Desert Queen, Ashley Wren [fiction book recommendations .txt] 📗

not alone in the bed, the mamba hissed, flicking its forked tongue in my direction. I was frozen in fear. I knew that, one wrong move, and the snake would attack, injecting its poison into my blood with its razor sharp fangs, immediately damning me to an agonizing death. An image of Kazim, convulsing in agony on the desert floor, flashed through my mind. I cried out and pressed myself even farther against the headboard.
“Kalila!” Uncle shouted. “Don’t you dare make a move!” Heeding his warning, I sat still as death, pleading to Uncle with my eyes to save me. The snake hissed again, staring me down as if it were challenging me.
“Damn it, Mahdi, she can’t just sit there! Kalila, get up slowly…” Uncle cut Maher off before he could finish.
“Kalila, don’t you move,” he said sternly; I obeyed. “Maher, have you any idea how far it is to the next infirmary? There isn’t one for miles! If she gets bitten…” I whimpered and Uncle stopped his thought abruptly.
“So what will you have us do, Mahdi?” Maher asked. As he was saying this, the innkeeper walked into the room.
“What in the world is…” he stopped, suddenly seeing what was happening. “Oh, Allah help us…” he said in a desperate voice.
“Enough of this foolishness!” Ashraf bellowed. “Sitting here staring at the damned thing will only get Kalila killed!” Pushing his way into the room, Ashraf came to the foot of my bed. Knowing mambas strike quickly, he advanced without making a sound. Over his shoulder, he called to the innkeeper.
“Bring me a pillowcase,” he ordered.
“But what are you planning to do?” the innkeeper protested.
“Just do it!” Ashraf barked. The innkeeper vanished through the doorway and was back in an instant. He handed Ashraf a pillowcase.
“Ragab, come assist me,” he ordered. Ragab hesitated, glancing from me to the snake and back again. Seeing the desperation in Ragab’s eyes, Uncle intervened.
“No Ragab,” he said mercifully. “Let me do it.” Relieved, Ragab turned and slowly backed out of the room. He stood in the hallway, a safe distance from the snake, but remained ready to help if absolutely necessary.
“Ashraf, tell me what I need to do,” Uncle said.
“Alright Mahdi, you stand here with the pillow case open. Be ready to close it tight when I toss the snake in. Whatever you do, don’t drop it…”

TbC...


 
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Publication Date: 02-23-2011

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