For once, Maeve wished that she was dressed in full length clothes just like every other women of the sea-side village. Every house she went, the people looked queerly at her. Her sword didn't help either but she couldn't be without it. "They must think I'm a rouge warrior or something..",groaned Maeve,in irritation. She puffed at an unruly bit of her hair sliding down her forehead and shouted out loud,"I just want to know where I am and where I can get some food..I MEAN NO HARM!" More people moved hurriedly along. They didn't even risk a look in her direction. "This isn't working..",sighed Maeve. She hated dependence of any sort. She liked to fend for herself , be tough and never stand for any nonsense from others. But that was when DimDim was with her. DimDim was more than a teacher to Maeve. He knew her weaknesses , knew her moods, her temper.. he knew many things about her even when she never confided much. He was always patient with her. Always kind. And Dermott? Dermott was meant everything in the world. Maeve breathed deeply and entered a nearby inn.
"Excuse me,Sir?",she asked to the man who was busily spreading a meal on a table. There were several other people inside,eating their meals. The man looked up shortly."What can you do?",he asked in a gruff tone.
"I heard you yelling.",continued the man,noting her puzzlement."You're not having a purse. So,what can you do? Can you carry water? Get firewood or shear sheep? You've gotta work for a meal around here"
Maeve smiled gratefully."How about I do every task and you get me a hot meal and a boat that will take me to the nearest harbour? I'm looking for someone and I think he might be lost somewhere in the islands"
"The water pitchers are at the back. So is the knife for the shearing.. Mid-afternoon we get a boat from the main island of Beuid-Merra"
"Beuid-Merra.",echoed Maeve,anxiously."Oh, Dermott,wherever you are. Be safe!"

"Well,the catapult's in place.. ",said Firouz,wiping the sweat off his face. He encircled one arm around a steep minaret and leaned down to view the Market Square. "Impressive altitude. From this height I will descend upon the good citizens of Baghdad ,weave a few circles above their heads and soar back into the clouds, leaving them speechless in astonishment." A quick burst of hot sea wind nearly toppled Firouz over the narrow wall. "Whoa!" Firouz grabbed the parapet with all his might and hauled himself back onto the roof."That was close. Without my wings,I'd look like a lunatic with a penchant for suicide" Firouz pulled on the sail-cloth wings and strapped himself tight. He sat on the seat,took a deep breath and reached for the lever.

Doubar smiled and shook Hatim's hands with warmth. "Thanks for all your help,my friend. If you hadn't opened your home to me.."
"Think nothing of it,Doubar. What are friends for.",effused Hatim,looking pleased."Well,where are you headed off to?"
Doubar took a deep breath. "Im going to find some work. Gotta earn my living just like every other man in Baghdad"
"Always the modest fellow. Ha ha..You would have found enough to do alongside Sinbad",laughed Hatim.
Doubar frowned immediately."What did you say?"
"I was talking about Sinbad. Boy,the Caliph still hasn't forgotten his heroics last summer when he saved Princess Adina from that monster ,Turok"
"Have you been out in the sun too long,Hatim. I can't understand a word you're saying"
Hatim laughed even more. "Well,if that's the way you're going to be.. off with you. I don't have the time. I have customers to attend !"
The door closed and Doubar turned to the streets looking extremely puzzled. "Sinbad? A hero? Impossible!"

Prince Casib was on his mid-morning tour of the kingdom. As he rode his stallion down the streets of Baghdad, his subjects eagerly made way for him and paid him obesience. The Prince nodded to them as he passed by. Casib's thoughts were dwelling chiefly on the events that took place last year which had altered the course of his life. He recalled how Adina had been kept captive at Turok's stone domain and how he had joined Sinbad the sailor and his crew on a sea voyage to rescue her from the evil sorceror's clutches. He had learnt much on that voyage. And he had found an unlikely teacher in Sinbad . Even now he remembered Sinbad's encouraging words , reminding him to rule wisely and not impose harsh rules or cruel punishments on the people of Baghdad. Since then ,Casib had made a vow to himself that he would never isolate himself at the palace or appear so haughty and disapproving that the people would fear him. He used to think a Sultan's power lay in the ability to control and subdue others. Admir had taught him that. "I'll never forget,Admir",mused Casib with a frown. "But now he knew that true power lay in something far greater! It lay in.. in.." The Prince creased his brow ,deep in his thoughts. Finally he smiled at himself."I am yet to find out many things about ruling a kingdom.. But atleast I am on the right track, thanks to a certain good-hearted sailor. Now my subjects are happy to honor me. That is the way it should be. Thank you ,Sinbad"

