One Hot Desert Night by Kristi Gold

lit more sconces as they traveled downward into the abyss. The scent of earth and a slight chill assaulted her. Luckily, she didn’t smell fire and brimstone, although right now she wouldn’t be surprised if they came across Hades.
    Much to Sunny’s relief, they eventually reached the final stair where she exhaled slowly when her feet hit the dirt floor.
    Rayad paused and flipped a switch that illuminated several overhead lights, revealing a lengthy corridor. “A generator provides electricity, but I use it sparingly.”
    Sunny joined him and did a quick survey of the room to her right that held no real furnishings but a lot of electronics. “What is all this?”
    “My means to communicate with the outside world.”
    Awareness began to dawn. “Is this a covert military installation?”
    “In a manner of speaking,” he said. “It’s a natural bunker available for the royal family should Bajul come under attack. I discovered it several years ago.”
    “And that’s when you found the artifacts.”
    “Yes. I have spent many days here exploring the surroundings and modifying the caverns to house occupants. I come here often when I am not on duty.”
    Now it all made sense. “So this is also your own personal hideout.”
    “Perhaps some would view it as such.”
    Including her. She couldn’t help but wonder exactly what he might be hiding from. Granted, he’d claimed to be involved in military intelligence, but she sensed there might be more to the story. “Is this all there is to it?”
    “No. I will show you the rest.”
    And he did, beginning with one room that held several bunks and what appeared to be an adjoining latrine. “This is huge. Do you sleep here?”
    “I have my own private quarters that you will soon see, and you may leave your bag here.”
    She really didn’t see much of anything other than a long, narrow hallway. “Can’t wait,” she said as she set her duffel on the dirt floor by the door.
    They continued on to a stockroom with rows of shelves holding what appeared to be military K-rations. A self-contained, primitive hostel. “I take it you don’t have a refrigerator.”
    He placed the cooler on a table in the corner then faced her again. “No, but since the cave holds steady at fifty-eight degrees, spoilage is not an issue when I have fresh fruit delivered.”
    “All the way out here? That must cost a pretty penny.”
    “Money is not a concern when comfort is involved.”
    Of course it wasn’t. The man probably had a fortune holed up in a wall somewhere. “Did you bring some fruit with you today?”
    “Yes, and some other supplies,” he said as he rejoined her in the corridor. “Should we require more, several outlying villages are not far away.”
    “Since we’re only going to be here today, I’m sure we have enough to get us by.”
    “Perhaps,” he said. “Let us now continue the tour.”
    After they traveled a few more feet, the hallway hit a dead end at another stone wall. Sunny assumed the tour was over, until once again Rayad revealed a keypad much like the one at the entry.
    “What you have seen has been designed solely for security,” he said. “What you will soon see is designed solely for pleasure.”
    He then punched in another code, and the walls parted like that proverbial Red Sea. The view he revealed absolutely stole her breath, but not because the area seemed confining. On the contrary, the place was massive—and mystical. The palace-size cavern, with glistening stones dotting the natural walls, could best be described as a fantastical, natural wonderland. Across the way, stalactites hung from the towering ceiling while stalagmites jutted up from the ground. And in the middle of the Caribbean-blue pool of water, a beam of light shone down from a large circular opening in the cave’s roof.
    A few moments passed before she recovered enough from her amazement to speak. “This is unbelievable. It reminds me of Jeita Grotto in Lebanon.”
    “Yet not