Chapter 37

Monhya: A male Qmalian kidnaper.

37.1

Morning blessed them with some sunshine. Ed could see the rays impinge on the curtains of the small bedroom window. A day of new challenges had arrived, but he took a moment to appreciate what he had for now. Bella lay nude beside him. Yes, he'd done it. Now he knew what it felt like to love a woman. It was oh so heavenly.

Although no specific time to see the great Sheikh had been set, Ed thought to take an early shower. Bella followed him in there and then they did it again. The parts of her that fascinated him the most were her breasts and butt. He could never get tired of touching those. As he came inside her for the second time, Ed had a glimpse of what a trouble-free, blissful existence could be like. He wished he could fly away with Bella to a place where they would be happy forever.

It was just as well that they took early showers because no sooner had they finished than when a messenger came to say Ramzi was willing to give them a brief audience.

"Touch your para eye for some luck," said Ed when the messenger stepped outside to wait for them.

"You don't think we should never mention anything about it to Ramzi."

"You may be right, but why shouldn't we?"

"I'm worried he may not like it, if he learns we vandalized one of the shrine's displays," Bella answered.

"Alright, I see. Qamala Vuyiza, Ogaidan Inxhu Antwi, that's what we should concentrate on."

Ed checked his pockets for Slasher's journal to make sure he wouldn't leave it behind. Going outside meant reverting to wearing efes. Ed wasn't sure it was a requirement here, but they had to play it safe.

"You don't have to put on any such things," advised the messenger. "That's something Sheikh Ramzi is very much opposed to."

Ed and Bella removed their efes and threw them back into the cabin. The walk to Ramzi's main house only took two minutes. Ed had never felt so free in his life, or so secure. Some smoke was issuing from a chimney and the smell of it was homely. Bella walked beside him. Her radiant skin shone in the sun and Ed couldn't help thinking of her as his future bride. Together they could go far, if fate worked for them.

The messenger ushered them into a guest room that had nice brown leather couches, a dark mahogany table and a book shelf with lots of what seemed like Qmalian fantasy novels. Sheikh Ramzi came in sooner and welcomed them.

"I'm sorry for how my countrymen treat you fellows," he said. "We shouldn't be going to earth to steal people and then ill-treat them."

Ed had previously seen press photos of Ramzi, but he actually looked more handsome now than in those pictures. He had a full head of rebellious wiry hair and his nose was less bulbous than that of the average Qmalian. His orangish skin was freckled, though.

"I've been made aware of your opposition to the kidnapping and enslavement of earthlings," Bella remarked. "It's something we need help putting an end to, if you please can assist."

"Qmalians stick to old ways and are difficult to change," Ramzi shrugged. "The laws and traditions here are so rigid."

"We don't mean that you force the government and people to change laws. We are aiming for a different approach. What we want to know is the source of the powers that enable kidnappers to do what they do." Bella continued.

"We suspect it's all to do with magical powers," Ed decided to be more direct. "Without magic, Bella tells me, kidnappers would not be able to abduct humans and spirit them away."

"My intuition is that the biggest asset kidnappers have is some kind of invisibility," Bella added. "Without being invisible, kidnappers would be seen and easily dealt with by the authorities on earth."

"We come to you, sir, for information regarding those powers," Ed implored.

Before Ramzi could say anything, Bella had something to add. "Another manifestation of magic is in powers to fly. Honestly, sir, I don't think your society has the proper technology to be able to go to earth. The planes used by kidnappers to raid humans must be powered by some magic as well."

"Those are the mysterious powers we need to deal with if the human race is to be freed from abduction and enslavement, even murder," Ed couldn't wait to interject.

"I even have death waiting for me as I speak. Ed, too, probably," Bella added forlornly.

Ramzi scratched his forehead. "I have heard all that you said and I sympathize with you, humans."

"Now do you know where we can find those magic powers and destroy them?"

Ramzi patted his brow once more. It seemed as if he might know something but wasn't comfortable revealing. "I'm a lawyer and a scholar, fellows, not an expert of magic," he shrugged again. "But I will give you the little I've heard."

"Yes, sir, tell us." Bella perked up.

