The Hour of the Oryx

by Farah Zaman

  After the midday prayer, Adam picked up the crutches from the clinic and the four of them and the monkey set off for Villa Wadha. Zaid and Zahra were watching television in the sitting room upstairs. Their faces broke into wide smiles when they saw the visitors. Zahra jumped up and kissed Heba on the cheek while Mahmood hugged Zaid. Muk-Muk pranced around the room, chattering up a storm.

  “Thank you for coming,” Zaid said. “It means a lot.”

  Mahmood beamed and Heba said, “How’s the foot?”

  “The swelling went down a bit, but I can’t put too much pressure on it yet.”

  “The crutches will help you get around a little easier.” Adam rested the aluminum contraptions against the wall.

  “Yes, they will come in handy,” Zaid said. “Thank you for bringing them.”

  “Umm Kifah came up earlier to see Zaid,” Zahra said. “It was very nice of her.”

  “She told us some interesting things,” Zaid said, his eyes gleaming.

  “Hold them till I get back,” Adam said. “I’ll just run down and get us some drinks and snacks.”

  He returned with a foil tray loaded with juices, chips and cookies. For Muk-Muk, he placed a bowl of nuts on the floor. The monkey sniffed at the treat eagerly before stuffing several into his mouth, like a kid loading up on candy.

  Adam flopped on the sofa and took a swig of apricot juice. “Alright, tell us what you learned from Umm Kifah.”

  “She told us Ms. Rima used to work at Zuleikha’s, the jewelry store that was robbed.” Zahra’s eyes shone. “She was a designer or something like that.”

  Layla’s mouth opened to a big O. “That’s a scoop indeed. She must have come to work at the orphanage soon after the store closed.”

  “Umm Kifah also told us that Ms. Tubaa was a teacher at the orphanage for years before she became assistant director,” Zaid said. “She hoped to become director but the powers that be appointed Mr. Mazin instead.”

  “No wonder she looks as if she’s always sucking on lemons,” Layla said. “She must hate Mr. Mazin.”

  “He was appointed the year before Uncle Issa and I came,” Heba said. “I heard the previous director was fired because he used to give harsh physical punishments to the students who misbehaved. Ms. Tubaa never spoke out against it. I think that’s why she was passed over as director.”

  “They should have fired her too,” Zahra said indignantly. “It makes me mad to think of children who’ve suffered so much, being whipped on top of everything else.”

  “I think they spared her because of her years of service,” Heba said. “She actually saved the day when that student, Raha, set fire to the vaults. Ms. Tubaa had been dorm mother at the time. After one of the girls told her they smelled smoke, Ms. Tubaa went down to investigate and discovered the fire. If not for her, there would have been a far greater tragedy that night.”

  “It’s hard to see her as a heroine,” Adam said. “But it was a long time ago, so she must have been a different person then.”

  “Umm Kifah said the villagers were informed of the plan to burn down the lake house,” Zaid said. “She told us the last tenant was an ill recluse who had everything delivered to him. After he died, the villagers buried him since no family or friends came forward. He left all his personal possessions to the orphanage, but they only took his books and clothes, leaving the rest of his stuff for the villagers. Whatever they didn’t want is still in the house.”

  “That’s it for our news from Umm Kifah,” Zahra said. “What did you guys do at the orphanage this morning?”

  Layla made a face. “I got stuck in the kitchen again.”

  Adam grinned. “I had the dubious pleasure of sweeping and emptying the wastepaper baskets in the administration’s offices. An opportunity I made full use of. I was able to search the offices we hadn’t searched yet, except for Ms. Tubaa’s. The supervisor came by while I was there, so I had to move on to Mr. Mazin’s office. Then he showed up, so I didn’t get a chance to return to Ms. Tubaa’s office.”

  “Found anything interesting in the ones you searched?” Heba asked.

  “There were horror novels on Mr. Talish’s bookshelf, more keys in Ms. Mahveen’s desk and an interesting discovery in Mr. Rakin’s wastepaper basket.”

  “What kind of interesting discovery?” Zaid asked.

