She could hear the dull thud of their paws as they raced across the cave towards her, heard the sharp patter of stones dislodged, the low whine and the panting of the dogs as they drew closer. And then she was on her knees beside Zahra, shielding her, covering her, determined to protect her even if it meant the flesh was torn from her bones.
She braced herself for the feel of hot breath on her neck and then pain, but the growling intensified and Isis and Horus sprang in front of them. And then there was nothing but the most terrifying snarling as the dogs clashed, swirling together in the darkness in some macabre dance that sent dust and fur flying.
‘Isis!’
Horrified, Zahra tried to go to them, but Layla held her tightly, wondering helplessly how two dogs could possibly be a match against four. And even if she’d wanted to help she couldn’t, because the dogs were wild as they fought each other and she couldn’t make out Isis and Horus from Hassan’s beasts. The best she could do was take advantage of the distraction.
‘Is there another way out of these caves?’ She spoke the words urgently but the little girl shook her head.
‘Not without ropes.’
It wasn’t the news Layla wanted, but just as she was about to carry Zahra deeper into the caves there was the sound of vehicles approaching at speed. The next moment the whole cavern was filled with light and there were shouts and something that sounded like gunfire.
Layla flattened Zahra down on the ground.
The snarling became a whimper.
And then she heard the harsh tones of Raz’s voice and knew that the guns and the lights belonged to his security team. Almost melting with relief that she was no longer alone, she snuggled Zahra close, afraid to move until she was sure it was safe.
All around them was pandemonium. Layla kept low, knowing that the best thing she could do was not make the situation more dangerous by moving around.
‘Layla? Layla!’ His voice was raw and desperate, the emotion painful to hear, and she knew she had to reassure him.
‘It’s fine,’ she called out. ‘She’s safe. She’s here with me. They haven’t touched her.’
Before she could stop her Zahra wriggled out from under her and started to run towards her father, but then she stopped dead.
‘Isis? Isis!’
Layla saw that the dog was lying still, her blonde fur coated in blood, while Horus stood guard over her body, a sombre sentinel.
‘Oh, no—’ Layla ran towards Zahra but the little girl was already on her knees beside the dog, sobs tearing through her chest as she tried to cuddle her.
‘Don’t die, Isis. Daddy, don’t let Isis die. Please do something.’ She scooped the dog’s head onto her lap, stroking, rocking, making a terrible keening sound.
Her distress was so painful to witness Layla felt tears on her own cheeks. She reached the child at the same time as Raz.
‘Let me look at her.’
His voice was calm and steady, but Layla noticed that his fingers shook slightly as he gently examined the dog. He snapped a command over his shoulder and someone appeared with a flashlight so that he could take a closer look.
‘She’s been bitten. We need to stop this bleeding.’
‘Here—’ Layla ripped off the cord that was holding her robe together and dropped to her knees beside him. ‘Make a tourniquet. That should do until we can get her back home.’
Her hands were over his and together they tied it firmly and then tightened it. It was the first time she’d touched a dog voluntarily, but she didn’t even think about it until she felt something cold and damp nudge her palm and saw Horus standing next to her, looking at her with anxious eyes.
‘Good boy.’ Layla hesitated and then reached out and stroked his head. ‘She’s going to be all right.’
‘No, she isn’t. They saved us from that bad man,’ Zahra sobbed, ‘and now Isis is going to die.’
‘She is not going to die.’ Delivering a series of orders, Raz rose to his feet in a fluid movement and peeled his daughter away from her beloved pet. ‘But we have to get her help, habibti. We have to get her home right now. And you need to come home, too. You need to be brave and put your trust in others.’
Zahra clung to him, her little body shuddering with sobs, and Layla rubbed the tears from her own cheeks so that she could help as Raz’s men gently lifted Isis and took her limp body to the nearest vehicle, accompanied by a worried Horus who refused to leave her side.
Layla turned to Raz. ‘Where is Hassan?’