Chapter 3: How Daring crossed the desert, and how she joined a tribe.
It was the middle of the night but it might as well of been noon. The full moon was as big as the sky was deep and shone twice as bright. Daring was even able to make out some of its larger craters and seas. It cast a glow over the desert that was mystifying and intriguing. It’s glow made the tan desert sand turn into a light blue sea. Daring could see 50 kilometers in every direction. In the distance behind her she could barely make out the glow of the city she had escaped from earlier that night. Ahead of her lay an endless expanse of sand dunes. A light breeze blew across and swept up wisps of sand and sent them across the land. They almost looked like errant spirits. It was quite cold but daring had packed a good coat. It was a legion surplus winter coat. They were better than normal civilian coats. They weren’t stylish but they were effective, and they could last for decades without wearing out. And considering how expansive the desert was, it just might take her that long to cross it.
Daring was use to extreme conditions like this and was in such good shape she could put an Army WAC to shame. Walking the 200 kilometers to the next town was nothing to her. However the monotony of walking 200k through an endless desert was overwhelming. She was fighting boredom as best she could, Except she was limited to whistling, singing, and eye spy. Eye spy, she found, was a very bad idea. So she stuck with singing.
“Oh I’ve got heartache by the numbers,
And lovers by the storm,
Everyday you love me less,
Each day I love you more…”
After 263 choruses of this, ’Johnny Guitar’ and ‘I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire’ she noticed a small light in the distance.
“Finally. If I have to hear myself sing anymore I might go crazy.”
Daring kept walking until she was only a dune away from the light. It was a campfire at an oasis. The oasis wasn’t very big. It was basically a body of water about 100 feet square and surrounded by about a dozen palm trees. It was like an island in a sea of sand. Surrounding the oasis were four tents. Now, these aren’t your normal camping tents. Each one was about 10 feet tall and 50 feet square. Each have several rooms and can sleep 10, 20, even 50. Next to them were nearly 100 horses and camels.
Surrounding the campfire were a half-dozen guards dressed in turbins, vests, and baggy pants. The also had some very sharp swords by their sides. Daring ducked behind her dune and thought out what to do. She didn’t need to do much thinking because she suddenly found herself surrounded.
“(Sigh) Crap.”
Daring’s hooves were shackled were tied and she was led by knifepoint down the dune and into what appeared to be the main tent. She was brought into a room filled with pillows, and on the biggest pillow was a huge mare dressed in white. He was surrounded by 3 pony-harem girls who were feeding him peeled grapes. Daring was forced to kneel before him.
“Sir,” said one of the guards, “we found this one sneaking around the camp. What should we do with her?”
The pony he was talking to waved off the grapes and looked at Daring.
“Tell me, child,” said the man in a fat, jolly voice, “why are you sneaking around my camp. You do not look like you mean us harm. Tell me your story.”
“Well, my name is Daring Do, and I’m…”
“Daring Do the archeologist?!” He said, suddenly standing up.
“You’ve heard of me?”
“Indeed I have. You are the famous archeologist who discovered the lost writings of the ancient nomads of this land. Your have brought back many lost traditions and ways back to our people.
Guards, release her at once!”
Daring shackles were removed and she rubbed her sore wrists.
“I am so terribly sorry,” said her host, “I know who you are but you don’t know who I am. Can you guess?”
“Well, you’re definitely a Sheik, And by the looks of things your tribe is one of the bigger ones in the area.”
“You are most correct, my dear. I am Sheik Ali-Sand the XIV. You can just call me Shiek. Attention guards, Miss Do is a special guest of mine. Please treat her well. Miss Do, I’d love to hear your story but it is getting late, and we all must be off to bed. The guards will bring you to our guest quarters. Tomorrow night we may continue.”
“Good night and thank you Sheik.”
The guard led Daring through a canvas hallway down to a little room. Most of the people in the tent slept in common rooms holding up to 50 people, so having a private room was a luxury. It was filled with colorful pillows with little tassels. Daring dumped her supplies and undressed. She wrapped her towel around her and headed out to the oasis.
