Sapphic Voices Fan Fiction

THE AMAZON QUEEN

Part Twenty-Seven

DISCLAIMERS: The characters of Xena, Gabrielle, Cyrenê, Joxer, Janice Covington, Melinda Pappas, Jack Kleinman, et al (meaning anyone else I didn't list and should have.) are the property of their creators and anyone else who has a legal claim (thanks for letting the girls come out to play!) Melysë and The Amazons belong to themselves, though, (and I dare any man to say different!) This Story is mine, though, and written just for fun, not profit.

Subtext: - YES, though nothing explicit. Xena and Gabrielle, while still soul-mates and the very best of friends, are not a couple in the romantic sense of the word. They are joined to others as heart-mates.

Violence: Yes, but no more than you’ll see on the show.

Language: Pretty tame, so far.

Spoilers: (so far) The Deliverer, Gabrielle's Hope, Maternal Instincts, Sacrifice I&II, A Family Affair, Livia, Eve, The God You Know, Path of Vengeance

Other: If you haven’t read the previous installments in this series, you may have difficulty following along with who’s who.

*************

Natalie felt the wind blowing her long, dark hair back. She felt the horse’s strong muscles moving under her as they galloped together across the pasture towards the woods. This was her early morning ritual, moving with the horse as one creature. Horses had always been a passion of hers, even when she and Kate were children. Since their childhood had been spent travelling, Natalie had not had the opportunity to develop a relationship with her own horse, though Janice and Melinda had bought her one when she completed a course of riding lessons. Both she and Kate had taken the lessons, but Kate rode with a casual enjoyment, while Natalie put her whole being into the experience.

Natalie had first earned her degree in veterinary medicine, but she couldn’t bear it when had to euthanise animals and so she had gone back to school and earned her medical degree. She now had a successful and thriving private practice. She had hired on two physician’s assistants to help out with her patient load. She had bought this ranch and some horses, hiring some experienced handlers and landscapers to help keep it as beautiful as it was, though she preferred to do as much of the work herself as she could. Working the ranch made it hers more than the cash she had laid out in an ineffable way that Natalie herself would never understand. The ranch gave her a sense of security and permanence which she had felt was missing from her childhood.

She rode to the woods and dismounted, tethering her mare to a post she had installed just for that purpose, then wandered through the trees, seeking serenity. She walked deeper into the trees, shedding the cares and concerns of both her practice and her family as she went. The trees themselves whispered comfort as the wind blew through their leaves. She could feel the earth beneath her feet, a firm foundation, grounding and centering her, preparing her to face the rest of her day. Finally, her mind quiet and her heart calm, she left woods and re-mounted her horse, galloping back to the stables. She hadn’t known it at the time, but she would need the serenity she gained this morning.

*************

Normally Nick hated interruptions during his dinner, but this evening’s phone call was the exception. His bodyguard drove him home, stopping at the corner delicatessen for dinner. He went home, changed from his designer silk suit into sweats and took his meal in his study.

The woman Janice brought to him that day was foremost on his mind. She intrigued him, much as Janice’s partner Melinda had intrigued him when first they met. There was even a very slight resemblance. Ah, if only Ms. Pappas were a few decades younger, thought Nick, chuckling to himself. Then he laughed out loud, shaking his head - it was quite obvious that no matter what their respective ages, he would never have had a chance with Melinda. “Mad Dog” Covington would have ripped his eyes out of his head if she even thought he was looking at Melinda that way.
Nick had disliked Janice Covington from the first time they met. He found her abrasive and annoying as hell, but after that embarrassing incident in Madagascar ... well, Janice and Melinda had pulled him out of a very sticky mess relatively unscathed and his respect for the archaeologist grew. Over the years, the two women had “rescued” him from several minor scrapes which, taken individually seemed inconsequential, but cumulatively - Nick owed his life and the few legitimate businesses he owned - his baby steps out of the organisation- to the women. They didn’t know that and if Nick could help it, they never would. No, Melinda would be off-limits - out of respect for both of them - even if she weren’t too damn old for him.
The other “Ms. Pappas”, now - the one they were calling Melissa - when she touched him, something happened. Nick wasn’t sure what it was, but it had been a powerful something. Just how powerful remained to be seen ...

