by Tod Eten
‘Well my legs could do with a rest’ Demitri said removing his back pack.
‘Sorry Demitri but we can’t stay here’ Aya said apologetically.
‘Why not?’ Gagan asked.
‘This place is used by the local desert tribes I think it is best that we try and keep out of their way there is no telling how they will treat us.’ Aya replied looking around. ‘Let’s get as much water as we can carry and we can make camp a bit further away.’
After collecting the water they set off once more Aya leading the way out across the desert away from the well. By the time they had walked for another hour they were all completely exhausted and though Aya wanted to keep moving she had no option but to let them set up a crude camp of sorts so that they could get some much needed rest. So tired where the group that they were all soon fast asleep in their make shift shelters as the blazing sun rose above the horizon to once more scorch the barren wasteland.
Aiden felt someone kicking his feet and he woke with a start to see a figure pointing a gun at his head. Aiden fully awake now saw that the figure wore desert camouflaged army fatigues and his face was completely covered with an Arab head dress with only his eyes remaining visible. The figure indicated with his gun for Aiden to get out of the tent which he did quickly as ordered. It took a moment for Aiden to adjust his eyes to the glare of the sun but when he did he could see that his friends were all huddled together nearby, the soldier using his gun prodded Aiden towards the group. Looking around Aiden could see that there were at least ten more soldiers who stood in a wide circle around the group each with a gun in their hand.
‘What do they want?’ Seth was asking as Aiden joined the group.
‘Hopefully nothing’ Aya said.
‘Do you think they are dangerous?’ Faith said holding Caleb close.
‘Out here there are no laws, but the people who live here are usually honourable’ Aya said.
The same soldier that had woken Aiden now had a discussion with one of the other men in what Aiden assumed was Arabic. He now also noticed that there were a number of old jeeps that were parked some distance away.
‘I thought that they would be riding camels or something’ Aiden said quietly pointing at the jeeps.
‘They normally do’ Aya answered.
‘Then why have they got jeeps’ Aiden said looking at the old vehicles.
‘And why are they wearing desert camouflage’ Seth pointed out.
‘I think’ Aya said ‘it’s because they are not local nomads.’
‘Is that good or bad?’ Demetri whispered but Aya did not answer.
The soldier who had woken Aiden now walked over to the group.
‘You what you are doing here?’ the soldier ordered in broken English. ‘You’ he said pointing at Aiden ‘speak.’
’We are on holiday’ Aiden said after a pause.
‘Holiday!’ The soldier repeated incredulously.
‘We got lost’ Aiden said trying to sound as believable as possible ‘and our minibus broke down, back there’ Aiden pointed to the horizon.
The soldier looked at Aiden and the others for some time, ‘what you are doing here, I will ask you one time more only’ the Nomad said levelling his gun at Aiden.
‘We are archaeologists, we are looking for ancient ruins’ Gagan said coming forward.
The soldier casually turned his rifle around and smashed the butt into Gagans face sending him sprawling on the ground. Skyla screamed in fear and the others shouted in anger as Hoshi quickly bent down to comfort Gagan.
The soldiers as one all raised their guns pointing them at the group.
‘I did not say for him to speak!’ the soldier said looking squarely at Aiden ‘Now you tell me what you are doing here?’
‘It is as he says’ Aiden indicated the now groaning Gagan. ‘We are looking for old ruins, ancient cities that is why we are out here but our transport broke down.’
The Nomad considered Aiden once more and glanced at children whimpering in fear. He then turned to the Nomad he had first spoken to who then quickly picked up Aidens bow that was lying on the ground behind him and handed it to his leader.
‘Why you have weapons?’ The soldier said with an edge to his voice.
‘We, we found those at one of the ruins’ Aiden said desperately, ‘they are artefacts not weapons, they are from a very old civilization.’
The soldier looked at Aiden’s bow carefully turning it over in his hands ‘So you are here to steal the treasures of this land’ the leader said and not waiting for an answer barked out a set of orders in Arabic to the others.
‘Get your things you come with us’ The leader told them.
