Chapter 4: A New Score

"I despise that little schemer!", spat Qatal, angrily caressing the stout curved khanjar in his hands. "Just who does he think he is? I have been unchallenged warrior on board Ghalib's Sea Claw for over five years! And now this Sinbad dares to make fun of me! Ohhh, one day he will pay dearly for his insolence! One day I will stand gloating over his lifeless body!" Qatal clenched his fists so hard that his knuckles turned white.

"Aaaah, the green-eyed monster! So, the antics of a lowly cabin boy kindle such admirable jealously, eh?! Then perhaps your fears are justified. Sinbad must be better than you!" Zalim gave a pugnacious smirk. He sneered loftily at the quivering beard of Qatal and jeered, "You are a fool,Qatal!" With a laugh of derision, he pushed off in the direction of the traps. Zalim relished every opportunity to play his mind-games. And Qatal provided him with so many opportunities! Qatal knew he was being played but years of pent-up insecurity blinded him to his foolishness. He gnashed his teeth in bitterness and trudged after Zalim.

"You think you are so clever", he retorted weakly.

"Oh, I don't think, my friend", replied Zalim, smugly. "I am" His eyebrows shot up in triumph and he lifted from the traps, a large wild rabbit that still had some fight left in it. It kicked and squirmed desperately for life.

"I am still the master here ",growled Qatal, at last remembering his prowess. In one swift motion,he pulled out his khanjar and slit the unfortunate animal's throat. "Don't you forget it!"

Zalim returned a leveled gaze. Qatal licked the blood off his blade and wordlessly turned back to camp. "You have made the kill.", said Zalim more to himself than anybody else. "Yet we often see that the one who sets the traps remains the true master!"

Ghalib arrived inhaling the delicious smell of roast rabbit on a spit. His five most trusted members of the crew gathered around to acknowledge his imposing presence. The expression of solidarity on the Captain's swarthy face told them that things had turned out according to plan. That was all any of them ever cared. That and the weight of the money purse they would soon receive! "Prepare to leave for the ship!", declared Ghalib before lowering himself down by the rocks and stretching out his aching legs. He was about to remove his vest when Sinbad quickly scampered to his side. "Let me help you, Captain", he said, taking off the heavy vest and also gathered the Captain's sword, dagger and the knife he kept concealed in his boot. "I'll clean these for you. I know of a rock pool that is full of fresh spring water. I'll fill our water skins as well" Sinbad smiled and set off with the weapons. On his way past the spit, he saw that the rabbit had been cooked and carefully extracted the fleshiest piece for the Captain's plate. He ran to Ghalib with the food. "You must be starved Captain", he said, caringly.

Qatal glowered silently from the side. Personally, he thought the Captain could have fetched his own meal. He'd been doing just that the year before Sinbad came along. Why make such a fuss now. Qatal himself wouldn't have stooped so low. He was a man of status. True, he was also a sailor. But he was so much more. A warrior and right-hand man to Ghalib. Qatal looked infuriated . Then why was Ghalib encouraging the little mutt! Why was he asking more and more for Sinbad's opinion during his voyages? Why was he pushing Qatal to the side?

"Little suck-up!", he jeered in a tone dripping with contempt.

When Sinbad set the meal, Ghalib smiled and reached for his side pocket. He thumbed out an object and pressed it into Sinbad's hand. Sinbad opened his palm and was stunned to see that it was a large gold piece! He held it up in awe! He had his wages paid out to him but this was the first time he received something other than copper coins. The other crew members were amused spectators to his joy. Everyone except Qatal that is. One look at the gold in Sinbad's hand and he tore angrily away from the camp.

"Spend it on yourself at our next port", said Ghalib affectionately.

"Thank you, sir! I will!", replied Sinbad. With an extra spring in his step, he pocketed the coin and left in search of his rock pool. As soon as Sinbad left, Ghalib's eyes searched for Zalim. "After I eat", he said. "You and I will take a little walk. I have a few things to discuss" Zalim nodded in reply.

Ghalib left the camp as soon as he had his meal. No one took much notice of him since they were all busy packing up for their return. Zalim followed after a beat, keeping to the trees until he was well away from any prying eye that might have traced his path in curiosity. He found the Captain waiting for him under a shelter of rocks in an inconspicuous spot in the forest. He drew closer, his curiosity fanned by the cryptic expression on the Captain's face. Zalim was a good reader of minds and he liked to think that this helped him understand the Captain's thoughts much better than any of the other crew-mates. But the real reason was because he was as cunning as the old devil himself! A solitary doubt nagged the back of Zalim's own mind. He hesitated and confirmed,

"You have indeed settled our score, eh Captain?"

Ghalib turned to Zalim and sputtered, "Better!" His eyes gleamed in strange light. "I've done better!" He lowered his voice to a hoarse whisper. "I've got us a new score!" Zalim considered this statement in a mixture of shock and wonder. But he had to clear out something first. He ventured carefully almost disbelievingly, "Nazaar is alive?"

Ghalib did not reply.

