The Mamluks (The Mamluks Saga: Episode 1) (10 page)

Chapter 42

Elos woke me and Robert. Still exhausted, we staggered to
seated positions. And like always, the soldiers had set out a bowl of food for
us and some cups of water.

After eating, I got up and went to the tables. But before I
could start putting the gears together, Elos came over and stopped me.
Surprised, I turned and looked him in the eye.

“We must talk.”

Robert came to the tables and did a double take between me
and Elos. “What’s going on?”

Elos looked at Robert, then back at me. “Having you here has
affected me.” He stepped back a little, looking around. “For so long, I have
lived with the knowledge that escaping Adomas was impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible,” I said. “Together, we can find a
way.”

Robert nodded.

I lifted my arm and held my hand out. “Let this be a new
beginning, Elos.”

Robert reached out and firmly grabbed my hand. Elos stood
there for a moment, staring at our united hands. Finally, he raised his hand
and joined us. I smiled proudly. Robert closed his eyes and bowed his head,
whispering thanks to God.

“For freedom.” I nodded sternly. “
For freedom
.”

Part Four – The Great Escape

Chapter 43

Lately, I was spending more time with Dalia, learning about
the countless responsibilities of being the Ruler. Now, I understood why she
hardly socialized with others. She was literally busy from sunup to sundown
almost every day. Going over security measures with Adomas, flying to other
parts of the world to monitor development, you name it.

One of her major tasks was hearing cases of those who
disobeyed her law—and deciding on appropriate punishments. It was mind-numbing
to think I would have
that
responsibility one day. But I was certainly
thrilled to be her shadow for the time being.

I met Dalia on the roof of our building when the sky was
just turning blue. There was a ship waiting for us. We got in and sat side by
side. I grabbed one of the human sized handles and braced for liftoff.

“You will need more support than that,” Dalia said, gently
pushing me against the wall. She carefully adjusted my body. “Remain still.”

Two metal straps
whooshed
from behind and covered my
shoulders, locking me into the wall. Dalia let go and sat back. Two Mamluk
sized straps popped out and locked her to the wall.

She grabbed the straps and held on tight. “We will be going
much faster today.”

I copied her. Then, as we took off, I freaked out a little.
Without warning, the ship blasted through the air, rattling my bones. We were
moving so fast, I couldn’t see. I closed my eyes and tried to relax. After a
few minutes of suffering, I got used to the speed and settled down.

When we finally landed, it felt like only an hour or so had
gone by. My ears were ringing, and I was very dizzy. The straps released, and
Dalia stood up casually. I wobbled to my feet and grabbed my stomach.

“I think I’m going to—”
I launched forward and threw
up. I lifted slowly and peeked at Dalia, embarrassed, as I wiped my mouth.

She laughed. “You will adjust in time, Emily. Come, follow
me.”

The ramp opened, and we headed into a forest of evergreen
trees. There were patches of snow on the ground, too. As we moved along, I
looked up at Dalia and saw utter disgust on her face as she walked around the
snow patches.

We came up to two kneeling soldiers. Dalia marched past them
and said, “Rise.”

The soldiers stood and followed us into a sandstone
building. We walked down the hallway and entered a circular room. There was
another soldier kneeling at the center of the room with a collar around his
neck—and a chair built into the floor about ten feet from him.

Dalia went to the chair and took a seat, giving the soldier
a disappointed stare. “What is your crime?”

I looked at him and watched closely. It was shocking to see
a Mamluk in this position.

“I captured several servants from the local citizens and
offered them to my allies.
Great Dalia
, I ask for mercy.”

Dalia looked on with a blank stare. “You have disgraced your
title as soldier. Why should you be allowed to live?”

“I deserve to die. My request for mercy is only a wish to
restore my allegiance.”

I glanced back and forth between the soldier and Dalia,
oozing with anticipation.

Dalia took a moment, looking him up and down. “As
punishment—you shall suffer an onslaught for every servant you captured.
If
you
survive—you will become a slave to the locals until they deem your debt
repaid.”

The soldier got lower, bowing his head a few inches off the
floor. “I cherish your grace, Dalia.”

“Identify your allies to these soldiers. They will endure
the same consequence.” Dalia waved the shamed soldier away.

He stood up and walked out with the other soldiers. I was
amazed to see him show so much appreciation after receiving such a harsh
punishment. Dalia didn’t mess around.

We left the building right away and headed to our next stop.
I was exhausted by the time we got back to our building. I went straight to my
room and found Audrey cleaning the floors. Just before saying hello, I paused
and stopped myself.