Quickly gathering their belongings the group were herded at gun point towards the jeeps and were then driven off through the desert. After a drive lasting fifteen minutes an old long forgotten medieval castle its walls crumbling with age came into view. The jeeps drove through castle gates and into its courtyard beyond that had camouflage netting strung across it acting as a roof. The realisation slowly dawned on Aiden that these people could be some kind of Islamic Extremists. If that were the case their situation had just got a whole lot worse. Once out of the jeeps the group was roughly pushed into a large room just off the courtyard and a thick wooden door was shut and locked behind them. Quickly everyone gathered around Gagan who was still groggy from the blow he had received. Hoshi who had taken charge of him made him as comfortable as she could on the floor of the room.
‘Is he Ok’ Demitri asked concerned as Aya inspected him.
‘Nothing broken just badly bruised’ Aya said after a pause, ‘he will be fine he just needs some rest’.
‘Who the hell are these people’ Bridget demanded angrily.
Aiden thought better of voicing his fears about who he thought they were but could see from the worried looks on some of his friends faces that they already had the same idea as he did.
‘It will be OK as soon as they see we are just ordinary people I am sure they will leave us alone’ Aiden lied.
‘Yes I agree Aiden’ Aya said following his lead, ‘Now I think it best if we all make ourselves comfortable and get some rest.’
They waited in the stifling heat of the room for the rest of the day saying little all wondering what would happen next. Finally as evening approached the door to the room opened and the soldier who had hit Gagan entered with two armed guards behind him.
‘Get up’ he barked at them and indicated for them to follow him, which they duly did with the two armed guards taking up the rear. He led them back across the courtyard that now contained more men all dressed in the same desert camouflage gear as him. He lead them up some stairs and down a long corridor eventually letting them into a large sparsely furnished room which contained a large table on which was scattered the groups entire possessions.
‘Welcome’ another Arab man said turning to face them from the window. He was a slim built man with a narrow hawk like face with a full beard. ’It is not often that we have visitors here. Jamal here says that you are holiday makers’ the man said walking round the table and inspecting each one of the group. He paused when he saw Gagan whose face was swollen from the blow he had received earlier. ‘I am sorry for your little mishap, but Jamal he can be a bit head strong. It would be well if you were all to remember this!’ The man went back around the table and started casually picking up and inspecting various items.
Aiden could not help thinking that he had seen this man before as absurd as it seemed.
‘Yes we get very few visitors here’ the man repeated. ‘We get even fewer holiday makers! There are so few attractions for them in these parts! So tell me please, what is the real reason that you are here? ’ he pointed at Aiden when the rest of the group automatically looked to him.
‘We were looking for old ruins’ Aiden answered ‘but our minibus broke down and we became lost’
‘Is that truly so, then you are most fortunate to be alive in that case. It is great luck t
hat we should find and rescue you yes!’ the man smiled. ‘Old ruins you say this is a strange hobby I am thinking.’
‘We are very interested in ancient civilisations and were on a special expedition to find more information about them in this area’ Aya said.
‘It seems that you have had some success’ the man said picking up a sword from the table and looking at it. ‘but I have never seen a thing like this before what metal is this?’
‘We don’t know’ Aya replied.
‘And what great civilisation do you suppose created these weapons’ He indicated the other weapons on the table.
‘Again we do not know, but we think they may be connected with the Sumerians’ Aya lied.
‘The Sumerians ah yes they were very old’ the man nodded,’ and tell me how does your search for Eden go? Have you discovered where it is as yet, it is Miss Smith if I remember correctly’ the man continued enjoying the shocked looks that passed through the group.
‘How do you know who I am?’ Aya asked regaining her composure.
‘I was at one of your meetings Miss Smith, in London’ he answered and Aiden suddenly remembered who the man was, he had been the one who had sat at the back of the hall the night Aiden had been at the meeting.
‘It was a very interesting meeting. My name is Hanif by the way’ he nodded putting the sword back down on the table. ‘Yes an interesting meeting somewhat strange but your theories on Eden I found to be stimulating. So tell me Miss Smith you must believe that this Eden actually exists. Tell what kind of place is it? How does it offer, what was that word you said, sanctuary, yes that is the word. So how does this place offer sanctuary?’