Nick’s dinner was interrupted by a phone call. He frowned at the interruption, but his guards and assistants knew when to take a message - or handle a problem themselves. Nick picked up the receiver.

“What?” he said.

“Mr. Martino, there’s a problem,” said a nervous voice. Nick’s associates and employees hated to be the messengers of bad news.

“Solve it, Tommy,” he said, shortly, all the while knowing that if Tommy could solve it, he would have already, even if just to avoid this phone call.

“The Dante is gone,” said Tommy, quietly. “There was an explosion and - “

“What?” said Nick, sitting up more attentively. The Dante was Nick’s restaurant - one of a growing number of legitimate enterprises owned by Nick and his organisation.

“Yea - uh, yes, Mr. Martino,” said Tommy. “There was an explosion in the kitchen. The fire marshal is here now. I think you should come down here, sir.”

“No, that won’t be necessary,” said Nick, quietly. “You can handle it, Tommy. I want to know what happened, though - and call in Calvin and Frank - I want them to go and have a talk with someone.”

“Yes, Mr. Martino,” said Tommy. Nick hung up the phone.

“She knew,” he said quietly. “Somehow she touched me and she just ... knew.” Nick picked up the phone again and dialled. “Rico, you put a chip in that new passport - the Pappas one?”

“Yeah?” said Rico. “You want a trace?” Rico was a disgusting little worm, but he was a genius. He could create official papers which would never be questioned by an official of any country. He could also put a micro-micro-chip behind the picture in a passport, virtually undetectable to anyone, but which he could trace through his computer. It was a tracking system many governments would give anything to have. Nick was considering the sale of this and several other items of military interest, but he wasn’t stupid - no matter how high the profit, he couldn’t spend the money if the country who bought the things blew up the planet.

“Not ... yet,” said Nick. He wasn’t sure why he hesitated. He didn’t know what he had in mind, but he wanted to keep tabs on the women, just in case. Whatever had happened in that grungy little room today, if it wasn’t just a random thing, it could mean profits - huge profits. “I’ll let you know.” Nick hung up the phone. He sat back in his chair, hands folded behind his head and closed his eyes to think.

*************

Natalie left the exam room to go and write a prescription for the four-year-old’s ear infection. Her nurse accosted her on the way to her office, a smile playing about the corners of her mouth.

“Hey, June, go ahead and discharge the patient in room - what?” said Natalie.

“I’m sorry, Dr. Covington,” said June after bursting into a fit of giggles. “Your grandmother is just so funny!”

“Is she here?” asked Natalie, worried.
“Oh, yes - the whole family is - I put them in room four,” said June, taking the prescription hastily scribbled by Natalie and going to discharge the patient as Natalie went to room four.

“Grams, Aunt Mel - what’s up?” asked Natalie, entering the room. One eyebrow raised when Natalie saw Melysë was still with them.

“We need you to check our vaccines for Turkey,” said Janice, chewing a bit on a fresh cigar. It was tough - she should never have lit that one earlier.

Natalie looked at them, stricken. “You’re going again?” she said, quietly, looking pointedly at Melinda.

“Yep - and so are you,” said Kate, glumly.

“No, I am not,” said Natalie, firmly. “I have my patients and I have my horses to take care of.”

“Your colleagues and assistants have already agreed to cover your patients and you have people on the ranch to care for your horses,” said Janice.

“You went behind my back and - “ began Natalie, angrily.

“Nope, just asked ‘em if they would be willing,” said Janice. “We’re going.”

Natalie sighed. She knew from experience when her grandmother took that tone, there was no arguing. She looked to Melinda.

“Aunt Mel - “ she began, then saw equal determination in the set of Melinda’s jaw and gave in. She knew that when the two women were in accord this way, they were an impenetrable wall through which no amount of common sense could permeate. “Alright. What about her?” Natalie nodded briefly towards Melysë.

“Uh, assume she doesn’t need any shots,” said Kate, smiling, slyly.

“Look, I can’t - “ began Natalie.

“She’s from the area, Natalie,” said Melinda, gently. “She doesn’t need any immunizations.”

“Okay,” said Natalie. “I guess I’ll finish seeing patients and then go home to pack - “ She looked at Janice’s grin, and shook her head. “I guess you’ve taken care of that, too.” There was a knock on the door and Natalie opened it for June.

