Chapter 17: Sheikh Hamza's Secret and the Danger of the Tunnel
In the previous chapter, you read:
The poisonous river water falls on Junaid, causing him to lose consciousness. Ali carries him to a stranger's house, where he is treated using the herb given by Sheikh Hamza.
But when they discover that the stranger is none other than Sheikh Hamza himself, they are shocked!
Now, continuing...
Sheikh Hamza's Secret
(As Sheikh Hamza removes his mask, Ali and Junaid's eyes widen in disbelief!)
Ali (in shock):
"Uncle Sheikh Hamza... it's you! This... this can't be true!"
Sheikh Hamza (smiling):
"Ali! Don't be so surprised to see me! It's really me, Sheikh Hamza!"
Junaid (still in disbelief):
"But you went back to the mysterious old man's house in the Junagarh hills!"
Ali (in astonishment):
"Uncle, will you tell us what's going on?"
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"Ali and Junaid! There's no need to be so shocked at seeing me."
Ali (with doubt):
"But how did you get here?"
Sheikh Hamza:
"When I left you both in the Junagarh hills, I realized that you wouldn't be able to cross the poisonous river. My guess was right! So, I decided I had to help you."
Junaid (in surprise):
"So, why did you have to come in disguise?"
Sheikh Hamza (smiling):
"I wanted to see how you both would handle trouble if it came your way!"
Junaid (taking a deep breath):
"So, you were testing us?"
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"Junaid, you should learn from Ali. When the poisonous river was in front of you, you were scared like a child and even frightened Ali."
Ali (smiling slightly, putting a hand on his shoulder):
"Junaid, being scared isn't bad... but letting fear dominate you is.
We're going to face even greater dangers ahead. You'll have to stand by me!"
Junaid (taking a deep breath, looking down):
"Ali, uncle... I know I made a mistake.
I shouldn't have been afraid... but now I won't back down! I
'll show you that I'm ready for this journey too!"
Ali (smiling):
"It's alright, Junaid! You've shown courage in many places too!"
The Mysterious Figure of the Cave
Junaid (in a serious tone):
"Uncle, I want to share something with you!"
Sheikh Hamza (with caution):
"Tell me, what is it?"
Junaid:
"When we were inside the cave, we saw a figure. It showed me, Ali, and the mysterious old man standing together, and we were holding the special sword Al-Amaanah!"
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"I already knew about the figures in the Junagarh hills' cave."
Ali (in surprise):
"But Uncle, what I'm about to tell you, you may not know!"
Sheikh Hamza (astonished):
"Oh? Tell me!"
Ali (seriously):
"When we were crossing the cave in the Junagarh hills, two of Amir Tahir's soldiers attacked us. The noteworthy thing is that these were the same soldiers who attacked us at the mysterious old man's house, and the old man defeated them in battle."
Sheikh Hamza (shocked):
"What? The same two soldiers? How is that possible?"
Junaid (in a serious tone):
"They had dug a tunnel where they were imprisoned, which opened into the cave!"
Sheikh Hamza (remembering something):
"Wait a minute!
When I returned to the old man's house, the servant told me there was no sound coming from the room where those two soldiers were imprisoned.
They must have dug the tunnel at that time!"
Ali (nodding):
"That must be what happened!"
Sheikh Hamza (in surprise):
"But how did you both survive? They were dangerous!"
Junaid (smiling):
"We were defeated by them! But with Ali's cleverness, we won!"
Sheikh Hamza (with interest):
"What cleverness?"
Ali (smiling):
"When we were unconscious, I remembered the sleeping pins the old man gave us.
I pretended to be unconscious, and as soon as they got close, I jabbed the pins into them! Within moments, they both collapsed unconscious!"
Sheikh Hamza (astonished):
"What did you do with them?"
Junaid:
"We put them in a small tunnel in the cave and blocked it with a large rock, so they couldn't escape!"
Sheikh Hamza (with admiration):
"Excellent, Ali and Junaid! Especially Ali, your cleverness is commendable!"
---
How to Cross the Poisonous River
Junaid (trying to get up but stumbling and falling):
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"Junaid! You should rest, the poison from the river hasn't completely left your body yet. You'll feel better by morning!"
Ali (slightly impatient):
"Uncle, I'm very hungry! Is there anything to eat?"
Junaid (laughing):
"I'm hungry too!"
Sheikh Hamza (laughing):
"I have some fruits, we'll have to make do with them today!"
Junaid (smiling):
"It's okay! Fruits will do!"
Ali (in a serious tone):
"Uncle, we need to cross the poisonous river tomorrow! We have only four days left! If we delay, Ameer Tahir will set out in search of the special sword Al-Amaanah!"
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"First, eat, then we'll think about this!"
(They all eat)
Ali (after eating):
"So, Uncle, do you have any way to cross the river?"
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"Yes, there is a way... but it can be very dangerous!"
Junaid (shocked):
"What way?"
Sheikh Hamza (with serious eyes):
"There's a tunnel beneath this river... but it's no ordinary path.
There's the 'King of Darkness'—a crocodile who can throw any person out of its reach with its tail in an instant!
People say its skin is harder than iron, and anyone who looks into its eyes feels helpless. And it's not alone...
there are snakes there that can numb a person's entire body with a single bite!"
Ali (seriously):
"Is this the only way?"
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"Crossing the poisonous river from above is very difficult,
but you can go through the tunnel beneath, though it's dangerous!"
Junaid (respectfully):
"Whatever you say, Ali! I'll follow your lead!"
Ali (thinking deeply):
"Uncle, if this tunnel is our only hope, then we must be ready for any danger. We'll need a plan to deal with the crocodile!"
Junaid (asking):
"Whatever you wish! But what about the big crocodile and the giant snakes? How will we escape them?"
Sheikh Hamza (seriously):
"To defeat the giant crocodile and the snakes, we'll need a dangerous plan!"
(Suddenly, there's a loud knock on the hut door!)
Ali and Junaid look at each other, startled...
Who is the person knocking at the door?
Will Ali and Junaid be able to cross the tunnel beneath the poisonous river?
To find out, read...
Chapter 18…
To be Continued…