Zalim let out a long breath and pondered on the implications. If Ghalib did not slay Nazaar, then they wouldn't be getting those sacks of gold that the Caliph had promised. So, if sacks of gold weren't enough to tempt the wily Captain to finish the job, then something even bigger must have caught his eye. Something bigger than sacks of gold! The derived knowledge brought a gleam in his eye as well.

"Lay a course to Basra. Our new voyage will not be easy and I need a special man to do the task!"

"Qatal might-"

"Oh, the devil take Qatal!",snapped Ghalib in anger. "After his betrayal at Oman.. he still thinks I don't know of his underhanded dealings with my clients..I am keeping aboard him the Sea Claw only as long as I can use him for an advantage. No! We find someone else. Someone who can fetch us the moon and the stars. I will find this one...this hero.. by divination. I knew where the darkest witches hide!"

"You speak in riddles, Captain"

"Riddles are enough for now.", retorted Ghalib. He pulled closer to his crewman. "If we settle this score, then I promise you.. we can retire to the wealthiest corner in the whole of Arabia and perhaps buy an island or two in the blink of an eye! How would you like to have your own spice plantations and silk farms? Or maybe own a mine or two? Perhaps hunt for ivory during your spare time?"

"Basra it is,sir!", said Zalim, cheered immensely by his Captain's words. They were in for one hell of a ride!

Maeve wordlessly indicated to Dermott to keep as still as possible. The Captain and his confidant must not know of her presence behind the rock shelter. She had heard every word. The Sea Claw was headed to Basra and that is where she must go as well. Maeve realized by now that the portal's entrance was too well hidden for her to figure out alone. She needed help and Sinbad wasn't giving any of it. She must sneak on board the Sea Claw and travel to Basra herself. Once there, she can trace out Caipra. Caipra will surely help her return to the future! Maeve waited in bated breath until both men had left back to camp. Then she twisted out of her hiding place and made it as fast as she could to the shoreline. She knew that only a skeleton crew would be on the Sea Claw and by sheer willpower she convinced herself that she could indeed stowaway on Ghalib's magnificent ship! Sending Dermott ahead, she threw herself into the salty waters and began her arduous journey to the deep.

Just as they finished packing up, Sinbad felt a hand on his shoulder and looked around to see the cat-like face of Qatal. "You think of yourself as a fighter.. I have seen you practice by yourself during the watches of the night. How would you like to make a little wager?"

"What kind of a wager?", asked Sinbad, warily. Qatal was one of the few men he disliked on sight. It wasn't his snide remarks or poorly disguised jealousy. Sinbad hated Qatal because of his snobbery. Qatal liked others to treat him as if he were a Prince or the son of a wealthy Vizier. Sure he had excellent fighting skills and was gifted once with a khanjar encased in bejeweled ivory. But that prize only served to further showcase his "greatness". He acted like a peacock and expected to be worshiped. Several times in the high seas, Sinbad had to do all he could to resist the impulse to punch Qatal right in his face!

"That new gold piece in your purse-",continued Qatal, with the grin that was growing sickening every moment, plastered on his face. "How would you like to earn four more? It would make a tidy round sum and fetch a lot more market value-"

"What do I have to do?"

"Fight me. A fair sword-fight! The master versus the..er.. skilled cabin boy- What do you say?"

Sinbad smiled to himself. Qatal had actually called him "skilled". Boy, he must really be desperate for a fight. "All right", he agreed. "But I don't have a sword!"

"You can use Aareef's. Now, shall we place our coins in a common place, eh?" Qatal pulled out his own broadsword an eagerly stepped into the imaginary ring. "Shall we begin?"

The clash of the swords rang out. Qatal planned to play around with Sinbad and make the boy grow tired. Then when his guard is down, he'd really fight. He'd teach that little wretch a thing or two about challenging the master. Who knows? Perhaps he might accidentally rip the boy's heart out as well. Poor Sinbad! His false sense of bravado would be his undoing! The crewmates followed this impromptu "battle of the blades" with interest. It was excellent entertainment for them!

Sinbad was extremely light on his feet. He also had good balance which was unusual considering his lack of formal training! He hardly attacked at all! Qatal gave a roar of frustration and charged ahead like a mad bull. Sinbad cleverly side-stepped him and Qatal nearly crashed headlong into a tree. A grin spread across the young lad's face which outraged the "master". "How dare you!",he seethed, whirling around at once. He decided to break through this boy's defense through brute force. He dealt a few blows and then flourished his blade. Immediately Sinbad sensed his advantage and landed a flattening blow on Qatal's back. The sword went flying and the fight was over! Qatal, breathless with the exertion stared disbelieving at Sinbad's blade which was pointed directly at his throat. The crew members were already cheering at the top of their voices. Sinbad casually walked over to the five gold pieces and pocketed them with pride. Only then did he lower his sword and hand it over to Aareef. "Thank you",he said as politely as he could. "Its been a real pleasure!" The sailors laughed once again and Sinbad couldn't help smiling over his victory.

Qatal never took his eyes off that smile on the cabin boys face. It seemed to jeer at him. Mocking him for his defeat. In fact, they were all mocking him. Their nasty, spiteful smiles.. They were taunting him.. ridiculing him.

That was the exact moment when Qatal realized that he must eventually kill Sinbad.