His thoughts were interrupted by a distant call of an unknown bird. Casib put out a hand to shade his eyes from the sun's rays and gazed upwards into the sky. "The bird must be dizzy in pain. Look at the wild circles it is making!" More people heard the strange noise and looked up as well. "It is huge! Look at it's wings!",commented one man. "Why is it calling out so strangely? Surely no bird sounds like that!",gasped another woman. "Shoot it down!",suggested a few other. Suddenly the bird zoomed closer to the watching crowd. It was not graceful in its movements or beautiful to look at. Just a blur of brown and white with a very curly crown of feathers. Rapidly it zipped through the Square and back into the blue. "It sounded more like a human",said an old man. The people around him laughed and shook their heads. "That's because it is a human!",realized the Prince."It's Firouz!". Casib rallied his horse and tore after the flying inventor. "I hope he remembered to install some landing mechanism this time!"

"HOW DO I LAND THIS THING?",said Firouz,shouting against the currents. His stomach was queasy from doing the loop-the-loop once too often. His vision was hazy from being buffeted here and there by the billowing wind. "ASIDE FROM THE FACT THAT I MAY BE IN DANGER, THIS EXPERIMENT WAS A GREAT SUCCESS! " A few gulls screeched loudly as if agreeing with him. Firouz looked below and immediately panicked for he was well away from land and about to be torn into the sea." IN TIMES LIKE THESE ,THERE IS ONLY ONE THING TO DO!"
Firouz opened his mouth and yelled,"HELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPP!"

The Prince rode faster and faster chasing the flying inventor."It might be too late if he heads out into the sea!" He neared the edge of the city,and spotted Firouz gliding madly about the white beach. The stallion stopped right beneath the spectacle and looked at the Prince enquiringly. Casib patted his horse and climbed down,still gazing upwards at the sight. A small crowd of sailors, labourers and load-bearers had gathered along the beach as well. Doubar stood at the forefront ,gaping at the sky. When Prince Casib spotted Doubar, he ran to him at once. "Heavens be praised! Doubar,my friend, we have got to get Firouz down before he gets blown into the sea"
Doubar looked dumbstruck. Was it really Prince Casib, son of the exalted Caliph of Baghdad, talking to him in such a familiar manner?. "Your.. Your highness!",blurted Doubar in surprise. His cheeks grew red with embarrasement and pleasure at this direct adress from the Prince. He bowed low.
"Never mind all that,Doubar. Firouz is up there!"
"Firouz?",asked frowned in he seemed to remember a Firouz from Baghdad."The inventor Firouz?"
"Is there any other?",said the Prince,exasperated.
Just then,another mighty heave of the winds caused Firouz to swing lower to the beach. "SOMEBODY,HELP ME!",he cried.
"Well,what shall I do? How shall I get him down?",asked Doubar.
"Don't you have anything at all that can break down the glider's frame? or hook into the sails?"
"I'll make a catapult from my belt..."
"He's too high up for that"
"An arrow?"
"It could never reach that far.."
Firouz heard a sickening scraping sound of the wood bending and flexing under the the next instant,it snapped and one wing began to sag. "Oh,boy.. this is bad! Really bad!" Quickly the glider began to whirl in tighter circles, spinning faster and faster like a small tornado. "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Prince Casib raised his eyes again."Doubar..."
"I'm on it! Come on,men..",roared Doubar."Get the thickest netting you can find!"

