Peace in Yemen will continue to be elusive unless the United Nations shifts its mission from sponsoring an inter-Yemeni dialogue to mediating ceasefire negotiations between the actual warring parties, namely Saudi Arabia & allies and the de facto representatives of Yemenis who are fighting to defend their country’s territorial integrity and independent free will, i.e. the Huthi - Saleh & allies.

Convening its 70th session while celebrating its 70th anniversary this year, the United Nations is unlikely to reconsider its stand on Yemen, but it must do, at least to provide a face – saving exit strategy for Saudi Arabia if not to stop a snowballing severe humanitarian crisis in the country.

The United Nations Mauritanian special envoy to Yemen Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed will sooner than later face the fate of his predecessor Jamal Benomar, who resigned his mission last March acknowledging its failure.

The Saudi insistence on dictating a fait accompli on Yemen is undermining the UN efforts to bring about a political solution, which was made impossible by the Saudi – led war on Yemen.

The legitimacy controversy

The UN sponsored Yemeni – Yemeni talks in the capital of the Sultanate of Oman, Muscat, and elsewhere will continue to be deadlocked. They are a non-starter. The Saudis have held their Yemeni allies captives of their dependence on Saudi financial, political and military support without which they could not survive internally.

The UN and Arab League recognition of them as the legitimate representatives of Yemen was counterproductive. They are viewed by most Yemenis more as Saudi puppets than legitimate delegates of their people.

Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is recognised by the UN and the Saudi – led coalition as the legitimate president of Yemen, arrived in Aden last week aboard a Saudi military aircraft and his safety was secured during his three – day stay there by military bodyguards from the United Arab Emirates. The arrival of his prime minister Khaled Bahah a week earlier was not different.

Conferring UN and Arab League legitimacy on them serves only to turn both organisations into biased parties to the conflict if not partners to it or at least accomplices and compromises their credentials as mediators.

The Huthis are portrayed by the Saudi – led propaganda as a sectarian fanatic and violent intruders into the Yemeni society or as agents of Iran who are waging a proxy war in Yemen, but the Huthis are not aliens. Their ancestors ruled Yemen for some one thousand years. They represent more than one third of the country’s population. Their role could have been strengthened by Iranian support and weakened by their religious speech, but nonetheless they are uncontroversial native integral component of Yemen’s national history and society.

Similarly, their ally in fighting off the Saudi – led war on Yemen, ex – president Ali Abdullah Saleh, is part and parcel of Yemeni political infrastructure. More than a three – decade ally of Saudi Arabia, when Saleh resisted a Saudi transition plan he hardly survived a bombing of his Friday prayers. Despite his individual ruling style and a wide spread corruption of his governance, he is credited with building a state infrastructure, a national army, a tolerable pluralistic political life and a relatively civil freedoms that were the envy of his Arab compatriots in the north who are still living under the Middle Ages systems of government and, more importantly, making the unity of Yemen a fact of life. When his representative credentials are questioned by his former Saudi allies it is noteworthy to remind them that his “al-Mutamar” party still controls the majority of the last democratically elected Yemeni parliament.

The “external” Iranian interference in Yemen and Iran’s sectarian support for “Shiite” Yemenis, in addition to a self – proclaimed role in defence of a controversial legitimacy of a Yemeni president, are the main raison d'être cited by Riyadh as the casus belli of the Saudi ongoing six – month old war on Yemen.

However history and realpolitik facts refute such Saudi claims and render them as merely thinly – veiled justification for installing a puppet regime in Sanaa by the brutal and inhumane force of an external invasion.

The current Saudi war on Yemen could be a “rite of passage” for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), particularly the United Arab Emirates (UAE), but not the Saudi Arabia as claimed by Rami G. Khouri (1).

Long history of Saudi military intervention

Long before there was an “Iran threat” or a “Shiite threat,” the Saudi ruling family never hesitated to interfere in Yemen militarily or otherwise whenever Yemenis showed signs of breaking away from Saudi hegemony towards a free will to determine their lives independently.

In the 1930s the Saudis engaged in a war on the Mutawakkilite Imamate of Yemen and succeeded in annexing the Yemeni provinces of Asir, Jizan and Najran to their kingdom, thus creating a border dispute that was not settled until 2000, but the current Saudi war on Yemen seems to reignite it.

Then, they occupied the Yemeni port of Hodeida on the Red Sea and attacked the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Yemen at the time was a similar conservative “kingdom” bound, like the Saudis, by treaties with the British colonial power.

From 1962 to 1970 the Saudis interfered militarily on the side of the “Shiite” Yemeni “royalists” whom they fought in the 1930s against republican revolutionaries who sought to usher Yemen into the twentieth century out of the Middle Ages. The Saudi military intervention led the Pan – Arab leader of Egypt Gamal Abd al-Nasir to rush to the rescue of the Yemeni republicans, thus regionalising a Yemeni internal affair into an Egyptian – Saudi war among the “Sunnis.”

History it seems is repeating itself nowadays, but the Saudis have so far failed to embroil Iran in Yemen as they did with Egypt then. Instead, the kingdom is itself plunging deeper into the Yemeni quicksand.

“In 1977, then, Saudi Arabia conspired (together with Salih) to the assassination of modernist President Ibrahim al-Hamdi, who was determined to loosen the stranglehold of the kingdom over Yemeni politics,” Tobias Thiel (2) of The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) wrote on last April 2.

In the aftermath of the emergence of the Islamic Republic of Iran into the regional scene, “the House of Saud expelled around 800,000 Yemeni guest workers to punish the newly united republic for its stance in the 1991 Gulf War (Kuwait war), plunging the country into an economic crisis” and “the kingdom simultaneously supported both sides – Sunni Islamists and Marxist separatists – in the 1994 war of secession,” Thiel added. Both those events had nothing to do with the so –called “Iran threat” or the “Shiite – Sunni” sectarian rivalry; both were inter – Arab and inter Yemeni conflicts.

“Finally,” according to Thiel, “Riyadh has backed the Salih regime against the mass protests in 2011 and has – as elsewhere – tried to stifle the democratic opening.”

Launching the Saudi war on Yemen last March had regionalised a Yemeni internal conflict, undercut short a Yemeni successful national dialogue sponsored by the United Nations, undermined the territorial unity of the country, which was then compromised only by the al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) that was isolated in the far south eastern part of Yemen, destroyed the infrastructure of the Yemeni state, created a snowballing severe humanitarian crisis and rendered the possibility of a Yemeni – Yemeni political solution a mission made impossible by both the mutual bloodshed and the Saudi insistence on shaping by brutal force the future ruling regime in Yemen on Saudi terms.

Riyadh intervened militarily in Yemen when the Saudi – led GCC initiative for a “transition” on their terms in Yemen broke down in 2014. The Saudis planned the “transition” in Yemen to be a show case that could be replayed in Syria where they have been arming and financing a similar “regime change” for the past five years. The failure of their “show case” in Yemen doomed their plan for Syria.

Historically, Sanaa and the northern rough mountainous provinces failed all Arab and non-Arab invaders. The Ottoman Empire at its zenith could not subjugate it. It is the bedrock of Yemen’s independence and self determination. There the hardcore of the Yemeni anti-Saudi invasion is entrenched and there this invasion will most likely meet it defeat.

The so – called “liberation” of Aden by Saudi and UAE military intervention could serve only as a recipe for a perpetuated civil war and regional capital of a divided Yemen. Hadi is unlikely to deliver in Aden what he failed to achieve when he was in Sana’a.

On last March 22, the former UN special envoy Jamal Benomar, addressing the UN Security Council via video conference, warned that, “the situation is on a rapid downward spiral” that is “leading the country away from political settlement and to the edge of civil war”. The status quo is “inviting a protracted conflict in the vein of an Iraq-Libya-Syria combined scenario," he told an emergency UNSC session. Benomar resigned his UN mission acknowledging its failure. His successor is more likely to come to the same conclusion sooner than later.

The presence now of reportedly between 5 – 10 thousand ground GCC troops in Yemen is proof that the aerial onslaught had failed and that the so-called pro-government forces are merely a Yemeni make – believe address for the thinly – veiled Saudi – led external invasion.

The introduction of GCC ground troops into Yemen is more a show of the failure of the so – called Yemeni pro – legitimacy and pro – Saudi forces than a display of GCC military prowess.

