| THE ADVENTURES OF THE O'CONNELL FAMILY Page 12 |
| asking my name, for she somehow already knew it. She seemed rushed and was pointing to that opening in the rocky walls, muttering something about a portal that could transport people back and forth through time." "Rick!" Evie interrupted excitedly. "I have only read about those in books before. Never have I heard of them being real!" "Listen Evie, listen to me... What she said next is important. She told me that Alex was behind there. That he was through that portal. And, she said that she would be seeking us out shortly to guide us there." "Oh, Rick, what does this mean? Is it real? Is he really there? Has she seen him? Does she know if he's ok?" "Look Evelyn, I don't know." Rick stated firmly, grasping her by her shoulders, forcing her to look him straight in the eyes. "But, what I do know is that this could all just be a hoax, a 'flimflam'. It's probably just a dream." "But, that doesn't mean we can just dismiss it lightly! We have to have hope. Rick, if we give up hope we will fail." Her voice was wracked with sobs. "I know honey. I am just telling you this so that you are not depressed if isn't real." "Oh Rick, I love you!" With this Evie wrapped her arms about his neck, and buried her face in his warm shoulder. "Hold me.." Rick did not even hesitate before his arms firmly gathered his wife into them, his fingers gently rubbing her back. Whispering, "Shhh...Shhh...Evie, don't cry. I love you. Alex loves you. We will find him, I promise." Rick could not hold back his own tears, and he grasped her, holding her close to him, frantically kissing her head, tilting her head and kissing her tears away, letting their salty flavor linger, before his lips moved to hers claiming them in a passionate and heart-broken battle. "What if we don't Rick? What if we are too late?" "Evie, I don't think that's possible." With this, the embracing couple got back under the covers and fell asleep. Far across the sands, Nefret's face turned crimson for she knew what the two lovers would do when they awoke in the morning. The engagement of passion to ease pain did not surprise her as something these two took lightly. She nodded to sleep herself, knowing that she had brought one man closer to his destiny. Shell ([email protected]) February 19, 2002 Morning came in the ancient palace, and even before the sun rose Alex was woken up and none to kindly at that. Bonnie walked into his room and yanked the covers off of him. "Get up now," she said. Not a morning person Alex lounged and screamed when Bonnie grabbed him by his hair. "I said get up. You will do what I say young Alex or your death will come sooner than the next full moon," she hissed. When she let go of his hair Alex got up and got dressed in front of her not wanting to argue with her. Bonnie had switched him the night before for not minding her and Alex didn't want to add to the sores already on his legs. Once he was dressed she got a comb and fixed his hair then the two of them went out of his room and down some passages to a grand eating area, though Alex and Bonnie were the only ones there. "Not long from now the Pharaoh will have breakfast with us. You will do as I say or I will take a whip to you," Bonnie said. Alex nearly choked on his food and wished he would wake up from his bad dream. ~*~*~*~*~ As morning arrived on Rick's ship the two lovers lay entwined after an intense session of lovemaking. Evie was still trying to catch her breath, her soft cheek pressed against the warmth of her husband�s chest as he lightly stroked his hand over her back. "Rick, we need to get up and see where we are," she said lifting her head. Rick reached out and placed his hand against her cheek. "I know Evie, we will find him," Rick reassured then with one last lingering kiss they did get up ready to start the day and see if they were at their destination. Heidi Rittner ([email protected]) February 20, 2002 Ardeth and Jonathan had already been up a few hours tending to the ship and their journey. They left Rick and Evie to themselves that morning, knowing it had been really difficult these past few days and that things were bound to get worse. Rick and Evelyn emerged from their room. By Rick�s calculations, they should be arriving in Egypt by late afternoon. Rick headed for the wheel to take over for Ardeth, and Evie wandered off towards the back of the ship. Ardeth�s eyelids were growing heavy and he was starting to slump forward slightly. It was late when he�d finally gotten to sleep, and staring out at nothing but rolling water for several hours did not help to wake a man up. He heard Rick approaching and immediately rolled back his shoulders and straightened his spine, putting himself back in his at-attention stance that the Med-jai were trained to hold for hours. Rick placed his hand on his friend�s shoulder and gave him a warm smile and nod that expressed his appreciation. �Thank you, Ardeth. Go and rest for a while.� Ardeth relaxed his stance and smiled. �It will not be long now, my friend. Egypt grows near.� He headed towards his cabin to rest for the few hours they�d still be at sea. Rick held the wheel steady and looked up at the clear blue sky. He was not big on the religion thing, but he closed his eyes and sent out a prayer for all the help they could get. At that same moment, Evie was also looking up towards the heavens and sending out a prayer of her own. Rick immediately felt the winds picking up, pushing the ship at a faster pace towards their destination. A smile of thanks and new found hope spread across his face. �I say! Evie, come and take a look!� Jonathan yelled excitedly from the front of the ship. |