“Dr. Covington, Dr. Harris is here,” she said. “He’ll be taking over this afternoon?”
“Yes, indefinitely, June. Schedule accordingly,” said Natalie. The nurse nodded and left and Natalie turned back to Janice. “Do I at least have time to go back to the ranch and change?”

“Of course,” said Melinda, interrupting Janice’s impatient fluster with a gentle hand on the archaeologist’s arm.

On the ride to Natalie’s ranch, Kate told her cousin the long-awaited story of Macedonia.

“Oh, come on,” said the physician, incredulous. “You can’t expect me to believe that Aunt Mel somehow ... channelled Xena! And that the god of war was alive and active - no, I’m not buying it. There’s no real proof that Xena ever actually existed.”

“We have the scrolls!” insisted Janice. “Well, some of them.”

“And what makes you believe that they’re accurate representations of true facts?” asked Natalie. “They could be Ancient Greek fairy tales. There is no actual archaeological proof that Xena and Gabrielle were real.”

“Natalie, I held the chakram in my hand,” said Melinda.

“Yes, but you left in the tomb - which Grams blew up - so there’s still no proof,” said Natalie, stubbornly folding her arms across her chest.

“I had to blow it up or Ares would have escaped and helped the Nazis!” said Janice.

“Ares escape - he is a mythological character,” said Natalie, patiently.

“No,” said Melysë, quietly. “He is quite real. I met one of his descendants today.”

“Nick is a descendant of Ares?” said Janice, excitedly. “That’s why he makes my skin crawl.”

“You were with Nick Martino today?” said Natalie. “Why? He’s scum.”

“Yeah, you oughta know - you dated him,” said Kate, snickering.

“We all make mistakes,” muttered Natalie, looking pointedly out the window, effectively closing the subject of Dominick Martino. Natalie still felt a certain attraction for the crime lord - which she likened to a moth’s attraction to flame. He was dangerous, though and Natalie had the good sense to avoid danger - self preservation was a valuable lesson instilled within her by the two women who sat in the front seats of the Explorer.

“Yeah, well, I believe it,” said Kate.

“Of course you do,” said Natalie, still stinging from her cousin’s announcement about Nick. “You live in a world where it’s a possibility - unlike most of us.”

“How would you know?” asked Kate, defensively.

“I read your books,” said Natalie, quietly.

“You ... you do?” asked Kate, smiling.

“Of course I do,” said Natalie. “Ordinarily it’s not my ‘thing’, but you write really well, if a bit unrealistically.”

“Thanks,” said Kate. “But it’s supposed to be unrealistic. People who read for pleasure want to be taken to different worlds for a while, I think.”

“Maybe,” said Natalie, shrugging. “Anyway, where exactly are we going?”

“Back to Macedonia, where this all started,” said Melinda, her voice quietly excited. Natalie sighed and sat back in her seat, silent until they arrived at the ranch.

She changed quickly, grabbing the bags which one of her employees had packed for her under Janice’s direction and left explicit instructions for the care of the ranch and especially her horses. She glanced longingly towards the stables as Janice honked the Explorer’s horn impatiently, then, resigned, turned and put her bags in the back of the car and buckled up for the ride to the airport.

Kate whispered to Melysë exactly what the priestess should expect about going through customs and on the airplane. Anxiously, Melysë presented the forged passport to the customs agent, but he stamped it without comment and the priestess boarded the plane with the others, settling in with one carry on bag full of Kate’s books for the long flight.

*************

Nick’s phone rang and the guard picked it up, then handed it to his boss in silence.

“Mr. Martino, I got a flag on the Pappas passport,” said Rico.

“Really, Rico? I thought I told you to hold off,” said Nick, mildly irritated with man.

“Yes, Sir, but it’s one of the new chips I’ve been developing - it automatically triggers a flag when the holder goes through customs,” said Rico, proudly. Nick swallowed his annoyance before speaking.

“Very well, Rico - where is she headed?”

“Istanbul,” said Rico.

“Interesting,” said Nick, nodding. “Thank you, Rico - the information you have provided - while unsolicited - may prove to be of value, after all.” Nick hung up before the other man could say any more.

*************

Melysë read while the others dozed. “This is amazing,” she whispered to herself. “How could she know all this?”

“Hey,” Melysë looked up to see Melinda smiling down at her. “Can’t sleep on a plane, I never could. You want some conscious company?”