Quoted by the Qatari News Agency (QNA) on September 18, the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, tacitly acknowledging his country’s failure in Yemen, said that he “personally … suggested Israeli help as our only hope to end the status quo … His Highness King Salman put this proposal forward for further consideration."

Ruling out any open Israeli contribution to the US-led war on Iraqi forces in Kuwait in 1991, the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the US “leading from behind” in the ongoing war on Syria is an instructive strong reminder that any Israeli role in the Saudi – led war on Yemen will most likely be ruled out as well, at least in public, because it would be definitely counterproductive.

It is high time that the UN moves to facilitate an exit strategy for Saudi Arabia from Yemen.

* Nicola Nasser is a veteran Arab journalist based in Birzeit, West Bank of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories (nassernicola@ymail.com).

(1) http://america.aljazeera.com/, September 16, 2015. Rami G. Khouri is a senior public policy fellow at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut and a senior fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School.

(2) Tobias Thiel is a PhD Candidate at the LSE’s Department of International History. His dissertation is about contentious politics, collective memory and violence in post-unification Yemen. He has spent the past three years in Yemen conducting field research.

Nig

Like the waves of a merciless raging tsunami they landed on the rugged hilly terrains and engulfed the entire area around Mount Sinai. They stood waiting for Ramses's army to arrive and regroup, carefully eyeing their immense numbers. Ramses's infantry quickly advanced the lines, following were the cavalry, then chariots. In the earthly realm and as the hands of the clock struck 5:45 in the afternoon, both armies finished grouping from their travel. Within seconds they both released vicious beastly screams and threats towards each other, their voices echoing immensely through the surrounding mountains. 

Ramses looked at the gruesome figure in twentieth century clothes that stood in front of the beasts, while his army stood on the hilly terrains of Sinai. He understood his commanding rank as he looked back at him defiantly. Three thousand years ago this army was attacking him on the outskirts of his cities, threatening to ravage him and his civilization to shreds. If it wasn't for his braveness and the courage of his army, Egypt wouldn't be what it was today, a prosperous nation boasting the civilization of his people. Although today his realm was governed by people of a different human lineage, Egypt was still Egypt and it deserved to be protected by the people that governed it for ages. He clutched his sword in expectancy and looked at Ptah to give the attack signal.   

The opposing general studied the three thousand three hundred and six year old royal mummy and his military advisor, that were wrapped in worn out linen, standing ahead of their massive strike force, smiling with anticipation, as the evil beasts roared behind him with threats. He clutched the handle of his sword in his right hand and smiled while he thought of what gifts Oxen would give him for Ramses's head. His mind raced with the enticements which quickly wore his patience out. He impatiently withdrew his sword and the army behind him copied on the double. He screamed commanding, "TEAR THEM APART!!!"

Within seconds the grounds underneath quaked as they dashed towards each other. The church's old structure on Mount Sinai rocked from the echoes of the warriors as they clashed outside of it underneath its hilly terrains. The priest took the Holy Grail and Plate that contained the sacrament and placed them on the alter as the armies outside tore at each other. The priests looked at their watches as it read fife fifty, and waited patiently for the last ten minutes before the unison global mass; the choir's chants surfacing barely from the wars about. The crowds inside looked at the holy icons that hung on the iconostasis and begged with tensed looks the mighty Lord to save them from the consequences of what was going outside of the holy church they were sheltered in. 

Angel and Nigel crashed down on hard grounds in the open muddy wilderness. They were in a ravine centered between two high hills that were over populated with the armies. They screamed with terror as they quickly realized that they were totally sandwiched between the charging coalitions. They got up on their feet and scanned the hilly region for refuge. The armies clashed filling the entire atmosphere around them with deafening metal banging and battle cries. The grounds underneath filled with body parts within seconds as they got quickly caught in the battle between the warring soldiers. They yelled with fear and barely made their way through the battle searching for safe grounds. 

The mummies' diligent training posed a challenge to the opposing beasts. They swiftly took command of the situation with their swordsmanship and physical agility. The vicious beasts' powerful bodies posed no threat for them at all and the coming chariots stormed through the crowds striking off the fiendish heads and bodies mercilessly. The beasts roared with pain as their body parts and heads rolled on the muddy grounds by the scores. The mummies' casualties were not as severe as their counterparts as the minutes raced towards six, nearing earth to the inevitable universal mass. 

A beast flew over and grabbed Nigel attacking him and attempting to tear him apart with his hands. Nigel's heart screamed with terror as he felt its mighty hands grip his shoulders and yank him in the air. Angel panicked and grabbed Nigel's waist as the beast's wings flapped hurling them upwards. They danced in the air as the beast grappled with Nigel trying to get a good hold of him to hurt him. Nigel's muscular arms beat the beasts' hands away as they approached the church on the summit of Mount Sinai. The beast feeling worn out by the fight finally dropped the couple on the steps of the church. As it attempted to fly away it suddenly closed its ears from the echoes of the chanting that was going on inside the church. It shook and roared with pain then burst into pieces. 

Angel and Nigel managed to get up, aching and rubbing their backs from the fall. They looked at the magnificent view the church provided from on top of the summit. The warring armies were flooding the hilly chains making their spine chill with fear. Worn out and tired but thankful that the beast left them unhurt, Angel brought up the piece of papyrus and looked at Nigel whom was breathing heavily. 

Nigel said, "Go ahead. Its time."

Angel searched through the glyphs till she found what she was looking for. She paused for a while, a contrasting frown slowly showing on her face as she read and remembered the words of the wise man they had met earlier in the Egyptian desert. Now she knew what he meant by what he said. Nigel asked unaware of what was going on, "What is keeping you?"

In a minute's time, she looked at him with very sad eyes. Tears made their way down her cheeks as his image blurred then came clear. 

"Angel what is going on? What does it say?"

She took in a deep breath and read, "Brave hearted soldiers of Ramses and the Nile, awakened to rescue Egypt from the vile, return to your grave you slumbered in for a while, your calling has finished go back as I desire."

Within seconds the battle stopped and the beasts all erupted into sand. The mummies stood silently in their places. Two chariots strongly made their way to the middle of the ravine amongst the crowds that were looking upwards towards them. Angel and Nigel looked carefully as the chariots maneuvered then stood silent.

Nigel asked, "What are they waiting for?"

"Remember the old man in the desert. Remember when he told us that the scriptures will be conditional, demanding something in return. Well the scriptures asked for me in return to give me authority to command the army.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Nigel grabbed angel by her arms and looked at her, "What are you talking about."

Angel read the rest of the glyphs, "As history repeats itself once again, while she stands up above the sacred mountains of Sinai and commands the eternalness guarding the Nile, her ancient blood shall return to her body, a lost piece within her heart shall call her back to the golden palaces of royalty. She shall rule again in the history of her people, her place has already been made once again. Her magnificent army will wait for her, a graceful precession while she returns to the ancient realm."

"Angel no, no!!!" Nigel hugged her warmly and cried like a child. "No!!! I will not lose you!!! What did you? You had no right to make this decision by yourself?"

Angel walked away from his embrace and commented, "I was predestined to stand here and read what I had just read. I had no choice; it was me or the earth's well being. We can't walk away from what was predestined an age earlier."

"ANGEL I'M COLLAPSING FROM WHAT IS GOING ON!!!"

"I have no choice."

"You will find another wife Nigel. I shall always remember you in my heart."

Suddenly an empty chariot stormed upwards from the ravine towards them riding the thin air. Its horses gallantly galloped pulling it towards the couple and landed besides them. She climbed on to it and the chariot took off towards the massive army that silently waited for the arrival of their queen. As the chariot headed back to lower earth the army disappeared into thin air, leaving the hilly terrain in peace once again. The only thing that engulfed Nigel was the cool air and the soft echoes of the monks as they chanted just outside the church. 

As Nigel wept the departing of his sweetheart, still in totally disbelief that she sacrificed herself for the sanity of her mission, the skies began raining once again. A feeling of numbness from the frustration was reverberating through him. Hardship and pain were his companions throughout the past days, not giving him a chance to even catch his breath, compelling him to war and meet the most gruesome creatures ever in probably the history of the universe, and now the taking away of his only beloved. It was just unfair. He screamed his frustration out towards the skies, "Fate, you were a complete adversary to me and my beloved, what do you want from me!!! Couldn't you have left her for me as a reward for my fight and patience!!! I love her!!!" A lightning bolt and a thunder clap raged around him muffling the sound of the chanting inside the church he stood by. 