Daring needed a relaxing bath. There were only a few guards out and none could see her too well. She removed the towel and slipped into the water. Even though it was 3am the water was a comfortable 79 degrees. During the day it heats upwards of 110 under the desert sun, so even after 6 hours of darkness it was still warm. She rubbed a washcloth over herself, scrubbing out all the sand and turning her fur from rough to a sleekness that shined in the moonlight. She found that she had sand in every place imaginable, which as you can imagine was very uncomfortable. She could suddenly feel eyes burning into the back of her head. On of the guards, a young guy, was peeping on her. She smiled slyly and did some ‘stretches’. Daring giggled to herself, thinking of the young kids eyes getting wider than Sailor Moon’s. Daring knew he could only see blurs since it was night time. She finished her bath, dried off thoroughly so as not get all sandy again, and headed back to her room. Her bed was so soft that once she collapsed on the pillows she was out instantly.
Daring Do spent the next day exploring the camp. The nomads had been camping there about a month, and were just a part of the main tribe. The Sheik was on a tour of the land, and had brought along a large entourage. It encompassed the Sheik, his entire harem, plenty of guards, servants, and several select friends.
Daring was allowed to study some of the Tribe’s documents on their history and way of life (which she found fascinating) and was also given a woman’s nomadic outfit. It was white with a sheer veil and a blue vest, and covered everything except her mane, eyes, and hoofs. That night at dinner she told the Sheik all about her latest dig, how she was imprisoned, and how she escaped. The Sheik especially liked that part, since he and the authorities never could see eye to eye.
“Sheik,” asked Daring, “I need to find out who framed me. You know everything that goes on in these parts. Have you heard anything about them?”
“Its interesting that you ask me that, because since you described them I have been thinking of whom they could be. The list of mercenary groups operating in this desert is short. It sounds like the group you described could only be the XLD.”
“The 440s?”
“No , the X.L.D, the eX-Legion-Destroyers. They are a group of ex-legionnaires that know nothing but war. They only believe in money. They’re the second toughest group in the area. My head guard can fill you in on all we know about them.”
“Oh thank you, kind Sheik.” Said Daring, bowing. She was so happy that her journey was about to resume that she didn’t see the evil glare that one of the servants gave her.
Late that night Daring was in one of the soundest sleeps of her life. Silently a dark clad figure stole down through the tent and towards her room. Slowly he opened the flap and crept towards her. The moonlight could be seen glinting off of a long, sharp dagger. Suddenly the sound of something shattering rang through the tent. Daring woke with a start and saw her would-be assailant. She jumped up and lunged for him, knocking the dagger out of his hand. It was hard to see but she was still able to give him a good thrashing. The noise of the struggle alerted the guards and they came running. Somebody lit a lantern.
“What’s going on here!” Demanded the head guard’
“This man,” said Daring, pulling him to his feet, “tried to kill me with this dagger.”
“Why, its one of our cheifs!” Said the astonished guard. “But why should he try to kill you?”
“Possibly because of this!” Said Daring as she ripped his already tattered shirt to reveal an old military tattoo. “Isn’t this a Foreign Legion tattoo?”
“A Spy! Take him away.” Barked the guard. “Miss Do we are terribly sorry for this. Pleas accept our most sincerest apologies.”
“Of course.”
“But tell me, Miss Do, how did you wake up in time to see him?”
“He stepped on my porcelain washbowl.”
The next day Daring was treated to a big surprise. The Sheik had felt bad about almost letting a spy kill his guest, and since he really liked and respected her, he decided to make her an honorary member of the tribe. It was a grand celebration. There was lots of feasting and drinking and dancing (and more drinking). Daring had a grand time. They even held an exhibition fight for entertainment. She enjoyed seeing the two Herculean stallions duke it out. The party lasted into the night. Daring fell asleep that night and slept well. There was something about the outdoors that always helped her slumber.
The morning after she decided it was time to continue her journey. She packed her saddlebags and was ready to go when she was told that the Sheik had requested her presence. She found him on his throne surrounded by several more girls (none of which were the same ones she had seen the first time she had met him).
“Daring Do. You have wandered here out of the desert like the Prodigal Son returning home, and indeed you may always consider this a home. As much as I would like to send protection along with you I fear that all my men are needed here. So since I can’t send you off with supplies at least let me send you off with some words of advice.
“It has been said that the city you seek is laden with many riches, but it is also heavy with secrets. Only one of a pure heart may truly posses that which all desire. Go, my child, and may Ala bless you on this most perilous of trips.”
“Thank you, sir.” Said Daring, bowing as she backed out of the tent.
As she left the camp she found herself going over and over the Sheik’s cryptic message. What treasure was he talking about? Was it The great treasure she had read about? What did he mean by ‘pure heart’? What was IT that all desire? These questions spun around in daring’s head until she finally decided to dismiss them until the time was right. She just hoped that she would know when that time was.