“I’d love it,” said Melysë, smiling in delight as Melinda gently shook Kate awake and led her to resume her nap beside an equally somnolent Janice. The translator returned and took the now vacant seat.

“Kate’s gettin’ attached to you,” said Melinda.

“I like her very much - she reminds me of my daughter, Neiromei,” said Melysë.

“No, I meant ... well, never mind,” said Melinda. “I don’t think Kate sees you as a mother-figure, though.”

“Oh,” said Melysë softly, nodding her understanding. “Well, not to worry, Melinda - I hope to be back where I belong before she can form a stronger attachment - and I promise that I will do nothing to encourage any more than friendship.”

“Honey, you breathe - to Katie that’s all the encouragement she needs,” said Melinda.

“Oh, my,” said Melysë frowning in concern. “What should I do?”

“Don’t worry about it,” said Melinda, kindly. “Let Kate handle her own feelings.”

Melysë nodded. “Very well,” she said. “Where are we going? Janice said Macedonia, but this flight is to Anatol- I mean Turkey.”

“We’re flyin’ in to Istanbul ‘cause Janice and I know some people who will make the rest of this trip a lot easier,” said Melinda.

“More people like ... Nick?” asked Melysë, hesitantly.

“I’m afraid so,” said Melinda. “Relax, they won’t harm you so long’s you’re with us.”

“Oh, I’m not afraid of that,” said Melysë, smiling. Melinda chuckled.

“No, I s’pose not,” she said. “Xena probably taught you how to defend yourself.”

“My mothers actually taught me that, long before I met Xena,” said Melysë.

“Mothers? Plural?” said Melinda. “I know that the Amazons were ... not so uptight about such things from the scrolls, of course, but I thought ....”

“My mothers were malatyra - soul mates - I only learned which one of them actually bore me a few years ago,” said Melysë. “It didn’t - and still doesn’t - matter. They were both my mothers in the true sense of the word. As for the other matter, there are Amazons who prefer men, some prefer women and some don’t care either way. I have found and hopefully taught my daughters that love is precious and you should treasure it and hold to it, no matter what form it takes.”

“That’s just what Janice and I have tried to teach the girls,” said Melinda. “Naturally, they had a rough time of it with other children - when we were in the States. It didn’t seem to matter on a dig. The workers always treated Janice as ‘one of the guys’ and respected both of us for our knowledge and skill.”

“Have you read Kate’s books?” asked Melysë, changing the subject. That love should ever be questioned or derided in this time saddened her too much to continue thinking about it.

“Of course,” said Melinda, proudly.

“Did you recognise any of the stories?” asked Melysë.

“Well, of course she was inspired by the scrolls - that’s plain to see,” said Melinda. “Janice and I used to tell the stories to the girls all the time.”

“Melinda I read all the scrolls you and Janice have found,” said Melysë. “Kate writes about things Gabrielle recorded in scrolls you don’t - yet - have.”

“Really? How is that possible?” asked Melinda, only mildly surprised.

“I’m not sure,” said Melysë.
“You don’t think that maybe she’s Gabrielle, re-incarnated, do you?” asked Melinda.

“No, I would recognise her, I’m sure of it,” said Melysë. “Maybe Gabrielle speaks through her, just as Xena can speak through you, but there is a different tone to her stories than Gabrielle’s. I think I have an idea who it is and why.”

“Well don’t be so mysterious - who is it?” asked Melinda.

“Aphrodite,” said Melysë, so softly only Melinda could hear her. “She is as much a mentor to Gabrielle as Ares was to Xena.”

“If Ares was still around, then it makes sense that she would be too,” said Melinda, thoughtfully.

“Of course - of all the remaining Olympians, they took on the job of ‘ruling’, so to speak,” said Melysë. “What I don’t understand is how my bro - um, how Ares got trapped in that tomb?”

“Well, like I said, the legend on the wall paintings was pretty faded, but from what I could make out, he put there by the other gods - maybe out of revenge for his allowin’ Xena to kill Athena and the others?” said Melinda.

“Hm, well if that’s the case, they sure took long enough to do it,” said Melysë. “No, I’m pretty sure that’s not the reason.”

“Then what?” asked Melinda.

“If it’s what I suspect, then the sooner I get back and correct the problem, the better off this world will be,” said Melysë, frowning.

*************

Nick looked at the three men standing before him, one of them being held up by the other two. He sat behind the desk in his study, feet propped up in deliberate casualness.

“What happened to him?” he asked, his voice mild.

“We found him, just like this,” said one of the two men, nodding towards the third between. His head lolled and he began to cough, violently.

“This man is ill,” said Nick.

“Yeah, but you said to bring - “ said the other of the two men.
“I said to go and check on him and if he was alright, to bring him to me,” said Nick, swinging his feet to the floor and rising in one swift move. The hapless driver looked at Nick through glazed eyes.

“Boss, if you’re gonna kill me for somethin’, please - make it quick?” he said.

“I’m not going to kill you,” said Nick, his voice just this side of a growl “Unless I catch whatever it is you have - get him out of here.”

The two men all but carried the sick driver out of the room and Nick sighed. He had started to believe that it was a conspiracy - his driver calls in sick, so he takes a cab to the Dante for dinner. Anything could happen in a taxi - and at the restaurant. The fire marshal had reported that the explosion was an accident - a freak, but an accident, and he had been looking closely, hoping to catch Nick at something illegal, so Nick had to believe that no human being was responsible. He sat back down, leaning forward, elbows resting lightly on the desk, his hands folded in a prayer-like aspect, fingers just touching. He was thinking about Melysë again.

“What if she’s not human?” he said aloud, very softly to apparently no one. His hand reached for the special phone in his office. No one had the number to this phone and it was untraceable by any government agency. Suddenly it rang, startling Nick. He picked up the receiver and placed it hesitantly to his ear, but said nothing.

“Nick,” said a voice Nick knew well - this was the only person in the organisation’s hierarchy to whom even Dominick Martino answered, even though he had never laid eyes on the voice’s owner. “Don’t even think about it.” The connection was severed with a soft snick and the line was quiet. Nick hung up the phone.

*************

The women landed in Istanbul where Janice rented a car and drove them through winding narrow streets, finally parking before a whitewashed building. She told the others to wait, then emerged from the place, a smug grin on her face.

“Okay, let’s get to a hotel,” said the archaeologist. Kate and Natalie looked wide-eyed at her, but Melinda merely smiled.

“We have never stayed in a hotel here, before,” Kate whispered to Melysë. “Grams knows so many people, usually we stay in a private home with about a bajillion other people while we wait to get a permit to the site or something.”

“Yes, well, Miss Smarty-Pants,” said Melinda turning around. “We don’t have to get a permit this time.”

Melysë smiled at Kate’s surprise. “She always does that,” said Kate. “How does she do that?” Melysë shrugged, then turned to look out the window. The motion of the vehicle and a general lack of sleep caused the buildings and people to blur in her vision and the priestess found herself entering into a light, comforting trance. She began to see this place as it had been in her own time and suddenly, she was stricken with a pang of homesickness so sharp it brought tears to her eyes.

“Melysë, what’s wrong?” asked Melinda.

“Please - drive east?” she said, brushing the tears away with the back of her hand. Janice looked back briefly, then nodded and kept going. Melysë remained in the half trance as they traveled out of the city.

“How far east?” asked Janice after they had been driving for a few hours. “We’re going opposite to the direction we need to end up.”

“I know,” said Melysë, gazing out of her window. “Just ... please keep going.”

“Okay,” said Janice. “But we need to stop and get some gas and food - and probably another car - a jeep or a Rover, I think. We’ll go to Sinop - I hope we have enough fuel, ‘cause there’s nothing between here and there.”

She drove past several small villages on the way to the larger city, stopping only once at one that had gas - just to be sure. Dr. Janice Covington had stopped taking such chances when Melinda joined her life. Melysë continued to gaze, entranced out the window while those around her began to doze off. Janice gripped the wheel until they came into Sinop. She pulled up to small cottage-like building and began to wake her family.

“Come on, let’s get some rest and then we’ll push on,” she told Melysë. The priestess nodded and followed them into the small inn. She fell into the soft bed, still half in trance and slept like the dead until Melinda awakened her the next morning.

*************

Nick paced in his study, uneasy with his own anxiety about leaving his house. If only she were here to tell me it was safe, he thought, then shook it off, feeling more foolish than afraid now. “This is stupid,” Nick said aloud, angry that he was startled by the sound of his own voice. He hadn’t gotten where he was by being afraid and he wasn’t about to give in to fear now. He strode over to the phone and cautiously raised the receiver to his ear, but heard only the expected dial tone. With a relieved sigh, Nick dialled and started making travel arrangements. Whatever was drawing those women to Istanbul, he wanted a piece of it, too. Whatever the “Boss” may have to say about it, Nick was going.

Hours later, he hung up the phone in frustration. He had been able to make reservations to fly into Samsun - but only just. It seemed all flights to Istanbul had been cancelled. Nick would fly to Samsun and drive to Istanbul. If the Covingtons were headed there, then Nick surmised they had a damn compelling reason for it - and he suspected that the mysterious “Melissa Pappas” was that reason. Nick was going to find her and after that ... he didn’t know what he was going to do, but the need to see her and speak with her again was beyond all reason for him. He would take Mack and Andy as bodyguards, but would tell no one else of his plans. That should keep the old monster from finding me, thought Nick, thinking bitterly of the voice on the phone.

*************

Melinda woke Melysë gently. The priestess stirred, smiled slightly, then rolled over and fell back into the deep sleep which had claimed her the night before. Melinda looked at her for a moment, then went down to the kitchen and came back with a steaming mug of good, strong Turkish coffee. The scent did what all of Melinda’s gentle shaking could not and Melysë sat up, gratefully reaching for the mug, liberally laced with thick cream and lots of sugar. The priestess sipped, appreciatively, then smiled at Melinda.

“Where are we headed?” said Janice, striding into the room.

Melysë shook her head to try and clear the residual fatigue. “Themiscyreia - I think,” said the priestess.

“Why there?” asked Melinda.

“I’m not sure,” said Melysë with a rueful smile. “Maybe habit - whenever I have needed information, I go to Themiscyreia, the centre of Amazonian History and culture. Then again, maybe I’m looking for Lykastia.”

“Lykastia?” said Janice, trying to control her excitement. “That’s just now being explored. I know where to go to find Lykastia - I think.”

“Why Lykastia?” asked Melinda, gently.

“That’s where my nykel - oath-sister, Tai’ lives - she’s the Lykastian queen,” said Melysë. “East, anyway. Towards the Black Stone.”

“Giresun Island?” said Janice, one eyebrow raised.

“Is that what they call it now?” said Melysë absently. “I think ... I think we may find a clue to the scrolls there.”

“Oh,” said Janice, scratching her head. The archaeologist shrugged. “It’s as good a place to go as any, but we need to get to Macedonia - they’ve re-opened the old site and are excavating a certain tomb.”

“Janice you did a job on that tomb - I don’t believe anyone could get in there again,” said Melinda.

“Maybe not then, but the field has a lot of new technology, Mel,” said Janice.

“Well, I still doubt they’ll open it anytime soon - I don’t think there’s much of the structure left,” said Melinda.

“It was underground, Mel,” said Janice. “All I did was close any entrances. They can always dig down past the debris. And if that happens ...”

“Ares gets out,” said Melinda.

“Only if he’s released by a descendant of Xena, remember?” said Melysë. “Maybe our best bet is to stay away from there?”

“She’s right, Janice,” said Melinda. “Maybe we should - “

“No, I have to go back - just make sure,” said the archaeologist.

“Very well,” said Melysë rising and looking with dismay at her sleep-rumpled clothing. “I need to clean up and change - “

With a wide grin, Janice produced a brown paper bag, handing it to Melysë. “Bathroom’s down the hall and I believe it’s empty - for now. Better hurry.”

Melysë took the bag, smiling her thanks and made her way down the narrow hall to the bathing chamber. She showered quickly and donned the clothing in the bag. To her delight, it was her Amazon clothing, cleaned and neatly folded. It felt good to be back in her own clothes and she left the bathroom feeling more grounded than she had since the previous morning. She went back to the room the women shared and braided her hair just as she usually did in Aemetzainê. With a pang, Melysë missed Xena’s deft fingers plaiting her long, dark, unruly curls, but she managed to finish the job herself.

“Okay, I guess I’m ready,” said Melysë to Janice and Melinda. “Where are the girls?”

“They went to breakfast,” said Melinda, smiling. “Are you hungry, Melysë?”