He knelt down and cried only to find in seconds a creepy feeling swarming all over him. As the lightning bolts ensued above him and preceded the thunders, a separate lightning bolt of terror ravaged his inner soul as well. But what was strange about that. He was used to alarm and fear. He felt that there was something not quite finished yet. His wrist watch was nearly six. A fresh series of lightning bolts and thunders passed as a huge blanket surfaced in the horizons of the mountains up ahead. It was hastily homing in on the area. Nigel cautiously watched as they arrived at the same ravine that had earlier witnessed the war and engulfed the entire area. They were waves of beasts like the ones that were earlier present. Nigel stood perplexed as he wasn't comprehending what was happening. Suddenly a deep blood curdling unfathomable voice spoke prompting him to turn around. "Did you think a disgusting scripture would end my domain in your world Nigel?"

Chills bolted down his spine as he looked at Oxen's disgusting beastly figure. He asked with disgust, "What do you want from me?"

The Bull walked towards him, his footsteps releasing huge thuds as they moved on the muddy earth, "It's true that those scriptures wiped out my army earlier, but they were good only for one time use. As for me, well, as long as man is around I'm around."

"Are you the cause of all of this you disgusting creep?!"

"No, your race's hatred and ill ways are the cause. They summon me to your world. I don't get summoned by myself. Do you see my army down there? They are invincible? You are a stout figure. I need you. Come with me and I will return your Angel. Trust me."

"Get away from me. My Angel chose to trade in her happiness for a noble deed. A truly noble lady that I will feel honored to have known for my entire life; unlike you and your filthy realm."

The general suddenly surfaced out of nowhere. It was as if he had just came in from an invisible door and stood besides Oxen. 

Nigel's mind lit with knowledge, "It's you. Where the hell did you come from."

"You will never win this war. You are just too weak." The general laughed with happiness and victory as Nigel stood in front of them raging with frustration and panic. "I warned you earlier. We are just too strong." 

Suddenly the bell of the church besides them rang. The general and Oxen closed their ears with their hands and danced around with frustration as the bell struck over and over again. The earth underneath their feet shook with a quaking as they fell on it and rolled around a few times unable to maintain stability. The beasts down in the ravine screamed and ran about in panic as the quaking continued. Oxen cried out loud, "NO!!! I WILL NOT DIE!!!" and got up angrily. He jumped up and down a couple of times then headed for the church screaming menaces and curses. Suddenly the quaking stopped. The chanting in the church continued but was soon dwarfed by the sound of horse galloping. 

The skies around lit with a soft blue as a knight holding a spear came galloping on a white horse from the skies. He gallantly landed on the grounds besides the church and looked at Oxen threateningly. The beast opened his mouth in terror as he saw the horse charge again only this time towards him. The horse stopped and rose on its hind legs as the knight in full armor raised the spear and dipped it with skill in Oxen's chest. Oxen roared magnificently as the spear cut through his chest, his blue blood spilling from his chest. The general screamed with terror as he saw the killing and began to move backwards unaware that he was moving towards a sharp cliff. Soon he fell meeting an ill fate while the army of beasts diminished into dust as their earlier breeds. 

Nigel unbelievingly looked at the gallant knight as he took off towards the skies again. As the church bell continued to ring a huge deep echoing in the distances sounded as well resembling church bells. It was powerful, magnificent, awe inspiring and propelled him to look towards the skies. It felt that the whole world was ringing its church bells with the church bells on Mount Sinai. He found himself moving towards the church where he knew that he will find his consoling and rest. It was over. Thank God it was over, the cult, the wars, earth was saved, and although the tax was heavy on him in a way he was grateful. When a wolf walks around a pack of hungry sheep the shepherd tries to shoo him off with no loses, but if he succeeds in snatching a lamb he runs off afterwards leaving the rest of the pack in peace. If Angel was that sacrificed lamb in the midst of this brawl so let it be. She made her choice. There was nothing he could but present his pain to the Lord and see how he will enlighten him to deal with it.

August 20, 2009, New York, 

Memories Of A Requiem To A Near Past

"The church community safely continued their prayers my dear David. We met shortly afterwards in New York, if you remember, upon your arrival from Jordan with the help of the authorities there."  

David replied in deep thought, "I received my medal of honor from the president shortly after I arrested the rest of the organization. I remember." He gave Nigel a look of sympathy and said, "No wonder you wrote on her grave stone 'died in the line of duty somewhere in time,' I'm sorry my friend."

Nigel looked at David and tapped his hands softly on his’, "She was a free spirit and a decent person. She lived smartly, fought the tyranny of evil bravely, and was proudly buried with royalty upon her death after ruling one of the strongest civilizations that captivated the realm of mortals ever. Now let me be and spend what remains of my days besides my true love David. She didn't die besides me. At least I will die besides her."

"But you didn't tell me. Who was in the coffin?"

Nigel managed a smile and took out some dollars from his pocket while stating, "A John Doe who died from powerful burns a day earlier. I found a way to negotiate things with the morgue and receive the body. I explained that Angel's fate was so upon her death, or how else could I have convinced the priest not to open the coffin during the funeral? In return the poor unknown fellow had the chance to receive the blessings of a priest and a descent burial."

David smiled at Nigel's keen mindedness. Nigel placed the money back and shook hands with his friend before he quietly stepped out of the rolls and closed the door behind him. He softly paced the sidewalks with his feeble old footsteps, his stick releasing soft tick tocks on the grounds as it aided him in his soft trek towards the museum. David watched him slowly ascend the steps that led to the mighty edifice in Manhattan before he ordered Stewart, "Take me home." 

He thought within himself as Stewart got the engine in gear, "I shall live my remaining days in peace because of God's kindheartedness, and because of the bravery of the good breed of humans like you and Angel, that resist evil and its disciples."

The End

(Echoes of a Nightmare will follow soon in paperback)

"MINOTAUR, ONLY IN WHITE BONES!!!" Running as hard as they could the torch in Nigel's hand blew out. But before it did he caught a glimpse of an entrance to their right. They ran through it and stopped, noticing that that the loud thuds had stopped as well. 

"Why does it stop chasing us after a while?" Angel asked, panting from the sprinting, her hand that was up to her breast feeling the beat of her panicking heart.

"I think it’s trying to scare us and keep us running," Nigel replied taking deep drags of air while wiping the sweat off of his forehead. 

Suddenly Angel's mind lighted with thought, "So we won't have the proper time to concentrate on the maze? Nigel we have to kill it."

"But how?"

"Use your guns. It's bones. If we don't it will keep us on the run till the full day is out. Then we will be sorry."

Nigel added, "Do you know something. When we took our first turn, when we first collided with it, it stopped chasing us. The corridor it was in grew dense with darkness at that point."

"When it is able to pick up the torch light it charges on us…" Angel picked up the torch from Nigel's arms and gave it a look. She then placed it vertically on the floor. She rubbed it in between her hands, making it turn against the ground, attempting to incite enough friction to light it again. However it turned for a complete minute with no avail. Angel quickened the rubbing but gradually became frustrated by her failure. She picked up the torch and smashed it on the grounds. It smacked against something that vibrated on the grounds nearby. Angel picked it up and felt it in the darkness. 

"What is it Angel?"

"Its some sort of big gun," as Angel felt it more she commented, "Of a very peculiar type. It has only one barrel."

"Angel it could be possibly a flare gun! Shoot it in the direction we came from!"

"Who on earth would leave a flare gun behind," she asked as she aimed it in the thick darkness ahead."

"Didn't you hear the wise guy in the temple? We aren't the only visitor's to this hell hole."

The gun went off between the walls right behind the entrance they were standing in sending its echoes ringing in the premises. The flare rocketed through the corridor and sent spectrums of brilliance, lighting Minotaur that was a distance away and the entire area around. Within seconds the bright shell smashed into a wall but remained luminous for a while. 

"He's coming towards us Nigel."