  “It was a crumpled-up clipping of the robbery at Zuleikha’s. The one where Al-Maha confesses to the crime.”

  “Wow, I wonder why he would have that clipping,” Layla said.

  “It screams of a connection between him and Ms. Rima,” Zahra said.

  “Maybe he’s Al-Maha and Ms. Rima was his accomplice,” Layla said. “And they had some falling out, that’s why they’re giving each other the cold-shoulder now.”

  “It’s possible,” Adam said. “Well, we’ve completed the search of all the offices, except for Ms. Tubaa’s.”

  “I’ll see if I can do that one on my own,” Heba said. “Did Danyal settle in okay last night?”

  Adam nodded. “I told him we’ll go back tonight. I guess I’ll go on my own since Zaid is out of commission. I don’t want Danyal to get worried when he doesn’t see us.”

  “I can come with you,” Layla offered.

  “No need,” Adam said. “It will be just a quick visit.”

  Adam wore a hooded sweatshirt and carried a bag of food for Danyal when he left Villa Wadha that night. He sorely missed Zaid’s presence by his side as he set off across the street. The night took on a sinister cast when one walked alone. The full moon conjured up visions of a werewolf with blood trickling from its bared teeth. A bat hanging from one of the sidra trees brought to mind the bloody fangs of a vampire.

  Oh great, all the horror movies I’ve watched in the past are coming back to haunt me now.

  Adam skirted the silent orphanage and jogged next to the lake. The moonlight turned its surface to glistening glass. What if he saw the creature with the red eyes? Or a long arm comes out and pulls him into the lake? Adam quickened his pace, speeding past the long line of trees until he came to the cemetery. Why does a graveyard look so creepy at night?

  He did not slow down until the welcoming lights of the village beckoned to him. He covered the distance to Heba’s house and rang the doorbell three times. Moments later, Danyal opened the door.

  “Salaams,” Adam greeted him as he stepped inside. “How are you doing?”

  “I’m good.” Danyal sounded upbeat. “You came alone?”

  “Yes. Zaid sprained his ankle last night. He’s got to stay off his feet for a few days.”

  “Oh no, that’s terrible. You shouldn’t have come by yourself.”

  “It’s okay, I didn’t want you to get worried. How do you like your new home?”

  “It’s wonderful. I made myself some food and I’ve been reading a lot. There’s a whole roomful of books here.”

  “You’ll be a scholar before you know it,” Adam teased. “You want me to put the food in the fridge?”

  Danyal sniffed appreciatively at the curried chicken. “Yes, please.”

  Adam filled him in on the search in the administration’s offices and the tidbits Umm Kifah had shared. When he was done, he got to his feet. “I have to go now. It’s getting late.”

  “Tell Zaid I wish him a speedy recovery.”

  “I will,” Adam promised, drawing the hood of his sweatshirt over his head.

  He set off at a light jog. The lights from the village grew fainter as the cemetery drew closer. He glanced into the dark graveyard as he passed. A beam of light shone from deep within and a strange humming filled the air. He slowed down to a stop. What in the world was going on there?

  He crept to the head of the driveway and peered in. His heart lurched as a figure separated itself from the shadows. It rushed towards him, a spear-like weapon held high. With a choked cry, Adam
took flight. Footsteps pounded after him. Panic increased his pace until he nearly flew on the path.

  All sorts of nightmarish scenarios flashed across Adam’s mind as he pushed himself to the limit. Afterwards, he would wonder how he had been able to move at such great speed without tripping or losing his balance on the uneven ground. But at that moment, his only thought was to outrun that ghastly apparition chasing him.

  He did not stop until he entered the shelter of the trees at the side of the orphanage. There were no other sounds besides his harsh, gasping breaths. The malefactor who had pursued him must have given up the chase. Leaning against a massive trunk, Adam filled his burning lungs with air and massaged the painful stitch in his side.

  The next moment, he yelled in fright as hands grabbed him around the neck.

  Chapter Twenty-One:

  Mystery at Midnight

  Adam grasped his assailant’s furry arms, trying to wrench them off his neck.

  Furry?

  As realization dawned on him, there was a gibbering in his ear. He sagged in relief. It was Muk-Muk, not the hair-raising specter that had almost scared the living daylights out of him. Prying the monkey’s paws off his neck, Adam gathered the creature in his arms. “You little rascal. How did you get here? Where’s your master?”

  A branch rustled and Mahmood’s small form stepped out from behind a tree. He uttered a surprised sound when he recognized Adam.

  “Hi Mahmood. I just came back from visiting Danyal. I had a horrible fright. Someone chased me from the cemetery. Let’s go inside and I’ll tell you about it. I don’t want him showing up and taking us by surprise.”

  Mahmood made an anxious sound and hurried towards the front door. Adam followed on his heels. Moments later, they were entering the atrium. Moonlight shone through the skylights, casting a pearly glow below while leaving everywhere else in shadows. How in the world could Mahmood find his way in the dark? Through Muk-Muk, of course. Like most animals, the monkey could probably see in darkness.

  Adam and Mahmood sat down on the sofas, while Muk-Muk rested on his haunches on the ground. The monkey’s head moved this way and that, like a guard dog sniffing the air. After Adam told Mahmood of the menacing figure who had chased him, the boy grunted in distress.

  “I’ve got to go now,” Adam said. “The others will be wondering where I am. Go on up to bed now.”

  As Adam was about to head to the front door, Muk-Muk whined in agitation, his eyes staring into the gloom at the back. “What’s the matter, boy? Did you see a mouse or something?”

  The monkey whimpered, his nose quivering. He ran in circles for a few moments before dashing off with an excited screech towards the back. Adam stared after him. What had gotten the little creature so worked up? He blinked as he caught a brief flash of movement. Was someone there or was it just a trick of the shadows? With a distressed grunt, Mahmood took off after his pet. Adam ran after them, curious to know what had attracted the monkey’s attention.

  At the last horizontal corridor, Mahmood turned left and plunged down it. Adam could hardly see a thing. Coming to a stop, he whipped out his cell phone and tapped on the flashlight before running to catch up with Mahmood and the runaway monkey. They had come to a stop outside a thick, wooden door. With a start, Adam realized it must be the entrance to the vaults. Muk-Muk screeched as he scratched at the door.

  “Did someone go down there, little fella? Is that why you’re so excited? Maybe I should take a peek.”

  Mahmood made a frightened sound.

  “Don’t worry, I’ll just open the door and shine the flashlight in.”

  Adam opened the door cautiously and aimed his light at the thick darkness behind it. To his surprise, a ramp stretched down below instead of stairs. It must have been used to wheel down the dead to prepare them for burial. He shivered. Had Muk-Muk seen someone go down there? If not, what had spooked him? The monkey could not be chasing his own shadow. Before Adam could close the door, Muk-Muk darted in and dashed down the ramp.

  “Oh no,” Adam cried, aiming the flashlight down. “Come back here, Muk-Muk!”

  Mahmood grunted in distress and called out, “Muk-Muk, Muk-Muk!” In response, the monkey let out a high-pitched shriek that made Adam’s hair stand on end. With a tortured whimper, Mahmood pushed past Adam and took off down the ramp. Adam had no choice but to follow again. He could not let the boy blunder alone in the darkness below as he searched for his errant pet. I wanted to see the vaults and here I am. I just never thought I’d be seeing them in the middle of the night.

  The ramp sloped gently down and seemed to go on forever. Adam caught up with Mahmood at the bottom. The boy stood still, as if afraid to move forward. Adam held up the flashlight. Before them rose a gray stone vault with a high, concave ceiling. The walls, ceiling and concrete floor were hideously charred and blackened. It must have been from the fire. It was horrible to think of a young girl burning to death down here.

  Had Adam believed that souls lingered behind after death, he would have attributed the creepy atmosphere to that. But his faith taught him that the souls of the dead did not remain on the earthly plane. They exist in barzakh, a stage between this life and resurrection. The evil he sensed down here came from another source.

  “Muk-Muk,” he called out. “Where are you?”

  The monkey gibbered some distance away. Adam moved the flashlight around. There was an archway to their right. “Muk-Muk must have gone through there.”

  They crossed the vault and Adam nearly jumped out of his skin. Two huge figures loomed before them. He felt silly when he realized they were his and Mahmood’s shadows on the wall. His flashlight picked out bits of odds and ends on the ground. Wooden planks, broken bed frames and long pipes. If someone was down here, they either had eyes that could see in the dark - which Adam preferred not to think about - or they knew their way around well.

  The monkey was not in this vault but he still chittered within earshot. Ahead, was another archway that led to a third vault. “The vaults are all connected. It’s like a crypt down here. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a sarcophagus lying in the dark. Aaah!”

  The startled exclamation left Adam’s lips as he clapped eyes on several coffins. His breath hitched. What were they doing here? Then common sense kicked in. If the dead used to be bathed and shrouded here, it was probably convenient to have a supply of coffins on hand. Were they empty? Not that he imagined there would be any bodies within but there might be other interesting things stored inside. And I don’t mean vampires and undead creatures.

  “Mahmood, I want to see what’s in these chests. Let me take a look and then we’ll go find Muk-Muk.”

  Mahmood nodded, his eyes wide as he pressed up close to Adam.

  Adam lifted one of the lids. The light fell upon a white face and dark eyes.

  “Yaaah!” Both he and Mahmood yelled.

  Adam dropped the lid, ready to take flight. Then he realized what lay inside the coffin. “It’s a doll, Mahmood. It must be someone’s sick idea of a joke.”

  Taking a deep breath, he pulled up the lid again and stared at the lifelike doll lying inside. It was a female doll with ivory skin and large black eyes. It looked a little like Ms. Rima. He lifted it out. “See, Mahmood? It’s just a doll.”

  Mahmood nodded, his eyes curious now as he stared at the toy.

  “Back you go inside, Ms. Dolly.” Adam placed the doll facedown. He opened another coffin. It was stuffed with pieces of white cotton. Shroud for the dead. Muk-Muk screeched again. “Alright, let’s go find the little scamp.”

  Behind the archway lay another vault of rough gray stone discolored with age. It was even more pitch-black here. Muk-Muk was not in this vault but they found him in the middle of the next one, whimpering and scratching the ground. Mahmood clicked his tongue and ran over to pick up his pet before the monkey bolted again. Adam moved the flashlight to the bac
k and noticed another archway.

  “There’s a fifth vault back there.” He strode across to take a look.

  It was the same as the others, with bits of odds and ends on the ground. There were no more archways, so this was probably the last vault. As he turned back into the previous vault, the light fell upon the spot where Muk-Muk had been scratching. Adam stared in surprise. A huge circle had been drawn in white chalk on the ground. Six star-shaped figures were centered in the middle and a curving symbol ran around the inner edge. Outside the circle, the star-shaped figures were placed at the four corners.

  “What a strange looking circle. I wonder if it’s a game some students drew here in the past.”

  Mahmood stared at the circle with scared eyes. As Adam studied it, he realized the curving symbol resembled the coiled body of a serpent, with fangs protruding from the head. A cold chill crept down his spine. This was a devilish circle, not a child’s game. With sudden inspiration, he switched his cell phone to camera mode and snapped a picture of it.

  The hairs on the back of Adam’s neck rose as he heard a hissing noise. It sounded like steam escaping from a pressure cooker. The noise increased in volume until it sounded like a fire blazing around them. Over it, a voice whispered, “I am Raha. Help me. Help meeeeeeeee.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two:

  The Solomonic Circle

  Muk-Muk let out a wild screech and bolted the way they had come. Eyes bulging with fright, Mahmood ran after him. Adam shined the flashlight around for a few moments before he too sprinted after them. He felt like a wuss for retreating but he’d had enough of a fright for one night. He did not feel like being a hero for a second time. Tomorrow he would come back and look for the hiding place of the trickster.

  He raced up the ramp, closed the door and continued after Mahmood and Muk-Muk. The monkey did not stop until he came to the atrium. He leaped onto the headrest of a sofa and balanced there, his tail swishing as he whimpered softly. Adam and Mahmood collapsed on the seats, their chest rising and falling as they sucked in air.