laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

William sat down by the fire and began his story. "My wife was taken captive by pirates, along with several dozen other women and children. I and fiftteen others followed by ship. We docked at the port city." William paused and took a sip of what appeared to be tea from the cup Abdul handed him." We soon found the ship and discovered that our people had been sold four days earlier. After putting the pirate crew to the sword, we set off." Abdul said nothing as Wlliam spoke, but his face showed the pain he felt as William continued.

"We pursued the slavers through the desert and caught up with them three weeks later. Although outnumbered four to one, we knew  Arhus was with us. After a short but vicious fight, we were victorious, suffering only three dead and three wounded. 

"I found that ten of the captives were missing; five were lost at sea and five had been sold two days before we arrived." William paused. His voice broke when he continued, "Among the five sold was my wife." William paused again. "I ordered my men to return to the port city with the rescued survivors and take them home."

"I remained behind to find the others; I would have stayed even if my wife was not among the five," William added with a hint of defensiveness in his voice.

Abdul spoke softly, "I am sure you would have."

As I continued my journey alone, the horse on which I was riding took a mis-step and stumbled, throwing me. I was not injured but my horse did not fare as well.   

Vowing to find my wife, I continued on foot. Three weeks later I crested a sand dune. it was just an hour or so after sun up. I observed an oasis in the distance."  William took  a deep breath. Seeing the water, I was thinking about refreshment and a place to rest from the searing heat. My joy turned to horror. As I approached the site, I spotted something on the sand - five nude bodies, staked out." Tears fell from William's eyes. "The bodies were my people! They had had their throats slit ear to ear. They had also been violated. All of a sudden, I dropped to my knees and screamed! My beautiful Arieal! I cursed the land and the heathens who did this to my wife.

The anger from long ago boiled up as if the event had just happened. William looked across the fire at Abdul. He was shocked to see that the man was also in tears.

"By the One, I understand why you carry the hate you do."

William continued,  "It took me the rest of the day to bury them in the sand  using my shield. I left Arieal for last.  I could not bring myself to do it earlier. I also wanted to find a special place just for her. Looking around, I decided to bury her in the nearby cave, hoping to protect her from the elements and any other predator, man or beast.

"As I lifted her body I found this." William withdrew a necklace from under his armor. "Arieal  had somehow hidden it from her captors. It was my gift to her on our first anniversary.

"I do not know how I made my way back  to the port city  I figured it was Arhus who guided me." William paused to sip his tea again. 

Abdul spoke,  "So you have returned to take home your wife's body?  

"Yes," William replied.

"This oasis, can you discribe it? asked Abdul.

William thought back;  he rembered the two palm trees that bent to form an  X.  He also recalled the fig trees, which he conveyed to Abdul.

"Yes I know this place," Abdul stated.

William's heart almost burst from his chest. "You will give me directions?"

"No.'" Abdul replied

"WHAT!" William shouted

"I will not tell you. I must guide you; it is the least I can do to try and set right the wrong that was done to the both of you."

William said nothing; he did not know what to say. He did know that he felt deeply ashamed of the disgust he felt toward Abdul. He had not wanted  to see Abdul as anything more than the enemy. Maybe, he was wrong to judge the Macau as a whole for the actions of a few. Perhaps time would tell.