Nigel pumped his shotgun and aimed straight at the charging creature, its powerful white sprinting legs filling the atmosphere about with awesome thudding. His aim picked up the quick beastly paces of his enemy for a moments time then he fired a round succeeding in striking the spinal cord of his assailant. The flare lost its glow simultaneously surrendering the premises to darkness once again. The firing and commotion stirred boisterous motions a small distance off towards the core of the maze. Nigel looked towards the core then looked towards the entrance, guessing from the noise, that the creature was bucking about wounded between the walls. Lava like tongues shot out from the core of the maze and began falling around them. Angel and Nigel jumped back a distance as the flames struck the place they were just standing in. The tongues lit the torch on the ground again to their content. Nigel ran back up, picked it up and watched what was left of Minotaur still bucking madly between the walls. The round had succeeded in breaking the creature in two halves. He ran back to where Angel was standing, both their eyes bouncing between the hell that broke loose to their right and the bucking beast, lest it run towards them. Nigel fired one more round at its bull part crippling it to the ground. It disappeared into dust, leaving its upper body's arms thrashing helplessly. A third round on its skull silenced its action for good. The core thrashed about madly again sending more enraged flames into the air targeting where they were standing. Angel and Nigel ran back through the entrance and stood helpless between choosing to go right and left. They chose to go right and ran down the hallway to find a right turn and another entrance. They ran through the entrance and took a nearby left turn which led them to a dead end. 

Angel stopped, torn apart by panic and fear. To their luck the fire stopped its attack on them. However she collapsed in her place crying her frustration away and banging the grounds underneath with her fists. "Nigel I can't take this anymore…"She choked with pressure and cried helplessly like a child. 

Although helpless himself, he walked up to her and hugged her warmly. "Don't worry dear. It’s going to be all right."

Angel replied sobbing, "How do you want me to calm down when this thing is chasing us away from corner to corner."

"It is enraged because we just destroyed its scare crow."

Suddenly she leaned back from his embrace and looked at him, her silhouette dancing within the torches light. "Do you really think so?"

"It's frustrated because we won a round in the battle. Now all what we have to do is concentrate enough to follow our trail back again."

Angel felt a bit relaxed and comforted. Nigel was saying the truth. She had to trust him and maintain the proper self confidence. They were smart enough for the feat. They were still alive despite that vicious creature's attacks. 

Nigel smiled back as he saw her face light with self confidence again. "Come on sweetheart. We have some work to do. I think we ought to go back and start the maze from where the creature scared us away. It could have been diverting us away from the proper way."

As they walked back down the hallway Nigel added, "Do you know what I think as well. We were so close to finding our way out only moments ago. That beast's sounds were so near to us."

Nigel led Angel through the turn they took moments ago and walked past the entrance they ignored. Deep inside he was praying that he was taking the proper paths they had taken earlier for both of their sake. They went through so many entrances and hallways that tracing and remember their exact steps was a challenging job. But somehow an inner instinct told him that he was on the correct path so far. Within moments a left entrance appeared, which he guessed was where they fired the flare. He explained accordingly to Angel, "See this is where you fired the flare, remember?"

Angel nodded with confidence, "Yes, I remember."

"Hopefully I've got it right," He thought or she is going to collapse. "Please Lord enlighten my mind," he prayed.

As their footsteps took them further down the hallways, another entrance came up. He gulped hard as his memory ceased at that point. He knew that in reality their wild running short moments ago made it impossible to guarantee anything for them at all. But as they approached the entrance and as he lit it the other entrance came into focus. The double entrance instantly refreshed his mind and he remembered. "Follow me Angel," He commanded with certainty as he led the way past the entrances. 

A dead end to their right made them take the left and they walked slowly down the hallway. The boney liter on the grounds made him smile with comfort. 

"Nigel I think we've got it at last." She caressed him warmly with her left hand as they both cautiously marched down the hallway, taking a left turn. Eventually they reached the T junction again that was marked with the skeletal remains. They stopped for a while attempting to relax after their plight. 

"Nigel I have a feeling that those scriptures are here somewhere." She looked at him assuring, "I just can feel it." Before he could reply, suddenly her back chilled. Her body released a couple of shudders as she saw the apparition standing a small distance off staring straight at her. She gasped as she studied its face and silhouette; a person that she felt was very familiar to her. The walls around her all transformed into a neat hallway filled with glyphs and paintings. The apparition walked a distance gesturing Angel to follow her. 

"Angel what is it…why where you shivering and where are you going?"

Angel said nothing but walked straight up ahead. Nigel walked after her, filling his shotgun with rounds, "Angel wait for a second…talk to me!"

The boney liter on the grounds were double that in the other corridor telling Nigel that they were walking into big trouble. "Angel…Angel…" He kept calling her and waving his hand in front of her eyes, but she was out of his world. The apparition kept guiding her till she reached a closed entrance. 

"This is your path your majesty." The apparition said in ancient Egyptian. "Don't go any other way."

"How do I open it?"

Nigel interrupted, his eyes bouncing between up ahead and Angel, whom was besides him, "Are you talking to me? Who are you talking to?"

"Be brave and do as the glyphs say," the apparition knelt in worship to angel then vanished. 

The beautiful corridors disappeared instantly and the rough rocky walls and grounds came back to her. Both stood silent for a while then screamed with terror as they saw the path behind them they had just crossed. Both their eyes opened wide as they saw the deep void space in the grounds with lethal arrows pointing upwards towards its bottom. 

Nigel yelled out loud, "HOW THE HELL DID WE CROSS THAT!!!"

Angel's heart was pumping wildly from the shock as she barely made out, "It was one of my servants from my other life."

"What do you mean? For a long while you were out of this world. What did you see?"

"I was in one of the hallways in a palace and…Oh my goodness, I just feel I know her closely; she just guided me to this entrance and told me to follow the directions of the glyphs to open it. She guided us to safety."

After a brief pause Nigel replied, "Believe me I'm thankful for that." Nigel made out the glyphs on the entrance door. They read, "Feed the gate with the blood of Ramses's kin and it will open its hellish doors."

To its side was a small rocky bowl protruding outwards.  Nigel looked at Angel whom softly said but with fear, "I believe that would be me." She stretched out her hand and asked, "You still have that knife?"

Nigel boiled with anger at the thought of him cutting Angel's hand. He aimed his shotgun at the gate and fired two rounds. The atmosphere rocked with fire power but the gate that was made out of iron stood as strongly as it was before. He screamed, "DAM YOU AND YOUR WICKEDNESS…I WILL TEAR YOU TO PIECES, DO HEAR ME!!!" He beat the door with his fists and kicked it repeatedly till Angel ran up to him and hugged him saying. "Nigel just do it sweetheart. I will be fine. I promise you." She looked him in the face and wiped his tears away with her hand, "I promise you. Let's do what the apparition asked us to do. She was good enough to help us cross the deadly trap down there."

Nigel took in a deep breath and settled down to reality. There was no way around this obstacle. He took the knife out of his pocket. He grabbed Angel's hand and brought the knife to it. The supreme pain ravaged Angel as the knife cut her flesh; she released a load screech and bit the shirt's sleeve of her other arm. Nigel tried not to make the wound deep so he would avoid the need for stitches. As soon as the blood gushed out she moved her hand above the bowl, crying and gasping from the cutting. The blood trickled from her hand on the rocky container for a moment's time while Nigel tore a piece of material from his shirt's sleeve and wrapped Angel's hand with it. He pressed the wound for a moment's time succeeding in making the bleeding cease. A minute passed before the gate began sliding to the right. As they entered the corridor a series of torches that hung on its walls became alight suddenly. The same angry beastly voice that threatened them at the beginning of their quest shook the premises once more and announced, "YOU'RE BRAVERY IS NOTABLE BUT YOU WILL NEVER STAND ANY FURTHER!!!"

Both treaded down the corridor in each other's embrace, till they reached another entrance. They passed through it and noted another one at the far end of the new corridor. The heat began to intensify as they walked down the twisting lengthy corridors and entrances; the second level leading to the third. Finally as they crossed the fourth corridor and headed towards the fourth entrance something made them halt their advance. A series of splashes sounded from the core of the maze and flying big tongues of lava headed straight towards them. They both took a mad dash towards the entrance in front of them as the tongues of lava splashed on the rocky grounds behind them. Lost for a moment's time from the attack they didn't realize it at first. They were finally in front of it. A huge rectangular room with wild splashing echoing inside of it. As they stood awed from the boisterous noise the splashing gradually died down. Tranquility spread all over the premises. They studied it cautiously, their instincts telling them that something was coming their way. 

