~Chapter 5~

"Where is Alejandro?" Elena demanded as though she expected the horse to answer. "He must be injured somewhere - captured by bandits perhaps…Tornado, take me to him!"

She quickly mounted the black stallion. Ahmed ran to her, saying, "Wait, wait, wait, WAIT!" sounding so much like Alejandro that she halted. "Madame," he said, "you cannot just go riding off like this. If he is in danger, you could be killed. What do you think you could do for him?"

"I have weapons," she said, but she did stop the horse and wheel him around to face the Arab, knowing he had a good point.

"What do you think can have happened? Who would want to capture him, and why?" Ahmed reasoned.

Elena looked paler than ever. "I have heard some tales of a band of outlaws who have a lair in these hills," she said. "Probably the stories are somewhat exaggerated, but…They say one of them is an ex-pirate, and…but what would they want with Alejandro?"

Rose edged in closer saying, "Is there someone who might have a grudge against him?" She was thinking of all the Western movies she had seen. Seemed like there was always someone with a grudge.

"I do not know." Elena's brow puckered. "I have not lived long in this country. There was a man he killed about a month ago, a very wicked man, a Captain Harrison Love. It is possible he has relatives who could want vengeance for his death…But I do not know who they could be. However, I am sure Tornado can take us to him. Alejandro and Tornado seem to have an, an affinity."

"We cannot ride out dressed like this," Ahmed said. "I must change into something I can ride in, and" He looked sidelong at Rose.

"You are right," Elena said in her abrupt way, and she dismounted the horse. "Come with me," she said to Rose. "You don't look my size, but perhaps I have some things in the cave that may fit you. If you want to come along, that is."

Rose had an idea Elena didn't think much of her. That she didn't have the brains or the stamina to be of any use, that she would just get in the way. Perhaps she was right, at that. The thought of riding out to rescue a guy from a gang of criminals was a bit weird for her blood. Once more she wondered if she were dreaming.

But she heard herself saying, "I do want to come along."

Ahmed said, "Rose, you must stay here. I cannot put your life in danger like this. I did not mean for this to happen. I am an experienced warrior, and perhaps I can help. But I will not risk your life."

"I don't want to stay alone out here!" Rose protested. "What if the terrorists are still around? Who knows, maybe they're the ones who took what's his name? I don't have any weapons and wouldn't know how to use them even if I did. I WON'T stay here by myself, I'm going with you!"

"Come along then," Elena grabbed her by the wrist. "We have no time to stand around arguing." To Ahmed, "I have some things of Alejandro's that will fit you too. You and he are the same size."

"I have things of my own," Ahmed said, "but thank you for the offer, Madame."

"It's Elena," she said a bit snappishly, then practically dragged Rose along with her until they came to what appeared to be the opening to an underground cave.

"Tornado," Rose mused as she tried to keep up with Elena. "That was the name of Zorro's horse, you know. I used to watch -"

"That is right," Elena stopped and turned to look directly at her. "Alejandro IS Zorro. You know about him?"

"Of course. I used to watch Zorro on TV when I was a little kid. I -"

"On WHAT?"

"On...oh, I forgot, this is 1849," Rose laughed a little crazily. "Zorro was my hero. I used to put Z's all over the place with a black crayon. I put 'em all over this bed sheet and they wouldn't wash out, and I always had to have it on my bed. I got really mad when my mom put it on my sister's bed instead and threw a hissy fit, and..."

She broke off there because Elena was looking at her as though she were speaking Swahili. Rose wondered which of them was really the crazy one.

"Come, we've no time to lose standing around talking," Elena said, turning around back to the cave.

Rose followed her in wondering what they would use for a flashlight. Then she saw it wasn't necessary, there was a large skylight in the cave, and huge concentric circles of an interesting pattern. There was furniture in the cave: two chairs, two beds, a wood stove. Even a table with silver candlesticks on it. On the walls hung many weapons: swords, whips, and some really antique-looking guns. There was also a stable with a silvery white mare standing calmly within.

"She's yours?" Rose asked.

"She is," Elena said absently as she went to a trunk standing nearby and unlocked it. "Her name is Luna."

"She's a beauty," Rose said, going over to stroke the mare's neck. "What are all those ropes and stuff?"

Elena didn't seem to hear her. She lifted two pairs of pants from the trunk and two blouses.

"Here," she said, throwing one of the blouses and one pair of pants to Rose. "Put them on."

It was then Rose realized that she didn't have anything at all on under the caftan. She gasped.

"Ahem...I don't suppose you have any undies in there?" she said timidly. The idea of wearing someone else's underwear did not appeal to her, but it was preferable to wearing none, she supposed. Certainly she wouldn't be able to wear Elena's bra, it would be too small.

"Here." Elena tossed her some things. Rose stared at them dumbfounded. A camisole and long drawers, like she had seen in pictures. Holy cow! This woman really did think it was 1849. Next she'd hand her a corset, or did they not wear those until the 1860's?

