The Sahara's intruders

Camel tracks in the hot desert sands of the Sahel would not remain long as the desert’s winds swiftly obliterated any evidence of beast or man traversing the ocean of fire.  Despite the shadows cast on to the desert’s floor from cumulus clouds over head there would be no relief for those who had trespassed against the great desert; one of many that encompassed the arid southern reaches of the Sahara.  Caravel trade routes carried a thousand souls into the heart of the Sahara’s many deserts.  Those who survived were among the children of Allah; however there were those who were of such an evil nature that the Jinn ensured their survival.  Of these were the legionaries of Christ, a fascist sect of the Christian priest with an agenda sanctioned by the Vatican itself.  Hans Kraus, Nicolai Schmidt, and Johnson Livingston of the Bulgarian Monastery  “The Holy Trinity” a place of bitter cold high up in the mountains. Rarely were its inhabitants in contact with the outside world, except three among its flock sent on an covert mission half way around the world with an unknown outcome, it was the price one paid for the Vatican’s sanctuary; a sort of diplomatic immunity from criminal prosecution of war crimes.

The three tracked across the desert with one of their own approaching death’s door.  Basically secured to his mount’s saddle a man of his mid 30s clung to life only by a thread as the camel’s sway lulled him in and out of consciousness. 

”He is not going to make it…I doubt if any of us make it out of this god forsaken land,” Schmidt snarled bitterly glancing back at Livingston.

“Heir Schmidt… were you not a soldier in Bosnia…trained to endure over whelming odds? It seems that monastery life has softened you while evading the tribunals,” Livingston coughed weakly through cracked and parched lips.

“My military past is of no concern to a dying man,” Schmidt shot back.

“The two of you…shut it…we’re at the brink of death.  I don’t believe.  Is this the best the brothers of  the monastery can do….argue among yourselves while  lost in this hellish furnace of a land,” Kraus complained as the sun seemed to relentlessly burn him despite the turban wrapped around his head and neck.  Unfortunately the Tagelmust, Takatat and Akarbey desert attire it gave him no relief.  It only concealed the European features that would have marked him as an outsider and stranger.

“Check the map against the compass bearings,” Schmidt said.

“It’s another 60 Kilometers before we reach the boarder or reach any kind of civilization in this god forsaken place,” Kraus griped folding up the map and returning it to its blood stained leather case.  Nicolai Schmidt turned in Livingston’s direction watching him lean precariously from his mount, “he is not going to survive…it would be cruel to have him endure this torturous journey.  If he were dead our chances of survival and completing our mission would increase considerably…and we can be done with this place.”

“Bastard,” Livingston said hoarsely as he fell from his camel.  The two halted their camels and dismounted them and walked through the burning sands where the dying man had fallen.  His vision blurred in and out of focus as he attempted to rise to his feet leaning against the camel for support as he pulled the revolver from its holster pointing it at his adversary,” bastards…you took my water and want to leave me here to die of thirst… but not today,” he said pointing the pistol,” give it back!”

“You are not going to shoot anyone,” Schmidt said coldly as Livingston pulled the trigger, but to his surprise only a clicking sound followed.  Kraus watched the two intently from a short distance.  Schmidt laughed as he threw the rounds in the man’s face,” you were never focused…know your weapon,” he said menacingly taking the man’s canteen, supplies and then his camel.

“Please…don’t do this,” he whispered,” you can’t leave me here to die,” he begged.  Kraus then walked up and un-holstered his desert eagle semi automatic pistol.  The sound of the shot seemed to have gone on forever.

“Now…Heir Kraus our chances to survive just drastically improved… thank you,” he said taking the camel’s reigns tying them on to his own camel. 

“It would be cruel to leave him to endure another moment of a slow agonizing death.  Hasn’t the monastery shown you anything?”  Where Kraus maintained some form of twisted compassion Nicolai Schmidt possessed a blood lust and pension for cruelty.         

“Well… Livingston should have remained in Britain to find his spiritual calling.”
 Kraus shook his head at the man’s callous remark.

The two rode on into the late evening thankful to have found an oasis to set up camp considering the last two wells they passed were dry. If not for the additional supplies they would not have survived.   The poisonous desert vipers and scorpions kept them vigilant while unyielding sand storms attempted to bite into exposed skin.  Luckily the turbans and the desert attire they donned not only concealed their identity but protected them from the desert’s unpredictable and changing climate for the most part.  However being temporarily blinded by the sand storm caused them to lose their bearings crossing the Sahel from Mauritania with temperatures plunging to bitter cold. The desert’s brutality could strike out at any given moment taking the form of any calamity that would psychologically bend anyone’s reality from sanity to madness.  Anxiousness mixed with foreboding seemed to have blanketed the two wondering through one of nature’s most inhospitable environments; testing one’s mettle. 

