Max Allan Collins

works!'

Running gleefully down the sandy slope, the soot-smudged little man saw the trio before him and his happiness only grew. As he ran up to them, he all but did a little dance.

'Ah, I knew it!' the scientist said. 'I knew you were close, my lady—I felt it last night. .. and an invention of mine confirmed it... so I headed this way.'

The scientist bowed, a low, respectful gesture, be­fore Cassandra, saying, 'My lady oracle .. . And you, barbarian—hello!... You see? I have per­fected the Chinese compound! My magic powder works!'

The three travelers responded to this ball of en­thusiastic energy with a stunned silence.

'By the way,' the scientist said casually, 'would any of you happen to have any water? I'm utterly out.'

Their goatskin water pouch was near dry, too, but the scientist suggested they watch for birds, and fol­low them, for 'our winged friends' would surely know the way to the nearest oasis.

And within an hour, they had reached an oasis so beautiful, so perfect, it should have been a mirage; but it was not, it was real, as the birds circling over its ring of palms confirmed. Just beyond the oasis, mountains rose steeply, and the desert seemed only part of the world, now, not its entirety.

Along the rock-bottomed pool, crystal waters shimmering under the sun, Cassandra knelt, cupping her hands with cool liquid. She glanced up at Mathayus, standing beside her, still moving on wobbly legs, but clearly on the mend.

She asked, 'Do we dare drink? Or is it poi­soned?'

Before the assassin could answer, the little thief came running by and hurled his fetid body into the water, making a huge splash, submerging himself.

'It is now,' Mathayus said.

Nonetheless she drank the water down, and the Akkadian crouched beside her and filled his goatskin pouch and several water bottles.

'Where are we?' she asked.

'I'm not sure,' he admitted.

'Well... what will we do next? Where will go?'

'I feel as though I've returned from the under­world, prematurely ... and I admit... I can't think clearly, yet.'

She touched his arm. Her smile was as glorious as this perfect oasis. 'You will. Time. Just a little time...'

Perfect oasis, he thought. Too perfect?

She began to say something, and he said, 'Quiet, woman,' his eyes slowly scanning their surround­ings. His hand moved toward his scimitar.. .

... and around them, sand seemed to explode from the ground, ringing the water spot!

Men in leathers and animal skins, hard and fierce, rose from the holes they'd hidden in, tossing off rattan sand-colored mats, and aiming crossbows and slings at the little party.

'Oh dear,' said Philos, on his knees by the wa­terside.

'Bandits,' Mathayus breathed. But he had seen their like before... he knew these markings, the bone-and-bead necklaces....

Cassandra held tight to his arm as the bandits closed