A collaborative effort

[Muhammad]

In the days that followed, the four friends, Ahmed, Gamal, Jasem and Ali, began planning their new journey. They spend many hours scouring the markets and small shops for important items they would need on their travels. They had made a list of everything they might need and had divided the items to obtain between them. From ropes and torches, magnifying glasses and hieroglyphics translation charts, to compasses and maps, survival kits and first aid... they had exhausted their minds in thinking of all possibilities. They spent long nights planning their journey to Oman, taking great care to avoid anyone discovering it. Even Georgi had warned them to limit their contact with her because Abu Isaiah would no doubt have her under surveillance. The only person they had consulted about certain aspects of their travel was Red Fez. His expert advice was invaluable to best decide how to keep a low profile and choose the safest modes of travel. He was also able to provide some specialist tools for searching and communication. Still, Ahmed was careful to avoid divulging too much information to anyone.

On the eve of their departure, the four friends were sat in a deserted mud hut somewhere on the outskirts of Cairo, packing their things and going over the details one last time. ‘Red Fez said he’ll keep us informed of any new developments in Egypt,’ Ahmed was saying. ‘He said to use him as a point of contact in an emergency, but we need to try and keep off the main networks.’
‘So Abu Hasan definitely isn’t coming?’ asked Jasem.
‘Nope. He’s needed on his parents farm,’ replied Ahmed. ‘We can contact him also if we need him.’
‘We’re leaving after Fajr?’ asked Ali.
‘Yes,’ replied Ahmed. ‘We’d better get some rest.’

They had little sleep that night as their minds could not stop ruminating over the events to follow. They had barely fallen asleep when light began to appear and it was time to get up and pray. They had a quick breakfast then left the house with loaded rucksacks on their backs. Cairo was still sleeping as they made their way through it, and they wondered how long it would be, if ever, before they would see it again.

The bus journey to Sharm El-Sheikh was very uncomfortable. It took seven hours along the dusty, bumpy roads and the heat was almost unbearable. They slept for half the journey and were restless in the other half. Finally, they reached the port and were soon boarding their ship. The remainder of the journey would hopefully be more comfortable with the cool breezes of the sea.

After lunch, in the privacy of their cabin, they took out the map and diary and set to work deciphering more. Papers, compasses, maps and charts littered the whole room as they worked. It was a ten day cruise from Sharm El-Sheikh to Safaga, Dijibouti and finally the port of Salalah in Oman. Ten days seemed a long time at first, but when they saw how much work needed doing, it seemed so little. They were sure Abu Isaiah would not be expecting them to travel by sea. Little did they know, however, that the chip in Gamal's arm meant their pursuers were very close indeed.

 

[Muhaba]

They stayed at an inn to decode the map. Ahmad and his companions wrote bits of hints in a notebook and tried to put the pieces together. It took almost a year to get it all completed. Finally, they had figured out both the supposed location of the place and that the lost palace had long been buried under sand. They would have to excavate the place to find it. It was a difficult task and they wondered how Ahmad's uncle had figured all of it out. It seemed he had visited the area but due to health and other obligations, he hadn't been able to complete the work.

 

[Muhaba]

Bump...

 

[Muhammad]

In the south-western corner of Oman, the four friends had set up camp deep inside the Rub' Al-Khali, or Empty Quarter, one of the world's most largest and famous deserts, stretching northwards into Saudi Arabia, Yemen and up into the western UAE. It was a sea of wind-swept dunes and a place of Bedouin culture, giving a sense of its traditional charm and ancient soul.

It had been nine months during which they travelled to and from various districts gathering supplies and information, whilst supervising the major excavation work in the desert. A large palace had been uncovered, with thick walls one hundred feet high and pillars and ornate archways along its walls. Ahmed was standing on the edge of a rocky elevation gazing out at the excavation and watching Ali haggling over wages with the chief labourer. Jasem and Gamal arrived on camels, returning from the city with fresh supplies.

'Assalamu alaykum Ahmed,' they said.
'Wa Alaykum Assalam!' replied Ahmed, turning round. 'How was your trip to the city?'
'Hot!' said Gamal, dismounting with sweat pouring down his forehead.
'It was nice to have a break from the desert, though,' said Jasem, smiling. 'How's the work coming along? They've made good progress!'
'Yes,' said Ahmed. 'They've found the entrance at last. I think we can plan to enter tomorrow morning In sha Allah.'
'Tomorrow? Really?' asked Gamal, excited.
'Yes,' smiled Ali walking towards them. 'I've been really pushing the workers and I'm confident we can finally go in tomorrow In sha Allah.'

The four of them unloaded the supplies into their camp and set about preparing their rucksacks and supplies for the journey into the lost palace. They could hardly believe the moment had come at last, after all those months of searching and waiting. They remembered when they first entered Oman and how strange the place seemed. They didn't know where to start. And now the place was like home and the workers were all familiar faces.

They had an early breakfast in the cool morning air and equipped themselves with the final provisions. Ahmed was sure to take the map, key and diary with him. There were still a few pages of the diary left which would give important information about the inside of the palace. They climbed down the sandy ditch as most of the workers lay asleep nearby. Most of the palace still seemed to be buried underground.

They ascended the stairs slowly towards the entrance, staring at the exquisite design of the palace in front of them. They walked under the archway and pushed open the door. It was a very heavy door and creaked open very slowly, requiring all four of them to force it.

 

[Muhaba]

Using the secret key to open the door , they thought they would enter the main hall but it seemed they were only inside a small entrance hallway that led to more stairs. Using flashlights, the made there way down the longwinded staircase until finally they reached an open lounge area. By then they were sure they were several stories underground.
Wow. Look at this place, Gamal exclaimed pointing his flashlight at the walls. The place had been carved with the most intricate designs and there were artifacts hoisted on posts everywhere. No doubt, this was the discovery of the century. They gad not seen anything like it in any museum before.

As the others examined the place, Ahmed looked through the diary to get some direction. From the various notes this great father wrote, it seemed they had to find a particular room.

I wonder what it holds, Jasem said.

Something very precious no doubt, Ali sai excitedly. If it's more important than this stuff, then it must be something.

Ok let's go, Ahmed said. We walk until we find the sunsign. We can explore on the way.

Sunsign? What's that?

I think a hole that let's sunshine enter.

And so they started going farther into the humongous palace. The place was so big that it might take days to explore.