In the distance a lone figure caught Kraus’s perennial vision; a man who was believed to be dead after a round was fired into him at point blank range.  It was considered an act of mercy; spilling the man’s life fluids on to the desert floor, afterwards the imaged then faded from view.    Being guilt ridden peace of mind evaded him as feelings of doom seemed to be closing in on him.  He could sense a presence other than the sadist ex-mercenary Nicolai Schmidt.   It was something ominous and malevolent something beyond hate and cruelty, it was unforgiving and it wasn’t long before Schmidt sensed paranoia wrapping itself around Kraus making him uneasy under the cloak of night.  If fear and guilt were a contingent then Nicolai Schmidt would surely have been infected even if he didn’t pull the trigger his contempt for what he perceived as weakness contributing to another’s demise began to take its toll. The struggle to maintain his sanity was relentless as the dead man’s image came to visit him.  Over and over again, from the bullets he’d thrown at Livingston to the shot that rang out as his body fell on to the ground turning the sands red.  It all played over in his mind’s eye despite the fact that Livingston had pulled a gun on him after antagonizing the man; threatening to leave him in the desert to die of thirst many times during the course of their journey. 

Strange and unusual phenomenon accompanied those who traveled through the house of fire uninvited; especially foreigners with agendas less than honorable.  Now their predicament would become like that of a bad dream as the wind began to pick up again whipping the sands creating nightmarish apparitions that faded in and out of view.  Kraus made the sign of the cross over his body while Schmidt stared on in disbelief gripping the automatic pistol,” what is it,” he asked staring through the sands in the distance while also trying to shield his eyes,” it looks like a man.

“How is it he is able to foot the sands of the Sahara unaided?”

“How would a man survive this hell… especially one you supposedly killed,” Schmidt said.

“You killed him when you denied him water making his death slow and agonizing.”

“You are not going to blame me when it was you who pulled the trigger.”  Back and forth the two bickered until they felt something beneath their feet causing them to lose their balance momentarily,” What the hell…what is this?”

“We should not have stopped here to make camp,” Schmidt complained.

“But it’s the only water hole with palms around it to tie the camels to…or would you prefer they run off and leave us in this god forsaken hell,” he growled then taking a deep breath,” let’s just calm down we are suffering from fatigue and dehydration…it will be sunrise in a few hours we should get some rest while we can arguing will not help.  We are going to have to devise a plan to cross the border into Mali.” 

Suddenly a mournful wailing began shaking the calm from their core once again with an eeriness thickening the air around the once tranquil oasis as a mist rose up from the water followed by the smell of blood. 

“What in god’s name is this,” Kraus whispered looking through the mist. Then suddenly Nicolai began to violently swat at the air at what he perceived to be some sort of flying stinging insects; violently he swatted at the invisible foe,” get away…get away from me,” he shouted. 

“What are you doing there is nothing there,” Kraus said grabbing the man by the shoulders,” there’s nothing there…except this ungodly mist” he insisted.  Schmidt finally regained his composure breathing heavily he then realized the flying threats were either gone or never existed in the first place. 

“I am beginning to wonder if this is worth it,” Kraus mumbled.

“What’s that,” Schmidt asked looking around nervously as he rolled out his mat.

“Timbuktu…and this so called great Mosque and its grand libraries…the scroll of Orion… is it really worth risking our lives for,” Kraus said bitterly then all of a sudden he let out a muffled yelp as he was being consumed by quicksand no more than 5 feet away from his comrade,” help me…help me,” he shouted as the wet ground rushed up to his waist.  Schmidt looked horrified as he went for the rope from the camel.  “Help me…help me,” Kraus pleaded up to his chest in the consuming muck with it steadily devouring him.  Schmidt quickly tossed him the rope, but he could barely reach it.  Schmidt inched closer afraid he’d be sucked in the deadly earth then he tossed the rope again this time Kraus was able to get his wrist around it as it was now up to his neck.  “Hurry…Hurry tie it on to the camel.”  Nicolai quickly backed the animal away from the quick sand pulling Kraus from death’s horrible grips.  Covered from nearly head to toe the two immediately distanced themselves from deadly threat.  “This is bull shit,” Schmidt shouted as Kraus was clearly shaken from the event as he disrobed his muddy attire.  