But she put on the things, which were a little snug, while Elena changed also. The pants were a bit tight on Rose and buttoned up instead of zipping. They were a little long but she rolled them up. However, the blouse was too small.

"Um...this doesn't fit," she said, trying in vain to button it over her bosom. "My boobies are bigger than yours."

"Boobies?" Elena turned to look at her. She was already dressed, and she had braided her long black hair neatly down her back. She was tall for a Spanish woman, slender and graceful. Clearly one of those fiery beauties you usually saw only in the movies and on the covers of romance novels.

"Um...bosoms," Rose said, wondering if Elena would take offense at the bluntness. She'd read that back in the Victorian days they even put skirts on piano legs and all. Holy cow, she told herself, you're actually going to start believing it really is 1849 if you don't watch out…

"Here," Elena dug out another, larger shirt and tossed it to her. Obviously she had no time for prudery. "It's Alejandro's. Perhaps it will fit better."

It did fit, though it was a trifle large and certainly was low in front, and needed ironing. But it laced up and Rose was able to close it so she wouldn't feel so exposed.

"Try these," Elena said, lifting a pair of lace-up Indian moccasins from the trunk. "They look like they might fit you."

They did, and were very comfortable. Elena tied back Rose's shoulder-length hair with a leather thong as Rose put on the mocs.

"Your guy really thinks he's Zorro?" Rose said as she laced them up.

"He IS Zorro." Elena looked at her with flashing eyes, and Rose decided not to pursue the matter further. Elena tucked a pistol into her belt, then took down a second one.

"Do you know how to use this?" she asked. Rose shook her head.

"I know diddly squat about guns," she admitted. "But I've watched people fire them on TV a lot."

"Carry this," Elena handed her the pistol. "Tuck it into you belt. How did you meet Ahmed anyway?"

"I have no idea. I just woke up and there he was--in the buff, looking down at me. I haven't a clue how I got there. I'm still totally mystified."

"Perhaps he rescued you from the real kidnappers," Elena said as they made their way back through the cave's entrance. "If he is Alejandro's twin, then likely he has heroic qualities."

"That's possible. But if that's how it is, why doesn't he say so?"

"I think I know what happened," Elena said after a moment. "His mother bore twins, and the midwife stole one and sold it to a couple that could not have children. I've heard of such things. Then she told Alejandro's mother that the twin had died, or drugged her so she would forget she had born twins, or something. The couple was Persian, and they decided to go back to their native country. Then one day one or the other of Ahmed's supposed parents told him the truth, and he decided to come back here to find his real mother. I don't know where you fit in there, but it is the most plausible explanation I can think of at the moment."

Ahmed was waiting for them outside, dressed in tight black trousers and boots, a snow-white shirt open at the throat, showing chest hair. He had a sash wrapped around his waist, embroidered in scarlet and blue and gold in an oriental pattern, and his scimitar was thrust through it on one side, a small silver dagger on the other. Around his head he wore a scarlet turban. Both women caught their breath.

"We must have a plan," he said. "We cannot just ride out there without one."

"I suppose you are right," Elena said with a heavy sigh. "So, what is your plan?"

Ahmed didn't seem to have heard her. He was looking at their pistols.

"What are those?" he asked. He wore no gun at all.

"Pistols," Elena said in a dazed voice. Rose took her pistol and examined it, thinking how old fashioned it looked, like something out of an old Western. Call me Calamity Jane, she thought.

"They don't have pistols in Iran?" she said.

"What are they for?" he asked.

"Why, for shooting, of course." Elena looked at him incredulously. "You truly never saw one before?"

She pointed hers at the sky and made as if to pull the trigger. Rose jumped forward and grabbed her wrist.

"Don't!" She didn't quite know why she said that. She just had an idea that Ahmed would be frightened. "You'll scare Fezeek," she heard herself saying. Elena put the pistol in her belt.

"I am sorry, I didn't think," she said. "I would have brought a gun for you also, but I thought you would already have one. So how are we going after Alejandro if you have no weapons other than those?"

"I was once a warrior, as I said before," he said. "I needed no other weapons that these."

"You were in the army, and they did not teach you to shoot?"

"The army was very small. There were but thirteen of us, yet we were able to defeat the Wendol even though there were only four left alive at our last battle. And there were hundreds of them. We killed their leader and they retreated instantly."

"That makes sense," Rose said. "Just look at the German army after Hitler killed himself. The war was over almost immediately afterward. Without a strong leader people are like sheep...who are the Wendol?"

It was just then that the direction of the wind changed, blowing in the direction of the women, and Rose was able to smell the scent Ahmed had put on. It didn't even occur to her to wonder why he put on scent at a time like this. All she could think of was how rich and intoxicating it was. Something almost magical about it, it made her feel like she could believe anything he said.

Absolutely anything.

Elena looked as though she had caught the scent also.

"The guns contain bullets, which when fired from the gun barrel, can fly at an incredible speed," she explained. "They are more compact than bows and arrows, although they are also much noisier."