Angel's eyes radiated with warmth and passion as she saw him step outside of the entrance. He smiled at her and opened his arms. Nigel looked in surprise as Angel walked towards him. He grabbed her back and ordered, "Nigel who is he?"

"That is my father Nigel."

"No your father is dead. Angel wake up!"

Angel pushed Nigel away and began walking briskly towards the smiling figure. "Angel come back!!!" he screamed but she was nowhere to heed his orders. The thirty three feet that separated her from the figure came to an end as she hugged her father warmly and cried, "I missed you!"

Nigel ran after her terrified from what was happening. He screamed, "Angel back away! You buried your father a year ago! Back away!"

Within seconds the warm embrace of her father began turning into coldness. A foul smell began filling the atmosphere around her. She tried to back away but she felt her arms stuck to what instantly came to her senses as a bulky but sticky disgusting presence. She felt it lifting her above the grounds, her feet kicking with no safety underneath. She looked up at the skeletal face that was covered with scores of human eyes that were moving with life. She bitterly screamed as she discovered there were no eyes in the boney sockets that were starring at her. Her screaming quickly turned to high screeching as she saw through the sockets to his brainy flesh. His back side felt sticky and fleshy but contrasting to this gruesome reality and as he pressed her against his front side it felt all boney hard; a truly macabre fleshy remnant of a beast that made her blood curdle with terror she had never witnessed before. Some muscle that was still tied to his jaws retracted as he spoke to her with his beastly voice, "You are mine to keep. I will grow more complete and strong with your fleshy parts and eyes."

Her heart began pounding with the terror that tore her soul apart. She wailed, "HELP ME!!! NIGEL HELP ME!!!" Her wailing filled the maze as she pleaded and begged for mercy.

Nigel stood awed a few feet away by the seven foot monster. Its cross of bones and flesh made him want to throw up. It was the shape of a yeti and covered entirely with human eyes from head to toe. As it was dragging Angel inside the core of the maze he ran up to it and dipped his knife into its back. The beast yelled with pain as he dragged the knife downwards making a big tear. Nigel yelled with fear as flesh tearing filled the atmosphere. It managed to grab him with its powerful hands and throw him a distance back. It released Angel as it thrashed about trying to reach out for the knife that was dipped in its back but to no avail. Nigel took a dash towards it as Angel backed away terrified from her encounter. The monster clubbed both its hands together and hurled them downwards towards Nigel’s head but he grabbed his arms and stopped him. Nigel yelled repeatedly with hysteria as he fought against the monsters clubbed hands, his hands firming around sheer muscle and bone. He finally gave him a powerful kick and made him wobble back inside the rectangular room. Scores of eyes fell down from his body and filled the grounds as it knelt down on its knees weak from the stab. Nigel aimed his shotgun and released a long series of rounds tearing him to shreds. The scorching lethal rounds severed his head, an arm and a leg off of his body.

The monster's blood drained silently towards the room. Angel and Nigel carefully and slowly approached him and watched his carcass lay lifeless on the floor. He was truly one ugly creature.

Nigel's eyes radiated with disgust and fear as he asked, "What is this thing?"

"He needed me to grow more complete and to strengthen his sight. Great heavens look at his incomplete body."

"Now I know where the body parts of all those people were going."

"Do you mean he was gluing their body parts to his…"

"So he can live once more. You would have met the same fate." Nigel shivered at the thoughts, "Saving you was one big miracle darling."

"Nigel what does this all mean. Why is this all happening?"

"Remember the old man's words in that timeless Egyptian desert." Nigel hugged Angel and said, "It shall soon end. Let's go into that room and see if it truly contains the scriptures."

They entered the beast's den. It was a void empty room. Nigel guessed it was about five hundred square feet in size, totally void aside from a stream of streaming hot lava running in a narrow channel to their left. The room boiled from the intense heat that ran through it. To their right was a small podium with a big role of papyrus on it. They slowly walked towards it, looking around cautiously for any unexpected surprises. Finally Angel grabbed the scrolls with her hands and began crying. She broke down like a child and cried unbelieving that they were finally between her hands. Nigel hugged her and left her to cry her frustrations away. 

"Finally Nigel. We have successfully completed it. Finally our adventure is over."

"NOT YET PATHETIC WOMAN!!!"

Angel looked up, "What do you mean?...NIGEL LOOK OUT!!!"

A vicious roar filled the void room and sent echoes within its spacious walls. Nigel pumped his shot gun and turned around but was paralyzed with fear at what he saw. The monster was dragging himself on the floor heading towards them. It said mockingly, "Let us see you stop the war in Sinai!!! If Ramses thinks his pathetic army of mummies can stand in our way he is wrong. How can you stop an army that counts as much as there is sand in the deserts of the world."

Nigel said challenging, "With this scriptures we can!"

"If you can leave here alive?"

The monster stood up on his other leg and raised his hands in the air. The Lava in the channel rose with the action of his hand and began quickly spreading on all the walls and floor of the room. The scorching material twitched and danced in the coolness of the air. 

"You will melt in seconds. I promise you."

"QUICKLY READ THE SCROLLS ANGEL!!!"

Angel panicked and opened the scrolls. She read out loud as the molten material gushed towards them, "Sands of time from every path and trend, voyaging through time with no end, take us to Sinai…"

Angel and Nigel screamed as they saw the lava cave in on them…

*****

SATURDAY, 20TH AUGUST 1960, 5:30 AFTERNOON

Twenty clergy from the Baptist, Catholic and Greek Orthodox faiths with three priests from the Catholic, Melkite Catholic, and Orthodox faiths were gathered in the Greek Orthodox Church on the summit of Mount Sinai. Before beginning the mass that was due to be in progress at exactly six in the evening, Father George, Father Paul and Father John stood silently in the midst of the Royal Doors of the iconostasis, with their service robes on, and read the statement that was drafted by the quickly adjourned synod two days earlier between all the Christian faiths in the globe. Father John was to begin by reading a third of the letter while Father George and Father Paul would complete the latter two thirds. 

Father John began: 

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost Amen.

From the Universal Christian Synod that was held with the full participation of all the spiritual leaderships of Christianity on Thursday 18th of August 1960, to all our clergy and faithful parishes; may the blessing of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior be with you always. 

It has regretfully come to the attention of all the spiritual leaderships of our Christian faith, and the spiritual leaderships of our brethren from the Jewish and Moslem Faiths as well, strange occurrences that are too serious of a nature to keep a secret from our parishes. Egypt, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories have reported what seems as the signs of a cult in progress and what looks as if aspiring to spread and capture a domain in our world. A number of brave hearted soldiers in all four nations have perished or were wounded in their attempt to fight its evil away from humanity. As we speak and prepare our unsurpassed universal mass which will take place with the prayers of our brethren from the other monotheistic faiths, a very sinister fight will be in progress soon in the Sinai Peninsula if our Lord doesn't deal with us through his kind heart again and maintain the well being of our globe once again.

Father George read: Perhaps you are asking as to why our God has allowed this to happen. Faithful brethren it is written in the Epistle of James in the New Testament (chapter 1, verses twelve to fifteen), "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted 'I am tempted by God;' for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death." 

We can only assume that the distances people and nations keep from prayers; also the crimes, the world wars of this century and devastations that were spurred by man's greed for money, power and influence have resulted in nothing more than compelling God to withdraw his pure blessings and Holy Ghost from our lives. Inferring accordingly we only hope and aspire that this is an admonishing from Him, willing by it to make his people combine in holy prayer, to bring back faith, good heartedness and love to our war struck world.  

Father Paul read: Through the miraculous events given to us in the Old Testaments, and as what could be understood from the holy teachings of our Jewish and Moslem brethren, similar events have taken place, when God chose to discipline his people when acting against his will, and surrender them to their enemies or inflict punishment. Let us remember what is mentioned also in the Book of Proverbs, (chapter three, verses eleven and twelve) words which are also referred to in the Epistles of the disciples in the New Testament, "My son, do not despise the Chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives." 