When the left wing broke completely,Firouz dropped down like a rock. His arms failed helplessly as he sank faster and faster throught the air. Suddenly his body collided with something tight and springy. Like landing in a net!Firouz opened his eyes and saw twelve or thirteen men staring back at him with smiles on their faces. "He's allright!",cried one man and he was joined by the hurrahs of the others. Firouz was helped out of the net and he stood unsteadily on his feet. "What a ride!",he said,shaking his head to clear the dizziness.
Prince Casib drew closer with a grin. "Firouz!",he said,extending his hand in warm welcome."It's been a long time!"
Firouz panicked instantly and bowed low,just like Doubar. "Yo..Your Excellency.. I didn't see you.."
Prince Casib frowned. "What is it with you two? Both of you are acting like you are seeing me for the first time"
"Well,as a matter of fact",began Firouz. He paused."Er...both of us?" He turned and saw Doubar smashing the rest of the "flying glider" with his hands and rolling up the "wings" into a ball.
"Heyyy, what do you think you're doing?",demanded Firouz running upto the big man.
"I think I just saved your life",replied Doubar firmly.
"Im grateful for that but you didn't have to destroy my work. It took me weeks to build that!"
"You build death-traps?"
"It's a flying glider - helps a man glide in the air like a bird"
"Oh? then why were you spinning around like a top?"
"Minor modifications are necessary,of course..",admitted Firouz with a nod.
"I am making those modifications right now",replied Doubar,ramming another strong fist into the glider.

"Come on!Stop it ,you two",said the Prince with a laugh. "Just like old times,eh?"
Both Firouz and Doubar gazed uncomprehendingly at the Prince.
"Is Sinbad here?",asked Casib.
"Sinbad?",echoed Doubar."My Prince, Sinbad is probably loitering about without a care in the world"
"Sinbad?",recalled Firouz."He died out in the sea two years ago"
"WHAT?",gasped the Prince and Doubar,horrified.
"It's true, your Highness. Sinbad's dead and his ship has sunk at sea"

The sea heaved and sighed through the moonless night. Rongar breathed in the salty sea air,feeling happy to be free atlast. He was on a small boat with Talia. "The black rose of Omar - that was her title",remembered Rongar. At the other end of the boat, Talia lit an old oil lamp and held it up. "Are you sure this is what you want to do?",she asked in a loud whisper. They were still within spying range of the Jezebel. Rongar nodded firmly. "Well,the boat's all yours. Just don't take any risks,okay? You still look pretty shaken up to me" Rongar nodded again. "Allright",said Talia,satisfied. "I'm swimming back to the Jezebel". Rongar put out a hand to stop her. He began making signs rapidly.
"Yes,I know it could be dangerous",explained Talia."But if I walk out on those poor slaves now, they will never see their freedom"
Rongar stared blankly.
"I once told Sinbad that I wanted to set people free. People kept in bondage and fear. I still believe I can do that. And the Jezebel is as good as any place to start. Besides ,Captain Yasser is putty in my hands. I could be "Madame Bushwa" for all he knows and get away with it. Soon I'll have him marooned on some lonely island with nothing to eat but coconuts and melons. Then we'll see how he's going to get his fortunes told"
Rongar smiled and gazed pointedly.
"Well, the Jezebel is a rather wealthy ship.",admittedly Talia."Every good freedom-fighter's gotta earn her gold. Or diamonds. Or that nice fiery ruby that he keeps in his treasure-chest"
Rongar frowned.
"I promise I won't get sidetracked.",assured Talia,immediately."Not this time. I'll see to it that that slave ship gets buried in the depths of the ocean forever!"
She adjusted her bandanna and held out her hand. "Well, so long my friend!"
Rongar grasped her hand warmly and gave a firm shake. With a mischievous wink, Talia leaped off the side of the boat and swam strongly out to the ship. Rongar gazed after her for a while and then took up the oars and began to row towards the west. Talia had given him directions to get to the nearest island. Rongar was bound to get some help there.

Something Talia said was weighing heavily on Rongar's mind. He felt the familiar twinge of pain every time he dwelt on the phrase "buried in the depths of the ocean". Was there something truly buried on the sea floor? Rongar felt the pain returning once again. He grew alert at once. Yes, there was something in the ocean. He must try to remember. And when he remembers, he will know where to look for his missing dirks.