Chapter 3: Sinbad: Journey to World’s End

Sinbad: Journey to World's Edge

I stayed in Baghdad for a year when I craved the sea again. I went to the port to rent a boat and a crew.
I bought a small boat and went on my eight voyages.
The salty water slapped me as my boat cut through it. The sun blazed above me, and I thought if I’m ready for this? Age is getting me. I rested for a bit, and then I heard a disturbance in the pile of clothes at the left end of my small boat. I got up to check and saw a girl hiding in them.
“Mahtab, why are you—”
“You said that the city doesn’t welcome thiefs well, so I thought why not leave it?”
“Yes, I didn’t mean with me.”
“Oh, I just thought since you saved me from those men...” Her face dulled.
“Well, since you already here—”
“I can stay?”
“But behave.”
She got out of the pile of clothes, but it was the first time she looked at it carefully.
“Is it enough to make a profit?”
“Oh, no. It's just there so that I have something to trade to get back home.”
“So, what’re you going to trade?”
I waved her to sit by me and opened a map. It was a world map showing all the mighty empires. I then flipped it upside down, and it was different land. Not made of lands or oceans, but just blurry mist. The empire's names and their boundaries were sketched by myself.
“The land of the Jinns. Mythical creatures used to inspire poets in times before Prophet Muhammad (PBUM).”
“Yes, I know what Jinns are. But what wealth do they have?”
“A miracle fruit. It’s said that it can cure any disease. I’m sure I can strike a deal with them.”
Mahtab looked at me, and my confidence prevented her to ask more questions.
We reached the world's edge. The sky turned into a deep purple as a thunderstorm raged everywhere. Freezing raindrops slapped both of our faces, and the sound of thunder made Mahtab shiver. In the distance, we could see a sharp waterfall with no way around it.

"Sinbad! How the hell are we going to survive this?" Mahtab cried.

"There, do you see that?" I pointed to a black point near the edge.
"Yes, what is that?"
"A cave," I said as I waved to her to help me move the boat. The thunderstorm would have thrown us away, but fortunately, the clothes I bought made the boat heavy enough; so that we could safely enter the cave. The thunder calmed down in the cave. The only source of light was the white light at the end. As Mahtab looked down, she saw that we were going in the opposite direction to the flow of water even though there was no wind.

"So, any idea how you are going to convince the Jinns of a deal?"
“I just thought we just take it.”
“And they are going to give it willingly?”

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“Well, in all my voyages I played fair. I got goods, but every time trouble would me. This time, I’m the one to find it. One miracle fruit is sold in arabs of gold, and they are only found in Paras, the city we travel to.”
“Wait, we aren’t gonna steal it or anything?”
“Of course, we’re gonna steal it, the Jinns aren’t giving it away free.”
“But this is wrong.”
“Oh, leave me the lecture. You’re a street thief.”
“Not by choice. I only came because… I heard about you.”
“That was a long time ago.”
“It was your last voyage.”
“Yes, and I was married to my wife, which made my life hell. She's never ever happy. One of the reasons I'm on this is to get some time away from her.”
“Your Sinbad!”
“I’m still human,” I said.
Mahtab frowned and looked away. I wanted to say something but didn’t know what.
We entered the light, and Paras was in front of us. No air ruffled my hair, nor sand burned my feet. But everything was pleasant; I felt my body getting lighter, and my thoughts whirled in my head no more. All was set, and all was order. Everything was white except the thin blue towers that touched the sky, with two crest moons in front of one another on top. They looked strange, unreal, as though they were painted. The red trees were no different, just like the date trees back in Baghdad, but shorter, about my height. On them hanged the miracle fruit, a golden apple. We walked near one of them and grabbed it. A black mist dropped from the sky and stood before me. It was like a man wearing a shawl with bright golden eyes.

“What are you doing?” the Jinn said in my voice.
“How can you…?” I stumbled back.
“We come from different realities. This is just how you perceive me. I ask you again, what are you doing?”

“What I have to.” I plucked the apple and ran toward it with all my might. The apple was so heavy that I had to use both of my hands. The Jinn screeched, and all the Jinns fell from the sky like a giant black waterfall. I reached the boat, and the Jinn screeched again. Mahtab stumbled and fell, covering her ears; I dropped the apple in the boat and ran back. I picked her up and ran toward the boat. I grabbed an oar, but when I tried to move the boat, it wouldn't move. The Jinns flew toward me like a black flood, so I tried harder, but it wouldn't move fast enough. I had to drop Mahtab or the apple. I looked at the apple: riches beyond any person had seen; I never had to trade again or even walk to the Bazaar. All of Allah's blessings will be under my feet, but will it be enough?

I picked the oar up, and this time the boat moved. The Jinns screeched, and my ears started trembling, but I didn't stop, and by Allah's wish, I reached the cave entrance, and all the Jinns stopped like they hit an invisible wall and stared at me. I moved on. After a moment, Mahtab opened her eyes. She looked around and asked, “Where’s the apple?”
“I left it,” I whispered.
“You left it? Should we go back?”
“No need,” I said.
“Trouble found you anyway, huh?”
I looked at her, and said, “That's not the only thing I find.”
“What does that mean?”
“Tell me, Mahtab, have you eaten something other than an apple.”
“I tried grapes once, but there are hard to grab while running.”
“Hmm… you should try an anar (pomegranate). It's my favourite.”

And when Mahtab smiled, I knew then; why I keep going on these voyages.

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