The Moon of Masarrah

by Farah Zaman

  “Only one more hour to go,” one of them remarked as he looked at his cell phone, “and then we won’t have to come back to this hole until next week.”

  A hawk-nosed man came into view and Zaid was startled to see that it was Talal Ambreen, the man who had chased them away from the wharf yesterday. It was clear to Zaid that they had discovered the secret lair of the pirates and that the Ambreens were indeed part of the ring. Piles and piles of boxes and crates were stacked all around the cavern with hardly any room to spare. They had to be cargo plundered from the ships in the Bayan Strait.

  Zahra gave a startled cry as she felt something crawling up her leg. Frantically, she shook her limb, trying to dislodge the creature. Unfortunately, her cry of distress coincided with a brief lull in the conversation below. Some of the men’s heads shot up as they stared around them.

  “What was that?” one of them asked.

  “Sounded like a scream to me,” another one replied. “Coming from up there,” he inclined his head in the direction of the gallery.

  “Then go see what it is,” Talal ordered sharply. “What are you waiting for?”

  “Probably one of those fool birds came through the hidden entrance in the cliffs again,” the man said in apparent disgust. “Just last week we found one of them here.” Nevertheless, he started towards the gallery, apparently afraid to disobey Talal.

  “Let’s go,” Zaid’s heart hammered in his chest, terrified that they might be caught. He realized that if the man came and shone his flashlight down the tunnel, they would certainly be seen.

  Frantically, they sped down the tunnel as fast as the uneven ground and Hassan’s short legs would allow, Zaid holding on tightly to the ball of string in the rear. Soon they came to the tunnel marked by the large white X.

  “In here,” Zaid panted, and they veered into the tunnel, which curved slightly to the left, blocking them from sight. They came to a halt, Zahra and Hassan clutching nervously at Zaid as they all huddled together.

  The man who had climbed the stairs to the gallery shone his flashlight down the tunnel for a couple of seconds. Zaid tensed, wondering if he would notice the thin string leading into their tunnel. To his relief, he heard the man calling out to the others below, “I don’t see anything. Like I said, it must have been one of those dumb birds again. It’s probably hiding in a dark corner waiting to pounce on someone. If I catch it, I’ll wring its silly neck.”

  After the sound of his footsteps faded away, Zaid and Zahra turned on their flashlights in the tunnel where they had sought refuge.

  Hassan whimpered and clutched at Zaid’s hand. “Wh...what’s that?” he asked shakily, pointing to the ground. Zaid swung his flashlight to where the little boy pointed and almost jumped out of his skin.

  “Oh…oh…,” Zahra clapped a hand to her mouth as she almost screamed again.

  They were staring in the face of a grinning, crumbling skeleton!

  Chapter Twenty-One:

  In Bayan Woods

  “Yaah,” Zaid exclaimed involuntarily as he stared at the gruesome sight. “Let’s get out of here.”

  Wanting to put as much distance between themselves and their grisly discovery, they raced unsteadily out of the tunnel and back to the first one, fear and revulsion lending wings to their feet. Gradually, they slowed to a more sedate pace and at last, they entered the large chamber where they found the others waiting anxiously.

  “There you are,” Adam said in relief. “We were beginning to get worried.”

  “We saw a ghost,” Hassan blurted out.

  “A ghost?” Hakeem said in awe.

  “Nonsense,” Layla said. “There’s no such things as ghosts.”

  “It was a skeleton,” Zaid said, as he began to wind his string back onto the ball. “It was old and crumbly, so it must have been there for a long time. You wouldn’t believe what else we found.” He gave a quick account of their discovery of the men in the cavern and how they had ended up seeking refuge in the tunnel marked by the white X.

  “Imagine stumbling upon the lair of the pirates,” Adam said exultantly. “Those boats coming into the cove must be bringing the stolen booty to that cavern. Well, their swashbuckling days are numbered now.”

  “You guys certainly had an exciting time,” Layla said a bit enviously. “We stumbled upon the family’s graveyard at the back of the grounds. It was quite a shock.”