"My grandfather told me Qmalians are a mystery creation, and our power in the universe derives from three major mysterious systems. And I must say you guys, according to folklore at least, have pretty much everything figured out."

"Interesting!" Ed's heart began to beat.

"The first and most important mystery is the cloak of invisibility—better known as STEALTH. I'm told this magic was first used by an ancient Qmalian army. When it's activated, one or a select group of Qmalians become invisible to humans and other creatures. Imagine what an advantage this power could give to an army battalion, or a hunter's group."

"So, Bella, your suspicions have always been good, then." Ed winked at her.

Ramzi continued. "Legend has it that our whole planet is bathed in this magic and so remains invisible to inhabitants of the earth and those of other worlds. It's that cloak of invisibility or STEALTH that is now being abused by abductors who fly to earth to kidnap humans like you."

Anger began to rise in Ed. Why would God, or was it the devil, so favor Qmalians and grant them the ability to harness such a mighty power.

"Carry on," prompted Bella. "What's magic number two?"

"The second one is the Teleporter, and again, Bella, your suspicions might be correct. I'm told this magic, when activated in a plane, allows it to defy gravity and travel at phenomenal speeds, whilst also keeping the air within it fresh at all times."

"So, that's what enables grinhyas and monhyas to travel to earth and reach it so quickly," Ed's lips parted into an astonished grin.

"I suppose it is," Ramzi nodded. "I'm not really involved in that business so it's hard to say exactly."

"We get it," said Bella. "Now please go on to the third."

"The third one is much more insidious and it works at the individual level. It's called the Weakener force."

"Let me guess what that one does," said Bella. "I think it weakens or actually knocks out anyone who is targeted to be abducted."

"You are very right. How did you guess?"

"Because I was a victim of it. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't; I'd be home with my family—Ed, too."

"I'm very sorry about what happened to you."

"Thank you for what you have told us so far," said Ed. "The big question, though, is how do you counter all those magic systems? How do you destroy them?"

"Honestly I do not know how. I have no interest in magic and traditions myself, as you see I am a lawyer and an academic."

"Maybe you could enlighten us on where the evil powers are stored. Did your grandfather tell you anything about the source?"

"Where the power comes from is something that's only known by the religious rulers of this land, the Qmalian Privy Council, of which the man you are running away from, Ishobad, is an important member."

"That makes our job far more complicated then," Ed imagined.

"Maybe it does," Ramzi concurred. "But would it make it any easier if I were to inform you the secret source is said to exist under the ground. The Privy Council communicates with it periodically or so, I'm told."

"Is that why they still do human sacrifices," asked Bella with anger. "To feed that force?"

"Very likely so, but I personally am very much opposed to human sacrifice, kidnapping and enslavement, too."

"We are grateful, Sheikh, for those kind words," said Bella, her face glowing with genuine appreciation.

"So that's it, guys, from my side," Ramzi summed up. "Get to the source of STEALTH and you will have found everything you want, including the teleporter and weakeners."

It made sense and Ed was thankful, but he had another thing to ask.

"Just one more thing sir," Ed pleaded, with some urgency to his voice. "We have these words we think form some kind of code." He brought out Slasher's notebook and opened it to the page he'd written on. "Qamala Vuyiza, Ogaidan Inxhu Antwi."

"What's that? Where did you get it from?"

"From the Qmalian Shrine of the Departed, on a certain display," Bella answered.

"Let me think," Ramzi caressed his chin. "That's a very old Qmalian dialect. Lucky I studied ancient languages in my law classes. Those words translate to 'Qmalo strong, All others weak.' It's not a code, just a statement."

"Specifically, we saw them written on a small stand that hosted a taxidermy of an Akan snake. Does that signify something?"

"Look, those are old things that I'm not too interested in. The Akan is a very respected snake in Qmalian folklore, it's seen as a source of immense power and fortune."

"Good," said Bella. "Maybe if we keep researching on this Akan we could find something."

"You have done a wonderful job of hosting us." Ed bowed his head at Ramzi.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you further. Much of the work you will have to do yourself."

With that Ramzi left the room. Ed suddenly felt exposed. The magic forces Ramzi had spoken of seemed very real, something to be afraid of for sure.