“This is bull shit…I didn’t sign up for this non sense,” Schmidt continued to complain as the two set up a new camp site where the mist had lessened; rolling out their sleeping mats in a new spot seemed to ease their tensions.  As they laid beneath the night sky gazing up at the stars the desert’s beauty and mysteries lulled them into a false sense of security; within minutes Schmidt yelled out into the desert night shocking Kraus from his sleep,” what in the hell,” he gasped looking over to see the humongous scorpion perched upon Schmidt’s chest with its tail raised and ready to strike. Kraus grabbed the nearest branch and knocked it from Schmidt’s chest moments before its deadly strike.  “Son of a bitch,” Schmidt shouted out in anger and fright.  “Damn this place…damn it to hell.  This place is cursed I tell you.  The hell with the scrolls of Orion damn it,” Schmidt ranted while Kraus just stood there in shock wondering what other deadly surprises awaited them.  Schmidt continued his ranting and raving kicking stones and rocks yelling out profanities into the night cursing the desert.  As he continued on his wave of profanities he stumbled over the skeletal remains of some sort of animal that met its demise in the desert.  Schmidt with all his might kicked the skull against a large rock causing it to shatter.

“Is that it…is that the end of your tantrum,” Kraus said shivering stripped down to his under garments  considering his clothing was still caked with wet sand,” damn it will you just calm down.”  And then suddenly smoke rose up into the air from the shattered pieces.  “What in the name of god is this abomination before us,” Kraus whispered.  Schmidt froze in place not believing his eyes as the strange colored smoke continued to slowly rise into the air and then taking on the form of something indistinguishable from animal or human at first, then slowly it became denser.  After a while their forms could be distinguishable as they now appeared to take on a human form; however their features remained elusive as spirals of smoke took the place of facial features as they hovered above the ground.  Bewilderment left the pair speechless and unable to move as smoke continued to swirl about concealing what may have been a face beneath the shear indigo veil.  The tattered garments suggested at one time before making transition into the spirit world the unearthly Jinn that stood before them may have been common camel herders.  They appeared to be above average height as they glared down on Schmidt and Kraus; studying them as they seemed to take on a more solid form.  From beneath their tattered and desert worn shrouds bony hands looking as if the flesh had been eaten away gave them the appearance that decomposition had ravished the rest of their bodies. Schmidt and Kraus couldn’t help but to cover their mouths as the smell of rotting flesh assailed their sense of smell. 

“I feel like I’m in the middle of a nightmare,” Kraus said trying to back away.

“Am going mad in this forsaken desert,” Schmidt said clutching Kraus’s arm as he stumbled backwards.  No sooner then he made contact with the ground one of the robbed figures was upon him nose to nose, if the figure had a nose. Mean while Schmidt backed into a nearby palm only feet away from Kraus with another jinn menacing his personal space,” wha...what do you want with us,” Schmidt managed to stutter turning his face away from the unearthly as it hissed before speaking,” you summoned usssssss with the profane… and your vile contempt,” the Jinn said.

“It was your anger when you desecrated the remnants of death…it beckoned us…a reflection of your true natures,” one of the other Jinn hissed.”

“What,” Schmidt managed to ask confused.

“You cursed the desert and its occupants…certainly your intention was to summon the Shayton with your actions,” the Jinn hissed as a boney hand grabbed Kraus by his chin and pulled him up from the ground and sniffed at him,” you stink of fear,” the Jinn hissed tossing him back to the ground sending the man scrambling away cowering.

“Cowards….why do you cross into the ocean of fire?” Another Jinn swooped in on the frightened men more menacing than the last; this one possessed a partial face that revealed a mouth of jagged fangs.  From beneath one of the sleeves where an arm should have been a horned viper uncoiled itself extending its body flickered its tongue,” why do you enter the ocean of fire under the cloak of darkness,” it hissed sending a torrent of foul wind scattering the sand.  The two trembled in the wake of the question asked.

“Answer flesh-ling,” the first Jinn bellowed.

“We are going to Timbuktu…but we lost our way,” Kraus answered hesitantly.  The Jinn became agitated upon hearing the name Timbuktu with the viper recoiling back into the tattered sleeve.

“The place of the Marid’s descendants,” the Jinn hissed.  Kraus and Schmidt looked at each other confused by the Jinn’s reactions to the mere mention of Timbuktu.

