Part 1: http://tinyurl.com/qxwrfdp
Part 2: http://tinyurl.com/k75cmqe
The soldiers led them through the archway entrance of the magistrate. The smallest of the soldiers ran off to get a doctor for the sheik. A couple of guards approached and greeted the soldiers.
“What do we have here?” one of the guards asked.
The tall soldier answered “According to these two, they were traveling into town when they spotted Sheik Masoud face down in the sand. They put them on their cart and brought them to town. If their story checks out, we are in the presence of heroes. If not, we are in the presence of dead men” he said with a crooked smile as he looked back at Makmood and the driver. The driver gulped hard. Makmood smiled back.
After about an hour of hard interrogating, followed by a decent meal, Makmood and the driver were asked to wait in a court yard.
“Isn´t this just splendid?” Makmood asked.
“What do you mean splendid?” the driver asked, irritated by the question, “I am missing a day’s sales! And we don´t even know if they believe us! You heard the soldier, we will be killed if there is an iota of doubt in our story! And you won´t go home with one coin! How are you going to eat?”
“I just did” Makmood said with a calm smile, “They will believe us. We told the truth. And we are heroes. You heard the soldier. He said so”
“He also said we are dead men!” the driver cried.
“No, he said we are heroes and if our story is not true, we are dead men. Our story is fact, therefore we are heroes, my friend” Makmood said. “We saved the sheik´s life! He is a good sheik. You know that. Sheik Masoud lives in the palace in front of our community. I watch the oil lamps burn at night when the mood strikes me. They dance in the darkness and they calm me”
“If you were any calmer, Makmood, you would melt into the rock!” the driver said. He felt relieved by Makmood´s convictions that everything would be all right.
Just then the guards came in. The driver stood and Makmood did his best to sit as straight as he possibly could.
“Well, it seems you two are heroes after all. The sheik is weak at the moment but he would like an audience with the two of you as soon as he regains his strength. This may be a little after sundown or possibly after sunrise. Regardless, we shall ask that you stay until the moment presents itself”
The driver did his best to hide his irritation. Makmood did nothing to mask his joy.
“How wonderful!” Makmood exclaimed.
By Ryan 
And…? 🙂
This looks like it´s going to be a Leviathan. It seems to ooze out with ease, but with no ending in sight. No point. The thing is, I actually like the Makmood character. I have zero idea where this is going but even I am interested in seeing. 🙂 Thanks as always, Eric!
As are we who enjoy your writing skill.
🙂 I´ll try not to disappoint!
Somehow, I don’t think you could disappoint if you tried, Ryan.