Note: Like most stories that I write, there a few pages of build up, before you get to the juicy parts, but I assure you, they do cum.
*****
My horse was exhausted, I knew it was not likely to carry me very much further. Tiredly I dismounted. I took my one remaining water bottle, gave the horse a handful and let a few drops dribble between my lips.
I had been left with little choice but to take to the dunes even though I knew a horse was entirely unsuited to the terrain, this was camel country.
I was in a low defile between sand dunes, with just a little welcoming shade. Reaching into a bag I produced the remaining food for the horse, it wasn't much. Just a few minutes rest won't hurt I thought, and sank to the sand.
I felt a light vibration, pressing an ear to the sand, there was a distinct drumming, they were getting near, my time was running out. On foot I had no chance against the camel mounted tribesmen that were chasing me.
Suddenly, two figures came hurtling down the sand and landed almost alongside me. As I snatched for my rifle, one motioned a calming sign at me. Looking at the two I saw they also were of the desert, but of which tribe I had no idea.
One produced a knife from the depths of his clothing. and with a throat slitting motion, he pointed at my horse.
I knew there was no alternative, and almost before I had nodded, the horse seemed to look at me in reproach as it dropped to it's knees, before rolling on it's side and died.
The second of the two pointed at my bags, and then motioned me to follow, as they set off along the defile.
As I followed, I noticed the antiquated muskets they were both carrying, ancient but typical of many desert tribesman. Who were these two who were obviously not allied with the band that were chasing me. I realised that their headgear was white as opposed to the those following, who all had the black generally worn by members of the Toureg tribe.
The defile came to a sudden dead end. I thought "Oh shit! We're trapped." But one of the tribesman, the bigger of the two, pointed up to the left. We scrambled our way to the top of the dune and there below, I could see a stone building, in a stone walled compound.
Shots rang out from behind, I saw one of my new friends clutch at his arm and fall to roll back down the dune from where we had come. At the same time a massive thud hit my back. I was sent cart wheeling head over heels down the hill but away from our attackers, as I desperately fought for breath. A hand grabbed mine, and half pulled, half running, I followed toward the building.
I sat my back to the wall as I still struggled to breath. A figure passed me a canteen of water, and I drank deeply. Slowly my breathing returned to normal and I was able to look around. We were in a small square with low stone walls on three sides, a dilapidated building on the other.
I ducked as more shots rang out.
Realising that somewhat fortunately, I still had hold of my rifle. I rolled to a little niche in the wall, aware of the pain in my back as I went. Now I could see them at the top of the sand dune. They had height advantage over us, but we had the better cover. There were now four of us inside the compound, where the other two had come from, I have no idea, but the more the merrier I though.
I took a careful aim at the dune top, just where I had seen a quite large puff of smoke, obviously from a musket. A small black bob rose above the sand, it was enough for me. I fired and clearly saw the headdress go flying. "Good shot Johno" I thought.
A moment later I had got another, then silence descended.
A voice behind me said in English "They have gone effendi, no more trouble now."
As I stood the pain hit me, and I almost fell. Arms reached to hold me, and I was helped inside the building.
Stripped of my jacket and shirt, it became obvious that a bullet had hit my backpack, and gone right through, to hit me between the shoulders. Luckily for me, there hadn't been much force left by the time it hit my body. Although bleeding profusely, the damage was not too serious.
A hand rinsed a cloth gently across my back, the water cleaning away the blood. Then a bandage was being wrapped around my body.
I looked at the face of the person bandaging me, with a start I saw it had a womrn's eyes, jet black, from the brief glance they gave me. I winced as she pulled the bandage tight. For a moment, she knelt in front me, a frown on the half of the face I could see.
She seemed to glide across the floor as she went over to the other two, a desert cat was what came mind.
I slept fitfully, one minute hot, the next cold. Once I was aware of a damp cloth to my forehead but then nothing.
A hand shook me, "They are coming, can you move?" I stood, dizzy for a moment, a hand took my arm and steadied me, until my head cleared.
I quickly grabbed for my rifle as I heard shots and the sound of bullets ricocheting off the stone walls.
Looking out, I could see one of my new companions lying spread in the dirt with a pool of blood oozing from under him.