Incontinentia was dreaming. In the dream she was doing the Lambada for all she was worth at the Greatest Festival of All Time. She was really enjoying it. She looked up at her partner to compliment him on his back-twists, and to her utter amazement saw her partner was...Big Tusky!
The elephant was dancing on two legs and using his forelegs to twirl her round the dancefloor. "Tusky!" she gasped. "When did you learn to Lambada so well?"
Tusky just grinned, back-flipped her with his trunk, and trumpeted.
Just then they were approached by the most beautiful woman Incon had ever seen. A golden halo glowed all around her. "Would you like to cut in? He may be an elephant, but he's stonkingly good," Incon offered.
The radiant woman smiled. "No, Incontinentia of Brittania, I'm just here to tell you that your friends are waiting for you when you awake. They're all quite anxious about you."
"And you are...?" Incon asked as Tusky back-bent her.
"I am known by many names," the stunning woman told her. "But my best-known title is Isis."
"Wow - Mother to all Egyptian gods and goddesses?" Incon gasped as Tusky twirled her 180 degrees. "What an honour! By the way...I *love* your country..."
Isis laughed. "Go now, Incontinentia the Governor...awake, and join your friends..."
Incon started to waken. Jayhawk raised the water skin to her lips. "Incon? Incon! Are you okay?" he asked.
"Mmmmm....Tusky.....Tusky..." she muttered, opening her eyes. "Where's Tusky?!?!?"
"The Hittites have him...I'm sorry," the Angel tried to offer her more water.
Incon tried to get to her feet. Still to weak, she managed to crawl on her hands and knees. "Sorry, gotta go...must find Tusky..."
"Well, you'll never find him in your present state!" Jayhawk huffed, and stopped her. "Get your strength back, and I'll give you and airlift..."
Incon at first refused. Jayhawk, his patience at stretching point, swatted her with a well-aimed wing. Incon agreed.
**********
Meanwhile, at the Hittite encampment, a soldier was attempting to feed Big Tusky a smidgeon of bread and fruit. Tusky glared at his captor while the pittance of a meal was placed in a trough in front of his chained legs. When the soldier stood and started walking away, Tusky remembered his favourite command from his mistress..."TRUNK!" He swung his strongest appendage, and grinned as the hapless soldier went flying several yards, screaming all the way. Happy, he tucked in the fruit. He wondered where Incon was. He missed her.
He burped.
**********
Meanwhile, Tut's army (with Civis Romanus, the superior Roman warrior, riding in the chariot next to the King's) sped out into the desert, determined to catch up with the Hittites...
**********
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to the Hittites, their encampment was gradually being surrounded by a growing swarm of rats, cats, kittens, mice, lions and hyenas (the hyenas having something of a handshake truce with the Egyptian rat population). They kept their meowing, purring, laughing and chittering to a minimum while they silently enclosed on the camp...
**********
And meanwhile, Ouphe-tiri strode into the desert in the direction of the King's army, following her master's chariot-tracks. On her back rode Ankhesenamen, ET Flavius, Gustavia and MRed. Ankhesenamen looked ahead with a determined look on her face.
"Are you sure this was a good idea?" Gustavia asked nervously.
"If *anyone* can find Incon, it's another elephant," MRed assured her, rolling a herbal. "The Queen had an excellent idea."
Ankhesenamen beamed. "Do you really think so? It's just that, Tut gets to have all the fun at these battle thingies, and I want to join in! And find Incon-Ti-Nentia too, of course..."
"Anyone for another pint?" ET asked, lifting a flagon.
Meanwhile...back at the Temple of Isis...