  After they returned upstairs, Adam came to Zaid’s room and said, “I’d really like to find that hidden entrance in the cliffs and take a look at the cavern the pirates are using. We’ve got to do it soon and let the TCBI know, before the pirates attack another ship.”

  “Why don’t we go early in the morning,” Zaid suggested. “The tide won’t be in yet, so we should have enough time to check the cliffs.”

  “Okay,” Adam nodded. Looking troubled, he added, “I hope the TCBI don’t think that Grandpa is involved. The Ambreens have some nerve carrying on their pirate operation right under his nose. They’ve probably known about these tunnels back in the days when they owned the house. No wonder Faruq Ambreen wants to buy it back.”

  “Don’t worry,” Zaid said reassuringly. “The TCBI will soon find out who the real culprits are.”

  After the dawn prayer the next morning, Adam and Zaid crept furtively down to the twins’ room, wearing bathing trunks and T-shirts under their clothes and carrying the backpack which held their previous supplies as well as two small towels and a change of clothing. In the storeroom, they had also found several bundles of rope tucked into a chest, courtesy of Mr. Horani’s days as a sailor. Two thin but sturdy coils were now stuffed inside the backpack. In the twins’ room, Hassan and Hakeem were sprawled on their beds, their mouths open as they let out a cacophony of gentle snores.

  “Look at them,” Adam grinned. “They must be causing chaos in Dreamland.”

  “We should probably let the girls know where we’re going,” Zaid suggested.

  “No, I don’t think it’s necessary,” Adam dismissed the idea, which he would have much cause to regret later. “We’ll probably be back before they’re even awake.”

  As one of the twins stirred and turned over on the bed, Zaid whispered, “We’d better go before the boys wake up.”

  Lowering themselves into the closet, the youths descended the stairwell. In the large chamber, Adam took up one of the balls of string before he and Zaid headed straight into the tunnel that led to the cove. At the end of the tunnel, they stripped down to their T-shirts and bathing trunks before prying open the door and peering out. Cool streams of air mixed with fine spray from the bay rushed at their faces and Zaid shivered as the mist touched upon his heated skin. As they stepped out onto the rocky ledge, the sun was just rising on the horizon, spreading in an ever-widening arc across the bay and hurting their eyes with its intensity. The roar of the waves dashing against the cliffs was also more pronounced, sounding like thunder to their ears.

  Throwing the two coils of rope onto the beach, the boys cautiously descended the rocky bluffs until their feet touched sand below. Taking up a coil of rope each, they picked their way across the rock-strewn beach bared by the receding tide. Pretty little shells were half-buried in the sand while the huge boulder which Mir had sat down on to have his picnic, looked remarkably like a squatting beast. The towering walls of cliffs surrounding them took Zaid’s breath away with their sheer massiveness.

  “I’ll take the cliffs on the right and you take the left,” Zaid suggested to Adam.

  “Okay,” Adam nodded. “Remember, we’re looking for some sort of opening that a small boat can go through.”

  “Got it,” Zaid said. “Now for the ropes. We can tie it to that boulder,” he pointed to the squatting beast boulder.

  The youths unraveled their coils of rope until they lay in great bundles at their feet. Then they fastened each one tightly around the boulder before wa
lking to the water’s edge, the coils of unfolding ropes wriggling like snakes behind them. After knotting the end of the ropes around their waists, they entered the water. At first it felt cold on their exposed limbs, but as they went deeper it started to feel warmer.

  Zaid began examining his side of the cliffs, which was riddled with jagged crevices and wicked edges. As he probed and prodded within hand reach, he advanced more and more into the water until he was up to his knees. As they gradually became immersed up to their chests, the youths broke out into strong strokes, the currents buffeting their bodies every which way. Zaid was glad that they had decided to use the ropes and had not been foolhardy enough to take their chances against the unpredictable undercurrents. The reassuring pressure of the rope around his waist gave him confidence and he and Adam devoted the next half hour to making a thorough search of the imposing rock face.

  If they had thought that finding the hidden entrance was going to be easy, they were doomed to disappointment. There was simply nothing to be seen and they were filled with dismay after setting out with such high hopes.

  “It’s no use looking anymore,” Adam said, treading water next to Zaid. “We can’t find it. That’s why it’s such a great hideaway for the pirates.”

  “Well, let’s get out of here and head for the cavern,” Zaid said.

  They soon found that swimming against the currents was as dangerous as it was reputed to be. The water swirled and eddied around them, battering forcefully at their bodies and shoving them out towards the open bay. As Zaid clutched at his rope and began to reel himself in, he felt thankful again that they had had the foresight to come prepared or they would have been in dire straits.

  After drying themselves and changing their clothes, they headed back to the large chamber, and took the tunnel leading to the cavern. They soon approached the entrance marked with the large X.

  Zaid pointed his flashlight to it and said, “We saw the skeleton in there. I don’t know where that tunnel leads to. We can explore it some other time.”

  “Absolutely,” Adam agreed. “I’m really curious why it has that mark.”

  When they came to the gallery, they descended the three shallow steps to the cavern below.

  “They must have used a generator last night,” Zaid’s flashlight illuminated the boxes and crates stacked in high piles around them. “It was brightly lit.”

  “Yes, this is definitely a hideaway for storing the stuff they steal from the ships,” Adam’s flashlight picked out several long, wooden tables covered with ropes, packing materials and shipping tape. There was a whole section of boxes packed and ready for shipping. They also noticed several dolleys and utility carts for moving the boxes around. To the far left, was a wooden rectangular platform. It was suspended from above by thin steel cables connected to wheels and axles.

  “That looks like a pulley,” Adam said. “They probably use it to lift stuff up.”

  As they neared the back of the cavern, they heard a lap-lapping sound.

  “It sounds like someone paddling a boat,” Zaid whispered.

  Quickly, the boys turned off their flashlights and stood stock still. But the lap-lapping sound continued without any change of cadence and they gradually relaxed their guard.

  “Let’s go see what’s making that sound,” Adam turned his flashlight back on.

  Doing the same, Zaid followed his friend to the very back of the cavern until they came to a pair of wide double doors. Pushing open the door, they emerged onto a platform with iron railings like the gallery. As their flashlights glistened on water, they realized that they were standing on a small, underground dock. The lap-lapping sound was water splashing against it.

  “The boats come through the hidden entrance to this dock,” Zaid said excitedly. “It’s fantastic.” The youths stood for a minute, listening to the desolate murmur of the waves before returning to the cavern.

  Adam said, “If the pulley is used to lift stuff out of the cavern, there must be an exit nearby. Let’s see if we can find it.”

  Sure enough, at the very back of the pulley, they found a narrow stairway.

  Almost tripping on the string, Adam said to Zaid, “Let’s cut the string and leave it here.” Zaid hammered a nail at the side of the stairway, while Adam cut the string and twined the end to the nail. Stowing the remaining ball into his pocket, he said, “I’ll take the string along just in case we need it again.”

  Climbing to the top of the stairway, they saw the now familiar trapdoor. Pushing it upwards, it gave way smoothly and they stepped out into a small enclosure, surrounded by tall, wild looking trees that almost blocked out the sunlight.

  “We’re in Bayan Woods,” Adam said as he swiveled his head around.

  “It does look sort of wild and scary,” Zaid said, a slight shiver coursing down his back as he eyed the massive tree trunks and thick undergrowth around them. “No wonder the tunnels are such a great hideout for the pirates. No one would discover these hidden entrances.”

  “The pirates were probably the ones who spread those tales about jinns and vampire bats to keep people away,” Adam said. “Well, let’s take a look around before we return.”

  From the enclosure, they followed a rough path almost hidden among the trees. They came to a stop in a large oval clearing, with tent-like pegs poking up from the ground all around.

  “Those pegs glow in the dark,” Adam said. “I’ve seen them at an airstrip. The pirates must be using this place as an airstrip. A small helicopter can easily land and take off from here.”

  High above their heads, they spied one of the turrets of Bayan House.

  “Look, we can see straight up to the western turret,” Zaid marveled. “Remember that day I saw something move in the woods? It must have been someone standing here on the path. Well, I think we have enough evidence against the Ambreens. We should return and let Grandpa know so he can tell the TCBI.”

  “Yes,” Adam agreed. “They only have to look at all those boxes and crates in the cavern to know we speak the truth. I hope Grandpa won’t be too mad that we didn’t tell him right away.”

  The boys retraced their steps to the rough pathway. As they neared the trees, a figure dashed out without warning and ran full tilt into them. They all fell like ninepins knocked to the ground, flailing around in an awkward tangle of arms and legs. After righting themselves, the youths stared flabbergasted at the figure beside them. It was Mir. He stared at them with incredulous eyes.

  “You,” he gasped. “What are you doing here?”

  “Run,” Adam urged as both boys struggled to their feet. “Run before he gets us.” Desperately, the two friends darted in the direction of the trapdoor and ran smack-dab into two hulking brutes who stood across their path.

  “What have we got here?” the first man growled as he grabbed hold of Adam.

  “Two nosy boys,” the second man crowed, holding Zaid’s arm in a vise-like grip. “Good thing the boss had that alarm installed. Otherwise we’d never have caught these pesky kids.”

  “Let us go,” Adam panted as he and Zaid began kicking at the men and yelling for all they were worth. A sharp fist thudded into the back of Adam’s neck and he went down like a sack of potatoes. Mir entered the melee just before a hammer blow landed on Zaid’s temple and he too collapsed on the ground, stars dancing before his eyes.

  Zaid regained consciousness gradually. His temple ached horribly, and he groaned painfully, still seeing stars, albeit tinier ones. In a rush, he recalled what had happened. Those men have taken us prisoners, he thought as he peered into the unfamiliar darkness around him. There were two shapes lying next to him and he knew one of them had to be Adam. From the sensation of floating and the sound of paddling, he knew they must be on a raft.

  His upper arms and torso had been bound with a rope and he felt a similar bond around his ankles. As his eyes became accustomed to the gloom,
he saw that the raft was being paddled by the two men who had jumped them. They carried flashlights pointed straight ahead. Zaid’s eyes widened in sudden realization. We’re paddling down the hidden passage, he thought. He could make out the walls on either side and smell the fetid stench of musty water.

  What was more shocking though, was lying next to him and Adam, also bound, gagged, and trussed up like a baked chicken, was Mir.

  Mir’s eyes were open, and he was looking at them. “Wrruuuuggh,” he said. “Srruarrggh.”

  “What did you say?” Adam asked, but it really sounded like, “Whaaadiaaay.”

  Mir’s muffled words had a questioning ring as he spoke again. “Waahgaahdaah?”

  “It’s no good,” Zaid said. His own words sounded like “Oohnoohgooh.”

  “Naaamaah,” Mir shook his head and lapsed into silence.

  Zaid was still in shock that Mir had been captured along with them. They had thought for sure that the other man was in league with the pirates. Obviously, his capture meant that he was not. Well, we’re all in a pretty pickle right now, he thought. I wonder where the men are taking us? And more importantly, what they plan to do with us?

  All of a sudden, the raft came to a stop and they saw a high wall of roughly-hewn rock before them. They watched in amazement as one of the men leaned over and pulled a lever on the wall. The rock face in front of them started to slide slowly to the side. The hidden entrance, Zaid thought. It only opens from the inside. The rock wall finally stopped moving and the raft glided smoothly out of the opening. They were now in Bayan Cove.

  Paddling the raft until it was grounded on the beach, the men roughly hauled out their prisoners one by one and dragged them over to the boulder which had been the boys’ lifeline that morning. With a long, thick length of rope, they strapped the prisoners side by side with their backs against the boulder and their faces towards the water. Hurrying back to the raft, they returned into the hidden passage. A minute later, the rock wall slid back into place once again.