Happiness
Chapter 8
�I must get to Persepolis,� Leila reminded him with a slight urgency in her voice.
�Why Persepolis?� he asked somewhat reluctantly.
�It is my home,� came a simple answer.
�Do you know how to get there?�
�No,� she whispered, lowering her eyes.
Damon sighed, shaking his head. �Alright, wait here.�
�Where are you going?�
�To ask for directions and to get us some means of transportation.�
�What transpor�� her question once again hung in the air, for Damon has already disappeared from view.
Leila remained standing where he left her, looking timidly at the small groups of people that gradually began to gather all around the pier as Tyre was slowly coming to life after a long night�s sleep. Of course, they were very far away from Rome now, too far, in fact, for the guards to catch up with them. But Leila was still worried � worried about that Roman merchant Titus and his slave, and what would happen once they are discovered in the hold. The whole situation was making her extremely nervous, and she prayed that Damon would come back soon.
Suddenly she heard a loud cry: �Stop him! Stop the thief!�
Leila�s heart sank, and she turned to see what was happening. Some split second later, Damon emerged from the crowd on a magnificent-looking black stallion that made its way toward her, having thrown the more curious folks to the sides. As the horse neared her, Damon bent down and held out his hand to her. �Come on!� he cried, urgency tightening his voice. �Quick!�
Without thinking, she grabbed his outstretched hand, and he hurled her onto to the horse in front of him and squeezed the animal�s sides, forcing it to vault forward and gallop off at a maddening speed, leaving everyone else behind in a cloud of road dust.
***
Houses and people raced past them almost merging into one continuous line. Leila�s head was beginning to spin, and she closed her eyes and leaned back against Damon�s chest to stop the dizzy sensation. She felt his strong arm around her, holding her tight, keeping her from falling off the horse during that crazy ride. And, suddenly, she had the same feeling she used to get when her father would rock her to sleep every night when she was a little girl � that same feeling of being safe and secure spread inside her with a warm comforting wave. At that moment, she felt she could have fallen asleep despite the rather bumpy ride. But Damon suddenly pulled the reins, and the ride came to an abrupt halt.
Leila opened her eyes, slightly disappointed. They were already outside the city, at least, judging by the fact that there were no signs of human presence anywhere around.
�Why did we stop?� she asked, watching Damon as he dismounted.
�The horse needs rest,� he replied nodding at a small brook a few feet away.
�But we cannot stop now,� Leila protested. �Those people are probably chasing after us for stealing the horse��
�I am aware of that,� Damon snapped, rather harshly. �I am also aware that the way to Persepolis lies through the desert and that it would take us months to get there if we�re lucky.�
Leila lowered her eyes. �I did not know that, really,� she said quietly. �I have never been outside of Persepolis.�
Damon�s voice softened a bit as he spoke. �I managed to get some food and water from the same kind gentleman who loaned me his horse� (Leila cringed at this sneer) �but it is not enough to support us all the way. If we do not find an oasis in that desert, or, better yet, a caravan, then the chances of either one of us getting to Persepolis are very slim. Do you understand that?� he asked, looking her straight in the eyes.
She nodded slowly, �We cannot go back.�
�No, we cannot,� he agreed. �If we go back, we will be caught and, probably, hanged. If we keep going forward, we have a very high chance of dying in the desert and a very low chance of reaching Persepolis alive. Either way our chances are not very promising.�
Leila forced a smile on her lips, �I think I would still prefer the second option.�
Damon grinned. �Well, your family better have a big reception for us with lots of good food and drink.�
�Don�t worry, they will,� the girl said and added quietly so that only she could hear, �bigger than you think.