Page 47 - creative spark 2020

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it is a tall figure. Very tall. Always wearing black clothing, stalking
me, spying on my actions, listening to my whispers, feeling my
BREATHS. Even now, I can still imagine his strange, petrifying eyes
staring at me.

Robbery is common in Damascus. Every day, there is news
of robbery and murder, and still I do not know what Abdul and
Mohammed’s organisation is up to, but I am smelling something
rotten, something fishy. The rewards might not be worth it after all,
but I do not know. I do not know…
14 DECEMBER 1037

I SAW THEM. I SAW THEM, GOD. MY GOD. Yesterday
I was returning from the market late at night, when all of a sudden
I heard screams, then flames. I went to investigate, AND I SAW
THEM, KILLING INNOCENT BANKERS IN FRONT OF THE BANK,
IN FLAMES! I SWEAR TO GOD I SAW THEM, SAW HIM. The tall
man. THE EYES. They were covered in clothing, but it slipped off.
IT WAS MOHAMMED. MY GOD, MOHAMMED, WITH HIS
SCIMITAR SLICING THE THROAT OF THE POOR BANKER,
SPILLING BLOOD EVERYWHERE. THE CLOTHING, THE EYES,
THE BANDITS! THE ORGANISATION! THAT DAMN
ORGANISATION! I AM WORKING FOR THE DEVIL. I am leaving.
Right away, I am leaving. Somewhere. I do not know. A city.
A caravanserai. I do not know. Tomorrow, sometime soon. REAL
soon. I am not safe here. I am going back to China. I am going
back to Shanghai. I should have listened to Shao Mei and Khao
Hui, GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE?