the legionaries will have to make up.”
Marcellus watched the sandstorm. It had got considerably closer.
“I need your decision sir.”
“Get everyone into that gorge.”
“We don’t know where the opening is.”
“Find it.”
Quintus spurred his horse forward. He raced along the top of the ridge, turned at the end and raced back. Then halfway back he saw it. A natural gentle slope leading down to the dried river bed. He whistled using his fingers. Marcellus turned at the sound.
“That’s it! Quintus has found it.”
Marcellus’ officers raced up the caravan on their horses shouting instructions.
Doing their best to avoid panic the legionaries got the entire procession turned around and heading for the gorge.
Then the sun dimmed and the slaves at the rear turned, saw the oncoming terror and panicked. A horse bolted past Marcellus. Its rider being dragged helplessly behind, his body bouncing along the hard track until his head was dashed against a rock leaving a crimson smear. The slaves had dumped the sarcophagus now and were running in all directions screaming to their Gods to save them. Roman soldiers who had been whipping them now threw down their whips and ran, adding to the chaos.
Marcellus’ horse reared onto her hind legs and he fought her under control. He turned her and kicked her in the ribs and dashed for the gorge.
Quintus saw him go and he made to follow but the storm caught him. His horse reared and threw him causing him to land hard on his back. He got to his feet quickly and tried to grab the horse’s reins as it bolted. Then a huge gust of wind almost lifted him off his feet and he bent forward as the sand buffeted his face.
The storm was completely on them now, visibility almost zero. Quintus could see swirling shadows and shapes in the gloom. The screams of despair drowned out by the roar of the maelstrom. He found himself unable to breathe and a new terror gripped him. Slowly he sank to his knees desperately ripping at his toga around his throat, blinded by the sand. He felt the hot touch of death now. The sand in his mouth making him choke. He pitched forward onto his face and rolled onto his back. He opened his eyes one last time. Within minutes he was covered in sand. He felt himself sinking, deeper and deeper and then, he felt no more.
Marcellus raced down into the gorge desperately looking over his shoulder. He brought his horse to a stop. The walls of the gorge climbing over a hundred feet above him.
Had he escaped the storm?
His horse whinnied, foam frothing around her lips. Then he saw an opening in the rocks three quarters of the way up the face.
A small cave!
He got off his mount and scrabbled up the slope. Halfway up he turned to a terrific roar. The dust storm was rushing up the gorge towards him at an incredible speed.
His horse bolted, running past him, her eyes wide with terror.
Marcellus scrabbled up the slope, slipping once on loose rocks and threw himself through the cave opening just as the storm raced past. He felt it pulling at him and he dug in close to the cave wall and hugged it. Twice the power of the storm nearly pulled him back outside but he fought it with all his strength. He managed to move away from the opening, going a little deeper. Inside was pitch black. He had survived for now. Exhausted he collapsed to the ground and was soon in a deep sleep, the sound of the wind howling in his ears.
The first, warm, rays of sun on his face woke him. He opened one eye, the other he was laying on. His mouth was desperately dry. He tried to swallow but had no spit. He tried to spit but couldn’t. Slowly he pushed himself up until he was kneeling. He wiped as much sand as he could from his face. His hair was thick and matted with it. He got to his feet and headed towards the light. Once in the cave entrance the bright morning sun dazzled him. He squinted into it. Its brightness making his eyes water.
The bottom of the ravine was different now. Soft dunes of sand where there were none before.
His horse was down in the gorge waiting for him. He blinked in amazement.
’I’m seeing things’
Then she took a few steps forward and sniffed at a tiny green plant. He let out a laugh and rushed down