“But these are not the children of Allah or Amen-Ra,” the Jinn hissed as the rest hovered closer to the pair,” what is it you seek to steal away from Timbuktu…and don’t lie to us,” the Jinn hissed as the viper flicked its tongue and extended its body to get a closer look at Kraus and Schmidt.  Agitation began to take root in Schmidt, his growing resentment made him less afraid and more agitated; especially at being accused of being a thief.  Getting more of his courage up he confronted the Jinn removing the crucifix from beneath his Takatat,” you treat us as if we are cut throats and common thieves ,” he said boldly.  Then to his surprise with a flash one of the Jinn grew to enormous size extending his upper body to meet his gaze; only inches from his face shocking him. 

“But you are,” the Jinn retorted as he rose up over the two men,” you have spilled the blood of your own kind…I told you not to lie to us…now you will suffer many deathssss.”

“No…please wait…wait.  I’ll tell you what you want to know,” Kraus pleaded.

“Yesss…. You will.”

“We’re going to take the scrolls of Orion.”   A hushed whisper fell over the desert as the Jinn of Shayton began to converse among themselves with their desert viper standing watch over Kraus and Schmidt. 

“Who are the Marid…and what is it about Timbuktu that vexes them so much,” Schmidt asked watching the red eyed viper flicking its tongue at them.

“I believe there are different castes of these…these devils or demons…whatever you want to call these evil unholy things,” Kraus whispered fearfully.

“They are the evil ones,” Schmidt said nodding over at the trio of Jinn.

“How do you know that…they are not of any Christian god we know of…they are all evil as far as I’m concerned,” Kraus whispered.

“Because they became vexed when we mentioned Timbuktu…Timbuktu is the place of many mosque, and centuries ago it housed the first universities the world ever known… that’s why they’re vexed by it…that is an evil response.  It’s a shame to have to carry out this mission, but it’s paramount for the church to maintain control,” Schmidt said regrettably; keeping an eye on the Jinn’s viper.

“Maybe we can use them to our advantage,” Kraus whispered.  Schmidt looked at him long and hard,” are you mad?  There is no bargaining with these creatures.”

“They’re Jinn and we freed them…they owe us.”

“You fool…you’ll get us killed there is no honor among these creatures,” Schmidt insisted.  But before Schmidt could finish his sentence Kraus had called the Jinn,” Shayton,” he said in a commanding manner.  “Fool you fool,” Schmidt growled, but in the blink of an eye the Jinn were on them breathing foul air into their immediate space.

“Pink flesh-ling you do not command anything here in the ocean of fire…do not forget your place human,” the Jinn’s jagged teeth clicked ending in a hiss at the end of his words.  Kraus quickly humbled himself as the other two bore down on him. 

“Please…I meant no disrespect,” Kraus explained.

“Know your place Pink flesh-ling,” the Jinn repeated with a hiss.   Schmidt stood back watching the situation wondering what the outcome would be,” this can’t be good,” he thought to himself listening to Kraus plead his case to the Jinn of the desert. 

“Nothing comes for free flesh-ling…for our help to get you safe passage from the ocean of fire this means you are prepare to forge a pack with the Shayton of the ocean of fire,” the Jinn responded with a rotting orifice where a face should have been.

“Yes…yes,” Kraus said desperately while Schmidt just stood back and shook his head.

“I can get you gold and silver…even riches,” Kraus said naively.

“Pink flesh-ling ….the Jinn have no need for earthly riches…we require blood sacrifice,” the Jinn laughed coldly as the viper dropped to the ground turning into a curved dagger.  Kraus and Schmidt’s eyes grew large with disbelief and repulsion.

“Whoever succeeds in performing the blood sacrifice for the Jinn will be granted their wish and will have safe passage from the ocean of fire…and our assistance of course.  The sacrifice can only be made with the dagger of the Shayton,” the Jinn hissed laughing in an unsettling manner. The two immediately knew the Jinn had pitted them against each other as they both lunged for the dagger; however as soon as the two neared the dagger it quickly turned back to its viper form spitting and hissing at them with the Jinn becoming entertained by the spectacle; a cruel and vicious form of entertainment for the unearthly as they watched the men’s predicament with amusement.

“What kind of games are these creatures playing,” Kraus asked confused more than before dodging the striking viper.

“And you thought you could actually trust them…they want us to kill each other for their pleasure and amusement, but I will not die here in this hell for their amusement I guarantee you that,” Schmidt said as self preservation became a driving force within him. 

Thank you for visiting Another reality home of short stories and thought provoking articles. The above story short was an excerpt from the recently released novel  "The Dorian Grey Files Womb of Darkness" Books one & Two now available at amazon
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