Therefore our leaderships have chosen to draft this message, a similar message being also drafted and read by all the monotheistic faiths to their believers, by which we beg and ask from all our Christians to fulfill the Lord's wishes for us to pray always and head to the nearest church regardless of their Christian sect, on Saturday 20th August, 1960 at Six in the evening promptly, and take part in communion and prayers that will be held. Jesus Christ promised that when there are two or more people gathered together in prayer, that He shall be amongst them, blessing them and their households. Come and join the world in its joint pleadings and prayer for the well being of our globe and lives, for God shall be amongst us if we come with faith and love in our hearts.

Father John announced, "Till six there will be a few minutes of meditation in the church." 

All three priests afterwards headed into the alter to prepare the bread of the Holy Sacrament while the Byzantine choir began chanting hymns. Suddenly grey clouds dimmed the sunset above, leaving the church in a dark atmosphere, with only the light provided by the dancing candle flames to light the inside of the holy structure. As the prayers of the faithful filled the premises lightning and thunder started, leaving strong echoes behind, the sudden winds shaking the old glass of the church; but the storm only succeeding in compelling the gathered faithful to pray more fervently to their Lord. They all, within their hearts, knew that he was there and will never forsake them. But as the Bible said through the teachings of the disciples, in the New Testament Epistle to Galatians, "But when the fullness of the time had come , God sent forth His Son , born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." 

Father John smiled as he prayed and cut the pieces of bread, and placed them in the holy plate while his other colleagues stood around the alter and prayed silently, "God for sure prepared times for his plans to his beloved. He will never forsake us." He was a father for three children himself. He knows that no matter how many times his children did the wrong things he always forgave them and directed them into the right path. How so accordingly is the great father of the heavens and universe? All they had to do was trust in him. The Lord promised in the Bible that even if a mother did the impossible and forgot to feed her children, that he will never forget us.

Suddenly loud metal clattering began sounding from the outside. Father John left the small table he was using for the sacrament and headed through the Royal Doors once again, "Faithful brethren. No matter what happens outside do not leave your seats and look. Stay as much as you can concentrated on prayer and meditation till mass starts. We are in a heavenly entity here and nothing can harm us while the Lord prevails."

The mass cried in unison, "Amen father!"

1366 B.C. Amenophis IV (1367 – 1350 B.C.) Reign, Thebes

"And this is what happened till Sekhmet took off with her husband and you were brought back to me."

"I don't remember anything of what you are saying. What I remember is that only seconds ago we were in that huge temple with those ghastly mummies running towards us to kill us."

"This is when you stood in between, commanding them not to hurt us. This is when, I guess, Sekhmet borrowed your body to help through the obstacles and retrieve the Holy Cross; although that disgusting man stole it away from us later on."

Angel asked, shivering from the cool currents that suddenly erupted from their right side, "Who is he?"

Nigel embraced her as they sat calmly in the dark corner of the new premises they were in and answered, "I don't know. He knew us but I just can't remember coming across him in anyway or at any point in my entire life. Oh we almost died there hadn't it been for those ancient soldiers guarding Sekhmet."

"Nigel!" Angel suddenly snapped back, "Do you remember my dream?"

Nigel replied, "Yes, dear God yes…"

"This is the explanation to my dream." She broke loose from his embrace and looked towards him, his face slightly lit by the dominant moonlight coming from the big window a distance across from them, "I believe this means that I'm connected to those people."

"Well as a Christian I don't believe in soul incarnation like the ancient religions do, but your ancestry is obviously deeply rooted in ancient Egypt. I believe you are almost a copy of what Sekhmet looked like because you fitted superbly into their royalty frame. She is surely a great ancestor of yours."

"I don't believe in soul incarnation either and I agree with you concerning my lineage. Once we resolve our issues I feel compelled to do some good investigating of my family tree."

Suddenly door squeaking interrupted their conversation. They both unconsciously grabbed their weapons hard and rested in anticipation of any danger. However contrasting to their fears, a soft lady's weeping and sobs filled the chamber they were in. Echoes of slow footsteps surfaced in the distances as the door slammed back into its place. The weeping and footsteps gradually grew louder implying that the sad person was coming closer to them. After a while a close brief shuffling followed placing a part of the lady's white robe in the path of the soft moonlight, releasing the fact to Angel and Nigel that she was royalty. The woman afterwards lit two torches hung on the wall opposite of them illuminating a portion of the chambers but still leaving them within some darkness to conceal them from her sight. Angel almost gasped as she saw the young boy's body lying on the floor in front of a human size statue of a deity. He was about ten years of age with handsome looks but was still as a log implying to her his sickness.

The figure of royalty knelt in front of the statue and wept deeply. Her bursts of crying echoed through the temple walls they were in and sparked chills across Angel's back from their sincerity. She then raised her eyes and prayed in ancient Egyptian, "Bring him back to me, please, you are a great god…" a series of snuffles followed then she continued, "Please bring him back to me, I will build for you a temple more grand than this one and that Egypt has never seen before if you return my son to me."

Nigel whispered to Angel, "She certainly has my sympathies but I think it's too late for her prayers. He is dead."

"No I think he is ill."

"He isn't moving. I can't even see him breath."

"Rahotep," her breaking voice called but the boy rested still as ever. She picked up his arm and released it. It fell without life to the ground. Frustrated yells filled the atmosphere around them once again as she collided with reality and cried. She beat the grounds with her arms and lamented her calamity. 

Suddenly chariot noise erupted from the outside. Within moments the temple door opened and footsteps' shuffling sounded. Two figures soon came into focus and stood besides the woman. One maintained a lofty disposition and was wearing an Egyptian warrior’s costume. The other was an elderly person in a more moderate appearance wearing a shabby grey tunic. He had a long stick in his hand. The poor lighting kept their facial features from Angel and Nigel as the warrior spoke, "Nefertiti!"

The crying woman answered bitterly, "Rahotep is dead! Our son is dead!" She stood up and embraced him. Amenophis stood paralyzed with shock for a few moments. He then knelt down and picked up his son between his arms hugging him. 

The figure with the shabby tunic said, "Our gods are angry because we released the slaves. That is why they will not return Rahotep to life!"

Nefertiti replied sharply, "Enough! Enough Imhotep! The God of the slaves is much mightier than ours'!"

Imhotep replied warning, "Don't anger them any further!"

Amenophis's crying rose in the backgrounds of Nefertiti and Imhotep arguements, "Anger what! Dead stone!"

Imhotep shook with fear and looked at the statue interceding with prayer, "Oh great god Khnum, owner of this temple, forgive her! She is angered and in pain by your disciplining for releasing our slaves from the cities." He looked back at Nefertiti and said, "Stop your heresy your majesty instantly. I'm not responsible if our cities suffer any further from your words!"

Nefertiti yelled back with her tearful eyes shooting madness, "We don't have any cities left! The God of the Hebrew Slaves burned our cities and killed the first born of every Egyptian family plunging our people into bitter sadness, even my own son was no exception. He had no heart on anyone that obstructed him not on a single commoner or on royalty. Our waters are all poisoned with ailments. Where are your gods whom you compel us to worship? Why didn't they defend us and return what we have lost?"

Imhotep assured, "All the omens were telling me not to let them go and I warned you to keep refusing Moses's requests or else. Had you heeded our gods would have protected us."

Amenophis stood up and looked at both of them with sorrow, "And we lost half of our chariots as well."

Nefertiti asked with a shocked tone of voice, "What happened?" 

Amenophis answered with a saddened voice, "Their God is a very mighty God. He glowed with majesty and stood before us like a huge pillar of fire as we were in the Hebrews' pursuit. He kept our army away from them. He is more glorious than the day time skies. And finally when they reached the bay I watched with glee as I thought they would be unable to cross the seas. But with unseen power the sea was split in two halves and they marched through it." 

Nefertiti gasped with surprise as she heard the words. Amenophis looked back at the statue and continued, "I hesitated to follow them at first and stood watching the great multitude glorify their God and march through the muddy lands of the sea. But gradually my pride as a ruler couldn't take their God's thrashing that I received. Frustrated by their victories over my authority I foolishly sent my chariots afterwards and stood like a coward afraid to approach the mighty open sea. The huge walls of the sea crashed down over my soldiers and engulfed them."

