Read Online Flight of the Phoenix by R. L. Lafevers - Free Book Online
Authors: R. L. Lafevers
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pleased to receive a Tidy Sum for taking care of him. Maybe the Bedouin would like to receive a gift for taking care of Aunt Phil? Surely a phoenix egg was better than plain old money?
He carefully wrapped the egg in his soft leather helmet, then placed it in his rucksack next to The Book of Beasts. With Greasle at his heels, he climbed the eastern ridge. At the top, he shielded his eyes against the rising sun. There. He could see the Bedouin camp in the distance. That was where he had to go.
121
***
Chapter Sixteen
Nate set out down the ridge, where the sun had only just risen. Hopefully he'd reach the camp before the girls set out for their midmorning trip to the oasis. He didn't want to be caught out in the open like this. Mounted on camels, it would take them no time to raise the alarm. He preferred to sneak into the camp to be sure Aunt Phil was okay before announcing his presence.
The distance was a lot farther than it looked, and for the first time, he found himself missing Shabiib.
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Greasle grew tired halfway there and he had to carry her on his shoulders.
When the group of tents finally came into sight, Nate got down and began to belly crawl the rest of the way.
He reached the camels first. They were all grouped off to the side of the tents. If he used them as cover, it would hide his approach.
Slowly he crawled forward until he was practically under the camels' hooves. Now what?
He peered through the camels' legs toward the tents. Most of the people seemed to be tending small cooking fires as they started their day. No one looked like Aunt Phil, which meant she must be inside one of the tents.
But which one? There were more than a dozen.
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He couldn't very well search every tent. And he dared not get any closer to the Bedouin.
"So now what?" Greasle asked, echoing his thoughts.
"Now we find Aunt Phil, I trade the phoenix egg for her, and then we all go home."
"Are you sure she's worth it?" Greasle said. "I mean, that fiery bird gave it to you. Seems like he wanted you to have it."
"I know," Nate said. The feeling that he was betraying the phoenix's gift had haunted him all morning. "But it's the only thing I have of value. Now, the sooner you go over there and see where Aunt Phil is, the sooner we can all go home."
"Me?" Greasle squealed.
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"Shh! Yes, you. You're so small, they probably won't even see you. And if they do, they'll just think you're a jinni, like Fadia did. They'll leave you alone."
"No, sir. I don't think so. Besides, why should I help her?"
"Well, Aunt Phil let you stay with us." Greasle snorted.
Nate thought a moment longer. "You want to get back to the plane, don't you? I won't be able to find my way back on my own. We'll need Aunt Phil to help us get there."
Greasle's ears drooped, and Nate could tell he'd won.
"Okay, then," she said.
"And remember," he said. "If they catch you, act like a jinni. It's our best weapon."
Greasle nodded, then leaped forward and disappeared within seconds. Nate held his breath, terrified he would hear a shout from the men signaling they'd spotted her.
But nothing happened. He waited so long that his legs began to cramp. Just when he was worried that something had happened to Greasle, Nate felt something damp and prickly against his leg. He whipped around and found himself staring into the face of a camel. The camel worked
125
his lips a couple of times. Oh, no, Nate thought, but before he could roll out of the way, the camel shot a thick wad of stinky spit at him. Shabiib, he thought as he wiped the mess away.
"Shoo!" Nate whispered, then turned back around to keep a watch out for Greasle and Aunt Phil.
A group of men emerged from one of the larger tents. They were all talking together importantly. Nate leaned forward, straining to hear their voices.
There was another nudge on his ankle. He jiggled his foot, shaking Shabiib off. "Not now, you stupid cam--" His words were cut off as an iron grip took ahold of his collar and
He carefully wrapped the egg in his soft leather helmet, then placed it in his rucksack next to The Book of Beasts. With Greasle at his heels, he climbed the eastern ridge. At the top, he shielded his eyes against the rising sun. There. He could see the Bedouin camp in the distance. That was where he had to go.
121
***
Chapter Sixteen
Nate set out down the ridge, where the sun had only just risen. Hopefully he'd reach the camp before the girls set out for their midmorning trip to the oasis. He didn't want to be caught out in the open like this. Mounted on camels, it would take them no time to raise the alarm. He preferred to sneak into the camp to be sure Aunt Phil was okay before announcing his presence.
The distance was a lot farther than it looked, and for the first time, he found himself missing Shabiib.
122
Greasle grew tired halfway there and he had to carry her on his shoulders.
When the group of tents finally came into sight, Nate got down and began to belly crawl the rest of the way.
He reached the camels first. They were all grouped off to the side of the tents. If he used them as cover, it would hide his approach.
Slowly he crawled forward until he was practically under the camels' hooves. Now what?
He peered through the camels' legs toward the tents. Most of the people seemed to be tending small cooking fires as they started their day. No one looked like Aunt Phil, which meant she must be inside one of the tents.
But which one? There were more than a dozen.
123
He couldn't very well search every tent. And he dared not get any closer to the Bedouin.
"So now what?" Greasle asked, echoing his thoughts.
"Now we find Aunt Phil, I trade the phoenix egg for her, and then we all go home."
"Are you sure she's worth it?" Greasle said. "I mean, that fiery bird gave it to you. Seems like he wanted you to have it."
"I know," Nate said. The feeling that he was betraying the phoenix's gift had haunted him all morning. "But it's the only thing I have of value. Now, the sooner you go over there and see where Aunt Phil is, the sooner we can all go home."
"Me?" Greasle squealed.
124
"Shh! Yes, you. You're so small, they probably won't even see you. And if they do, they'll just think you're a jinni, like Fadia did. They'll leave you alone."
"No, sir. I don't think so. Besides, why should I help her?"
"Well, Aunt Phil let you stay with us." Greasle snorted.
Nate thought a moment longer. "You want to get back to the plane, don't you? I won't be able to find my way back on my own. We'll need Aunt Phil to help us get there."
Greasle's ears drooped, and Nate could tell he'd won.
"Okay, then," she said.
"And remember," he said. "If they catch you, act like a jinni. It's our best weapon."
Greasle nodded, then leaped forward and disappeared within seconds. Nate held his breath, terrified he would hear a shout from the men signaling they'd spotted her.
But nothing happened. He waited so long that his legs began to cramp. Just when he was worried that something had happened to Greasle, Nate felt something damp and prickly against his leg. He whipped around and found himself staring into the face of a camel. The camel worked
125
his lips a couple of times. Oh, no, Nate thought, but before he could roll out of the way, the camel shot a thick wad of stinky spit at him. Shabiib, he thought as he wiped the mess away.
"Shoo!" Nate whispered, then turned back around to keep a watch out for Greasle and Aunt Phil.
A group of men emerged from one of the larger tents. They were all talking together importantly. Nate leaned forward, straining to hear their voices.
There was another nudge on his ankle. He jiggled his foot, shaking Shabiib off. "Not now, you stupid cam--" His words were cut off as an iron grip took ahold of his collar and
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