‘We don’t know except for the description in the bible which says it is a hidden valley that Adam and Eve first lived in.’ Aya answered without hesitation.
‘Yes this I already know but you have no other information than this?’ Hanif asked now regarding Aya intently.
‘No’ Aya answered.
‘Well it seems that maybe I know a bit more than you on this subject then! You see I read an old Islamic text many years ago about Eden and it said that Eden was where the locked door of salvation waited.’ Hanif explained.
‘That is fascinating, what text was this? Where did you find it?’ Aya said sounding genuinely excited making Aiden wonder if she was still acting or not.
‘It is not important’ Hanif said waving her questions away. ‘Let us just say I read this, but what I would like to know is whose salvation is this door for and where exactly does it lead! But you say you know nothing of this?’ Hanif carefully regarded Aya once more.
‘No it is the first time I have heard of it’ Aya confirmed.
Hanif looked at her for a moment more then nodded his head.
‘But this is no problem we can find out together what this means when you take me to this place, yes Miss Smith’ Hanif smiled.
‘But I do not know where this place is!’ Aya lied.
Just then Jamal spoke hurriedly to Hanif in Arabic and Hanif replied back curtly clearly stopping any further conversation.
‘Please excuse my brother Jamal he feels that this business about Eden is how you say, pointless, just children’s stories. But you and me we know better don’t we Miss Smith! We know that there may be some truth in these strange things. We know that it is just possible that there is a powerful secret that is hidden which could be very important in the days ahead!’ Hanif looked at each of the travellers in front of him then back to Aya. ‘So Miss Smith please tell me where is this Eden located?’ Hanif demanded the smile on his face anything but friendly.
‘I don’t know, we think it is somewhere in this area that is all we know’ Aya lied again.
‘Come come Miss Smith you take a group of people including children and the old, at a time when the world is in chaos and you take them to where it is most dangerous and for what? An expedition to try and find a mythical place! Please do not play games with me Miss Smith you know very well where this Eden is otherwise you and your friends here would never have made such a dangerous journey’ Hanif paused and looked at them. ‘So I ask you again where this is Eden?’ Hanif smiled once more however the threat in that smile was all too obvious.
‘I told you we are not certain, it is in this area that is all I know’ Aya answered meeting Hanif’s gaze.
‘Well maybe a few more days in our cells will help you remember. I fear it will be most hard on the children and the old you have in your group. ’ Hanif said with a sigh dismissing them.
‘Well how about that for a coincidence meeting that guy all the way out here!’ Seth exclaimed when they were once more locked back in their cell only to be silenced by Demitri who pointed to the door and the small barred window. Seth immediately understood what Demitri meant and nodded his head not saying another word. Aya once more muttered some strange words and her fingers making strange signs in the air and the group felt the same pressure suddenly build in their ears as they had done in the passage under the mountain.
‘We can talk now they won’t be able to hear us’ Aya said.
‘Seth is right what are the chances of meeting that guy out here in the desert!’ Aaron rumbled.
‘Yes I think it is more than luck that has made our paths cross’ Aya agreed. ‘So now we have a very big problem’
‘These bars look like they could be taken out’ Demitri said looking at the window.
‘Yes but only the children will be able to get through there’ Elden shook his head.
‘Someone is coming’ Seth who had been listening by the door said urgently.
They all quickly sat back down on the floor and tried to look as innocent as possible. As Seth had warned a moment later the door was unlocked and some guards entered carrying some food and water which they placed on the floor of the room the guards then left without a word.
‘Do you think we are in danger?’ Bridget asked when the guards had gone.
‘If they are terrorists’ Seth said worried.
‘Are they terrorists, maybe they are the army?’ Aaron now said hopefully.
‘Well they are military that is for sure, but they do not have any ranks' Demitri said grimly.
‘So you think they are terrorists’ Hoshi said numbly.
‘And we have seen their faces’ Demitri said plainly worried.
‘What are we going to do?’ Faith whispered fearfully, ‘Aya you brought us here you have to get us out, what about Caleb Aya!’ Faith started crying as Bridget gave her a hug to calm her down.
‘There is something I can do, but I do not really want to do it’ Aya said with a sigh.