Audrey looked up at me, crouching over a wet spot. “Hello,
Emily. How was your day?”

I walked past her and started to undress. She stood up and
slowly walked forward.

“Is something wrong?”

I turned around and gave her a stern look. “Finish your
work.” Without seeing her reaction, I turned back around and took off my last
piece of clothing.

“Emily?”
she wept.

I went into the bathroom and got in the shower. When the
water came on, I reached for my neck and felt the ozlon. Something was
different. I looked down and checked the substance. The moving parts were
slowing down. Finally, I was learning.

Chapter 44

I was sitting on the floor with Robert and Elos. We had just
finished our work for the day, and it was time to go over some strategies.

“Any new ideas?” I asked, looking at Elos.

“No. Our only option is to destroy the sija that controls
the collars.”

Robert quickly stepped in. “Now, wait a minute. What if we
just found a way out of here without them seeing us? I mean, is there an alarm
or something that would go off?”

“Yes. The sija alerts them if the collar moves from its
designated area. The device was designed for prisoners, not slaves.”

I exhaled and shook my head, placing my hand on my chin. I
pondered for a second, then snapped my fingers. “Tell me this, Elos. Would
Adomas ever take his sija off for any reason?”

“Perhaps.”

“Well, how loud is the alarm? Let’s say he takes the sija
off during his sleep. Maybe we could get to it before anyone noticed.”

“The alarm is loud. Adomas would wake. Or a patrolling
soldier would hear it.”

I looked down, desperately rubbing my hands together. And
moments later, I thought of a dear friend.

“Madison.”

Robert nodded. “That’s a good idea. But how would we reach
her from here?”

“
Madison
?” Elos said.

“She’s a friend.” I looked around in a fret. “If there was
only a way we could write her a note or something.” Right then, I spotted an
empty cup by the stairway. “The cups!”

“The cups?” Robert said.

“
Yeah.
We can scratch a note on the cups they bring
us every day. I’m sure the servants handle all the dishes. If we’re lucky, she
might see it.”

“They would kill your
friend
if she was seen trying
to take the sija from Adomas.”

I frowned and put my head down. “You’re right. We can’t ask
her to do that.”

Robert stepped in. “
Andrew.
I know it may be hard for
you to think about this. But what about Emily? I mean, she is close to Adomas.”

I quickly shook my head. “She won’t help us.” I tapped my
hand on the ground, looking up at the ceiling. After another night of debating,
we were
still
stuck at square one.

Chapter 45

I leaned into Adomas as he looked over some information on a
hologram. “Let’s go out tonight.”

“Out?”

“
Yeah.
Let’s go out and have some fun.”

Adomas flashed a wicked smile. “Do you dance, Emily?”

I nodded slowly, eying him flirtatiously. “Yes.”

He grinned and turned off whatever he was looking at. “Come
with me.” Adomas took me upstairs to the roof and led me to a parked ship. He
opened it, and we got in the cockpit.

On his sija, he pressed a button that started the ship. I
watched closely as he worked the control board. He pulled back on the handle,
and we went up. I stared out the window as we drifted away. The traffic in the
sky was calm, and there were a few hovercrafts watering the forest.

Minutes later, we arrived at the beach. There were hundreds
of Mamluks and women dancing to drums, standing around a huge bonfire. Adomas
landed by a row of parked ships, about fifty yards from the action. We got out
and swaggered to the scene.

When we got to the crowd, Adomas bobbed his head to the
beat. I smiled and copied him. We went to the front of the crowd and got close
to the fire. Slowly, the music stopped and everyone silenced. I looked around
and saw a band of drummers spread out around the crowd.

“The Champion has arrived!” one of them shouted. Then they
started the drums up again.

“Now, you wanted to
dance
, Emily?” Adomas said, over
the drums, like I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.

I smiled and nodded. The drums got louder and louder. Adomas
stomped with the beat, bouncing his shoulders. And then swiftly, he leaned his
head back and howled at the moon. Everyone went crazy. The drummers played
wildly, and the crowd stomped with the beat. I staggered around like a pinball
for a second before falling down.

The beat slowed, and everyone backed off. I quickly got up.
Adomas was smiling, dancing around me as I looked on. He jumped at me, daring
me to do something.

“Dance, Emily,” he laughed, like he had caught me in a trap.

I smiled and rocked my head to the beat. Adomas paused and
casually swayed, like he was giving me the floor. I stomped the sand, inching
closer to the fire. The beat picked up little by little. I leaned my head back,
closed my eyes and screamed as loud as I could.