Imhotep fiendishly blurted out, "Do you see our gods' wrath. This is their way in punishing us for releasing the Hebrew slaves. For four hundred years, generation after generation, those slaves toiled Egypt and served us. You release them against our gods' will and you expect to go unpunished?"

Amenophis replied, "It is not your gods I fear all of a sudden." He looked down at Rahotep and replied, "It is the God of the Hebrews that I truly fear. The God that makes the grounds tremble and takes life is truly a God to fear."

Nefertiti walked up towards the statue and knelt down. She took her son in between her arms and stood up. She walked away slowly disappearing from the scene leaving her husband and Imhotep behind. 

"Amenophis I'm warning you. If you don't repent and ask forgiveness from Khnum…"

Amenophis faced Imhotep again and answered, "If our gods let the God of the Hebrews destroy our cities without interfering what do I want with them. They are your gods and not mine."

"HOW DARE YOU REVOLT AGAINST OUR BELIEFS!!!"

"I'M WARNING YOU IMHOTEP. A LOT OF CHANGES ARE GOING TO TAKE PLACE FROM HERE ON! DON'T INTERFERE!"

"Haven't the Hebrew slaves gone off with their God! Let them be and let us return to our worship!"

"You mean the worship of Aton, the glorious sun god. I don't know who the God of the Hebrew Slaves is exactly but I have seen his wrath and glorious power. He shined superbly like the sunlit skies in front of us." Amenophis turned to a small stand that rested besides the statue of Khnum. He took a couple of scrolls that lied on its' flat top and crumbled them in his hands. 

Imhotep dashed towards him and took the crumbled papyrus from his hands. They fell from his hands in small shreds. Imhotep's face swelled with anger as he spoke, "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS!!!"

"Mark my words. From here on the Scriptures of the Priests of Thebes are banned from our Kingdom. I will issue the decree first thing in the morning." Amenophis dashed out of the temple leaving Imhotep boiling with anger. 

Imhotep hollered back at him as the door opened then slammed shut, "WE SHALL SEE WHO WILL BAN WHAT EXACTLY!!!"

"Stupid man." Imhotep said talking to himself, "I know what to do."

Imhotep disappeared for a few moments then came back with a bunch of scrolls in his hands. He placed them on the ground a distance off of the statue of Khnum. He began to softly murmur what seemed to Angel and Nigel as chants. After a minute the scrolls simply disappeared. The old figure slowly departed towards the door of the temple murmuring to himself, "They will disappear for a while but they will return. You shall see. You will never find them where they are bastard," his heavy footsteps and the tick tocks of his stick began weakening gradually in the distances. The door opened with loud squeaks then closed leaving the atmosphere of the temple very quiet. 

Both waited for a moment's time before they decided to move out of the darkness they were in. Assured by the total silence they cautiously moved from the cold corner and walked towards the statute of Khnum. The statue was up against the wall of a rectangular room about one thousand six hundred square feet in size. The two lit torches revealed its breathtaking rich glyphs glorifying the god of the Nile. Note worthy inscriptions on one of the walls promised him a sacrificial female bride before every rainy season in hopes of convincing him not to flood the Nile on the cities. As they stood near the lit wall reading the glyphs a strong voice suddenly erupted from behind them and said in English, "You are a very curious pair."

Angel released a loud gasp as she and Nigel turned around and looked at Imhotep.

"Do you think hiding in the dark will hide you from me?"

Nigel yelled out questioning, "HOW THE HELL DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPEAK OUR LANGUAGE!!!"

The tall figure with grey hair and an oval face full of wrinkles eyed them sharply. He could barely open his heavy eyelids that hovered over his black eyes. His sagging cheeks unveiled his protruding cheek bones. His senile hands that were piled on top of his waist high walking stick shook as he spoke, "The real question is what do you aspire to accomplish by your weapons and presence here? You are obviously a long way from your hometown voyager."

Angel spoke, "We are seeking the scriptures…" only to find Nigel's hands covering her mouth.

He spoke interrupting with a frown of discomfort drawn on his face, "I don't feel we owe you any explanations. Leave us unharmed and we shall depart your world in peace."

Imhotep replied with a mocking smile on his face, "I have come across treasure hunters before, crossers of time purely seeking fortunes, and I have come across the unfortunate while they pursue solutions to mysterious problems. But your quest is a very unique one. What you seek is no longer at my disposal. When the God of the Hebrews had the skies rain fire on us most of our libraries were burned and most of our written texts are no longer available. I just sent the last copy we hold that was written by our finest scribes moments ago to a maze in the black realms where they came from to guard it from Amenophis's anger; a place where no one has entered and has ever lived to tell of its whereabouts."

Angel asked, "We will find it! You shall see!"

Imhotep turned his back and walked to the temple door leaning on his stick for assistance, saying, "I can assure you with my experience in life that is an age old; you will not live long enough to obtain it."

Imhotep opened the door. As he walked out of the temple he hit the grounds of the temple with his stick then disappeared. Nigel looked at Angel and asked, "What does he mean by that loud bang of his stick."

"How in the world did he know what we are looking for and how does he know how to speak our language."

Suddenly the grounds underneath them shook. They looked at each other with horror. Their legs picked up to run but only to find the rock underneath them breaking. They both screamed with freight as they began to fall with the rocks. Nigel spontaneously looked at the wall they were standing in front of and noticed a long narrow cliff. He extended his hand and grabbed on to it as he was sinking. He simultaneously extended the other and grabbed Angel by her arm. The rocks fell with a thundering rumble into a huge black pit underneath. Angel stood suspended in the air by Nigel's grip hysterically crying and looking at Nigel whom was trying to maintain his grip on the ledge. After a brief ten seconds powerful echoes of crashing erupted from the pit, mesmerizing the couple by the distance the earth had to travel to finally crash at the bottom of the pit. 

Nigel took in a couple of deep breaths and attempted to regain his strength from the shock of the hard moments. He then spoke, "I need you to be a brave girl Angel. I'm going to heave you up and I need you grab on to my body. OK."

Angel remained speechless. She was hysterically shuddering and helplessly swinging in the air like a pendulum. "Nigel announced on the count of three, be ready, one…two…three." He heaved her up with his grip allowing her to wrap her arms around his waist. Another heave upwards made her wrap her arms around his neck, rendering his other arm free. He grabbed the ledge with both his hands and was more stable. To his surprise she broke loose from his grip and grabbed the ledge by her hands, suspending herself like Nigel. 

"What did you do that for?"

She barely made out, gasping and breathing heavily from her panic, "We don't have to both die. If the worst should happen the other must continue the quest."

Nigel managed back a smile and said comforting her, "We made it both that far. I think we will win this brawl together sweetheart."

Angel looked sideways, "And how must we find stepping grounds before we lose our strength and fall."

Hanging from the corner of the room both could only see the limited perimeter lighted by the torches above them. Suddenly Nigel noticed a flickering incandesce inside a hollowness towards the bottom underneath his legs. It was something he didn't notice before from the panic he was in moments ago. Being the size of an entrance it was obviously lit by a torch from the flickering light rays, making his heart glow with some hope.

"Angel I think I've spotted something."

"What is it?"

"It’s a big lit entrance in the rocks just below my legs. I think I'm going to try and descend to it."

"No Nigel, I think we should try to move along the ledge till we get to the temple entrance. We have more hope then,"

"No. Let us check the lit entrance first. It may lead to something."

Angel reluctantly agreed and watched as Nigel explained, "Its only a couple of feet away. I’m going to drop myself downwards and catch on to its threshold as I come near it."

"NO!!! What if you fail and kill yourself."

Nigel gave her an assured look and said, "Trust me!!! Here goes."

Nigel lost his grip and slid making angel catch her breath in anticipation. When exactly at the threshold of the door he successfully caught it with his arms. He pulled himself up and looked at Angel who smiled back and said, "I think I will use the stone ladder."

"What?!"

Angel calmly descended the short stone ladder that was carved in the rocks till she was parallel to the door. She gave him a mocking look and giggled as she said, "Patience is a virtue Nigel."

Nigel laughed at his clumsy feat and said, "Next time I will be more carefull sweetheart. I promise."

Angel and Nigel were in a corridor lit by torches. Nigel grabbed a torch from off the wall and walked down the brief brown rock corridor. It led them to a T shape junction with two dark long paths, one to their utmost right and the other to their left. Angle gasped as her foot struck a solid figure that rested on the grounds to her right side. She jumped into Nigel's arms who asked, "What is it dear." 

