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.
I ducked frantically as a bullet hit the door frame just inches from my head.
I dived out, flat to the ground scrambling to the wall. A quick glance was enough to tell me that they were charging our position. How many I couldn't see, but certainly more than a dozen. There was now only three of us to their dozen, our only plus was I had a rifle and they appeared to have only muskets, dangerous enough, but with little range and slow to reload.
Before they were even halfway to our wall I had dropped four of them. I got one more and then they were jumping over the wall. Swords flashed in the sunlight, those broad curved weapons the desert men preferred. I pulled my pistol and shot one attacker in the chest before his sword reached my head, and spun to get another charging toward me. I saw two others lying across the wall, both quite dead.
One of my companions was swinging his musket wildly at two black headed enemy. He struck one a blow sufficient to send him flying to the ground, then a sword took him in the neck. He fell, blood spewing from the severed artery. I shot his assailant in the back, and saw him collapse to the ground.
I turned to see three of the enemy surrounding my one remaining friend. I raised my arm and fired at the nearest, but just a click, I was out of bullets.
Without thought, I charged screaming out loud, clubbing one on the head, and then pulling the next to the ground. We rolled and wrestled, he with a long curved bladed knife in his hand, and me with just an empty pistol. It was a stalemate as we each gripped the others weapon hand. But I knew I was tiring fast, not having had enough time to recover from my wound.
As I struggled desperately, my arms began to give way, I just didn't have the strength left. His knife was much nearer to my throat when his grip suddenly slackened, and he fell on top of me. Weakly I pushed, and rolled him off, then saw the knife buried deep in his back.
I lay panting, looking up into the face of the girl. Her head gear was gone, jet black hair hung past her shoulders, there was blood running down her forehead, and dripping to the ground next to me.
Wearily I climbed to me feet, at the same time as the girl began to sway, and was then falling. How I found the strength to catch her and hold her against me, I have no idea. With an effort, I managed to get an arm under her legs and lifted her. I staggered rather the walked back to the building, took her inside, and almost collapsed as I laid her on the bed.
Her breathing was shallow, and when I felt, her pulse seemed to be just a flutter. Fetching the canteen I poured water over her wound, and with a cloth I washed the blood from her face. Now I could see her features properly, I saw how remarkably beautiful she was. She didn't stir as I dribbled a little water between her lips, she was completely unconscious.
The problem was I was out of my depth, with not the vaguest idea of what to do.
Keep them warm, I thought, that's what you do. Then. What! In the middle of the desert, it was baking outside and not much cooler in.
I looked around. There were two windows of a sort, either side of the door, but no others. "Need some fresh air flowing in here" I said to myself. The back wall, although it looked solid enough, I soon found comprised of roughhewn boulders ,cemented in place with dried mud. It didn't take long before I scraped and cleared enough round a likely spot, before I was able to push a boulder right through, and was immediately rewarded with a gentle breeze.
I went back to the girl, and realised she was far too hot when I touched her face. Now what do I do?