“Oh, no,” said the priestess. “I never eat this soon after waking up.”

“Neither does Mel,” said Janice, eyeing the translator. “Okay - let’s go collect the girls and be on our way - I managed to get a Land Rover - not as comfortable as my Explorer, but it’s better than that little tin can we drove here in.”

“My, you were busy this morning,” said Melysë as she eyed the Land Rover. Janice had obtained camping equipment and groceries as well as the vehicle.

“Well, since we have no idea where you’re leading us, I figured we better be prepared for anything,” said Janice, opening her jacket slightly to reveal a pistol shaped lump bulging through the inner pocket. Melysë frowned slightly, but said nothing. Janice, Melinda, and Melysë loaded themselves into the Rover and Janice drove to where Kate and Natalie said they were going for breakfast. There was no sign of the young women.

“Where are they?” Janice said with a growl.

“They’re here, Janice,” said Melinda, calmly.

“There - in that shop,” said Melysë pointing. To her delighted surprise, she saw that the young women were dressed similar to herself in long, belted tunics and baggy trousers and boots.

They got into the Rover and Janice set off, going east.

*************

Nick drove the rental himself, Mack in front and Andy in the back. He easily navigated the streets of Samsun, looking for the route to Istanbul. It may have been easier to take a train, or even a small plane from the Samsun Airport, but Nick had felt uneasy all the while he was in the air. He needed to take control of something for a while, even if it was a car.

He had an idea where Janice would head first in Istanbul - they had several mutual acquaintances and Nick knew Janice well enough to know that would feel naked without some kind of weapon. So the first place he stopped was a gun dealer’s house. He needed to replace the weapons they hadn’t been able to take on the plane anyway.

“Tabari,” Nick greeted the man who answered the door.

“Dominick!” said the other man, smiling. “What can I do for you, today?”

“I was supposed to meet Dr. Covington here in Istanbul, but we got separated,” said Nick, jovially. “Have you seen her?”

“Yes, she was here just yesterday,” said Tabari, nodding. “She didn’t mention meeting you, though.”

“Hmm, yes, well we had set up a meeting place, but my ... plane was delayed,” said Nick, feigning polite regret. Inwardly he was seething. A whole day’s head start to wherever they were headed. “Ah, well, my friend - I need to ... ah ... do some business here, anyway.” Nick allowed the man to see a roll of cash before slipping it back into his pocket. Tabari’s eyes widened and a smile tugged at his lips.

“Yes, of course - please, you and your companions, please come in and refresh yourselves before continuing on your journey,” he said, stepping aside to allow the men to enter.

He led the men to a small sitting room and bade them sit and be comfortable. He left them for a bit and returned bearing a tray. Small cups of coffee, along with cream and sugar were on the tray and Tabari served them himself.

“So, Dr. Covington was here yesterday?” asked Nick, suppressing the face he wished to make at the thick, bitter coffee.

“Yes, yes - Janice, she does not buy from me so much as she rents my wares,” said Tabari, with a chuckle. “Always, she buys and then upon her return, she sells back to me - at a discount, of course.”

“I imagine so - especially now with airport security what it is,” said Nick, amiably.

“Ah, yes,” said Tabari. “Me, I am small and I do not sell to those I do not know well. Only for personal protection, I sell my wares.”

“Yes, I know,” said Nick, setting down his empty cup and hoping Tabari did not offer more. “Speaking of which, we should get down to business - I really must find Dr. Covington. She didn’t mention where she was going?”

“No, I am sorry,” said Tabari, rising and taking the tray. He stopped, and turned, a delighted smile across his pleasant face. “But she did ask me about conditions across the Strait.”

“The Bosporus Strait?” asked Nick excitedly.

“Yes, of course,” said Tabari, puzzled. He turned and took the coffee things away, then returned with a large black suitcase. “Now to business ...”

Tabari opened the case and Nick’s eyes shone at the scent of gun oil and the black steel, gleaming softly before him.

“Yes,” he said, softly. “To business.”

*************

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If you have enjoyed L. M. Townsend's "THE AMAZON QUEEN - Part Twenty-Seven", then please be certain to e-mail her at  QueenLaese1[at]aol.com  and thank her for posting this Story.

Click here for a list of all of L. M. Townsend's  Stories and Poetry at  Sapphic Voices Authoresses.