Necropolis (Book One of Book One), Penn Fawn [e book reader android .TXT] 📗

it?” Ali asked. “Did you hear about that?”

Daniel looked at him sternly. “Look, what do we really know about what’s here to doubt or question the truth about it?” he said. “I mean, really. What do we know?”

Ali did not reply.

“Nothing,” Daniel added. “Not a damn thing.”

“Maybe,” Ali said.

“Maybe nothing,” Daniel returned.

“Fair enough,” Ali replied. “But if our expedition doesn’t venture to find out, others will. Enough has been said about this place to inspire the more ambitious to come here in droves. But you already know that.”

Daniel listened.

“’Tis no fool’s errand, my friend. The more ambitious of us will come. They will come for ivory. They will come for gold. They will come for exotic foods and spices. Some, like me, may even come hoping to find the Necropolis. Come, they will.”

Daniel, mindful that the Necropolis was rumored to be the largest diamond ever found, said nothing. It was cast and encased in a silver bangle with two smaller sized diamonds placed on its sides. It was named after the burial ground of the fabled city called Sanctuary, whose inhabitants were allegedly laid to waste by the necromancer, the lord of the underworld.

He acknowledged he could not deny anything Ali said. The very reason they were there was to try and get ahead of the treasure and wealth-seeking hordes who would come from the lands up north, from whence they came.

They were from the lands north of the great desert, from a place they called Kemet. Their aim? Locate the fabled territory called Sanctuary.

“Listen,” Ali continued. “I’m not doubting anything you said to me, but don’t let yourself get carried away. You know these people are little more than savages, so it’s not too much of a stretch for me to accept some may have wild pets.

“That said . . . well, for the time being anyway, I suspect we’re perfectly safe here. We’ll just have to be better prepared, more careful about how we go about things next time.

“But, if you’ve had enough and you’re ready to pack up, I won’t stand in your way.”

“Thank you,” Daniel replied.

“And, you would that easily, wouldn’t you?”

Daniel did not reply.

“Very well, then. So after all of your sacrifices, do you mean to say because there was a bit of a scare, you’d simply just pack it up and leave?” Ali asked.

Daniel kept silent.

“There is gold here, Daniel! Gold! Plus, an abundance of other raw materials of which these people know not their value!”

“A bit of a scare, eh?” Daniel replied.

Ali considered carefully what words he should use next.

“Well, it’s just that I didn’t think you’d get cold feet having come so far. I felt because you were willing to come this far inland, you also were willing to go all the way.”

Ali’s hope to encourage Daniel stemmed from considering a total of eighty men began the expedition. Adventurous as they were, the weeks’ long journey at sea, which was a first for many, left a good deal of the crew desirous of traveling no further inland than they needed to.

These stayed with the tribes whose lands were closer to the water. Aside from trading with them, they served as the first link among a chain of positions they would attempt to establish as their more adventurous compatriots ventured further inland.

The sea voyage, with its limited rations and countless other inconveniences, left many thin and weak upon arrival. Most, however, survived, but only to watch some of their friends die from mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria and others of which they knew nothing or had no name.

Hitherto, from a total of eighty, Daniel was one of a mere twenty who dared to endure come what may, and thus had managed to make it this far.

Djembe appeared at the door.

“Djembe,” Ali said.

“Yes,” he replied. “I need to have a word with you right away.”

“Okay,” Ali said. “Please come in.”

“Thank you,” he said.

“Please. Have a seat,” said Ali.

“Thank you.”

“What’s on your mind?” Ali asked.

“Did you not hear what happened?” Djembe asked.

“Well, Daniel just began telling me something about . . .”

“Word spreads easily, like wildfire around here,” Djembe cut him short. “Three of our men who went out to assist you were killed.”

“I was not out . . .”

“I mean whomever of your men who went out today,” Djembe interjected.

Ali’s face was stern. He was slow to respond. “I . . . I don’t know what to say. I’m so sorry to hear this.”

Djembe became pensive. “As you can imagine, the villagers who lost their family are even more so,” he said.

Ali did not reply.

“I remember you saying you were to go with the men, Daniel. I must ask, what exactly did you set out to do today?”

“You know what we were doing,” Daniel replied. “What do you mean?”

“Did you set out in search of tusks from carcasses, or were you seeking to hunt the elephants?”

“Why, we sought already fallen animals,” Daniel replied with a straight face.

“I see,” Djembe said.

“Why do you ask?” said Daniel.

“No one here or anywhere near the surrounding villages has been killed by cats for quite some time now.”

“I see,” Daniel said.

“And, you must know that to unnecessarily harm the elephant is an evil omen,” Djembe added.

Ali struggled to hide his contempt.

He hoped Djembe’s visit would be a short one.

“I will go now, although, in parting, I must say I don’t know how this will turn out or what the response will be.”

“Okay,” Ali replied.

“Before I proceed, there are some things I want to get to the bottom of,” he said to Daniel, the moment Djembe parted company with them.

“Okay,” Daniel replied.

“I will call a meeting with the heads of our contingent.”

“What’s it for?” Daniel asked.

“What’s it to you?” Ali said.

“I’m curious,” Daniel replied.

“I’m interested in learning more about this Nyeusi character and his group. Hopefully, I can glean some more information from the elders here.”

“Don’t see why you’d need to call a meeting with the key members of our group for that, and why the interest in him all of a