Meanwhile...
Elephants and chariots stood outside the desert camp. Suddenly a dancing girl noticed them, shrieked, and ran towards one of the tents.
"Every time someone shrieks in this country, it's usually a bad sign!" mouse exclaimed. "That's it - I'm in this bag with Rat-Ah-Too-Ee for the rest of the evening! See you folks later..." With that she disappeared into the depths of Gustavia's shoulder bag.
Some men emerged from the tent the young girl had run into, and approached the Pharaoh's party. "I don't like the looks of this," MRed commented, rolling another herbal.
"Hand me one of those, will you?" Incon asked. MRed complied, and immediately started rolling another. Incon lit hers and inhaled deeply (gathering Dutch courage).
One of the men broke away from the group. "Ah..." he sighed, "you are the Visitors-from-Afar, no?"
"Erm...yes," Incon replied. "Heh...is it that obvious?"
The old man tried to hide his smile. "Only Visitors-From-Afar ride upon such huge creatures." He gestured to her pet elephant.
Tusky grinned smugly.
"You're - not war-like in any way, are you?" Gustavia asked politely.
"Oh, no," the old man replied, "in fact, we are your only hope of retrieving the Winged Man. We are the Bedouins of The Mother Desert."
"Retrieving??" mouse's head suddenly popped over the top of the bag. "Is Jayhawk in trouble??"
The elder nodded. "The Winged One has walked into a situation which, while at first he may think is peaceful, is actually treacherous, and fatal to his very life."
Tusky's eyes began to glow red. Anyone who hurt his friend Jayhawk...
Incon turned very pale. "Tell us where he is! Right now!" she demanded. "We've got to help him!!"
"But...what about our Sacred Belt?" the Head Priestess asked.
"SOD YOUR BELT!!!" Incon shouted. This brought forth a gasp of shock from all the priestesses and novices.
"Our friend set out to help you girls on this quest, and by this time tomorrow he may be so much pin-feathers! So - honoured Elder of the Bedouins, please point us in the direction our winged friend took," Incon requested.
The old man pointed due South. "But - take the priestesses with you. You will need their assistance."
"DONE!" With that, Incon ordered Tusky in the direction the old man had pointed. "Double-quick time, big fella," she ordered. Tusky didn't need to be told twice.
Jumbo-Ra, Ouphe-tiri and the Pharaoh's Guard Chariots fell in line behind him. Tusky broke into a trot in the direction the old man had pointed, into the open desert. Incon hoped they weren't too late.
Jumbo-Ra, carrying a bevy of novices and the Head Priestess, caught up with him. "I just want to inform you, Incontinentia of Rome," the Head Priestess said between jostles, "that, for what you said about our Sacred Belt back there - your membership in the Esteemed and Revered Temple of Da-An-Set hangs in the balance!!" She glared at the governor.
"If so much as one feather on Jayhawk's wings comes to any harm," Incon glared back, "...then may I NEVER dance the Lambada again!!!"
Everyone gasped loudly. (Some of the novices started praying.)
"Incon - no!" MRed put her hand on her friend's shoulder. "Think about what you're saying!!"
"I *am* thinking," Incon replied, and spurred her elephant on...