelot was worth hanging around for! 

"Wherever home is," said Sullah.  "Do you notice he has not mentioned the way to Cairo?" 

Methos moved his horse forward.  "Egyptian?"  Sullah nodded.  "We have several Egyptians here.  One called Phoenix, but she was once called Aphaia, and one called Nefreteri." 

Sullah sighed in relief. At least there were others from his homeland in this strange place. "Perhaps it could be arranged that I could talk to them," he suggested. "If their husbands agreed to it, of course."  

"Husbands?" Methos laughed.  “Faia is in Edan at the moment, having just given birth to a . . . relative of mine.  And you can find Nefreteri in the House of Many Pleasures.  If you've the money." 

Again the men exchanged glances. "Is there a place where we could spend the night?" Indiana asked. He was tired. The rush of adrenalin that had been running through him as he faced all the challenges in conjunction with finding the ancient crusader and the priceless treasure that he had guarded for centuries was wearing off quickly.  

Methos said, "You may come to my home.  My wife Beatrice will make you comfortable." 

The four of them thanked him for the offer, and when without a word, he turned and rode away, they all followed.  

Beatrice and Methos lived in one of the stone buildings.  Pearl and Gregor lived across the street, so the sisters could be close.  Between the two homes there would be room for all.   

Methos came in without waiting for his guests.  "We have company," he told Bea.  The pretty fae smiled and rushed to greet them all. 

The four newcomers all greeted the woman, thanking her for her gracious hospitality. Looking at Bea's expanding belly, Sullah smiled. "My wife is not expecting right now, thanks be to Allah, or she would have my neck on the chopping block right now for not being there with her. Congratulations on your impending little one, my lady." He bowed low at the waist.  

When he stood up, Indy elbowed him and chuckled. "Only one wife? From as many children as you have, I could have sworn you had at least three!"  

"I can only handle the ONE I've got."  Methos grunted his agreement with this and Beatrice thanked the Egyptian for his compliment.   

"My sister, Pearl, can help us put you up for the night.  After I have gotten you something to drink, I will go to the Clinic and get her." 

"You wouldn’t happen to know the way to Cairo by any chance?" Sullah asked.  

"There is no Cairo on this world," Beatrice smiled.  "Is that your home?" 

"Yes," he groaned and buried his face in his hands, rocking back and forth in the chair he was sitting in. "My lovely wife! All my wonderful children! What will they do if I do not return to them? Allah have mercy on us all!"  

"I am sorry," said the fae.  "Perhaps Allah will help you start all over?" 

"Perhaps," he moaned. "If Allah wills it, that is." He sighed heavily. 

"It is a place for new starts. Especially here, in Esperanza."  Meanwhile, she carried in a tray with all the men’s drinks on it.  "Now I must go to get my sister." 

"Here, let me help you," Henry said, jumping up to take the tray from her. "You should not be doing so much in your condition, you know."  

Methos looked at him oddly.  "Why shouldn't she?" he asked. 

Marcus looked back at him. "In our society," he explained. "We often try to cloister women who are with child and often end up making them feel useless. Over protectiveness of pregnant women is not always a good thing I fear, and not widely practiced in other societies."

"I do not know much about my society," Methos said.  "At least where children are concerned.  On Earth I was sterile; women were for sex or to use as slaves.  She is hearty enough, so I saw no reason to coddle her.  She is more to me than any other slave has ever been."  He said the last as if it should be considered close to amazing. 

The European men looked surprised at his words, but the Egyptian nodded. "I understand," Sullah said with a nod of his head.  

Beatrice smiled as she ducked out of the room and out into the streets.  When she finally returned, they were somewhat surprised with the woman she was with.  For one thing, Beatrice was obviously of mixed racial background, but Pear was Caucasian.  This was supposed to be her sister!  Secondly, the woman was in modern dress.

Indy just shrugged. He had seen stranger things in his travels. "Thank you ladies, we are in you debt," he said charmingly. He didn't really know where they were or how they got there, but apparently this was a whole new world to explore, with many new adventures to experience! The thought made him smile.