They both looked downwards as the skeleton of death screamed at them, its whiteness dancing within the wake of the glowing torch. Worms with decaying flesh still covered what was left of its ribs and legs as a portion if its’ body was damaged. Angel moved her eyes away from the sight and buried her face in Nigel's embrace from the macabre sight. Another lightning bolt of terror struck them as the glyphs that were carved into the wall in front of them yelled their threats at the intruders of the premises. Nigel began reading out loud, "As soon as he smells live human flesh he will turn his clock of sand that is one day mature. His victims' pains at getting lost will entertain him, whom this maze was consecrated to his black throne that was built from human bones and ornamented with their human eyes. He sees everything and hears everything. After a day of misery he will appear to his prey in his black glory and prey on their flesh and bones to close his insatiable appetite. He will drink their blood to quench his unending thirst. If you are reading this know the black beast of the lords of evil is watching you." Angel walked up to the wall and stood reasoning, "Where are we Nigel? What has this sick old man done to us?" Her body shuddered with fear as her eyes moved over and over again at what could be waiting for them.    

Suddenly the sound of something dragging surfaced. They looked back to find a slide door closing the path they came from. Nigel ran back and attempted to stop it but was no match for the force that was closing it. Shortly afterwards nothing was heard but the crackling of the tongues of flame on the two torches in the brief corridor. Angel watched Nigel as he slowly slid to the grounds, looking at her with despair.  

He said with a shaky voice, "For the very first time I feel that I'm truly afraid." Tears surfaced in his eyes as he began to cry and collapse into panic. Angel's blue cat eyes sparkled with affection for a moment's time. But to his surprise she marched towards him, knelt down besides him and gave him a sharp smack across his face. In a seconds time another followed on his other cheek with the back of her hand making his head sway sideways. The smacks echoed within the small corridor, the smart stings forcing a loud "AAAAHHH" from him. He stared back at her unbelieving what she just did to him, her image as she stood back up and walked a distance away dancing behind the tears in his eyes. She dryly stated, "If you are the man around here and will allow yourself to collapse and weep like a child, what should a weak woman like me do? Tell me?! Get up and act like the man I know you are and we will face together what we have to face in order to get out of here." 

For a minutes time all was silent. Angel wiped the tears in her eyes sneaking a peek at Nigel from time to time. Her heart ached at the smacking she gave him. Nevertheless she was aware that her actions were spurred by her insecurity. She feared losing his strength and courage to support her in the mission. She knew they had just faced the most sinister beings any human could possibly face in the wildest worlds of fiction and fantasy. He was such a man at what he put up with and for her love and sake. But it was too risky to fall apart now. They could get massacred if this should happen. 

Deep inside Nigel knew that Angel was saying the truth. But the smacking hurt him greatly. It was bitter medicine that had just awakened him back to his senses from a lethal drop. He was the man and he was supposed to be in control. They had just gone through a lot and the pressure was heavy on both of them. He just couldn't find it in his heart not to forgive her for what she did. After all, she was concerned about their safety as much as he was. But the bitterness of the smacks needed some time to go away. It just hurt him. He didn't expect her to be so strict against a moment of feebleness that he was bound to experience sooner or later. He was so lost between his love for her and the pain of her strictness. However deep inside he knew the priority should be given to finding a way out of this terrorizing mess. They were losing time. 

As he stood up Angel ran up to him with eyes sparkling with messages of passion and opened her arms begging, "Nigel please forgive, darling please…you don't know how much I'm shaking inside…I need you by me…I was just so afraid…you are my lover and you are my only family to me…you are the only close person in the world to me…I'm just so afraid and I need you to be so strong…please forgive me."

Nigel's defenses collapsed as he felt her body between his arms. He hugged her warmly and answered, "Calm down sweet baby. I will never forsake you. We have been through a lot and the pressure of the moments is not easy on us. It's alright sweetheart. I love you and will never ever leave you alone." She leaned back a bit and rubbed the finger marks she left on his cheeks. He gave her a light kiss on her lips and said, "It takes more than this to tear us away from each other." Their lips met again passionately, warmly, his hands searched her back fervently as he caressed her lips with his. 

A powerful quaking began making gravel and rocky chips fall from the ceiling around them. They hugged each other closely as a spine-chilling mad beastly voice howled in Egyptian, "PATHETIC BEINGS. I WILL MASH YOU AND YOUR LOVE TOGETHER. STRUGGLE IN MY MAZE OF TORMENT AND SOON YOUR BONES WILL CRUSH BETWEEN MY TEETH!!!" 

Both walked back to the T junction trying to maintain as much calmness as possible. As they stood thinking as to which way to go, Nigel caught a glimpse of a knife lying besides the decaying body. He picked it up as an idea came to his mind. 

"What is it Nigel?"

He replied as he wiped it from the dust, "It must have belonged to the poor unlucky fellow. I have no intention of losing my path here. I want to be able to avoid repeating paths. He picked the torch up from the ground, took Angel by her hand and headed for the left path. 

The corridor that was approximately one hundred and seventy feet by sixteen feet resembled a horrific lengthy lion's den. The light of the torch lit the grounds that had different boney remains scattered all over them. Several rib cages with shreds of worn out human clothes still hanging from them, were still intact on their left side, but smashed on their right. They cautiously walked down the hallway, appalled by the ghoulish leftovers, their blood curdling from the thought that this may be their ending if they didn't do the maze properly. They stopped halfway across a pile of cracked human skulls. Two huge black scorpions suddenly climbed out from the top skull and began descending the pole of bones. Angel shivered and jumped back as she saw their size. Nigel removed his revolver and shot them, destroying the pile of skulls in his wake. 

Suddenly an audible thud was heard in the nearby distances. It resembled a pile of bones smashing on the floor. They both ran down the hallway and reached a right corner turn. They took it not daring to look back; the heaviness leaving loud thuds as its feet worked the rocky grounds underneath and ran after them. Another long corridor was ahead of them clothed with dense darkness. Angel stopped and screamed out loud, "But what if there was something hiding down the darkness!"

Nigel replied, "No time for buts Angel, come one!" He grabbed her and ran down the dark corridor. The loud thuds continued and grew louder by the second, giving them the impression that it was catching up with them. The corridor thundered with the footsteps of the chase. Finally an entrance in the right wall met them. They took it and went into another corridor. Suddenly they stopped, lying against the wall to their right. A dazzling total silence engulfed the entire fiendish premises. Nothing was heard but their heavy breathing and pounding hearts. "Where is it? And what was it?" Angel whispered softly, her eyes screaming with fear as she looked at Nigel for an answer. 

"I don't know." Nigel softly answered. "This goes for both of your questions."

Suddenly Nigel remembered that he forgot to carve his marks on the walls that they just left behind. "I’m going to go back and if the coast is clear I will carve a small mark on the other side of the entrance."

"Nigel please," Angel gasped and pleaded. "Let's leave it behind."

"It's probably gone off somewhere else. I can't hear anything on the other side."

Angel grabbed his hand as he slowly turned around to the other side of the entrance. He whispered back, "The coast is clear."

A rough squeaking sounded as Nigel moved his knife against the rocky surface of the entrance. As he finished his X he suddenly stopped. His spine chilled instantly. He felt as if something was standing right besides him in the close darkness. He looked around but was unable to make out anything at first, not even nearby shuffling. All of a sudden two loud thuds sounded making his heart skip a beat. The grounds shook underneath as it came into the torch's light span; the most gruesome creature he'd ever seen so far in his adventure. It was a complete skeletal, it’s upper body was the upper half of a human skeleton while the lower half was that of a bull. Its figure was massive measuring in height eight feet. Its human skull that was screaming with death looked straight at him as it raised a lengthy sword in its hands and hurled it towards him. Nigel jumped back away from the entrance and took frightened Angel by her hand and screamed "RUN!!!" However they were at an intersection again. They both stood perplexed for a second’s time, their minds racing to make a decision between going right through the new corridor or taking another entrance straight ahead of them. They hastily chose to go straight towards the entrance. 

"WHAT IS IT?!" Angel screamed as they took a left turn and ran down a new lengthy corridor, the deadly mass of bones thudding violently after them.