"I can shoot a bow and arrow," Rose offered. "I learned archery in high school. Although I don't claim to be any expert."

Elena went back into the cave to get more weapons, saying she was sure there were bows and arrows. Rose stared at Ahmed in dizzy wonder as she breathed in more and more of the delicious scent.

"You are the most beautiful man I ever saw in my entire life," she said breathily. "I would love to kiss you over and over on your luscious lips. And then...and then I want to jump you like a tigress and bite you into little pieces, and then…"

She made a move in his direction. He held out an arm to keep her away. He had not guessed that the scent would have this effect.

"My dear Rose, the time is not right," he said, backing off a step or two. "I cannot take advantage of you like this. We have other things to -"

"Take all the advantage you like, cutie buns! Don't you like me? Maybe I look too ugly in this get-up? I can always take it off, you know...or YOU could."

"You are lovely and charming and of course I like you. But...perhaps I had better tell the truth. I am from the tenth century. I had many dreams of you, so I went to a magician to procure a potion that would project me into the twentieth so I could come to you. But something went wrong and we both landed in a totally different era. Can you believe me?"

"Lover," she purred as she took hold of his sash, then ran her fingers up over his chest, "I would believe you if you told me you were an elephant disguised as a man and you came from Mars in a camel-shaped spaceship. Even though no elephant ever had a tush like yours, nor even a...oh, never mind!" she giggled coyly. "Come, my adorable studmuffin, peel me like a grape. Señorita Fireball and her hotsy-totsy Zorro will just have to wait. Ohh you are soooooo inCREDDDDDibly sssssexxxyyyyyyy...."

"RoZita - I mean Rose . . ." He took her by the wrists gently but firmly.

"Call me RoZita if you like. It sounds sooooo nice the way you say it…"

As she threw herself at him once more, Ahmed was nearly strangled in her embrace, taken aback. His innocent RoZita suddenly behaving like Mah-Doh-Nah? And what was he going to do now?

It was then that he saw Elena coming out of the cave with a quiver of arrows and a bow, and a rifle. And he had an inspiration.

"RoZita," he said, when he could get his mouth off hers, "if you do not let me go, that woman will kill me."

Rose pulled away abruptly and whirled around to see Elena standing there staring at them with the weapons.

"Don't you dare touch him," Rose said, standing before him to shield him from possible attack. "If you want to kill him, you'll have to kill me first."

"Well, if you two are not going to help me, I shall just have to go myself," Elena said with her dark eyes full of angry sparks. With that she tossed down the weapons and mounted Tornado once more, dug her booted heels into his black flanks, and tore off down the road.

"We will have to go after her," Ahmed said, breaking away from his would-be seductress. "We have no time for a plan."

He went to untie Fezeek, and the wind blew the scent away from RoZita. She hid her face in both hands.

"What in the WORLD came over me?" she wailed through her fingers. "I've NEVER acted that way in my entire LIFE. I mean, I've done a few crazy things but that really takes the ol' cakeroo! I can never look you in the face again!"

"Dear RoZita, it is not your fault." He stood behind her and laid his hands on her shoulders, after making sure the breeze was blowing the scent away from her. "It is this magic perfume. The magician said it would make you believe anything I told you. I think he did say it would have, ah, certain side effects, but I am afraid I was not paying close attention. If you will pardon me a minute, I will wipe it off."

"Don't," RoZita said, turning around. "See, I'm controlling myself very nicely even though I'm looking right at you? I promise not to behave like a whacko sleazebag any more."

"Have you ever ridden a camel?" he said with a smile that quirked his mouth up on one side in an endearing way.

"No, but there's a first time for everything, right?"

"You are a brave young woman," Ahmed said with sweet approval that made her feel much better. He spoke to Fezeek in Arabic, at which the beast knelt down on the ground.

"That is so cool," RoZita said almost to herself as Ahmed mounted and motioned for her to climb up behind him. "Just like Lawrence of Arabia."

"Oh my God, what a dangerous height!" she thought as the camel stood up. She laid her arms around Ahmed's slim waist. Chills of excitement shook her as the camel broke into a gallop. She almost yelled "Yippeeeeeee!" but decided that would not be very ladylike or sophisticated.

Since camels can outrun horses, they soon overtook Elena and Tornado. Elena didn't slow down, however. Horse and camel tore down the narrow dirt road, and Ahmed got swiped by branches until RoZita grabbed his scimitar and sliced at them so they would not put his eyes out.

"Take that!" she yelled at each branch as she hacked at it. She was enjoying herself. The feel of his perfectly shaped rear against her inner thighs did not lessen her pleasure a bit. She wanted to run a hand over the muscles of his forearms, then insert it into the open neck of his shirt and touch his chest hair, remembering how his lips had felt against hers. "If this is a dream, I don't want to wake up," she told herself.

Tornado turned sharply around a steep curve and Fezeek nearly ran off the road but managed to stay on it. The thundering of the eight hooves was nearly deafening.

Suddenly a shot rang out…

"Forty-Niner"--artist unknown