The drummers went crazy, and everyone bounced around. Adomas
got close to me, gracefully popping his shoulders with the drums.
I like the
way you move.
I put my hands up and jumped all over, bumping into
everybody. It was an extraordinary experience.
The best night I ever had.

Chapter 46

All I could think about was the escape. I sat against the
wall for a long while, staring at the lights on the machinery. Robert was
sleeping on the other side of the room, snoring. Elos was sitting a few feet
from me, putting his mask on. I turned my head a little and watched him.

“Why do you wear that, Elos?”

He took a moment, adjusting the speaker. “I cannot pronounce
the language. This device was designed to assist me.”

I nodded, trying to imagine his home planet. “What’s it like
on Eztu?”

“It is like Earth. Full of plants and water.”

I smiled, thinking about how cool it would be to visit. “Did
you have family there?”

“
Family
?”

“Like, someone you cared about.”

“Yes. A mate named
Ena
. She was bearing my offspring
when the Mamluks arrived.”

“What happened when they arrived?”

“She was killed by Adomas.”

I gave him a sorrowing look, and bowed my head. “So, that
means your children…I mean,
offspring
, where never born.”

“Yes. All female and undeveloped Ecknors were deemed
useless.”

My heart ached, hearing about the slaughter of young souls.
I wondered if the same thing happened on Earth.

Thinking about it made me angry. “We’re going to get out of
here and get the ozlon. Then we’ll give these bastards something to be sorry
about.”

“I have considered every option. There is no means of
escape. Perhaps the courage you have shown has proven to be unwise.”

I sternly shook my head. “No, there’s always a way. We’re
just overlooking something.”

Robert woke up, snorting. “What’s going on?”

I looked over and checked on him. “It’s just us, Rob. Did we
wake you?”

“Maybe. But it doesn’t matter.” He got up, walked across the
room and sat beside me. “Any new ideas?”

“No. Just can’t sleep.”

Elos gradually lifted his hand. “It is,
Robert
, yes?”

Robert nodded.

Elos pointed at his neck. “You have blood.”

Robert reached up and felt around his neck. He pulled his
hand away and checked his fingers, showing some blood. “Oh, don’t worry. This
happens sometimes when I sleep. The collar presses into my skin and cuts me.”

I looked at his neck and stared for a moment, blinking my
eyes. “You said the collars are unbreakable, Elos?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?” I glanced at him. “What about the lasers?
Could they break them?”

“Yes. However, the correct blast would be necessary. Perhaps
a small, rapid shot.”

I narrowed my eyes. “A rapid shot?”

“The sija can adjust to different firing speeds and ranges.”

Robert quickly cut in. “Guys, we’re jumping the gun here.
The only way we can get our own laser is if we get the ozlon.”

I felt a sharp pain my chest, afraid of what I was about to
say. “They bring one to us every day.” I looked at Robert, then Elos.

I saw Robert shaking his head from the corner of my eye.
“No. Forget it, Andrew.”

“I do not understand,” Elos said.

I stood up and looked around. “We’re going to kill one of
them and take their sija.”

“Have you lost your mind? We might as well kill ourselves
first,” Robert barked.

I looked down at him. “You’re wrong. We’re prisoners, right?
So let’s start acting like prisoners.” I walked to the wall and pulled out one
of the flat, stone candles.

“What are you suggesting, Andrew?”

“Well you see, Elos. Here on Earth, there was this TV show
called Lockup. It was a documentary series about prisoners from around the
world. I used to watch it sometimes, and on the show, the prisoners would make
weapons out of just about anything.” I blew out the candle and turned around.
“Remember, they’re just flesh and blood like us.”

Robert stood up. “No. We are
not
doing this.”

Elos stood up. “The proposal is most interesting.”

I smiled. “Indeed it is.”

Robert lowered his head and walked to me. He put his hand on
my shoulder and looked up, giving me a serious stare. “My friend, listen to me.
This is not the way. They
will
kill us.”

“No, Robert. It’s the only way.” I reached up and took his
hand off my shoulder. “Look, I know you’re terrified. And so am I. But that’s
exactly what they want. They control their victims with fear and intimidation.
We have to overcome that and fight back.”

Elos came over and stood by me. Robert crossed his arms and
held his head down, sighing. I stood there, staring at him, waiting for him to
join in.

Finally, he looked up and shrugged. “All right. What the
hell. Might as well go out swinging,”

I smiled and nodded, looking back and forth between Robert
and Elos. “Let’s sharpen some gears.”