‘What is that?’ Seth asked.
‘I can call to the Jinni’ Aya said uneasily, ‘there are lots of them around here and when they all come they will attack and kill any living thing that they find’
‘I can see a problem with that plan’ Gagan mumbled through swollen lips.
‘I have already placed a charm on us so that the Jinni will not see us so we will be safe’ Aya said looking at them all. ‘But this thing that I do will cause a horrible death for all the humans here in this building and anyone nearby, it is really not something that I wish to do!’
‘Aya you heard Demitri, these people are terrorists and they will have no hesitation in killing us. Especially as we have now seen their faces! I really don’t think there is any other option’ Aiden said gently squeezing her shoulder.
‘Yes I guess you are right’ Aya sighed, ‘I will wait till it gets dark we will have a better chance of escaping then’.
They made themselves as comfortable as they could and waited for night to fall. Aya remained on her own greatly troubled by what she must do.
‘Something is happening’ Seth said from his position by the door as the sound of engines being started up came from the courtyard. Seth put his eye to a small crack that he had found in the door. ‘Some of them are leaving’ Seth said giving a running commentary, ‘it’s that guy, the commander we saw, he’s
leaving with about twenty others.’
‘Well that has blown it my friends’ Demitri said.
‘Why is that?’ Bridget asked.
‘Well we can’t go anywhere not with them somewhere out there’ Demitri replied pointing his thumb out of the window.
‘Well we can’t stay here either’ Faith said hotly.
‘’Faith is right who knows what they will do to us, we have to go now’ Bridget agreed.
‘But if we run into that Hanif and his men out there we will be as they say sitting ducks’ Demitri protested.
‘There is an old truck out there’ Seth said his eye still to the door ’we can take that, we should be long gone by the time they come back’
‘Will the truck work? Our minibus stopped working remember’ Gagan pointed out.
‘Well their jeeps are still working’ Seth replied.
‘Yes why is that? I thought that all our technology would stop’ Bridget said.
‘Well those jeeps are old, maybe it’s something to do with that’ Aiden guessed.
‘Yes it could be that, newer vehicles all use computer chips in their engines maybe it is this that stops working’ Gagan mumbled.
‘You could be right there’ Elden agreed our minibus had lots of electronics in its engine.’
‘And that truck out there looks as old as the jeeps’ Seth grinned.
They listened as the jeeps drove out from the courtyard and disappeared out into the night the silence of the desert soon returning. The group now waited in silence, nervously looking at Aya as she sat brooding in the corner of the room.
‘I will do it now’ Aya said after a while, ‘at least it means fewer people will be killed. Come everyone gather round me.’ Aya ordered making them form a circle in the centre of the room. ‘You will all feel like your skin is growing hot but do not worry this is just part of the charm and it is nothing to worry about, Skyla and Caleb do you understand?’ Aya said looking at the children who nodded their heads. ‘Now what will happen when the Jinni come will not be nice you will hear and see the most dreadful things but nothing will harm you.’ Aya looked around the group, ‘Are you all ready?’ when she received no objections Aya started another incantation in that strange language she used when casting spells. All of them as Aya had warned started to feel their skin grow hot as if they were standing under the desert sun. Then Aya said some more strange words her fingers drawing strange figures in the air. After she had finished doing this a moment or two passed. Then they all began to hear a faint noise like the whispering of the wind which slowly grew louder and louder until it sounded like the dull roar of a gale which lasted for a few minutes then suddenly stopped. The travellers stood like statues listening to the camp around them which now seemed unnaturally quiet, like the calm before a storm. There was then another sound, a soft high pitched whistle. Then a second whistling sound, then a third. Soon it seemed that there were hundreds of these whistles all around them. And then the screaming started. Aiden had never heard anything like it before in his life and hoped he never would again. From their agonised screams it sounded like the men outside were receiving some unimaginable torture. Then they heard gunfire and shouts of alarm but this too was soon drowned out by the screams of yet more men. Just then what looked like a small whirlwind of yellow flames entered their cell by passing through a wall. Instinctively the group bunched closer together as the Jinni went around their cell. Thankfully it completely ignored them finally disappearing out of the room through another wall.