The fire of Asshurbanipal

In the blistering sands of a forgotten desert, an unlikely partnership forms between Yar Ali, a fierce Afghan rifleman, and Steve Clarney, a lean American scout. After a desperate skirmish with a band of white‑robed horsemen, the two men find themselves stranded with dwindling water and ammunition, their survival hinged on a whispered legend. The story that drives them forward is the myth of the Fire of Asshurbanipal—a flaming gem said to rest upon a skeletal throne in a silent, black‑stone city.

Guided by rumors from a dying caravan guard, they set out on a perilous trek across Persia and Turkestan, chasing a treasure that promises riches and perhaps redemption. Howard’s prose thrusts listeners into relentless gunfights, scorching heat, and the eerie allure of ancient curses. As the desert opens its secrets, the duo must balance their greed with the ever‑present danger of the unforgiving landscape.